ITHM - Jennifer Phillips

These are journals from my life on the mission field in Kenya, Africa where I have worked since 2005. "ITHM" - International Treasure House Ministries is a non-profit organization that was established in 1996 in order to rescue abandoned and orphaned children. By placing them in a family setting they are provided with loving support and shown the love of Jesus Christ. We also work to help people in need; materially, emotionally and spiritually, with the ultimate goal of sharing Jesus and the abundant life He offers.

“ By wisdom a house is built, through understanding it is established, and with knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures” - Proverbs 24:3-4

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Map Legend: 7%, 20 of 263 Territories

Maroon

I lived in Romania for 6 years and I presently live in Kenya.

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Joined on: March 30th 2008
Last Login: November 30th 2009

Blog Entries: 27
Photos: 248
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Blogs & Travel Journals

by ITHM, order by Date newest first.

By ITHM
November 27th 2009

Thanksgiving Break and Heartache Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

Living in a foreign country is just a way of life most of the time. However, when the American holidays come many ex-pats long for home. We do our best to gather with friends and make our own celebration and really, anywhere in the world we can think of numerous people, things, and situations to be thankful for. I hope all my family and friends back home had a wonderful celebration. I am thankful for each of you! I am thankful for the team that came out from Colorado two weeks ago representing Global Hope. The group of 14 volunteers built [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
October 27th 2009

The Great Adventure Ch.12-Oh, It's a toilet? We thought it was a sink! Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

The flush toilet....or the sink

SPRING VALLEY Last Friday marked the grand opening of the new bathroom facilities of the Spring Valley School. Pastor Stanley and his wife Alice have been working hard over the last months to get ten new toilets and showers (the first showers ever for these kids) installed for the 270 children. For the last eight years the children have been using two outhouses with “squatty potties” (which is the traditional toilet here). The smell and risk of spreading infection was a constant struggle. Due to the children only being able to take “bucket baths” in their [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
August 2nd 2009

The Great Adventure Ch.11- Blankets, Bibles, Beans and Babies Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

IDP home
There is no running water or facilities in the homes. Sometimes 6 or more people sleep in this 10'x10' structure.

I did some counting the other day. I counted the number of blankets I have in my house. Between the three beds I have nine soft blankets and in my closet are a few more along with two warm sleeping bags. Then, there are a few small covers as well as cotton and flannel sheets. Next was a trip to my bookshelves where I counted the different types of Bibles that I have a choice to read; NIV, Amplified, Romanian, Student Bible and a pink Women's Devotional Bible. Last was a trip to my pantry to count the types of beans [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
April 13th 2009

The Great Adventure Ch.10- Joy and Pain, Sunshine and Rain Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

Sunshine and Rain
Over Into Abba's Arms sign board.

Visiting America is always a joyful time. It is a joy taking a hot shower any time of day. This is not the case here at my home in Kenya. My shower has one knob and it is always a surprise to what temperature of water will come out when turning that knob. There are really only two variables: freezing or scalding. Therefore, it is advisable to have a back up basin full of hot water. If it is freezing water shooting, sputtering or dripping from the shower head, just add to hot water to basin. If it is scalding water, [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
February 16th 2009

The Great Adventure-Ch.9 Blessings, Buildings and Beginnings Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

Ouch
Chicken pox don't heal quite as quickly for this little one that also is dealing with the AIDS virus.

I always love the start of a new year…simply because it means I survived the previous one. Kenya started 2008 with a bang…not the good kind. It was the explosion of gunfire and turmoil that made the start not so welcoming. Thankfully the end of the year was much more peaceful than its beginning. Entering 2009 for Kenya and for myself has brought challenges but also blessings. Time is rolling by at such velocity that at moments I feel it will steam roll right over me in the process. My list is miles high but my vision stretches miles forward. [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
November 26th 2008

The Great Adventure:Ch. 8-Dreams Africa

Food for HOREC

It is 4 a.m. and I am having a lack of dreams…and sleep for that matter. What better time to sit and write. The noises of the city have disappeared for a few short hours and even the neighborhood dogs and chickens, which otherwise are very vocal, are sleeping undisturbed. The last two weeks have been packed with adventure, some of it good, some of it not so good. One of the not so good times was coming upon a road accident involving three vehicles. It happened on Ngong Road which has sections that as you drive the holes jar the [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
October 21st 2008

The Great Adventure Ch.7-Just Another Day in Paradise... Africa

King Solomon
A tired boy after a long day...we couldn't get one smile out of our exceptionally happy boy.

Sometimes I am asked, “What is a normal day for you?”. Then, I ask myself what exactly “normal means”. If it means every day is different with each new one bringing on a new set of challenges and surprises then every day is normal. Last Thursday for example at Into Abba’s Arms we had a very “normal” day. We were planning a birthday party for Grace’s 11th birthday, taking care of the babies and waiting for the kids to get home from school when the water faucet stopped producing water. Now, when that happens it usually means our tanks are [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
August 15th 2008

The Great Adventure-Ch. 6 A Visit to the Slums Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

Maina
Maina suffers from a broken heart and broken body after being repeatedly sodomized by his father.

Music blared from some of the makeshift stalls that serve as “stores” adding to the chaos of massive amounts of people passing each other, wares hanging from the windows, trash thrown carelessly about, and a stench wafting in from the toilets that serve the slum dwellers of Fuata Nyayo, South B. As we walked the black sludge alleyways that weave like a maze through the heart of the slum I honestly wondered why some people are forced to live in an area the disease infested rats call home. The smell of the sewage that is dropped directly into the Ngong river [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
June 28th 2008

The Great Adventure-Ch.5 Transformations Africa » Kenya » Nairobi Province » Nairobi

Haven on the Hill

One thing about my job/life is that I get to see transformations before my eyes. Sometimes the transformations are slow like the growth of a flower and sometimes they are as quick as a drastic haircut (which I had not so long ago). Last week I got to be part of watching three little lives experience transformations. My friend Janice, from Texas, and her husband Phil have been coming to Kenya for a number of years. They had a big dream placed in their hearts to start a home where they could take in and raise some of the orphaned and [View Full Entry]

By ITHM
June 2nd 2008

Ch. 4-And the Rains Came Down Africa » Kenya » Central Province » Kinangop

Cabbage
Our fertile garden at IAA

With a sigh of relief the diligent Kenyan farmers look to the gray clouds looming overhead. Each drop of rain that falls to the ground bursts into a drop of hope that the soil may be saturated and the crops just may have a chance. People are hungry because the rains are late in coming and the crops are struggling. For some, rain is the determining factor as to whether the family will go to bed with satisfied bellies or gnawing hunger pains. So we all say, “Let it Rain!” It has not only been raining outside but the blessings have [View Full Entry]

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