ITHM
Jennifer and Johnny Lawrence Joined: March 30th 2008
Logged in: February 6th 2012
Logged in: February 6th 2012
“ 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
Travel Blog Posts
Potato Harvest!
Anyone that knows me well knows that peeling potatoes, or anything else that has to do with cooking is not my cup of tea. The only thing I love more than eating food is eating food that someone else prepared. However, there are some potatoes that I would love to peel. They are potatoes that came from the ground of Pastor Stanley's house for the children of Spring Valley Academy. The Giving Garden shifted from our place to his when we moved from Kenya and ITHM was able to help Pastor Stanley get his 3 acres of land tilled and planted. Now they are harvesting a crop for the kids. A seed put into fertile ground, sprouts, grows and comes out giving life. Spring Valley Academy is putting seeds in the hearts of 350 children daily. ... read more
Christmas celebration
One definition in the dictionary of evolution is: a process of gradual, peaceful, progressive change or development, as in social or economic structure or institutions. International Treasure House Ministries is working on a new year's evolution as opposed to a new year's resolution. A resolution is: the act of resolving or determining upon an action or course of action, method, procedure, etc. Why an evolution as opposed to a resolution? Because a resolution is determining a course of action towards change whereas evolution is already in the process. We are already in the process due to the outstanding generosity of those who have given donations over the Christmas holiday! Whoop-whoop! We; you- the supporters and those of us who are working hand in hand with Spring Valley Academy in Kenya are evolving the structure of the ... read more
Nativity
The birth of Christ was backwards. He left bliss to become a baby, born of a virgin in a stinky barn. Instead of escaping the confines of the womb to live a life of freedom, he was born into the confines of humanity. He was repressed for 33 years from showing His fullness of God, living in the imprisonment of the society surrounding Him. His Spirit, that cannot be held back by any chains, seeped into the population bringing healing and miracles. He spoke words of truth in order to break people out of religious beliefs that killed the Spirit. He did it all so that we could know Life. He grew in stature and wisdom and others grew because of His growth. He then passed through anguish so that we could be born again. He ... read more
Brian
Spring Valley is a place close to my heart. The history is written in previous blogs. It is a place of rescue and hope to the broken hearted. It is where people come to have their broken wings bandaged and a place they can heal and learn to soar. Here are a few stories of lives that have been blessed due to the endless efforts of Pastor Stanley, his wife and the staff... (English is not the first language of many of these kids. Most of them go to school and become trilingual!). Brian's story My Name is Brian. I am 13 years old i am in class 8. I am the only child in my family. I live with my grand mother and my mother. My father died when i was 4 years old! I ... read more
Anastacia
Since I came back to the USA about 6 weeks ago I have said the phrase, "I got something new", with excitement, (because who doesn't like getting something new?!) to my sisters, my mom, or anyone that would listen. I got new shoes for my growing boy. I got him some new clothes. I got myself a couple new shirts. I need a new house (doesn't have to be new) and a a new car (not brand-new but new to me) and all those things to start our lives in the USA. These are common things we hear around here..."I need something" or "I got something". Then, I am reminded of a different perspective of what is needed when my dear friend Christine who runs HOREC orphanage writes to me. She has sent me two letters ... read more
Famine The gap is wide, a gaping abyss so deep between those who have and those in need. Our cup overflows, theirs runs dry they eat nothing, we have seconds, then pie One life we live, that's all we get, on what will our time, money and energy be spent? We have leisure, they have pain they've lost it all while we still gain. When will it stop? When will it end? When we allow our priorities to bend. Let's step out of the race and the crazy pace and look into another's face. Let's feel their pain and offer sweet grace. Thank God we were not born into their shoes cause if we were we would be singing the blues as our tummies would grumble and our babies would cry and as mamas and daddies ... read more
Breakfast at Spring Valley
Transitions I have made it back to the USA...the land of the brave we say...also the land of extravagance. Growing up here I never would have used that word but coming back from six years of living in Kenya gives me a different perspective. It started when I said goodbye to my friends at Spring Valley. I hugged them under the hot Kenyan sun, choking back the tears. There they stay working daily in the dust and heat without a consistent supply of electricity or water. However, their devotion to daily love the kids with hungry bellies, tattered clothing, scabs and scars does not wane due to circumstances. The children come happily to school because they know some hot porridge for breakfast, a hardy lunch and a good education await them. Our first step towards transition ... read more
It is late, my house is quiet and I should be asleep. However, I leave this beautiful home nestled in the Ngong Hills in 4 weeks 1 day. That means 29 days of non-stop list after list after list of things to do. I am leaving my home of the last six years and stepping into a new adventure. As I have a moment of silence I start to think of the things I will miss. I realize it is not the things I will miss at all but the people. Alice, who has worked for my husband as a maid for the last 5 years. She was included in the package when I got married and let me tell you, what a deal! She is amazing…a mother of three of her own and two more ... read more
Johnny
Dear friends~ I hope this letter finds you and your families doing well. We are well and writing to share two big events with you. First, my husband Johnny’s reunion with his birth family and our winding turn of an upcoming Sabbatical to the States. Johnny and I recently took a trip to South Africa to visit his biological family. It had been almost 30 years since Johnny was sent to an orphanage (and was adopted after 5 years in the orphanage). After the long journey of searching, Johnny’s biological sisters found him and now there is restoration with his birth parents, brothers and sisters. His sister arranged our travel and we spent two joyful weeks getting to know his family. It was an AMAZING reunion and we thank God that it finally came about! Johnny’s ... read more
Beautiful family
It has been a loooong time since our last update. That is because we have passed through a number of difficult months. OK, difficult feels like an understatement but words escape us. Nonetheless, we have not forgotten about YOU, friends and family, generous supporters, loved ones…in fact, through the tough times it has been all of you (and God) that have given us strength to keep going. You are an extension of God’s love to us. For that, we thank you. Let us try to sum things up since January… Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die… We returned from USA in January with happy news: pregnancy #2….ours! However, pregnancy means my functioning rate immediately plummets ... read more
Maroon 
