MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - PETER

Peter Njoroge was born in 1955 in Kijabe (Maingi), Kiambu County, but the exact date eludes memory. He was the sixth child among seven siblings, born to the late Benjamin Mwangi and late Peris Wairimu.

In 1961, he enrolled at Kiambogo Primary School, completing his Certificate of Primary Education (CPE) in 1967. His secondary education took place at Olkijuado Secondary School from 1968 to 1971, culminating in the East Africa Certificate of Secondary Education (later renamed Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education). Throughout his schooling, his mother shouldered the burden of his fees, following his father's passing in 1957. Tertiary education remained out of reach due to financial constraints.

After completing his education, he tended to livestock and worked on the family's small farm until 1976. Alongside his elder brother, he ventured to Garissa in the North Eastern region to explore employment opportunities. With their combined savings from herding and farming, they established a retail shop, which they managed until 1992. However, escalating political unrest prompted them to close the shop and return to Kijabe.

During occasional visits to Kijabe while operating the shop in Garissa, Peter met Loise Njoki, whom he married in 1985. They were blessed with five children: Benjamin Mwangi (who sadly passed away a month after birth), Peris Wairimu, Priscah Njeri, Rachel Njeri, and Stanley Ngugi, aged 37, 35, 32, and 29 respectively.

Upon returning to Kijabe, Peter attempted to start another retail venture, but poor business conditions forced him to shut it down quickly. He then turned to farming and herding on their family's land. His elder sister, Rachel Njeri, worked as the center supervisor at Little Lambs Green Pastures education center, and Peter would occasionally visit her workplace. Through these visits, he engaged with the children and staff. In 2005, when a need arose for a night watchman, Peter expressed keen interest, receiving unanimous support from the staff to take up the position. He has served in this role ever since.

Peter’s story is one of persitence and dependance on God. We are blessed to have Peter as part of the Little Lambs team!

MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - PAULINE

Today we want to share a bit of Pauline's remarkable journey with you.

Pauline Njeri's story begins on February 26th, 1992, in Githabai, Kinangop, Nyandarua County. Born to Hellen Nyambura, Pauline grew up in a modest household with two siblings.

She embarked on her academic journey at Githabai Primary School in 1998, where she excelled despite facing financial hurdles. Unfortunately, her education was cut short after completing grade 8 due to the inability to afford secondary school fees. Undeterred, Pauline returned home to support her mother on their family farm and care for her youngest sister.

In 2010, her family's dynamics shifted when her mother married John Mwangi and relocated to Kijabe, Kiambogo. Pauline remained in Kinangop under her aunt's care, but continued to visit her mother regularly. It was during these visits that she crossed paths with Earnest Kinyanjui, whom she married in 2014.

Despite the joy of starting a family, Pauline faced challenges in her marriage and eventually separated from Earnest in 2019 due to domestic violence and abuse. Finding herself at a crossroads, Pauline sought solace and purpose in her interactions with the children and staff members of Shepherd’s Little Lambs, located near her former residence.

Recognizing her warmth, dedication Pauline seamlessly transitioned into a role as a cook at Little Lambs. Her commitment to serving others has since made her an valuable member of the team, enriching the lives of children and staff alike.

Let's celebrate Pauline's journey and the impact she continues to make every day!

COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR LITTLE LAMBS - TURNING DREAMS INTO REALITY:

College Scholarships for Shepherd’s Little Lambs: Turning Dreams into Reality

As our young lambs approach the milestone of high school graduation, inquiries about funding for college have become a common query. While our heartfelt desire has always been to support their higher education aspirations, our commitment has primarily been focused on ensuring our students attain their high school diplomas, given our limited resources.

An exciting development has unfolded through our recent collaboration with the East Africa Partnership (EAP). EAP, has a well-established college scholarship program. This means each of our ambitious graduates now has the opportunity to apply for one of these scholarships!

This partnership serves as a compelling testament to God’s divine hand in our new relationship with EAP. Stay tuned for upcoming reports as our students embark on this new chapter by entering the scholarship program. With God’s help and yours, we are nurturing dreams and paving the way for brighter futures.

MEET THE TEAM TUESDAY - WINFRED

Today, we're diving into the inspiring journey of Winfred Wanjiku Kariuki, a true powerhouse at Shepherd’s Little Lambs in Kenya.

Winfred was born in 1976, in Mariani, Murang’a County, Kenya. Winfred's early years were marked by challenges. Raised by her mother, Lucy Wangui, after her father's abandonment, Winfred faced financial struggles that affected her education. Despite these obstacles, she attended Mariani Primary School and later Kionjoini Secondary School, though she had to discontinue her studies in 1991 due to lack of school fees.

Winfred's resilience shone through as she supported her family and tended to their small farm. In 1995, she ventured out on her own, marrying Samuel Kogii and raising two wonderful sons, Bryan Mwangi and Boniface Mwangi. However, in 2002, Winfred faced heartbreak when she parted ways with her husband after he married her sister, leaving her and her boys without a home.

Seeking refuge, Winfred found solace at Mama Beth’s house, where Shepherd’s Little Lambs began. There, she found purpose in cooking for the children and gradually became an integral part of the ministry.

In 2014, Winfred's dedication and potential were recognized when she was chosen to join an early childhood development course. She graduated in 2015 with a certificate, paving the way for her current role as center supervisor and teacher at Little Lambs.

Winfred's journey is a testament to God’s goodness and her strength and resilience. Her story inspires us all to overcome obstacles and find purpose in serving others. Little Lambs is blessed to have Winfred on our team! #MeetTheTeamTuesday #LittleLambs #

Winfred - Alaways ready for a hug!

RUKIA'S MOM SAYS THANK YOU TO LITTLE LAMBS & KPG SUPPORTERS

In a previous post you heard about Rukia’s amazing accomplishments in automotive engineering. Today hear the heart felt gratitude of Rukia’s mother!

KENYA'S BEST - A PRODUCT OF KPG - RUKIA'S STORY

Rukia is a recent graduate of Kijabe Practical Garage (KPG) where she spent significant time getting hands on experience repairing engines.

She recently sat for a test at Nairobi Technical Training Institute seeking certification.

The result? The highest score of those being tested!

Rukia is eternally grateful to you who support the work of Shepherds Little Lambs that made this opportunity for her possible.

PASSION WITH A PURPOSE - KIJABE PRACTICAL GARAGE

Kijabe Practical Garage (KPG) came to life thanks to the boundless passion of Blasto Maina. Blasto, a man with a dream of giving kids a shot at learning practical skills, so they can build a life for themselve and there families.

In 2012 Blasto introduce his dream to Shepherds Little Lambs. Blasto did not have much but with what he had, he began to build.

In 2013 Little Lambs began fundraising and construction began later that year. Come spring of 2015, the big day arrived. The dedication celebration was like a neighborhood block party. With a grin from ear to ear, Blasto cut that ribbon, officially welcoming everyone to KPG.

Since then, Kijabe Practical Garage has been more than just a workplace. It's been a bustling training ground for Shepherd's little lambs eager to pick up a trade. The place echoes with the sounds of hard work, passion, and the kind of community spirit that sticks with you.

Blasto's dream? It turned into a full-fledged reality, and now KPG stands tall, not just as a garage but as a symbol of what can happen when God’s people come together for a common cause. And those kids walking out of there? They're not just leaving with skills; they're leaving with a confidence and character that'll stick with them for life.

 

SETH'S STORY - A DREAM COMES TRUE

THIS…

HIGH SCHOOL, HERE THEY COME!

We are thrilled to share the remarkable achievement of our twelve graduating 8th-grade students who have successfully completed their high school placement exams. Witnessing these students reach such an impressive milestone is outrageously encouraging!

Thanks to your generous support, each of these students will now have the opportunity to attend the schools for which their test scores have qualified them. Please join us in extending heartfelt congratulations to:

Amos, Duncan, Edward, Elizabeth (not pictured), Jecinta, Junior, Mary Ann, Mike, Samson, Teresiah, Victor and Zipporah.

AMOS

DUNCAN

EDWARD

SAMSON

MIKE

MARY ANN

ZIPPORAH (ZIPPY)

JECINTA

JUNIOR

TERESIAH

VICTOR

INTRODUCING EAST AFRICA PARTNERSHIP

Since its founding by Elaine Barnett, a now retired Africa Inland Mission (AIM) missionary, Little Lambs has operated under AIM’s oversight with their administrative support. 

AIM is focused on career missionaries and church planting. Little Lambs really doesn’t align with their focus and there are no longer any AIM missionaries involved in its’ operation. For that reason, we were asked by AIM to find a new organizational “home”. Though initially unwelcome news, the transition has unfolded as a journey guided by God's hand.

Initially all the options we found were either vary tactical in nature or required significant changes in our operating model. We were discouraged and running out of time. Then God made his plan clear by introducing us to East Africa Partnership! The organizational transition took only a few weeks. We could not be more please to announce that Shepherd’s Little Lambs is now a project of East Africa Partnership (EAP).

While this marks a significant change, the day-to-day operations of Little Lambs remain almost entirely unaffected. This ensures that the vital support we provide can continue seamlessly, without interruption or distraction.

In this new partnership, we have identified ways to mutually benefit each other, given our shared focus on Christian character development and education. Exciting developments are on the horizon, and we anticipate sharing news soon that will be a game-changer for our little lambs.

Stay tuned for further updates!

Check out East Africa Partnership here