These are the ministries served by the Makani's in Kitale, Kenya:

Seeds Children's Home: A Home for Caring and Loving

The Seeds Children's Home is located in Millimani Estate in Kitale, Kenya. Pastor Richard and Hellen Makani, founders and directors, opened the children's home to children six years ago. At that time, a guardian cared for five children while Pastor Richard and Hellen cared for one in their home. God has grown the family of children to 40. Three house parents provide much tender love and care along with the loving support of four others.

I also live in the Seeds Children's Home. It is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I never imagined being a part of such a big family. A wonderful moment for me is when we have our daily evening devotionals. I cannot imagine better house parents than the three who presently serve the ministry. The children and adolescents are in such wonderful hands.

The Bread of Life Feeding Center: A Place for Nourishment

Good health requires the nourishment for one's body. A very important part of Pastor Richard and Hellen's ministry is the Bread of Life Feeding Center. As you can imagine, the feeding center began very small. In fact, it began with the feeding of an elderly lady from the Turkana tribe followed by the recognition that one-hundred plus children were also starving. At the present time, approximately 350 children are fed six days per week at the feeding center. Of course, God makes such provisions through the support of people like you. The support not only helps sustain the present capacity to feed the many children, but it also helps build the capacity to feed more, including the widows and other adults who live in the Kipsongo Slum.

The Seeds Academy: A Place for Education

It is critical to provide children a safe and loving environment to live. It is also critical to provide food for the nourishment of their bodies and the medical care to protect them from sickness and disease. Equally important is the education. Pastor Richard and Hellen believe strongly in the education of as many children from the Kipsongo Slum as possible. The Seeds Academy teaches approximately 280 children from pre-primary to grade one and two. There are also adolescents supported by the ministry team who attend other schools. Books and uniforms are provided for the adolescents. Of course, they are still provided nourishment at the feeding center. The Seeds Academy has six classes, a library, a staff room, a dining hall (Bread of Life Feeding Center), a Kitchen, tailoring room, and store room. It is exciting to know that the children and adolescents will develop skills that help them make a living and contribute to the quality of their life in Kenya and the lives of others. Education makes that possible. Again, it is the support of others that keep alive our hopes and dreams for the children and for Kenya.

The Medical Clinic:  A Place for Preventative and Physical Care

Disease and sickness are natural enemies to the men, women, and children from the Kipsongo Slum. In the beginning, Pastor Richard and Hellen found a need to treat as many as 50 children daily. However, that has changed. Several years ago, a nurse from the states partnered with the ministry team and treated children at the feeding center and orphanage. Just two years ago, a medical mission group partnered with Pastor Richard and Hellen and serve vaccinated hundreds of children, widows, and others for six or so diseases. More importantly, a nurse from Kenya and a Kenyan physician were identified who have continued providing medical care on a weekly basis. This was a dream come true for the medical mission team. The team left hoping that the medical care would be sustained. Pastor Richard and Hellen continue to provide such medical care for the prevention and treatment of sickness and disease.

At the present time, the nurse and physician use a very small room to see patients. There is an even smaller room to house medicines as well as a waiting room. It is exciting to know that those children who once faced multiple bouts of sickness now have far fewer medical challenges. Thank God for such a vision and thank God for His provisions. In time, we hope to have a more spacious clinic to make it more available to the children and community.

Bible Training Center:  A Place for Teaching, Pastoring and Discipleship

Pastor Richard and Hellen began this ministry through the discipleship of three people. Twenty-four churches were planted from the discipleship of those three. At the present time, there have been as many as 90 people involved in the Bible Training Center. As God would have it, 75 just graduated from the Bible Training Center. We can only imagine the impact when God moves those graduates where they will train others and plant churches throughout the surrounding communities. There is no question that God is using the ministry team to raise pastors, teachers and evangelists. We are called to share the gospel. The Bible Training Center is an important part of such an important and wonderful call.

Lifelong Learning: Education for Life

As you know, there are many kinds of education. The Seeds Academy is a wonderful place for children to learn literacy, mathematics, science, and so forth. The development of such knowledge and skills are necessary but not sufficient. There are also the life-skills that prepare the children and adolescents to work in a variety of settings. An important part of the ministry outlined by Pastor Richard and Hellen involves the opportunities for the children and especially the adolescents to work in a variety of capacities. They have opportunities to cultivate the land, plant crops, harvest the crops, care for the chickens, sew, assist in the medical clinic, and so forth. Employment opportunities are competitive in Kenya and in some instances scarce. It is critical to help educate the children and adolescents in both the academic skills and the life-long learning skills.