Let me first introduce myself in two ways. In the states, I am called Jim Cooper. Yet, my Kenyan friends call me Jimmy. I am a missionary who lives in Kitale, Kenya and serve the men, women, and children from the Kipsongo Slum. I am excited to tell you that God opened my mind and heart to serve with Pastor Richard and Hellen Makani and their mission-minded team in Kitale. Of course, such a call did not occur overnight. God prepared me in many ways, including two short-term mission trips to Poland and Los Angeles, one year-long mission trip in Belize, Central America, a degree at Central Baptist College in Bible with an emphasis on missions, and a three-month clinical in Ghana, Africa. It was the three-months in Ghana that God made clear His desire for me to serve in Africa.

Pastor Richard and Hellen Makani are the founders and leaders of the ministry. They are very mission-minded people with the heart of a servant. The Makani's have three children - Mercy, Mike, and Faith. The Makani's have answered God's call to serve the men, women, and children from the Kipsongo Slum. They have also answered God's call to plant churches, spread the gospel, build disciples, and encourage people to accept Christ as Lord and Savior. God called me to support the Makani's in their ministry. I am blessed by their leadership and find great joy in working with Pastor Richard and Hellen and all the ministry team. There is much to do. However, there is nothing more important than the love of Christ that the Makani's ask that we all share.

I moved from my Arkansas residence in Conway, AR February, 2008. My home has been with the children who live in the Seeds Children's Home, an orphanage for 40  (at the present time) children from the Kipsongo Slum. You might ask, "What is my role?" I serve in many capacities that include the Seeds Children's Home, the Bread of Life Feeding Center, the Seeds Academy, Bible Training Center, and the Chicken Business Project.

Chicken Business

God has blessed us with the support to have our chicken house built on our new property.  At the present time, we have approximately 1,700 chickens laying eggs.  The proceeds from the egg sales help with the expenses of the orphanage, feeding center, and education for the children.  It is our prayer to have a second chicken house and another 1,500 to 2,000 egg-laying chickens.  In God's time, we pray to have an orphanage large enough to care for many more children who live in the Kipsongo Slum.  The chicken business will help fulfill God's call to serve all the children in need of such care.

Farming

Our 15 acres have blessed us with so many new opportunities.  Farming is just one of those.  This past year we have harvested 10 acres of maize, five acres of beans, and many other fruits and vegetables.  The harvest from the different crops help feed the children in the orphanage and feeding center.  The youth were provided small plots and participated in the hoeing, planting and harvesting. 

Capacity Building and Sustainability

A great challenge to all ministry efforts involves building capacity and sustaining that capacity built. Commitments to ministry efforts come and go. However, the needs remain. The chicken business, the sewing enterprise, the brick-making, and farming are all examples of projects designed to sustain the present capacity . You have made possible with God's help what we have. Yet, the needs are great. There are still many, many children who return to the slum daily and others who go without proper shelter, food, education, and medical care. It is our hope and prayer that you continue to provide support for our ministry efforts and such support eliminate the poverty that continues to paralyze the men, women, and children from the Kipsongo Slum

Brick Making

i would never have imagined that bricks can be made from termite mounds. As God would have it, we have multiple termite mounds as high as six feet on our 15 acres. Thousands and thousands of bricks can be made from such termite mounds due to the consistency of the mud. At least, that is my present understanding. Since our plan is to build an orphanage, the bricks will be a significant blessing. They can also be a part of a business enterprise considering the value of bricks. It is our prayer that the making of bricks will contribute to the fulfillment of God's call.