Amazing News x2

Today, at the start of the new year, we have the most amazing news to report.

#1: Dear friends of ours generously donated $1,000.  By any standards, that's a lot of money.  In their words, they realized how much more that means to a family like Muia's than anything that it represents for us here in America.  The money can completely uproot them from their dire circumstances and give them hope for the future.  Thank you Jeff and Andrea for the love and compassion you've always shown and are showing now with your generosity!!

#2: Peg is off her boot and had her left shoe on for the first time since the injury.  As you can imagine, it felt weird and she's still walking gingerly with a brace.  But that didn't stop her from going to the gym and putting in some on the bike and elliptical.  She's determined to run (or at least walk) the marathon this year.  Soon, she hopes to be able to begin training on the roads again with Cindy.  Please keep them in your prayers.

Friends, we're so encouraged.  Both of these updates add to our certainty that this will happen.  Together, we WILL have enough to acquire a home for Muia's family and completely change their lives for the better.

Praise God and thank you all for your continued support and prayers.  Happy New Year, indeed!

Year End Update

A couple of months ago, this journey started -- one that will end with a home for Muia's family.

• Peggy and Cindy had been training until Peggy's injury.  They hope to resume training in January.
• Peggy, thankfully, did not require a cast.  Now, about 5 weeks after the injury, she's able to walk without the boot.  She will need the brace for the indefinite future, including during the actual marathon.
• Marites, our cousin in N. California, wants to run the marathon and has been training with her husband Gil and on her own.  
• We're closing in on 10% of the fundraising goal.

Fundraising can be distasteful.  I know we're all bombarded with pleas, especially at the end of the year.  However, one of the blessings during this journey is to witness the response from unexpected places.

• A niece and nephew who chose to have the money that would've gone to their Christmas presents be redirected to the fund.
• A 90+ year old aunt who's giving so much more than the monetary donation.  (She wakes up before dawn each morning for hours of prayer.)
• Friends from church who've donated money and even jewelry to be sold for the fund.
• High school friends who've expressed an interest supporting this effort.
• People we don't know and/or who choose to remain unknown.

UPDATE: (Thanks to Paul, the Director of Tumaini in Kenya, I got these updated pictures of Muia today!)

For those who may be wondering, the donations go to Tumaini Ministries and is tax-deductible.  If you're so inclined, you may donate by clicking below.

Another $200 Anonymously

Today, I logged onto our site and found that someone had donated $200 to Muia's home.  Though I always like to know who's donating, there's something special whenever someone does it anonymously.  I don't want to discourage people from listing their names.  But whoever donated in the last day or two, THANK YOU on behalf of Muia and his family!

We're at $630, 7% of our goal.