Nico shared his experience during his valedictorian speech amongst peers and their parents soon after he returned from Kenya. “The world tries to tell us to find purpose in happiness and the pursuit of it. However, that’s not God’s purpose for our lives, and we will never find fulfillment in doing it the world’s way.”
Nico had witnessed the people in Kenya couldn’t find comfort in basic things like an abundance of food, easily accessible clean water, or a warm cozy home. He saw many people who lived in tiny one-room homes with dirt floors, no running water or electricity, and often had nothing but couches and blankets inside.
“So often what we try to do is first find joy in the world and then put a little bit of God on top like icing on the cake. But let me tell you, the cake of the world hidden underneath is moldy and rotten all the way through. The people of Kijabe understood that we must first find our joy in the Lord and then He will provide for us.”
Where do you seek purpose and fulfillment? What is your number one priority in life? Where do you go to find joy and fulfillment? If it isn’t God, then I promise you, you’re only robbing yourself.
When I introduce new people to Forward Edge, I’ll often describe what we do this way: we help children around the world overcome poverty, discover their true worth, and pursue God’s extraordinary purpose for their lives. I believe these three descriptors are distinct and important. Let me explain a little
Nancy, our Director of Development and long-time short-term missionary, shares her experience with the “Women of the Word” program in Kampala, Uganda. These resilient women, who migrated to a new area after facing unimaginable hardships, have come together to build a supportive community and empower one another. Discover how their journey of faith and perseverance is creating lasting change in their lives and in their community.
Bold Obedience In life, some moments stand out as divine interventions, where God’s hand is unmistakably at work. Mission trips are often such moments, where lives intersect with purpose, and hearts are transformed in ways beyond measure. Jilese’s recent journey to Oaxaca, Mexico, serves as a testament to this truth.
Ileana has been in our Nicaragua children’s program for the last eight years. Our team has poured into her heart, spirit, and education, and she has blossomed into a beautiful young woman of God. Her life hasn’t been easy, but as you’ll read in her letter, she has learned to
13 yrs. old
Entered the program: March 2023
Esther lives with her parents, four siblings, her grandmother and uncle in a three-bedroom house built with mud and roofed with thatch. They have electricity and piped water into the village once every two weeks.
Esther’s family is Christian. Her mother is a housewife and her father is a small-hold farmer who cultivates maize and rice. He barely harvests enough to provide for the family consistently, and they often go without food unless they are fortunate enough to have their neighbors share with them. Two of Esther’s siblings are not going to school due to lack of finances; but, with help from Create Hope, Esther nows goes to school every morning, and with a full stomach.
Plus bonus group fundraising ideas!
