December 2009

This year has come and gone so fast with so very many blessings. We've watched the girls go through many firsts--including high school, birthdays, Thanksgiving and now Christmas. How wonderful it was to watch their eyes as they saw that there was something waiting for them to open up. A stocking filled with little things and some candy. And then lots of food as we celebrated the birth of Jesus. The house was filled with laughter and so were our hearts. What amazing thing God has done for these girls. Thanks for all of you who sent a little extra to make this happen for them. I know they will never forget what they have gone through this Christmas and year. I asked them had they had ever had a Christmas like that, with big smiles they all said "No," but now they have.

We are thankful for what we have been part of for these four girls, but we don’t want it to stop there. We would like to add three more in January so that life can change for more generations. To do this we need your help. School fees (1st trimester), uniforms, shoes, books and supplies for all three will come to around $800. The startup for them in school is the hardest and most costly. Most of the girls who come have only the clothes on their backs. Next we need to make one more bunk bed that costs only about $70; another need is for four mattresses at $80 each. We have been borrowing two and need to return them so that is why we need four.

We have seen first hand how this small investment has meant so much to these young ladies and just how hard they are willing to work so that life can be different for them. We just wish we could do more and take in even more, but all in God's timing. We are stepping out in faith yet again.

Thank you for all who prayed and are still praying as we work on finishing the adoption of Moses and Zipporah. We went to the high court and things didn’t go quite like we would have liked as the judge wanted us to change who are to be the interim guardians. Their job is to just make one visit to make sure the kids are happy with us. He said the other couple knew us too well. So we found another and present the paperwork and have another court date for Feb. 12. So we pray for God to do a miracle as time is going fast and with the new laws it all has to be done by November 2010.

Of course, we really need them to be done by May as Jacquie is first graduating from college and then getting married in June. She would like the whole family to be there and so would we. We are checking to see if there is any chance of a special permit to be able to get them there for the wedding and then return here to finish the adoptions. We are also trying to see what we can do to get Florah there as well. We need to renew her passport and see about getting complete guardianship for her. There is also the need for the funds to get all of us there something we feel is very important as a family to be there. So please, please pray as we know all things are possible with Christ even when they seem impossible with man.

While we are gone we are going to need someone to come and stay here with the girls and help make sure all the things are taken care of. There are a couple of people praying on this but nothing has been set. It could be as short as a few weeks or as long as a few months depending on how God works things out. It has been a long time since the whole family was together and would be a great blessing to be able to have a few months to rest, visit with family and reconnect with others while sharing what God is doing with people here in Kenya.

2010 looks to be full of some challenges but thankfully God is able to meet us at our need and is still greater then any of the things we face here on earth. He said we should pray on earth as it is in heaven and there are no challenges in heaven. Praise God!

Thank you all for you prayer and support. What a blessing it is to work together for the Kingdom of God. To be able to bring hope to those who have no hope, food to the hungry and so much more. All while sharing the love of Jesus by just being there. This only happens because of all of you. Thank you all for being faithful to how God leads you.

We have also been blessed with many of you looking to come and help us here as well as those who would just like to come and see Kenya. This is also why we are here. To be a doorway into Kenya so others can come and reach out to the hurting and the lost. We are also here to be a place of rest and healing. If you would like to come to Kenya for any reason just let us know, we would love to see you and your groups here. This is another way we can work together to build the Kingdom of God.

Prayer needs:
The adoption of Moses and Zippy

The government approval to take Florah to America for Jacquie’s wedding and for Florah's passport to be renewed.
The money for airplane tickets to the states for all six of us to be a Jacquie’s wedding.
For someone to be able to come and stay here to take care of things while we are in America.
The funds to finish the adoption and for the adoptions to be completed.
The school fees and funds needed to add three more girls.
The health and safety of my family and those around us.
The month-to-month cost of being missionaries and helping others.
The care for the girls.
New tires for the van about $500
A bigger van for getting everyone around!!!!!!
The different projects we would like to get started: chickens, goats, and turkeys
The property we live on is coming up for sale and we have a chance to make this ministry a permanent doorway into Kenya and for the Kingdom of God. Read more.
There are many chances I get to go and speak and teach. I need to know which ones to say yes to and which ones to wait on. Also, the cost of travel is high, so there is a need for the funds to do this.

Blessings,

Todd for the entire family
www.toddingram.com
toddingram2003@yahoo.com

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