Cherish Meru Ministry Updates

  NEW GRADE CONFIGURATIONS IN KENYA Kenya has restructured grade configurations for their schools. Instead of Preschool through Standard 8 (“Primary School”) and Forms 1 through 4 (“Secondary School”), Kenya now has the following grade levels: Pre-primary and Primary: Preschool – Grade 6 Junior Secondary:  Grades 7, 8, 9 Senior Secondary: Grades 10, 11, 12 Under this new structure, Junior Secondary students (grades 7-9) have school fees similar to Senior Secondary (grades 10-12). To accommodate the now higher fees associated with grades 7 and 8, we are asking sponsors to begin paying $585 per year starting in grade 7 rather than waiting until the student enters grade 9. The new sponsorship rate structure is as follows: Preschool – Grade 6: $354/year ($29.50/mo; $118/trimester) Grades 7-12: $585/year ($48.75/mo; $195/trimester) This rate structure will apply to new sponsorships going forward and existing sponsorships as of July 2025. Sponsors with 2024/25 sponsorship pledges that includ

This past February I had the opportunity to visit our partners in Meru, Kenya accompanied by Peter and Josephine Mburugu.  Due to travel restrictions during the pandemic, this was the first opportunity I had to visit the ministry since I became Outreach Minister seven years ago, and it was truly a blessed experience.   Lisa with Florence K. Kimaita, Headteacher at Nyweri Primary School From the time I landed to the time I departed I was greeted with overwhelming Kenyan hospitality. I shared meals with volunteers from Hope International Ministry Trust, school administrators, and extended family members connected to Cherish. I met students and teachers and had a group of kindergarteners follow my every step as I toured their school.  But the most memorable part of my trip was the stories I heard about the transformation occurring because of a simple lunch provided to students every day while they are in school.   Two years ago, UPPC began sending funds designated for the Watoto ministry

 October 8, 2023 at UPPC....  12:20 - 2 pm.          Come and celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the CHERISH Ministry !  There will be a presentation about our sponsorship ministry, where we have been and where we hope to go.  We will share stories, food, fellowship and provide opportunities as we pray for our students as they begin their final term of the school year.  Come and spend time with others who have been blessed to be part of this ministry.

 On a very special March day,  Bernard G. was able to meet Clare and some of her family.  Clare had sponsored Bernard and he has come far !!!!  What a blessing this time was for all involved.   Here is description of that special day from Sharon Moffitt:      It was such a privilege to witness the first meeting of Bernard Gitonga and Clare Devine when he visited recently. It will be 20 years ago this coming September that Josephine Mburugu and I made our first trip to Meru to find out how our church might be able to join folks there in providing aid and assistance to the children and families of Meru.       Bernard made a supreme effort to be here, traveling from Florida to Tacoma for just 48 hours before heading to his new job in Virginia.  As we left to visit Clare, he asked that we stop so he could buy flowers and a card which he chose with great care. Imagine, this young man and Richard and Clare having a relationship for all these years but never meeting in person!  I wish I could