Some First Prez members may recall that in 2016 Trisha Tull had the opportunity to travel to Kisumu, Kenya, to work with the Africa Inland Church on earth care projects they were planning. This group of poor but committed Christians wanted to plant trees to help reforest sub-Saharan Africa. They also had a century-old dispensary (clinic) in need of extensive restoration. When Trisha returned and led a Sunday school class about them, members of First Prez raised the funds to found a tree nursery in Kisumu. They also helped her apply for a thank offering grant from the Presbyterian Women, rebuilding Nyakach Dispensary from floor to roof, so that it became a regional health center.

     From that beginning, the AIC’s environmental and health ministries (now called God’s Green Resourceful Earth) have blossomed, not only planting more than 10,000 trees every year, but growing into a demonstration farm, two other crop fields, a women’s microfinance program, and a new initiative called Growing Gardens, Feeding Minds, which seeks to feed healthy lunches every school day to every child in their 210 schools, beginning a year ago with a single school.

     On February 8, 15, and 22, to commemorate this partnership, Trisha will offer updates, pictures, and stories introducing what Bishop Tom Ochuka and his colleagues are now doing and where they hope to go from here. We’ll also learn about the capacities and needs in the area and enjoy some of the wild animals for which eastern Africa is rightly famous.

     Capping this class, on February 22 Trisha and other members of GGRE’s US team will offer a “lunch and learn” after worship, where all can enjoy the menu being served to Renja Primary School’s 650 children and learn about the people helping these students grow into healthy, prosperous, well-educated citizens. There will be a freewill offering for this authentic vegetarian and gluten-free meal, and we will answer questions about what Americans can do as partners to this life-saving work.