The Derse Family Back to Africa!!!
We write you to share our excitement with how God is
working in our lives right now.
Our story
begins in the winter of 2011 in our home in
Sheboygan,WI.
God had been preparing our hearts for quite a
while that something wonderful was coming soon that would change our lives, our
hearts, and our faith.
Friends had
invited us to come to their home to meet some friends from Oasis for Orphans
and to learn more about this amazing ministry.
Friends of
Oasis shared their hearts for the orphan children in Kenya and the redemptive work that
the Lord was doing on The Hill and our hearts were stirred. While learning
about the vision of Oasis to rescue orphans in Kenya and listening to the amazing
stories of the children from the Oasis Children’s Home, our entire family
became more and more excited about the possibility of getting involved in some
way.
Before the end
of the evening, we knew God was leading us to sponsor a child through Oasis and
commit to praying for the ministry and the children. A few weeks later, we received wonderful news
that an eight year old boy, Mikal, was rescued and had been brought to the
Oasis Children’s Home. Would we consider being Mikal’s sponsor family? Our answer was a resounding YES! We knew from the moment we saw his picture
that Mikal was the one we had prayed for!
Mikal became part of our family! Letters, pictures, and even an Easter
morning phone call with Mikal helped us to get to know him better.
In October of
that year, our entire family had the opportunity to travel to Kenya with a
sponsor team to meet Mikal. God also gave us the privilege of taking part in
the rescue of his six-year old sister, Gladys.
We were able to bring her to the children’s home and welcome her into
our family.
From the moment
we arrived at the Oasis Children’s Home, we knew that God was working
powerfully to not only rescue orphan children but to bring them to a loving and
nurturing home where they have hope for a wonderful future. We also discerned
that He was calling our family to play a larger role in this ministry and the
lives of the 98 children living there.
Once arriving
back home in Wisconsin,
it didn’t take long to realize that our lives would never be the same. God had broken us for His children in Kenya and He
was giving us a passion to serve in a greater capacity. After much prayer and discussion with the
Oasis organization, we felt strongly that God was opening a door for us to
serve Him in Kenya
at the children’s home on The Hill.
In January of
2013, our entire family will be moving to Kenya for six months. We are so
excited to have the opportunity to love and serve the children, work along side
the Oasis staff, and have an impact on the nearby Maasai community.
Scott will be
working to set up a small medical clinic at the Children’s Home as well as
training other Oasis staff to help care for the medical needs of the children.
Kathi and Megan will be assisting in implementing a
spiritual development program for all of the children as well as starting a
preschool for the young children.
The Derse
children will also be playing a role.
Megan and Matthew will be assisting with the sponsorship program. Joining them will be James, who will work with
them to mentor the children at the home.
James, who is also an accomplished musician/recording artist, will be
bringing some recording equipment and will be working with the children to
record a worship CD. Sarah will be
helping out in all of these areas and assisting in formal music instruction for
the children as well.
We certainly
appreciate your prayer support as we prepare to go as well as during our time
in Africa, but we would also be so very
blessed if you would please consider supporting us financially. Oasis for Orphans is a registered 501(c)(3)
organization and all donations are fully tax-deductable. You may send a check to the following
address:
Oasis For Orphans
P.O. Box
524
Wadsworth,
IL 60083
Attn: Derse Family
Fund
Following is a link to a YouTube video that tells, very
powerfully, the life transformation of Mercy, one of the first children rescued
and brought into the orphanage. We think
her story captures the very essence of God’s redemptive work that is happening
daily at The Hill.
We pray God’s
blessing on you and give thanks for your help as we serve God’s people in
Kenya.
In His Service,
Scott and Kathi
Derse
and Megan,
Matthew, James and Sarah
