.jpg)
Meet Esther Makokha, a resilient 55-year-old mother of five and grandmother of four from Kivikiyi village in Webuye Sub-County, Bungoma County, Kenya. A widow, an orphan, and the fifth born in a family of ten children, Esther’s life is a moving testimony of endurance, faith, and grace. Esther lost her husband, the late Jonah Masinde Walucho, in 2002, when she was only thirty-two years old. Jonah’s sudden death changed her life significantly. She was left to raise their five children alone after being abandoned by her in-laws, who came and took away everything she and her husband worked for and owned. The journey was far from easy, but Esther pressed on, driven by love for her children and her unwavering trust in God.
Read More.jpg)
The Mt. Elgon region of Kenya, situated at the Kenya-Uganda border, has faced decades of hardship from tribal clashes and militia violence between 2006–2008 that left many families displaced, traumatized, widowed, and economically devastated. Many of these affected households rely on low-income activities to make ends meet, so that even affording basic things like sanitary pads for menstruation is considered a luxury. Girls in Mt. Elgon miss up to five days of school each month due to the lack of sanitary pads. This has led many girls to drop out of school, and enter early marriages, which shifts the financial responsibility of providing for them from their mother to their spouse. Other girls who cannot support themselves are exposed to sexual exploitation.
Read More.jpg)
Harvesting is what every farmer prays for, including Friends United Meeting. The third season of the Ambwere Farm sustainability project began with planting on 7 March 2025, and is currently in the first week of harvesting, which began on 15 August 2025. Ambwere Season 3 saw us shift our focus from planting commercial maize to planting hybrid maize for seed under a contract between Kenya Seed Company and Friends United Meeting. We signed a contract to plant seed maize of H6210 variety on 700 acres out of the 800 acres of arable land in our Ambwere Farm.
Read More.jpg)
From Belize City, Oscar and Miriam Mmbali write: Belize Friends School is in recess after a wonderful graduation in June. All the students except one will be joining high school this fall. Principal Antoliana Budna has been on every street of the Southside, reaching out to schools, talking to potential parents, seeking new students. Belize Friends Church is growing. We still see new faces which continue to be a big joy for us. Our pastor Chris now preaches in both Spanish and English because of the growing Spanish-speaking population at the church. With over 52% of Belizeans being of Hispanic background, we see this as an opportunity for Belizean Friends to grow in the Spanish-speaking Belizean community. Please continue praying for this church. We have also witnessed recently our youths growing and embracing new opportunities. Shawn Williams just completed Belize Police Academy. He is the second young adult at the church to join the police service, after Gary who graduated last year.
Read More.jpg)
Samuel Mukhwana is the new administrator of Friends Lugulu Mission Hospital in Bungoma County, Kenya. Samuel took over the mantle from Grace Khayota, who retired from service. He assumed office in October, 2024. He is a graduate of Kenyatta University–Kenya and holds a degree in Health Services Management that makes him stand out in this position.
Read More.jpg)
During the first weekend of April, 2025, the Friends Theological College solar electrical system was brought back to life after being down for a period of two years. It was resuscitated by a Nairobi company known as Themes Electrical and Solar Services. The twenty four solar batteries that were replaced had a life span of eight years. The newly installed battery units have ten blocks of lithium ion batteries. Each one has a lifespan of fifteen years, with a five years warrantly. The advantage of these lithium ion batteries is that they have a life of 6000 charging cycles as compared to the old ones, which had only 3000 charging cycles. Stephen Warui, the chief engineer behind this installation, pointed out that lithium ion is the latest technology in the battery industry. He emphasized that this technology is eco–friendly and that it requires minimal maintenance—just dusting the system and making sure it stays clean. Additionally, Steve said, “Lithium ion batteries do not require large space to install. Most of them are stackable and easy to install.” What is more exciting is that they are also user friendly. The client is able to interact with the system by taking the readings from the display of the batteries.
Read More
