Rev. Chambers spends summer serving in Kenya
One of Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School’s own is helping expand educational opportunities for preschoolers overseas and ministering to the people of Kenya.
Lower School Chaplain Rev. Andy Chambers took a trip to Kenya this summer as a part of his mission work with the small nonprofit Our Journey, Inc., which assists deeply impoverished women and children.
Our Journey, Inc. runs a preschool, The Our Journey Sunshine Junior Academy, that enrolls around 100 students, many of whom, Chambers said, are orphans or suffer with HIV. Chambers added that most of the families cannot afford the $1 per month tution fee, and that the school relies on donors for most of its operating costs. During his trip this year, the school moved to its new three-acre site with enough garden space to make it one-hundred percent self-reliant. Chambers and the mission team spent much time at the school and in the surrounding community sharing the Gospel, completing projects, and ministering to people.
In addition to the nonprofit’s work in education, it also provides for the physical and economic needs of local Kenyans. Chambers said, over the past decade, the group has distributed more than 8,000 blankets to families who generally sleep on dirt floors. They also provide micro lending to women looking to start their own businesses, such as local fruit and vegetable stands. He said the group believes strongly in Mother Teresa's philosophy — “If you can’t feed 100 children, feed one.” He added that, while in Kenya this summer, OJI fed over 400 people in one day, cooking over open fires.
Chambers was also a part of relief efforts in Kenya when visiting a nearby town.
“This year we visited a town that was literally washed away after a nearby dam burst Over 2,000 people are now homeless, and over 100 died (most children). We gave away 100 blankets as well as three large bags of Rabun Gap Nacoochee shirts I found in an electrical closet here on campus,” Chambers said. “We visited with a man who had lost all four of his children as well as his home. He was so grateful for our visit and the things we brought. I can go on and on about all we do in Kenya. Above all, I pray for hope through our efforts for those we are called to serve. In my opinion, there is no stronger force on the planet than hope. “
Learn more about Our Journey Inc. here.
Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School
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Rabun Gap-Nacoochee School is a private, coeducational day and boarding school for grades Pre-K through 12. Centrally located between Atlanta, GA, Greenville, SC, and Asheville, NC, we prepare young people for college, career, and a lifetime of leadership and service.
