News
Check out our latest news, newsletters, reports, testimonials, videos.
History of Rehema for Kids
Learn more about where we started with Founders, Jeff and Carla Picicci and the beautiful children of Kenya!
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Each month, we send out our Jambo newsletter via email. This fun update is written by Mama Carla and gives updates about life at our In Step campus.
You will also receive other emails with the inside scoop on what's happening in the ministry.
Newsletters & Updates
Jambo everyone! I hope you are all doing well as you wind down your summer activities and, for those of you with school-aged children, start a new school year! In Kenya, our kids have been enjoying a three-week break and are now heading into their final term of the 2024 school year! While home, the older kids enjoyed some planned activities like soccer tournaments, basketball camp, cooking, etc. But one of their favorite outings is always community service! During this break, our high school freshmen helped an elderly widow, while our junior high students served at another local childrenās home. The…
Jambo everyone! Happy Independence Day to our American friends! I hope it was a good one for all of you! Here, obviously, it was just another Thursday, but I did spend some time thinking about family, barbeque, and fireworks… and the fact that, despite her downfalls, there is no place like home! Maybe Iām just feeling a bit nostalgic, as today marks twenty-one years since my feet first touched Kenyan soil! I have talked to a number of expats who say, “Kenya has become my home.” “I feel more at home here than I do in America (or whatever country theyāre from).” “When I go to (insert…
Jambo everyone! Itās been a while since Iāve been able to sit down and update you guys! Itās crazy how time flies and lifeās busyness takes over! Today, I decided to try to beat the system! Before going to bed last night, I brought my laptop and tea kettle into my room so that I could hide out today and finally get you guys updated. Itās working pretty well! Iāve been available by phone so have been able to communicate with management and pay a few bills (Mpesa mobile money is amazing!)… oh and I balanced the petty cash box and checked in on…
[Transcript] Nurse Abigail āAbbyā Saina: My name is Abigail Saina. I am a nurse here at In Step Children’s Home. And I’ve been working here for the last five years, almost going to six years. What inspired me to become a nurse is the need to help people and also taking care of them when they’re most vulnerable, when they’re sick and they’re not able to take care of them. Co-Founder and Director, Jeff Picicci: What makes Abby such an invaluable member of our team is almost endless. Her commitment to us, to the children her sacrifice, she she works…
Dear Rehema for Kids Family, As I reflect on what God has accomplished through His ministry last year, it is you who serve as my inspiration. Without you, there would have been no new kids rescued, diseases treated, education, counseling, worship services, and certainly no growth for the future. Continue reading Executive Director’s letter here. What an amazing year 2023 was! It seems that each year brings new and daunting challenges to this organization, but I am always humbled at how we can continually overcome them. There is no way we could achieve this success without Godās grace, Jeff and Carla, the outstanding…
Jambo everyone! I hope you are all doing well and 2024 has gotten off to a great start! I can hardly believe that Iāve only been back in Kenya for two months… a lot has happened in a short amount of time! To say weāve been busy is putting it mildly! In January, we were once again blessed by a team of visitors whom we lovingly refer to as: The New York Team! These guys have been coming every other year for the past several years! They come with a team of dentists and dental hygienists, ready and willing to put in long hours…
The best part of the trip was hanging out with the kids. They were kind to each other, and were very aware of God at work in their lives. I really connected with a couple of young guys who often shadowed me.
I had the privilege of visiting In Step Childrenās Home in Kenya for the first time. It was an amazing experience! I went with a wonderful team of people with a long history of loving the kids and intentionally blessing the ministry every time they go. During this trip, our team installed a large new playground structure, did crafts, hosted a VBS program, and distributed clothes & quilts. I was very excited to see our church’s impact during our long partnership with Rehema for Kids, which included the new dining pavilion cover our church had recently raised the funds to…
On Monday, Pastor Scott Paulson and I went into town with Baba Jeff to run some errands. It was so lively and heartbreaking! In the US, many families live paycheck to paycheck. In Kenya, many families make their living by selling goods on the street and living day-to-day to feed their families. For years, Iāve heard about the street boys who sniff glue. We encountered one about halfway through the day. The boy couldnāt have been older than 11 and I donāt think Iāll ever erase his face from my memory. His eyes were as big as saucers. Jeff pointed…
Sunday was a very special day as we were able to join the children for church. Church services are held in the ābaby houseā for the toddlers and babies and in the dining pavilion for the other children. The church service was so beautiful! The kids recite memory verses and sing worship songs. Their voices are so smooth and beautifully blended. I will share a video later as the wifi is very finicky. Trust me though, you wonāt want to miss it. My new goal is to memorize each of the memory verses our children know! What a gift that…