FPC Continues to Support 
Bahati Scholars 
By Jack & Mary-Stuart Alderman and Jeff Myers on Behalf of FPC Global Missions

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Our thirteen Form 4 students (Seniors) were able to return to their schools in October and completed their secondary education the end of March. They took their final exams in March to receive their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE). The 57 students in Forms 1, 2 & 3 (Freshmen, Sophomores, and Juniors) returned to school in January and are expected to begin the third and final term of this academic year in July, although Kenya is currently under very strict restrictions because of a resurgence of COVID in the country. 

Since 2008, members of our congregation have provided scholarship funds in addition to their annual stewardship pledge as sponsors or co-sponsors of a total of 237 students. In addition, the Elders, Deacons, and Choir each sponsor a student.  We will be making a presentation during a worship service this month to seek 2021 support for the 57 students whose education has been disrupted by COVID-19.  The annual scholarship amount is $840 per student, and sponsors are asked to commit a full or partial scholarship of a student and communicate with them periodically by email through Susan Ngari, the Social Worker who manages the program.

Those of us who have visited Kenya and met these students are convinced that this FPC mission program is life-saving and life-giving for the young people who receive the gift of a high school education because of the generosity of people on the other side of the world. We hope you’ll consider joining us! For more information or to give a gift to the program, contact Mary-Stuart Alderman, , or Jeff Myers, .

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If you would like to learn more about being a Bahati Scholarship supporter, click here to access the sign up form.

The education system in Kenya is managed by the government, and just like in the U.S., schools were closed in March because of the pandemic. However, unlike in the U.S., most of our Bahati Scholarship students have not benefitted from online learning opportunities. Many of them left the Bahati area and returned to either their homes or to live with relatives and have not returned to class since March. We have stayed in communication with our mission partners at the Nairobi Central Presbytery via both email and Zoom calls and have wired funds from our FPC Global Outreach budget to provide food and sanitizing supplies to be distributed to the students by the staff of the Presbytery. See accompanying photo(s). We’ve heard that infection rates and food insecurity are currently increasing, and we will continue to ask how we can best help the students.

Christmas in June!

Join us for Operation Christmas Child

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As part of FPC's Global Outreach Ministry, we are currently collecting items for the shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. Last year we assembled and shipped 300 boxes - our goal this year is that many or more! 

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You can help by bringing in items on the list (below right). Or, if you'd like to make a donation to Operation Christmas Child, members of the ministry will do the shopping for you! What could be easier? 

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To learn more about this incredible program, take a minute to watch this video:

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                                      click here for video

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​Items that are needed:

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• From Walmart, we need

       Dr. Fresh toothbrushes (six for $1)

       wash cloths (package of 18 for under $4)         Ivory soap—it floats—(10 for under $4)            & small flashlights (camping section,                  10 to a package)  

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• Marbles and handheld pencil sharpeners – anywhere you can find them!

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• At Dollar Stores they have jump ropes,  yo-yos, puzzles in metal tins, small Etch A Sketch pads, paint sets (not liquid paint) and small Lego-type sets.

Robin Swift, who heads up the Operation Christmas Child program for FPC, is happy to shop for you - to make it even easier to be a part of this program that impacts children all around the world. You can reach her at .