One Big Bucket of Fish

by Scott Nordstrom

July 30, 2022

As many of you know, I visited Kenya earlier this year for the launch of our Church Mobilization Initiative. This was the primary purpose of my visit, but I also spent some time in Nairobi visiting with our field partners and visiting their project sites.

While in Kayole at Fortune Learners’ Centre (FLC), I took some time to visit with a local family headed by Mother Mary.

As I approached where they lived led by Rebecca, I grew concerned with the surrounding conditions. I was honored that they would host me for a discussion about the children’s experience at school and how she worked to try and make ends meet, but I felt that I was somehow intruding as I wanted to learn more. I found her story to be inspiring as she cares for Rebecca and four other children that live with her in a very small space. All five children attended Fortune Learners’ Centre and are on GO! Scholarships at the time. I know Rebecca from my time at FLC. I was moved by my visit, but I didn’t know what to do to help in the right way.

After returning to the states, Mother Mary’s story continued to stir in my soul. I decided to communicate with a case worker that I had met at our Great Commandment Workshop in Nairobi, and she agreed to visit with Mary to put together a plan to help the family. Janet Daniel was one of our speakers and I believed that she could help us help this family.

After several home visits and communication back-and-forth I decided to get our GO! Kenya director involved so we could get Mother Mary and her family whatever they needed to put Janet’s plan in motion.

We could have easily not addressed this need as we were already supporting the children through our partnership at FLC, however, there was something deep inside of me regarding this specific situation. How could we simply turn away?

While we did provide some items for their home, the primary focus was to get Mary a small business started. After much conversation it was decided that she would sell fish.

In June we were able to purchase 2 mattresses, some linens, One Big Bucket of Fish, and 1 bale (12, 2 kgs packets) of maize flour. She was very thankful for the improvements that she could now make at home and that she would no longer have concerns with finding day-labor jobs to provide for the children. Now she would have her own business and it all started with One Big Bucket of Fish.

I received a report last week that Mary’s new business is going well. She has had profits that has allowed her to buy more inventory. In fact, she has turned over her inventory of fish several times since starting in June. She is very excited about her new business and what it will mean for her family.

We are so happy for Mother Mary and her children, and we are encouraged how the Father is providing for this family through One Big Bucket of Fish! Thanks to both Minister Isaiah and Janet Daniel for their assistance with Mary and advancing the Kingdom of God! I believe that this is how the Church is to address the needs around us. Amen!

We are appealing to all those involved with Global Orphan Relief and their Church Mobilization effort to continue praying for Good Samaritans throughout the world who are trusting God to serve others who are in great need of assistance.

Church Mobilization is our newest initiative launched in February 2022. We are currently working with local area churches to co-host Great Commandment Workshops where we bring together multiple subject matter experts to discuss the why and how to serve the poor generally, and orphan children specifically. We will track the impact of children served through this effort to justify continued investment; however, we have no plans to be funding the care of children through this initiative.