Testimony of a Calling to Kenya

by Leigh Ross (Arms-Of-Love-Africa.com)

In 1984 I felt a calling to Africa and went through the Peace Corps process only to loose the position in Sierra Leone to a younger college graduate who had a degree that was badly needed there.

I know that this was God closing that door because I was not walking with Him and would have been of very little benefit to His Kingdom.

As I was growing up I never knew who my biological father was and this was something that burdened my heart for years until I met Jesus Christ. On January 17, 1997, Jesus came to me while I was sleeping and woke me. It was as though He held me in His arms like a baby as He told me of His love for me. He said, "You have told people all of your life that you have no father but I am your Father and I love you very much. I will be all things to you and you can always depend on me to never leave you or forsake you. I have a plan for your life." This was the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me in my life and from that night I have walked with the Lord.

The Lord gave me a love for babies at a very early age and I began to have a real burden for fatherless children after my experience with Him. I want these children to know that they indeed have a wonderful Father in Jesus Christ.

A calling to foreign missions

Shortly afterward my "road to Damascus experience" I felt a calling to foreign missions and Africa was still on my mind. I began to seek out mission agencies with projects in Africa. I contacted Into All The World Ministries of Toronto, Canada, as they had several orphanages that needed workers in Kenya. I flew to Toronto and stayed with the mission board members for one week of intense interviewing and prayer. I was accepted as their first full time missionary from the United States.

I returned to the states and immediately contacted a friend from my church who sells real estate. She also became my prayer partner. Every Monday we would pray asking for God's wisdom and discernment regarding the sale of my home and all related issues. Three weeks later a wonderful older couple purchased my home. One by one God made order of all of the details. We also prayed for someone to take my wonderful little dog that I had had for almost 8 years. My prayer partner fell in love with him and has taken wonderful care of him.

After my home sold I lived with her and her husband until I left for Kenya. By January I was free of all my possessions. My youngest daughter put it this way. She said "I don't think God will do more to show you that this is His will for your life short of hitting you on the head!" My furniture sold right away and what did not sell I gave to a women's shelter. Support came from people I did not even know as I sought the Lord's help in raising support.

My children, Michelle 37, Meleah, 34, and Dale 32 were also very supportive of me and still are. I am very close to my children.

The most difficult aspect of leaving my home and family was the fact that I would soon be a grandmother. I had prayed for so long for a grandchild and now that prayer was being answered. I believe that was the final test of my faith.

Much like Abraham leaving his country and all of the things that were so important to him. I took that leap of faith. My little granddaughter, Leighton Elizabeth, was born on December 15, 2002, and I flew home for her birth and stayed a few months with her.

In January 2001 I went to Colorado Springs, Colorado, to the Missionary Training Institute for 2 months. There were thirty other missionaries and their families who took the training with me. It was a very special time as well as a real learning experience.

The first assignment I felt led to was Ebukhanga Mercy Development Center near a little village called Bukura in Northern Kenya. This particular "orphanage" was back in the bush with no water, no electricity, or telephone. I stayed in a mud hut with the bishop and his family of 10. The nearest road was two miles from the site with only pig trails into the area. The nearest village of any size was about 25 miles away.

After being there for a few weeks I discovered that the "bishop" was using the orphanage to get money for himself and his family. The children in the orphanage were his relatives and not really orphans. I pulled out of that place and went to Nairobi to pray and seek what the Lord would have me do now as I felt I was where He wanted me and had used me to expose the man in Ebukhanga.

The Rehema Orphanage

Through a minister in Nairobi who was also working with Into All The World, IATW, I began working at an orphanage called Rehema just outside of Nairobi. At that time they had fourteen AIDS orphans and many of those were very sick. My second week there 3 of the children died from chicken pox complicated by AIDS. I stayed with them in the hospital as the director's wife was in the States and I was the only one who could stay, as everyone else was needed at the home.

The first child to die was Scott, a very bright five year old, who died on Sunday morning. I took the two other children, who were our weakest, to hospital for evaluation on Monday and they were admitted. Tony had chicken pox, pneumonia and AIDS and died that Monday morning. That left Natti, a precious four-year-old girl who suffered not only from chicken pox but tuberculosis, pneumonia, and AIDS. I just knew that we would be able to take Natti home but she never got any better and died that Tuesday night in my arms. All three children died knowing the love of Jesus Christ and the love of those who cared for them. I felt it a great honor and privilege to be with the children as they made the transition from life to death knowing that they were all three in the arms of their Savior Jesus Christ.

I returned to the states after 911 to raise funds and seek the Lord's will in where to go from here.

That is when I was given the vision for a different type of christian orphanage for african AIDS orphans, that would have a home atmosphere, and that would be called Arms of Love.

I emailed my friends on the rose farm where I lived in Kenya and asked if there was a house on the farm for rent that would be suitable for an orphanage. It turns out that the owner wanted to meet with me and find out my needs. He had put up stone walls for a new dwelling two years ago but decided to stop construction, as he did not know what he wanted to do with it. He told me that could be my orphanage. I was elated and so excited about how God was making order of the vision He had given me. I was allowed to design the home making certain allowances for the babies, workers, and a home for me.

On May 1, 2003, I moved into Arms of Love and two weeks later had three precious orphan babies. Sarah was the first baby to come and she was just 4 weeks old. Then came Rachel, 3 months, and Joel, two months. Sarah and Rachel have been adopted, Joel is still with me and is 19 months old now. Four new babies joined us on october 2003: Alex, Merci, Joseph and Matthew. They’re now 13 months old. The home is a wonderful shelter for the children. They have warm clean beds, a big yard to play in, and security from the outside elements.

A strongly Christian home

This is a home that exists solely for and in the name of Jesus Christ. If only I had been taught, as a child, that I could have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ my life would have been totally different. It is my calling to make sure that these fatherless children have a life based on their relationship with Christ and that He is the center of their world. Dr. James Dobson, of Focus on the Family, is a Christian who writes many programs for children. I have purchased some of the tapes and books that will help the children from the beginning to have Jesus in their hearts.

Music has been a very important part of my life and a great learning tool. The tapes of children's songs will enable them to hide His word in their hearts. As soon as they are old enough there will be bible classes that are fun for children taught to them every day. There are so many songs and games that make learning an experience that children enjoy. I taught the 4 and 5 year olds in Vacation Bible School and was constantly amazed at how quickly such young children learn.

The emotional needs as well as the spiritual needs of these children will be of utmost importance. I feel that the two go hand in hand. If they are secure in Christ He will supply their emotional needs with me being His vessel to teach them.

The children are under the care of Dr. Stanley Nesbitt.If outside counseling is needed Dr. Nesbitt will refer us to such a person. Children need love but they also need discipline. God disciplines us as His children because He loves us and discipline is a necessary part of growing up.

All children are different. For instance Rachel is so sensitive that if your voice sounds like you are disappointed in her she knows it and will cry where Sarah has to be swatted on her bottom sometimes before she will mind. Since I am here most of the time the discipline is up to me alone. The workers are not to ever physically discipline a child. Another extremely important part of a baby's life is being held and touched. We are very affectionate with the children. They love to be cuddled and hugged. Dr. Dobson did a study on the orphan children in Romania that stayed in cribs all day and were seldom touched or held. They had a very high rate of mental disorders and inability to bond with other people.

Children should be allowed to be children

Just to show how important love is to a child I will refer to Rachel's beginning at this home. When she came to us she had many physical problems. When lying in her crib she would constantly rock her head back and forth while rolling her eyes up in the back of her head. When held she would not respond or try to hold herself up. It was like holding a jellyfish. She would stare at the ceiling with a far away look in her eyes. After a couple of months of good nutrition and love all of those antics have disappeared and she is a normal healthy child.

It is my observation in the States that children are constantly rushed to grow up. They should be sitting at a certain age, walking at a certain age, and are always pushed to "grow up". Children should be allowed to be children as long as possible for all too soon the realities of this life must be faced. If their childhood years are pleasant and they are allowed to progress at their own pace the later years will be much more pleasant for them. Of course a special needs child is an exception to this rule.

You may wonder how long I plan to do this work. I will do it until God tells me to go home. Maybe when I am 80 or 85 or God willing, even 90!

Leigh Ross
Nairobi, June 2004

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