This update captures one of the most joyful moments in the story of Joyful Hearts Home and Care — the graduation celebration for some of the children at the orphanage school.

After a year of remarkable growth and resilience, the children gathered with teachers, staff, and church members for a graduation ceremony. It was a time to look back on how far they had come — not just in academics, but in spirit and hope.

During this same season, construction on the new chicken coop was nearly complete, and the community’s sense of hope was tangible. What had begun as a small effort to feed and care for orphans had now become a thriving ministry — one where children were learning, growing, and achieving.

The graduation ceremony was not only a recognition of the students’ accomplishments but also a celebration of the faithfulness that carried Joyful Hearts Home through its most difficult years. As the children sang, performed, and received their certificates, they stood as living testimonies of God’s grace and the power of compassion.

These photos from the celebration show the smiles, the joy, and the sense of pride among the children — a bright reminder of why this work continues.

If you’d like to help Joyful Hearts Home and Care continue educating, feeding, and supporting these children — ensuring that each one has the chance to thrive — please consider making a donation today through our secure PayPal link:
👉 Donate to Joyful Hearts Home and Care

At this point in time, Joyful Hearts Home and Care had moved from vision to action — beginning the construction of the new chicken coop project that would one day help feed and support the children.

This project had been prayed over and planned for months, and now the walls were rising, the roof taking shape, and the excitement within the community was unmistakable. Pastor Chris Barasa described the moment with gratitude and anticipation:

“This chicken coop project will be the beginning of a great blessing to our orphanage children in many ways. It will generate income and also food for the children — eggs and meat.”

The idea behind the project was simple but powerful: to make the orphanage more self-sustaining. By raising chickens, Joyful Hearts could provide its own eggs and meat while also selling to nearby hotels, colleges, and schools. The income would help offset the cost of food and other necessities, creating a more stable foundation for the home’s future.

As construction progressed, the team worked diligently despite rising costs of building materials. Pastor Chris wrote:

“The chicken coop is almost done — we are connecting the electricity now. It needs to be done professionally. Prices have gone up, but we are managing by God’s grace.”

Even small details — like installing strong steel doors and a perimeter wall to keep the project secure — were completed with care and community involvement. Members of the local church even gathered funds to help purchase one of the doors when the budget ran short.

This stage represented more than a construction project. It was a symbol of hope, responsibility, and long-term vision — the beginning of an effort that would empower the orphanage to meet its own needs in a sustainable way.

The photos from this time show the progress — the walls of the chicken coop taking form, the team working together, and the sense of joy and purpose that filled the compound.

If you’d like to help support ongoing development projects like this — helping the children of Joyful Hearts Home grow strong and self-sufficient — you can give through our secure PayPal link below:
👉 Donate to Joyful Hearts Home and Care

Following the completion of the new toilets and other recent improvements, Joyful Hearts Home and Care entered another important chapter — the search for land to expand and create a source of long-term sustainability for the orphanage.

The goal was not simply to build more structures, but to build a future: to create a chicken and farming project that would help provide food, income, and opportunity for the children for years to come. The existing property had become too small to safely house both the children and the new chicken coop that was planned. After discussions with the local health office, Pastor Chris was advised that the orphanage would need to acquire nearby land in order to proceed.

The land itself was a blessing — affordable for the region, located near the existing orphanage, and with water, electricity, and a good road. The local pastors even helped contribute to the purchase, and the current owner agreed to donate the vegetables already growing on the land as a gift to the children once it was bought.

Pastor Chris shared his hope for what this property could become:

“We don’t want to be so dependent, but to be involved ourselves in doing something that can generate money for the orphans. Chicken keeping and farming will be a great blessing. We plan to build the chicken coop soon and use part of the land for farming and a playground.”

This new piece of land represents far more than soil and fences — it represents vision, growth, and the chance for Joyful Hearts Home to begin providing for its own needs.

The pictures shared from this time show the land and surrounding community — a hopeful beginning for what will one day become a thriving source of food and income for the children.

If you would like to help Joyful Hearts Home and Care continue growing toward sustainability — through projects like the chicken farm, food programs, and expanded facilities — you can give through our secure PayPal link:
👉 Donate to Joyful Hearts Home and Care

This update marks the completion of one of the most important and transformative projects at Joyful Hearts Home and Care — the construction of new, safe, and hygienic bio-digester toilets for the children.

For years, the orphanage relied on makeshift pit latrines that were not only unsanitary but also dangerous for small children. The new toilets, now completed, are a remarkable improvement — clean, enclosed, and built to last. The bio-digester design uses a modern system that safely processes waste and requires far less space, making it ideal for the limited property where the orphanage sits.

Pastor Chris Barasa shared his gratitude and joy at the project’s completion:

“The toilets are complete, and the children are so grateful for the new toilet. We utilized the support you sent to build good toilets. They are not risky like the ones we used to have before — we used to dig holes, which were dangerous.”

Alongside this milestone, other improvements were also being made. Mosquito nets had recently been installed in the dormitories after a tragic malaria outbreak, and the children were enjoying renewed health and energy. The compound was becoming a safer, cleaner, and more hopeful place each month.

Pastor Chris continued to share updates during this season of steady progress, expressing how the children’s joy and confidence were growing:

“They are always excited because of having enough food and clothing, and the toilets are very useful at the moment. You have been a great blessing to these kids by putting a smile on their faces — that pleases God.”

The completion of these new facilities marks a turning point for Joyful Hearts Home — one more step toward dignity, safety, and sustainability for every child living there.

If you’d like to help continue improving the lives of the children at Joyful Hearts Home and Care — through safe facilities, food, education, and medical support — please consider making a donation today through our secure PayPal link:
👉 Donate to Joyful Hearts Home and Care

This update marks one of the most difficult seasons in the story of Joyful Hearts Home and Care. During this time, the orphanage suffered the heartbreaking loss of one of their young girls to malaria. Despite the doctors’ efforts, the disease progressed too quickly.

Pastor Chris Barasa wrote soon after to share the devastating news and to describe the urgent steps being taken to protect the other children:

“It wasn’t easy to lose a young girl because of malaria. We have a lot of mosquitoes. The doctors tried to treat her, but the malaria parasites were strong in her body and she died. We are planning to buy some nets soon.”

Within days, funds were sent to purchase mosquito nets for the dormitories, to help safeguard the children while they sleep. Pastor Chris later sent a photo of the receipt and shared that all the children were now protected each night.

While the season began in grief, it also marked a turning point of renewed care and vigilance. The new mosquito nets, combined with better nutrition and improved facilities, have helped the children grow stronger and healthier.

This moment serves as a reminder of the real challenges faced daily at Joyful Hearts Home — and of the incredible difference compassion can make, even in the face of sorrow.

If you would like to help us continue providing essentials like food, clean water, and medical care for the children, please donate https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=M4NQ4M46UKYWN

In this stage of growth at Joyful Hearts Home and Care, one of the most important projects underway was the construction of new bio-digester toilets — a major step forward in improving both safety and sanitation for the children.

The new system is economical, space-efficient, and safe, especially for the younger children. The older pit-style toilets had become increasingly dangerous, as they were built over large open holes and surrounded by temporary walls. By contrast, the new bio-digester design uses a compact setup that processes waste safely and hygienically, while taking up far less space — an important advantage on the limited land where the orphanage is located.

Pastor Chris Barasa shared photos of the progress and wrote:

“I have attached some pictures of a bio-digester toilet that we are building. It’s economical and easy to use for small children. The other toilets are dangerous because they are just holes. Another advantage is that it takes a small space, which is good because of the small land we have.”

This project represents another meaningful improvement in the daily lives of the children — not only providing safety and hygiene, but also giving them the dignity of clean and modern facilities designed for their needs.

Earlier this year marked an important step forward for Joyful Hearts Home and Care. Several much-needed improvements were underway — signs of steady growth and God’s continued provision.

At that time, new mattresses and blankets were purchased for the children. Previously, many had been sleeping on worn bedding or sharing what few mattresses were available. Having clean, comfortable beds of their own brought them a deep sense of joy and dignity.

Construction also began on a new bathroom facility for the girls. The old latrine had been unsafe, a temporary structure built over a large pit. The new building, now well underway, will provide a clean, sturdy, and private restroom — a long-awaited improvement for the children’s safety and health.

A new water tank and tower were also installed on the property, finally resolving a long-standing problem with water access. Before this, the children had to fetch water from a distance for cooking and bathing. The new system ensures there is enough water available each day for every essential need.

Pastor Chris Barasa shared that during this same season, the children were excelling in remarkable ways — not only in academics, but also in sports and music. They went on to be named the top school in their county, winning first place in both music and football.

Pastor Chris wrote. “The good news is that our orphanage children were number one out of 800 schools — the best in music and football. It’s joy and shocking!”

These moments reflect both the progress being made on-site and the growing hope among the children — a visible reminder of how God continues to bless and strengthen this work.

If you would like to help continue this progress — building better facilities, expanding food and education programs, and supporting the health and well-being of each child — please consider making a donation today through JoyfulHeartsHome.com

A few months ago, some of our very first donations to Joyful Hearts Home and Care were used to provide school books, food, and other basic necessities for the children.

Our dear friend and ministry partner, Pastor Chris Barasa, wrote to share how much these gifts meant to the children. With those early funds, they were able to buy books for school, a few mattresses, nutritious food, medicine, and even a soccer ball — bringing smiles and laughter to the children’s faces.

For many of these children, simple things like a new notebook, a mattress to sleep on, or the chance to play are extraordinary blessings. Some of the children at Joyful Hearts face serious medical challenges, including several who are battling cancer or living with HIV. Providing them with medicine and a proper diet is an ongoing need, and we’re thankful that these early gifts helped care for them in a crucial moment.

Chris shared that when the children learned someone far away cared for them — that people they’d never met were praying for them and sending help — they wept tears of joy. Their gratitude is a reminder of how even the smallest act of generosity can make a lasting difference.

Through your support, these children received not only school supplies and food for the month, but also hope and encouragement.

Thank you to everyone who has joined us in supporting Joyful Hearts Home and Care. Because of you, children in Eldoret, Kenya, are being fed, educated, and loved.

In 2012, Chris White (right) met Pastor Chris Barasa (left) in Eldoret, Kenya while speaking at a pastor’s conference. During that trip, Chris witnessed firsthand the incredible work Pastor Barasa was doing among the poor and needy of the region. That meeting marked the beginning of a long and fruitful partnership between Chris White Ministries and Pastor Barasa.

Recently, Joyful Hearts was facing many challenges . Chris White Ministries came on board, helping to provide stability through consistent financial support. Since then, the ministry has guaranteed a monthly donation that covers all of the children’s food needs, ensuring that no child goes hungry.

Our goal is to grow the partnership far beyond food security. Together Joyful Hearts Home and Chris White Ministries, has provided financial support to constructed new facilities, including bathrooms and other essential structures to improve daily life for the children. Most recently, we have embarked on an exciting new project—purchasing land and developing a chicken farm to help Joyful Hearts become more self-sustaining. This initiative will provide a steady source of eggs, meat, and income, all of which directly benefit the children under their care.

Even with these ongoing improvements, Joyful Hearts still faces many needs. That’s why Chris White Ministries continues to fund raise here in the United States.

Through this partnership, we have seen lives changed, faith strengthened, and hope renewed. We are deeply grateful for every person who stands with us to make this work possible.