Ps Ken has a wish list! Trip to Kenya Feb. 2020
We are excited to say that Kenya is once again on the docet for Feb. travel for Pastor Tom Chacko. Here is a letter from BMI Pastor Ken Gaston, our “boots on the ground Cali-turned-Kenyan man” with his wish list 
If you would prefer to donate cash toward the trip, please go to www.m61.org – Communicate directly with Ken at kngaston39@gmail.com • Jan 20, 2020
LETTER:
Jambo to All:
It is with great pleasure that I announce an upcoming visit to Kenya by Pastors Jeff Kirschbaum and Tom Chacko. Oh how I need their company. But this will also be another important time for my Young Men.
However, this email is about my Wish/Dream List. Here are some standard items that I’m always hoping for with each Visitor to Kenya. I will try to list them according to priority.
1. Laptops: If you have an old Laptop or Tablet that is collecting dust in a closet, we need it here. That’s an educational tool of great value.
2. Jerky: Can’t be found in Kenya and is greatly appreciated by me/Ken. Beef jerky, deer jerky, buffalo jerky, flavored jerky, plain jerky, fresh jerky (oxymoron), and any unknown to me jerky.
3. Tee shirts: Think plain, low budget, Wal-Mart or K-Mart special, single colored, no writing tee shirts. All sized below XX for the Boyz and Young Men I serve. Don’t let this be a budget burden. Cheap there is vogue here, and please keep the tags on the shirts.
The above are Standard. For this particular visit I need the following.
4. Table-top Flags: I need table top flags of the following countries. Mexico, Canada, U.A.E., and a Christian flag. (promoting global thinking and a new personal hobby.)
5. Heavy duty winter socks.
Other items sent will also be used and appreciated such as:
Books, videos, floss picks, Bibles, hats, gloves, Chick tracts, etc. Nothing gets wasted here. (Just in case someone is considering sending American dollars, I include the following. The notes should be 50’s or 100’s, and new bills.)
Contact/Reply for further details about getting these items to me.
Asante sana (thank you very much) to all who have, are, and will be blessing this work in Kenya.
Yours in Christ,
Ken Gaston
“God saved me from, ME”!
Jambo to All:
This is just a quick Praise report, but something I had to share with you.
Yesterday, Wednesday, I took Patrick off the streets. We’ve talked for 3.5 years, but previously, he just wasn’t ready to give up the streets or the alcohol.
Holy Spirit had been telling me that Wednesday was the day, and He worked out the timing to perfection. However, that evening ‘the shakes’ started. I called Dr. John, informed him of the situation, and he did a house call.
Today, we took Patrick to a clinic, and the results of the Pathology Report is good. So, Patrick can repeat my testimony of the goodness of GOD.
“GOD is so good that He has protected me from me”!!!
I’m expecting more victories in Patrick’s life. Once his appearance improves, we will even do some pictures.
Ken
Happy New Year & Jambo from Kenya!
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM KENYA
Jambo to All:
It’s always great news for us to hear that we will be getting Visitors from America. Most of the people I work with are living on $2 – $4 per day. They have a very limited understanding of the world, and lack exposure to foreign cultures.
The Young Men closest to me, especially Caleb, have had their world opened by meeting 5 different Americans. One significant result has been their desire to obtain Kenyan passports. (Two years ago they didn’t even know what a passport was or its purpose.) They’re recognizing GOD may give them the opportunity to do some international travel.
How did Street Boys and Slum residents make the transition to World Travel Dreamers? Primarily, it’s the frequent exposure to GOD’s Word and His love for them. However, GOD uses people to get His mission accomplished. Your emails, financial gifts, material gifts, prayers, and visits to Kenya have made a huge impact on their lives.
As we celebrate FATHER GOD’s gift to us, Jesus the Christ, I wish to say “Thank you.” I thank GOD for gifting you to us. Individuals, Families, Churches, a Medical Clinic, and several Schools have benefitted from you being GOD’s hand extended. Thank you (asante sana) for joining the life changing work that is happening here in Kenya.
It’s our prayer that you will have a joy-filled, festive Christmas celebration. May FATHER GOD, the Giver of good gifts, abundantly bless you for the seed you’ve planted in the rich soil of Kenya.
MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL!!!!!
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SPONSORSHIP HISTORICAL EDUCATIONAL
During the past 3 years we have been able to do a few Educational Field Trips. One of them was to the local Hyrax Museum. Although it is in Nakuru and only costs .50c per student, many local Schools and Residents have never visited. Read More
Safari Time
Believers’ Ministry International’s Co-Founder, Karie Kirschbaum, recently visited us in Kenya. This was very significant to the Boyz in our Youth Home for many reasons. Read More
January 2018 Kenya Update
Kenya Update
Pastor Ken is currently raising six young men (Joseph, Benard, Caleb, Maxwell, Julius & Amos) and the progress is nothing short of amazing! Read More
Julius’ Divine Appointment(s)
I introduce to you Julius. 
Locally, musically, and now on YouTube, his name is Jully Eighty. I’m convinced the circumstances for us meeting were truly arranged by GOD, as I believe you will see in this story. This goes beyond good luck and steps into the realm… (read more)
of Divine Appointments!
Julius has a talent for writing and singing songs. His plan throughout his years of Secondary Schooling was to become a Musical Super Star. In his rural home he was rearing cows to give him the capital he needed for his musical career.
Once he graduated, it was time to leave home for the big city, Nairobi. There, he would meet the Music Producer he had spoken to on several occasions. Together, they would develop the plans for recording his first song, and also doing a video of the song. But Julius never made it to Nairobi.
His route to Nairobi led him to the City of Nakuru. It was here that he met a ‘friend’ who robbed Julius of everything. Julius went to sleep with high hopes of his future, but woke up and discovered his clothes, money, backpack, I.D. and friend were gone. He didn’t know anyone in Nakuru, and could not return home with this cloud of failure.
Possessions gone. Hope gone. Dreams gone. Desire to live, leaving. But GOD!!!
Julius was wandering thru the streets of Nakuru unsure what to do next. He was startled by someone calling to him by name. A young man named Hezekiah recognized Julius, one of his Facebook friends. This was their first time meeting in person. Hezekiah listened as Julius storied about the robbery that had just happened while he was sleeping.
Hezekiah was visiting his Aunt here in Nakuru, and was confident Julius could spend one night there while he set his plans for the future. This Aunt is my downstairs neighbor, and she did allow Julius to stay one night. That’s when Julius and I met, via my son Washington, and Julius has lived with us for 7 months.
GOD’s goodness, taking him from hopelessness to a bright future, was all Julius needed to desire a personal relationship with Jesus. This has also caused a shift from singing secular songs, the original plan, to singing to and about the Lord Jesus.
BMI Kenya has financed Julius’ first audio and video. The launching of his musical career at BMI Rhonda church was also a success. On the back of this poster,
(Video Launch poster)
Julius wrote a general translation of his song. You can also see this video on You Tube (search Jully Eighty). Other Actors on this video are the Boyz (robbing), Shakerz Maxwell and Benard (the dancing duo), and myself (papa). This is the translation as you watch the video.
KAMA SI WEWE
VERSE 1:
I remember the day I went out of my home to go to the City and develop my talent of music. I received a lot of money after selling my cows. Intention and my dreams being a Super Star, I faced disasters when I was deprived of everything I had. I was confused and I didn’t know how I could start again. I felt hatred so much, I remain blaming myself. Where will my support come from?
CHORUS:
Who else will I love, if not You GOD. Whom do I praise if not You GOD. (3x)
Who should I love?
VERSE 2:
I wanted to poison myself so as to withdraw my life or be roaming the streets begging. But GOD You are there for me, and Your ideas are not like mine. I met a man who doesn’t know anything about me. With his love, he advised me and gave me motivation and he accepted me as his son.
CHORUS:
Who else will I love, if not You GOD? Whom o I praise if not You GOD? (3x)
Who should I love?
BRIDGE:
You have loved me with the highest love. Now that am singing to You Creator and I’ll never look back again.
You have changed my cry into happiness. Now am singing to praise You and I’ll never look back again.
CHORUS:
Who else will I love, if not You GOD? Whom do I praise if not You GOD? (3X)
Who should I love?
BMI Kenya is impacting lives, broadening horizons, and making disciples. Please pray that our actions continue to lead people to Jesus and break the yokes of poverty that has so many souls in bondage.
ken gaston
BMI Kenya New Residence!!
(front gate)
Here we grow again. However, I think I got it right this time. Instead of expanding from one apartment and renting a second, we have moved into a Townhouse. Our Californian neighbor, and his wife, informed us of this 2 story Duplex they had found. Both sides were vacant. They placed a down payment for one and suggested we look to acquire the other.
I took this as an incredible compliment to the Boyz. These neighbors have seen the Boyz in action for 20 months and still wanted us to be their 
neighbors. GOD has truly blest me with a good Krew of Young Men.
So my commitment to the Boyz, Nakuru, and BMI Kenya has increased. Both my previous apartments were furnished. However, I’m now buying furniture because the Townhouse is unfurnished. With this move we are also further away from the 3 Students’ school. That problem has been addressed and I’ll update on that later, probably with a Blog. Another casualty of the move is the view we had of the Nakuru Game Park.
So you may ask, “What are the advantages”? The two big advantages are Space and Security. We now have 4 attached bedrooms, a Study/Library room, 3 attached bathrooms, an Outside courtyard large enough to ride bikes, and an unattached room and bathroom with undecided use. The 3 upstairs bedrooms have their own verandas/porches. We have room for increased Occupancy if needed.
The Security advantages are many too. We have an eight foot cement wall equipped with 12 strands of electric wiring and razor wire woven between the strands. (There had been a few problems when the property was vacant) We have trusted neighbors on our side and the Landlord lives behind us. I believe this sets me up for more traveling within and outside of Kenya without being concerned about the status of the Boyz.
We will need some adjustment time as we explore this new level of blessing and responsibility. There are windows everywhere which need cleaning. We have a Courtyard to sweep and outside plants to trim. However, we are excited about this manifested blessing from GOD. Even with the increase of the Chore Lists, I still hear most of the Boyz singing, “Open the Floodgates of Heaven, and let it Rain”!! They know “Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights”, and they want more.
(back view)
This may be Residence #1 of the BMI Kenya Youth Homes. It would be temporary, because we don’t own the property. However, the vision remains. “Empowering souls to do the will of GOD”.
ken gaston
Double Dose!
Jambo Team:
I want to combine a Praise report with some news update. Some of you may have noticed that I don’t mention Isaac anymore as one of our Students. He has returned home to his family, and the void was Read More
One year later – and the new bankers are still busy
It just wouldn’t do… time for a rescue from M61 Donars….
At BMIR the Assistant Pastor, Sammy, is a fundi (handyman). So being empowered financially he was able to replace a new gate. He also had one of our Teens to help him, and he too was paid.
Sidebar: The Teen, whose name is Brian, gave me some of the money he was paid to ‘bank’ for him. I have set up a banking plan for our Teens to save money for the Teen Rally events last December. Even though we/they know I will not steal from them, I have obligated myself to give them a receipt for each of their deposits. So even deposits of .10c, I must give them a receipt. This event was a huge deal for a “slum kid” who seldom gets across town to go half way through the country.
Thank you to the donors who made this possible!