May 2025 Update

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Partners and Friends,

We are wrapping up the school year and preparing for a 2-month furlough in the States!  We will be home for June and July, and are very excited to be with family and friends for the first time in 2 years.

Projects and Ministry Update

People to People Updates

The last few months have been busy with People to People Updates.  It takes quite a lot of travel, logistics and planning, to get updates on the 250 children in the program.  The kids are spread all over Kenya, but I always enjoy the opportunity to connect with so many kids face to face through the process.  Ethan was able to travel with me to assist with some of the updates. This year I was able to “hire” a part-time intern, Sophie Dunning, to assist with the administrative side.  She has been an incredible help, and she loves being photographed as she works! It isn’t really a possibility for teens here to get part-time jobs, like in the States, so this has given her the chance to develop some responsibility, earn some pocket money, and be an incredible help to me!

Burundi Trip Update

As shared in our last newsletter, the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo has continued, resulting in approximately 70,000 refugees arriving in Burundi since January. (read more here: https://reliefweb.int/report/burundi/unicef-burundi-flash-update-no-7-refugee-response-impact-drc-crisis-10-may-23-may-2025). In partnership with Bishop Seth Nkeshimana and churches in Burundi, we (and People to People Ministries) have been striving to provide relief and support as much as possible.

In March, we were able to travel to Burundi and visited refugee communities in Rugombo, a border town where most refugees are arriving and registering.  With church leaders, we were able to meet with around 70 households (300-350 people) and provide encouragement, prayer, and food relief.  We were able to distribute relief to these 70 households as well as send relief to 130 households in Refugee camp in Rutana. In all we were able to distribute:

  • 25kg of rice
  • 25kg of Beans
  • 10kg of maize flour
  • 10kg or porridge mix to 200 households (Approx. 1,0000 people)

We were able to repeat this same distribution again in April/May, and we hope to  organize another relief effort next month.  In the grand scheme, this is a drop in the bucket of what the need is, but we pray that this will make a small difference.  I have been in contact with other church-based organizations that are apart of the PWF Development and Relief Network we have joined (Convoy of Hope, AG, Foursquare Relief) and they are doing similar relief efforts (some a bit larger). If you are interested in offering support for these efforts, you can do so here: Dunning Ministry Account (choose Ministry Option further down the page.)

While in Burundi we were also able to spend time with Seth and his family, which was a wonderful experience for our children to meet and get to know one another.

Rwanda Visit

In May, I was able to travel to Rwanda to visit Clement Muneza, and get updates on projects there.  We were able to visit the feeding programs, sewing projects, and community-led pig development projects that have been started through a local NGO Clement established called People for Promises.  We have been partnering with him to invest in these projects that are providing feeding programs for hundreds of kids, and livelihoods for dozens of people through sewing projects, shoe making, beautician training, and pig farming. 

One example of the impact this is having is the community-led pig project.  Last year, 10 people received 1 sow with the agreement that with each litter produced, 1 female piglet must be given to another recipient.  The remaining piglets can be kept or sold for income.  At this point, 7 of those original 10 have produced 1-2 litters of 7-10 piglets each.  The other 3 were unable to conceive, so they were sold and 3 new sows were purchased and they will give birth soon.  There are now 20 recipients each with 1-3 sows each, all committed to passing on 1 piglet from every litter produced.  The majority of the piglets are sold, providing income for school fees, family needs, and home repairs.  The hope is to start another project in another community soon.  If you are interested in supporting any of these projects, you can do so here: Dunning Ministry Account (choose Ministry Option further down the page.) 

There is also a desire to start another sewing training school in the community where the pig project is based.  There is only 1 seamstress in the area, and she has agreed to train others in order to increase production and availability of goods to the community, while creating jobs for more women in the community.  We will be providing 2 knitting and 2 sewing machines soon.

While I was there, I also got to catch a few BAL (Basketball Africa League) matches at BK Arena.  I got to support our local Kenyan Champions, Nairobi City Thunder (coached by my good friend, Brad Ibs), as well as take Clement and his family to see the Rwandan champs, APR, play. 

Korecca Academy

The work in Tana River continues to go well.  The school in Ramada, Korecca Academy, is growing with more students coming each term.  In April I was able to visit with Bocha and get to know the teachers a bit better.  One need was proper tables and chairs for the students, so we have recently upgraded these.  This Christian school is an incredible resource for this community as students are getting an education and feeding program from a loving and caring staff.

St. Joyuna Kitchen/Dining Facility

The current Kitchen and Dining structure at St. Joyuna is in terrible shape, and is no longer safe for student use.  We are planning to build a proper stone structure in the coming months that will be a major upgrade for the school.  We want it to be more in line with the incredible classroom block we built a couple of years ago.   We are beginning work on this next week.  If you would like to support this project, you can do so here: Dunning Ministry Account (choose Ministry Option further down the page.)

Smile Star’d Days 4 Girls

The work and ministry of Smile Star’d Days 4 Girls is so impactful for communities all over Kenya (you can read more about this project here).  Recently we were able to help support their need for an upgraded solar energy system for the enterprise.  This project is providing guaranteed electricity so that work production is never affected, as well massively lowering energy costs.  See Alice’s video below:

Prayer Requests

  • For the millions of people in Kenya facing rising costs of basic goods, food insecurity and the uncertainty of what is to come.
  • For the people affected by, and fleeing, the conflict in Congo and for those that are serving them.
  • For the Nation of Kenya, and the individuals, ministries, communities and churches that we have partnerships with.
  • That we would love God and others as He loves us, and that we will be faithful in all the areas that we are being called.
  • For Sophie and Ethan…that they will feel a meaningful connection to our ministry and that they both will grow to love and follow Jesus.
  • That we will have an incredible time of deep connection in the US visiting Family and Friends this Summer.
  • For good health, safety and protection.

Can we pray for you?  Please send us your requests at dunningsinkenya@gmail.com.

We love and appreciate you all!  Your support, prayers, and encouragement mean everything to us.  Thank you for partnering with us. 

Grace and Peace, 

Jamie, Jessica, Sophie and Ethan

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