My name is Emmi Coatney, and I'm a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. I'm studying Public Relations and minoring in Nonprofit studies, hoping to work with orphaned and abused children internationally. I'm very excited to tell you about an upcoming missions opportunity in Kenya, Africa. I have been to Haiti for mission work in the past, and my heart is truly overjoyed to serve here and throughout the nations. 
My name is Kelly Ewing, and I'm also a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma. I am an Early Childhood Education Major and International Studies Minor. I have been in involved with Early Childhood Development in Kenya since December 2011 when I was first introduced to a missions non-profit called Upendo Kids International. Ever since 2011, I have spent two summers in a town called Juja, Kenya working with UKI.
"Upendo" means love in Swahili. This missions non-profit is based on the unconditional and abundant love that pours out to us from our Heavenly Father. Ever since 2007, Upendo Kids has been actively working in the community of Juja, Kenya. Throughout these years we have seen the starkness of poverty and how real it is. We have seen children abandonment and 6 year old kids on the streets mothering their younger sibling. These children get their childhood taken out of their hands and are forced to take on the role of a parental figure. But, these are the children of our Lord. These are brothers and sisters in Christ and together we make up the global church. Scripture tells us to love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22:39) and I know myself doesn't want to be starving and left out in the streets. Myself wants to be secure, receiving a proper education, and being loved. This is what we want to give to these beautiful kiddos: an opportunity. They deserve it. Our heart's passion for Upendo Kids International is to flood the Love of God into their lives, loving them the way Christ loves us. Our desire is for this community to be empowered by the Love of God. Our desire is to raise up children with Love and see them run in the success that deserve: an education, clothes, a full belly everyday, a safe home, and free from physical, spiritual, and sexual abuse.
Both of us, Emmi and Kelly, are taking a trip during our Christmas break to bring Christmas to these children. We will be in Juja, Kenya from December 26 till January 8th. God's Word's says,"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I. Send me!" (Isaiah 6:8) We are both taking this call on for Kenya, stepping up, and saying, "Here we are Lord, use us."
We will be leading a Vacation Bible School and Christmas program for the children. We’re excited because the orphanage holds children from toddler to teenage years, so our program will allow for the older ones to be leaders to the younger children, by helping us lead the activities. We’ll get to pour into them and help them realize that they are leaders, and have the ability to help their community know Christ and make Him known.
We are passionate, determined, and expectant to see God keep moving in massive ways in Juja this December. We need YOU and YOUR help to get this mission going. We need your love and prayers. We need your support. But, not for us. These kids, our Upendo Kids, need your help. Help us help Kenya.
We are excited for this journey we are both embarking on together. To God be all the GLORY.
Upendo Kwanza,
Love First,
Emmi and Kelly
