‘Kick it to Kenya’

The mission for the month of November at Destiny Worship Center’s Gateway Academy was to raise funds for DWC Kenya, a ministry that provides educational programs, meal programs, as well as medicine for children in local schools in Nakuru, Kenya.

“To show that we are thankful for all that God has blessed us with, the students, faculty, and staff competed in class goals as well as a school wide goal of $1,500 to support DWC Kenya,” Brittany Smith, admissions coordinator at Gateway Academy, told The Log. “The goal was exceeded when a little more than $3,000 was raised.”

Interactive activities helped raise money by building a cardboard house covered with faux dollar bills for each real dollar bill children brought in and bringing quarters allowed participation in an interactive corn hole station.

The “Kick it to Kenya” event  with a Spirit Week, each day with a creative dress theme. Days included Mustache Monday, dress to look like a missionary; Take it to the Skies Tuesday, dress in Superhero attire/accessories; Wild Wednesday when students dressed as an African animal; Thursday, dress in colors of Kenyan flag (black, red,  green and white); and Flashy Friday, dressed in neon to wrap up week shining for Jesus.

“We were totally blessed in December when we were told about the money Gateway Academy had raised for us,”  Missy Terry said on the Facebook page DWC Kenya. “We have finally decided that a great place to start using the money is at Kiboko (hippo) Primary School where we already have a feeding program in place. This is also the school where I am teaching art classes.”

The first project of DWC Kenya will be to pour concrete in five classrooms, where fleas are a large problem.

“This will definitely help cut down on those,” Terry said. “Also, the teachers told me that every morning the students fetch water to pour on the dirt to keep the dust from flying all around. We haven’t had any rain for months so the dirt is like soft snow.”

This school needs a lot of work done, including fixing a leaky roof and replacing missing doors and shutters.

“We have been asked to build a new school, but aren’t ready for that yet,” Terry said. “The roof leaks and it’s missing shutters and doors, but all in time.”

If you are interested in helping build a new school or raising money to repair this one, please let Terry know. Visit DWC Kenya on Facebook  and send message. Or contact Destiny Worship Center in Miramar Beach at 850.650.6800.