I’m sitting here in Arusha, Tanzania, pondering. In mid-September, I brought a team for a two-week outreach trip to Nairobi, Western Kenya, and way up to a remote little village in the Pokot region. Team trips were where it all began for me—where God started to nudge and push me out of my comfort zone. And here I am today, on my longest trip yet—a three-and-a-half-month journey through Kenya and Tanzania with my dear friends and partners in ministry.

As life has moved on, as more experiences have shaped me, and as my heart has broken and burst over things that matter deeply, I’ve come to realize what matters most. When love matters most.

I have sat with people rejoicing over celebrations. I have gathered around tables in laughter. I have snuggled my grandbaby in the stillness of night. In each of these moments, love existed; it was felt; it deepened. It mattered.

But then, there are these seasons that hit people and wipe them out, knock them off their feet, dull the world around them, freeze time, knock the very oxygen out of their lungs… it feels like more than one can bear. It’s isolating and painful on the deepest gut level. It feels like surviving itself may be questionable.

This is when the simplest act of love—a kindness, a presence, an extended resource—reaches into the deepest pain and says, “I see you and I care about you.” It reminds them they’re not alone in this.

I remember when Dave was battling cancer for those 14 months. It was rough. I mean, ROUGH. My heart was numb and ached more intensely than I thought possible. Many people reached out with kindness and support, which I appreciated so much. But looking back, it was those who saw my most basic needs and met them that brought the deepest comfort. The things hardest to ask for—like money, food, seeing my kids’ needs and helping them, and those handwritten scripture cards—singing to my soul and bringing a holy pause. Those reminders let me know that God saw, God knew, God cared, and God would provide. I saw His love in the eyes of His people, and I felt His love through their thoughtfulness and care.

This season gave me a wisdom that won’t be lost on me. It’s what spurs me on to build bridges between those who are suffering and those who, at this moment, have something to offer in the name of love. From my own experience, I believe that in pain, LOVE speaks its loudest. It has a way of reaching in and holding people like they’ve never been held before. I think it’s because these primitive needs are so often overlooked by a broken world, yet God’s love meets us there.

Over the last 17 years of traveling back and forth to Africa, I’ve collected so many hard stories and heart stories. I’m going to start sharing more of them here. My prayer is that, as you read, your mind slows down and you hear what God might be speaking to you. What does He want to show you? How does He want you to engage in this hurting world? And if you’re in a season of hurt, what are you longing for? What is your hard ask? Where does love need to be loudest right now?

We’re all going to have seasons that challenge us, that ask us to be both givers and receivers of love in ways we never imagined. My hope is that as we walk through these seasons—whether we’re celebrating or struggling, whether we’re sharing love or needing it—that we remember how deeply we’re seen and cared for by God.

It says in The Message version of Matthew 5:4: “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.”

May we ALL hold tight to this truth, knowing that love shows up in EVERY season, and when it matters most, God is there, loving us through it all.

In this together,

There was a day she was called to go, to see, to experience and to do. She was headed to Tanzania with a team from the Pacific Northwest. They would be spending two plus weeks in this beautiful land brimming with opportunity to love and serve, working with local partners, reaching out to those who were experiencing deep pain and hardship. Lois understood pain and hardship, she was a widow. She had experienced the pain of loss and she had much love to offer.

As she connected with people walking across the rich soil of the village and billowing through the dusty ground of Maasailand her heart was being deeply impacted. Heartstrings were developing, strings that would hold the memories tight to her heart over a decade later.

A little over ten years later Lois would hear of another heartbreaking story of a widow from her friends, the local leaders that she had worked with earlier in Tanzania. They shared the following: “She is called Ruth, her husband died 5 years ago, when she was with child. She has four children.” After the death of her husband there was the usual traditional option of being inherited by force, that his family was pressing her for, a family member could take her as his own, but Ruth refused. This was more than she could imagine, which forced her to remain living in a home that was falling apart and leaking. When Lois read this she knew the time is NOW, she needed to do something.

So what did she do? She joined the Widow’s Home Building Projects that the local partners run and funded a home for this family. The cost typically runs around $650 and that provides the basics for labor and the main structure, then the community comes together to help with the rest building the walls, etc.

Since the time of the home being built a neighbor to the widow was talking to our partners about the impact love in action makes. He said “ It’s not Jesus alone that raises people from death, we still have people on earth raising other people.” (Of course we recognize that he is saying Jesus is still using people to reach out in love and make a great impact in the life of another. To God be the glory! )

But for this kind of raising to happen it does take a willingness and action of people coming together. Lois still has more she would like to do, more love to share, would you like to be a part of this story?

The widow in this story still needs a concrete floor, which runs about $500, and furniture to house the home with practical items like a bed, a couch, table, etc. This runs around $400-750 depending on the family’s specific needs. Of course, there are many more widows and vulnerable families in need that you can help to build a safe shelter for, a home. Like Lois, we would LOVE to have you join us in our mission to make HOPE loud for those hurting in Tanzania and Kenya. There are a few ways to join the movement:

1. You can become a Pamoja Love Dream Team Member and create a project of your own to fundraise for.

2. you can join Lois in her mission to continue raising funds for Ruth’s home or the home of others in need. You will find the link below to donate.

If you have any questions, or are eager to become a Dream Team Member, you can shoot us an email at hello@pamoja.love

God Protects Us

A song of the stairway

I look up to the mountains and hills, longing for God’s help.

But then I realize that our true help and protection

is only from the Lord, our Creator who made the heavens and the earth.

He will guard and guide me, never letting me stumble or fall.

God is my keeper; he will never forget nor ignore me.

He will never slumber nor sleep; he is the Guardian-God for his people, Israel.

Yahweh himself will watch over you; he’s always at your side to shelter you safely in his presence.

He’s protecting you from all danger both day and night.

He will keep you from every form of evil or calamity as he continuously watches over you.

You will be guarded by God himself.

You will be safe when you leave your home, and safely you will return.

He will protect you now, and he’ll protect you forevermore!

PSALM 121 The Passion Translation

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It’s time to CELEBRATE God’s goodness. Take a look at what he has been up to the last few years. This container project began in 2019 just before the world seemed to turn upside down. The dream was to put in these containers and modify them into a solid metal building that would house a medical clinic, technology center, and library for the children of Saviour King School in Kibera Slum, as well as house a training center for the Lily Among Thorns young mama’s empowerment group.

When the world seemed like it might be slowing down, God did what only God can do… stir the hearts of his people and make things happen. And He did just that!

And look at it standing tall and proud today! It serves over 500 children and families in Kibera Slum. It will help to expand their learning in the necessary technology skills they will need to reach their dreams. These kids are working hard for the careers they dream to acquire one day, and now they have a much better chance. Is this not amazing? This is reason to CHEER! Let’s clap and shout.

Now, we just need to stock it with library books, supplies, and resources. We have a few ways you can help with this. 1. Purchasing the bookmark in the store help to purchase new books for the library. 2. You can click the donate button below to give towards this project.

Together we can make a difference!

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Do you know what it feels like to have your kids go hungry? I mean, haven’t eaten for a couple of days hungry? How about thirsty? And again, not just thirsty but thirsty for a few days, thirsty. For many, this is hard to imagine, for many others, it’s not. There are things we can do.

And what about having some limitations due to accidents, injuries + disabilities? Having some uncertainty of how to provide the basics for your family.

I have one. What about being a widow and having your home in disrepair. Unable of how to handle it and the 10,000 other things your spouse was overseeing. This added on top of your heavy weight of grief. I actually know this one.

Yes, some of us can resonate more with certain needs due to our own personal experiences. That is exactly why we have provided an array of giving areas because we KNOW what a difference it makes in your own life when you can pour out a little love into an area where you were hurt. This is where PAIN finds PURPOSE.

So let’s see which one pulls on your heartstrings, or reminds you of a loved one. Because these make FABULOUS Christmas gifts for the hard to buy for. And we have a terrific one for a Teachers appreciation gift.

Just click on the image and it will take you to our giving catalog where you can donate towards any of these projects.

Have you seen them yet? They’re beautiful aren’t they? The earrings created in Kibera Slum by these beautiful women.

We held a two day earring workshop with the most amazing young women in the Lily Among Thorns Women’s Empowerment Group in Kibera Slum. These young women are BRILLIANT, beautiful, and so kind. They rolled up their sleeves and just did the thing of making these beauties so we could bring them back for you to purchase.

Aren’t they stunning?

As we sat working alongside them we heard pieces of their stories + shared pieces of ours. Many of their kiddos were sitting right with their mamas, watching them learn + do. These young women have SUCH a bright future in front of them. We are thrilled to be able to be a part of this movement and we would LOVE to have you join us as well.

The proceeds of all sales of these earrings goes back into the empowerment program. In this program they will be learning about baking, sewing and cosmetology. Learning skills that will carry them into the future to create a life that they have dreamed of. Our dear partners are SO amazing! They saw these young women + knew they wanted to create a space where these girls would be seen, loved + taught about how God so beautifully designed them.

Some of the styles of earrings are running low in inventory already, so make sure and grab them quickly before you lose your chance.

You can head on over to: Lily Among Thorns Kibera: Earrings to purchase them now. Let us know in the comments which ones you purchased or love best!

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We would like to introduce you to Emi. She is one amazing human! We had the privilege of having her join us on our recent Outreach Trip to Africa this last month and BOY was she a joy to have along.

This girl is a shining light to anyone who comes near her. It was so inspiring to watch her in action as she loved on whoever she came in contact with. She made the best out of every hard situation, even slopping mud became a joy-fest.

Watching her in action we knew she was a world-changer! And look at her now, back just one week and making her birthday an opportunity to gather people alongside her to reach out to the world with a little more love. She has chosen to BRING MORE DANCING by asking her friends and family to join her in raising funds for the GoEden Kids Dance Team of Garden of Eden Children’s Home located just outside of Nairobi, Kenya.

We love you Emi and are SO PROUD OF YOU! Thank you for making a difference!

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A note from Emi:

“Hi y’all! For my birthday, instead of asking for presents, I wanted to bless kids around the world. I’m a dancer and when I was in Africa, I learned how important dance was to them. So, as my birthday present, I call you to donate towards the Garden of Eden Dance team. I’ve met these kids personally and they all have big hearts and groovy dance moves. Thank you in advance!”

Sincerely,

Emiline Hansen

There are not enough words in all of the English language to express how beyond grateful we are for this opportunity doTERRA has given us to participate in the Healing Hands Match Program. doTERRA will match every single dollar we raise up to $10,000. Isn’t this amazing?

Two years ago I was sitting in my husband’s hospital room with a few others who formed the board of our newly established nonprofit. We held our first board meeting right then and there. We all knew the chapters of Dave’s life on earth were coming to an end but the bigger story he played a role in would not be coming to an end. Honestly, I think this carried our family through the pain of losing him more than we realized. It gave us all something to look forward to, his legacy carrying on.

And now, I have sat with the title of widow for nearly two years. The other day I mentioned to my friends that it is like a very uncomfortable garment that you are forced to slip on, the heaviness unbearable at times. Yes, you may grow accustomed to the weight of it, while building up new-found muscles to navigate through life with. BUT you so wish you never had to put the thing on, and you never forget its presence.

The thing is, people can gather around you and help distribute the weight of it a little more evenly. They give you a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen to, a heart to feel you and helping hands to carry out some of the tasks that overwhelm. The added weight of widow-ness is excruciatingly heavy on its own, and the loss leaves a MASSIVE wake of tasks to do, words to be spoken, and trauma to process. So, when a friend takes a precious step close enough to take on some of that you feel the sweet relief you needed but didn’t realize was possible. It’s like a big gasp of fresh air when you weren’t aware you had been holding it.

The other thing to mention is that widow-ness knows no boundaries, it crosses all the lines, it speaks the same language of pain. The aftermath of a death, no matter where you are in the world, plays that same melancholy tune that vibrates the heart + shakes the mind of the one left behind. Crawling up in a ball + rocking your body to the beat may feel like the only option. I didn’t understand this until it was me, the widow. And then I SAW with new eyes and felt with a different heart. One language understood: grief.

That is why this Widow Project means EVEN MORE to me now than it did a few years ago when I was first introduced to the work of the home building projects in Western Kenya. I get it on a whole new level. If you have watched the video I created of my Pamoja Love Story then you have a little deeper understanding already. If you missed it here is the link: The Pamoja Love Story

Death can bring what feels like destruction but it also provides ample opportunity for HOPE + LOVE to break through and break down the lies that you are alone. It takes people mobilizing in love though, we must not just think about it, or become stagnant. We must reach out and DO SOMETHING, even if just a little.

TOGETHER the little grows and becomes a beaming ray of sunshine in someone’s life. Can you imagine for a moment the loss, the loneliness, the overwhelm of your home falling apart and someone knocking on your door saying: “I see you. Are you okay? Can I help you?” That is love in action. That matters deeply.

We would love to have you join us in this mission to reach the hurting + love on them right where they are. With the match program, $325 will build them an entirely NEW HOME! Watch this video on The Home Building Project to see how the building project works with the community to partner together. It really is a thing of beauty. We also have the food program which is $25, matched that gives food supply to two families.

Here is a peek into one of the home projects we partnered with last year: Seen + Loved

This is the link to the MATCH PROGRAM . Make sure your donation goes in on that link or it won’t get matched.

A HUGE shout out to doTERRA for allowing us this opportunity to be matched. The lives of so many families are about to be changed. This hope + love is going to ignite a fire that spreads beyond our wildest imaginations.

So much love sent out to you all!

“Healing is a matter of time,

but it is sometimes also a matter of opportunity.”

- Hippocrates

Picture nearly 600 children attending one school in the midst of Africa’s largest slum. You wouldn’t have to stretch your imagination too far to consider some of the medical challenges they face from lack of nutrition and financial resources.

Consider for a moment the more extreme health complications that come as a result of not being able to afford to be seen. Simple issues unattended can quickly become life-threatening at times. And even the more simple health issues can become roadblocks to a successful education.

Now consider the benefits of having an on-site medical clinic that the students visit routinely. Where medical staff is present to examine, assess and address what is at hand. Imagine that kind of care. Imagine the immense relief the family experiences to know their child will be cared for.

As we considered the resources needed to set up this clinic, and to keep it operating, we thought what better way than to offer it to doctors + medical personnel on this side of the world to sponsor medical staff + supplies on the other side of the world. Beautiful, right?

We are hoping to have three full time staff SUPPORTED which costs approx $250 per person. And then we are hoping to stock the medicine cabinet and supplies with another $250 a month. This can be sponsored by an individual, or collectively with medical staff from an office.

We cannot wait to have this up and running!

Can I have your permission to get a little real + raw here? Because to be honest, I don’t have a lot of space for cushy, kind, pleasantries. I guess that is what immense grief does to you. Tack on six months of forced isolation. You have one big ball of surreal life. So here we go, here is my story on finding the purpose in my pain.

I’ll back up a little bit for you. For those that don’t know, the cover photo on this website is of my late husband and I. It was our last trip to Africa together. He looks a bit tired + haggard in the photo because, well, unknown to us when we set out on the trip, his cancer was back with a vengeance. By the time of this photo we knew there was problem. He was in some serious pain but he was praying it was just a weird nerve pain.

It had been a few months since he had completed chemo and the word “ remission” had been mentioned. We felt safe… enough. Because to stay in the space of honesty, once cancer hits you never really feel completely safe again. We had a feeling this may be our last trip together, we prayed it wasn’t so, oh how we prayed. The majority of our kiddos came along with the team we led, outside of our one daughter who stayed back to grow our little grandson in her belly.

This trip was precious to us for so many reasons but mainly because we were once again doing what we loved to do together. And we were doing it with our African friends who had long ago become family. It was a time that held reflection, encouragement + dreams.

As our trip continued his pain increased and by the time we arrived home it was unbearable for him. No sleep, no ability to lay down for longer than 5-10 minutes at any hour of day or night. Nothing, absolutely NOTHING, brought relief of any kind. It took over a week to get in for more tests only to find that yes, the cancer was back and growing rapidly. Our only option, bone marrow transplant. I am not going to walk you through the whole journey because it would be a novel. I will say we did everything we knew to do. It just wasn’t meant to be. Seven months after we returned from Africa he passed away in our home. That same afternoon I would be setting up for our daughter’s formal wedding the next day, where I would now walk the aisle to stand alone in front to give her away to her new husband. Surreal. Numb. PAIN.

So, wow… that is a lot, and it is heavy. But that truly is my pain. A pain that doesn’t easily subside. A pain that visits me every day in unexpected ways, and in unforeseen moments. But I want you to hear me… all along I have known with the most assuredness that there was some sort of purpose to come out of my pain. After all, pain brings awareness + compassion. It softens our hearts to a point of understanding that we had no idea existed. The very thing that hurts us the most also has the ability to be the very thing that drives us to bring change + hope.

For instance, in the thick of my husband’s treatments we pressed on to start this nonprofit. In his last hospital stay, where we were trying to buy time to remain together for the wedding, we held our first board meeting. And three months after he passed away I took a dream team with me to serve, and to gather material to use to spread awareness on this very platform. All of this pressing-on in the thick of pain because of the very solid belief there is indeed a purpose in all pain… and when you find it, when you use it, healing will come your way.

Little did we know on those first few flights to Africa, over 10 years ago, that God would be weaving our stories together so tightly with those we were going with the intention to serve. Oh, over the years we have learned so much, how they love so deeply, they serve right back, they give more than they receive. And in the wake of my grief, remembering the kind of LOVE that they so genuinely expressed to us, gave so freely of despite their circumstance; remembering this LOVE drove me to keep going, to keep my eyes focused out whenever I had the ability. I always had a passion for serving the vulnerable but until this I did not have a good understanding of just how vulnerable they felt. Now I had more in common with them than I wanted to. Sorrow + Lament: the treasures we hold but never asked to carry.

So many of our current projects here at Pamoja Love involve helping widows: food programs, medical care, even child sponsorship as it reduces the burden of school fees for many widows. However, today I want to take a minute to share about the Home Building projects we partner with. These situations are widows who live in very dismal circumstances. Their homes are literally falling apart, dirt floors, with many people in a very small space. The homes typically have one, or two, very small rooms . Our partners have witnessed this desperate need way too often and have in return developed a brilliant response to meet the need. They set up this beautiful partnership with the widow in need where she works with her community to provide some of the basic building materials + labor needed to begin the project. Once she has established the groundwork, then we come in to do a large portion of the home, in the end the community comes in to help finish up the mudding of the internal walls. It is a shining example of working TOGETHER for the good: local leaders + church + community building a safe haven for a precious woman who most likely has felt very alone, unseen + unworthy. This is a B E A U T I F U L thing, isn’t it? This is where I find my pain brings me tremendous purpose, it drives me to help continue to reach out in love.

I mean, who wouldn’t want to be a part of something like this? And imagine being able to go and meet the family you helped build the home for, to see them thriving. It’s possible. To see how this project brought people together for the good, developing long lasting ties. Hope restored, you just can’t put a value to that. If you would like to join in this and spread a little hope + love here is the link to donate towards it. $625 gives a very basic but SOLID home with a dirt floor. $1000 and we can give them a concrete floor so they don’t have to worry about jiggers burrowing in their feet. (if you don’t know what I am talking about click here to learn about the jiggers project or click here to watch video)

Can you imagine how our current world circumstances have increased the needs? Ugh. I would absolutely LOVE to raise awareness and provide for the long list of women who are waiting. Want to join me? Let’s talk about creative ways to help meet the need. Reach out to me, I just know God cares so deeply, and so do I! I stand here 100% believing that TOGETHER we can help make a difference. Let’s be HOPE bringers.

Be LOVED,

Kimber Ryan

Founder: Pamoja Love

To read more about the Home Project click below:

A Safe Shelter from the Storm: Homes for the Vulnerable

Click below to learn about jiggers from dirt floors:

Facebook Video: Jiggers

A Challenge for LOVE in ACTION; because of you Bob + Linda Gist.

LOVE + PEOPLE = LOVE IN ACTION. One thing we know, when love is on the move it is contagious. In order for that love to be on the move it requires people to be carriers of it. (Bob + Linda, as much as you don’t EVER want the attention on you, we want to spotlight you because the way you live life in love is worthy of being on display, and it is CONTAGIOUS!)

Bob + Linda are a beautiful representation of LOVE IN ACTION. We have personally been abundantly blessed by their love in action time and time again, but it doesn’t stop with us. The love these two exude travels the globe. And we can’t share of their love without pairing it with the knowledge of it being extremely selfless + humble.

We could tell you story after story about these two and how they SHOW UP, over and over again. Constant, steady, helpful, humble. It is truly LOVE AVAILABLE whenever you need it. It’s the kind of love that walks the less traveled paths to seek and find those in need. The kind of love that finds you where you are at, accepts you as you are, and reaches in to help. It’s a practical and stunning representation of the kind of love Jesus has for us. We want to honor that kind of love. We want to CELEBRATE that kind of goodness. We want to JOIN hands with that movement of CONTAGIOUS LOVE that spreads like fire.

So, we are asking for anyone that knows and loves the Gists (or wants to know these amazing people) to make a love deposit that can SPREAD to their friends and family in Africa. They have people they serve over there that could use a big dose of encouragement and love right now. The local leaders are working tirelessly to provide the basic necessities of food to families in need under very stressful circumstances. It is about $30 per family per week for the most basic of food supplies, $120/month.

Want to help spread a little love? Click the donate button below for giving options, and we will make sure to let Bob + Linda know of your quest to join the challenge to love well. Let’s show them the example they have modeled for us!

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Just six days from now one of Pamoja Love’s dear friends is rowing her heart out raising funds to help build a medical clinic in Kibera Slum.

The medical clinic is being built at the school we have been serving in for over 10 years now. We have witnessed just a fraction of the desperate need these kids face on a daily basis.

Imagine a school with nearly 600 children attending in the midst of a slum where hard-working families struggle to find enough work to support the provision of a daily meal for their families. How then do they afford medical care? And we all know how a simple issue can evolve into a serious health concern when unattended. But what if…

What if these brilliant young children had the ability to walk just a few steps outside of their classrooms to get the help they need as it presents itself. They would not only remain to feel seen and loved but they would tangibly be cared for in a whole new way. This is something BEAUTIFUL that we stand behind 100%!

We love that Kathy had a heart to want to get involved and do something in the name of love, care and concern. What a creative idea too! Dream people, look at things you are already doing and see if there is a way you can use it to spread the love in some small way. In the mean time, join Kathy in her movement! $42 is all it takes to get rows ahead towards the goal!

please share this fundraiser with your friends as well!

It is hard to imagine being worried about the rains coming in, or the walls crumbling down, unless you have been there yourself. But Imagine for a moment, if that was you, finally being found, seen and cared about.

I have personally met hundreds of people who were in this predicament over the last 10 years. My heart has always been deeply impacted by their situation, and I have always wanted to do more. But it wasn’t until this year that I received a deeper understanding. This year I too became I widow. I too had a part of our roof that was leaking and it was completely overwhelming to me. As I worried about the coming rains I couldn’t help but think about all of the precious men and women I had met over the years who had harsher circumstances than I and still continued to be joy bringers. Even though their circumstances are grim, they still do what they can to help those in their communities. Even if they have a roof falling in, a stream run through their home from the rains, or their animals (cows, chickens, goats) sleeping next to them on the dirt floor at night, they still give with the little they have to help others. They don’t crumble under the weight of their situations, they keep going step by step.

And then, for some, a ray of hope appears. Someone comes and wants to help them. Someone sees their desperate need, and acts on it. And this overwhelming wave of joy and relief washes over them. They will have a new home; a safe shelter from the storm.

The purchase of a home covers the basic construction of the exterior, meanwhile the recipient of the new home, along with their community, provide the materials and labor to build the internal walls. I love this for so many reasons.

1. It seeks out and finds those who feel forgotten

2. the recipient is taking ownership in the process, it isn’t a hand out but a hand up

3. it brings people together to work for the good

4. it gives people back their dignity

The list could go on and on and on. $620 donated with the rest of the cost of house raised and/or provided by the new homeowner. $620 needed for an entire new house for a family. A home that a family can dwell in, feel safe in, create quality life in without worry of the rains coming in. If this is something you would like to contribute to click this link: A new home

If you can’t swing the total cost for a home you can donate towards this with a smaller amount. Just head over to our “DONATE” tab and leave a note in the comments of what project you want it to go to.

If you want to read more about other giving projects check out the links below, or head over to our giving catalog. Also make sure and join our FB page at Pamoja.love

Together we can make a difference!

Other Giving Catalog Projects:

Shoe Drive Project

Technology in Kibera Slum

Medical Clinic in Kibera Slum

Bananas for kids

Christmas Food Bundles for Widows

Fresh Water Station