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House of Wells Enrichment Centres
Quarterly Newsletter (January to March 2021)
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RESTORING HOPE, RELEASING POTENTIAL
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Dear PARTNERS, we would like to thank you for supporting the work that we do at House of Wells. The seeds that you are sowing into the lives of the children are very precious, they are falling on productive grounds and we are seeing amazing fruits in their lives. Thank you for your loyal and regular support which enables us to do what we do. We pray that for every seed you have sown into House of Wells, may you receive a harvest “good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over”, in Jesus’ name (Luke 6:38).
  
H.O.W QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER – January to March 2021
As usual, we started the year with fasting, prayer and Bible study as a team. All House of Wells leaders across the four nations met via Zoom in January, to seek direction from God for the months ahead and to discuss lesson plans. Activities commenced in all House of Wells Centres in Kenya and Uganda during the second week of January. However, in South Africa and Zimbabwe, our programmes were postponed until mid-February due to pandemic restrictions, but we were able to check on the wellbeing of the children, via their parents/guardians. Our lesson topics this quarter were Importance of Salvation, Having an Attitude of Thanksgiving, and Curbing Fear and Anxiety.
      
During the week leading up to Easter, we taught the children about the importance of Jesus’ death and resurrection. Each child received Easter eggs and marshmallows. They also enjoyed several fun activities including an Easter Egg hunt and other Easter-themed games, puzzles and crosswords.
  
     
H.O.W Teenagers Valentine’s Day TALENT Competition
When we informed the teenagers that we will be starting a quarterly Talent competition which would be aimed at challenging their creativity, we had no idea it would be as impactful as it turned out to be. The competition truly stirred up their creative ability and each winner’s cash prize was an immense blessing as it was able to meet certain needs in their homes. The teenagers were asked to design a Valentine’s Day card with a message of gratitude to God for His love for them, and/or present an original song or poem about the love of God. All card messages, songs and poems must have scripture references. The 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes were equivalent to $15, $10 and $5 in local currency respectively.
      
It was amazing to see the incredible designs that the teenagers came up with. House of Wells is definitely helping to release potential! In the Card Category, three teenagers won in Kenya, four in South Africa and three in Uganda. In the Song/Poem Category, 1 teenager won in Kenya, six in South Africa and four in Uganda.
  
TESTIMONIES
….from H.O.W UGANDA
(1) My name is Quinn Florence; I am 16 years old. I was one of the contestants for this year’s Valentine’s Day Talent competition and I won 1st Prize (43000UGX) for my card design. The competition meant so much to me and this is my testimony. I was in need of some money in February, I prayed to God about it and a few days later the devil tried to tempt me. I received a phone call from a boy (I was not sure how he got my details), and he told me he wanted to send me some money and gifts for Valentine’s Day. I knew immediately that he was after something. I was about to say ‘Yes’ to the money, but for some reason I ended the call, deleted his number and switched off my phone. Two days later, Uncle Benbaker informed all the H.O.W teenagers about the Valentine’s Day Talent competition and the prizes. When I heard that there was money to be won, I knew this was how God was going to meet the need that I had prayed about. So, I asked the Holy Spirit for help and designed my card with scriptures about God’s love. I was so happy when I was announced as the winner for the Card Category. I thank God that I did not get money in the wrong way.
(2) My name Joanita Nakiguli-Bbosa, I am 15 years old. I won the 2nd Prize (30000UGX) in the Valentine’s Day Talent competition. I spent the money wisely as I had promised the Lord. I gave a tithe of 3000UGX. I spent some on my parents and siblings; and kept the remaining amount so I could add a bit more money to it to buy a dictionary. I thank the Lord for the grace and guidance that He gave me while I was creating the card and for winning a prize. I am also grateful to Pastor Richard and Pastor Kemi for organising the competition.
….from H.O.W SOUTH AFRICA
We thank God for three of our teenagers who were made School Prefects recently. Shaney Maree was selected as the Head Girl of her school, while her twin sister Shanice was made a prefect. The twins have been attending H.O.W for 10 years. Afton Hiles was also chosen as the Deputy Head Girl of her school. She joined H.O.W. in 2015. We are so pleased for them.
  
We are also very proud of two of our young people who passed their Matric exams. Khanyi and Frasia sent us the following testimonies:–
** My name is Khanyisa Ndongeni, I am 19 years old. I started House of Wells in 2017 when I was in grade 9. Before joining H.O.W, I lacked self-confidence and always felt lonely. Sis Thozama (H.O.W Centre Leader) invited me to join H.O.W. She told me that God loves me and has a plan for my life. The thing that interested me in H.O.W was the concept of love that she mentioned, and from the first day that I visited House of Wells, I felt that love and a sense of belonging. I loved that feeling and never wanted to lose it, so I kept attending H.O.W classes. The teachings at House of Wells have made me who I am today, confident, responsible and aware of who I am in Christ. I am where I never thought I would be, all because of House of Wells, I am a first-year student in Nelson Mandela University, studying Analytical Chemistry.
 
** My name is Frasia Chimewa, l joined H.O.W when I was 11 and I am now 19 years old. The Biblical mentoring at H.O.W have been a huge blessing to me. Prior to being part of the organisation, I was not aware of who God is or how to pray to Him. The Bible stories changed my life and I started to know right from wrong. I became very disciplined and focused. I am glad that l got to know Jesus Christ and accepted Him as my Lord and Saviour, otherwise l would have ended up like the other teenagers around me who were lost, on drugs or pregnant. It was helpful that I had like-minded teenagers at H.O.W as my friends, friends who fear God and want to have a better future. At my school’s award ceremony in December, I received academic excellence awards in various subjects and was named Top Achiever of the year. I did my Matric exams last year in the midst of the covid-19 pandemic, many people were getting sick around me, but God kept me. It was tough for me to study for each exam with all the chaos and distractions, but I worked hard and prayed regularly. My Matric results were released in February and I passed with 3 Distinctions.
 
APPEAL FOR ORPHANS
Please contact us if you would like to support any of these orphans who desperately need assistance.
(1) Arthur (14 years old) and Mercy (12 years old) – from H.O.W Uganda recently lost their Mother due to a heart attack. Their Father passed away in 2011. House of Wells have been providing support with food supplies, but the children require further assistance with school fees.
(2) Lydia (13) and Flavia (12) – Their father passed away in 2016; and their Mum died a few months ago. She was killed in a car accident while selling her goods by the roadside. They now live with their older sister (20 years old). They would like to return to school but they require assistance to pay their school fees.
MORE UPDATE FROM EACH REGION
HOUSE OF WELLS South Africa
In Port Elizabeth, we started a new Centre in Walmer Township, in an area called Empoza. Some of the parents that accompanied their children on the first day had heard about what House of Wells is doing in other parts of the Township – and so were excited to witness the arrival of our programme in their community.
  
In Mnqophiso Primary School, Zwide (Port Elizabeth), where we have an Enrichment centre, the Headmaster requested that we increase the frequency of our school visits, so that the children in the junior grades could also be taken through our Biblical Life Skills programme. He said the staff, parents, and School Governing Body appreciated the work that H.O.W had done with the Grade 6 and 7 pupils and wanted the younger children to also benefit.
  
HOUSE OF WELLS ZIMBABWE
At the end of February, all public gatherings were still very limited in Zimbabwe, due to a second outbreak of the Covid-19 virus in most parts of the country. However, we were able to continue engaging with H.O.W children by delivering scripture cards and activity books to their houses each week. Many parents looked forward to doing the H.O.W homework with their children as it was a great opportunity for quality family-time.
All our children who sat for their Primary School examinations performed very well.
Two of our leaders, as well as some family members of H.O.W children, contracted the Covid-19 virus, but everyone affected has now recovered. We thank God for total healing and restoration.
   
HOUSE OF WELLS UGANDA
House of Wells continues to be a blessing to the children in the Lusaze community and its surroundings every Wednesday and Saturday. We thank God for promoting His work by bringing more children to H.O.W. At the beginning of this quarter, average attendance was around 90 children, this has increased to 160 children in March. During one of our classes in February, there was a divine visitation, and many teenagers were filled with the Holy Spirit, with the evidence of speaking with other tongues. Glory to God!
The lesson on “How to Curb Fear” in February, was a very timely message in light of the pandemic, with fear griping the hearts of many people. Several children testified that they “will no longer fear because God has not given them the spirit of fear but of love, power and sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).
     
 
HOUSE OF WELLS KENYA
In the past few months, many parents have given their lives to Jesus and have begun attending church, as a result of their children attending H.O.W. We thank God that we are not only impacting the children that come to H.O.W, but their parents too. In February, during one of the lessons on ‘Overcoming Fear’, we performed a puppet show to emphasise the message and the children grasped this very easily. To our amazement, even the 4 to 6-year-olds remember what they learned up-to-now.
We have been encouraging our young people to create posters using five verses of their choice from the scriptures that they have been taught during their sessions. The posters can then be hung in their bedrooms as a visual reminder of the lessons. The children have also developed other creative ideas to remember the lessons such as rap songs and poems. We are experiencing an increase in the number of young people attending our sessions, as a result of H.O.W teenagers inviting their friends.
On 26th March 2021, the Kenyan government placed Nairobi and other neighbouring towns in lockdown because of further spread of COVID-19, all H.O.W activities are therefore currently on-hold in Kenya until further notice. During the lockdown we will supply the children with activity books and follow up with calls, via their parents. We look forward to the end of this situation, so that physical meetings with the children can resume.
     
THANK YOU PARTNERS
On behalf of our Trustees, Staff and the children at our Enrichment Centres , we would like to express our gratitude to each and every one of you – every Individual, Organisation, Business and Church that partner with House of Wells (monthly or occasionally). You are a key part of the lives of numerous children that are being transformed by God, through House of Wells, across South Africa, Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya.
We appreciate every individual, church or organisation that sends donations for the children’s daily meals and monthly groceries, for the purchase of school uniforms, for extra tuition classes for our Teenagers; for staff salaries; and for our flight tickets to and from the Mission stations – THANK YOU! May heaven bless and record your sacrifices and seeds sown into the lives of these children, in Jesus’ name.
Churches partnering with HOUSE OF WELLS:– The Liberty Church London (UK); City Chapel London, The King’s Family Centre (TKFC) U.K, RCCG Living Water Parish (UK), Trinity Chapel (UK), RCCG Bethel Parish, Chapel of Life (UK), Worship Tabernacle (UK), Charis Christian Centre (UK), Beacon Life Church, (Kenya) and HARVEST Christian Church, (Port Elizabeth) – we are grateful for your assistance and support in various ways.
Organisations supporting HOUSE OF WELLS:– Rest Assured Property (UK); LPS Estates (UK); ShopFit Group (SA), VITAE London, Ambience Consult LTD (UK), Systemxnet Limited (UK), Vision Excel Ltd (UK) and Panacom Ltd (UK) – thank you so much for your consistent financial support, may God continue to bless your businesses.
Many blessings,
Richard and Kemi OYIN-ADENIJI
House of Wells Enrichment Centres
www.houseofwells.org
FACEBOOK/house of wells enrichment centres – http://goo.gl/Gw792H
UK Charity Commission Reg no. – 1133474
SA Charity Reg no. – 074732NPO
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