Update on our Kenya Mission
Updated Apr. 19, 2022
OSWLC members Jacob and Lauren Fraher, along with their four children Miriam (7), Micah (4), Layla (4), and Lorelei (9 months), have safely arrived in Tenwek, Kenya. They will be working there for the next three months as missionaries with World Gospel Mission. Tenwek is a Christian community about four hours west of Nairobi. Tenwek Hospital, which began in 1937, is now one of the world’s largest Christian mission hospitals, with over a dozen medical missionaries and their families serving in long-term assignments.
Children travel from all over Kenya for treatment at Tenwek. They often arrive as strangers in an unfamiliar place. When a child receives an unfamiliar diagnosis, parents and guardians are often consumed with fear and anxiety. Strained by the costs of travel and medical care and anxiety for their loved ones, many families lack safe accommodation while awaiting tests, surgery, or post-operative appointments.
In 2021, the Frahers started Mustard Seed House at Tenwek, which provides accommodation and distinctly Christian care to ease the hardship of children’s illness on families. OSWLC has been supporting Mustard Seed House as one of our international mission projects! The Frahers will be searching for a permanent home for this project in order to expand this critical ministry.
Please pray for the Frahers and for the families receiving accommodation and care at Mustard Seed House.
There are THREE WAYS you can receive updates from the Frahers while they are serving in Kenya:
- Facebook: Search “Follow the Frahers” on Facebook and then click “Join Group” or CLICK HERE
- Instagram: Search “follow_the_frahers” on Instagram and then click “Follow” or CLICK HERE
- E-mail: CLICK HERE to sign-up for the Faith Aid e-mail newsletter
Please keep the Fraher family in your prayers.
Mission Trips
"Go into all the world and reach the Gospel to all creation." Mark 16:15
Guatemala 2020
Guatemala 2020
Several members of OSWLC, Cathy O'Meara, Bill Pfancuff, and Jean Hergenroeder (who is now in Texas), met with our missionaries, Derek and Mimi Ellis, to witness and bring supplies to families in the mountain villages around Zacapa and Antigua, Guatemala. Their activities included both home visits and participating in worship services. While the visits were focused primarily on outreach to women and families, there were also opportunities to share the gospel with men in the various communities.
Of significance was a group of teenage girls who are very focused on their future thanks to Mimi and Derek. These young women study hard, participate in sports, and are fully engaged in church. It is so important to get the girls to focus on staying in school and participating in activities to further their education and social circle in Guatemala. Without this guidance, many girls drop out of school and end up young mothers, some sadly in abusive situations. This group of young ladies are able to do this primarily through a program our missionaries started several years ago called KIS (Keep in School). Because of the high poverty rate, children are expected to help earn income for the family from an early age by harvesting crops. During the harvest seasons children are sent to the fields to work for about $30.00 per month and are not able to go to school. The KIS program locates sponsors to replace the child’s wages and parents sign a contract to ensure the children stay in school.
Thanks to Thrivent Financial we were able to bring two sewing machines, as well as sewing and other supplies. We also provided assistance to Mimi and Derek in administration and marketing of their mission outreaches. They rely almost entirely on churches in the United States like Our Savior’s Way for their financial support. Derek is able to find part-time employment while they are back home, however that will not happen for sometime due to the COVID-19 outbreak. You may write Mimi and Derek at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find out more about their work on their website at Straightpathministries.org.
If you are interested in future mission trips to Guatemala or would like to know more about how to support them, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. who is the OSWLC Mission Team contact point for Guatemala. Please keep the Ellis family and all our missionaries, both local and abroad, in your prayers.
Some of the other Worldwide Support
- Lutheran World Relief - "Affirming God's love for all people, we work with Lutherans and partners around the world to end poverty, injustice and human suffering."
- Orphan Grain Train - "In loving response to Christ, the Servant, the Orphan Grain Train movement encourages and enables God's people to share personal and material resources in bringing Christ's name and character to needy people both far and near."
- Lutheran Partners in Disaster Response - "LPDR is an integral part of the Long Term Recovery effort in Somerset County Maryland."
If you would like to financially support any of our missions click here.