Praise be to God almighty, I am pastor Dickens Odoyo of Sindo village, Suba North sub-county, Homabay county. I got saved on 19/7/1999 when a servant of God spoke to me about salvation when we met on the way.

By that time, I was in form two but not in school, I was sent out of school due to lack of school fees. the principal gave me a letter that has to date that says am academically good but he cannot allow me to be in school since my parent cannot afford to pay the school fee for boarding therefore, I should go to a day school near home.

Bad luck enough that during that time there wasn’t any day school near our home more so in the Suba district.

It was on Friday evening when I was looking after our goats, I met that man of God who asked me what I was doing at home and my fellow students were in school. I gave him the reason, and he asked me if have ever given myself to God and my answer was no, he told me that the only thing I needed to do was to surrender my life to Jesus thereafter school fees wouldn’t be a problem, he told me God can use any means to enable me to proceed with my studies. Indeed, I gave my life to Jesus from then. In the year 2000 God opened the way for me I joined a rehabilitation school in Nairobi called Hidden Talents Academy.in Dagoreti it is still there to date. it’s a school for street children and orphans. the director is pastor Enos Baxic Oumo from Uganda. I learned there for three years though it was not easy.

From there I came home and I started having the burden of standing with orphans and vulnerable children. After all, I feel what they undergo because I tested it. I have stood with more than 900 students taking them to school, and looking for scholarships in secondary schools. right from where I was then pastor Enos connected me with other schools who are assisting these children.

Right now, I have three biological children and six adopted children who are under my care. I thank God for his provision though at times it’s not easy.

I became a pastor in the year 2018 after becoming an associate pastor for over 15 years. our God is gracious have been seeing his mercies. the challenges am going through is feeding these orphans and also educating them, and giving them (basic needs) together with my orphans. am praying to God to open a broader way on how these orphans and my biological children can learn appropriately. many orphans do come to me for assistance but I cannot afford to help them all.

Right now, I have three orphans and a needy student that I have been taking care of, they should join university but there now am a stack I cannot proceed with them to that level I only have one aim the lord God who started this in me will make a way that will bring a change in their lives automatically since they have nowhere to go to. I had preached the gospel of Christ to them and they are born again.

Recently two weeks ago we buried my dad who had been sick for over a year but am still strong in the lord knowing he has a reason why he took him.

Much blessings

May God bless you in your future endeavors and as you make efforts to roll the program of I TIM courses in Kenya and more so in Suba. indeed, I had studied them all they brought a greater change in my life, my friends who have shared with them, and church members who have been getting time to study together with me during our Bible study classes. may God bless Bob Sam the author of the program in fact God used him in a very anointing way he has blessed many, may God bless Rev Gong for accepting the call to come to Kenya to allow this program to be taught. may God bless the team that supports this program.

Pastor Dickens Odoyo

Nyagwethe Baptist Church.