The Rev. Joyce Nki explains the DREAM:
"Gaitu village has been lacking behind over the years since Kenya become independent from British colonial rule in 1963. Schools are lacking in many ways; roads and infrastructure is the worst in the country. The only thing that linked this village to the powers above and other parts of the country was the airstrip, which was closed in the early 1980s.
"However, I praise God for I know He has hope for this village and great things will happen. By His grace, Pastor Paul Pollock, the senior pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church, Port Orange, Florida, was a great instrument for the inception of the mission work in Gaitu, Kenya.
"This happened when I felt moved to share with him what I felt God was urging me and I had no means of doing anything. It was November 17, 2001, when I went to see him for the very first time. After listening to my story he said, 'Joyce, the Lord brought you to us for the work he is calling us as a church to partake in your village.'
"And we joined God in His mission to the village of Gaitu. And the journey began."
Connie's MOTIVATION
After going on two missions trips, in 2017 and 2019, Connie Cox returned home to New Smyrna Beach, FL, and began telling her friends and family about this great need for a medical clinic in Gaitu, Kenya.
Connie worked on different fundraising projects to help raise the money to build this medical community. But fundraising takes times and by the end of 2020, Connie received a medical diagnosis that made her put this effort on a fast track.
It was a devastating diagnosis to everyone but Connie. She had glioblastoma (GBM), an aggressive and deadly type of brain cancer that took the lives of Beau Biden, John McCain and Ted Kennedy.
Connie seemed to take it all in stride. She was going to cheer on her beloved Ohio State Buckeyes in the Sugar Bowl game against Clemson; have surgery to remove the tumor and undergo chemo and radiation treatments to get rid of it.
During the first few days of 2021, Connie turned her attention to raising money for Gaitu's medical clinic. Her diagnosis made this 2021 goal more urgent, prompting her to call upon her vast connections to help her bring this medical clinic to fruition.
Connie was a teacher. She loved children. When she went to Kenya, she led efforts to secure sports equipment and classroom supplies. She loved the children of Gaitu and they loved her.
She was glad to help with classroom supplies, but she loved being on the basketball court and soccer fields with the kids. She especially loved teaching them all about Ohio State University and teaching them the O-H-I-O chant.