Bushfire Ministry
Bushfire Ministry serves as the umbrella body for Handprints Society’s outreach in Pokot.
Founded with a vision to transform remote and marginalized communities in the region,
Bushfire Ministry embodies the same heart of love, hope, compassion, and transformation
but contextualized to the unique needs of West Pokot. Through this arm, we are able to
coordinate and implement projects that address education, spiritual growth, healthcare,
and community development. It serves as a hub for our mission’s long-term presence in
Pokot, facilitating sustainable change and multiplying our reach.
Bushfire Ministry provides structure, leadership, and continuity for all the work taking
place in Pokot. It ensures that every project is grounded in God’s love and tailored to the
realities of the people we serve—where extreme poverty, cultural practices, and
geographical isolation have historically denied families access to education, healthcare, and
spiritual growth. The ministry offers a permanent presence, meaning our help is not
seasonal but deeply rooted, enabling relationships, follow-up, accountability, and long-term
transformation. By coordinating teams, mobilizing resources, and building local
partnerships, Bushfire Ministry stands as a beacon of hope, a flame that keeps burning in a
land where hope was once faint.
Widows Christmas Food Basket
What began as a calling to ensure widows and orphans do not go hungry during Christmas
has grown, by God’s grace, from serving 20 widows to reaching over 1,000 every year. Each
widow receives a basket filled with rice, flour, beans, maize, sugar, tea leaves, soap, salt,
matchsticks, and cooking oil. This outreach is our way of celebrating Christ with the women
closest to His heart, reminding them that God has not forgotten them.
In many communities, widows face deep rejection and humiliation immediately after the
death of their husbands. Cultural norms often strip them of dignity some are accused of
causing their husband’s death, others are forcefully removed from their homes, and many
lose access to land, property, and family support. Without protection, widows are left
vulnerable, isolated, and burdened with the responsibility of raising children alone.
During festive seasons like Christmas, this isolation becomes even more painful as they
watch other families celebrate while they suffer silently. This is why the food basket is
more than a gift it restores hope, dignity, and reminds them that God has not forgotten
them. The food basket is more than physical nourishment; it represents God’s love and
the church’s embrace. Over the years, we have witnessed tears turn to laughter as widows
receive these gifts. Many testify that they had no hope of a meal. By reaching over 1,000
widows, we extend Christ’s love to the people who are often overlooked. The growth
from 20 to thousands reflects a divine expansion and faithful provision year after year.
Free Medical Camps & Jigger Campaigns
Through our medical missions, we bring Christ’s healing touch to communities with limited
or no healthcare access. We provide free check-ups, treatments, basic cancer screenings, eye
care, and health education. In Western Kenya, where jiggers have caused deep suffering, our
campaigns have restored dignity and reduced infestations significantly.
These medical missions save lives. In remote villages, people suffer from infections,
untreated injuries, jiggers, and chronic illnesses simply because healthcare is too far or too
costly. Our camps bring doctors, nurses, medicine, and hope directly to them. Jigger
treatment in particular has transformed children who once could not walk, write, or attend
school due to pain and shame. By cleaning their wounds, and educating families on hygiene,
we restore dignity and confidence. The medical camps also help detect early signs of
conditions like hypertension, diabetes, cervical cancer, and eye diseases giving families a
chance to seek further treatment before it is too late. Through this, we truly become the
hands and feet of Jesus.
Education Project
Education unlocks destiny. We support both boys and girls from disadvantaged
backgrounds by providing school fees, uniforms, supplies, and mentorship. Our goal is to
bridge the gap between a child’s present challenges and the bright future God has prepared
for them. From primary to secondary and university levels, we walk with children through
their education journey. We provide school fees, uniforms, books, and essential needs to
ensure students remain in school and pursue their dreams.
Many talented children drop out of school not because of lack of ability but because of
poverty. By lifting the financial burden from families, we give children the chance to dream
again. This project nurtures future teachers, nurses, pastors, engineers, and leaders. Beyond
material support, mentorship plays a vital role helping students make wise choices, deepen
their faith, and stay focused despite hardships. Every student we support becomes a living
testimony of how love and opportunity can rewrite a destiny. By God’s grace we so far have
supported 100+ kids through primary, secondary and even university levels.
House Building Ministry
God placed a burden on our hearts to restore dignity by building secure, permanent
homes for them. Every house is a testimony of God’s love. In many traditional settings,
the death of a husband leaves a widow exposed to rejection and mistreatment. Some are
chased out of their matrimonial homes by in-laws, others are denied access to land, and
many endure humiliation because they no longer have a male protector. A widow’s
shelter often determines her safety, dignity, and ability to provide for her children.
By building a secure house for a widow, we not only give her a physical home but also
restore her sense of worth. It protects her from shame, restores her identity in the
community, and becomes evidence that God defends the vulnerable. A home brings
stability, safety, and dignity. Many widows sleep in leaking huts or collapsing mud
houses. By building strong, permanent shelters, we provide protection from the rain, cold,
snakes, insecurity, and fear. Each new home symbolizes a fresh start a place where
children can sleep safely and mothers can rebuild their lives with hope. When a widow
steps into her new house, she knows God has remembered her. These homes stand as
monuments of God’s faithfulness in their villages.
Famine Relief Program
During seasons of drought or financial hardship, we provide food supplies to families facing
hunger. This ministry offers nourishment and encouragement, reminding families that God
sees and cares for them.
In times of famine, families can go days without food, with children suffering the most. By
delivering maize, beans, flour, and other essentials, we help stabilize families who are on the
brink of despair. This outreach not only addresses physical hunger but also brings
emotional and spiritual comfort. Families feel seen, valued, and supported during their
hardest moments. It is a practical expression of God’s love in times of crisis.
King’s Kids Program
This program nurtures the spiritual growth of children through Bible studies, fun activities,
mentorship, and discipleship. We teach children that they are loved by God, created with
purpose, and capable of becoming strong leaders.
Children learn foundational truths that shape their faith and character for life. Through
worship, Bible memory verses, games, and teachings, they build confidence, moral values,
and leadership skills. The program helps children grow in understanding God’s Word and
builds a generation rooted in righteousness. By investing in them early, we plant seeds of
leadership, responsibility, and godliness that will shape their future families and
communities.
Dorcas Empowerment Project
Inspired by the biblical Dorcas, this project empowers widows through skills training and
business support. We provide seed capital, mentorship, and training in activities like
tailoring, beadwork, farming, and retail.
This project restores economic dignity to widows who often struggle to provide even
basic needs. Widows in many communities suffer severe economic and emotional abuse
after their husbands pass away. With no source of income, many are mocked, neglected,
or taken advantage of. Some cannot provide food for their children, while others are
forced into desperate situations just to survive.
This project gives them more than skills it restores their dignity. By equipping them with
practical skills and startup capital, we transform them from dependents into providers.
Widows learn to sew uniforms, make beadwork, keep small livestock, run market stalls,
and grow food for profit. Mentorship ensures they grow spiritually, emotionally, and
financially. Many testify how these businesses have helped them feed their children, pay
school fees, and regain confidence. This is ministry that changes both hearts and
livelihoods.
