“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.” John 3:16-18

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Looking back over the first few months of 2025, God has done great things. It’s been a busy year so far. Allow us to share some highlights through photos.

In our last update we shared about a couple different visitors we have had this year. In addition to them, Alex Teitelbaum, (above) a prosthetist from Knoxville, TN, also made the journey to serve with us at the clinic. Alex’s professionalism and enthusiasm was an encouragement to everyone, especially us. His love of the Lord was apparent in how he interacted with the hospital staff and clients. We are very grateful for the sacrifice he made in coming to Kenya to serve at Litein and we look forward to him coming back again one day!

We were also blessed to have our Ripe for Harvest Vice President, Gregg Vurbeff and his wife Kim come to stay for a couple of days as one of their many stops to visit some of our fellow RFH colleagues in other parts of Africa. It was great catching up with them and they were such an encouragement to us! Dr. Terer surprised them with a unique Litein Hospital send-off which included draping them with traditional Masai Shukas (see above).

The Rehabilitation Center continues to progress. We are so glad to share with you that out of the $45,000 needed for the additional costs, a total of $36,325.30 has been donated. In addition, we have gone through the budget line by line and cut out some work that we had hoped to do, but can wait. Lord willing, we should be okay to finish this project. Heavy rains have also caused some additional delays and costs, but the work continues. Please continue to pray for this project.

Donate to Project Eleven Five, Inc. to help replenish our scholarship fund!

Copyright (C) 2025 Steve and Danee Morel. All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is:
Steve and Danee Morel P.O. Box 243 Leo, IN 46765 USA

Last month we were able to take our second trip to Lake Victoria. This time we journeyed to Rusinga Island, where we visited a school for children with disabilities. We preregistered over 80 children and adults before heading out. Together with AIC Litein Mission Hospital, we gave away 72 wheelchairs, and 56 Bibles, mostly to children. While life is difficult for these kids, smiles that day were abundant. Their joy, in spite of a very challenging life, was inspiring to everyone that came.

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy. – Proverbs 31:8-9

Steve and I continue as missionaries under Ripe for Harvest, help support our work here.

We were blessed with many visitors during this last trip to Kenya. Brian More and Joel Porter came all the way from Ft. Wayne, Indiana, to join us on the trip to Rusinga. We couldn’t have done it without them as they helped put together the 72 wheelchairs and assist Solomon in making sure they all fit each client perfectly.

Reverend Justice, above left, joined us on the island. Rev. Justice is a chaplain at Litein Hospital. He was a huge blessing as he shared the Good News with the crowd, and also indivudually as he spoke with students and clients. Above he is spending time with two girls waiting outside Steve’s work area. Several people from the island received new legs, more to follow in the upcoming months.

It was a great trip overall. We look forward to seeing how the Lord continues to grow this ministry in the future!

Thanks to a specific giving project from Living Hope Church, Brian and Joel were able to bring eight child walkers to help children who are mobility challenged. Solomon was so excited to receive these as the Rehabilitation Center had nothing like these.

Above, the first trial of a walker. Solomon was so excited to see how these assisted his youngest patients, that while they were purchased for use at the Rehabilitation Center, he is already trying to figure out how we can send some home with patients. The more time a child spends out of his wheelchair or off the floor, the greater the chance they have of leaning to walk!

Help purchase more walkers and other equipment for the Rehabilitation Center

Dr. Grace Yucha, above, 2nd from the right, made the decision last year to come and serve for a month at Litein Hospital through World Medical Mission. Although we had never met until she arrived at Litein, we know the Lord brought her at just the right time. She was a huge blessing to our family. She was able to come to Rusinga Island with us, and joined us for many meals and games in our home. She was especially a blessing to Remi, and became like one of her sisters.

On the way to the island, we stopped at the home of a former patient, Martin, whom we had met on Mfangano Island. He was having some issues with his leg, and Steve and the team were able to make the necessary adjustments. Above is Martin’s wife, and grandson. Below, next to Steve is Martin, in front of his home.

Last update we told you about a need to raise an additional $45,000 for the construction of the Rehabilitation Center. The Lord has provided $21,250 so far! We are so grateful and ask for your continued prayers in this.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods. His love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords: His love endures forever.” – Psalm 136:1-3

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Copyright (C) 2025 Steve and Danee Morel. All rights reserved.

Our mailing address is:
Steve and Danee Morel P.O. Box 243 Leo, IN 46765 USA

One Step Back. . .

As we are getting closer to the end of the building of the new Rehabilitation Center, we just came out of some very difficult meetings. There are two primary issues that are affecting us moving forward towards completion, all related to costs.

The first obstacle is that we have encountered some structural design issues. We found out last fall that the elevator shaft needed to be moved. We were originally told that the effect on the budget was very minimal as there were savings elsewhere. However, we were just given the news that this is not the case. The difference is about $45,000.

The other factor that has hurt us is the rising value of the Kenyan shilling and inflation. The prices of cement and steel have all gone up at the same time the value of our dollar has fallen compared to the Kenyan shilling.

We look forward to seeing how the LORD will help us to meet this challenge. We already have $10,000 in commitments. Would you prayerfully join us in asking the LORD to provide all the additional $35,000 that we need to complete this project? We know He can and will…maybe even through you or your church?

Give here to help us complete this project

Coming up in our next update…. The trip to the island in Lake Victoria went very well, we gave away 72 wheelchairs! We look forward to sharing more about it in our next update.

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.” Psalms 19:1

And so did the smiles on the faces of the kids on Rusinga Island! Thank you for supporting this work!

Copyright (C) 2025 Steve and Danee Morel. All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you support this ministry and signed up for our updates OR you are someone that we thought might be interested in receiving them. We know inbox’s can get crammed with too much junk, so let us know if you would like to stop receiving our updates. We promise to not be offended! ;0)

Our mailing address is:
Steve and Danee Morel P.O. Box 243 Leo, IN 46765 USA

We arrived back at the hospital last Friday. Just before arriving, we learned that Austine, the technician that we hired when we opened the clinic back in August of 2023, had resigned. He moved back to the area of Kenya where his family was from. While we were disappointed, we are grateful for his time here and his help in getting the clinic up and running. We wish him the best, and also know the this is another opportunity for us to trust God to bring us the next right person. We hope to start interviews next week to fill the position. That said, Steve isn’t entirely alone as there in an intern here that is assisting, but he is very busy! Above are photos from six patients that came all the way from Turkana, Kenya. They arrived on Sunday and it took them an entire day to travel here. They are staying at the hospital all week. We are grateful for a sponsor from the US that is helping with the cost of their new prosthetic legs. Please pray for Steve as he tries to finish them all in a timely manner to get them back to their homes.

Partner Through Giving

Above is the room where the four ladies are staying. Steve wasted no time and was busy right away!

HOPE Fund

We recently started the Hope Fund, a fund that enables parents of children with disabilities to bring their children in for physical therapy at no cost to them. It is a challenge for the families we are reaching to even be able to pay for the transportation to get to the hospital, let alone pay for needed therapy. Already this fund has reached 30 children! For just $15 an appointment, or $50 for an entire month, you can support a child to receive the life changing care they need. Not only that, but it is a means to reach these families with the love of Jesus Christ, who is the greatest hope of all.

These beautiful children are all waiting on wheelchairs that are being fitted especially for their needs. Some of them are also benefiting from the HOPE Fund, receiving much needed physical therapy. Thank you for helping us to reach these precious children with the care they need, and to encourage their families that they are not forgotten.

Help us keep the HOPE Fund going!

The Rehab Center is nearing completion!

You can see in the photo above that the walls and columns are now covered with plaster and will soon be ready for painting. The Rehab staff is more than excited to move in to this new space. The other photo is of the continued construction of the fourth floor. Praise the Lord!

As a family, we remain missionaries under Ripe for Harvest World Outreach as we also run Project Eleven Five. To help with our support, you can give to Ripe for Harvest. Your faithful giving through the years has made this ministry possible. To God be the glory! THANK YOU!

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Copyright (C) 2025 Steve and Danee Morel. All rights reserved.

We hope you all had a very blessed Christmas. It’s hard to believe another year is closing. It has been full and busy for us and we have much to look forward to in 2025. One of the things we are excited about is the newly launched Hope Fund. This is a scholarship fund we have established to help children who need physical therapy but cannot afford the help. For as little as $15, you can come alongside Litein Hospital to provide an hour of physical therapy for a child in need. Only $50 sponsors a child for an entire month of physical therapy. Early intervention can make a life changing difference for a child with a physical handicap. It can mean the difference between learning to walk, or having to depend on others. The children we hope to help would not be able to receive this type of care without someone intervening on their behalf. The greatest part is that it also gives us an opportunity to minister to the family, sharing the Good News of Jesus. Please consider partnering with us in this.

Give to help support projects like the Hope Fund and change a life!

No, those boxes above weren’t all of Steve’s Christmas presents to me! (Ha Ha!) This past fall, Steve, along with Doug Nicola, a great friend and board member, made a trip down to North Carolina to Samaritan’s Purse’s headquarters. They delivered 18 boxes of donated prosthetic supplies to be put on a container going to Litein Hospital. We are so grateful for Samaritan’s Purse amazing ministry. Please join us in praying that this container gets through customs with no problems and everything reaches the hospital in a timely manner.

Words cannot express how grateful we are, first to the Lord, for guiding us over the last 15 years to build this ministry. He is GOOD! And secondly to all of you, for answering the call with us and to be a part through your prayers and giving. We are humbled and thankful to partner with you all.

We hope and pray you have a very blessed and Happy New Year!

Steve and Danée

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Like many of you, we are looking back with hearts full of gratitude for what the Lord has done over the last year. Countless lives have been touched, the impact of which is immeasurable. Families have been changed, and hope has been given.

Here is a bit of the last year in review…don’t worry, mostly photos!

365 days ago, we had no idea how we were going to raise the funds for the vision the Lord had put in our hearts for a new Rehabilitation Center in Kenya. In fact, we had started to second guess the timing. We had thought we heard Him say we were going to start in January of 2024, but by the first of December, we only had $35,000 of the $250,000 needed. But three weeks later, before Christmas, the Lord had miraculously provided the funding needed! Below are some of the recent photos of the project. Lord willing, it will be finished by the end of March.

Help us Equip the new Rehabilitation Center!

The clinic at Litein Hospital has been open just over a year now, and we added a new product to our lineup. These legs are made with components designed with recycled plastic…great for our patients and the environment. And they look great too!

WHEELCHAIRS! We see many children with cerebral palsy so when Litein approached us with the opportunity to buy a container of wheelchairs (at only $15/chair) for a new wheelchair program, we knew we had to try. YOU answered and many people, including many children who never owned a wheelchair, have received not only the chair, but a Bible and a message of the hope of the gospel! We even delivered wheelchairs to Mfangano Island, in Lake Victoria, where the need is great.

Make a year end donation to help support this ministry all year!

BIBLES! For many people in Kenya, owning a Bible is a luxury they can’t afford. Because of your support we were able to help the small village church we attend with Bibles for the children and some Sunday school materials for the children.

There is so much more we are grateful for, the Lord has blessed us and this ministry greatly this past year. It’s not always easy, but He is Good!

Give to Ripe for Harvest to support the monthly needs of this ministry.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.” Psalm 136:1-3

Loaded down with 31 wheelchairs waiting to be assembled, three completed legs to deliver, and supplies with which to cast patients, ten of us took off for Mfangano Island, near the Ugandan boarder in Lake Victoria, very early last Friday morning. It was a whirlwind trip as the chairs were assembled and custom fit for the recipients. The three completed legs were delivered and fitted. Steve and Austine took casts for many more that will be finished here at Litein Hospital. This was an exploratory trip to identify the need and see if there are ways we can help in the future. Let us just sum it up by saying there is a tremendous need and so many heartbreaking stories. The stigmatism of being disabled was once again reinforced as one patient shared that when he lost his leg due to cancer, his friends left him.This was due to the commonly help belief that association with a disabled person is a bad omen. Pastor Bette, a Chaplain from Litein Hospital, came along and passed out 35 Bibles to those who had never owned their own Bible before. She was able to share the gospel with each patient and their caregivers, TWO people accepted Jesus Christ as their savior, and many, many more were encouraged.

Our determination to be a light in a dark world through sharing the Good News of Jesus and restoring mobility and freedom in His name has only increased. We have seen an abundance of patients which has quickly depleted our scholarship fund. The Lord has ALWAYS provided, and we are asking once again for His help. We know that where He has opened doors, He will provide the resources.

Arriving at the island and unloading the wheelchairs.

The crowds were already waiting when we arrived. We had coordinated with local leaders for tents, chairs, and a small snack and drink for everyone.

Wheelchairs were assembled and given out, beginning with the children and elderly recipients. Most had never owned a wheelchair and had been carried by family members to the event.

This beautiful girl is 14 years old and has never had a wheelchair. She was abandoned by her mother but has been taken care of by the woman above. She was used to crawling or dragging herself across the ground. Dr. Terer had a good conversation with her and found out that she is also very smart but has not been able to go to school. Dr. Terer connected her with the village Chief and asked that she be sponsored for school. We hope and pray this happens! She was so full of smiles even after waiting on this hot day for a wheelchair!

Help share the Good News through restoring mobility

Give toward more scholarships for legs

People came by whatever means they could, mostly on motorcycle taxis. This can be dangerous and we give God thanks for His protection.

Thank you for your support!

Those from the mainland or other islands loading up after receiving their wheelchairs.

Our happy group arrived back at the mainland the following morning. There are so many more photos and stories we could share…next time! We hope to return this February. Thank you so much to all of you who prayed for this trip, the Lord was with us, for sure.

Our first morning back at Litein, Dr. Elijah Terer (CEO) and myself (Steve) were walking into the hospital together. We noticed a man in a wheelchair sitting to the side missing both legs and took the opportunity to greet the man and made arrangements to get him to the prosthetic clinic. Bernard was to be our first patient. Since he only speaks Luo, his tribal language, Austine and I had to communicate with his brother. We found that Bernard had both legs amputated at the same time last March. The surgery was done by two separate surgeons which, unfortunately, resulted in two different outcomes. One had done an excellent job while the other had not. The poorly done amputation will need more time to heal which means that we are only able to make Bernard one leg at this time.

Bernard lives on Mfangano Island, which lies in the eastern part of Lake Victoria near the boarder of Uganda, with his wife and seven children. Like most men on the island, he makes a living as a fisherman. Back in February of this year, he started having some strange symptoms in his toes and fingers but didn’t seek medical attention until his condition worsened. Though the cause is uncertain, doctors speculated a bacterial infection had resulted in gangrene and in March, had to amputate both legs. He also lost most of the tips of his fingers.

Bernard and his brother had arrived at Litein Hospital early in the morning and his brother said that Bernard had not taken any food or water since leaving their island home more than 13 hours earlier. I immediately offered to get him some but he refused to take anything. He was fearful that he would need to use a public restroom, which are nearly impossible to use for someone in Bernard’s situation.

When we finished up with Bernard, I spoke with his brother who shared how they had been to several hospitals before and were largely ignored by staff. He was so touched that even the CEO of Litein would greet them and so grateful for the concern shown by us all. Then with a very serious tone, he pleaded with me for help. Instinctively, I thought he was asking for money but as he continued, he asked for help for his community. He shared that in his community on his island and other nearby areas were more than 100 amputees and other disabled people. The need for wheelchairs and legs was great and they had no help and no resources. He begged for us to come.

The need seems overwhelming but we feel that God has brought this forgotten area to our knowledge and we must go and see how we can help. This Friday, August 16th, there will be nine of us heading out to the island to distribute wheelchairs and do an assessment of the need for prosthetics (as well as fit Bernard with his leg!). We have been in contact with leaders on the island, including the island chief, to handle logistics once we get to the island. We would really appreciate your prayers as we go. Along with Steve, Danee and Remi, will be Solomon, head of the Rehab Department, Austine, Victor (an intern) Dr. Terer, CEO, his adult son Nathan, a chaplain, the driver and 20 wheelchairs. Please pray for safety and protection as we cross Lake Victoria, and for wisdom as we assess the situation.

We had our first pass through visitors. Christa and Dylan Humphrey are from Oak Park Church in Ft. Wayne. They have a ministry in another part of Kenya but took the time to stop by and see what is happening here. It was a blessing!

This summer our personal support has been low.  Would you consider making a gift to help us keep caught up? Just click here!

God’s Great Protection

The above photo looks like a bottle of water but it’s a chemical hardener that Steve mixes with resin in the clinic to make sockets. He bought resin and the hardener, which they repackage into water bottles, in Nairobi when we arrived and brought it here to Litein in the Samaritan’s Purse van. It was chaotic when we arrived with people greeting us and everyone grabbing our luggage and supplies. In the chaos, the bottle of hardener disappeared.

Fast forward to August 3rd. Another lady, myself, (Danée) and a driver set off to Kericho to go shopping for supplies. About halfway there, I took a big swig of a bottle of water that I had brought with me, and thank God, immediately realized that it was the missing bottle of hardener. I frantically rolled down the window and stuck my head out to spit out the chemical. My mouth, lips and chin were burning. The driver pulled over and I began to rinse with as much water as the others had. Aside from some redness from the chemical burns, sore throat and tongue, numb and slightly swollen lips, I was fine. By the following day, I was back to almost 100% and even taught in the village church. Had I swallowed the poison, the story would have ended much differently.

We give God great thanks and praise for my protection and that Remi had never taken a drink from that bottle. We are so grateful!

The building continues! Click here to watch Solomon Rop, head of the Rehab Department share his thoughts.

Because of your support, Project Eleven Five was able to partner with Litein Hospital to be able to provide free wheelchairs to those in need. The wheelchairs were donated, but it cost about $15 per chair to get them from the port in Mombasa to Litein Hospital. The first of these chairs have arrived! We can’t wait to see the lives that will be changed from this great project, not only in providing mobility, but the Good News of Jesus Christ as well!

THANK YOU FOR BEING PART OF THIS GREAT PROJECT!

Help support the ongoing work of this ministry to provide restored MOBILITY, FREEDOM and HOPE, in Jesus name.

The Lord has provided all the funds needed to enable us to purchase the entire container of wheelchairs we told you about in our last email. On behalf of those who will benefit from receiving wheelchairs, we want to say a huge THANK YOU to everyone who gave to make this possible! Please join us in praying for all the unknown people that will receive them. They are known by God.

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1 NLT

Support the Ongoing Work of Providing HOPE and MOBILITY