Meet Sam I Am

This blog is in honour of My Maternal Grandmother

My Grandmother went to be with the Lord not long ago.  I am privileged to say that I was able to spend some time with her in her last days. I was able to introduce my Lovely wife to her and we had fun together. She used to call me her brother simply because I was named after her late brother. My mom often sent me during school breaks to spend time with her during my young adult life and I can say there are memories to be cherished forever.

My mom, who was also for a long time a Sabbath school teacher, is a retired teacher and serves now full time in the local church choir. My dad is a retired civil servant or better to say… he worked with the government.

I come from a family of six with one brother and four sisters. As my grandmother would put it, I am the reason we are six!!!!!I had my early years as a young adult in the western part of Kenya in a town called Kisii where I did my Primary (Elementary) School and Secondary (Senior) School. Just before finishing and after my high school years,  I had my fair share of rebellious years that saw me take odd jobs here and there to make cash until it was time for me to go to college. This must have been a very challenging time for mom to send me far away to college in the coastal town of Mombasa but I promised myself to get transformed while in college. I remember the fateful September 2004 like yesterday.

 There was this urge for me to be on the lookout for a role model and someone I could look up to. True to my quest,  I found one Godly man, Dennis Omondi, who was doing a college ministry in our college and let’s just say that this was my fresh beginning, my turning point, and the reason I got to be who I am today. With Dennis, I got to see salvation and indeed life in a new perspective, which help me to realize my purpose in this life. With my passion of service, I then got to serve as a volunteer with Dennis in the college ministry.

At the end of 2006, it was time for me to graduate from college and there I was with my first job.  I had to go to Nairobi to live with my sisters. I moved from job to job and also was moving back and forth between Mombasa and Nairobi cities until 2012 when I got to join His Cherished Ones International Ministry in Nakuru, which runs a Baby Rescue Centre for abandoned infants. This is where I have been serving as the assistant to director for the last three years.

One of my duties has been to help with picking and dropping volunteers from Nairobi. As fate would have it (in our own human mind) on February 2, 2013, my boss and I were in Nairobi to pick two volunteers. There was much being said about this one particular volunteer, considering she was to stay at the baby house for six months. At the Mayfield Guesthouse, there were two ladies and since I could not tell who was who I had to wait for the introduction and soon we were on the road to Nakuru having picked Alysha and Denise. Little did we know that seven days later the story of our love was set to begin. As you all know, Alysha is now my LOVELY WIFE and soon we will be traveling to America to share what God is doing with us as we serve others.

Recap: Alysha's story before Sam

We thought it would be fun to post our stories before becoming Alysha and Sam Omundi. Sam will share his soon but let's start with me. Most of you might know the story but it is enjoyable to walk done memory lane! I'll do the abbreviated version for you.

I was a good girl (no, great girl...haha) growing up. I was a good student, a pleasant daughter and sister (my own opinion), and I loved church and church activities. I had my moments though, too. I made it through school and I was off to college, pursuing a career as a Christian Counselor.

It wasn't until I was in college that missions work was even on the radar screen. I had never been on a plane...never left the United States...never even considered being a missionary. I went to the Dominican Republic and when I got back all i thought was "Well, that was a bunch of drama!!" Believe me, it was and I was largely to blame. Little did I know, how that one drama-fest trip would change my life.

I ended up signing up for a 9 month mission trip. By closing doors, the Lord directed my heart and flight straight to Kenya! Nine months became 18 months. In those two years, the Lord really healed deep levels of brokenness and also broke my heart this country. I thought I would work with kids in orphanages forever...even start one myself. Again, little did I know, that several trips to a program that helped kids with special needs would change my life. God..again...closed doors to the jobs and ministries I was not to pursue to show me what I was to pursue. This began the passion for special needs ministry.

I made trips to Kenya myself..surveying the land, the ministry, the need. After two years of doing such, I thought I was ready to go but the Lord placed a job opportunity in my lap instead. Okay, okay, okay....let me do this job and wait for the Lord's timing to come....was my begrudging thought. BUT, He knew what He was doing.

Fast forward to 2012, when I found my missions group, Commission to Every Nation. I joined with them and knew it was the missing piece. I started full-time support raising and came to Kenya in 2013 as a full-time missionary. It was a place of arrival and a place of beginning again.

I served with established ministries working with special needs children. Finding a husband was not even on my radar screen (I think I need to fix my radar screen!). I knew the man needed to love Jesus, love Africa, love special kiddos, and love me! The Lord provided for all of the above.

As we are continuing to serve the Lord in different ministries, we are praying for the Lord to join us in ministry. And He is beginning to unfold that plan but that is for another blog. Tune in to hear more about Sam before Alysha and about what God has in store for the us as the Omundi's.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year everyone!! Sam and I have high hopes for the new year. We are seeing prayers answered not only within our ministries but in our personal lives. God has been so faithful in our lives and we have a childlike excitement to see what unfolds these next 12 months....but we know it will be good. We are wanting to start off the year right...starting off with making the focus all about God. Also, this is a time for organization. Sam is much better in this department but for me, I am cleaning up and getting systems in place that will keep me in order for the next year. As well, Sam and I realize how wonderful and important communication is. Sam really wanted to start a blog and I thought "Why not?!?" (especially with the additional benefit of having someone to keep me accountable to keeping up with it). This will be a forum where we can share with all of you about Kenya, about ministry, about life, about our concerns and joys. Sam and I are walking hand in hand into this new year and we are asking you to join us! God Bless!!