Olive Bearers, UK and BVCBO, Kenya partnership
The partnership between Olive Bearers and Bumala Vision Community Based Organisation began between Annie Wills and Benard Omondi when she was visiting Namwitsula School, Kenya in 2006. They kept in touch via email but didn’t start working together until 2013 and then only in a very small way and only as God opened doors.
Ben had been working for many years with Ebenezer Life Centre in Ahero where he experienced first-hand the most needy in the community – including street children in Kisumu. He had a deep desire to return to his home town and serve in a similar way. He left his job as a teacher and started living by faith and setting foundation stones which would turn poverty to praise. A plot of land was purchased and before one brick was laid, a Thanksgiving Service was held – in an open field! A great number of people attended from far and wide and were asking the question, “What have we come here for? I don’t see anything but an open field!” Ben would reply, “You see an open field, but I’ll tell you what I see!” He would then go on to reveal the vision God had given him to set up a school for needy children who would otherwise not be able to even get on the lowest rung of the ladder of education. Habakkuk chapter 2 verses 1-3 state, “I will stand at my watchpost; I will station myself on the rampart. I will look to see what God will say through me and what I will answer when I am reproved. Then ADONAI answered me. He said, “Write down the vision clearly on tablets so that even a runner can read it, for the vision is meant for its appointed time…”
Bumala Vision CBO was formed on 29th May 2013 and Derek & Annie Wills started working with them as independent fundraisers in UK until 6th November 2019 when Olive Bearers was formed as a Charity in UK.
The first fundraising event – (an Afternoon Tea/Tabletop handcrafted gifts) on 14th December 2013 where 12 people attended) God set down a mandate. Don’t put a price on anything. If anyone likes what they see, they should have it, whether they can afford it or not! Have a box for donations. Be prepared for everything on the table to go and there be nothing in the box! This was to be called “Bless and Be Blessed”. £253.30 was donated that day and there was a great deal ‘left over’ on the table! Hmmm! Think we’ve heard of that happening somewhere else before! Little is much when God is in it!
