The History of Compassion Works International

Compassion Works International is an answered prayer for Daniel who over the years longed to reach out and touch the needs of people in Africa. The first opportunity came in 1997 when Daniel led two mission teams to Mukeu and Ndeiya areas of central Kenya. The two teams visited schools, churches and shopping centres evangelizing and showing the Jesus Film. They even got involved in construction of a school building. The team members came from BC, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, United States and even Ukraine. In a conversation with Mukeu AIC church leadership in which the needs of the congregants were discussed, health services topped the list. Daniel challenged the leaders to look for ways of providing credible health services and he in return promised to do whatever he could to help. The community was desperate as government health services had virtually collapsed.

A year later Daniel and Anne sent over 30 boxes of books in a container hoping to encourage the elementary schools in Mukeu and Thigio to build libraries for the children. Lack of resources in the schools and innumerable difficulties that parents faced held back this dream.

In 1999, intense lobbying by some businessmen and community leaders saw the government string hydro lines to Mukeu town. AIC Mukeu quickly purchased adjacent property with an aim of building a medical clinic so the coming of electricity in this “hidden town” made the concept of a medical clinic very positive. The church leaders shared the good news with Daniel who spoke to his church Walnut Grove Lutheran Church in BC. The church quickly gathered funds and sent a medical care kit to the new clinic. The kit had enough tropical drugs to treat 1,500 patients!

Over the years as Daniel and family enjoyed dental services in the west, memories of the poor village “dental services” he had experienced in his growing up years and which his family still lived with lingered on. He believed one day he would bring modern dental services to the village.

The fulfillment of this dream came in early 2002. During a casual conversation with a representative of Canadian Food for the Hungry; he learnt that the organization could help him send a container of medical/dental equipment to Mukeu. Once again Walnut Grove Lutheran Church offered tremendous support to this dream. Daniel invited many friends, medical doctors, dentists, businessmen, administrators and church counselors to join him on a mission trip to start a dental clinic in Mukeu (or Karangatha) in Dec 2004. Two other mission teams followed in January and March 2005. The first modern dental service in Mukeu village thus came to being. In Feb 2005 the medical/dental equipment from Saskatoon arrived in a container and was given to Kijabe hospital and Mukeu clinic. The third mission team installed dental chairs, X-ray and designed a dental lab. It was the first dental service of its kind in South Kinangop constituency. The local leadership including the area MP expressed gratitude to all who have donated towards the project.

Beside the building of the dental clinic, other significant projects that took place include, installation of hydro power converter and backup generator, installation of water pumps, soil testing, business management seminars, medical services, dental education in schools, HIV & AIDS seminars, computerization of clinic records, VBS in Schools and Churches and church leadership training.

As the mission grew, more needs were presented to us. It became apparent that we needed a tool to lend support to the work we had invested so much energy, time and many resources into, and hence the birth of Compassion Works International.

A team of folks who had taken part in various mission trips with Daniel combined their efforts to form the organization. Its aim is to encourage, support, empower and work along side the needy people of the world. Mukeu and Thigio are only the beginning. Our desire is to go to regions beyond (Mt 20:19-20). In both words and deeds we would be sharing His love and inviting people to a lasting relationship with Christ. Would you want to join us? We have room for you and your skill set. We can put your energy and creativity into good use.