One of the most neglected groups of people in today’s African society are the widows. It is estimated that one in ten women in Africa above the age of 14 is widowed. Girls given into forced marriages before the age of 18 and whose older husband dies face life-long impacts from premature marriage and widowhood. Widows face sexual exploitation and through no fault of their own are socially stigmatized and deprived of respect and humanity. This was not the case in historic African culture in which widows lived with their extended families and were honored as elders. But today widows are left to fend for themselves when they are evicted from their homes and lose ownership of their land to their late husband’s male family members. Widows face daunting challenges to survive because they have no training in the skills they need to support themselves or their children.

H.O.P.E.

(Hope Offered through Provision and Evangelism)

1 Timothy 5:5 “She who is truly a widow, left all alone in this world, has placed her hope in God. She prays day and night, asking God for His help.”

The Jan McCray Ministries is committed to taking on the responsibility of caring for widows in the rural areas of Naikarra and Leshuta in Kenya, Africa.

In the early 1980s, after meeting with widow groups in Kenya, Jan McCray felt an overwhelming need to help them. After establishing the Jan McCray Ministries, Inc. in 1985, the widow’s ministry began. Over the years, the JMM has helped widows repair and build homes, has taken care of medical needs, has provided beads for making jewelry to sell, has built a community well and provided water filters, has built a community house for refuge and to host widow seminars, and has provided the basic needs of food and clothing.

Presently the JMM cares for 40 widows each month through our widow’s outreach program. Monthly visits are made by our staff members, Pastor Samuel Koshal and Timothy Koshal, to minister to the widows and their children. Funds are delivered for food and basic necessities, yearly workshops are given to educate the widows so that they can make better decisions for self-efficacy, and the Koshals provide much-needed prayer support and spiritual guidance so that each widow is assured that God loves them and has not forgotten them.

You can make a general donation to the Jan McCray Ministries online or specify that your financial gift is for the widows. Your donation ensures that widows receive the funds and skills needed to support themselves and their children. You can make a one-time donation or please consider an on-going monthly donation. Only $25.00/month provides for the needs of one widow.

Please keep the Jan McCray Ministries in your prayers and consider supporting us with a donation. The House of Love orphanage and the widows are funded entirely by donations, so we are truly grateful and humbled by your generosity.

Our Widows

Nenkuju Ngiyo

This widow’s husband died of HIV. Nenkuju is HIV positive, and her children are also HIV positive. The support helps her get the HIV medicine she needs for herself and her children. Nenkuju is a born-again Christian.

Norkiseyia Musanka

This older widow has been supported by the JMM for a long time. Her husband died many years ago so she is poor with no support. Norkiseyia’s two sons are alcoholics and do not help her.

Kiraposho Ngoto Rinkon

This older widow has been supported by the Jan McCray Ministries for many years. Her husband died long ago. Kiraposho is very poor and has advanced arthritis. She is a born-again Christian.

Nakwetiaji Ngoto Kisaika

This widow is new to the widow’s list. She is very poor. Her son’s private parts were chewed off by a wild animal. He was never able to marry, so Nakwetiaji must care for him and other children. She is a born-again Christian.

Normeshula Enole Ronkai

This widow’s husband died two years ago. She has a disabled child who cannot walk. Normeshula is very poor and cannot work because she doesn’t have anyone to care for her disabled child. She is a born-again Christian.

Maria Musanka

This older widow has been supported by the JMM for a long time. She supports a disabled grandchild named Pain because her daughter died from undiagnosed diabetes. Maria’s sons are jobless. She is a born-again Christian.

Nenkencha Nkoitiko

This widow’s husband died of alcohol abuse and left her with many children to care for. Nenkencha is very poor, and the JMM support helps her feed her children. She is a born-again Christian.

Penina Muntere

This widow’s husband died two years ago from a motorbike accident while traveling. They were a young family. Now this young widow has no support to raise her small children. Penina is a born-again Christian.

Nolpanka Solio

This older widow’s husband died of alcohol abuse and left her with many children and no animals. Nolpanka also supports her oldest daughter who is married to an alcoholic who beats her and doesn’t provide for his family.

Ngoto Nekishon Sampuerap

This widow’s husband died and left her with many children to care for. Ngoto is very needy, and the funds she receives from the JMM helps support her children in primary and secondary school.

Nalangu Larus

This widow’s husband died and left her with several children. She lost all of her animals due to prolonged drought. Nalangu is very poor, and the JMM support helps feed her children. She is a born-again Christian.

Naomi Noloiretu

This older widow’s husband died many years ago. She was a second wife, so Naomi was left with many children and no animals or means of support. She is a born-again Christian.

Tiwai Rotiken

Tiwai is the only male widower that the JMM supports. His wife died while giving birth. He is HIV positive and unable to work. Tiwai has an infant and several other children and no means of support.

Munkeyian Nchoe

This older widow lost all of her animals due to drought and famine. She has a hearing disorder and is not supported by her grown children who are jobless. She is a born-again Christian.

Nonkokua Koikai

This young widow’s husband died four years ago. She is very needy and has several small children to care for. Nonkokua is only able to feed her children because of the JMM support.

Ngoto Leposo Koikai

This older widow’s husband died many years ago. She was a second wife and has no means of support. Ngoto’s health is deteriorating, and she has several children in school.

Ngoto Samperu Naisarisaru

This young widow was married to an older man who died of old age. She was left with the burden of caring for many children with no support. Ngoto is very poor. Her animals died due to drought and famine.

Ngoto Sinteyia Kerempe

This older widow’s husband died many years ago. Ngoto is very poor and has no means of support for her children and grandchildren. All of her animals died due to drought and famine.

Noonkokua Koikai

This widow’s older husband died from alcohol abuse. He left her with no animals and no means of support. Noonkokua is able to feed her children because of the support she receives from the JMM.

Ngoto Kamanka Kool

This widow’s husband died leaving her several children to care for and support. Ngoto lost all of her animals due to drought and famine. She is very poor and needy.

Lorna Lemian

This young widow’s husband died of cancer. Lorna had to watch as the cancer spread throughout his body, and they did not have the money for medical help. She has small children and no means of support.

Normeser Sunaati

This older widow has been supported by the JMM for a long time. She was a third wife to her late husband who died long ago. Normeser is very needy. Severe drought killed all of her animals.

Narinoi Sena

This older widow’s overall health is declining. She is very needy and poor. Narinoi’s grown children do not support her because they are alcoholics who do not work.

Naropil Katimwa Mpoe

This widow’s husband died of alcohol abuse. Her daughter died in a motorbike accident while being transported back to high school after a break. Naropil has several children to support and is very poor. She is a born-again Christian.

Kirayio Enole Kashu

This older widow lost her husband 10 years ago. She has several children, but they are unable to help her because they are unemployed. She is needy and poor and unable to pay for the medicine she needs for her ongoing illness.

Noonkipa Loigero

This young widow was married to an older man who died of old age. Noonkipa was the third-youngest wife and was left with several children and no means of support. She is needy and poor.

Norparakuo Mpoe

This older widow’s husband died many years ago. Drought and famine killed all of her animals. Norparakuo is very poor and does not have any means to support her two children who are in school.

Nariku Elemeeti Mpoe

This needy widow has health problems. She has two school-aged children and does not have the funds to educate them. Nariku lost all of her animals due to drought. She is a born-again Christian.

Noloisanka Lukeine

This widow fell and broke her hip which left her permanently disabled. As a result, Noloisanka is unable to provide for her many children. She lost all of her animals due to drought and famine. She is a born-again Christian.

Parakuo Oltatua

This older widow’s husband died of alcohol abuse. She was a second wife and was left with no support. Parakuo has two children to support, and her older children are alcoholics who do not help her.

Sampuri Mulaa

This widow’s husband died of cancer. Her eldest son who was supporting her died in a car accident. Sampuri now has children and grandchildren to raise with no means of support. She is a born-again Christian.

Kasao Loinyo

This older widow’s husband died many years ago. Kasao was a second wife. She sold all of her animals to get her son out of prison. Kasao is very needy and poor. She is a born-again Christian.

Kishao Muntent

Information coming…

Parakuo Enoldeker

This widow’s husband died of stomach cancer three years ago. She was a second wife and was left with no support. Parakuo cares for many grandchildren since her sons are both alcoholics and do not work. She is a born-again Christian.

Emily Sangare

This widow is suffering from advanced arthritis, and her overall health is deteriorating. Emily has no animals or means of support. She is a born-again Christian.

Parakuo Kariankei

This widow’s husband died of blood cancer. Parakuo lost all of her animals due to prolonged drought. She has several children to support and is very needy.

Nayiolo-ang Kariankei

This widow was married to a very old man who died of old age. She is very poor and has no means of support. Nayiolo is able to feed her children because of the JMM support.

Alice Mampalu

This young widow’s husband died recently. She has several children to support. One child has heart disease and must be treated every month. Support from the JMM helps Alice feed her children and pay her medical bills.

Ngunai Nolaimer Mateu

This widow was married to an older man who died of old age. One son sustained burns over 60% of his body which requires special care, plus Ngunai has several other children to support. She is very needy.

Noonkishili Sunaati

This widow’s older husband died from old age. She was a third wife and was left with no animals and no means of support. Noonkishili is able to feed her children because of support from the JMM.

Widow’s Ministry