Part 3: Leesha's Wedding

We’ve known Granny’s House mom, Leesha, for about eight years now and have been awed by the incredible changes that have happened in her life during that time. She literally immersed herself in everything “GOD,” and immediately began to model and spoon-feed her children all that she was experiencing. She surrounded herself with brand new Christ-following peers that reflected the night-to-day changes that had occurred in her life, all while finishing cosmetology school and starting work at a new salon.

It was several years ago that I first learned the depth of the profound changes that had happened in her family. The realization came as I read a note her young daughter had written in a Precious Jewels meeting at Granny’s House. Her love letter to the Lord began: “Dear God, thank you so much for changing my mom…” She then outlined the many ways her mom’s relationship with the Lord was affecting their family life.

After reading that note, it was clear that Leesha was reordering just about every aspect of her life to make plenty of room for her relationship with the Lord. Her heart was ablaze with love for Him and she wanted everything in her home to mirror that.

We were overjoyed when we learned of her engagement to Eric… this was, after all, our very first Granny’s House wedding since opening in 2001 and we felt honored to be a part of their big day at Leesha’s church, The Church of the Covenant.

When Leesha’s journey with Christ began all those years ago, we never imagined the dramatic changes that were to unfold in her family… changes that included not only a Godly husband, but a man who lovingly “fathers” her five children. It was, indeed, a grand day for us all – full of joy and lots of tears. ~Granny Pam

*The following photos are courtesy of Bethany Jones

Leesha - what a beautiful bride!

Leesha's children waiting (with infant nephew) for the big moment

...And the two became one

The groom and his boys

Part 2: The Second “FIRST” - Christmas With Our African Families

Pastor Aaron Gisonga and his incredible family – all three generations

For so many of our African children (some of whom grew up in refugee camps), Granny’s House is a real oasis and a place where they get to experience “childhood” from a totally different vantage point than they did in some of the war-torn nations from which they came. Our mission at Granny’s House is to provide opportunities for the kids to “taste and see that the Lord is good.” Because of the generosity of Midway Heights Baptist Church, Christian Fellowship Church, and The Crossing, our recent Christmas party gave them one more chance to experience even more of His goodness!

We are especially grateful to Pastor Aaron Gisonga for pre-empting his usual Sunday evening African worship service at the Community Center so that we could use that space for our annual party. We simply did not have space at Granny’s House, considering that we only have two, tiny 700-square-foot apartments to accommodate the anticipated crowd (around 175). In the past, we would simply pass the gifts out the front door, but Missouri winter weather rarely cooperate with that kind of plan.

What a blessing to have so many of our new African families join us this year. We loved watching the parents as they watched their children on the big screen for the very first time as they viewed “IF I HAD (ANOTHER) MILLION DOLLAR$,” our new DVD starring the children of Granny’s House.

Whether remembering when the kids began slathering frosting onto pretzel rods to transform them into snowmen, or when we all belted out “Joy to the World,” we will never forget being able to celebrate Christmas with so many of our African friends! ~Granny Pam

Gire and Ira with Granny Pam. The boys definitely dressed up for the occasion!

Kezia… lovely, even while holding two babies as she watches the Granny’s House movie.

Kaylyn Lakebrink (left) tells the story of the “Three Trees.”

A Season of Firsts!

I don’t think we’ve ever experienced so many FIRSTS! at Granny’s House in such a short span of time. This past holiday season was mixed and mingled with oh-so-much joy as each event unfolded before us...

Part 1: The First “FIRST” - A Mission Trip to Jamaica

One of our sixteen-year-olds, Arianna Prince, accompanied by Granny’s House Program Coordinator, Angie Azzanni, is headed for Jamaica for their very first overseas mission trip this February. Everyone is so excited that you’d think we were all going along with them!

Arianna, a Princess Academy graduate, has been involved in Caleb -The Science Club as well as the club’s advanced summer Anatomy Worshops for several years now. Her growing passion for medical science and her compassion for people have landed her a spot on Dr. Kent Willett’s Jamaica mission team. They depart for St. Elizabeth on February 5th where they will join other MMI (Medical Missions International) team members in running

Arianna has been enrolled at Granny’s House for nearly eight years, and I’ll never forget the day I met her… or was it her identical twin, Brianna, that I met first? I vividly remember her pigtails, adorned with an array of crayon-colored barrettes... and who could ever forget that mischievous little sparkle in her eyes?

And now, eight years later, as we send her off to Jamaica with Angie, I can still only distinguish these twins’ personalities, but not their faces. They are “the” definition of the word “identical.” I’m so glad that only one of them is headed to Jamaica!! - Granny Pam


Angie Azzanni (left) wih Arianna Prince (right) at Kids Across America Kamp (KAA) circa 2005

Angie, (top right) with Arianna, (back row, 2nd from left), and her identical twin, Brianna, (3rd from right) at a Princess Academy meeting

Arianna, examining a pig heart with “Poppi” (Dr. Ellis Inram) during a recent Caleb - The Science Club meeting at the University of Missouri School of Medicine