About Us
We have been married over 25 years, and now that our children are grown we are able to move into this new stage of life.
We are committed Christians who believe that Jesus changes lives.
Elaine is a registered nurse and Peter is a trauma counselor.
We are planning to move to Suswa Kenya this summer to support Victory County School and the children who live there.
Elaine and Peter Pederson
Psalms 113:7
“The Lord lifts the poor from the dirt and takes the helpless from ashes”.
Coming from a background of poverty, neglect and abuse, there are those unspeakable things you never talk about as a child. As a teen I cried out to a God I did not know, and He lifted me from the ashes of my life.
The Lord gave me a partner who loves me with an unconditional love that I still marvel at and wonder, “Why Me”? Early in our marriage, my husband and I heard the strong call to Africa on our lives. However, that was not to be our time to go into Africa. Over the years following that call, God taught us what living a life with Him was.
Six years ago, God rekindled that fire and took us into Kenya. Since that time God has opened doors that led us to Suswa Kenya. For the past five years we have worked with Pastor Samuel and Joyce, our partners in Suswa, to rescue and support children. These children were at high risk for child bride marriages, Female Genital Mutilation and some were orphans, who would have died.
Last year the Lord spoke to both Peter and I to be ready to go into Kenya in a year to be there more permanently. Believing we heard from God we are now preparing to go into Suswa this year.
We hope to build a small place to live close to the children. Joyce and Samuel have invited us to partner with them in assisting with the children, currently there are 19 children, but we expect this number to increase. They also have requested us to assist them in teaching and empowering women and in telling many of God’s love for them.
Many little ones, women, teens, men, and the elderly, need to be lifted up out of the ashes of their lives, much like I was. Those unspeakable things are now talked about as I share my story with many there. We have seen my story create environments of healing and restoration because of what Jesus can do.
Working alongside my husband, it is my desire to share how God can heal the broken-hearted, put orphans into families and grow beauty from ashes. These children, whom I’ve named Suswa’s Diamonds, diamonds in a dry, dusty forgotten place………………. are the beautiful children, that God led us to.