God’s gifts and talents extend to all his people and when he created Elisha he specifically gave him the ability to make beautiful art. Coming from the coast of Kenya, Elisha was born into a very large family, the second of twelve children. Life can be unpredictable living in a developing nation and when he was only twelve years old, Elisha’s father, walking home from work in the mines, was robbed and left for dead. Despite their great financial need, Elisha was able to receive scholarships and finish secondary school (high school), and his family was able to survive through small business efforts. But knowing their great need, Elisha went to Nairobi in hopes of making a better life for his family.
His first encounter in Nairobi would forever change his life. Elisha had always been interested in the arts. He stumbled across an old man on the streets of Nairobi making banana bark art and was drawn to the man and his abilities. Within weeks of this meeting he was living with and working under the man, making a small living for himself. But after just 6 months the old and now drunken man kicked Elisha out of his house and would not longer teach him the art. Even though Elisha found himself in a tough situation he was thankful to God for this opportunity because it provided him with this new ability, proving to be a useful tool. Elisha began his own business making banana bark animal cards and found a small market for his product, but he knew it wasn’t enough and had to find a better market.
Elisha didn’t want to give up on his future in the arts, therefore he went hunting in the market for opportunities to sell his cards and found Francis, the man that opened up a huge door for him. He had instant business with this man and found his life to pick up a little. But God knew what he was doing. In 1998 Elisha met Don Rogers while he was buying his cards at Francis’s shop. This started a relationship that led him to KipKaren with ELI to train others in banana bark art. This is where he also met Kathy and Christina. Life seemed good for his family until ELI stopped their paper project, which also made him loose contact with Kathy and Christina. Unknowingly, a year later in 2004 they would randomly meet in the markets of Nairobi. From this point on Heavenly Treasures has been the backbone of Elisha’s business, thus giving him the ability to support his family fully. He is humbled by the fact that God has given him the opportunity to work with Heavenly Treasures. In the future he hopes to be able to train and pass on his talents to other needy people in order for others to see the love of God in their lives.
2. Falay was born and raised in Bucavu, Congo long before there was any strife or warfare. Completing 3 years at the university and receiving his degree, Falay applied for a job with the Mobutu government, which would one day turn his life upside down. When he was only nineteen, his father was kidnapped and disappeared for 10 months. His family later found out he had been murdered by the government in order to hide information he was in possession of. Soon after, Falay began working for the same government that murdered his father. In 1996 rebels overthrew the government. A civil war broke out and Falay was forced to work for the new Kabila government. Later in 1998, the Rwandans took over the area Falay was living in. He refused to work for them in his own country, and due to his defiant behavior, he was jailed for 2 weeks and later fired from his job. When he was released he realized friends and colleagues were disappearing; some were even being burned alive. After guidance from his pastor, Falay fled to Kenya with some local missionaries also seeking refuge. Once in Kenya, Falay knew he needed to find a new way to survive. Through God’s graces he began making banana bark craft items to survive. Through that same grace, the UN finally granted legal refuge status to his family in 2001.
In 2003, Falay began making banana bark items for Heavenly Treasures, which finally got his family back on their feet. He felt his life turning around, but in 2003 he received news that his mother was deathly ill. He returned to the Congo to take care of her and his siblings while also being able to continue his work with Heavenly Treasures. After a year of taking care of his mother, the Kabila secret services requested his presence and demanded the the documents his father allegedly had possession of. Not knowing where they were and not giving the government the information they were looking for, Falay was brutally beaten and tortured for 4 months until his brother was able to find a Red Cross lawyer who would come to Falay’s aid.
After being freed Falay returned to Kenya and has vowed never again to return to the Congo. He currently lives in the Kakuma Refugee camp on the Kenya – Sudan border and comes to work in Nairobi when Heavenly Treasures places orders with him. His life has been turned upside down more than once but he continues to survive and strive. “My heart is to continue business so I can train and employ other refugees in my same circumstances and to see the lives of others be transformed through God’s amazing grace.”
