Saturday, August 25, 2007
Back Home
Well we all made it back home and had a wonderfulr trip. Please consider joining us in 2008 on another trip to Africa and expereience what God is doing with His people in this part of the world. God bless.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Lots of students
Always lots of children everywhere we went but very encouraging as almost all schools allow them to teach the Bible and have Christian education in the public schools. Today we met with an all boys high school of 650 boys and it was great. They want us to come back next year and spend more time than we had today. Incredible young people.
Town of Chuka
Hospital visit
Hospital visit in Chuka. Lots of children in for Malaria and very crowded. the mom's have to stay with the children but only cribs in the rooms. Also visited maternity ward with lots of Mom's waiting or who have just delivered.
Road side market
Grinding grain
The ladies also taugh us to grind grain with a stone that all young ladies by the time they are 7 know how to do this. thye do this many times to the same grain until there is just a fine powder and then they made porage for their families
Go guys you are doing well. The ladies loved seeing the boys do this as men never do this in Kenya.Greetings in Villages
All week long we were greeted by wonderful ladies singing and dancing as we arrivied in their villages. I have to admit we were treated like royalty.
Milking the goats
We got visit several of the locations where we are raising the goats and we all got to milk the goats a first for all of us. It was fun and productive I might add. I am not sure we got it all but for first timers not bad. This is a great program that is helping the widows and orphans. You can still help by purchasing more goats so that we can help more.Josiah playing drums
Josiah got a real thrill when he was asked to join the drumers during the last act of Bomas. He did a great job. Not sure if any of the American has had this opportun ity to particapate before. Thanks for Richard and Judy for this. 
Bomas cultural center in Nairobi
Here are a variety of dancers that we saw from the various tribes in Kenya. this was a great time.Wedding fun
More fun at the wedding. Brittney and Diane are loving the line dancing. Mirim was beautiful as the Mom of the groom and our girls with Judy.
Last days in Kenya
Since we haven’t been able to download anything for several days, we’ll have to send the updates from several days at once. Tuesday was our day to visit the goats and bee hives that people have donated through Global Action for families in Kenya, especially those taking care of AIDS orphans. We even had the chance to milk some! We learned that these goats produce a superior breed of offspring which produce more milk. They provide enough nourishing milk for the family and also some to sell, which they can use to pay for school fees so the children can go to school. The significance of having a goat became very real as we met the families and saw the children benefiting from them. It indeed is significant and a worthwhile, continuing blessing to these families who struggle so much just to have the essentials of life. We were also introduced to a new project, raising silk worms. The one we saw is a trial experiment, and so far, it is going well. There is great potential, also, in supplying the materials and worms to start this small industry that can provide income for the families. We have been awed by the beauty of the countryside; the vibrant greenness, lush vegetation, carpets of tea plants that cover the entire sides of slopes. There is breathless beauty here and rich, fertile soil. Our host homes, as well as all the ones we’ve seen, use every inch to cultivate plants to produce food. It’s amazing to see how much can be planted in a small space. Mangos, papayas, cassavas, pumpkins, beans, watermelon…..there is no spot of ground unused. In many ways, we observed that even though the people in the country lack in jobs, revenue, and education, health-wise, they seem better off than those in the city. At least they can grow nutritious food, and we have certainly enjoyed every bit of it. The Kenyans believe in feeding their guests well, and we feel as though we have eaten our way through Kenya.
We had the opportunity to meet with a group of Christian women connected to PACWA called the Kind Mothers. They are helping 120 orphans to have food and the ability to go to school, a remarkable group indeed, since none of them have a lot themselves. They are trying to start some projects with the orphans to weave baskets and make objects that can be sold to supplement their income. We then went to a secondary school where some of the students from far away board. The team had a great time with them singing, sharing, and presenting the gospel. We had just enough time to begin some serious Frisbee throwing, football passing, and soccer, but were invited to come back yesterday. It was a great time; we are still amazed at the total openness to come into public schools and share the gospel, pray and worship.
Wednesday, Diane shared with the women of the Chuka area who meet monthly for prayer, teaching, and encouragement. It was a great time of connecting with the women, sharing our hearts, praying together, and learning a bit more Swahili. It is such fun to participate in their singing and dancing; can they ever celebrate!
While the women’s meeting went on, the rest of the team was able to visit with two nearby schools, a primary and a secondary, again able to share praise and worship, teachings from Jonah, and clear presentation of the gospel. There are rarely ever any muzungus visiting in this area, so just our presence causes curiosity, but all the kids were anxious to get out and play with our team and a great time was had by all. It was a good, exhausting day, but very fruitful. The team went back to the secondary school and spent more time with the high schoolers. We are still so humbled at the thankfulness expressed to us just for coming; just for spending time with the people. It reminds us of the “power of presence.” The people of Meru have blessed us tremendously. Their hospitality, genuine expression of friendship and welcome challenges us as to how we should receive visitors in the US. In their meager circumstances, we have been treated as such honored guests, and we feel honored indeed.
Now we are in our last day in Kenya. We had another “divine appointment” for this morning. We met the principal of a boys boarding secondary school close to where we were staying and were invited to meet with the 650 young men of the school. So as we left for Nairobi, we got to meet with this wonderful group of young men, sing, praise, share, and pray with them. This is a public school, but their school anthem began as a prayer to God for their lives and future. It was quite impressive to hear about the school, their high academic record, and how many young men are trained for leadership, go on to university, and all with a Biblical base….in a public school.
It was so encouraging to see these young guys, to encourage them how important it is for them to become Godly men, husbands, and fathers. The staff and principal were so appreciate of our visit, even though brief, and asked us to bring another team to spend an entire day or two with them for more times of teaching and sharing. This is how it has been our entire trip; no matter where we go, and especially with these unplanned “divine encounters,” we are asked to please come back, bring more teams, and share more with the adults and children. So be prepared; we’ll be asking all of you to come!!
Now we are on the road back to Nairobi to regroup, sort luggage, and prepare to fly out late tonight. Judy and Richard Mbugua are treating the team for dinner at Carnivore, a well known restaurant that serves all sorts of exotic wild game. We have heard that it is quite an experience, and we know we are going to enjoy it and be blessed by it.
It’s hard to say goodbye to Kenya; we feel such strong attachments to the people, are so inspired the deep faith of so many, the wonderful ministries of our partners, and also so burdened by the tremendous needs. We’re got a lot to process, and it is a process. We all are challenged to truly pray and seek the Lord’s direction on what He intends for each of us to take away from this experience, how He wants us to respond. We know this; the Lord has shown Himself to us in amazing ways. He has pricked our hearts with compassion for others, to examine our own lives to see how we are obeying His commands to love one another, carry one another’s burdens, pray for one another, and care for the needs of the poor, especially those of widows and orphans. And we know that He will continue to work in us, unfolding all the dynamics of this time in Kenya.
A huge thank you to all of you who are praying for us, who sponsored team members to come, and for the encouragement we have felt during this journey. We could not have done it without you! Please continue to pray as we fly home, as we begin to unwrap this experience, and that we will glean all that we need to from all we’ve seen and experienced. Please pray for our ministry partners in Kenya: Judy, Miriam, Leah, and the amazing helpers they have here who are making a difference for the kingdom. And especially pray for the children and youth of Kibera and the thousands of orphans here. We are grateful that we were able to be here; our lives have been touched, and we will never be the same. Natumaini tutaonana; we hope to see you, Kenya, soon.
Bwana asifiwi; Praise the Lord!
We had the opportunity to meet with a group of Christian women connected to PACWA called the Kind Mothers. They are helping 120 orphans to have food and the ability to go to school, a remarkable group indeed, since none of them have a lot themselves. They are trying to start some projects with the orphans to weave baskets and make objects that can be sold to supplement their income. We then went to a secondary school where some of the students from far away board. The team had a great time with them singing, sharing, and presenting the gospel. We had just enough time to begin some serious Frisbee throwing, football passing, and soccer, but were invited to come back yesterday. It was a great time; we are still amazed at the total openness to come into public schools and share the gospel, pray and worship.
Wednesday, Diane shared with the women of the Chuka area who meet monthly for prayer, teaching, and encouragement. It was a great time of connecting with the women, sharing our hearts, praying together, and learning a bit more Swahili. It is such fun to participate in their singing and dancing; can they ever celebrate!
While the women’s meeting went on, the rest of the team was able to visit with two nearby schools, a primary and a secondary, again able to share praise and worship, teachings from Jonah, and clear presentation of the gospel. There are rarely ever any muzungus visiting in this area, so just our presence causes curiosity, but all the kids were anxious to get out and play with our team and a great time was had by all. It was a good, exhausting day, but very fruitful. The team went back to the secondary school and spent more time with the high schoolers. We are still so humbled at the thankfulness expressed to us just for coming; just for spending time with the people. It reminds us of the “power of presence.” The people of Meru have blessed us tremendously. Their hospitality, genuine expression of friendship and welcome challenges us as to how we should receive visitors in the US. In their meager circumstances, we have been treated as such honored guests, and we feel honored indeed.
Now we are in our last day in Kenya. We had another “divine appointment” for this morning. We met the principal of a boys boarding secondary school close to where we were staying and were invited to meet with the 650 young men of the school. So as we left for Nairobi, we got to meet with this wonderful group of young men, sing, praise, share, and pray with them. This is a public school, but their school anthem began as a prayer to God for their lives and future. It was quite impressive to hear about the school, their high academic record, and how many young men are trained for leadership, go on to university, and all with a Biblical base….in a public school.
It was so encouraging to see these young guys, to encourage them how important it is for them to become Godly men, husbands, and fathers. The staff and principal were so appreciate of our visit, even though brief, and asked us to bring another team to spend an entire day or two with them for more times of teaching and sharing. This is how it has been our entire trip; no matter where we go, and especially with these unplanned “divine encounters,” we are asked to please come back, bring more teams, and share more with the adults and children. So be prepared; we’ll be asking all of you to come!!
Now we are on the road back to Nairobi to regroup, sort luggage, and prepare to fly out late tonight. Judy and Richard Mbugua are treating the team for dinner at Carnivore, a well known restaurant that serves all sorts of exotic wild game. We have heard that it is quite an experience, and we know we are going to enjoy it and be blessed by it.
It’s hard to say goodbye to Kenya; we feel such strong attachments to the people, are so inspired the deep faith of so many, the wonderful ministries of our partners, and also so burdened by the tremendous needs. We’re got a lot to process, and it is a process. We all are challenged to truly pray and seek the Lord’s direction on what He intends for each of us to take away from this experience, how He wants us to respond. We know this; the Lord has shown Himself to us in amazing ways. He has pricked our hearts with compassion for others, to examine our own lives to see how we are obeying His commands to love one another, carry one another’s burdens, pray for one another, and care for the needs of the poor, especially those of widows and orphans. And we know that He will continue to work in us, unfolding all the dynamics of this time in Kenya.
A huge thank you to all of you who are praying for us, who sponsored team members to come, and for the encouragement we have felt during this journey. We could not have done it without you! Please continue to pray as we fly home, as we begin to unwrap this experience, and that we will glean all that we need to from all we’ve seen and experienced. Please pray for our ministry partners in Kenya: Judy, Miriam, Leah, and the amazing helpers they have here who are making a difference for the kingdom. And especially pray for the children and youth of Kibera and the thousands of orphans here. We are grateful that we were able to be here; our lives have been touched, and we will never be the same. Natumaini tutaonana; we hope to see you, Kenya, soon.
Bwana asifiwi; Praise the Lord!
Safari to Meru
Safari! Monday we set off for the district of Meru, a rural farming area about 4 hours outside Nairobi with our hostesses, Miriam and Leah. The journey led us through lush, green farmland, terraced with tea plants, corn and various crops. It was refreshing to get out of the hustle and bustle of the big city; as I’m sure you heard, there was a bombing in Nairobi Monday morning. We’re still getting sketchy reports (you probably are getting more details in the US than we have been able to get, since we have little access to the news where we are). Apparently someone set off a small explosive at the entrance to the Ambassador Hotel, which is downtown near the Hilton. Reports are sketchy, but one person died and 37 were injured. We didn’t hear the explosion; we weren’t that close to the hotel, but traffic was at a standstill and there was much confusion as people began to converge on the scene. We avoided all of that and were able to begin our trip to Meru with no problems. We were so saddened by the event; from what several people told us, this is not uncommon in an election season (elections are in Dec.). The purpose seems to make people afraid and want to turn away from the current administration. There is still much emphasis on tribal origin, and most people want the president and leaders to come from their particular tribe. How sad that the striving for political power can drive people to such senseless acts.
After several hours on the road, we took a brief stop at a quaint, old hotel with beautiful lawns and gorgeous plantings. We had a cold drink under a huge umbrella on the lawn and continued our journey. At last, we entered the district of Meru and arrived in the city of Chuka. Miriam was born in this city; her sister is now the mayor. We stopped at the Chuka Hospital to visit the patients and encourage the staff, which is quite small for the number of patients. The present president has made improvements in areas of health care, and this small hospital has been expanded, but the furnishings and equipment were sparse. We were told that at least now, they have medicine (which is hard to imagine…a hospital without medicine, or water). We first visited the pediatric ward, a very crowded room of baby cribs with children from 1 month to about 3. Most of them were there for malaria or pneumonia. The mothers have to stay with their children (we wondered where they slept, since the cribs were small and there was no space for even a chair). We visited with the children and their mothers, gave them stuffed toys, and prayed with them. The children were precious, and we hoped that we could encourage their mothers. Next we visited the maternity ward; half of the room held women who were either in labor or about to, and the other side was for moms with newborns. Again, it was sparsely furnished, with little more than a cot for each mother. The babies we saw were no more than 1 day old, so tiny and beautiful. One young woman was on the floor writhing with labor pains. We prayed with and for her and her baby, hoping that we had encouraged all of these mothers.
The guys visited the men’s area, sharing and praying with them. Our young men certainly rose to the occasion, praying earnestly for each patient. Two young boys, about 10, were also there. One was an orphan with AIDS. He looked so frail and weak. He labored to walk out to ask Josiah for prayer; heartbreaking.
The head nurse who guided us expressed great thanks for our coming. She said that they need much encouragement and were blessed by our concern, which was our desire. For there, the team split into two groups to settle into our two host homes for our stay in Meru. Both Miriam and Leah live on small farms down deeply rutted, dirt paths. The quiet calm of the country was interrupted only by the sounds of an occasional dog barking or cow mooing. The lights run on generators, and they usually turn them off about 10:00. Once the lights were out, it was incredibly dark! We couldn’t see the hand in front of our faces.
Tuesday was a very full day. We went to see the goats that the women are raising to help poor families. As you may remember, in our gift catalog, we suggested giving goats and bee hives to families struggling to pay school fees so their children can attend school. Many of you did provide goats and hives, and we were able to see them up close. The breed of goats provided are of a stronger breed and produce better kids who can produce better and more milk. We all had a chance to milk the goats! Though we did manage to get some in the bucket, I don’t think any of us would want a full time job of it. But it is a huge help to these families. They now have very nutritious milk for their family and have some left over to sell. We also saw a new project, one of raising silk worms, that they also hope will bring in revenue for needy families. Next we went to a nearby church to meet with a wonderful group of women involved in outreach in Meru. We were greeted warmly and introduced to many of the orphans they are helping. There were a number of high school students who have lost one or both parents and are now living with another relative or guardian. Without the help of the PACWA women, they probably wouldn’t be in school. We asked them about their hopes and desires; they all wanted to continue to university and become doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and one a journalist. They were bright young people, and we tried to encourage them to study hard and look to the Lord to provide for their needs. Many of the younger orphans also came, and the team had a great time playing games with them and just being with them.
Our next stop was a remote public high school for mostly very poor students, including many orphans. Some who live by come to school for the day, but many come from so far out that they board at the school. We saw their dorms (furnished with rustic wood bunk beds and little else), their few classrooms, and gathered with the students in their chapel/dining room. Africa is characterized by song and dance, and the students had prepared a wonderful tribal drum dance to accompany a group of boys who did acrobatics, very much like we saw at the BOMAS cultural show. A great job!! The girls sang and danced, again with drums. The team led the students in singing and gave a presentation of Jonah, which they seemed to really enjoy. Phil did a great gospel presentation and we made salvation bracelets with all of them. I think having visitors of any kind is a rare occurrence in this area, certainly muzungus, but it seemed to bless them a lot. We ended our time there by introducing them to Frisbees, leaving a number of them for the school.
After a full and very satisfying day, we headed back to our host houses. We have had such wonderful opportunities to experience so many aspects of Kenya, from the inner city slums to the rustic countryside. Each area has its challenges, but there is beauty in the midst of it all. It is evidenced in the faces of the people, especially the children, in the beautiful landscapes, lush vegetation, and the mountain range containing Mt. Kenya. The people are so very gracious; we could not have been welcomed more. Our hearts are burdened by the poverty, disease, and hopelessness of so many, but we have also rejoiced with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. They show us so vividly what it means to depend totally on the Lord. They never seem to tire of praising the Lord, or of praying. Their intense desire for the Lord has spoken to each of us, and even as we prepare for our last full day in Meru tomorrow, we are already feeling that we will all leave a chunk of our hearts here in Kenya when we return home.
After several hours on the road, we took a brief stop at a quaint, old hotel with beautiful lawns and gorgeous plantings. We had a cold drink under a huge umbrella on the lawn and continued our journey. At last, we entered the district of Meru and arrived in the city of Chuka. Miriam was born in this city; her sister is now the mayor. We stopped at the Chuka Hospital to visit the patients and encourage the staff, which is quite small for the number of patients. The present president has made improvements in areas of health care, and this small hospital has been expanded, but the furnishings and equipment were sparse. We were told that at least now, they have medicine (which is hard to imagine…a hospital without medicine, or water). We first visited the pediatric ward, a very crowded room of baby cribs with children from 1 month to about 3. Most of them were there for malaria or pneumonia. The mothers have to stay with their children (we wondered where they slept, since the cribs were small and there was no space for even a chair). We visited with the children and their mothers, gave them stuffed toys, and prayed with them. The children were precious, and we hoped that we could encourage their mothers. Next we visited the maternity ward; half of the room held women who were either in labor or about to, and the other side was for moms with newborns. Again, it was sparsely furnished, with little more than a cot for each mother. The babies we saw were no more than 1 day old, so tiny and beautiful. One young woman was on the floor writhing with labor pains. We prayed with and for her and her baby, hoping that we had encouraged all of these mothers.
The guys visited the men’s area, sharing and praying with them. Our young men certainly rose to the occasion, praying earnestly for each patient. Two young boys, about 10, were also there. One was an orphan with AIDS. He looked so frail and weak. He labored to walk out to ask Josiah for prayer; heartbreaking.
The head nurse who guided us expressed great thanks for our coming. She said that they need much encouragement and were blessed by our concern, which was our desire. For there, the team split into two groups to settle into our two host homes for our stay in Meru. Both Miriam and Leah live on small farms down deeply rutted, dirt paths. The quiet calm of the country was interrupted only by the sounds of an occasional dog barking or cow mooing. The lights run on generators, and they usually turn them off about 10:00. Once the lights were out, it was incredibly dark! We couldn’t see the hand in front of our faces.
Tuesday was a very full day. We went to see the goats that the women are raising to help poor families. As you may remember, in our gift catalog, we suggested giving goats and bee hives to families struggling to pay school fees so their children can attend school. Many of you did provide goats and hives, and we were able to see them up close. The breed of goats provided are of a stronger breed and produce better kids who can produce better and more milk. We all had a chance to milk the goats! Though we did manage to get some in the bucket, I don’t think any of us would want a full time job of it. But it is a huge help to these families. They now have very nutritious milk for their family and have some left over to sell. We also saw a new project, one of raising silk worms, that they also hope will bring in revenue for needy families. Next we went to a nearby church to meet with a wonderful group of women involved in outreach in Meru. We were greeted warmly and introduced to many of the orphans they are helping. There were a number of high school students who have lost one or both parents and are now living with another relative or guardian. Without the help of the PACWA women, they probably wouldn’t be in school. We asked them about their hopes and desires; they all wanted to continue to university and become doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, and one a journalist. They were bright young people, and we tried to encourage them to study hard and look to the Lord to provide for their needs. Many of the younger orphans also came, and the team had a great time playing games with them and just being with them.
Our next stop was a remote public high school for mostly very poor students, including many orphans. Some who live by come to school for the day, but many come from so far out that they board at the school. We saw their dorms (furnished with rustic wood bunk beds and little else), their few classrooms, and gathered with the students in their chapel/dining room. Africa is characterized by song and dance, and the students had prepared a wonderful tribal drum dance to accompany a group of boys who did acrobatics, very much like we saw at the BOMAS cultural show. A great job!! The girls sang and danced, again with drums. The team led the students in singing and gave a presentation of Jonah, which they seemed to really enjoy. Phil did a great gospel presentation and we made salvation bracelets with all of them. I think having visitors of any kind is a rare occurrence in this area, certainly muzungus, but it seemed to bless them a lot. We ended our time there by introducing them to Frisbees, leaving a number of them for the school.
After a full and very satisfying day, we headed back to our host houses. We have had such wonderful opportunities to experience so many aspects of Kenya, from the inner city slums to the rustic countryside. Each area has its challenges, but there is beauty in the midst of it all. It is evidenced in the faces of the people, especially the children, in the beautiful landscapes, lush vegetation, and the mountain range containing Mt. Kenya. The people are so very gracious; we could not have been welcomed more. Our hearts are burdened by the poverty, disease, and hopelessness of so many, but we have also rejoiced with our Kenyan brothers and sisters. They show us so vividly what it means to depend totally on the Lord. They never seem to tire of praising the Lord, or of praying. Their intense desire for the Lord has spoken to each of us, and even as we prepare for our last full day in Meru tomorrow, we are already feeling that we will all leave a chunk of our hearts here in Kenya when we return home.
Kenya worship and culture center
Another day to worship! We attended Judy Mbugua’s home church, which we attended last year. It was an amazing time of praise! With several worship teams, choir and instruments, we joined in familiar hymns in English and exuberant worship choruses in Swahili. We’re thankful that Swahili is a phonetic language so that we were able to sing along with the words on a big screen. Then there was a series of worship songs in various tribal languages, beautiful and joyful songs of praise to the Lord. Our team also sang the song that has become the “theme song” of this team, “Cry Out to Jesus.” It truly was a great time of worship.
After lunch, Judy hosted us for lunch in her home. The Mbugua’s home is a revolving door, always open to visitors, those in ministry, and anyone needing help. One of the couples hosting us in Meru joined us, as well as several pastors and their wives. We thoroughly enjoyed our time of visiting and the great food, and then dashed off to the Kenyan cultural show called BOMAS.
BOMAS is a show highlighting the native dress, dances, and music of some of the 42 tribes of Kenya. Dancers and musicians demonstrate the variety of styles in colorful costumes with drums and other instruments. Of course, the prominent instruments were drums, and can they ever play them! One of the boys with us on the team, Josiah, is a drummer and was especially looking forward to seeing the Kenyan drummers. Unknown to us, Richard Mbugua had made arrangements for Josiah to be invited to join in with the drummers for the performance with the amazing acrobat troop. You can imagine his surprise when one of the BOMAS men came up to him and told him to come with him to join in! It was such a treat for Josiah, as well as for us, for him to sit side by side with amazing drummers who graciously showed him some of their styles. Definitely a highlight for Josiah. This acrobat act is incredible, shades of Cirque de Soleil, complete with fire eating and hat juggling, as well as amazing pyramids and tumbling. During the last act, one of the dancers enlisted Judy to dance with him and the dance troop, then urged Phil and his daughter, Samantha, onto the stage. They were great sports and enjoyed the rhythmic steps of the Kenyan music.
Now we are packing up for the journey to Meru, which is a rural farming community about 3-4 hours from Nairobi (depends on the condition of the pot holes and if we encounter rain). We have been blessed by dry days, having rains only at night, so rain hasn’t interfered with activities; we’re praying for the same in Meru.
This may be the last email before we return home; we probably won’t have access to email in Meru. We’ll be staying in the homes of our two hosts, Miriam and Leah, who work with Homecare Fellowship and the Pan African Christian Women’s Alliance, directed by Judy Mbugua. Miriam and Leah have spearheaded the ministry in Meru, their country home of origin. Please do pray for us and the people we will serve in Meru. After arriving in Meru, we will go to visit in the rural hospital where many AIDS patients, both adults and children, are treated. There are only 70 beds available, but they often have more than 200 patients. We know it is going to be an intense experience, but we will be able to visit with patients, share and pray with them, as well as the health care workers of the hospital. We are praying that we can encourage and bless each person we meet in the hospital. Tuesday, we will go to a rural school and have total access to the students. Isn’t it amazing that here we can go into a public school, present the gospel and share scripture and be totally free to pray and share! We are looking forward to having this time with the children and know that it will be a great time for both the children and the team.
Wednesday, we will have a special time with the women of Meru. They face many struggles and challenges, and we will share testimonies, messages from scripture, as well as principles of basic health and hygiene and child rearing.
We do covet your prayers for our time in Meru. It will be a different environment from the bustling city of Nairobi, but we know that God has amazing things to reveal to us. We are praying that our hearts will be prepared to serve, that we can be sensitive and responsive to every opportunity to minister, and that it will be a blessed time for all.
We have all been so impacted by the graciousness of all the believers we have met. We have been made to feel so at home here. They have expressed such appreciation that a team from the US would come to be with them; just “being” with them seems to be a huge encouragement, the importance of which we are learning more and more. We have been struck by the level of commitment of the Christian workers, their passion and dedication and willingness to give and serve sacrificially. They have challenged us to examine our own level of commitment and how much we are willing to give of ourselves to minister to those in need, whether at home or in another country. Our time in Kenya has certainly stirred up a lot of emotions and questions about what it means to truly be a follower of Christ and how we flesh out our faith. We’ve got a lot to pray about and think through……and it’s a good stretch. The Lord is speaking to each of us in different ways, and although we don’t have it all sorted out yet, we are grateful that He is shaping and molding us, challenging and changing us.
I’ll close with some of the words from our “theme song” that are so very appropriate for Kenya. As you read them, pray for the people of Kenya, especially the widows, orphans, and the millions suffering in abject poverty.
“To everyone who’s lost someone they love, long before it was their time,
You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said good bye.
And to all of the people with burdens and pains keeping you back from your life,
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one who can make it right.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, love for the broken heart.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing. He’ll meet you wherever you are;
Cry out to Jesus; Cry out to Jesus.
To the widow who struggles with being along wiping the tears from her eyes.
For the children around the world without a home, say a prayer tonight.
When you’re lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you,
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus,
Cry out to Jesus.
After lunch, Judy hosted us for lunch in her home. The Mbugua’s home is a revolving door, always open to visitors, those in ministry, and anyone needing help. One of the couples hosting us in Meru joined us, as well as several pastors and their wives. We thoroughly enjoyed our time of visiting and the great food, and then dashed off to the Kenyan cultural show called BOMAS.
BOMAS is a show highlighting the native dress, dances, and music of some of the 42 tribes of Kenya. Dancers and musicians demonstrate the variety of styles in colorful costumes with drums and other instruments. Of course, the prominent instruments were drums, and can they ever play them! One of the boys with us on the team, Josiah, is a drummer and was especially looking forward to seeing the Kenyan drummers. Unknown to us, Richard Mbugua had made arrangements for Josiah to be invited to join in with the drummers for the performance with the amazing acrobat troop. You can imagine his surprise when one of the BOMAS men came up to him and told him to come with him to join in! It was such a treat for Josiah, as well as for us, for him to sit side by side with amazing drummers who graciously showed him some of their styles. Definitely a highlight for Josiah. This acrobat act is incredible, shades of Cirque de Soleil, complete with fire eating and hat juggling, as well as amazing pyramids and tumbling. During the last act, one of the dancers enlisted Judy to dance with him and the dance troop, then urged Phil and his daughter, Samantha, onto the stage. They were great sports and enjoyed the rhythmic steps of the Kenyan music.
Now we are packing up for the journey to Meru, which is a rural farming community about 3-4 hours from Nairobi (depends on the condition of the pot holes and if we encounter rain). We have been blessed by dry days, having rains only at night, so rain hasn’t interfered with activities; we’re praying for the same in Meru.
This may be the last email before we return home; we probably won’t have access to email in Meru. We’ll be staying in the homes of our two hosts, Miriam and Leah, who work with Homecare Fellowship and the Pan African Christian Women’s Alliance, directed by Judy Mbugua. Miriam and Leah have spearheaded the ministry in Meru, their country home of origin. Please do pray for us and the people we will serve in Meru. After arriving in Meru, we will go to visit in the rural hospital where many AIDS patients, both adults and children, are treated. There are only 70 beds available, but they often have more than 200 patients. We know it is going to be an intense experience, but we will be able to visit with patients, share and pray with them, as well as the health care workers of the hospital. We are praying that we can encourage and bless each person we meet in the hospital. Tuesday, we will go to a rural school and have total access to the students. Isn’t it amazing that here we can go into a public school, present the gospel and share scripture and be totally free to pray and share! We are looking forward to having this time with the children and know that it will be a great time for both the children and the team.
Wednesday, we will have a special time with the women of Meru. They face many struggles and challenges, and we will share testimonies, messages from scripture, as well as principles of basic health and hygiene and child rearing.
We do covet your prayers for our time in Meru. It will be a different environment from the bustling city of Nairobi, but we know that God has amazing things to reveal to us. We are praying that our hearts will be prepared to serve, that we can be sensitive and responsive to every opportunity to minister, and that it will be a blessed time for all.
We have all been so impacted by the graciousness of all the believers we have met. We have been made to feel so at home here. They have expressed such appreciation that a team from the US would come to be with them; just “being” with them seems to be a huge encouragement, the importance of which we are learning more and more. We have been struck by the level of commitment of the Christian workers, their passion and dedication and willingness to give and serve sacrificially. They have challenged us to examine our own level of commitment and how much we are willing to give of ourselves to minister to those in need, whether at home or in another country. Our time in Kenya has certainly stirred up a lot of emotions and questions about what it means to truly be a follower of Christ and how we flesh out our faith. We’ve got a lot to pray about and think through……and it’s a good stretch. The Lord is speaking to each of us in different ways, and although we don’t have it all sorted out yet, we are grateful that He is shaping and molding us, challenging and changing us.
I’ll close with some of the words from our “theme song” that are so very appropriate for Kenya. As you read them, pray for the people of Kenya, especially the widows, orphans, and the millions suffering in abject poverty.
“To everyone who’s lost someone they love, long before it was their time,
You feel like the days you had were not enough when you said good bye.
And to all of the people with burdens and pains keeping you back from your life,
You believe that there’s nothing and there is no one who can make it right.
There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, love for the broken heart.
There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing. He’ll meet you wherever you are;
Cry out to Jesus; Cry out to Jesus.
To the widow who struggles with being along wiping the tears from her eyes.
For the children around the world without a home, say a prayer tonight.
When you’re lonely and it feels like the whole world is falling on you,
You just reach out, you just cry out to Jesus,
Cry out to Jesus.
Saturday, June 9, 2007
Final meal with the widows
The meal was good and tasty. the main thing is that the widows received alot of food to eat today and then take some home . These meals maybe the only good meal they receive all week, so they are really happy for HSF is providing for them.
Making soap
Breanna and Ethan helping the ladies make soap. They had to crush up the big pieces so they could run in through the grinder and into a sack. this was a very dusty operation. Then they mixed it with other materials and will let it see for a while and use it for laundry soap to sell to make some money for the widows.Team sharing with widows
Brittney is sharing with the ladies a word of encouragement. She did a great job.
Phil sharing with the ladies.
Home Care Spiritual Fellwoship Widows
Every Friday 20 ladies come together to prepare a meal for themselves and our team today and have some Bible study and sharing of testimonies. they are also making bead necklaces and bracletts to sell, which we bot more. Here we are picking the leaves off of the syem to cook greens. they really enjoyed us joining in with them on this.Elephant orphanage
Experiencing Kibera
We haven’t had access to the Internet in a few days, so we’ll try to catch up a bit.
“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Dorcas…abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.” Acts 9:36 This Godly woman made clothing for the poor, and when she fell ill and died, Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, brought her back to life, and as a result, many came to the Lord. We spent time with a modern day Dorcas, one of our ministry partners, who immulates the Biblical Dorcas in many ways. Dorcas has been a widow for 24 years, left alone with five young daughters. She has worked diligently to raise her daughters by herself, but even in her own need, she has always thought of others. Twelve years ago, she donated some of her land to begin a Christian school, which is now run by one of her daughters. She also gave land to begin a sewing program for young women in the nearby slum so that they could learn a trade and provide for themselves. So the sewing to provide for the poor connection remains with this Dorcas. In the past 12 years, 550 young women have gone through the sewing training, receiving spiritual training as well as a trade. We had the privilege of meeting with the current sewing class, hear some of their testimonies, and see what this ministry has meant to so many. It is their means to a better life, an opportunity to be self-sustaining, provide for their families, and know the God who created them. It was indeed an inspiring time.
We also had our first sojourn into Kibera, a slum of 600 acres and one million people, the largest slum in Africa. It’s one thing to see pictures and read about it; it’s quite another thing to walk through this incredibly dense area, maneuver through a maze of narrow dirt passages, and be struck by the pungent smells of garbage and all manners of refuse. The stick, mud and tin 10 by 10 rooms that can house as many as 12 people, seem to be stacked on top of one another in a sea of abject poverty. But, meeting the people reveals a different side of Kibera. Out of nowhere, children suddenly appear, deep brown eyes filled with curiosity as the sight of muzungus (white folks). Immediately there is a chorus of “How are you?” in thick accents, amid giggles and hands outreached to shake our hands. Though dirty and dressed in tattered clothes, these delightful children’s smiles instantly bring light and joy to the dismal surroundings. In no time, there was a crowd of children gathered, and the team staged an impromptu praise and worship time, leading the children in songs and fun activities. It was a joyous, spontaneous time, and for a few moments, you could forget about the immense problems plaguing these children and their families, if they have one. HIV/AIDS, hunger, lack of education, lack of skills, no jobs, mostly one parent households and many child-headed households….all these and more make Kibera a place of enormous needs and little hope. We visited a number of homes, mud shanties, with meager furnishings and mud floors. We listened as the widows shared their stories of great burdens and how they rely totally on the Lord for their strength and ability to go on. Experiencing Kibera can be overwhelming; it’s hard to feel hopeful when you see the desperate circumstances they live in. But, we know that no matter how impossible the situation may seem, with God, all things are possible, and He is the only hope. As great as the needs are, He is greater still!
We also had the honor of meeting with a group of HIV widows who meet weekly at the ministry center. They gather to pray, share, cook a nutritious meal (prepared and eaten here so that that they can be assured that the widows have some strengthening food that enables them to withstand antiretroviral treatment). We joined in singing praises with them, hearing from the scriptures, sharing testimonies, and enjoying lunch together. The widows have begun two income generating projects, designing beaded jewelry and making soap. The team jumped in the soap making, vigorously breaking up the chunks of material that would be fed into a grinder to produce soap granules. These women, who are scorned, ostracized, and rejected, were so encouraged by the team’s presence. They beamed as we joined hands with them in prayer and embraced them as sisters in Christ.
Tomorrow we take part in a program that our partners began a few months ago to 300 children of the widows our partners are ministering to. The team will share music, a Bible lesson, and love on as many children as they can manage. It’s going to be a wonderful time. In the afternoon, we will have the privilege of attending the wedding of the son of one of our hosts. We’ll get to enjoy the unique customs of their tribe and share in the joyful celebration, a rare treat.
Please continue to pray for the team, ministry opportunities, and that all we do will reflect Jesus to everyone we meet.
Diane for the team
“Now in Joppa there was a disciple named Dorcas…abounding with deeds of kindness and charity which she continually did.” Acts 9:36 This Godly woman made clothing for the poor, and when she fell ill and died, Peter, through the power of the Holy Spirit, brought her back to life, and as a result, many came to the Lord. We spent time with a modern day Dorcas, one of our ministry partners, who immulates the Biblical Dorcas in many ways. Dorcas has been a widow for 24 years, left alone with five young daughters. She has worked diligently to raise her daughters by herself, but even in her own need, she has always thought of others. Twelve years ago, she donated some of her land to begin a Christian school, which is now run by one of her daughters. She also gave land to begin a sewing program for young women in the nearby slum so that they could learn a trade and provide for themselves. So the sewing to provide for the poor connection remains with this Dorcas. In the past 12 years, 550 young women have gone through the sewing training, receiving spiritual training as well as a trade. We had the privilege of meeting with the current sewing class, hear some of their testimonies, and see what this ministry has meant to so many. It is their means to a better life, an opportunity to be self-sustaining, provide for their families, and know the God who created them. It was indeed an inspiring time.
We also had our first sojourn into Kibera, a slum of 600 acres and one million people, the largest slum in Africa. It’s one thing to see pictures and read about it; it’s quite another thing to walk through this incredibly dense area, maneuver through a maze of narrow dirt passages, and be struck by the pungent smells of garbage and all manners of refuse. The stick, mud and tin 10 by 10 rooms that can house as many as 12 people, seem to be stacked on top of one another in a sea of abject poverty. But, meeting the people reveals a different side of Kibera. Out of nowhere, children suddenly appear, deep brown eyes filled with curiosity as the sight of muzungus (white folks). Immediately there is a chorus of “How are you?” in thick accents, amid giggles and hands outreached to shake our hands. Though dirty and dressed in tattered clothes, these delightful children’s smiles instantly bring light and joy to the dismal surroundings. In no time, there was a crowd of children gathered, and the team staged an impromptu praise and worship time, leading the children in songs and fun activities. It was a joyous, spontaneous time, and for a few moments, you could forget about the immense problems plaguing these children and their families, if they have one. HIV/AIDS, hunger, lack of education, lack of skills, no jobs, mostly one parent households and many child-headed households….all these and more make Kibera a place of enormous needs and little hope. We visited a number of homes, mud shanties, with meager furnishings and mud floors. We listened as the widows shared their stories of great burdens and how they rely totally on the Lord for their strength and ability to go on. Experiencing Kibera can be overwhelming; it’s hard to feel hopeful when you see the desperate circumstances they live in. But, we know that no matter how impossible the situation may seem, with God, all things are possible, and He is the only hope. As great as the needs are, He is greater still!
We also had the honor of meeting with a group of HIV widows who meet weekly at the ministry center. They gather to pray, share, cook a nutritious meal (prepared and eaten here so that that they can be assured that the widows have some strengthening food that enables them to withstand antiretroviral treatment). We joined in singing praises with them, hearing from the scriptures, sharing testimonies, and enjoying lunch together. The widows have begun two income generating projects, designing beaded jewelry and making soap. The team jumped in the soap making, vigorously breaking up the chunks of material that would be fed into a grinder to produce soap granules. These women, who are scorned, ostracized, and rejected, were so encouraged by the team’s presence. They beamed as we joined hands with them in prayer and embraced them as sisters in Christ.
Tomorrow we take part in a program that our partners began a few months ago to 300 children of the widows our partners are ministering to. The team will share music, a Bible lesson, and love on as many children as they can manage. It’s going to be a wonderful time. In the afternoon, we will have the privilege of attending the wedding of the son of one of our hosts. We’ll get to enjoy the unique customs of their tribe and share in the joyful celebration, a rare treat.
Please continue to pray for the team, ministry opportunities, and that all we do will reflect Jesus to everyone we meet.
Diane for the team
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
Sewing project
On Wednesday morning we had the opportunity to go to a local sewing project that PACWA/GA is running. We are taking 20 young ladies from a nearby slum and teaching them the trade of sewing. These ladies have not had a chance to do anything but are now finding hope and a way to provide for their families. Since January all have become Christians. Over the past 12 years of existence the school has had an impact of 550 students who are now working. After they graduate in a year they take a government test and when they pass we give them a new sewing machine and materials to start their business. Some years when funds are low they might have to wait a while but they always get a machine. Machines cost $150.00 the old pedal style as they do not have electricity in their homes. This is there classrooms and they have to copy their patterns like the ones on the walls which are just made out of paper. The only pattern books they have are in Japanese which makes it a bit difficult to read the instructions.Joseph is their teacher and has been since the beginning and is doing a great job and loves helping the ladies move forward with their lives.
They sang songs to us read scripture and gave their testimonies, just a great morning.
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