I know there has been a long delay since our last blog. I will try and hit a few highlights. We met with 30 pastors from Kopsiro last Friday. Kopsiro is an area hit hard by the clashes. The government shut down the IDP camps and told the people to go live with relatives. Those who could did, others are "just around" as the pastors say. We had the opportunity to explain the vision for this year. We will assist about 10 churches, 600 families in all. We also met with the farmers we sent to Manor House who will now train the future recipients of the maize project. They were all so grateful for what they learned and are eager to share their new found knowledge with others. They are all so giving and willing to serve. It is awesome.
We had Lucy for a few nights and our parent child talk went well. She is actually very compliant- whew! We sure lucked out on that one! We tried to help her with her math homework. She is doing Geometry in 6th grade!! I barely passed Geometry in high school. Mike, the math wizz even struggled. We just told her she had lame parents and unfortunately, we could not help her with her homework. She sure works hard. We found out from one of her teachers she won two first place trophies in track and Field. We asked her, " Lucy, can you say world record holder, future Olympiad, professional athlete?" We asked if she was going to take care of us in her old age and she said yes. We also found out she was elected by her classmates and teacher to be Prefect for Class 6. It is a position of leadership. One has to demonstrate discipline, leadership and respect. How puffed up our our chests right now!! For the past few years we have been saying, "Lucy, are you a leader or a follower?'' She laughs and says, "Follower" just to be cheeky. We are so proud of her. She did not even tell us she has been Prefect this whole school year. One of her classmates told us.
We had to meet with a judge twice this week so we can try and get Lucy a birth certificate. Again we were granted legal guardianship and sole custody of Lucy (thought we already did that and we even have documents to prove that but oh well, it is Kenya). She also gave permission to seek a birth certificate which will officially have our last name. It is now the last name she uses on a regular basis.
Dan, Kathleen, Erika arrived last night and surprised us by bringing Charles, Thomas and Joseph. They are orphan boys between the ages of 5 and 8. I know you are all laughing right now, Mike and I with 3 small kids running around the house. They are actually really cute and very good. Besides, we told them if they are bad, we eat small children. I am sooooo kidding. Seriously they have been great! Of course company arrives and the water company turned the water off and one of the workers turned our pump off so we have very little water right now. We should have water by 5:00am tommorrow. We won't hold our breath, it is Kenya.
Tonight we had our traditional dinner with the boys. There were 20 people at dinner and it took 2.5 hours. It was ok though because we loved visiting with them. They are all getting so big. It was great for Dan and Kathleen to see them. It was a bit emotional for them as Philip played a significant role in assisting with some of these boys.
Tomorrow we go back to Mt. Elgon and we are distributing 100 blankets to widows who were previously staying at the IDP camp in Kopsiro. We are looking forward to being with them and ministering to them. If you read this soon (we are 10 hours ahead) please pray for me as I feel a burden to share something with these women and don't have a clue what to say. I pray God shows up in a big way!
Love you all and talk with you soon. Kwaheri for now.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Fun, Fellowship and Food on the Mountain
Hello friends,
Today was another amazing day on the mountain. We visited AIC Cheptonon. Pastor Martin's church. We have built a relationship over the last 5 years with them. The children that would once run from us in terror now chase our van when they see us coming in order to greet us.
We visisted many shambas and homes. The testimonies continue to be amazing. If each one were not so powerful in terms of changed lives and stewardship, they would almost seem redundant. Yet when you hear the people give their testimonies and see their faces and the faces of their children, each one is so impactful. We even vistited some shambas near the forest. It was our first time REALLY seeing the forest. WOW! It is so lush and beautiful.
We vistited Pastor Martin's church and his wife Asha gave us soda and her special Chapatis made with a bit of sugar. YUM! We then visited a few more shambas and one family we have gotten to know over the years invited us in and served us a big lunch. We then drove to the church and I met with the youth and youth leaders. We thought we were leaving but they asked us to sit and they brought in another huge meal for us. We were so full but we had to eat AGAIN. We don't think we have ever been so full in all our lives. They serve tons of carbs, beans and then you wash it down with a soda! There was some rumbling and bumbling going on! The bumpy ride back to Kitale was painful!
We are having an amazing time with our new staff. We joke and laugh and everyone feels free to share and give their input. They are teaching us Saboat and we are teaching them American slang. I have Sammary saying, "Leonard, you're the bomb". To hear it in a Kenyan accent is so funny. Leonard use to be quiet and timid but since we made some changes (you all know what I am referring to) he is open and filled with such joy. He and Peter (our farm manager) got up when the choir was singing and started dancing and singing with them. It was so awesome. We are doing ministry together and having fun!
Yesterday Mike did a business seminar at Pastor Tony's church. He is teaching the people how to look at their shambas as a business and ways to reduce costs and increase profits. He did an amazing job and the people are always so grateful for the seminar and seem to come away from it with new ideas.
Well, that is it for now. We love you and miss you.
Today was another amazing day on the mountain. We visited AIC Cheptonon. Pastor Martin's church. We have built a relationship over the last 5 years with them. The children that would once run from us in terror now chase our van when they see us coming in order to greet us.
We visisted many shambas and homes. The testimonies continue to be amazing. If each one were not so powerful in terms of changed lives and stewardship, they would almost seem redundant. Yet when you hear the people give their testimonies and see their faces and the faces of their children, each one is so impactful. We even vistited some shambas near the forest. It was our first time REALLY seeing the forest. WOW! It is so lush and beautiful.
We vistited Pastor Martin's church and his wife Asha gave us soda and her special Chapatis made with a bit of sugar. YUM! We then visited a few more shambas and one family we have gotten to know over the years invited us in and served us a big lunch. We then drove to the church and I met with the youth and youth leaders. We thought we were leaving but they asked us to sit and they brought in another huge meal for us. We were so full but we had to eat AGAIN. We don't think we have ever been so full in all our lives. They serve tons of carbs, beans and then you wash it down with a soda! There was some rumbling and bumbling going on! The bumpy ride back to Kitale was painful!
We are having an amazing time with our new staff. We joke and laugh and everyone feels free to share and give their input. They are teaching us Saboat and we are teaching them American slang. I have Sammary saying, "Leonard, you're the bomb". To hear it in a Kenyan accent is so funny. Leonard use to be quiet and timid but since we made some changes (you all know what I am referring to) he is open and filled with such joy. He and Peter (our farm manager) got up when the choir was singing and started dancing and singing with them. It was so awesome. We are doing ministry together and having fun!
Yesterday Mike did a business seminar at Pastor Tony's church. He is teaching the people how to look at their shambas as a business and ways to reduce costs and increase profits. He did an amazing job and the people are always so grateful for the seminar and seem to come away from it with new ideas.
Well, that is it for now. We love you and miss you.
Monday, August 10, 2009
More News from Kenya
Hello again from Kenya. Saturday was our day at the farm with Richard and Freda. Richard has been ill so we did not walk the farm this time. We did visist with sick people in the hospital and pray for them. there was a little girl named Rosie that had a severe case of jiggers. Jiggers are like magots that burrow in the skin, lay eggs and well you get the picture. It is way nasty and extremely painful. She walked on her heals because her feet and hands were covered with jiggers. She was such a sweet girl!
We played alot with some of the children that live at the farm. I hurt my back swinging Esther around. She is really growing up and remembers us by name now. She refuesed to let me put her down. My back was killing me. I am just getting to old! There was a little girl named Kathleen that is such a tiny peanut. She is 3 years old and a sack of flour weighs more than her. She had Mike wrapped around her little finger. She kept wanting him to hold her and when he put her down she would just look at him with that little peanut face and hold her arms up. At one point she held his hand and lead him off. I asked where Mike was and Richard said he has left me for another woman as someone else has stolen his heart. Wait until you see the picutres. She is so tiny and so cute. She could make you do just about anything when she looks at you.
Sunday we went up to Cheptonon for the church service. As usual we found out the afternoon before that one of us was doing the message and as usual, Mike volunteered me. So on our way up the mountain, I was preparing my message. I believe the message went pretty well. I recieved positive feedback but then again what else are they going to say? The great part is I am learning to not be so anxious when I am not fully prepared. It is not because I think I am "all that" but because I am learning to trust that God will show up and deliver His message through me. Why would he not want to answer that kind of request?
There was alot of rain the day before so the ride up was an "adventure". The van could not make it all the way up to the church so we had to hike up the hill. I was in a dress and heals, Mike in a suit and hard sole shoes. When it rains on Mt. Elgon the ground is like walking on ice. It was an experience for sure. Our shoes and legs were covered in mud. My heel kept getting stuck in the mud and I kept walking out of my shoe. We both almost ate it a few times but managed to stay on both feet. We are definitely not going up the mountain without a pair of hiking shoes with us in the future.
Pat Hamer came with us that day. He loved Mt. Elgon but I think even he wondered how our vehicle would make it a few times. We loved having him with us. He enjoyed trying to scare the children and then trying to convince him he really is a "nice Mazungoo" or "ghost" as they have been told in their bed time stories.
The people were so amazing and so full of life. I loved dancing with the women and doing their traditional chant or shreak with them. I am really getting good at it and it definitely makes everyone laugh.
We heard some amazing testimonies. We met one of our farmers we sent to Manor House to be trained. He has already taken the inititive to start his own demonstration plot and train some of the church members. He has even used some of the beans he has harvested to give to his neighbors who have nothing. Another family used the harvest to pay school fees for their child who is in their second year of high school. I love how God is using this project. Their are fewer orphans because people are not dying of disease and starvation, kids are getting an education and the farms are becoming a business that is providing an income for the people. Just goes to show you, God can use anyone. We are constantly amazed by what God is doing through Fruited Plains. We still believe he chose us because He recieves all the glory in it. What the heck do we know about farming. We love how God works!
We had the opportunity to meet with more youth and youth leaders. They were first focused on what we could do for them. I tactfully and gently helped them see that it is in their best interest to not focus on "Mazungoos" giving them a hand out. Infact, this only hurts them. I encouraged them to think outside the box and to focus on how they can grow in their relationship with God as their first priority and allow God to show them a way out of their circumstances. One of the ICM workers was able to chim in and give his testimony as an example. It was powerful and definitely made the point. The fact that he is a Kenyan from Mt. Elgon really made it impactful. It still comes down to creating weekly Bible studies for the youth. They need Bibles and youth leaders need training. We believe God can work out those details. We also focused on how they can serve the church. There were some great ideas like ministering to the widows. There are several in the area as this was one of the areas hit during the clashes.
After we left, Pastor Harry said, "Michele, do you want a ride on my motor bike?" An offer I could not refuse!! Dress, muddy heals and all, I climbed on and had an amazing ride. Because were pretty high up on the mountain and it was sooooo green and beautiful the view was breathtaking. It was so much fun. The people we passed by looked shocked. First, they don't see many Mazungoos in that area, and second, I am sure they don't see them on the back of a motor bike. After riding for awhile it was Mike's turn. He too had a blast. He actually rode through some rough turrain but loved every minute of it. I think we need to make this a tradition.
We actually came across my Rafikee Elizabeth again on the road. She was so disappointed she did not get to meet my dad and Pastor Mike when we were here last February. She had been praying for me and my family since Harry announced to the church my mom had passed away. She is just so great. I can't even express in words how full of joy my heart is everytime I see her.
We took Lucy back to school. She started summer school today. We will try and get her on Saturday afternoon for lunch. We definitely have to have a parent child meeting with her. As amazing as she is, there are a few behaviors that need some work. Pray for us! Pray we handle it well and she listens as well as takes part in the conversation. We don't want to lecture. We know that does not work.
Today we had a bunch of meetings. All were productive. We believe God is going to continue to do some great things on the mountain. We found out it will cost about $400.00 or less to build a traditional 2 bedroom house with iron sheets. Six people can do the framing and roofing in one day and church members can do the mud walls. There is a guesstimate of about 300 families that are in the greatest of need (although their are many more who will eventully need homes). We would like to target widows and orphans. We are looking to put small teams together to bring up to the mountain to assist. The ICM campus on Mt. Elgon would host us so we can stay in the dorms there. It is very close to where the work would take place. Pray about whether God can use us in some way to make this happen.
We love you and miss you. If you are reading the blogs, please respond to us. We love hearing from you.
Kwaheri for now.
We played alot with some of the children that live at the farm. I hurt my back swinging Esther around. She is really growing up and remembers us by name now. She refuesed to let me put her down. My back was killing me. I am just getting to old! There was a little girl named Kathleen that is such a tiny peanut. She is 3 years old and a sack of flour weighs more than her. She had Mike wrapped around her little finger. She kept wanting him to hold her and when he put her down she would just look at him with that little peanut face and hold her arms up. At one point she held his hand and lead him off. I asked where Mike was and Richard said he has left me for another woman as someone else has stolen his heart. Wait until you see the picutres. She is so tiny and so cute. She could make you do just about anything when she looks at you.
Sunday we went up to Cheptonon for the church service. As usual we found out the afternoon before that one of us was doing the message and as usual, Mike volunteered me. So on our way up the mountain, I was preparing my message. I believe the message went pretty well. I recieved positive feedback but then again what else are they going to say? The great part is I am learning to not be so anxious when I am not fully prepared. It is not because I think I am "all that" but because I am learning to trust that God will show up and deliver His message through me. Why would he not want to answer that kind of request?
There was alot of rain the day before so the ride up was an "adventure". The van could not make it all the way up to the church so we had to hike up the hill. I was in a dress and heals, Mike in a suit and hard sole shoes. When it rains on Mt. Elgon the ground is like walking on ice. It was an experience for sure. Our shoes and legs were covered in mud. My heel kept getting stuck in the mud and I kept walking out of my shoe. We both almost ate it a few times but managed to stay on both feet. We are definitely not going up the mountain without a pair of hiking shoes with us in the future.
Pat Hamer came with us that day. He loved Mt. Elgon but I think even he wondered how our vehicle would make it a few times. We loved having him with us. He enjoyed trying to scare the children and then trying to convince him he really is a "nice Mazungoo" or "ghost" as they have been told in their bed time stories.
The people were so amazing and so full of life. I loved dancing with the women and doing their traditional chant or shreak with them. I am really getting good at it and it definitely makes everyone laugh.
We heard some amazing testimonies. We met one of our farmers we sent to Manor House to be trained. He has already taken the inititive to start his own demonstration plot and train some of the church members. He has even used some of the beans he has harvested to give to his neighbors who have nothing. Another family used the harvest to pay school fees for their child who is in their second year of high school. I love how God is using this project. Their are fewer orphans because people are not dying of disease and starvation, kids are getting an education and the farms are becoming a business that is providing an income for the people. Just goes to show you, God can use anyone. We are constantly amazed by what God is doing through Fruited Plains. We still believe he chose us because He recieves all the glory in it. What the heck do we know about farming. We love how God works!
We had the opportunity to meet with more youth and youth leaders. They were first focused on what we could do for them. I tactfully and gently helped them see that it is in their best interest to not focus on "Mazungoos" giving them a hand out. Infact, this only hurts them. I encouraged them to think outside the box and to focus on how they can grow in their relationship with God as their first priority and allow God to show them a way out of their circumstances. One of the ICM workers was able to chim in and give his testimony as an example. It was powerful and definitely made the point. The fact that he is a Kenyan from Mt. Elgon really made it impactful. It still comes down to creating weekly Bible studies for the youth. They need Bibles and youth leaders need training. We believe God can work out those details. We also focused on how they can serve the church. There were some great ideas like ministering to the widows. There are several in the area as this was one of the areas hit during the clashes.
After we left, Pastor Harry said, "Michele, do you want a ride on my motor bike?" An offer I could not refuse!! Dress, muddy heals and all, I climbed on and had an amazing ride. Because were pretty high up on the mountain and it was sooooo green and beautiful the view was breathtaking. It was so much fun. The people we passed by looked shocked. First, they don't see many Mazungoos in that area, and second, I am sure they don't see them on the back of a motor bike. After riding for awhile it was Mike's turn. He too had a blast. He actually rode through some rough turrain but loved every minute of it. I think we need to make this a tradition.
We actually came across my Rafikee Elizabeth again on the road. She was so disappointed she did not get to meet my dad and Pastor Mike when we were here last February. She had been praying for me and my family since Harry announced to the church my mom had passed away. She is just so great. I can't even express in words how full of joy my heart is everytime I see her.
We took Lucy back to school. She started summer school today. We will try and get her on Saturday afternoon for lunch. We definitely have to have a parent child meeting with her. As amazing as she is, there are a few behaviors that need some work. Pray for us! Pray we handle it well and she listens as well as takes part in the conversation. We don't want to lecture. We know that does not work.
Today we had a bunch of meetings. All were productive. We believe God is going to continue to do some great things on the mountain. We found out it will cost about $400.00 or less to build a traditional 2 bedroom house with iron sheets. Six people can do the framing and roofing in one day and church members can do the mud walls. There is a guesstimate of about 300 families that are in the greatest of need (although their are many more who will eventully need homes). We would like to target widows and orphans. We are looking to put small teams together to bring up to the mountain to assist. The ICM campus on Mt. Elgon would host us so we can stay in the dorms there. It is very close to where the work would take place. Pray about whether God can use us in some way to make this happen.
We love you and miss you. If you are reading the blogs, please respond to us. We love hearing from you.
Kwaheri for now.
Friday, August 7, 2009
God Continues to Move Mountians
Hello friends and family. We have had a couple of great days. We went to Mt. Elgon and saw the site we purchased for the Fruited Plains headquarters. It is over an acre and it sits next to the district offices for Mt. Elgon which means we have electricity and it will be safe. We will build a warehouse to store our beans and maize and a garage big enough to store 2 lorries. We will also have an office. We will likely plant some small vegetables that we can sell to cover some of our overhead. It is alot of land so we don't know all God has in store. If there were a grocery store and Pinewood, we would build a home there. Mt. Elgon is so beautiful and we love it there so much.
We met with the Assistant Chief of Mt. Elgon and the District Officer. They both were very pleased with what Fruited Plains is doing to assist the people and were very happy to hear we will have our headquarters on the mountain. They offered their support in any way. It was definitely nice to recieve that.
Today I went up to Mt. Elgon again. Unfortunately Mike had to stay behind to deal with some business matters. It was a wonderful day. We got to see the homestead that Pastor Martin grew up on and we prayed for his mom who was having some knee problems. We walked to some shambas (farms) and heard more amazing testimonies from Harry's church. People have just harvested their beans. From the 10kg bag they were given last February, they have harvested 90kg's. Not bad! We heard more testimonies of people providing food for their families, paying school fees, and selling the excess to buy goats, cows, sheep and even build larger homes. When Fruited Plains started we simply wanted to help people have food to eat. God has done beyond what we ever imagined. There is a reasons Ephesians 3:20 is our verse for fruited Plains. "Now Glory be to God. By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ever dreamed or imagined." One gentleman was asked by a neighbor, "How come your crops look so good?" His response was, "Because they are crops from God!"
Lucy was great. She was my videographer. She did a great job! I got to see my Rafiki (friend) Elizabeth. We ran towards each other, hugged and told each other we missed one another and loved each other. She speaks Saboat and I speak english but some how our bond was able to break through the language barrier. My heart was so full! I wish all of you could experience Mt. Elgon and see what a great place it is and the amazing people that live there.
I also had the opportunity to sit with about 29 youth and youth leaders from 4 different churches. We brainstormed about youth ministry. Other than Sunday school where all ages come together, there is no youth ministry. No Bible studies, no mentors, nothing. They all were eager to share their ideas. I have been waiting 6 years for this! God has put the youth on my heart and kept pulling my reigns back and saying, "not yet". I believe now is the time where He may use me. Training youth leaders is desparately needed. Their is a desire to serve but no training available and no idea how to really establish ministry. I know this is a big part of why God has called me to close my practice. At the end of the meeting we all committed to pray together each day and see where God leads us. We are all committed to follow His lead and not our own. Again, my heart is full!
Our time with Lucy just gets better and better. Her abiltiy and willingness to communicate with us in english has been great! She is still very quiet in front of others but open with us. She jokes, laughs and is affectionate. We have waited over 6 years for this! We love having her with us. She is definitely Daddy's little girl! She loves to tease him and he certainly knows how to return the favor. There is something about dad's and their daughters.
Continue to pray for us. We are having a wonderful time and there is still much ahead to accomplish over the next few weeks. Kwaheri for now!
We met with the Assistant Chief of Mt. Elgon and the District Officer. They both were very pleased with what Fruited Plains is doing to assist the people and were very happy to hear we will have our headquarters on the mountain. They offered their support in any way. It was definitely nice to recieve that.
Today I went up to Mt. Elgon again. Unfortunately Mike had to stay behind to deal with some business matters. It was a wonderful day. We got to see the homestead that Pastor Martin grew up on and we prayed for his mom who was having some knee problems. We walked to some shambas (farms) and heard more amazing testimonies from Harry's church. People have just harvested their beans. From the 10kg bag they were given last February, they have harvested 90kg's. Not bad! We heard more testimonies of people providing food for their families, paying school fees, and selling the excess to buy goats, cows, sheep and even build larger homes. When Fruited Plains started we simply wanted to help people have food to eat. God has done beyond what we ever imagined. There is a reasons Ephesians 3:20 is our verse for fruited Plains. "Now Glory be to God. By his mighty power at work within us, he is able to accomplish infinitely more than we ever dreamed or imagined." One gentleman was asked by a neighbor, "How come your crops look so good?" His response was, "Because they are crops from God!"
Lucy was great. She was my videographer. She did a great job! I got to see my Rafiki (friend) Elizabeth. We ran towards each other, hugged and told each other we missed one another and loved each other. She speaks Saboat and I speak english but some how our bond was able to break through the language barrier. My heart was so full! I wish all of you could experience Mt. Elgon and see what a great place it is and the amazing people that live there.
I also had the opportunity to sit with about 29 youth and youth leaders from 4 different churches. We brainstormed about youth ministry. Other than Sunday school where all ages come together, there is no youth ministry. No Bible studies, no mentors, nothing. They all were eager to share their ideas. I have been waiting 6 years for this! God has put the youth on my heart and kept pulling my reigns back and saying, "not yet". I believe now is the time where He may use me. Training youth leaders is desparately needed. Their is a desire to serve but no training available and no idea how to really establish ministry. I know this is a big part of why God has called me to close my practice. At the end of the meeting we all committed to pray together each day and see where God leads us. We are all committed to follow His lead and not our own. Again, my heart is full!
Our time with Lucy just gets better and better. Her abiltiy and willingness to communicate with us in english has been great! She is still very quiet in front of others but open with us. She jokes, laughs and is affectionate. We have waited over 6 years for this! We love having her with us. She is definitely Daddy's little girl! She loves to tease him and he certainly knows how to return the favor. There is something about dad's and their daughters.
Continue to pray for us. We are having a wonderful time and there is still much ahead to accomplish over the next few weeks. Kwaheri for now!
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Open our Eyes and Hearts to be the Hands and Feet of Jesus
Jambo Sana friends and family. Yesterday was a very productive day. We had a long meeting (typical for Kenya) with the Fruited Plains employees. We have an amazing team of people working for Fruited Plains. They are just great people who are intelligent and eager to serve. The cool part is they are all from Mt. Elgon. This certainly was not a requirement to work for Fruited Plains but it just worked out that way. We are so blessed to have the team we have. We all then went to look at the 5 acres where we are currently growing our maize. The beans have already been harvested. It has been a dry season this year so we won't yield the kind of crop we were hoping for. We are doing a very conservative estimate of 600 families we will distribute to in February. That is roughly between 4,800 and 6,000 people who will benefit. Not too bad for a dry season.
We met with the advocate who has been working on Lucy's birth certificate the past year and a half. We had to start all over! At least we were able to meet with him today and get the ball rolling again.
This morning when we woke up we (Mike, Lucy and I) decided that as we were out and about running errands, we would keep our eyes open for opportunities to assist people in need. We asked God to help us see those in need and how we might be the hands and feet of Jesus. We handed out biscuits to MANY street kids, chated with them and got to know them better. There was also a woman with a very malnurioushed baby. I asked Lucy what she thought we should do and she thought buying some milk would be good so that is what we did! We also were able to surprise an extremely needy family with some groceries. Lucy was very helpful in knowing what to get. She even contributed some of her own money. She was not asked to do so. She just wanted to. What a great day way had as a family. It is not too difficult to find opportunities to serve those in need in Kenya. I believe God will provide all of us opportunities to serve those in need no matter where we live if we just keep our eyes and hearts open. I encourage you all to try it! Just commit to one day and see what God does.
Tonight Lucy made us dinner. She taught me how to make Ugali. She also made Sukamawiki which I did not think I liked but I liked hers alot! She made some kind of meat stew that Mike liked and I made a vegetable soup. It was all very good. It was fun cooking with her. Who I am I kidding, you all know me, it was fun watching Lucy cook. It was even more delightful to eat her tasty cuisine.
Tomorrow we go to Mt. Elgon and will meet with some of the pastors we have relationships with and see the 1 acre that will be the future headquarters for Fruited Plains. We can't wait to get back up on the mountain. There is no where else we would rather be.
That is all for now. Keep writing to us. We long to hear from you.
Kwaheri for now.
We met with the advocate who has been working on Lucy's birth certificate the past year and a half. We had to start all over! At least we were able to meet with him today and get the ball rolling again.
This morning when we woke up we (Mike, Lucy and I) decided that as we were out and about running errands, we would keep our eyes open for opportunities to assist people in need. We asked God to help us see those in need and how we might be the hands and feet of Jesus. We handed out biscuits to MANY street kids, chated with them and got to know them better. There was also a woman with a very malnurioushed baby. I asked Lucy what she thought we should do and she thought buying some milk would be good so that is what we did! We also were able to surprise an extremely needy family with some groceries. Lucy was very helpful in knowing what to get. She even contributed some of her own money. She was not asked to do so. She just wanted to. What a great day way had as a family. It is not too difficult to find opportunities to serve those in need in Kenya. I believe God will provide all of us opportunities to serve those in need no matter where we live if we just keep our eyes and hearts open. I encourage you all to try it! Just commit to one day and see what God does.
Tonight Lucy made us dinner. She taught me how to make Ugali. She also made Sukamawiki which I did not think I liked but I liked hers alot! She made some kind of meat stew that Mike liked and I made a vegetable soup. It was all very good. It was fun cooking with her. Who I am I kidding, you all know me, it was fun watching Lucy cook. It was even more delightful to eat her tasty cuisine.
Tomorrow we go to Mt. Elgon and will meet with some of the pastors we have relationships with and see the 1 acre that will be the future headquarters for Fruited Plains. We can't wait to get back up on the mountain. There is no where else we would rather be.
That is all for now. Keep writing to us. We long to hear from you.
Kwaheri for now.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
A Zoo for the Misfits
Jambo Sana from Kenya. After 36 hours of travel, we have arrived safely. Friday we got setteled into our "new"/rented house in milimone. It is a beautiful old colonial home built in the 1930's and sits on 4.5 acres. It is comfortable and home for now.
Saturday we met with the Building Hope Committee and 4 of the new loan recipiants. There were 8 loans in total given over the last few weeks. Building Hope is moving forward with great success. We visited 4 of the businesses. 2 had vegetable and general item kiosks, one had a chicken farm with 200 baby chicks (they were soooo cute) and one had an electric milling machine used to grind maize. This is a cool business. She buys maize to grind, and then sells it. This is used to make Ugali. She also grinds customers maize for a profit. She showed how it all works- way cool!
We picked up Lucy yesterday afternoon and she will be with us until the 9th when she starts tuition (summer school). We took her to dinner at Pinewood (shocking) and we had actual conversation. Her english is unbelievable!! We literally conversed the whole time there. We laughed and talked about school and friends. We were amazed! It was so awesome. We always dreamed of a day when this would happen and often wondered if it would. It was such a special time. Today of course, she was a moody, hormonal teenage girl!! She is not a morning person!! We will take the precious sweet moments with her when we can get them. We love her so much.
Today we went to church at AIC Nuru. It was great to see everyone again. This is our home church in Kitale. Sammary, our new administrative assistant invited us over for an early dinner. First let me say, Sammary is the bomb!! She is intelligent, organized, professional and efficient. I am not into human cloning, however if I could clone Sammary and take her home to manage my life in the US I think I would do it. We went to her house this afternoon. She and her roomate Esther made the most amazing meal for us. It was one of best meals we have ever had. They were so excited to have us over and to cook for us. We talked and laughed and got to know each other better.
We all then headed out for an outing at the Kitale Animal Conservatory. Wow, what an experience. It is a animal park for abnormal animals. They are out in the open and you walk right up to them. Oh and me without my camera!!!! We saw an amaphrodite sheep. It was a pitcher and a catcher if you know what I mean. Oh the jokes!!! We also saw a bull that had 4 horns and 3 functioning eyes! This was one messed up Bull. there were 2 donkeys born with no tails. Talk about a pin the tail on the donkey party! There was a cow that had one of it's four stomachs kind of hanging on the outside. Everytime it walked, it kicked itself in its own stomach. There were way too many animals to write about. My personal favorite however was the pregnent cow with a testicle growing out of the top of it's back. I kid you not!!! You just can't make this stuff up. Only in Kenya. You have no idea how hard it was to be appropriate in an evironment like that. Mike and I kept cracking each other up. Lucy, Esther and Sammary were just laughing at us. I know, we are here for ministry but everyone needs a break now and then. Besides, it was good bonding with Sammary and Lucy.
Tommorrow we meet with our employees and will get an idea how things are growing on our 5 acres. It has been an unusually dry season which is not good for the maize. Our beans have been harvested and I guess we did ok despite the whether. We will get more details tomorrow. We head up to the mountain for the first time on Tuesday. Mt. Elgon is calling us. We can't wait to be at the place we love with the people we love.
We will update you all again as soon as we can. Please write back. It is always so great to hear from you.
Kwaheri for now.
Saturday we met with the Building Hope Committee and 4 of the new loan recipiants. There were 8 loans in total given over the last few weeks. Building Hope is moving forward with great success. We visited 4 of the businesses. 2 had vegetable and general item kiosks, one had a chicken farm with 200 baby chicks (they were soooo cute) and one had an electric milling machine used to grind maize. This is a cool business. She buys maize to grind, and then sells it. This is used to make Ugali. She also grinds customers maize for a profit. She showed how it all works- way cool!
We picked up Lucy yesterday afternoon and she will be with us until the 9th when she starts tuition (summer school). We took her to dinner at Pinewood (shocking) and we had actual conversation. Her english is unbelievable!! We literally conversed the whole time there. We laughed and talked about school and friends. We were amazed! It was so awesome. We always dreamed of a day when this would happen and often wondered if it would. It was such a special time. Today of course, she was a moody, hormonal teenage girl!! She is not a morning person!! We will take the precious sweet moments with her when we can get them. We love her so much.
Today we went to church at AIC Nuru. It was great to see everyone again. This is our home church in Kitale. Sammary, our new administrative assistant invited us over for an early dinner. First let me say, Sammary is the bomb!! She is intelligent, organized, professional and efficient. I am not into human cloning, however if I could clone Sammary and take her home to manage my life in the US I think I would do it. We went to her house this afternoon. She and her roomate Esther made the most amazing meal for us. It was one of best meals we have ever had. They were so excited to have us over and to cook for us. We talked and laughed and got to know each other better.
We all then headed out for an outing at the Kitale Animal Conservatory. Wow, what an experience. It is a animal park for abnormal animals. They are out in the open and you walk right up to them. Oh and me without my camera!!!! We saw an amaphrodite sheep. It was a pitcher and a catcher if you know what I mean. Oh the jokes!!! We also saw a bull that had 4 horns and 3 functioning eyes! This was one messed up Bull. there were 2 donkeys born with no tails. Talk about a pin the tail on the donkey party! There was a cow that had one of it's four stomachs kind of hanging on the outside. Everytime it walked, it kicked itself in its own stomach. There were way too many animals to write about. My personal favorite however was the pregnent cow with a testicle growing out of the top of it's back. I kid you not!!! You just can't make this stuff up. Only in Kenya. You have no idea how hard it was to be appropriate in an evironment like that. Mike and I kept cracking each other up. Lucy, Esther and Sammary were just laughing at us. I know, we are here for ministry but everyone needs a break now and then. Besides, it was good bonding with Sammary and Lucy.
Tommorrow we meet with our employees and will get an idea how things are growing on our 5 acres. It has been an unusually dry season which is not good for the maize. Our beans have been harvested and I guess we did ok despite the whether. We will get more details tomorrow. We head up to the mountain for the first time on Tuesday. Mt. Elgon is calling us. We can't wait to be at the place we love with the people we love.
We will update you all again as soon as we can. Please write back. It is always so great to hear from you.
Kwaheri for now.
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