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.