We just got back from Mt. Elgon. We spent a few nights up there and had a blast. Staying on the mountain is about as close to camping as I get!! We actually had running water the second day!! On the way up the mountain the police stopped us and attempted to do a shake down. Mike REFUSED and made it clear he knew the law. That plus mentioning the Honorable Fred Kapundee (Member of Parliment for Mt. Elgon) got him to back down. Especially when Mike kept referring to the officer by his name. This was one Mazungoo he was not going to take advantage of!
We did the boy's and girls youth conference. Girls and boys combined we had about 250 youth. It was amazing. The youth in Kenya are not much different from the youth in the US. They all seemed appreciative for the open and frank conversation about real issues they address. It was a great segway to talk to Lucy about the birds and the bees and boys and all that fun stuff!
The following morning we went to a humble church that received the Fruited Plains Miracle Maize last February. The only istruments were their voices and it was beautiful!! This small church rocked the roof off!!! I had the opportunity to preach again. I was overcome with emotion towards the end. God has truly given us His love for these people. It sometimes overwhelms me. We had lunch in the home of the pastor and his wife after the service. Mike and Chris ate the head of the chicken- brains and all!!!! No lie. It was disgusting.
Chris taught kids Simon Says and Lucy taught us how to eat sugar cane like a true Kenyan. We got to see the 10 acres (really 11). UNBELIEVABLE!!! We even have a sign with our logo on it. We are official. We could not believe all the maize growing and the demonstration plot was incredible. Peter is a passionate and phenominal farmer. He has set up 110 plots to show the people all the different vegetables that grow well on the mountain. He has compost piles and even a tree that the leaves can be crushed and used as a natural insecticide. We are overwhelmed how God ia allowing us to join Him in His work with these people.
Today Mike did his business seminar and the rest of us headed up to Pastor Philip's church, walked Shambas and heard testimonies. There are several widows at his church due to the recent land clashes. One of them shared how she has 10 children and had no food and her life was in despair. After receiveing the seed and harvesting, she now has enough food to feed her family, pay her kids school fees and tithe. She said she is now giving seed and educating her neighbors about it so they too will benefit from what God has given her!! How great is our God?!! Everyone talked about how much better this seed is. They have already harvested the first crop and are planting the second. They will get at least 2 harvests a year opposed to one with the other seed.
My dad was a real trupper today. He had to climb a HUGE hill and cross through several shambas. He hung in there and never gave up! Lucy stayed by his side and took good care of her grandfather. He loved having her watch over him.
Mike mentioned that one of the men at his seminar brought two ears of maize to show the people how much bigger the kernals are compared to the stuff the government sells. Light bulbs were going off as Mike showed them how to reduce costs and run their shambas as a business. He is so gifted in business and loves teaching others how to be self-sustaining and thrive. He is living his dream.
We got stuck in a ditch on the way down. Chris and my dad have now officially experienced Mt. Elgon. It took about an hour to get out but Leonard is the bomb! he got us out and even got us past a school bus that was blocking the road. It was an Indiana Jones ride for sure!
We are having a great time as a family. I feel so blessed to be here with the 3 most important men in my life and Lucy. This is it for now. Will update later. Kwaheri!!
Monday, August 30, 2010
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Oxen, Donkeys and Deformed Cows- Oh My!
Jambo Sano friends and family. We are having a great time in Kenya. We planned well so we have a bit more down time which feels strange to us. I realize it is difficult for me to just relax when I am here. I find myself wanting to be ministering in some way constantly.
We had a GREAT team meeting on Monday. We have been blessed with the best staff EVER! God is moving in some incredible ways through Fruited Plains. Peter (our farm manager) mentioned purchasing our own oxen to plough the 10 acres. Mike had already done the figuring and the oxen pay for themselves in 2 years time. Yes, you heard correctly, we are actually discussing purchasing oxen! How surreal is our life? We are constantly shaking our heads at how God has chosen to use us on this earth. We would not change it for anything in the world. It is just comical to us. As we discussed the possibility of having live stock, we realized we need an acre to graze them. I asked about the cost of an acre. Summary then said, "By the way, the land the government gave us is really more than 10 acres. It is actually 11 acres!" Peter and Leonard then chimed in and said one of the acres is bad for planting but perfect for grazing cattle. We can retain our 10 acres for planting and demonstration plot and we still have an acre to spare!
Peter then asked about having water at the site. I asked about drilling for a well and Sammary again said, "By the way, there is actually a water pipe running right through our 10 acres and it is very cheap to just hook into the water supply that already exists." God just blows my mind!
We are going to distribute to 600 new families again in February. We will have about an extra 100 bags to sell which will help us with a bit of our overhead. Because we will be selling the maize as food, not seed, we will not be competing with the seed companies. We will also sell the produce from our demonstration plot. We are continuing to look for ways to become self-sustaining or at least lower our overhead.
We had the opportunity to visit the animal park. Once again we saw the donkey's with no tails (perfect for a game of pin the tail on the donkey), the cow with 4 horns, 3 functioning eyes and a cleft pallet, and my personal favorite, the female cow with a testicle growing out of its back! No lie. It's Kenya! You got a love it!
We visited some of the Building Hope recipients. They are all repaying their loans and the businesses they have established are helping to care for the basic needs of their families. We are grateful for the committee that over sees this project. They are doing a great job.
Chris is having a great time. Today he played soccer with the street kids at Oasis of Hope. He was so in his element. He plans to go back again tomorrow. He is also connecting with Lucy. She LOVES her cousin!! She has connected to him like no one else. It warms my heart.
We have met with Lucy's counselor two times now. We are impressed with the head counselor. He seems to get her and what she needs. Now that the assessment period is complete, she will be transitioning to a new counselor experienced in grief counseling. We are learning some new details of what has transpired over the last couple of years. I won't go into detail on the blog but it breaks our hearts. I hate that we could not have done a better job of protecting her. What she has experienced most of her life is heart renching. To see how far she has come is such a blessing from God. Please continue to pray that God would give us wisdom on how to guide her. We can absolutely see how God has and continues to have his hand on her life. I don't know what He has for her but one thing is for sure, He loves and cares for her so very much! I sure hope she sees it. Her value and worth in His eyes is so evident to us.
We will head up to Mt Elgon again on Saturday and will spend 2 nights. Sammary and I will be doing a girls youth conference. Mike, my dad, Chris and Abraham will be doing a boys youth conference (the first ever). Sunday we will visit another one of the chruches that received seed this past February. I have been asked to give the message again. Pray that God shows up and blesses the people through me!!! I covet your prayers! Monday Mike will do his business seminar with the recipients who have not yet attended while my dad, Chris and I go visit past recipeints and hear testimonies from the people. I can't wait!!!!!!!
Love you all. Keep praying for us. We are all healthy and doing well.
We had a GREAT team meeting on Monday. We have been blessed with the best staff EVER! God is moving in some incredible ways through Fruited Plains. Peter (our farm manager) mentioned purchasing our own oxen to plough the 10 acres. Mike had already done the figuring and the oxen pay for themselves in 2 years time. Yes, you heard correctly, we are actually discussing purchasing oxen! How surreal is our life? We are constantly shaking our heads at how God has chosen to use us on this earth. We would not change it for anything in the world. It is just comical to us. As we discussed the possibility of having live stock, we realized we need an acre to graze them. I asked about the cost of an acre. Summary then said, "By the way, the land the government gave us is really more than 10 acres. It is actually 11 acres!" Peter and Leonard then chimed in and said one of the acres is bad for planting but perfect for grazing cattle. We can retain our 10 acres for planting and demonstration plot and we still have an acre to spare!
Peter then asked about having water at the site. I asked about drilling for a well and Sammary again said, "By the way, there is actually a water pipe running right through our 10 acres and it is very cheap to just hook into the water supply that already exists." God just blows my mind!
We are going to distribute to 600 new families again in February. We will have about an extra 100 bags to sell which will help us with a bit of our overhead. Because we will be selling the maize as food, not seed, we will not be competing with the seed companies. We will also sell the produce from our demonstration plot. We are continuing to look for ways to become self-sustaining or at least lower our overhead.
We had the opportunity to visit the animal park. Once again we saw the donkey's with no tails (perfect for a game of pin the tail on the donkey), the cow with 4 horns, 3 functioning eyes and a cleft pallet, and my personal favorite, the female cow with a testicle growing out of its back! No lie. It's Kenya! You got a love it!
We visited some of the Building Hope recipients. They are all repaying their loans and the businesses they have established are helping to care for the basic needs of their families. We are grateful for the committee that over sees this project. They are doing a great job.
Chris is having a great time. Today he played soccer with the street kids at Oasis of Hope. He was so in his element. He plans to go back again tomorrow. He is also connecting with Lucy. She LOVES her cousin!! She has connected to him like no one else. It warms my heart.
We have met with Lucy's counselor two times now. We are impressed with the head counselor. He seems to get her and what she needs. Now that the assessment period is complete, she will be transitioning to a new counselor experienced in grief counseling. We are learning some new details of what has transpired over the last couple of years. I won't go into detail on the blog but it breaks our hearts. I hate that we could not have done a better job of protecting her. What she has experienced most of her life is heart renching. To see how far she has come is such a blessing from God. Please continue to pray that God would give us wisdom on how to guide her. We can absolutely see how God has and continues to have his hand on her life. I don't know what He has for her but one thing is for sure, He loves and cares for her so very much! I sure hope she sees it. Her value and worth in His eyes is so evident to us.
We will head up to Mt Elgon again on Saturday and will spend 2 nights. Sammary and I will be doing a girls youth conference. Mike, my dad, Chris and Abraham will be doing a boys youth conference (the first ever). Sunday we will visit another one of the chruches that received seed this past February. I have been asked to give the message again. Pray that God shows up and blesses the people through me!!! I covet your prayers! Monday Mike will do his business seminar with the recipients who have not yet attended while my dad, Chris and I go visit past recipeints and hear testimonies from the people. I can't wait!!!!!!!
Love you all. Keep praying for us. We are all healthy and doing well.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Jambo from Kenya
Jambo Sana from Kenya! We are having a wonderful time. Our first day here we went to the Cottage Hospital and walked the farm with Richard. Oh how I love that man. I treasure every moment I get with him. After lunch in the cottage we headed out to feed the kids in the pre-school at the Cottage hospital. These kids live in the slums and most don't have food to eat. The Cottage Hospital has a pre-school where the kids come 6 days a week for breakfast and lunch. A few years ago Richard and Freda shared with us that most children do not eat again until they return to the school on Monday. Mike had a great idea of providing a pre-cooked meal to distribute to the kids on Saturdays so they would have a meal on Sunday. After we served the kids lunch we but beans and rice in 70 bags and distributed them to the kids. With big smiles and a gracious "Asante" (thank you) they took their bag. After all the children received their food they closed there eyes and thanked God for the meal he provided. I looked over at Chris and he was a goner! Tears were streaming down his face. Oh yeah, Kenya has gotten a hold of him and it was just the first day. The people and this place have a way of grabing hold of your heart and you are forever changed.
Today we headed up to Mt. Elgon for church (my happy place in Kenya). We went to one of the churches that were recipients of the planting seeds project this past February. We heard a testimony from a man whose children attended the church but he and his wife did not. The church decided that since the children attended the church they could be recipients of the seed if the father or mother attended all the necessary trainings. The father did so. He shared how he really saw the love of God demonstrated. Even though he and his wife did not attend the church and were not Christians, they still wanted to assist. He and his wife are now Christians and active members of the church. God is so amazing!
I was the pastor for the day. I found out about 5:30 Saturday night that I would be delivering the message. This is very typical in Kenya. At least I had some notice! God gave me a few passages of which I built on prior to leaving for Kenya so I at least had some notes and was semi prepared! There is nothing greater than being used by God. I loved every moment of it! To see the faces of those in the congregation as God spoke through me was something I will never forget.
Chris started crying from the moment he stepped in the church. For a big strong tough guy, he sure is a softy! He is loving this place and the people. The choir got up and sang and there was a guy playing a guitar and another who kind of tapped on the guitar like a drum. Two instruments in one! So innovative.
Two years ago during the clashes Mike and I had the opportunity of meeting a woman with 11 children. Her husband was a pastor and was killed in front of his family. I remember feeling so helpless as we sat with the family and prayed for them and gave them a Hope Span Mosquito net and blanket. The husband had just died the week before and was buried in front of the small hut they were staying in. I wept because I felt so incredibly helpless. This family was at the church today. The eldest son was the one playing the guitar. They too were recipients of the Planting Seeds Project this past February. God is brillant in the way he works. He never ceases to amaze me.
My dad is doing well. He is enjoying every moment with Lucy. Yesterday was a hormonal teenage girl day but today she was all smiles and laughter and talkative. This is the first time we have really seen her be so free to communicate with people outside of Mike and I. We played Frisbee and Soccer and just had a great day together. Tomorrow we go for a counseling appointment with her. Mike and I can't believe we are going to counseling in Kenya. This ought to be an experience!
Well, this is kind of it for now. Other ministry stuff happened but these are some of the highlights. I love being in Kenya with the 3 most important men in my life. What a treat for me.
Love you all. Please continue to pray for us.
Today we headed up to Mt. Elgon for church (my happy place in Kenya). We went to one of the churches that were recipients of the planting seeds project this past February. We heard a testimony from a man whose children attended the church but he and his wife did not. The church decided that since the children attended the church they could be recipients of the seed if the father or mother attended all the necessary trainings. The father did so. He shared how he really saw the love of God demonstrated. Even though he and his wife did not attend the church and were not Christians, they still wanted to assist. He and his wife are now Christians and active members of the church. God is so amazing!
I was the pastor for the day. I found out about 5:30 Saturday night that I would be delivering the message. This is very typical in Kenya. At least I had some notice! God gave me a few passages of which I built on prior to leaving for Kenya so I at least had some notes and was semi prepared! There is nothing greater than being used by God. I loved every moment of it! To see the faces of those in the congregation as God spoke through me was something I will never forget.
Chris started crying from the moment he stepped in the church. For a big strong tough guy, he sure is a softy! He is loving this place and the people. The choir got up and sang and there was a guy playing a guitar and another who kind of tapped on the guitar like a drum. Two instruments in one! So innovative.
Two years ago during the clashes Mike and I had the opportunity of meeting a woman with 11 children. Her husband was a pastor and was killed in front of his family. I remember feeling so helpless as we sat with the family and prayed for them and gave them a Hope Span Mosquito net and blanket. The husband had just died the week before and was buried in front of the small hut they were staying in. I wept because I felt so incredibly helpless. This family was at the church today. The eldest son was the one playing the guitar. They too were recipients of the Planting Seeds Project this past February. God is brillant in the way he works. He never ceases to amaze me.
My dad is doing well. He is enjoying every moment with Lucy. Yesterday was a hormonal teenage girl day but today she was all smiles and laughter and talkative. This is the first time we have really seen her be so free to communicate with people outside of Mike and I. We played Frisbee and Soccer and just had a great day together. Tomorrow we go for a counseling appointment with her. Mike and I can't believe we are going to counseling in Kenya. This ought to be an experience!
Well, this is kind of it for now. Other ministry stuff happened but these are some of the highlights. I love being in Kenya with the 3 most important men in my life. What a treat for me.
Love you all. Please continue to pray for us.
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