This maybe our last update. Yesterday six of us went to Ilula, the other training center run by ELI. Ilula is where they make the bread ovens, have the windmill and many of the other projects we have heard Don Rogers talk about. But Ilula is close to Eldoret, the closet main city. We all voted and agreed that Kipkaren was a better location for us. While the six of us were at Ilula, Ann and Charlotte went with the Mobile Health Clinic. They treated tons of kids. When the surrounding villages heard that there was someone who could help with physical disabilities was coming, they came in droves. Many came with severe disabilities and expected Charlotte to perform miracles. Sounds like the ladies dished out tons of compassion and did assist in the cases where they could. Today the whole team walked to the “Jesus Bridge” that Don has shared about. It was a neat feeling to see the simple bridge that has brought so much of Jesus’ love to this area. David, the director at Kipkaren, retold us the story of the bridge. About how they used to show the Jesus film along the river and the people on the other side would sing “build us a bridge to Jesus.” Tomorrow we leave for a one day safari and then our time in Kenya is over. The others will fly out of Nairobi on Sunday and arrive in Los Angeles on Monday. Ann, Rebekah and I will go to Uganda to visit Ann’s sister and family. We should arrive home Thursday. God has been so good. Everyone has experienced good health.
Scott
(Just a little story! Last night we were eating dinner at David, the director’s home when Kierra, one of the missionaries walked to a darker section of the living room and said, “I think there’s a spider on the floor, a large spider! David walked over and stepped on a turanchela (sp?) walking towards our dinner party. The ladies decided they were going to check their room well before going to sleep!)
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Kingsburg 5: Dave Speaking
It is Tuesday morning, and Bryan, Ashlea, and Joyce are planting Kale seedlings in the garden. Kim and I are waiting to start day two of our community marriage conference. On Saturday, we discussed communication in the marriage and had a very good question and answer session. We are learning that communication within the marriage is an area where there is a struggle, so please be in prayer that what is talked about will be able to be applied to strengthen marriages.
It was exciting for Kim and I on Friday to see one of the staff had finished a three page letter to his wife, something that took him out of his comfort zone because he had never done something like that before.
On Monday we all took a trip to Kipkaren. It is completely different than two years ago when we were there. It is exciting to see how God has taken the vision that Don Rogers spoke about five years ago at KCC and has made it a reality. It was wonderful to see old friends and spend some time with them. Dorcas who was our cook two years ago is now married and is a house parent in the Children’s Home. They have a son, Brian. The clinic now has a new wing for eye care and dentistry. The children’s home and school has opened. The kitchen is now a computer room and they have a wonderful indoor kitchen. God has blessed them!
We are all in prayer for one of the children who has been sick this past week, he normally has a lot of energy, but is very tired and his stomach hurts, so please be in prayer for him. It has been a blessing to have God use me has an example both by what I say and the actions I have shown and how the Kenyans have been able to show me where I still need to grow in my walk with Christ.
Bwana Asifiwe
(Praise the Lord)
It was exciting for Kim and I on Friday to see one of the staff had finished a three page letter to his wife, something that took him out of his comfort zone because he had never done something like that before.
On Monday we all took a trip to Kipkaren. It is completely different than two years ago when we were there. It is exciting to see how God has taken the vision that Don Rogers spoke about five years ago at KCC and has made it a reality. It was wonderful to see old friends and spend some time with them. Dorcas who was our cook two years ago is now married and is a house parent in the Children’s Home. They have a son, Brian. The clinic now has a new wing for eye care and dentistry. The children’s home and school has opened. The kitchen is now a computer room and they have a wonderful indoor kitchen. God has blessed them!
We are all in prayer for one of the children who has been sick this past week, he normally has a lot of energy, but is very tired and his stomach hurts, so please be in prayer for him. It has been a blessing to have God use me has an example both by what I say and the actions I have shown and how the Kenyans have been able to show me where I still need to grow in my walk with Christ.
Bwana Asifiwe
(Praise the Lord)
Bethany Bible- From the heart of Rebekah
My dad challenged us to try and express our feelings in a poem because it touches people’s hearts more, since we are relational beings. Now I am no poet but I think God blessed me with the words to express myself and I wanted to share it with you as well. Love, Rebekah
My Africa
I cry for you my Africa,
I must shed a tear,
I have heard your tragic story,
And closed my heart in fear.
Confusion overtakes me,
As my emotions ebb and flow,
How can you say God is good?
Or what you reap is what you sow?
Pain fills your life song,
A humble melody,
Yet with God as your refuge,
You sing harmony.
With a rhythmic dance,
Your passion overflows,
For this God of compassion,
I hardly seem to know.
The notes of your past,
Have left an open door,
To see the heart of God,
To serve and love Him more.
Can this be envy,
That creeps inside of me?
For though my tune is sweet,
It seems somehow empty.
So my Africa,
I want to tell you this,
Though I came to help and serve,
You’ve shown me what I’ve missed.
Glory be to God,
For how you’ve touched my life,
Teaching me to be filled with joy,
In the face of strife.
Asante, my Africa
I’m just so overwhelmed.
My Africa
I cry for you my Africa,
I must shed a tear,
I have heard your tragic story,
And closed my heart in fear.
Confusion overtakes me,
As my emotions ebb and flow,
How can you say God is good?
Or what you reap is what you sow?
Pain fills your life song,
A humble melody,
Yet with God as your refuge,
You sing harmony.
With a rhythmic dance,
Your passion overflows,
For this God of compassion,
I hardly seem to know.
The notes of your past,
Have left an open door,
To see the heart of God,
To serve and love Him more.
Can this be envy,
That creeps inside of me?
For though my tune is sweet,
It seems somehow empty.
So my Africa,
I want to tell you this,
Though I came to help and serve,
You’ve shown me what I’ve missed.
Glory be to God,
For how you’ve touched my life,
Teaching me to be filled with joy,
In the face of strife.
Asante, my Africa
I’m just so overwhelmed.
Bethany Bible- Ida Reporting
The beauty of Kip Karen reminds me of Wisconsin…how awesome is our CREATOR….We have had to get used to doing things in primitive ways….even as we ready ourselves for the day…..and it seems to say to us all that the people of Africa seem to look deep within our hearts and are more in touch with who the LORD created us to be than we are ourselves our.
My heart still seems to be with the Samaritan Women but much has transpired within their group. Suzie lost her 18 year old son as he was riding his bicycle ….the traffic on the streets between those riding their bicycles and the cars and trucks make it amazing that so many of us survived…The funeral was last week but because of their culture we did not have the freedom to comfort her. Mary seems to be the only one who has succeeded in her business of making jewelry; thus some have gone back into their previous life. Please keep Mary, Rose, Suzie, Phonice, Marizia and Gloria in your prayers for I am convinced that our GOD can do the great and awesome things within their lives for He is all powerful.
We have visited those that are HIV positive. How they hunger just for the touch of another human and are so grateful the Lord has sent us. We have gone out with the men from the AA group and last week Peter prayed to accept Christ as he prayed with Tom, Wilson and I. Only the Lord knows the hearts of the people but He does promise us that His Word will accomplish His purpose Please keep him in your prayers and the others in the village who have such a huge struggle with alcohol. Many, including the staff of ELI, have been delivered from the deep spiritual darkness that surrounds Africa, but because of the depth of where they have come from they seem to have a freedom that we each long for as they praise God.
A great need here seems to be to help finance the Nationals as they reach out to the people of the villages and the surrounding area. Many make less per day than it would cost us to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks and thus they cannot afford to send their children to the school at ELI. My prayer also would be that Stone and Wilson who head up AA would have bibles to give to those that make a decision for CHRIST.
In the early evening a double rainbow appeared. Perhaps it is a reminder to us that our GOD truly does keep his promises and has an awesome love for His people throughout the world.
Ida
My heart still seems to be with the Samaritan Women but much has transpired within their group. Suzie lost her 18 year old son as he was riding his bicycle ….the traffic on the streets between those riding their bicycles and the cars and trucks make it amazing that so many of us survived…The funeral was last week but because of their culture we did not have the freedom to comfort her. Mary seems to be the only one who has succeeded in her business of making jewelry; thus some have gone back into their previous life. Please keep Mary, Rose, Suzie, Phonice, Marizia and Gloria in your prayers for I am convinced that our GOD can do the great and awesome things within their lives for He is all powerful.
We have visited those that are HIV positive. How they hunger just for the touch of another human and are so grateful the Lord has sent us. We have gone out with the men from the AA group and last week Peter prayed to accept Christ as he prayed with Tom, Wilson and I. Only the Lord knows the hearts of the people but He does promise us that His Word will accomplish His purpose Please keep him in your prayers and the others in the village who have such a huge struggle with alcohol. Many, including the staff of ELI, have been delivered from the deep spiritual darkness that surrounds Africa, but because of the depth of where they have come from they seem to have a freedom that we each long for as they praise God.
A great need here seems to be to help finance the Nationals as they reach out to the people of the villages and the surrounding area. Many make less per day than it would cost us to buy a cup of coffee at Starbucks and thus they cannot afford to send their children to the school at ELI. My prayer also would be that Stone and Wilson who head up AA would have bibles to give to those that make a decision for CHRIST.
In the early evening a double rainbow appeared. Perhaps it is a reminder to us that our GOD truly does keep his promises and has an awesome love for His people throughout the world.
Ida
Monday, July 23, 2007
Bethany Bible- Carolyn Reports
Jambo, rafiki!
We are enjoying another afternoon rain shower as I type. We do wish that somehow we could bring the rain home to Southern California.
Our evenings start with dinner at 7pm. Usually, some staff member shares his or her story and our hearts are broken and encouraged by what we hear. It is amazing how God is the same wherever in the world we are. Tuesday night we had a special treat as Pastor Peter, his wife Ruth, Pastor James, and Cosmas all came to play games after dinner. Peter showed us his motorbike moves that he uses to encourage people to be tested at the AIDS clinic. We laughed so hard and can‘t wait to share them with all of you. He shared about some traditions of the Nandi tribe to which all four of them belong. We ended with singing praises to God in Kiswahili. What a blessing. It wasn’t until Wednesday evening that we finally played “Pass the Pigs” with Peter and some of the others. Although our mornings can be filled with tears, our evenings here are filled with laughter.
Wednesday morning Julie, the American nurse, gave us an update on the fight against HIV/AIDS in this area. She quoted Mother Teresa, “Every AIDS victim is Jesus in a distressing disguise.” I think that for me, I am seeing Jesus in many disguises. Giving that cup of cold water in His name has never been so real. We divided into two groups and hiked out into the community to visit HIV/AIDS patients in their homes. Our team stopped to talk with an old man in tattered clothing who carries his Bible in his backpack and ministers to whom ever he meets. We fellowshipped in the Word and in prayer. When we arrived at the home of our visit, only an eighteen-year old girl was there with the two young children. The gogo (grandmother) had gone to Kipkaren to get rubber gloves. The HIV patient is a 20 month old girl who had so little energy that she just sat in Charlotte’s lap and leaned her head against her. Flovia lost her mother to AIDS in December. Her gogo and aunt are now her caregivers. Before we left, we prayed for the family, and the aunt accepted Christ. Home visitation teams go out several times a week and will do follow up with Prisca, the aunt. Please do pray for both Prisca and Flovia. The other team had a good visit with an adult man, David Kabet, who has been positive for a number of years. His case is more encouraging as he can farm to support his family. In the afternoon Char worked with Kipleget who has muscular weakness and lives in the boarding home here on the compound. She plans to give him therapy each day we are here. He, along with 71 other children, attends Brook of Faith Academy, but will go home to their parents on July 29th when the school recesses for a month.
Scott shared devotions about Jesus being a cook rather than an engineer with the staff at the Children’s Home at 4 pm, Ann gave her testimony to the children for their devotions at 6, and we all enjoyed singing with the kids. Boy, can they sing loudly!! Tonight we plan to eat ugali and veggies with the children in their homes. Hugs and smiles will be our dessert.
Today we met Betty who is HIV positive. She met the Lord in 2004 and knows Him more intimately because of being rejected and living through the pain of being positive than most who have known Him much longer. Our time here has been filled with stories, more than we can ever recount. After breakfast everyone split up. Ann and Charlotte walked to the clinic to work with the babies and sick. Tom and Scott planned to do woodworking. Smitty helped Daniel fix a very important generator (Will we have electricity tonight?). Becky washed clothes and assisted the teacher of the Baby Class at the Children’s Home. Ida took pictures (she has taken more than 600 since we’ve been here!). I wanted to visit with the headmaster of the school, but taught a social studies lesson instead. God is using all of us.
Tomorrow brings the graduation of a number of agricultural students, one of whom is a friend of the Crockers. The busyness and excitement fill the air. Right now the men are slaughtering a cow with the assistance of Scott and Smitty. This place is empowering lives one by one to change the world for Christ. Thanks for praying for us and with us as we continue on this journey!
We are enjoying another afternoon rain shower as I type. We do wish that somehow we could bring the rain home to Southern California.
Our evenings start with dinner at 7pm. Usually, some staff member shares his or her story and our hearts are broken and encouraged by what we hear. It is amazing how God is the same wherever in the world we are. Tuesday night we had a special treat as Pastor Peter, his wife Ruth, Pastor James, and Cosmas all came to play games after dinner. Peter showed us his motorbike moves that he uses to encourage people to be tested at the AIDS clinic. We laughed so hard and can‘t wait to share them with all of you. He shared about some traditions of the Nandi tribe to which all four of them belong. We ended with singing praises to God in Kiswahili. What a blessing. It wasn’t until Wednesday evening that we finally played “Pass the Pigs” with Peter and some of the others. Although our mornings can be filled with tears, our evenings here are filled with laughter.
Wednesday morning Julie, the American nurse, gave us an update on the fight against HIV/AIDS in this area. She quoted Mother Teresa, “Every AIDS victim is Jesus in a distressing disguise.” I think that for me, I am seeing Jesus in many disguises. Giving that cup of cold water in His name has never been so real. We divided into two groups and hiked out into the community to visit HIV/AIDS patients in their homes. Our team stopped to talk with an old man in tattered clothing who carries his Bible in his backpack and ministers to whom ever he meets. We fellowshipped in the Word and in prayer. When we arrived at the home of our visit, only an eighteen-year old girl was there with the two young children. The gogo (grandmother) had gone to Kipkaren to get rubber gloves. The HIV patient is a 20 month old girl who had so little energy that she just sat in Charlotte’s lap and leaned her head against her. Flovia lost her mother to AIDS in December. Her gogo and aunt are now her caregivers. Before we left, we prayed for the family, and the aunt accepted Christ. Home visitation teams go out several times a week and will do follow up with Prisca, the aunt. Please do pray for both Prisca and Flovia. The other team had a good visit with an adult man, David Kabet, who has been positive for a number of years. His case is more encouraging as he can farm to support his family. In the afternoon Char worked with Kipleget who has muscular weakness and lives in the boarding home here on the compound. She plans to give him therapy each day we are here. He, along with 71 other children, attends Brook of Faith Academy, but will go home to their parents on July 29th when the school recesses for a month.
Scott shared devotions about Jesus being a cook rather than an engineer with the staff at the Children’s Home at 4 pm, Ann gave her testimony to the children for their devotions at 6, and we all enjoyed singing with the kids. Boy, can they sing loudly!! Tonight we plan to eat ugali and veggies with the children in their homes. Hugs and smiles will be our dessert.
Today we met Betty who is HIV positive. She met the Lord in 2004 and knows Him more intimately because of being rejected and living through the pain of being positive than most who have known Him much longer. Our time here has been filled with stories, more than we can ever recount. After breakfast everyone split up. Ann and Charlotte walked to the clinic to work with the babies and sick. Tom and Scott planned to do woodworking. Smitty helped Daniel fix a very important generator (Will we have electricity tonight?). Becky washed clothes and assisted the teacher of the Baby Class at the Children’s Home. Ida took pictures (she has taken more than 600 since we’ve been here!). I wanted to visit with the headmaster of the school, but taught a social studies lesson instead. God is using all of us.
Tomorrow brings the graduation of a number of agricultural students, one of whom is a friend of the Crockers. The busyness and excitement fill the air. Right now the men are slaughtering a cow with the assistance of Scott and Smitty. This place is empowering lives one by one to change the world for Christ. Thanks for praying for us and with us as we continue on this journey!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)