AGNES IRIPON
Thursday March 9th 2006 at the airport in Mombasa. awaiting my flight. So here I sit broken hearted…..O where do I begin, I’m waiting for my return flight to Nairobi and I know my father is teaching me. Who should I tell you about first? Florence and her family? Agnes? Sophia? My Rift Valley trip? O.K., O.K., Agnes.
So, after my spirit was broken by a 4 day stay with Florence and her family up the coast I actually stayed in a hotel nearby. I went to downtown Mombasa to distance myself. I had a great Chinese food that cost too much…moved my stuff to my new room, had a shower. Mombasa is on the coast at the equator, therefore much hotter than Nairobi. I started sweating a week ago when I got here and other than the first hour when I get up at 6 a.m. I sweat all day. Six to eight liters of water a day is normal. Taking anti-biotic for my chest infection doesn’t help any. Alright back to Agnes.
I went to Casa Blanca, a night club with 20-30 guys and 100 girls who just want to be your friend and keep you company. After about 5 minutes, Agnes came over to me and asked if she could keep me company. She is 6 feet tall slender, young and from the Turkana tribe of North Kenya. Her eyes could melt you! If every picture tells a story then her face is an entire book! After the usual touchy feely I like your size intro, I asked her why she picked me. Her English was minimal and I questioned whether I was going to be able to get the message across to her . After a soda she agreed to leave the Club and talk to me. So we got her friend, Purity, who spoke great English to come along to translate. Then I told her God sent me to give her a message. She was defiling the temple of the Holy Ghost and it was sin. It hit her like a ton of bricks and she broke down sobbing. She told me she knew God loved her and went on to tell us how she was baptized on Feb. 20th, going to church on Sundays and just this past week she was preached to prophetically about prostitution by a pastor who is called to these girls. She was so sick about it that she stayed home for 12 days, and when she ran out of money and went to the street to feed her son she picked me. Bang! Does God ever have his hand on her? I sent her home by taxi and she agreed to meet me the next day.
I met Ben her son that day and gave her money for food. Florence came along to translate. It was very heavy as she said she could not go back to the street and we talked about her moving to Shanzu and going to church with Florence. I agreed to meet her again and talk to her. I gave her some more money and sent her home. Then reality set in. I was hurting her not helping her. As Florence was saying, "as soon as she runs out of money she has no choice but go back to the street". I was making her feel bad about her life and buying her a couple of day’s vacation then she would go back. I felt so helpless to do anything. I involved Florence and it hurt her too. O God, help me, what is the solution. What come first, the chicken or the egg? Should I be doing this? O.K. Even Florence, who is spirit-filled, born-again from last fall, attending Church regularly, singing in the choir, praying in tongues, and when you do something for her, she just wants more and more!!! It is like taken for granted and if you question them – a big reaction. The more I try to help the more I wonder if I’m hurting. You buy a gift for mom and dad is not grateful, but jealous. It seems like you do more harm than good. O Lord, show me the way. It’s a non-stop assault on your emotions about poverty. Everybody just needs, wants and if you are a “Mzungu”(White Man) then they make it out to be your responsibility.
November 24th, 2006
Agnes Is Saved!
Let me share my blessing of the week I got a call from Agnes a former prostitute in Mombassa that I preached to last trip. She had been saved by a woman preacher and baptized, after 12 days off the street she needed food for her child and prayed to God to forgive her and give her another way as she went to the bar. THE FIRST ONE SHE PICKED WAS ME! little did she know I asked her why me and she said she liked my size. This was very significant for me since I was questioning my motive, was I in the flesh playing with girls or in the Spirit following the Lord Jesus Christ! When I preached to her she broke down crying and said Better I die of hunger than I ever go to the street again. Then she showed me her baptism photo and told me the story. I gave her taxi fare home and met her the next day.
I proposed many things and gave her some more money but another reformed girl that I had saved told me that in the end she has no choice and will go back. I felt discouraged to say the least. I have since stopped focusing on these girls.
Well praise the Lord all the glory to God. Agnes said she is working in a hair dressing salon and is no longer going to the street!!! I hope to visit her in Mombassa next week
Well I visited Agnes in Mombassa. She is working in a salon. Ben her son is going to school and she is not working on the street I gave her money to go home for Christmas and told her God loves her. All the glory to God.
Doing the work of God
Changing peoples lives
one person at a time
alan
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Habari Yako
Usharika wetu ni "Usharika WaKimasihi unaoshika Torati" ukihusisha wale waliozaliwa kama Wayahudi na wale wa mataifa, walio pandikizwa katika jumuiya ya Israeli, kwa kumpokea Yeshua kama Masihi wao (Waefeso 2:12-13).
Tunaamini Yeshua ni Torati hai aliyekuja kutimiza Torati kwa uaminifu na siyo kuitangua. Torati ni hai na nzima, inaishi katika mioyo ya wote wamuaminio.
Kwa hiyo uchaji wake siyo hiari bali ni uhitaji kwa wote wanaodhamiria kumfuata Mashiach (Masihi) wetu, ambaye baada ya kutimiza Torati kwa ajili yetu, alilipa gharama (Asham - sadaka) ya makosa yetu, hivyo akatangua katika mwili Wake madhara ya kutokutii kwetu (dhambi na mauti). Tunakazana kutembea katika njia Zake kwa sababu tunampenda. Tunaamini kwamba Torati na neema zinaishi pamoja leo, nasi tunahitaji kutimiza Sheria za MUNGU na Neema ya MUNGU inatusamehe wakati tumejaribu na kushindwa.
Tukiwa ni usharika wenye uchaji wa Torati inamaanisha kwamba tunafundisha na kuhimiza wanachama na wafuasi kujizoesha na Torati majumbani mwao na kama maisha ya uadilifu kwa ujumla. Hii inamaanisha vilevile kusherekea moedim (sherehe) zote za Kibiblia kama inavostahili na kwa siku zilizoamriwa. Kuwa na uchaji wa Torati ina maana tunaheshimu siku ya Shabati na kuacha kufanya kazi zozote pamoja na kutokununua na kuuza, kuanzia machweo ya Ijumaa hadi machweo ya Siku ya Saba (Jumamosi).
Uchaji wetu wa Torati unaendelea hadi katika muundo wetu na taratibu za ibada. Ingawa sisi ni Wakarisimatiki (tunaamini katika vipawa na kazi za Ruach HaKodesh [Roho Mtakatifu]), bado tunapendelea zaidi muundo wa ibada ya kiasili. Shabati inaanza na ibada ya Erev Shabati "Kabalah Shabati" (kukaribisha Shabati), imbayo inahusisha litrugia, kusifu na kuabudu na kujifunza Torati kwa kujadiliana . Ibada za Shabati zinaanza saa 3.00 asubuhi ya Siku ya Saba (jumamosi), pamoja na saa moja na nusu ya kujifunza Torati ya parasha ya wiki (masoma ya wiki ya Torati).
Ibada za kawaida zinaanza saa 5:00 asb. Na kuchukua kama masaa matatu. Ibada hii inaanza na litrugia na kuendelea na maombi, sifa na kuabudu Kimasihi (pamoja na dansi ya Kidaudi), ibada ya Torati ya kiasili yenye ufasihi, D'var Torah (tafakari ya masomo ya kila wiki), na kumalizia na mahubiri ya Rabbi. Ingawa hii ni ibada ya kawaida, haimaanishi kwamba tumeambatana nayo kimadhubuti. Uongozi unaruhusiwa kugeuza ibada na yale yaliyomo, kama vile watakavyoongozwa na Ruach HaKodesh.
Sisi hapa Melech Yisrael tunajihesabia zaidi ya usharika; sisi ni jamii hai inayojishughulisha ya waamini wa Masihi, tukiwa na ibada mbalimbali na mashughuliko yanayotendeka wiki nzima. Upekee wetu unatokana na kwamba sisi sote tunatokana na wale ambao ni Wayahudi na wasiyo Wayaahudi, tumeunganishwa pamoja katika kumuabudu Masihi wetu katika desturi na mila za Torati, wakati huohuo tukithibitisha uweza na uhuru wa Ruach HaKodesh.
Tunaamini Yeshua ni Torati hai aliyekuja kutimiza Torati kwa uaminifu na siyo kuitangua. Torati ni hai na nzima, inaishi katika mioyo ya wote wamuaminio.
Kwa hiyo uchaji wake siyo hiari bali ni uhitaji kwa wote wanaodhamiria kumfuata Mashiach (Masihi) wetu, ambaye baada ya kutimiza Torati kwa ajili yetu, alilipa gharama (Asham - sadaka) ya makosa yetu, hivyo akatangua katika mwili Wake madhara ya kutokutii kwetu (dhambi na mauti). Tunakazana kutembea katika njia Zake kwa sababu tunampenda. Tunaamini kwamba Torati na neema zinaishi pamoja leo, nasi tunahitaji kutimiza Sheria za MUNGU na Neema ya MUNGU inatusamehe wakati tumejaribu na kushindwa.
Tukiwa ni usharika wenye uchaji wa Torati inamaanisha kwamba tunafundisha na kuhimiza wanachama na wafuasi kujizoesha na Torati majumbani mwao na kama maisha ya uadilifu kwa ujumla. Hii inamaanisha vilevile kusherekea moedim (sherehe) zote za Kibiblia kama inavostahili na kwa siku zilizoamriwa. Kuwa na uchaji wa Torati ina maana tunaheshimu siku ya Shabati na kuacha kufanya kazi zozote pamoja na kutokununua na kuuza, kuanzia machweo ya Ijumaa hadi machweo ya Siku ya Saba (Jumamosi).
Uchaji wetu wa Torati unaendelea hadi katika muundo wetu na taratibu za ibada. Ingawa sisi ni Wakarisimatiki (tunaamini katika vipawa na kazi za Ruach HaKodesh [Roho Mtakatifu]), bado tunapendelea zaidi muundo wa ibada ya kiasili. Shabati inaanza na ibada ya Erev Shabati "Kabalah Shabati" (kukaribisha Shabati), imbayo inahusisha litrugia, kusifu na kuabudu na kujifunza Torati kwa kujadiliana . Ibada za Shabati zinaanza saa 3.00 asubuhi ya Siku ya Saba (jumamosi), pamoja na saa moja na nusu ya kujifunza Torati ya parasha ya wiki (masoma ya wiki ya Torati).
Ibada za kawaida zinaanza saa 5:00 asb. Na kuchukua kama masaa matatu. Ibada hii inaanza na litrugia na kuendelea na maombi, sifa na kuabudu Kimasihi (pamoja na dansi ya Kidaudi), ibada ya Torati ya kiasili yenye ufasihi, D'var Torah (tafakari ya masomo ya kila wiki), na kumalizia na mahubiri ya Rabbi. Ingawa hii ni ibada ya kawaida, haimaanishi kwamba tumeambatana nayo kimadhubuti. Uongozi unaruhusiwa kugeuza ibada na yale yaliyomo, kama vile watakavyoongozwa na Ruach HaKodesh.
Sisi hapa Melech Yisrael tunajihesabia zaidi ya usharika; sisi ni jamii hai inayojishughulisha ya waamini wa Masihi, tukiwa na ibada mbalimbali na mashughuliko yanayotendeka wiki nzima. Upekee wetu unatokana na kwamba sisi sote tunatokana na wale ambao ni Wayahudi na wasiyo Wayaahudi, tumeunganishwa pamoja katika kumuabudu Masihi wetu katika desturi na mila za Torati, wakati huohuo tukithibitisha uweza na uhuru wa Ruach HaKodesh.
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Bright Hope Future Children Home
Todd Iliff
Todd grew up in a small town in Northwestern Montana called Libby. At age 19 he joined the US Air Force as a heavy equipment operator. He was stationed in Las Vegas, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Iraq, and South Carolina. After serving 6 years in the military he decided to get out and go work in Iraq as a civilian contractor. Todd grew up in a Christian home, but after high school fell away from the Lord. While in Iraq as a civilian contractor, the Lord revealed himself to him and he became a Christian. Right away he realized he was being called to work in Kenya. So he quit his job and booked a ticket to Nairobi, Kenya not knowing what he was going to do or what to expect but just following the Lord. He wandered around Kenya for a few weeks looking for someone who needed some help and finally found a Pastor in Eldoret who ran a School. He stayed in Eldoret for 3 months building a dining hall, kitchen, and a school building for Gethsemane Christian Academy. After his commitment was finished in Eldoret he moved to Kitale to help start a Non Government Organization with a friend he met in Kenya. In Kitale he got involved with Bright Hope Future Children Home. He bought 1 acre of land and started building a new home for the orphans. The home can house about 40 orphans. It is a brick structure with three large rooms and 2 small ones. The 2 large rooms are for the girls and the other for the boys, the open space in the centre is for a common area. The 2 small rooms are for the house-mother and for the office. There are 21 orphans already in Bright Hope Future Children Home. They are currently renting a small mud hut a few hundred meters away from the new site. As soon as this as this home is completed they will be moved into it. The main structure on the home is complete, meaning the walls, roof and floor. All that is needed to finish this orphanage is the plastering of the walls and floors and to put the windows and doors and a kitchen structure. Todd has been here working since May, 2006.
Alan and I met Todd when we moved in to the Rhino Gate House. Todd is at present living here as he is a good friend of Budd and Kim, the owners of this house. He is looking after their affairs and taking care of the house whilst they are back in the States expecting the birth of their first child, which is due any day now.
Todd has spent all his savings and money he earned whilst in the army and in Iraq into the building of this home. We are very impressed with what he has done. Not only has he single-handedly started building this home and came so far, but he is trusting and believing that God will help him complete it. We now are doing our little bit in the hope that his story will move some of you out there to asist with the fiannances for his project. Once the home is completed there will be on-going finance to take care of the running of the home and expenses for the children.
We visited these children and they are bright and happy people, each of them have a sad story behind their history. We were told of 3 orphans, the youngest is Emmanuel who is 7 and he has 2 older sisters a few years older. Their parents passed away and they were alone since February without anyone to take care of them. A social worker found them and brought them to Bright Hope Future Children Home and they are now being cared for.
You can write to us and we can give you on-going up-dates on Bright Hope Future Childrens Home.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
The Rhino Gate House
The Rhino Gate House (its like living in a dream castle)
When we arrived in Kitale we were dropped off at the petrol station as we requested.
We waited for Ryan who was picking us up. Ryan Schumacker is the person that alan connected with back in Toronto and with whom alan will be working. Ryan is with Love Mercy Ministry, and they have just bought this big drilling machine for drilling wells which at present is being transported to Mombassa.
Ryan came shortly afterwards and it was just a short drive to the Love Mercy House from the petrol station. We were very tired and we got all our bags into the room we were taken to. It was a nice big room with a Queen size bed. However, as we unpacked Ryan told us that the President of Love Mercy and his wife, will be arriving on Monday and we would have to vacate this room during their 2 weeks visit. It was a disappointing welcome for us and I guess we were not very happy about it since the other rooms were too small for us. Our 5 bags filled this big room already. Ryan suggested another house where at the moment; Todd from Montana is living in. Todd is house-sitting for a young missionary couple who has gone back to the States for the birth of their first baby. Ryan will check this out, maybe we could stay there until Noel and Mickey left.
Ryan said he had to go to town and asked if we wanted to come with him and we could decide what to do later. Alan is thinking that perhaps we could find a place to stay in town. So we went to town with Ryan.
We then visited “the Rhino Gate house” and met Todd and he was very gracious, he said Kim and Bud are happy for us to stay at their house, he would move out of the master bedroom since he doesn’t really need such a big room. We like Todd, he seems such a nice guy and we planned to move all our stuff from the Mercy House later in the day.
By 3 p.m. I was losing it, I couldn’t keep my eyes open, alan told me to take a nap and he’ll get things ready for our move. At 4.30 p.m. we were packed up again and we moved to “the Rhino Gate” house. Here there are no numbers to the houses and there are no names to the streets. We just know that this section is called “Mili Mani” meaning many hills. This is how we came to be staying at the rhino gate house, so named because each side of the gate has a rhino painted on it.
The Rhino Gate house is a very nice house, there are 4 rooms, 3 along one end, the corner room has an ensuite, the one Alan and I are in, then 2 other rooms, one has a crib; one has 2 bunk-beds. On the other side of the corridor are the laundry room and 2 bathrooms, one has a tub and the other a wash-basin and toilet. There is a door to close this section of the house. We like this as this gives us some privacy.
We come in the house from the kitchen door, which is the entrance we use to the house, from the kitchen we have the dinning room to the left of it, our section is the other side of the dining room. To the right of the kitchen is the big sitting room; in the centre is a fireplace. The fireplace divides the sitting room into 2 sitting areas.
From the sitting room area closest to the kitchen is the 4th room which also has an ensuite and is the one Todd is occupying.
This plot of land is about an acre. From the gate the drive way is an L shape turning left. On the left side of the driveway is a big grass lawn which surrounds the front and other side of the house. The drive way is lined with banana trees on the left side and as you turn left on the drive-way to the back of the house the left side is lined with plants and flowers . The driveway ends just at the entrance to the kitchen door. There is a guest-house at the back of the house, just off to the right from the door of the kitchen that is on the other side of the driveway. This house has 2 rooms and the garage. The back of the Guest-house is a grass lawn, where there are many lines for hanging clothes, and the 2 kennels which house the 4 dogs are at the back of the guest house.
There are flowers planted in front of and all around the main house and in front of the guest-house, a little further away from the front of the guest-house is a big avocado tree and there is a swing there supported from branches of the tree.
The house is enclosed on all sides by tall hedges so that there is complete privacy. There are cactus plants here and there and other flowers and plants, the garden is beautiful and well maintained. There are 3 guards that alternate their shifts, one is the main gardener that comes daily from Monday to Thursday and the other 2 guards alternate their night and day shifts between them.
The kitchen has lots of cupboard space and is equipped with everything you need for cooking, baking and storing things. Our bathroom has hot water for the shower and the wash basin.
If you have read my first story of what’s it like living in Africa where I had no fridge, no stove, no oven and no heater, you can understand why I think in this house it’s like living in a dream castle.
.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Just another day in Kitale Kenya : Friday 23rd November
Just another day in Kitale, Kenya… Friday November23 2007
I woke up at 4Am with the God just to have a little chat. He has a lot to reveal to me these days as he prepares me for the next stage. It is very exciting even if it cost me sleep.
At 4:30 I went out to the garage and worked a little on my work bench. (I painted it yesterday) The garage is attached the guest house building, and Rhonda is staying in the guest house. I think God planned it this way so I would not go out a 2Am and work on projects.
Rhonda is from Texas and is here for 2 years to teach at Challenge Farm one of the very successful ministries here in Kitale. She has the Favour of sleeping our guest house until January when here friend will show up and they are getting a place together. Her blog is www.rhondapickett.blogspot.com check it out. So the point is she has to get up with me and the dogs at 5 Am or what ever else should be going on! So if you can’t beat ‘em join ‘em Rhonda asked me to wake her at 5:00 when I walk Arf so she can go jogging!!! Yall understand I hope.
By 5:30 Rhonda is her sweats, Arf with his excitement and I on my bicycle leave the front gate in the pitch dark. I have often wondered just what the night guard must be thinking about us! We walk until 6-6:15 when it gets light and then Rhonda jogs and I ride along and Arf loves it. I case you are wondering how Arf came to get his name, I asked him one day what are you called and he said “arf, arf” So that is how I know he wants to be called Arf. Now my Mom thinks it’s weird that I talk to god, but she knows I have talked to dogs all my life! As a matter of fact I can”talk to the animals” So by the sunrise we return to “Rhino Gate” as our place is know.
A quick paint job on some more of the garage and by 7:45 I am off to the “Fire Place”.
The Fire Place is a youth church, outreach mission headed up by Danielle H. from Holland. I will write about this at another time. They are having a big youth conference December 12th-16th and the building needs to be rewired where necessary. In addition they want light added to the outside areas, and I have agreed to help them out by doing the job. Since the fire place was once a theatre there is a stage and much wiring to be figured out? It also appears that at some point the building was vacant and many of the electrical panels etc where taken. I have worked about 6 hours on it now and have all the outside wires run and am figuring out the stage theatre lights. One more day of work and I will be done.
At 10:00 Am Joy Lynn of Global Children who is visiting from California has a teaching on teaching children so I finished up as not to disturb them. Starting at 8:00 finishing at 10:00 sounds like the job anyone could get use to. Besides on Friday’s we have Shabbat dinner and invite about 10 guests. I try to make it my policy to be in the house by 2Pm but most days do not make it until 3-4. So home I went to take a shower and change before going to town, to shop.
By 11.00 Am I was headed to town, by bicycle, with my large knap sack to buy all the things we needed for the Shabbat dinner. I left my bicycle in the Hardware store and walked through town. First I got “scratch cards” for airtime for the mobile phones and internet. Then I ordered almost 2Kgs of beef for dinner. I left it at the butcher to pick up on my way back. I greeted the pastor in Sanyo store who insists that I should visit his church despite me telling him I can only go where God sends me. I returned a broken electrical fitting at the hardware. There where two ladies there picking up stuff for there shop. I am sure it comes as no surprise to you; if you know me at all that I am already buying at wholesale. I stopped to preach a mini sermon to them: “doing the work of God changing people lives one person at a time” I visited Kitale hardware and then of to the supermarket. I visited yet hardware on my way to the supermarket. I filled a hand basket with the things we needed and preceded to “Soy” the small over priced shop that caters to whites and has mainly imported food items you might want including, dog food, broccoli and apples! I stopped at R.B Shah another store to thank him for the great flash light I had bought the day before. Then back to Kitale hardware to check on a few more things. By this time I had 20Kgs in my back pack so I headed back to the butcher to pick up my meat. O they had gone for lunch and closed up shop!#* So I sat down with the lady selling fruits in front of the place and she told me they will reopen at 2Pm. She wanted to sell me a large papaya. This lunch thing would be OK if every body closed at the same time, but with no rhyme or reason they all close a their own timing; what ever should please them.
As I was waiting for the butcher to reopen I noticed a man making Shoes so I sat down and let him measure my foot and in 2 weeks I will pick up my first made to measure shoes. Sure enough Mohammad the Muslim Hallal butcher was right on time and reopened at 2:00. I bought my meat and then the big papaya. It would not fit in my bag so I took some vegetables out and tied them to the outside of the backpack so I could make room for the papaya. Off I went to Turner Baker Heartifield the hardware where I had left my bike. I rode over to the Fireplace so I could hook up the electricity to the ladies house who owns the place. I had disconnected it and need the plug to reconnect it. A little after 3 I rolled into “Rhino Gate” ready to help Esther prepare for Shabbat dinner.
“For many are called, but few a chosen” Matthew 22:14 is the first line of scripture I ever memorised. Each and ever week we invite some new guests and some the same. But God chooses the ones who actually sit down to eat. This week was not exception. We had Lilian, Esther, Todd and I, and even Todd had said he would not be there. Helen the flower lady who sells roses, Hannaka, Hilde, and John-Peter where all invited guests’. The girls had baked a “Dutch apple pie”. The surprise was Ian who showed up on our door step. He is a 10 year old boy who Kim and Bud (owners of Rhino gate house) rescued from the streets. He is now here living with us until school resumes in January The only thing Esther love more than cooking is cooking for guests! Dinner was great the guest where great and the Dutch apple pie was amazing! I do not think I will let the girls back; unless they agree to bring another apple pie. Remember here apples imported from South Africa
Around 9:30 it was time for them to go home and they did not know the short cut through the back. So I got Arf and walked them home it. Was beautiful night as we approach the full moon. I got home about 10: Pm.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
What are you doing in Africa any ways?
Let me tell you about a day in Africa... how about yesterday. I got up at 4:45 and played in my office until 6AM. It is still dark here at that time. I took Arf Mpole my dog for a walk. He is in intense training. We are learning how to walk on a leash, sit and all that dog stuff. At 6:30 I checked the Love Mercy house and no one was up. Then I went back home and played with the dogs a bit. Looked at the plumbing that we had dug up and a few other day jobs with Julius the Gardener.I really like Julius and not just because he lets me use his bike but rather because God has a plan for his life.
At 8:00 AM Todd and I left for the Love Mercy house where I am doing my first contacting job here in Africa. I am operating as "Afro American Engineering" among other things. We are putting eaves trough on the Love Mercy house. It is going quite well and we hope to finish today. By 9:45 I left Todd to go Meet Danniel H. at the "Fire Place" as he calls his youth outreach/church ministry. There is going to be a big conference in Mid December and they need to get the place in shape. He has asked me to be his electrician and wire up the place as they renovate it. I agreed and am in the process of get a quote of cost for the materials together.
Since I was going to town I went home and changed and invited Esther and Lilian our "executive house keeper" to come with if they liked, and they did so off we headed.
Once in town I needed to get some cash so I agreed with the girls to meet at the restaurant in 15 minutes,and off I went to the bank. Then back to the restaurant where I ordered a "Thursday Lunch" only to be informed that it was not ready yet. So I left and sought out another place to eat. Here we where not so successful either,even though I asked if they had food and was it ready, once Lilian had her lunch(beef stew) I was informed that there was no mbuzi(goat) today. So we left yet again while all the time getting hungrier! next door we had success and lunch too!
When I finished eating I left the girls and went to the Hardware to buy what I had come to town for and too get prices on electrical stuff since this was my first wiring job I needed to source out the stuff and quote on it.I was rushing to get back to Todd so I called the girls and picked them up in front of Suam Supermarket.
I called Todd to tell him I was running late and he said he was back home.
Esther wanted to get some veggies from the market and I saw yet another bicycle shop.
I went to by bike parts and Lilian for veggies.
Since it was already late, and we had the Land Cruiser, I decided to visit Khetia's The only Mega store in Kitale.
I have not been in Khetia's before so of course it took some time to check it out. And then we remembered we needed to get a chicken. So it was after 3:00PM when we arrived home find Todd locked out. We unloaded the truck, checked on Julius, gave gave the dogs a treat, had a snack, took a shower and headed back to Ryan"s to return the Land Cruiser. Esther and I stopped at the Fire Place to take some measurements for the quote and off we went. We returned it and I found Boaz and gave him the keys. Ryan and the team had gone to Turkana to see the water project, and will be back in the morning. I wanted the Land Cruiser to be there if someone was to pick them up. Esther and I had a nice sunset walk home.She proceeded to make dinner and I put away stuff I had bought did some paperwork. Talked to Todd about tomorrow, and planned my day.
After eating dinner I began to crash I started to check my emails. That is when I realised I could not get on line again and decided to Go to a "Restore Point" in the computer in order to delete the program in my Internet browser. That is when I did something in the computer that I did not know what happened but I could not get back on line so at 8:00 PM I went to sleep. I got up at midnight and have been on the computer ever since! But I did fix the problem with the computer and have written this blog.
Good night
alan
Assistant Problem Solver
What about Computers?
So as I have previously mentioned I have dominion over fish,birds,cattle and all the earth and every creeping thing. But where does it talk about computers!!!????
I have had on going problems with my internet access which is through a cellular phone line. The issue has always been signing on.
Before I got what I have I tested a card from Telekom the Kenyan phone company. It was not working well so I went with Safari Com the same as I use for my mobile phone hear. The issue has always been that I could not remove this previous driver which is inactive and would not be able to connect but still is first and is always picked. Then by manualy playing around each time I could get my default program ie. Safari Com to work.Some times it took many attempts and was quite fustrating. So I decided to "reset" my computer to a retore point before the instalation of this driver and then reinstall it.
So I copied the new program to a flash drive and I restored the system. That is when I found out that I had a program open. And now when I try to sign on as Alan the screen just goes blank with the cursor arrow sitting there in the middle.Scince I am the administrater this creates a problem! I am now signed in as Esther and it is working but what do I do next? WWJD? So o Lord God king of everything how do I fix my computer?
alan
assistant problem solver
I have had on going problems with my internet access which is through a cellular phone line. The issue has always been signing on.
Before I got what I have I tested a card from Telekom the Kenyan phone company. It was not working well so I went with Safari Com the same as I use for my mobile phone hear. The issue has always been that I could not remove this previous driver which is inactive and would not be able to connect but still is first and is always picked. Then by manualy playing around each time I could get my default program ie. Safari Com to work.Some times it took many attempts and was quite fustrating. So I decided to "reset" my computer to a retore point before the instalation of this driver and then reinstall it.
So I copied the new program to a flash drive and I restored the system. That is when I found out that I had a program open. And now when I try to sign on as Alan the screen just goes blank with the cursor arrow sitting there in the middle.Scince I am the administrater this creates a problem! I am now signed in as Esther and it is working but what do I do next? WWJD? So o Lord God king of everything how do I fix my computer?
alan
assistant problem solver
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
What a way to start a day part 2 or Max is defeated
What a way to start a day (part2) by alan
If you have read part one you know we had a problem with Max biting Otto.
From that point on we had him in his kennel we fed him, cleaned his kennel but he would not let us put a leash on him to bring him out. Based on what had happened we felt he should not be out loose. I asked the guard Benson to put a choker collar on him and he was afraid saying he had been bitten 3 times before. When Protus the other watchman tried, Max copped a big attitude and gave his warning growl. I was at wits end since Rhonda who is staying in the guest house was awoken every night because we were not letting Max out since the incident. He would jump on the roof of his hose and bark and whine defiantly. Benson suggested we move Max’s house from the kennel behind Rhonda’s room to another location. This left only the task of getting Max out on a leash!!!
I thought about it and wondered if God had sent me to Africa to discipline a dog?
Then it occurred to me “ask God”
So I called on him and he answered saying;
Then God said, “let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen 1:26
I thought about this who is the “Our” God is referring to here? It must be the Lord & Spirit so I prayed and the Spirit came over me.
I prepared my self to take Dominion over Max since God does not lie! I became bold!
We entered Max’s cage and I approached Max, he growled I tried to calm him down as I wanted to put a muzzle on him to take him out of the cage. He turned on me as I approached him and he attacked my foot! I had been prepared so I had put my boots on. That is when I jumped on him. Pinned him in the corner, grabbed his collar and held him down. He was not exactly cooperating. As a matter of fact he was not acting in a Christian way. All the time I knew if I let him up he would bite me. Protus proceeded to put the Muzzle on him as I held him Max went berserk to say the least! Finally we had him muzzled. And we let him out. Much to my chagrin he managed to get the muzzle off rather quickly. No one said Max was dumb just determined. So we had no choice but let him return to his kennel the victor.
By this time I was so elated in the Spirit, soaked with sweat and in an adrenaline rush all at the same time.
So I asked God and he said:
“Walk in the AUTHORITY’ I have given you”
So Protus and I went in again and put a leash on Max, walked him out of the kennel and over to the post we had planned to chain him to. And that is when it happened he went berserk again. He wrapped him self around the pole and was attempting to bite Protus. I grabbed him by the collar and began to attempt to restrain him then he tried to bite me too. Then I realised I had him so tight he was choking himself out. I grabbed his ear and he could no longer turn his head to bite me. He had been defeated. (Watching ultimate fighting finally bore fruit!) At this point Benson had arrived and he was scared to death of coming near Max and putting the chain on him. It took only minutes but it seemed like an eternity till we finally had him on the chain and could let go of him.
That is when I realised it was not us but the chain that Max feared.
That God had chosen me for a time like this.
I was in His will for my life.
And I would :
“Walk in the AUTHORITY I have been given,” from this point forward I knew, that I knew, that I knew, as a friend of mine would say since Janet Foreman had spoken these exact words over me, in prayer a little over a month ago.
all of this before breakfast! What a way to start a day!
Me me Mzungu Hatari (Dangerous Whiteman)
Me me Mzungu Mpole (Polite Whiteman)
alan
assistant problem solver
If you have read part one you know we had a problem with Max biting Otto.
From that point on we had him in his kennel we fed him, cleaned his kennel but he would not let us put a leash on him to bring him out. Based on what had happened we felt he should not be out loose. I asked the guard Benson to put a choker collar on him and he was afraid saying he had been bitten 3 times before. When Protus the other watchman tried, Max copped a big attitude and gave his warning growl. I was at wits end since Rhonda who is staying in the guest house was awoken every night because we were not letting Max out since the incident. He would jump on the roof of his hose and bark and whine defiantly. Benson suggested we move Max’s house from the kennel behind Rhonda’s room to another location. This left only the task of getting Max out on a leash!!!
I thought about it and wondered if God had sent me to Africa to discipline a dog?
Then it occurred to me “ask God”
So I called on him and he answered saying;
Then God said, “let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” Gen 1:26
I thought about this who is the “Our” God is referring to here? It must be the Lord & Spirit so I prayed and the Spirit came over me.
I prepared my self to take Dominion over Max since God does not lie! I became bold!
We entered Max’s cage and I approached Max, he growled I tried to calm him down as I wanted to put a muzzle on him to take him out of the cage. He turned on me as I approached him and he attacked my foot! I had been prepared so I had put my boots on. That is when I jumped on him. Pinned him in the corner, grabbed his collar and held him down. He was not exactly cooperating. As a matter of fact he was not acting in a Christian way. All the time I knew if I let him up he would bite me. Protus proceeded to put the Muzzle on him as I held him Max went berserk to say the least! Finally we had him muzzled. And we let him out. Much to my chagrin he managed to get the muzzle off rather quickly. No one said Max was dumb just determined. So we had no choice but let him return to his kennel the victor.
By this time I was so elated in the Spirit, soaked with sweat and in an adrenaline rush all at the same time.
So I asked God and he said:
“Walk in the AUTHORITY’ I have given you”
So Protus and I went in again and put a leash on Max, walked him out of the kennel and over to the post we had planned to chain him to. And that is when it happened he went berserk again. He wrapped him self around the pole and was attempting to bite Protus. I grabbed him by the collar and began to attempt to restrain him then he tried to bite me too. Then I realised I had him so tight he was choking himself out. I grabbed his ear and he could no longer turn his head to bite me. He had been defeated. (Watching ultimate fighting finally bore fruit!) At this point Benson had arrived and he was scared to death of coming near Max and putting the chain on him. It took only minutes but it seemed like an eternity till we finally had him on the chain and could let go of him.
That is when I realised it was not us but the chain that Max feared.
That God had chosen me for a time like this.
I was in His will for my life.
And I would :
“Walk in the AUTHORITY I have been given,” from this point forward I knew, that I knew, that I knew, as a friend of mine would say since Janet Foreman had spoken these exact words over me, in prayer a little over a month ago.
all of this before breakfast! What a way to start a day!
Me me Mzungu Hatari (Dangerous Whiteman)
Me me Mzungu Mpole (Polite Whiteman)
alan
assistant problem solver
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Trip to Africa 2004
Trip to Africa, October 2004
In October of 2004. Dale and Linda Bolton, Alan Friesner and Esther Cheng went to Africa together; it was the first trip for all of us. We went to see Hope Village in Malawi. Thornhill Vineyard Christian Fellowship had raised enough funds to put roofs on two orphan houses that were under construction. Each one would house 10 children and a parent couple. We were going to see that this had taken place. We were housed in a guest house, which belonged to an American family who had gone back home. The English missionary family Les, Jackie, Joshua, Jonathan and Bethany were taking care of it. In return they got to use the house on the adjoining property. The house is a beautiful house with a lovely view overlooking its surroundings. We were at a higher altitude to where Hope Village was located and the weather there was quite pleasant. The house came with a cook and house-girl; they took care of all our needs.
The missionary family, the Dennis’s were staying at the house next door to the guest house. The three children, Josh, Jonathan and Bethany are very good natured and well behaved. We had a very pleasant visit with the Les’ family. Their aspiration was that one day they could have a house built in Hope Village itself, so they would not have to travel back and forth. The trip to Hope Village was a half hour drive away.
On the trip back to Toronto, Alan and I were already making a plan to do fund-raising to help the family raise their funds to build their house. We named it, Let’s Build a House. The first thing we did was to organize a lunch at an African Restaurant (Jikonee: kitchen) we believe that God’s hand was in the project because He truly blessed our efforts. Before the second project of organizing a fund-raising dinner started rolling, the amount needed to build the house was met by one generous donation. To God be all the glory.
esther
In October of 2004. Dale and Linda Bolton, Alan Friesner and Esther Cheng went to Africa together; it was the first trip for all of us. We went to see Hope Village in Malawi. Thornhill Vineyard Christian Fellowship had raised enough funds to put roofs on two orphan houses that were under construction. Each one would house 10 children and a parent couple. We were going to see that this had taken place. We were housed in a guest house, which belonged to an American family who had gone back home. The English missionary family Les, Jackie, Joshua, Jonathan and Bethany were taking care of it. In return they got to use the house on the adjoining property. The house is a beautiful house with a lovely view overlooking its surroundings. We were at a higher altitude to where Hope Village was located and the weather there was quite pleasant. The house came with a cook and house-girl; they took care of all our needs.
The missionary family, the Dennis’s were staying at the house next door to the guest house. The three children, Josh, Jonathan and Bethany are very good natured and well behaved. We had a very pleasant visit with the Les’ family. Their aspiration was that one day they could have a house built in Hope Village itself, so they would not have to travel back and forth. The trip to Hope Village was a half hour drive away.
On the trip back to Toronto, Alan and I were already making a plan to do fund-raising to help the family raise their funds to build their house. We named it, Let’s Build a House. The first thing we did was to organize a lunch at an African Restaurant (Jikonee: kitchen) we believe that God’s hand was in the project because He truly blessed our efforts. Before the second project of organizing a fund-raising dinner started rolling, the amount needed to build the house was met by one generous donation. To God be all the glory.
esther
Friday, November 9, 2007
Athi River
Athi River
October, 2006
Alan met Pastor Mark when he was working at Restoration Miracle Church as the Youth Pastor there. Pastor Mark left RMC because he felt God was asking him to plant a church at Athi River. When I met Pastor Mark in October, 2006 he had already moved to Athi River about 4 months ago. Pastor Mark lives with his wife Sophie and his son, Asaph.
The Saturday we were to go to Athi River we went to Nairobi in the morning to buy instruments, God had led us to bless them with musical instruments. Pastor Mark had told us that they needed a key-board and speakers.
We arrived at Athi River and in the evening we helped them set up for the crusade. This is the first time for me to be in a crusade and I didn't really know what to expect. At around 5 p.m. we started walking to the place where they had erected a stage, which is just a small 6 by 8 platform on stilts, enough for 4 people to be up with their mikes and sing or preach.
There were lots of kids and they enjoyed the music and danced around in front of the stage. Sophie, the Pastor's wife led the praise and worship and then someone evangelized and spoke in Kiswahili, told them where the church was, and had a call for salvation, some of the kids said they would come to Sunday school.
The next day we sent out early to the church, which was just a rented space which could only fit a dozen chairs for people to sit. There were two families that made up the church, a mother with 2 daughters, two or three singles and a business man and his family who is supporting Pastor Mark with the rent. We saw about 5 kids from the night before, sitting at the back. After the service we all went for lunch with Pastor Mark and Sophie and her 2 sisters who came to help them with the crusade. They said they would have another crusade this afternoon and asked us to stay, and if we stayed they would be able to drive us back to Nairobi, so we stayed. This time the crusade was more lively with church members attending and at the end, Alan almost started a riot with his giving out candies and the children kept following him all the way back to the church site. Benjamin drove us back to Donholm with Mark and Sophie accompanying us.
Benjamin is the business man who helped pay the rent for the church site.
Update, October, 2007
When we returned to Canada Pastor Mark kept in touch with us. He has been having struggles after struggles. There is a lot of spiritual warfare in Athi River and this is the reason that none of the churches has flourished.
His church has grown enough to have the church site filled now and he is hoping to get a bigger place for the church site.
Benjamin, their biggest benefactor has been having business difficulties and has now stopped helping them with paying for the church rent.
We believe Pastor Mark is spirit led and has a vision to convert all the people in Athi River. If you are so led, to support the spreading of the Gospel to the lost, Pastor Mark is someone for you to consider supporting.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Kitale
Kitale- It’s my kind of town!
We arrived in Kitale early Thursday morning, Nov. 1st. We rode on the Coach bus, Alan sat at the aisle seat and I sat at the window seat. Let me tell you about the ride from Nairobi to Kitale. It was rough, I mean really rough! My legs were sore, my back was sore after the ride. I didn’t get any sleep at all. The ride started smoothly at first but after a couple of hours we were on bumpy roads, and this went on and on for a good part of the trip. The bumps are due to the fact that a lot of sections of the road are not paved. The people here will tell you that they ran out of money and so it’s been left that way. Alan went to sleep almost right away, and this was good because I knew he needed the rest as he had been so tired the last 2 days and needed to catch up on his sleep. How he was able to sleep through the ride is beyond me, but Alan will tell you that he can sleep under any circumstances. He was so sound asleep that he would fall leaning to my side, on my left shoulder and sometimes I was pressed close to the window, then when the bus went swaying to the other side, he swayed with it and I had to hang on to his arm for dear life because he would have fallen off his seat. In a way this was a good thing, because I had a purpose on the trip! Life is good when you have a purpose! So somehow the journey came to an end and we were dropped off at the petrol station at 6.00 a.m. I was so relieved the journey had ended. Now I also understand why people take a plane to Eldoret and drive to Kitale from there which is about an hour and a half drive.
My first impression of Kitale is that it is a much cleaner place than Donholm. And I don’t see any slum areas here. There are the same kind of little villages scattered at different intervals along the major road where people have set up their homes and businesses. These are houses with tin roofs, wooden and mud houses, some in a row, some scattered, mud houses and made-shift wooden stalls for selling stuff.
After two days at the “rhino gate house” I became aware that there are no mosquitoes and hardly any flies. We are here for a week now and this fact proof to be true. I like Kitale. The weather is very pleasant, I don’t recall being hot at all. It is actually cold in the morning and I need my sweater.
The town is quite nice, not too many people like in Nairobi or Donholm, there are some street boys but they leave you alone after you tell them to. There are enough restaurants around for you to have a good African meal. Yesterday we went to the Boulevard Restaurant and Alan ordered their daily special, even though he didn’t know what he was ordering, it was all in African terms. And he enjoyed it. I also tried a mouthful of "Kumbe Kumbe" (fried flying termites), it was not bad. For myself I ordered a fried tilapia. I enjoyed it as I was hungry having not eaten too much the last couple of days because of not feeling too well.
Kitale is a small town, from the “rhino gate house” to the city centre it is only 10 minutes away on a “boda -boda” (bicycle taxi that has a seat for you on the rear rack). The first time I got on a “boda boda” was quite frightening, the driver can be going pretty fast, and when they get to the unpaved road it can be quite bumpy too and at these places you hang on tightly to the little handle bars in front of you . Yesterday I rode on a “boda boda” again because it’s just too far to walk to the city centre, and this time it was not so bad a ride. Alan gave the “boda boda” driver a treat by being the driver and giving the driver a ride and then he got paid for the ride as well.
So in spite of the hardship getting here I think Kitale is my kind of town.
Esther
We arrived in Kitale early Thursday morning, Nov. 1st. We rode on the Coach bus, Alan sat at the aisle seat and I sat at the window seat. Let me tell you about the ride from Nairobi to Kitale. It was rough, I mean really rough! My legs were sore, my back was sore after the ride. I didn’t get any sleep at all. The ride started smoothly at first but after a couple of hours we were on bumpy roads, and this went on and on for a good part of the trip. The bumps are due to the fact that a lot of sections of the road are not paved. The people here will tell you that they ran out of money and so it’s been left that way. Alan went to sleep almost right away, and this was good because I knew he needed the rest as he had been so tired the last 2 days and needed to catch up on his sleep. How he was able to sleep through the ride is beyond me, but Alan will tell you that he can sleep under any circumstances. He was so sound asleep that he would fall leaning to my side, on my left shoulder and sometimes I was pressed close to the window, then when the bus went swaying to the other side, he swayed with it and I had to hang on to his arm for dear life because he would have fallen off his seat. In a way this was a good thing, because I had a purpose on the trip! Life is good when you have a purpose! So somehow the journey came to an end and we were dropped off at the petrol station at 6.00 a.m. I was so relieved the journey had ended. Now I also understand why people take a plane to Eldoret and drive to Kitale from there which is about an hour and a half drive.
My first impression of Kitale is that it is a much cleaner place than Donholm. And I don’t see any slum areas here. There are the same kind of little villages scattered at different intervals along the major road where people have set up their homes and businesses. These are houses with tin roofs, wooden and mud houses, some in a row, some scattered, mud houses and made-shift wooden stalls for selling stuff.
After two days at the “rhino gate house” I became aware that there are no mosquitoes and hardly any flies. We are here for a week now and this fact proof to be true. I like Kitale. The weather is very pleasant, I don’t recall being hot at all. It is actually cold in the morning and I need my sweater.
The town is quite nice, not too many people like in Nairobi or Donholm, there are some street boys but they leave you alone after you tell them to. There are enough restaurants around for you to have a good African meal. Yesterday we went to the Boulevard Restaurant and Alan ordered their daily special, even though he didn’t know what he was ordering, it was all in African terms. And he enjoyed it. I also tried a mouthful of "Kumbe Kumbe" (fried flying termites), it was not bad. For myself I ordered a fried tilapia. I enjoyed it as I was hungry having not eaten too much the last couple of days because of not feeling too well.
Kitale is a small town, from the “rhino gate house” to the city centre it is only 10 minutes away on a “boda -boda” (bicycle taxi that has a seat for you on the rear rack). The first time I got on a “boda boda” was quite frightening, the driver can be going pretty fast, and when they get to the unpaved road it can be quite bumpy too and at these places you hang on tightly to the little handle bars in front of you . Yesterday I rode on a “boda boda” again because it’s just too far to walk to the city centre, and this time it was not so bad a ride. Alan gave the “boda boda” driver a treat by being the driver and giving the driver a ride and then he got paid for the ride as well.
So in spite of the hardship getting here I think Kitale is my kind of town.
Esther
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
What a way to start a day
What a way to start the day
I unlocked the door and went outside at 5:00 Am. The sky was clear and the morning crisp and cool as I ate a bowl of cereal at the patio table. All 4 dogs were out and about.
I got a handful of dog food and continued my attempt to train them Chuck one of the puppies (8months old is Todd’s dog) Arnold the other one I have picked to work with.
Max is the original dog here and was the previous missionaries. Otto is different then all the rest. Max and Atto have some issues and seem to be jockeying for alpha dog position.
While I was trying to get them to sit for food an avocado fell from the tree and Atto went got it and started eating it. The others stayed with me. When we finished Max went to Otto’s avocado and that is when it happened. Otto snapped at Max and then Max attacked Otto. Max locked on and would not let go. Benson ( the night watchman) and I tried to separate them with no success. I hit them with a stick until it broke! Benson threw water on them 3 times to no avail It was not a good scene they where dead serious about this. I could see blood and knew this only got them going more. They were set on killing one another. I got a piece of hose and continued to try to separate them all the time aware I could get bit! Finally Atto escaped and went into his dog house. As Benson chained him I held off Max who was frantically pacing and trying to get at him. Finally we sent Max to his cage. O I forgot to mention we did this all in the dark, by flashlight the sun was just rising all of this took 15 minutes what a way to start the day!
Atto has a good size injury under his left ear and a hole in his left cheek. Benson said he had been bitten by Max before.
What would Jesus do?
I did not see this in my missionary job description.
If you do not know this I love dogs and have lived without for 18 years.
So I called a veterinarian and have cleaned the wounds as she recommended with Lugols Iodine. Otto is doing OK. There needs to be a solution for these two can not be together. We have yet to let Max out of his Kennel.
alan in Africa
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
My new schedule
At 6:00 AM I go out side for the changing of the guards.
At 7:00 Am I pray with Ryan
The morning is reserved for work/going to town etc.
At 2:30 PM I have my siesta.
At 5:00 PM I start my afternoon shift.
Ar 6:00 PM I have dinner.
At 10:00 PM I go to sleep.
Between 12:30 and 2:30 I get up and do my emails, blogs and have a snack.
By 4:00 I go back to bed... Bye bye
alan
The Blessings you have given in October 2006
The Blessings that you have given in October 2006
( some of the stories from the note book of Esther)
Elizabeth
A few days after we arrived in Donholm, Elizabeth was not well. One morning she was not able to get up as she had stomach aches. Alan believed that she had never been properly treated as she had often been sick this way before. We took her to the private hospital for some tests and she needed some expensive strong medicine which we bought for her. She got better.
Hope Village Malawi, 2006
We went to Hope Village Malawi to see how the orphans are doing. Alan and I met some of these orphans in October, 2004. One girl in particular stands out. Her name is Alani In October 2004 she was made pregnant by her brother-in-law where she was supposed to be under the care of. She now lives in Hope Village, her daughter Tina was a year and a half old now. They looked well and happy. We saw many other children that we recognized from our previous trip. We met young teenager who had made a guitar for himself out of scraps and he was able to play a tune on it for us. Priscilla a young girl of 14 who aspires to be a doctor. Alan calls her doc. And many others. It was good to see these orphans.
We treated them to candies, chocolates and cakes. We also bought a week supply of groceries for Les and Jackie the Missionary directors/founders.
The girl across the street
She had a toothache and said she didn’t have any money to go to see the dentist.
We went to a place where we saw there was a clinic where they would pull out your tooth. Alan told her where to go and gave her the money to have her tooth pulled out. She was very thankful for this blessing.
Melody
The couple that lived across the street have a baby, named Melody who is always sick. Every time we see her she has some kind of rash in some parts of her body. Alan went to the chemist and bought them medicine and ointment for the baby. After a couple of weeks the baby looks well and healthy.
The Ruai kids
These 6 orphans were living in an apartment under a house mother. The house mother told us that the pastor has not been giving her enough money for food; we were not able to help her as we were told by the Pastor who was supposed to be looking after these children that we should stay away from them. We visited them just to say hello and to tell them that we are not in a position to help them. We brought them little gifts, cakes and candies.
Agnes and her son Ben
Agnes is an ex-prostitute who accepted Jesus. Alan evangelised her in March of 2006. We travelled to Mombassa where we met her in November, 2006. It was a great joy and witness to find her working as a hair dresser in a salon. When we saw her she had some health problems. We took her to the doctor and paid for her medical expenses. We bought her a mosquito net and a bible and we gave her a little bit of money. We bought Ben a couple of little toy cars.
Jumo
Jumo has been handicapped since he was a child from polio. He earns his living by shining shoes in downtown Nairobi near the bus station. He has a tricycle that needed repairs. Alan bought all the broken parts and repaired his bike. See story Jumo Won Nov ‘07
Carol, Jessica and Wilbroda
We gave Carol money to travel upcountry to see her sisters and bring them back.
We bought mattresses, a bunk-bed, household items, pillows, blankets, clothing and some toiletry items. We also brought food and groceries during the last week we were there.
These expenses were covered by the donations we received for orphans.
On the Job in Africa,
Changing peoples lives,
One person at a time
Esther in Africa
( some of the stories from the note book of Esther)
Elizabeth
A few days after we arrived in Donholm, Elizabeth was not well. One morning she was not able to get up as she had stomach aches. Alan believed that she had never been properly treated as she had often been sick this way before. We took her to the private hospital for some tests and she needed some expensive strong medicine which we bought for her. She got better.
Hope Village Malawi, 2006
We went to Hope Village Malawi to see how the orphans are doing. Alan and I met some of these orphans in October, 2004. One girl in particular stands out. Her name is Alani In October 2004 she was made pregnant by her brother-in-law where she was supposed to be under the care of. She now lives in Hope Village, her daughter Tina was a year and a half old now. They looked well and happy. We saw many other children that we recognized from our previous trip. We met young teenager who had made a guitar for himself out of scraps and he was able to play a tune on it for us. Priscilla a young girl of 14 who aspires to be a doctor. Alan calls her doc. And many others. It was good to see these orphans.
We treated them to candies, chocolates and cakes. We also bought a week supply of groceries for Les and Jackie the Missionary directors/founders.
The girl across the street
She had a toothache and said she didn’t have any money to go to see the dentist.
We went to a place where we saw there was a clinic where they would pull out your tooth. Alan told her where to go and gave her the money to have her tooth pulled out. She was very thankful for this blessing.
Melody
The couple that lived across the street have a baby, named Melody who is always sick. Every time we see her she has some kind of rash in some parts of her body. Alan went to the chemist and bought them medicine and ointment for the baby. After a couple of weeks the baby looks well and healthy.
The Ruai kids
These 6 orphans were living in an apartment under a house mother. The house mother told us that the pastor has not been giving her enough money for food; we were not able to help her as we were told by the Pastor who was supposed to be looking after these children that we should stay away from them. We visited them just to say hello and to tell them that we are not in a position to help them. We brought them little gifts, cakes and candies.
Agnes and her son Ben
Agnes is an ex-prostitute who accepted Jesus. Alan evangelised her in March of 2006. We travelled to Mombassa where we met her in November, 2006. It was a great joy and witness to find her working as a hair dresser in a salon. When we saw her she had some health problems. We took her to the doctor and paid for her medical expenses. We bought her a mosquito net and a bible and we gave her a little bit of money. We bought Ben a couple of little toy cars.
Jumo
Jumo has been handicapped since he was a child from polio. He earns his living by shining shoes in downtown Nairobi near the bus station. He has a tricycle that needed repairs. Alan bought all the broken parts and repaired his bike. See story Jumo Won Nov ‘07
Carol, Jessica and Wilbroda
We gave Carol money to travel upcountry to see her sisters and bring them back.
We bought mattresses, a bunk-bed, household items, pillows, blankets, clothing and some toiletry items. We also brought food and groceries during the last week we were there.
These expenses were covered by the donations we received for orphans.
On the Job in Africa,
Changing peoples lives,
One person at a time
Esther in Africa
Monday, November 5, 2007
Wilbroda
A visit to the hospital in Nairobi. (October 26th, 2007)
We met Lilian and alan and I went to Nairobi to visit Wilbroda at Kenyatta National Hospital. When we got off the bus and walked to the hospital entrance there were a lot of people all going the same direction. We got to the lift and people just jammed their way to the front, blocking the doors so that people couldn’t get out first and it just makes it harder for people to get in. We were packed into one elevator and fortunately we were only going to the 3rd floor.
We found Wilbroda in a crib-bed in Ward 2 where there are 10 beds in 2 rows. There were people who were visiting standing around the crib and I was wondering who all these people were. Lilian told me they are probably visiting the other girl, and then I saw the girl at the other end of the bed who is sharing this bed with Wilbroda. I couldn’t see her at first because of all the people blocking my view. I couldn’t imagine this, but this is how it is, the hospital is so crowded that this is what they do.
I caught Wilbroda’s eyes, when she saw me she gave me a smile, and then she gave alan a smile as well. We waited around and Lilian interpreted for us. Lilian had visited her grandfather in the hospital on Wednesday so she dropped in to see Wilbroda. Then Wilbroda didn’t want to talk at all, but today, two days later, she answered questions and she told us she would like to eat oranges. We told her we would visit her again tomorrow and bring some oranges with us. We were about to leave and Wilbroda got up and she walked a little bit with us outside the ward. Then we took her back in and left.
The whole ward had such a heavy smell of illness, the place was crowded with lots of visitors. The children in the beds looked very sick. Outside in the corridor you would be met by sick children from the other wards. There are 3 wards in this section. The children are standing around along the length of the corridor grouped together talking. There is one child lying on the floor in the middle of the corridor. Some are coming to greet us with hands extended to shake ours. The floor everywhere is all dirty, and around the beds in the ward were crumbs, stains from food, and many places the floor felt sticky under your feet. Can you imagine it? I was wondering if they would clean the floor at the end of the day.
In order to avoid the crowd we took the stairs and walked down, this was done in a more orderly fashion, people were walking down on one side and up on the other and again. Walking down the stairs you just see a sea of heads everywhere.
We met Lilian and alan and I went to Nairobi to visit Wilbroda at Kenyatta National Hospital. When we got off the bus and walked to the hospital entrance there were a lot of people all going the same direction. We got to the lift and people just jammed their way to the front, blocking the doors so that people couldn’t get out first and it just makes it harder for people to get in. We were packed into one elevator and fortunately we were only going to the 3rd floor.
We found Wilbroda in a crib-bed in Ward 2 where there are 10 beds in 2 rows. There were people who were visiting standing around the crib and I was wondering who all these people were. Lilian told me they are probably visiting the other girl, and then I saw the girl at the other end of the bed who is sharing this bed with Wilbroda. I couldn’t see her at first because of all the people blocking my view. I couldn’t imagine this, but this is how it is, the hospital is so crowded that this is what they do.
I caught Wilbroda’s eyes, when she saw me she gave me a smile, and then she gave alan a smile as well. We waited around and Lilian interpreted for us. Lilian had visited her grandfather in the hospital on Wednesday so she dropped in to see Wilbroda. Then Wilbroda didn’t want to talk at all, but today, two days later, she answered questions and she told us she would like to eat oranges. We told her we would visit her again tomorrow and bring some oranges with us. We were about to leave and Wilbroda got up and she walked a little bit with us outside the ward. Then we took her back in and left.
The whole ward had such a heavy smell of illness, the place was crowded with lots of visitors. The children in the beds looked very sick. Outside in the corridor you would be met by sick children from the other wards. There are 3 wards in this section. The children are standing around along the length of the corridor grouped together talking. There is one child lying on the floor in the middle of the corridor. Some are coming to greet us with hands extended to shake ours. The floor everywhere is all dirty, and around the beds in the ward were crumbs, stains from food, and many places the floor felt sticky under your feet. Can you imagine it? I was wondering if they would clean the floor at the end of the day.
In order to avoid the crowd we took the stairs and walked down, this was done in a more orderly fashion, people were walking down on one side and up on the other and again. Walking down the stairs you just see a sea of heads everywhere.
Home Church Nov 4th
Home Church
When I asked Ryan about church on Sunday he said he is not into African church. He would attend Fireplace - a Sunday afternoon outreach church to the street kids. Most of the Mzungu (white) missionaries go there.
Esther, Rhonda and I made plans to go to church in town. When we got there at 10am, we found out it does not start till 10:45, so we opted to drive into town and see what else we could find. Just as we where turning around, the phone rang. It was Ryan and he invited me to a home church. So we returned home and waited for him to pick us up. He arrived with Pierce and little Root.
The ride was about twenty minutes and the last km or so into the village was rough. The Pastor's two room house had one room, full of sofas, set up for church. The floor is dirt. It was very hot inside so I sat by the door. Esther sat on the porch with three other ladies. There were sixteen people in attendance including three pastors and three nursing mothers. A growing congregation to say the least.
The teaching was on Psalm 1:1-3. You must step outside the box of sin in order to go to heaven. By Christ on the cross, you are redeemed. The sermon was by Pastor Andrew Namazaki - John 15: 1-8 focusing on “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” John 15:7
The Congregation is trusting God to provide the money for the Plot they need to buy to build their new building They have $2,500.00 of the $4,000.00 they need, and the plot picked out in the village. This is their big prayer request of the day.
When I was asked to speak (Yes, Marcia I spoke… ) I told them how I had been called to be here today, and I chose to be here; that I am Jewish and Jesus lives in me. These are the days! Many are called but few are chosen. And they had been chosen if they were here today. I declined reading the word and prayed over the offering and closed with ...
The Lord bless you and keep you,
The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up his countenance upon you,
And give you his Shalom
alan in Africa
Saturday, November 3, 2007
The trip to Kitale
The trip to Kitale
So after 2 days delay in order to take care of things in Donholm we had a quiet day Wednesday, We went to town and bought a bus ticket and had lunch with Pastor Mark from Athi River. We were back in Donholm by 2 Pm. Lillian came to visit. Esther and Lillian went and said goodbye to Jessica and took her a birthday present. Jessica’s birthday is November 8th, 1993. I lay down and took a nap!!!
I was awoken at 6:00 PM by a call from Elizabeth to tell me she was now back from the hospital with Wilbroda, who was released the day before. Praise the Lord. Esther and Lillian soon arrived and we moved all our bags downstairs and sat down and had a drink waiting for the taxi. There here was no time to go back and visit Wilbroda much to our chagrin. The taxi arrived, we loaded everything and said good bye and off we went to Nairobi for the bus. We had left lots of time since there are often serious traffic jams. About half way to the bus station I realized I did not have my BACK PACK!!!!! It had my laptop in it, passports, wallet, ID, lots of cash (to name a few things) and this is why I hand carry it always. Somehow in the hustle and bustle I had left it at the table in the restaurant - a restaurant in Africa. WOW.
Panic set in. But just as quickly I realized that God had revealed this to me so He was watching over it. This is what I call faith. Still, it is hard to control the physiological and psychological reactions to such a situation. So I prayed and right away I calmed down. John the driver took quick action and headed back through the Industrial area to avoid the jam. I called Murage the manager of the restaurant and he confirmed he had it. Now I needed only that the contents to be intact and to beat the traffic jam in order to make the bus. God was in control and by this point we knew we had made it.
We arrived at 8:40 over ½ an hour early with all intact. Thank God.
The ride was rough but I managed to sleep a few hours and we arrived safe and sound in Kitale. It sure felt good to sleep in a bed and have no rush in the morning to deal with.
alan
So after 2 days delay in order to take care of things in Donholm we had a quiet day Wednesday, We went to town and bought a bus ticket and had lunch with Pastor Mark from Athi River. We were back in Donholm by 2 Pm. Lillian came to visit. Esther and Lillian went and said goodbye to Jessica and took her a birthday present. Jessica’s birthday is November 8th, 1993. I lay down and took a nap!!!
I was awoken at 6:00 PM by a call from Elizabeth to tell me she was now back from the hospital with Wilbroda, who was released the day before. Praise the Lord. Esther and Lillian soon arrived and we moved all our bags downstairs and sat down and had a drink waiting for the taxi. There here was no time to go back and visit Wilbroda much to our chagrin. The taxi arrived, we loaded everything and said good bye and off we went to Nairobi for the bus. We had left lots of time since there are often serious traffic jams. About half way to the bus station I realized I did not have my BACK PACK!!!!! It had my laptop in it, passports, wallet, ID, lots of cash (to name a few things) and this is why I hand carry it always. Somehow in the hustle and bustle I had left it at the table in the restaurant - a restaurant in Africa. WOW.
Panic set in. But just as quickly I realized that God had revealed this to me so He was watching over it. This is what I call faith. Still, it is hard to control the physiological and psychological reactions to such a situation. So I prayed and right away I calmed down. John the driver took quick action and headed back through the Industrial area to avoid the jam. I called Murage the manager of the restaurant and he confirmed he had it. Now I needed only that the contents to be intact and to beat the traffic jam in order to make the bus. God was in control and by this point we knew we had made it.
We arrived at 8:40 over ½ an hour early with all intact. Thank God.
The ride was rough but I managed to sleep a few hours and we arrived safe and sound in Kitale. It sure felt good to sleep in a bed and have no rush in the morning to deal with.
alan
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Jumo Won! (by alan)
Jumo Won!
As reported on
In the sports section of the Daily Nation
“ In the wheel chair race, Gabriel Jumo posted a faster time of 1:51:09 in the 42 Km race ahead of Dennis Omondi Muga 1:52:00 and Tom Mboya 1:52:27”
Sunday the Nairobi Marathon was held here in
The below excerpt is from my story Favour
“Jumo is a handicapped man who runs a shoe shine on the streets of
Him back in February when I was here. I was very impressed by his positive attitude; compared to most Kenyans, I had met. He was quite happy, and expressed a desire to go to the
Esther, Jumo and I, we traveled to his house to inspect the wheelchair. After making a list of parts the wheelchair required we returned to town to get the parts. I soon learned that the parts for the wheelchair are not easy to obtain. Jumo, Esther and I had to walk quite a distance visiting many shops until we found favour. A businessman removed the wheel we needed from a new bicycle and sold it to us. I bought all the parts from him and thanked him. It might seem strange but remember only one type of rear wheel is suitable to be used in the front of this tricycle wheelchair. Esther was not feeling well so we put her in a Matattu (mini bus) home. This is why it was so late by time we got back to Jumo’s house in Dandora and fixed the wheelchair.” We had visited many shops with no success until we found favour.”
After successfully fixing the wheelchair it was dark and time to go home so Jumo escorted me to the bus stage.”
What exactly is a disability? Is it really a handicap? Or an advantage?
If you know my story you know I spent over 2 years of my life on crutches and in a wheel chair as a child
Reporting from
alan.
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Jessica
The orphans are 3 sisters named Carol, Jessica, Wilbroda. I want to tell you about Jessica. She will be 14 on Nov. 8th. When I first met Jessica she never spoke a word to me, after a few days the only thing she would say was- thank you.
Pastor Lazarus wife, Elizabeth describe her as getting to be like a city girl. This is a compliment to Jessica. On Sunday we saw Jessica dancing in worship together with other children in her age group. Jessica is doing well. We are happy for her.
This time we meet her again, a year later, she has grown taller and is less shy. And now she is able to talk to us a little. Yesterday she wrote us a note and I want to tell you about it. This is what she wrote:
There is a friend of mine who wants to teach me how to read and even to know how spellings are written pleace I want story books like six of them and a pen and two big books for composition writing pleace.....
This isn't bad after only a year of studying english.
It came into my mind that perhaps there is someone out there who might want to write to Jessica, be her pen-pal. Or you might know someone who is also studying English and wants to practice their writing.
Let us know.
Esther and alan
Pastor Lazarus wife, Elizabeth describe her as getting to be like a city girl. This is a compliment to Jessica. On Sunday we saw Jessica dancing in worship together with other children in her age group. Jessica is doing well. We are happy for her.
This time we meet her again, a year later, she has grown taller and is less shy. And now she is able to talk to us a little. Yesterday she wrote us a note and I want to tell you about it. This is what she wrote:
There is a friend of mine who wants to teach me how to read and even to know how spellings are written pleace I want story books like six of them and a pen and two big books for composition writing pleace.....
This isn't bad after only a year of studying english.
It came into my mind that perhaps there is someone out there who might want to write to Jessica, be her pen-pal. Or you might know someone who is also studying English and wants to practice their writing.
Let us know.
Esther and alan
Wilbroda is Discharged
Wilbroda has been discharged! Praise the Lord. If all goes according to plan she will be brought home today. Yet again she has failed to become a statistic. Pastor Elizabeth has spoke to the Administrator of the hospital about her being an orphan that we are all helping. And they are seeing if we can get an allowance on the bill. Favour…
This just leaves the Situation issues to be dealt with and one by one things are coming into place.
We will be traveling “Up Country” as they say in
All of Gods Love
alan & Esther
Monday, October 29, 2007
KNH
KNH
(Just follow the crowd)
We where told to take a number7c City Hopper bus from City center and it would take us to Kenyatta National Hospital. From there just follow the crowd to the lifts. Wilbroda is in paediatrics 3rd floor, B wing, room 2, bed 10:3B10; and this she shares with another girl. The air is thick and the spirit is heavy as all the parents come to visit their children. Bringing food feeding them cleaning them and showing love.
The sign on the wall says “child birth kills” more babies than pneumonia. Wilbroda has pneumonia.
When we arrive and she sees me she smiles momentarily. I feel sad as I look around and see all the parents feeding their kids things they have brought. I came empty handed, having rushed to make it at all. The day before we had planned to visit but did not since it was getting too late. Most of the parents bring something extra and share with the others and all of them care for all.
But still over all you can sense a fear for many children die young and innocent!
Wilbroda just sits in the crib and stares down; she refuses to eat but does drink a cup of milk. Her spirit is distraught and distant. When we ask here if there is anything she wants she asks for orange We make a plan to return tomorrow and bring food not only for her but to share with others.
On Saturday we return with Jessica Wilbroda’s older sister. We brought apples and oranges imported from
When we arrive first go to an empty bed and realise I am in the wrong room. Then another empty bed in room to and one begins to think she has become a statistic. Them I see her big smile as she comes in from the hall she is up and about thank God!
She is happy to see us and eats lots of every thing we have brought. We share with all the kids trying not to be too overwhelming
I leave knowing Wilbroda will live to see her next battle with illness.
Today we are going to visit and see when she will be discharged.
Taking care of Dad’s family in
Alan & Esther
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Safe and sound
Safe and Sound (by alan) Oct24
Well we arrived safe and sound. All our flights went on schedule and our luggage was first off in
Good night.
The Donholm House
The Donholm house. Oct 25th
It is Friday and here is my first report. Last night Alan and I went to Pastor Lazarus and
We returned at night and brought them dinner and the nine of us ate together, Lazarus. Elizabeth, Laz’s mum, Victoria their house girl, Jessica, Abby and Desi, Alan and I. We brought them deep fried chicken which was almost everyone’s favourite and they enjoyed the meal. It was good to watch the children, Jessica was behaving like a very good older sister, she is now 14. They were sitting at one end of the living room together while the adults ate around the coffee table. Desi was sitting at Jessica’s lap, Jessica was eating and helping Abby as well as feeding Desi all at the same time. They look very happy together. They told us Jessica is doing well at school and that she is very smart. We will be going to visit Wilbroda today, the report is that she is recovering well and should be coming home. I don’t know if you all knew this, but the last two days before we left Toronto, Laz had been sending us emails telling us to urgently send money as Wilbroda was in hospital with pneumonia.( pneumonia is the 2 largest killer of children in Africa birth being the first)
A brief note to let you all know that we are alive and well, we did not get sick and I have recovered from the tiredness of the trip having slept 4 hours the day we arrived. Alan still needs to make up for lost sleep but he is running on God’s power . Please pray for Wilbroda.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
The cabin (by alan)
I have this sense of peace as I think about packing I have left enough time there is no more rushing around to do and I think of my Cabin I was there on Monday with Herman, we went for a hike and closed it down. It makes me think the sun is setting on yet another chapter of my life " the summer of 2007" and I anticipate Africa... Hear I come ready on not!
THE COST OF DISCIPLESHIP
"If anyone comes to me and does not hate ... his own life-he cannot be my disciple." Luke 14:26
In Jesus' day religious students chose which rabbi they wanted to learn from-like college students who decide which college to attend and which professors to study under. Luke tells us that Jesus was a popular rabbi. His classrooms, the fields in which he preached, were always filled as crowds gathered around him.
Imagine the eyes of people growing wide as Jesus described how to go from being mere followers to being his disciples! They had to be prepared to leave their families and every other commitment that might get in the way of following Jesus. And in case there were any in the crowd who made commitments too easily, Jesus warned against hasty decisions. He described situations in which people needed to count the cost before starting a building project or battling an enemy.
Think of Jesus' disciples. They hadn't chosen JesusJesus had chosen them! And now they were being reminded of the cost of being his disciples. Their eyes must have grown wider as Jesus' sermon grew longer!
Doesn't discipleship feel that way sometimes-like a series of awakenings to its high costs? But look at the high price Jesus paid to become our Savior! It's good to remember, when weariness sets in, that the One who calls us to serve him went all the way to a cross to give up his life in exchange for ours.
In Jesus' day religious students chose which rabbi they wanted to learn from-like college students who decide which college to attend and which professors to study under. Luke tells us that Jesus was a popular rabbi. His classrooms, the fields in which he preached, were always filled as crowds gathered around him.
Imagine the eyes of people growing wide as Jesus described how to go from being mere followers to being his disciples! They had to be prepared to leave their families and every other commitment that might get in the way of following Jesus. And in case there were any in the crowd who made commitments too easily, Jesus warned against hasty decisions. He described situations in which people needed to count the cost before starting a building project or battling an enemy.
Think of Jesus' disciples. They hadn't chosen JesusJesus had chosen them! And now they were being reminded of the cost of being his disciples. Their eyes must have grown wider as Jesus' sermon grew longer!
Doesn't discipleship feel that way sometimes-like a series of awakenings to its high costs? But look at the high price Jesus paid to become our Savior! It's good to remember, when weariness sets in, that the One who calls us to serve him went all the way to a cross to give up his life in exchange for ours.
All Of God's Love
Well little Wilbroda the aids orphan we sponser is back in the hospital and quit sick lets pray for her NOW...Father I lift this soul up to you and ask you to heal her in Jesus name...Amen
Saturday, October 20, 2007
The Bride in Africa (by alan)
So here we have my lovely bride the first night of the Zambian safari honeymoon emerging from the mosquito net Dec 2006
Esther & elephants (by alan)
Lets just say that Esther loves elephants and that is what got her into this Africa thing to begin with. Just 5 days to go and she will be blogging from Kenya
Friday, October 19, 2007
My first blog (alan)
Well I can not believe I am finally doing this after alll this time talking about it. And Just in time to say the least we leave on Monday.
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