Jumo Won! (by alan)

Jumo Won!

( Photo to come)

As reported on Monday October 29 2007.

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 Kenya to give you a perspective the fastest runners do it in about 2 ½ hours.

The below excerpt is from my story Favour December 23 2006

“Jumo is a handicapped man who runs a shoe shine on the streets of Nairobi. I first met

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 USA, to race wheelchairs. He has a tricycle that is propelled by hand cranks, that he calls his wheelchair. When I visited Jumo this trip his wheelchair was notably missing, it was out of service, so he was on crutches. I offered to assist him in repairing it and supplying all the parts. This is how I came to be in Dandora after dark. Jumo lives with his wife and 6 children in Dandora.

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 Nairobi Kenya taking care of dad’s business

alan.

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

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 Kenya and will keep you posted

All of Gods Love

alan & Esther

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 3^rd 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 South Africa and milk, cup cakes and juice.

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 Africa

Alan & Esther

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 Nairobi. The silly ribbons Esther put on our bags even make sense now. Not that I would not be able tell my bags or be sure by my name tags. I heard the guy next to me say to his wife “yes it looks like our but it is not, It has ribbons on it” Thank God for wives. I have an account in the internet café, snacks in the room and have already had our first sauna. The only think I need to have a smile on my face is a good night’s sleep.

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 Elizabeth’s house. As we arrived at the living room door Jessica came out to meet us, so did Abby and then Desi.(their girls) It was good to see Jessica, she had grown much taller and she was not as shy as before. We had already been there in the morning and Carol was there to meet us. Carol is no longer living there but working as a house girl somewhere else. Jessica was at school and Abby and Desi were too shy in the morning to greet us.

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.

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.

All Of God's Love

"Whoever recieves this child in My name receives Me; Whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me; For he who is least among you, this is the one who is Great" Luke9:48

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

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

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.