March 2011 in KISUMU AND ELDORET KENYA

Saffa/Oboch is a HIV SUPPORT GROUP in Nyalenda. Each of the members supports themselves in various ways to put food on their table and a roof over their heads. The members are mainly widows. The group has begun weaving plastic bags into purses, bags, hats, tablemats and front door mats. They pick up dirty bags and used ones they find. They clean and cut the plastic bags into strips and knit or crochet them together. Each month I take all the extra bags I have from the grocery store and give them to the group. They are so thrilled to get clean bags. They hope to sell their products to help support the group in all their basic needs and when someone is sick and needs assistance the group will have the funds. Below is a picture of them with their goods. If you are in Kisumu let me take you to meet this great group of women and do plan to purchase a bag.

   



SAFFA OBOCH WITH THEIR ITEMS FOR SALE EVERYTHING $5-$7 US$







LOSIRWA MARCH 2011 by John

Losirwa is a little church in the middle of nowhere, one of the Eldoret cluster and led by a young man called Pius. It is a church lively in worship but in need of solid teaching. The congregation is very receptive and responded well to teaching on the Ten Commandments and how they related to the individual and the group.

 

 

BEWOPOL is another HIV Support group in Manyatta B area of Kisumu. This group meets next to a Nursery School where we get the opportunity to share a Bible story each month when we visit. This group has about 50 members and continues to grow as they reach out to the sick in the community. Most of the members now have Bibles and many new members received a new Bible in March.

"so is My Word that goes out from My mouth;

It will not return to me empty,

but will accomplish what I desire

and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

Isaiah 55:11

MANYATTA B WIDOWS GROUP:

Many times we never know if the seeds planted ever take root and that is for the Lord to know not us but a few weeks ago a woman stood up and shared that because of the Bible being made available to her she took it home and read it and accepted Jesus as he Savior.

Praise God that His word will not return void.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword,

it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit,

joints and marrow;

it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Hebrews 4:12



2 pm Dunga Fish Ladies by John

These are a great bunch of ladies who earn a living by selling fish in town after buying from the fishermen. (The fishermen go out in two sets and return at either 8am or 2pm)They are a mix of some churched and unchurched women and a range of understanding of what it means to be saved, much time is taken to go over the essentials which took 5 weeks and then they received bible.

Thomas from the Bible League came for the presentation of Bibles this day.

KAJULU by John

KAJULU is a small village at the base of the foot hills 30 minutes drive out of Kisumu. There a group of Christians meet every week in the same house to give praise and glory to God. They come from a background of different churches but this does not hinder their worship. They are also a group which serves to support themselves and a collection is taken up each week and the given to a person in need (isn’t this an acts church?).I met with this group for six weeks with the purpose of helping those who did not have a bible to get one and to under score the plan of salvation which was clear that they understood. They understand now that the responsibility of receiving a bible is that they share the Good News with all.

Association of Physically Disabled of Kenya (APDK) by John

I’ve recently been sharing at a group for physically disabled adults who are all supporting themselves financially and who come together to form a co-op or self help group. The meetings are very long and very officious and often contentious by the sound of their voices. I am given a 15 minute slot between items of business and some of the people in attendance use this time for a napJ Sometimes like today I arrive only to be told that today I needn’t bother,,,,,, I think that after attending for some 5 weeks this might be the time to shake the dust off my feet,,,,what do you think? :)

“Unknown African Lady” by John

This was the description written by the emergency room staff that treated a mentally ill street woman who couldn’t speak.

We found this lady on the side of the road with a horrible wound to the head. We thought this woman a victim of a hit and run but the examination told us that she had been attacked sometime in the previous night.

We have no idea how long she had been there or how people had passed her by.  After her treatment in hospital we called Helen our interpreter who went out and bought her clean clothes and then we took her for a meal  and after a prayer she was back on the streets,,,,,,,the alternative was the mental ward at the district hospital that resembled hell