SNIPPETS from John

The other day as we were driving the Nairobi road to Alara with Jared we came upon an 18 wheeler on its side having jackknifed across the road stopping traffic both ways,,,,,there were people everywhere and we were looking for casualties,,,well silly us the lorry carrying beer was being looted and people were going crazy taking crates and bottles and drinking on the spot not even bothering to run,,,or maybe they couldn’t

The lorry was still in the same spot when we returned an hour and a half later only this time the police were on the scene attempting crowd control but by this time the drinkers were well sloshed and running around with tv cameras in pusuit trying to make a story out of it,,,,,,,people

You may remember me mentioning a young man named Jolie a 20yr old who broke his femur a year ago,,,a cast was used for the repair,,later the cast was removed but his bone had failed to mend,,,,,Jolie came to our attention and we visited with him on several occasions and attempting to get him medical help,,,,,,,,now as you read picture our lord at work.


Myrna is a lady who we met the first time we came to Kenya,,,,,she comes for about two months every year and is in the process of setting up libraries,,,she’s also a nurse.

After reading about Jolie Myrna emailed to say that she would like to see the boy.

Well Myrna is here now and she has seen the Jolie and we took him to a private hospital for an examination and xray,,,,you wouldn’t believe the break,,,,,the leading edge of each broken piece was now overlapping and rubbing by about an 11/2,,,,,but here’s the best bit as Myrna was talking to the surgeon that she had used previously for another boy , through a grant the surgery and the plates for Jolie will be FREE,,,,,,YEEEEEEAH!

THANK YOU GOD,



I am growing my hair due to popular demand , namely ,,,,,,my wife so I probably wont pull that stunt for awhile,,,,,what I failed to mention when I told you about shaving my head was that I also shaved my eye brows,,,,,,with no hair on my head it made my eyebrows pop out so I tried to tone things down a bit by losing the brows,,,,but when my brows disappeared ,,,,,,,,so did my face,,AAAAAAAAh

Don’t ask for pictures,,,,there are none







Connie and I were talking about Amarillo South the other day saying how lucky we were to have such a great church and the way you continue to support us in practical ways and spiritual ways

In particular you need to know how Milton has come alongside us as we have encountered difficulties over here.

Milton has written the most loving encouragements together with practical advice on how to deal with issues we faced . To Milton and Barbie we say a heart felt thank you

Steven

Where Steven lived.

top of Steven's head

Please pray for a home for Steven.We have an appointment with possibilities on Wednesday.He is a gentle boy who needs love and attention and kindness. The evaluations say he operates on the level of a 2-3 year old. This means he needs constant care and supervision.

John with Steven at our compound after he was cleaned up.

He has had a haircut now and we hope to have a new picture soon.

Reaching out to the least of the least

Weeks in October 2009

It has been awhile since we have had time to blog. Today seems to be the day. I need to express to all who make it possible for us to be here Praise God for you! We have met so many missionaries who are always praying for finances and we feel so blessed by you who support us and our wonderful church Amarillo South Church. There will always be needs for more money but as we have seen this week when there is a need God provides in a mighty way and just in time.

God is teaching us so many things but I think I needed it more. The past six years my husband John has been a constant support to the singles ministry at the church and always there to lend a hand. In fact I think most thought he worked there as well. Lol! Now God is teaching me to be behind the scenes and at first I think I was a bit rebellious but now today it has come to me that John is out there being the feet and hands of Jesus in amazing ways and he needs me as his helper. If you know me you know I really want to be in charge and here in Kenya I am in charge of nothing not even my kitchen! Thank you God for your amazing ways of teaching your hard headed follower I am learning slowly but surely. This is a prayer request in case you that are reading this didn’t catch on. Thanks!

This week as in every week but more this than ever I saw John be the feet and hands and my heart is still so touched I can’t even write without crying.
The Casting Crowns song about ignoring people right under your steeple comes to mind. If you don’t know find it and listen to it.

John spotted a boy 12-14 years old living in the gutter basically he was at the gate of a school and church. John walked up to him and saw he was in rags and exposed and covered in flies. He had a pile of rotten food beside him and that was his food. John took him food for a couple of days and people gathered to watch each time.

Monday John left to take him milk and when he returned he had this boy with him and said I couldn’t leave him. Two other young men came in as well.
They introduced me to him and called him Steven. Steven is mentally handicapped. He probably operates on the level of 2-3 year old.
These 2 young men and John bathed Steven and put some clean clothes on him. He seemed so happy to be clean.

The biggest treat for Steven is riding in the car. He repeats everything John says. They get in the car and start the journey of finding a place for Steven to live and learn. No good news happened on Monday. So Steven spent the night in our servant’s house out back of our house. Our night watchman sat by his door and watched after him. Let me back up and say this is because as the Maasai were in the house talking with us Steven escaped into the next compound. Oh my! The commotion was wild. They were chasing him and he was making noises like ET. John was over the fence and so were the Maasai. It was quite an adventure and Steven was scared to death but they got him back in the compound and all the neighbors had something to say and advice to give as you can imagine. He hasn’t tried that again.

John has devoted his week to searching out places and taking Steven to be evaluated and nothing as of yet! We think we are getting closer but please pray for this. One of the young men John met has come everyday to help us with him. He sits with him and goes with John to all these appointments. We pay him each day and he is always here when we need him because Stephen needs constant watching.

Wednesday we purchased a mattress for him and sheets and he seems pleased. He tries to help me clear the table and will do whatever he is asked.
He communicates best with John the helper. But he will follow John Okill anytime. Sometimes he says mama but mostly muzungo to me. He seems to be more content to stay here everyday and hasn’t tried to escape again.

John reads the Bible to him and sings to him. We play music for him.

Today, Saturday I am home and they are outside sitting under a tree. John has had to go to a funeral and deliver some ladies from the church. I was scheduled to go but we would have had to lock the boys out of the house for the day and John felt it was best I stay and he went. I think God wanted me to tell you this story because John Okill would not have given himself any credit and now you can know the real story from my eyes.

In the middle of all this we were able to get the builder started on Jim’s house that was washed away in the rains. I posted a picture of John with the boys from Ring Road helping to clear the area so we could save money. So we hope Jim will be sleeping safe and dry soon.

There are so many stories to share and what we hope is that through our eyes you will see the great need and pray for us continually and maybe come and experience life with us. Anyone is welcome and we have space and hopefully soon we will have beds in the rooms. If you come we will have a bed for you.

Wednesday Night:
We had the staff at Ring Road here for dinner. 40 people in all and a few extras. Jackson did all the cooking and everyone was satisfied as they would say. We sang songs together and prayed and they went home. It was a sweet time for us to be able to open our home to our co-workers and friends. God has given us this wonderful home and we want it used for ministry.

I could write forever but I will post this and some pictures.
Please pray for the Lord’s direction in all we do
For a location that is safe and loving for Steven

Blessings Connie

Ring Road Boys help clear for new house washed away by rains

John ready for the Baptism

The Mob by John

“ I’ve got some catching up to do”,,,,,,,,,,but I’m going to work backwards

I know that Connie has sent out about Tuesday,but that only went up to lunchtime,,,,,before I tell you what happened next you must understand that when connie and I write about the day, it is simply reporting events and not to build ourselves up,OK?,,,so let me begin.
Well I was driving down ringroad the road that divides the richest part of town from the poorest part of town when I saw a crowd of about 75 to 100 people gathered on the road. I started to slow thinking it was an accident but as the crowd parted to let me through I saw two men beating a man on the ground with heavy sticks,,,,,I jumped out of my car and pushed my way to them and asked them what was going and to stop the beating as the mob was urging them on,,,,,,they stopped when they saw me, I guess they were surprised to see a mazungu in the middle of all this,,,,,they said the man on the ground was a thief and I said he had been punished enough,,,,his head was reduced to a pulp and blood was everywhere, he looked as if one of his arms were broken maybe both because he no longer tried to shield himself from the blows,,,,,,it was unbelievable. As I was talking to one of the beaters the other cracked his stick on the mans head and the sound was sickening,,,,,,,I said that he was a thief but they would be murderers if this went any further,,,,,a women in the crowd shouted at me to leave and mind my own business in her mother tongue,or at least that is the closest translation haha,,,,,,I went to the man on the ground and helped him up and walked him to my car and two other men came to my aid . I said that I was taking him to the police and no one barred my way,,,,,,I couldn’t believe itThen someone pointed out a man to me who was on his cell phone,,,,,he came over to say that it was his house that the man with two others had tried to break into ,,,the others had got away,,,,,he was calling the police to come but the police said they wouldn’t so he got into my car with the alleged thief and the two men who helped me and we started to drive to the police station. Then a police car happened to come by and slowed down when they saw the crowd,,,,,they took the man from us and we followed on , when we got to the station I dropped my people off and then I left.
.I was on my way to the hospital when this broke loose and so I carried on and as I drove and as I got nearer to my destination I was wondering if this had really happened:)

Let me go back to last Thursday,,,,,,the beginning of the rains,,,,,,We were on our way to Ognadi up in the foothills,,,,,,connie and george and I were taking a bible study into the hills which is an adventure in itself,,,,,,As we arrive there are two young ladies who want to be baptized so a crowd of fifteen to twenty go hiking down to the river,,,,,,I am dressed in a brightly coloured wrap a tee shirt and my inevitable flipflops(see the pictures) The river is very fast flowing which on the one hand is tricky but at least there are no crocs,,,,,Im baptizing these girls but they hold themselves rigid as the water is a little chilly and it is almost impossible to submerge them and keep my balance,,,,,,I don’t think John thrr Baptist had this much trouble
Then we get back to the house and we get to bless two beautiful babies,,,,well I’m sure they were beautiful if you could ever get to see them,,,,,the mothers cover them up in a ton of blankets
Everybody squeezes into this house which is filling up with smoke from someone cooking in the back and I launch into the book of Jonah and asking the question, When Gods asks us to do something , do we run away like Jonah or do we roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty?????,,,,,,,and then the rains hit!!!!!!its coming down in buckets and as it hits the metal roof the noise is deafening,,,,,,,I scream out my message and George screams out the translation our throats are burning and our eyes are running and every one is looking on as if this is normal. You cannot believe this rain it goes on harder and longer than anything I have experienced. Our study lasts for at least an hour and only as we come to an end does the rain come to an end
At the end of this we are offered Mandazi which just like a doughnut and chia and we cannot leave these things alone so we excuse ourselves before we start looking like one
We jump in our car and head for home and as is usual some one wants a ride so we have this extra man We are coming down the hills and you can imagine the mud,,,,we are slipping and sliding until we come upon a tractor and trailor that has jackknifed across the track blocking our way,,,,,,the kids are everywhere taking sugar cane from the trailor with a wild man with a stick chasing them and cursing them.. Another tractor has come to the rescue only to end up stuck as well and then another tractor comes,,,,,but it is a three wheeler and not much use to man or beast,,,,,,,we have sat here an hour hoping that at some point we would get by and then some one comes by saying there is another way home to which the man in the back chirps up that he knows the way,,,,,,whats the matter with these people,,,,,,,,they never offer information
So now I am reversing back up the track until there is a place to turn and when we find a place its steep sticky with a ditch,,,,we get across and turn the car around and as we try to get back on the track the ground gives way with all the rain and my offside front goes down the into the ditch and my nearside rear is off the ground by 12 inches ,,this is unbelievable and our camera has just lost its power,,,,,so no pictures, sorry, but here is the best bit three men lift up our car and put it on secure ground and nobody breaks a sweat,,,,says me in the driving seat
There a moral to this story,,,,,,,as we were planning to come to Kenya I was thinking we would be running around in a Landcruiser no less and to be honest I was a little disappointed to find that all we could afford was a Toyota rav4,,,are you kidding me but now I am here to tell you that we love ourRAV4,,,,I cannot believe what this thing is capable of and when it gets stuck you can just lift it out,,,,,,,you couldn’t do that with a Landcruiser!!!!!!!

Sept 22, 2009

September 22, 2009 Tuesday

Life is full of many surprises some good some sad. Each week we have plans for our work but each week plans change as life and death change. It would be the same in the USA but seems here it happens so frequently. We are made aware of how precious each day is and to live it for the kingdom.

As we walked to work today ready to start a new week we passed one of the teacher’s compounds on our way. Eunice was there and not at work. We knew immediately that something was wrong. Her brother had died. He leaves 2 young children and a wife.
Eunice just lost her sister several weeks ago and her father a few months before that.
Eunice is the provider for this family that all depend on her. She is a single mom herself.
Please pray for her at this time because her heart is grieved and her resources are low.
We went inside to pray with the family and left heavy hearted for her.

As we arrived at school we learn of a 3 month old baby that died last night. They need to bury the child and want us to go with George and Daniel. This young father is there seeking someone to come and help with a service. The young father has been attending the church at Ring Road.

We walk to his house and see the mother and the tiny little body lying in the floor on blankets covered up. The shock on the young couples faces and grief is overwhelming.
John prays and reads scripture. We sing a hymn and then they uncover this beautiful baby for us to see. John reaches down and touches the baby and just sits and prays.

The father then walks us to his family compound and shows us the place to bury the child. Everyone begins to dig and then when the grave is deep enough we walk back to the house. A little wooden box is there and they place blankets in it and pick up the baby and place her in it. Every one begins to cry as the box is hammered shut. I know it must be more than the mother can bear as she calls out her child’s name as we walk back to the graveside. The baby hasn’t even been dead 24 hours and now she must bury it. There is no money for a funeral. John and George read scripture and pray again at the grave and then the little box is lowered and buried.



We go to the father’s mother’s home and pray again. They bring us soft drinks as appreciation so we must stay and drink them. The little mother just sits and cries quietly.

We plan to go and check on them again. Please pray for David and Violet as they learn to live without this baby girl their firstborn.

Each day brings blessings from God as we look where He wants to place us. The appreciation for the lives we have been given and the opportunity to give back.
Today is Emily’s birthday and she is 27 and all morning with that family I could not help but think how blessed I am to have raised my children to be adults and still get to enjoy them. They are truly gifts from God.

Sept. 20-21, 2009

September 20 and 21, 2009

Sunday George has us on the road again to visit another church. This one is called Yala.
This was their last Sunday in their place of worship because the government needs the whole building now. So we took a picture and they will begin their search for a new place to meet.

John preached as they usually want the guests to speak and he is getting good at going for an hour or more. He said only one person went to sleep and I said that was your wife. We had a good laugh on that one. People will sit as long as you will talk. Then they serve you lunch as appreciation and asked if there was more teaching. We said no more today.

We arrive home around 4:00 pm. Sundays are long days when we travel. It seems of late we are on the road more than we are here in Kisumu. This week we will go out about two and a half hour drive.

Prayer for rain is working here. We have had some amazing rains. The predictions are that October will be even wetter. When it rains hard the electricity and water go out.
It can be very exciting and dark!!!

Monday night we had a storm like we haven’t seen here before and it uprooted a huge tree in our compound. Missed our power lines by a few feet we couldn’t believe it because the rain and wind were so loud we didn’t even know it had fallen until morning.


We have leaks in our roof and when it rains we get out the buckets. But as we got our buckets in place we couldn’t help but think of all that have houses falling down and holes in their roofs. We are so fortunate.

Weather in Kenya is changing just like we talk about in the states. People say this weather is not the usual for this time of year so it will be interesting to see what happens.

MORE ON SEPTEMBER 19

Also very important day at Ring Road School was Grades 1-4 got new sports day uniforms. I mean brand new clothes!!! Very exciting for the children as you can see by there faces.



AND A FEW VERY LUCKY ONES GOT “NEW” SHOES AND SOCKS



GREAT THINGS ARE HAPPENING AT Ring Road as you can see. Thanks to all who sponsor children and who sponsor us here in Kenya. As you can see the needs are great and we serve a God who is the provider of all we need.

September 19, 2009

Kitchen staff and those who helped with tea and lunch for the ladies and TEA TIME.

September 19, 2009

The second monthly Ladies Bible Study at Ring Road. We are growing and very excited.
Last month the focus was on married women and this month on single and widows.
The main point always being live for Christ and be an example in all you do.

In 2010 we will move the Ladies Bible Study to surrounding communities so that all can come and experience it and share in the preparations. Grace, Grace, Mary and Steven have to prepare the food for the school as well as the ladies and sometimes it would be nice for them to be the visitors.

We had more than 50 women this time which we feel very blessed to have such a good attendance.