TEAM WORK

  THE GOSPEL HOUSE



David in front of his old house

What, you may ask, is a gospel house?  Well, our team helped build one.  We have shown you house-building photos before, but this is a truly unique story.  To begin with, it was for a man - a first for us.  The leadership team of Restoration  Community Church (RCC) makes the decisions regarding who qualifies for a house; that relieves us of the responsibility.  The man they chose, David, is an older man who is a bachelor.  He lived in a tiny one-room mud house  with a very leaky straw roof, on a compound with some male relatives, but they didn't want him there.  He has been a social outcast for many years.  Why?  Because he was mentally unstable.  Through circumstances he began to come to RCC.  He heard and understood the Gospel Message of coming into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  He accepted that as the truth for his own life and not only did he experience a change of heart, but his mind was restored.  He became rational.  Because of his very poor living conditions,his age,  his social status,  and the radical change in his life, the decision was made to build him a house as a testimony to his neighbours and neighbourhood area, of the effect of his new life and relationships.  He was able to get a piece of land not too far from the compound where he stayed, and the team from Florida and his cell group (home group) went there to build his house.  It is a good sized two-room house and the view overlooks a great valley of beautiful bush and forestry.  It is so peaceful and beautiful there!  Of course the women cooked a couple of great meals so that the workers would be sustained and also, the last one - a chicken stew - being a closing celebration. At the end of the day, Pastor Rebecca of the team was asked to bless the house and David. Then he was asked if he had anything to say.  The man spoke so clearly and articulately!  He thanked everyone involved and praised God for His goodness to him.  One of the pastors told Marty that there would be women lining up at his door hoping the man would marry one of them just so they could have such a good house!  In the past no woman would have anything to do with him because of his mental state.

                                           

The male relatives from his compound sat in chairs the whole day watching the house-building from the beginning and were totally amazed that people would come together like that, build a habitable house in one day, and just give it to the man. That is what has  the whole community  amazed  as well.  You can see his relatives and other onlookers in the background of the above photo.   Also,the onlookers and the locals who had come together to build the house were  rather taken aback that the team - mzungu (white) foreigners - were hunting and carrying rocks to the site and were in the mud up to their ankles (and elbows) helping to fill in the walls.  One of the pastors said he overheard one of the local  women chastising other women there that if the wazungu (plural for mzungu) could haul rocks and fill the walls then they should be doing as much.  So there you have it - that is why people are saying "That house is the Gospel". 

A WHOLE NEW WAY OF THINKING

Three of our team members went into two of the secondary (high) schools in the village to talk with the students about what they do back in the USA.  Josh is a policeman - the kids loved that and had many, many very good questions for him. Two interesting ones, that gave him pause to think,  were:  What type of legacy do you want to leave to your children, and how do you handle mob justice in the United States?   Don, is a senior, retired engineer from an electricity utility.  He is married to a woman from Thailand, spends much time there and does a lot of work with children in that country.  Theschool  kids were really interested in the photos he had of children and his family in Thailand, and stories about the culture.  Natalie is an airline pilot.  All three spoke so well, sharing their experiences and photos.  Although these are village schools, they are turning out university-level students.  We were impressed at the questions these youngsters asked; it made it clear that they are not just learning academics, but are being taught to think as well.  When Natalie got up to speak she had on a hooded sweater.  She took it off and revealed underneath, her pilot's uniform.  Well - the reaction, especially from the girls, was really great when she told them what she does for a living.  It is common for kids to have aspirations to be doctors, lawyers or even teachers.  But the very thought of being a female airline pilot was nowhere in their paradigm.  Now, you can be assured, there are many girls in that village whose desire for education has increased and who will aspire to become airline pilots.  Not only were the children challenged, but so, indeed, were the speakers.  It was a good day!

FOLLOW UP FROM MEDICAL CLINIC
One infant that we sent to hospital directly from the clinic was in serious danger of perishing.  She was put on life support and, thankfully, responded.  The baby had to stay in hospital until a few days ago, but it is now home and well. 

THIRTY-FIVE NEW DRESSES

The church in Florida that sent the team, Venetian Bay United Methodist Church (V-Bay UMC) was wholly involved in the mission, and many provided finances for the mission, and some, specific items.  Money was provided to make new dresses for 35 destitute widows.  Destitute is a relative term out here.  However, a widow qualifies as "destitute" if she is past child-bearing age, has no source of income, has no children who can take care of her, and is of good reputation in the community.  RCC has identified 35 - within the church,  and the general community with the help of the chief.  Marty and Sarah - a tayloress from RCC - went shopping in Kisumu, the nearest city, for fabric for 35 women.  Then Sarah took the fabric to her shop - El Shadai Enterprises - and with list of widows in hand, systematically called each lady in to her shop, took their individual measurements, showed them the fabric so that they could choose the one they wanted, and then showed them various styles/patterns to choose from to have their dresses custom made.  The really older ones chose conservative one-piece styles, whereas some of the ones not as old chose more contemporary two-piece dresses. There are no two dresses alike.  We weren't able to give them all out in one day, but we have photos of some of them holding their dresses up to themselves.  How sweet it was.

Blessings and Peace to Each of You.

John and Marty

 

THE MEDICAL MISSION

THE TEAM ARRIVES  

Our Josh Playing with Kids During Medical Clinic



Josh Miller was the first team member to arrive.  He came ahead of the others and we got him from the airport here in Kisumu on the 13th of June.  Marty took him aorund town to show him "the sights".  (Actually, he and Marty were "the sights", as he is 6'5" and pretty big.  She led the trek and is considerably smaller at 5' 5 1/2" - or thereabouts.) Wherever they went people stared and many wanted to talk with him.  One large man in thenative market was chatting with him and comparing size and weight, etc.  Marty suggested Josh show him his shoes - size 16 EEEE.  He quickly took one off and showed the guy, who immediately conceded the camparison game.  He was duly impressed.  On the next day we put Josh to work spackling cracks in the farmworker's house.  That was a new experience for him, the first of many on the trip.  The rest of the team, except Natalie,  arrived on Saturday, June 16 and hit the ground running.  We allowed them to "rest" at their accommodations on that evening, and from then it was almost non stop for the entire trip.  Natalie was due to arrive on Sunday morning, shortly after church started.  So the team went into Kadawa with John while Marty stayed in Kisumu to pick Natalie.  Notice "pick"!  Here no one or no thing is picked up, it is always "picked".  Marty picked Natalie in a cab driven by our friend Robert, put the luggage in the boot (trunk), and off they went to Kadawa, arriving just as the team had gone front to introduce themselves.  Well - that was a Grand Entrance.  The only thing missing was the red carpet as she went down the aisle to the front, being cheered and applauded the entire way.  No room for being shy or wanting to stay out of the limelight!!!  She took it like a pro and was properly introduce - again to much clapping and cheering!

YOU SAVED LIVES

Examining Room Behind the Curtains


The medical camp began early the next morning (more or less - remember we are in Kenya where most things don't start on time and never without a hiccup or two -- or three).  Upon arrival at the site - which was the Restoration Community Church (RCC) - there were already many people on the porch waiting to be seen.   They were registered outside by local folks, who could get all of the demographics correct, and then went in to the various stations.  First they went to the nutritionist who screened them for various nutritionally related issues, including malnutrition.  Then they went on to triage, where their vital signs and a general evaluation were done by some nurses, then on to see the doctors.  An "examining room" was set up in one corner using the church curtains for privacy, a long table and a mattress.  The pharmacy was set up - lots of medication.  In the three days we treated at least 800 patients, and ran out of some medicines. 



We had others left over and by concensus contributed it to a trusted local charity that does monthly medical camps.  We will have better knowledge of medical supplies for our next clinic.  We had staff from a local hospital in Kisumu; 2 doctors, 2 nurses, a nutritionist and 2 pharmacists..  The last station, probably the most important, was a space sectioned off for prayer.  After treatment every patient who wanted it (most did) was prayed for by leaders in the church. Then outside was a tent with staff that did HIV/AIDS counselling and screening. 

From meeting with the local medical staff prior to the clinic we found out that the hospital had no equipment to send with them. We notified the team in America and they were able to bring some top-of-the-line stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs and two otoscopes for examining ears, all of which were given to the medical staff.  You would have thought it was Christmas by the way they reacted. Most of the items were donated by interested folk who were excited to help.

There were some very sick children, many with ear infections, that were helped immediately by antibiotics and other meds.  These infections, if left untreated, would have resulted in permanent deafness.  Others had malnutrition, some so serious that we sped them to the hospital right from clinic.  One very nearly died and was in hospital for several days. A young pregnant woman came in suffering seriously from pre-eclampsia.  She was waiting to go into labour any time.  Because she was so swollen in her face, feet and hands she came to the clinic.  She was taken immediately to the hospital in Kisumu. Sadly the baby had died - had been dead for quite some time; it was actually decomposing.  Had she not come to the clinic she herself would surely have died.  The baby was delivered and she was treated, remaining in hospital for several days.  She has been discharged, with antibiotics and is recovering.  Although she lost her baby she is very happy to have been saved from certain death and made well.

Some of the babies and toddlers were terrified by the white people and many really cried when being examined; unusual for a Kenyan child.  It wasn't uncommon for a child to bring in its younger sibling for treatment.  That child saw its sibling through the whole process, including getting the medication and instructions on how it was to be administered.  The pharmacists were very careful to make sure each patient or caretaker understood how to administrer the medication.





On left, a child bringing in its sick sibling. 

                        On the right, notice the hair on the baby is redish - an indication it is malnourished.                

                

IT IS NO EXAGGERATION TO SAY THAT YOUR GENEROSITY SAVED MANY LIVES THROUGH THE MEDICAL CLINIC.  TRULY, SOME ON THE VERY DAY THEY CAME!THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!

Praying for a Child and His Mother

There you have our first, much-delayed, blog from Kenya this year.  So much has taken place over the last three weeks that we will be writing for a long time. The team left on June the 27th.; it is now the 29th and we are trying to rest up a bit and also catch up on administrative things and correspondence.  Marty had her birthday on the 14th of June and received sooo many greetings on Face Book, which promptly became unobtainable until the 28th, so she is desperately trying to acknowledge the lovely and thoughtful wishes.  As always, the internet is spastic, and for awhile a transformer was down in the city making us without power almost every night, sometimes in the day for hours and once all day.  But, once again, we think of David Livingstone and his ilk who had no means of regular communication - sometimes for years.  Puts it in perspective, doesn't it?


With Love and God's Richest Blessings,


John and Marty



JOEL'S TESTIMONY AND LESO

JOEL

Joel is a lovely, great bear of a man who helps us with the ministry in the Village of Kadawa, Western Kenya.   He is part of the leadership team at Restoration Community Church (RCC) where he is one of the Cell-group Coordinators.  Among other things in which he is involved, he also plays a valuable role in the Widows Farm, including regular distribution of food and water to destitute widows .  We love this man and are witnesses to his testimony.

Joel's Testimony

Joel & John

Joel Otieno was born in Kadawa. He is married to Margaret and they have 8 children. Before he became a Christian he was a drunkard and spent most of the money he earned as a matatu (14-seat public transportation) conductor on alcohol.  As a result, his family could not afford clothes and food, nor was there any money for the children to go to school.  His health suffered - including vomiting and Typhoid.

During bad times his sisters, who had become Christians and were part of RCC, would visit him and testify about their faith. His interest grew in what was happening in this new church - RCC.  One Sunday he decided to visit the church and heard the pastor, Hesbone, say that whoever wants to can come into a personal relationship with Jesus and be saved; he found himself going forward to the altar.  He gave his life to Jesus.

Two days later he had a vision while sleeping. He saw angels dressed in white who told him to "Kneel down and cry for Jesus". He started crying , and then he realized the angels were giving him a bible and they said to him “Go out and preach the gospel”.

Shortly afterwards he began preaching to the unsaved and visiting people in their homes.

Joel & John at a food distribution!

Since becoming a Christian he does not now waste money.  His wife has peace and now has money to buy clothes and food, and to send the children to school. The whole family go to RCC.  Also he is now fit and healthy.

Joel's Leso
In 2010 a group of ladies, mostly widows, was working on the farm for several days - harrowing, fertilizing and planting maize on the Widows Farm.  They were being supervised by Joel.  It was a new experience for many in that the women were doing this for destitute widows in the church and community as volunteers. No pay! John was so proud of these ladies and at the end of one day he was praising them and Joel for their selfless service to the destitute widows.  A bit of cultural information:  women in Kenya wear a piece of fabric wrapped around themselves while they work.  It acts something like an apron or a house dress.  It is also used to carry ones baby on their back, it is used to wrap parcels to carry on ones head, it is used to sit on, it can be a handkerchief - it has many, many uses.  They are very colorful, with various patterns, and always have a Swahili proverb printed on the bottom.  They are about 3 feet (1 meter) by 6 feet (2 meters).  You will see why this bit of information is being added at this point.  OUR TRANSLATOR HAD NEVER DONE SO FOR US BEFORE and, unknown to us, was having trouble with John's British accent.  One thing that we have clearly learned over the years is that one cannot make jokes in a foreign culture.  It just doesn't work and we know it.  However, John couldn't help himself.  He told the ladies that he was also so proud of Joel that he was going to get him a leso.  The translator passed that info on to the ladies upon which they began to laugh and give off their typical victory cry.  Marty mentioned to John that his joke went over really well.  He was very pleased.

After some more conversation the translator told us that the women wanted to know when they were getting their lesos.  Marty asked her to repeat what she said.  She then said that since John had said he was going to get them all a leso, they wanted to know when they would receive them.  After some discreet, delicate inquiry we found that when John said "I am going to get Joel a leso", the translator thought he said " I am going to get you all a leso". TA leso is strictly a feminine item and a man just wouldn't wear one, so there was no way she could have thought he said Joel.  Marty quickly explained the dilemma to John and we just as quickly decided to buy lesos for every one of them, including Joel's wife (she wasn't there).  So, no one except Sara - a wonderful helper and our usual translator - ever knew about the issue.  Sara had to know because she had to take Marty to market to try to find 50 YES 50 - lesos so that she could cut and hem them (she is a seamstress) for distribution by Sunday (4 days later).  Fortunately, because of buying so many we were able to get a discount; however, it still cost us $100 for that little joke!

Katherine in a leso

We trust you have enjoyed learning about our friend Joel.  God's Love and Grace are so very amazing.  

We will be returning to Kenya in late May and will continue to keep you informed of our ongoing saga with these wonderful people that we have learned to love so much.  It is easy to love them - because they love us.

Please receive our blessings and love to you all!

John & Marty

BACK TO AFRICA AND BACK

NEW HOUSE FOR SYPROSE AND MARTIN

Last year, in September, we visited the home of Syprose and Martin.  They are a very old couple.  We had met Martin when building a house for a widow in the area where he lives.  One day we went to visit the "Samaria" cell group to minister.  When we were there the leader took us to a house where we met a bedridden woman.  The house was just TERRIBLE - falling down around her.  It turned out to be Martin's house and the woman was his wife.  (This old gentleman had been with us at the other house building, working so very hard to help build a new house for a destitute widow.  He never told us of his own living conditions.  It was his cell leader who told us later when we went to see his house.)  We have seen really bad houses, but this one had to be the worse.  The money we receive from various supporters for house-building is restricted to houses for widows - so there was no way that we could use those funds for Syprose and Martin.  However - Marty has a fund from her personal income that is for women and girls.  Well - Syprose is a woman, she needed a new house.  

These are photos of the old house from inside and out.  You can imagine what happened when it rained.

As an aside; when we got to the house to visit, we found that Syprose had a bed - if one could call it that - with no real mattress.  The bed and bedding were also was just terrible.  Our friend Anna was with us and asked if she could buy Syprose a mattress.  No problem there!  When we bought mattresses for the destitute widows, we added one extra from Anna.  

Here are photos of the new house.  As it was being built a crowd gathered to watch, knowing Syprose and Martin's circumstances, and in disbelief that this was really happening.  Several were saying "It must be God".  As a result of this house and mattress six have joined the church, three have received Christ as their Saviour, and several more want to start attending church.  They are amazed at God's love and care for their neighbours.  When John left, the door hadn't been put on yet.  The house must sit for while and cure before the walls are finished with a smooth mud "plaster".  Syprose came off her sick bed for this photo, and she has put on her best dress for the housebuilding occasion.

Inside of the new house there are always some holes left for the woman of the house to fill with mud herself - it's a custom that enables the woman to take ownership in her new house.  In the case of old people, only a few spaces are left.  For younger women a whole wall would be left unfilled.  Because there are no children here the house is only two small rooms, but it is a bit larger than the one in which they previously lived.  

Here you see people singing and praising God for the new house. Martin is the third person from the left.    

                                 

There is much more news to report, but we are attempting to  keep the blog shorter so that there isn't an overload of information.

We will update you with more exciting news in a few weeks.

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• Due to excess rain, which made it not possible to plow at the Widows Farm (or at the Church fields), there was no crop in December.  Please pray that the fields will be plowed and the next crop planted in March. 
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• We have formed a team for a medical mission to Kenya in June.  We are in the process of meeting regularly to plan and prepared ourselves.  Currently there are 7 committed to going to work with us.  Please pray for all details to come together - bonding of the team, finances, passports, shots, medicines to use in the clinics, medical staff, and transportation.
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• We will be in Pennsylvania in March for the annual DOVE Christian Fellowship International Leadership Conference.        
• Please pray for traveling safety                      
• We will be ministering in several places; please pray for us to be sensitive to what Holy Spirit wants us to say and do.                                                                                                    

                             

                                                                                   Blessings and Much Love, 
                                                                                                       John and Marty

MEDICAL NEEDS - AMONGST THE ORPHANS AND ADULTS AND HOW WE ARE MEETING SOME OF THOSE NEEDS

MEDICAL NEEDS AMONGST THE ORPHANS   

Christine

Thanks to generous gifts we have been able to provide medical treatment for many children and adults.  The Saturday Orphans gathering has disclosed additional need for these children to get to the hospital clinic for treatment.  Here are Christine and Lydia.  Christine has a serious chest infection.  Violet is arranging for her hospitalization.  Lydia has an unknown disease attacking her legs; at last report Violet was still trying to find a doctor who could treat her.  She requires treatment by a dermatologist and the ones that can treat her are about 200 miles away.  These girls are 10 and 11 years old.      

We meet medical needs for many children and, not all of whom are orphans.  One little boy, not an orphan, has been having seizures.  Violet was able to get him to the hospital, and through our medical fund he is receiving medication that has brought his seizures to a halt.  Imagine that!  

Here is a prayer point that you might consider: an additional factor that must be dealt with when working with villagers is deep-set cultural mores and superstitions, especially among the older people.  These sometimes impede getting things done as quickly as they should be done.  Things rarely move quickly in Kenya!

Lydia's Legs

SOME MEDICAL SITUATIONS AMONGS THE ADULTS

We told you about Mariko a couple of newsletter ago.  He hadn't been feeling well for some time and when we heard of his situation we asked that he be taken to the hospital clinic in Kisumu.  He has been diagnosed with prostate cancer and is now being treated.  We told him we would like his photo, so he met us at the church one afternoon for a "photo op".  He put on his best clothes and even had his Mzee hat with him.  An older man is called an mzee (mmm zay).  When a man reaches that stage in life he begins to wear a broad-brimmed hat - usually, but not always, black.  Older people are given special respect in the Luo culture.  BTW, John is an mzee!  We just received an update on Mariko.  He is receiving medication/treatment, in fact recently had another treatment on 12-10.  The decision has been made to perform surgery; however the doctors in the Public Hospitals have gone on strike and to have him operated on privately would double the cost of surgery.  Surgery would be approximately 40,000 KES ($400/291 GBP) in public hospital - 80,000 ($800/576 GBP) in a private facility.  Paying double the cost would deprive others of medical treatment.  Therefore the decision has been made there in Kenya to continue with his medication until the strike is over and then have surgery.

Another mzee in the RCC daughter church in Korwenje has a chronic infection in one of his legs.  We met him at one of the house building events.  His leg was wrapped and when we questioned it we found that he has an open wound that has been that way for a very long time.  Arrangements were bing made for him to get to the hospital as well.  That is a very complicated procedure - getting folks to the hospital; especially from that far away.  Korwenje is up in the mountain area and very, very remote.  There is also some resistance from his family to allow him to be treated.  So, the leaders of the church in Korwenje are patiently encouraging everyone involved in the situation.

We can also report that 13 people have had cataract surgery as a result of the eye clinics held in September.

Without the medical fund that friends and other interested people have made possible, these children and adults would go untreated and continue to suffer. Although we can reach only a relative few, their lives are being changed and, in some instances their lives are being saved.

US contributions can be sent to:  DCF Lebanon, P.O. Box 37, Lebanon, PA 17042  (a tax receipt will be sent to you.)

UK contributions can be sent to:  Emmanuel Christian Centre, Neatherstowe, Lichfield, Staffs  WS13 6TS

Please note how you want the funds to be used.  You can indicate "African Projects" if you just want to have it used in general, or you can be specific; e.g., Orphan Medical Fund, Eye Clinics, Goats, John and Marty Personal Support, etc.

We Thank and Bless Each one of You!

WE WISH YOU A VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS                     AND

A HAPPY, PEACEFUL, PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!

John and Marty