THE MEDICAL FUND

In 2012 because of your generosity we were able to hold a 3-day medical clinic in Kadawa. Approximately 800 people were helped from Kadawa and other communities; there were several lives saved - literally!  Out of that initial event a medical fund has been established. Periodically we are able to deposit funds into that account for ongoing needs.  Violet Odindo, who with her husband Hesbone oversees Restoration Community Church in Kadawa and the daughter churches, administers the fund for us.  She is able to determine first-hand the needs for application of the fund and organizes the required treatments.  She is dedicated and committed to the lives of the members of the church and tirelessly ministers to their needs, spirit, soul and body. We want to give you a current update on recent use of that fund.

Mariko's Surgery and Recovery

We reported that thanks to your support our medical fund was able to pay for Mariko's prostate cancer surgery.  It took a long time for it to happen, for his situation was difficult and there was no hospital that would do it.  A few weeks ago he finally had the operation.  Unfortunately, complications set in that required extra measures and a longer stay in the hospital.  This caused the procedure to cost much more than it would have.  The procedure was expensive by Kenyan standards - over $600 (£400).  Can anyone imagine such surgery costing that much in the US or UK?  

Mariko in his finest at church for the occasion!

He came to church three weeks ago to tell everyone of his surgery and gave praise to God for it, and for his healing.  He is an older, well respected gentleman  who contributes a great deal of time and effort to the operation of the church.  They were happy to hear his encouraging story.

Recently we went to his home to interview him personally to ask him to tell us his story in his own words.

Mariko at home!

While trying to find a hospital that would do his surgery he grew steadily worse.  He was finally to the place where whenever he tried to pass his urine the pain was so bad that he would cry.  Ultimately he was in nearly continual severe pain . After tests at two local hospitals and a long search, Violet  found a hospital at some distance from Kisumu that would take care of him. He was admitted and the surgery done, but somehow the drain that was inserted in him malfunctioned and the blood and fluids backed up. It wasn't realized until his stomach was distended. Apparently he was in serious trouble and in danger of dying. His wife, who was able to stay there with him, called Violet & Hesbone and they traveled to pray with her and Mariko.   He told us that the doctors said that they knew he was a Godly man of prayer and that he couldn't die - God wouldn't let him. He required further surgery and other procedures to drain him and cleanse his system of the toxic fluids. As a result he had an extended hospital stay and the healing process was uncharacteristically longer.  He told us a lot of things about "pipes" going in and coming out of him and two tins of blood being drained (that would be 4.5 kilograms - 10 U.S. pints) and 130 liters of "water" being "piped" in to wash him out.  Some of you who have a medical background can probably read between the lines here and sort out the technicalities of what happened to Mariko and the procedures taken. All of this information was from an old man with little education or experience outside of his locality, and translated from Dholuo to English by a young Luo man.  Sometimes things get lost in the translation.  But we wanted to pass it on to you in his words (more or less).



He is looking very well and has recovered nearly entirely.  By profession he is a well digger. He literally sits on the ground and digs a well around himself by hand.  But doctors have told him he can't do that any more.  So he is trying to find a new means of making a living.  (He's pretty old, but determined to work.)  

He asked us more than once to please give his thanks to the persons who made it possible for him to have the surgery.  We can surely attest to the gratefulness of this old gentleman! So, dear friends, thank you, thank you, thank you from Mariko!

And let us say this: Mariko would have perished of prostate cancer, most likely in agony, had it not been for the availability of the hospital fund you have made possible.

Mildred's Illness and Recovery
The same day we visited Mariko we visited his neighbour (that's a relative term in the village) Mildred who also received treatment recently through the medical fund.  On a Friday She began to have a headache on the right side of her forehead. It persisted all one day.  The next day her forehead began to swell and the headache persisted.   She went to a clinic in the village.  They gave her some over-the-counter pain-relief medication.  She took them for a day or two, without any effect.

 By Sunday the the swelling (blisters) increased, the headache was worse and her eye became swollen shut.  She went back to the clinic, who gave her some other local medication. She took it according to instructions, but by Monday the headache was extreme and her eye protruding.  On Tuesday Mildred called Violet to ask if she could help her. Violet arranged for Mildred to go to a hospital in Kisumu, where she was diagnosed with herpes zoster (shingles).  She was given strong antibiotics.  Further medication was prescribed and purchased by Violet.  Mildred is still taking meds, but is nearly at the end of the course.  She has been making a gradual recovery; the blisters are gone and the swelling is gone.  She has occasional, slight headaches and still doesn't see clearly out of the right eye, but we are told that these will clear up.


MANY, MANY, BOUNTIFUL BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

OUR FIRST DAYS IN KISUMU/KADAWA

DROUGHT AND FAMINE

There has been a real lack of rain and as a result many crops have failed, which means famine will follow, along with a major rise in the cost of the food that the villagers eat; such as, maize, beans, kale and rice.

WHAT ABOUT THE WIDOWS' FARM?

Johnfred (the overseer) and Charles (one of the farm hands) told us that we will have a "bumper crop" of maize this season.  (What?!!)  The mango trees bore fruit before the drought set and there was an abundance of mangoes to give the widows. Of course, due to the drip irrigation from our well the vegetable patch has done fine. Peter and Charles report some of the sweet potatoes were the size of their heads. WOW!! (Sorry no photos - Johnfred's camera broke.)

Peter next to one of the large ones!

The bananas have done exceedingly well also; Peter and Charles have been in competition to see whose section looks the best!  Even the youngest ones are bearing. New rice beds have been added and all of the new seedlings are thriving. We haven't been able to figure that out yet, because we can't water them from the well - not enough water for that!  

SHOWERS OF BLESSINGS!

Look at those wonderful storm clouds!!

In the vill-age, it is said that when a visitor comes and it rains they are bringing a blessing! We have heard that since we started coming in 2006.  Well, on Wednesday night we decided to go to the farm on Thursday to check things out and that night there was a major downpour and it rained sporadically after that into Thursday.  When we arrived Charles and Peter came running to us (and we to them) greeting each other and they overwhelmed with joy saying we had brought the blessing with us!  

The maize is indeed spectacular.  It exceeds that of our neighbours' in colour and height.

 Of course, we fertilize and perhaps they don't.  But some of the stalks actually have THREE ears, and many have two.  We are stunned and amazed (amaized?) at God's blessings on this little patch of land.  Additionally, Johnfred had another 1/2 acre plowed and put maize in there.  

NEXT NEWSLETTER

We will try to keep them shorter and more frequent so that you don't have so much to consume with all the other information and social media in today's society.

Please continue to pray for us and the projects here in Kadawa and the surrounding area!

BLESSINGS, GRACE, PEACE and REST!!!

CANADIAN ADVENTURE

MARTY TO CANADA TO TEACH AT PROPHETIC CONFERENCE

The first weekend in April had Marty and her companion Teri Civitarese flying to Toronto for a Prophetic Conference with DOVE Canada.  On Saturday, Marty taught along with Brian Sauder on how to hear from God personally, and for the purpose of operating in the Gifts of the Holy Spirit for the encouragement, strengthening and comfort of the church!  Teri's valuable role was that of an intercessor for all involved and for the conference as a whole.  It was a really good conference, attended by folks from several parts of Ontario. We believe it was very profitable for all involved - including Brian, Teri and Marty.  We all had a great time!

On Sunday Marty spoke and ministered at Harvest Family Community Church, the DOVE church in Willow Beach Canada.  What a great day it was.  We recently heard from Lynn Ironside, pastor of that church, that one of the members who asked for prayer for healing of his back that day has had no pain at all since then.  He is totally healed!  Waaa Hooo!

Harvest is situated along a very large lake and even in April it was still frozen enough that people were still out on it fishing through holes in the ice, sledding, and various other ice-involved activities.  The ice was beginning to thaw along the edges of the lake, but that wasn't any hindrance to lots of folks out there.

Marty only had her iPhone and this was the only half0decent photo.  Hard to see because the folks were out so far, but the people were sledding (on the left) and others doing other stuff out there.

SPECIAL TREATS!!
One of the joys of world travel is special culinary treats in various countries.  For instance, in England we look forward to bacon butties (an English bacon sandwich made on a big soft bun) and fish and chips; in Italy it is gellati; in Greece in is Greek Yogurt with Greek Honey (yummmm); in Kenya it is sukuma wiki and chapatis; but in Canada it is Tim Horton's coffee and Butter Tarts.  Both of which we had!  What a treat!!

WE ARE OFF TO KENYA ON MAY 30!  PLEASE PRAY!!

BLESS,             John & Marty

HOSPITAL FUND REPORT AND THE DREADED PAINT CATASTROPHE!!

HOSPITAL FUND REPORT

We administer two hospital funds.  One of them is a partially self-sustained one which is made possible from money that the cash crops on the farm raise and an occasional subsidy from us. This fund is used for medical transportation and minor treatment for the destitute widows.

Another fund, made available through funds donated to the ministry,  provides general medical care and hospitalization; the recipients are decided upon by the leadership of Restoration Community Church (RCC).

Recently Violet gave us an update on the use of that fund; it follows.

    -  Medication for a school girl

    -  Admission and on-going inpatient care for an 18 month old baby with

       tuberculosis.    

    -  A twelve-year-old (one of Saturday's orphans) taken to hospital.

    -  Provision of a free cervical cancer testing in the village clinic. (Several 

       women from the church went for the testing.  One tested positive and is          

       being sent into the city for follow up.)

    The total expenditure for these services was: 24,200 KES ($285, £182). 

    Amazing isn't it?

PAINT CATASTROPHE

Traditional Ladder

A while back Marty said she would tell you of her dire experience while painting the rooms in the farmworker's house.  Here it is!

She had a BRAND NEW can of paint, John had bought her a real ladder; aluminum (aluminium) with steps and a shelf to hold the paint and brushes, and she was ready to go.(Sorry no photos of new ladder.)  It is unheard of for a woman to paint; they are impressed and amazed that Marty "knows how" to do it.  Folks are more or less accustomed to her coveralls and red bandana by now.  That day she had a shadow.  Johnfred's son, Shem, was following her around and sticking to her like glue. He is learning English, but is a bit shy and wouldn't speak - in English or Luo or Kiswahili.  Marty would talk to him, give him tasks to do or he would follow her around as she had to do various things in connection with the job. He understood, but he just wouldn't talk. It was good experience for him to listen to a mzungu (white person) speaking English.

After the Cleanup

Well, she got a bit lazy.  Therein lay the root of the problem!  She climbed down to move the ladder, but didn't take the paint off the top.  The vibration of the move caused the WHOLE CAN OF PAINT to move to the edge and tip over - all over Marty, her new sneakers (trainers), the ladder, floor and up the walls.  She let out a scream; all the men came running thinking she had fallen off the ladder; Shem jumped up and everyone tried to console her and begin the clean up. She chased the men out, took off her ruined shoes, and began to try to clean up and save as much paint as possible.  A can of spilled paint on a concrete floor is very, very slippery.  So as she was cleaning up she began to skate about a bit to entertain Shem.  By his expression it was clear that the lad was quite bemused over this woman and her antics.  He kept trying to help and she kept trying to stop him, for she knew he would get paint on his school clothes, etc.  He wouldn't listen, and of course got paint on himself.

Headed Out to Wash Feet

White Footprints All the Way to the Water Tank

A couple of days later she spoke with his father about the incident.  Apparently when he got home he wasn't so quiet about the whole thing.  He had the family in stitches and horror telling them of the incident and how he saw the can getting ready to fall.  They all jumped on him and asked him why on earth didn't he tell her, and the poor little guy said "I wanted to, but I couldn't remember the words in English".  

So goes life in Kadawa and some of the things that make it funny, fun and memorable.  Shem will remember it for the rest of his life, and Marty wasn't in trouble for letting him get paint on himself.

Love, John and Marty

JANUARY IN KADAWA

JOHN'S VISIT TO KADAWA IN JANUARY

It has become a necessity for John to take management trips to Kenya in January of each year.  It's essential in order to keep the various projects on track.  He accomplished much in a short time this year, but it surely tired him out.  At the end of each day he was glad to have a meal and rest.  One night he was asleep at 8 PM and didn't wake up until after 6 the next morning.

DISTRIBUTION OF SAMARITAN FOOD PARCELS

Christmas is not celebrated in the village like we do in the West.  There is no money for gifts. The normal way of celebrating Christ's birth amongst the church members is to gather together for a church service and have a large communal meal - paid for by the church.  

We were given some sponsorship money to use to benefit the widows for Christmas and the decision was made to give them food parcels.  John and Johnfred - our Widows' Farm manager - went into the city and purchased the items.  We were able to bless 23 widows with 1 kilogram of sugar, a large bag of salt, a large bag of tea leaves and 3 bars of soap (used for laundry and washing dishes).  These are all luxury items for these ladies; things that are, financially, very difficult for them to purchase.  Prisca (an area cell leader) and John went to visit Magdeline Awiti, an old house-bound widow, in her home to distribute a parcel.  John happened to asked Prisca how valuable these gifts would be.  She said Magdeline would not have purchased tea for a long time and it would have been many months since she had a drink of hot tea. These items were an exceptional Christmas gift for the widows.

CREDIT UNION

We were given a sum of money to be invested toward micro-finance businesses.  Rather than use that money to start new businesses we have started a credit union with the primary purpose of lending money, at a low rate of interest, to members with established micro-finance businesses to enable them to increase their businesses.  Some individual loans have been given out.  When John was there in January he was able to see first-hand how this has benefited Sara, one of the women who received a loan.  She is a tailoress.  January is the season for making school uniforms and she was able to buy bolts of fabric in bulk which enabled her to make many uniforms, benefitting her business greatly.

The credit union is also giving out "group loans" to members of.  A group of 10 members can apply for a group loan and use part of it individually to benefit their businesses. We have trained them in this procedure, called "table banking".  Under specific terms, the entire group is responsible to pay back the loan.

THE WIDOWS' FARM

Rice

Rice Plant Nursery with Paddy Behind It

In September we told you that we were experimenting with growing rice.  Our first venture, supervised by Johnfred - our farm manager - yielded a fabulous 500 pound harvest.

We have now planned to extend this project in a suitable area of the farm. That is really exciting! We don't know anyone in the village who grows rice!  Another crop to feed the widows!!!

The Harvest

Vegetable Irrigation

Sukuma Wiki (Kale)

How exciting for John to actually see the area of vegetables growing under the system installed a few months ago.  The system is running well, using water from the well we dug, which is pumped up to the tower we built and is used to water the veggies systematically.  Kale, spinach and sweet potatoes are flourishing and the destitute widows are receiving a monthly supply.

Spinach

Additionally, some have been sold to provide a hospital fund to help destitute widows if they get sick.  Please note that we also have a general hospital fund for use in emergency by members of the RCC churches, which includes all widows and also orphans.

In the photos you can see the drip lines going along the rows.  You can also pretty much see how large the patch is as it runs all the way to the water tower.

Potential Land Purchase

An adjacent parcel of land to the widows' farm, behind the farm-worker's house and store, has become available.  We have initiated the process to get the exact details of acreage and boundaries from the Land Registry in Nairobi before we enter in to negotiations with the owners.  A good portion of the farm-land has been cultivated and we are looking to future development.  In the picture of the kale, above, you can see the house behind which the land is located.  Also, here is a picture of kids who were shepherding their cows on that land when we had the widows' party last year.  They came to the fence looking in at the festivities.  There was plenty of food left to feed them as well.  Most likely the largest and healthiest meal they had that week.

PAYPAL

Please note that on the right side column of the newsletter there is now a PayPal button by which you are able to make donations on line if you so wish.

MUCH LOVE AND MANY BLESSINGS,

John and Marty