A Posting From Kisumu

A final posting and a couple of pictures before 11 of us start our journey home. Andy and Brad will be going north in Kenya to the Pokot Tribe and Ashley and Elizabeth will remain behind and be part of serving here in Kisumu until the end of April.

The pictures are from the continuing ministries this past week in Kisumu. A favorite activity is coloring pages that go with the story we have just shared. Andy was able to hold his camera over these children on the mat as they were intently coloring. We usually gave each child one crayon and it was amazing to see the colorful pictures as the children would share their different colors with each other.

The last picture for today is of the team that went to a secondary school with the local Choose To Wait teacher for their weekly lesson earlier this week. We led the students in some songs and taught them a couple of new ones too. See if you can find the mzungu in the picture!

It's early (the best time to use the Internet!) and it will be a long day for us. Please remember us as we travel back home and for the team members that remain behind and their time of service in the coming week and months.

Blessings and Thanks to you all!

Thursday updates!

It is late Thursday Afternoon in Kisumu and we haven't posted any updates for a day or so. We (in Kisumu) received the following from those on safari: On Tuesday nine of us left for the Tsavo game park. The landscape was beautiful and we were blessed to see all sorts of wildlife.
Many of us felt guilty enjoying such comfort and plenty, but Darlene said that she was enjoying it all since it was all part of God’s creation made for our enjoyment. I am amazed at the beauty here but my arms are empty and I miss the children that we played with in Kisumu. (Dave)

The pace has slowed down a bit here and we have been able to visit at least one school each day. Yesterday the remaining TC team and four of the five Dutch split into two groups and spent most of the day at one of two nursery schools. It is always a surprise to us when we encounter a little one that takes one look at us and then starts crying and crying - because they have never seen a mzungu (white person)! After a while they will stop and if there is enough time they will even let you shake their hand.....

It has been great to have some time at the secondary schools too. Today we presented the parable of the wise man and the foolish man to a group of students in their 7th and 8th years of school. There were at least 100 students at this particular school and we sat outside in the shade with a cool breeze blowing. The students willingly sang the songs with us, listened to everything we presented and clamoured to shake our hands as we left. We ended with everyone (students too!) singing "My God Is So Big" as fast we could and the laughter from the students was truly a highlight of our day!

The rest of our time is spent relaxing or going to the market or planning for the next school visit. In many ways this time has been one of renewal - in friendships, in purpose, and each of us in our own relationship with God. It is good! Tomorrow is the TC Team's last full day in Kisumu(at least 4 of us with Ashley and Elizabeth staying 3 months). We expect to go to the Remand Center for one final visit.

The time is going so quickly and soon 11 of us will be homeward bound! In addition to Ashley and Elizabeth staying until the end of April, Brad and Andy will spend one more week in Kenya. We have all had a time of reflection, renewing old friendships and creating very special new ones, and time to renew our personal relationships with God. It has been amazing…….. H

One More Picture - For Now!

Here is Team TC - one more time!
Back row: Rebecca, Amy, Becky, Dave, Andy, Nathan, Teresa, Elizabeth, and Ashley. Front Row: Kelly, Caleb, Olivia, Heidi, Brad and Darlene. Do we look like we've spent some time in the sun????

Kisumu Friends

The staff from the Kisumu Office have fast become our very special friends and we wanted to share a picture. From left to right starting with the bottom row:
John, Pastor Martin, Jacob, Mama Desmond (Jacob's wife), Mama Felista, Joshua. Back row - Desmond, George and Mama Joskey (Pastor Martin's wife).
Just another newsy item - Desmond, George and Jacob have white shirts on because - as a special treat - they served us our dinner! Jacob even wore a black bow tie!

These are awesome people and we would ask for you to keep them in your prayers as they are the ones that work very hard and continue Christ's Hope ministries in their respective ways as international volunteers come and go.... H

Team Kisumu

All the smiling faces (and even those not smiling!) are the entire team from Kisumu moments before the safari group departed. We have heard that they arrived safely back in Nairobi and are now taking their safari! The rest of us in Kisumu are working with the Dutch volunteers at the primary and secondary schools. During our first week here the secondary school teachers in the public schools were on strike and we were not able to go with the Choose to Wait instructors to any secondary schools. Fortunately the strike is over and we have now been able to go to three secondary schools in two days!

Last evening we experienced a pretty wild thunderstorm - and as a result - the power went out! Thankfully the power came back on sometime during the night and we are all back-in-action! We will be returning to two primary schools today as we continue to share stories, songs, and other activities with the children.

I can't say enough how amazing it is here and even more - how amazing are the people of Kenya! Thank you all for your prayers and your encouragement. We see answers to those prayers constantly - God is so good!

H

From One Children's House to Another!

After our first trip to Kenya in 2007, the students and teachers from The Children's House Montessori School showed a great interest in our experience. When they learned that we were returning, they wanted to help in some way. It was decided that a new pair of shoes would be provided for each of the 24 children in the Chamah home. During December and early January, a pair of shoes was purchased for each child and many prayers were prayed that all the shoes would fit. In fact, every pair of shoes DID fit and here is the proof! - Brad

The team spent several hours at the Chamah house playing and spending time with the children Saturday afternoon. Most of these children are nieces and nephews that have come to live with Edith and Martin as a result of their parents having passed away. The Chamah's have also taken in other children when needed such as taking several children that had no place to go as a result of the riots last year. Martin is the Director of Christ's Hope Kenya and Edith is a certified Choose To Wait teacher among many other things!

The Dutch Volunteers!

At last! The Dutch volunteers that we all talked about in out previous posting... From left to right: Rogier (in the back), Riejanne, Annelien, Agaath, and Peter.

We would like to ask you all to keep each one of the Dutch volunteers in your prayers. They each came individually and are staying various lengths of time - but are doing wonderful things as part of the Christ's Hope ministry here in Kisumu.