Here is my big brother's write up on our trips over the summer. Very well written!
Naivasha and Nakuru - Kenyan Lakes (Part 1)
Monday, 14 December 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
Forest creatures
Recently Jon P has been fasting and praying about the spiritual side of Turning Point's work in Kibera. It has been quite challenging to watch, not in a watching takeshi's castle sort of way but in a feeling a bit inspired and uncomfortable sort of way. You can read more in depth about this at healingonthestreetsofkibera.blogspot.com yes, you thought my blog name was long.
To top it off our Pastor spoke about fasting this weekend and what its all about, I don't know that I have understood correctly the full dynamics of fasting but to me it seems fasting is about doing something costly to show God you really want Him, you really want what He wants and in the process you find out a little more what that might actually be.
Anyway this week all this seeking God has led to a group of Pastors from Kibera meeting to talk about praying for people around Mashimoni, praying for healing basically. I sat in on this meeting and just felt super humbled. They all talked of how we should go about preparing ourselves, one suggesting we fast and live in the woods for a full week like hungry squirrels. In Kenya people are very used to fasting, they do it a lot, its an important part of the church tradition I guess. In the end it was decided we had work that still needed to be done so the squirrel idea was dropped but it was very challenging to hear how much these guys sacrifice to seek God. We prayed for each other and it was amazing to be prayed for by this Pastor from Kibera, I don't know why, it just was.
During the meeting I remembered something very cheesy that Pastor Martin in India once said to us, that if you want to be a winner for Christ you need to surround yourself with winners. That's ridiculously cheesy and sounds like something a motivational speaker would say but it stuck with me. When you recognise that someone has a true passion for God, someone who is earnestly seeking Him and desperately wanting to see His will done. That's good people. You want to stick with them, learn from them.
I think that is what I saw in those that gathered today, I felt like a grade 1 drummer sitting in a room with Chad Smith, Mitch Mitchell and John Bonham, like I could learn a lot here.
To top it off our Pastor spoke about fasting this weekend and what its all about, I don't know that I have understood correctly the full dynamics of fasting but to me it seems fasting is about doing something costly to show God you really want Him, you really want what He wants and in the process you find out a little more what that might actually be.
Anyway this week all this seeking God has led to a group of Pastors from Kibera meeting to talk about praying for people around Mashimoni, praying for healing basically. I sat in on this meeting and just felt super humbled. They all talked of how we should go about preparing ourselves, one suggesting we fast and live in the woods for a full week like hungry squirrels. In Kenya people are very used to fasting, they do it a lot, its an important part of the church tradition I guess. In the end it was decided we had work that still needed to be done so the squirrel idea was dropped but it was very challenging to hear how much these guys sacrifice to seek God. We prayed for each other and it was amazing to be prayed for by this Pastor from Kibera, I don't know why, it just was.
During the meeting I remembered something very cheesy that Pastor Martin in India once said to us, that if you want to be a winner for Christ you need to surround yourself with winners. That's ridiculously cheesy and sounds like something a motivational speaker would say but it stuck with me. When you recognise that someone has a true passion for God, someone who is earnestly seeking Him and desperately wanting to see His will done. That's good people. You want to stick with them, learn from them.
I think that is what I saw in those that gathered today, I felt like a grade 1 drummer sitting in a room with Chad Smith, Mitch Mitchell and John Bonham, like I could learn a lot here.
Monday, 16 November 2009
Shoot the Rabbit
The latest news from E3 (that's our apartment) is we've got a baby rabbit, her name is shoot. She fits in the palm of your hand. When she cleans her face, you want to cry. We have made her a little hutch out on the balcony and when we work at home she snuggles up against Jo's laptop where is gets all warm on the side.
Jo Bayley is the new volunteer for Turning Point, she is focussing on fundraising and doing a splendid job! The original housemate Cara is still around but preparing to get married next April. Lee, the Kiwi who lived here for a few months also moved out to get married to Bruce. The Bruce Lee wedding is this Sunday in a friend's back garden in Karen.
Things are always changing in Nairobi it seems, one of our good friends who arrived around the same time as us is leaving soon having finished her contract here and not finding another job, we said she could be our house girl and wash our dishes but she wasn't up for it...she hasn't met shoot yet though. Here's a video of Shoot's first day exploring the apartment.
Jo Bayley is the new volunteer for Turning Point, she is focussing on fundraising and doing a splendid job! The original housemate Cara is still around but preparing to get married next April. Lee, the Kiwi who lived here for a few months also moved out to get married to Bruce. The Bruce Lee wedding is this Sunday in a friend's back garden in Karen.
Things are always changing in Nairobi it seems, one of our good friends who arrived around the same time as us is leaving soon having finished her contract here and not finding another job, we said she could be our house girl and wash our dishes but she wasn't up for it...she hasn't met shoot yet though. Here's a video of Shoot's first day exploring the apartment.
Wednesday, 28 October 2009
Experiment Farm
I was reading in a book the other day about Experiment Farm, in 1789 the governor of Australia granted six and a half acres of land to ex-convict James Ruse for an experiment to see how long it would take a man to be able to support himself. He was given the land along with two pigs and six hens and was fed and clothed by the public store. 15 months later he had successfully become self sufficient, no longer needing assistance with food or clothing and was granted a further 30 acres of land.
The farm was called Experiment Farm because no European had farmed the land before and they had no idea what they were doing, according to my book the successful farm was renamed Model Farm as others began to follow Ruse onto the land to farm.
The story reminded me a lot of the Turning Point farm which is basically a big experiment, we don't know what we are doing, we don't know anyone who has attempted a similar project to learn from, the mamas didn't know how to farm the land in that area. In two years it has come a long way but still we're wrestling with how to do it right.
We spent the morning today praying about what the next step at the farm may be, trying to align our plans with God's dream for these mums. If we stay obedient to the God who knows everything then maybe one day our experiment will become a model for more people to run out of their prisons of poverty and into wide open spaces. I think God's got it covered.
The farm was called Experiment Farm because no European had farmed the land before and they had no idea what they were doing, according to my book the successful farm was renamed Model Farm as others began to follow Ruse onto the land to farm.
The story reminded me a lot of the Turning Point farm which is basically a big experiment, we don't know what we are doing, we don't know anyone who has attempted a similar project to learn from, the mamas didn't know how to farm the land in that area. In two years it has come a long way but still we're wrestling with how to do it right.
We spent the morning today praying about what the next step at the farm may be, trying to align our plans with God's dream for these mums. If we stay obedient to the God who knows everything then maybe one day our experiment will become a model for more people to run out of their prisons of poverty and into wide open spaces. I think God's got it covered.
Thursday, 22 October 2009
continuing
I should give an update on Aggrey. Things aren't as peachy as they seemed when I wrote my last blog. Candy is still with the aunt upcountry, we can't know how she is doing as the aunt won't communicate with Aggrey. He is pursuing a court case but lack of funds slow that down.
The latest thoughts he is having is that he probably isn't in a great position to look after Candy himself at this time so he is focusing on starting up a business that will be able to support them both further down the line. For now he is searching for an organisation that offers capital and ongoing support and advice to set up a small business. Turning Point is an option although it means starting smaller than he would like. He has some other options that he is looking into.
Things are still a real struggle for him, he finds it hard to concentrate and make good decisions about the business as his mind is always with Candy. We are continuing to pray for strength and wisdom for him and for change in his situation.
The latest thoughts he is having is that he probably isn't in a great position to look after Candy himself at this time so he is focusing on starting up a business that will be able to support them both further down the line. For now he is searching for an organisation that offers capital and ongoing support and advice to set up a small business. Turning Point is an option although it means starting smaller than he would like. He has some other options that he is looking into.
Things are still a real struggle for him, he finds it hard to concentrate and make good decisions about the business as his mind is always with Candy. We are continuing to pray for strength and wisdom for him and for change in his situation.
Friday, 11 September 2009
Too late
Too late, you can't pray God has already sorted it out! Well nearly, the church has agreed to fund Candy's school fees for a term, Aggrey has found a school and he hopes to enrol her next week.
The cheif is demanding a bit of money for the work he has done, a bribe basically. So please pray that these bits and pieces get sorted out without too much beef and Candy can get off to school soon. Pray for her too as all this moving around is probably quite unsettling and scary.
Anyway things seem to be going a good way.
The cheif is demanding a bit of money for the work he has done, a bribe basically. So please pray that these bits and pieces get sorted out without too much beef and Candy can get off to school soon. Pray for her too as all this moving around is probably quite unsettling and scary.
Anyway things seem to be going a good way.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
Pray for
My friend Aggrey says he would really appreciate prayer at the moment, he is in a super difficult situation. Let me try to explain…
When Aggrey’s wife died a few years ago he was given joint custody over their daughter Candy along with his sister-in-law. Candy is now five and was very excited about travelling upcountry with her aunt who she has stayed with for last few years. Candy is a little legend she gives such big high 5s she has to take a run up, I have a photo of her on my phone all tangled and twisted up in our hammock, very cute.
Anyway, later it became apparent that the aunt had actually moved to the rural area without telling Aggrey, basically stealing Candy. Aggrey is totally ripped up about it, he travelled to try and get Candy back but they didn’t allow him to take her.
He has approached the courts to try to revoke the joint custody but in Kenya that’s going to be a long and costly process with potential corruption involved. Aggrey is exploring every possible solution as he is desperate to get her back; he even considered marrying the aunt in order to get closer to Candy (in Kenyan culture that’s not as crazy as it may sound in the UK)
The situation is developing daily and Aggrey is constantly trying to figure out what is the right thing to do, he is doing an admirable job of keeping his head and striving to respond in a godly way to everything. The aunt is adamant that she will not bring Candy back to Nairobi. I spoke to her on the phone earlier and she just said a flat no with no good reason.
Aggrey has contacted the chief in that area upcountry and he has become a mediator between Aggrey and the family upcountry who all seem to want to keep Candy there. In the latest round of negotiations the aunt agreed to sending Candy to a boarding school. Aggrey is very pleased with that possibility as he feels Candy is not being cared for properly by the aunt, when he saw her she was thin and unhappy.
God has been working in awesome ways in Aggrey’s life recently, opening doors out of the deep poverty he fell into, restoring his hope and he fully believes that God can work in this lady to change her mind or to open some way for him to send Candy to a boarding school. Please stand with us in prayer for Candy, the aunt, family and chief and for Aggrey.
When Aggrey’s wife died a few years ago he was given joint custody over their daughter Candy along with his sister-in-law. Candy is now five and was very excited about travelling upcountry with her aunt who she has stayed with for last few years. Candy is a little legend she gives such big high 5s she has to take a run up, I have a photo of her on my phone all tangled and twisted up in our hammock, very cute.
Anyway, later it became apparent that the aunt had actually moved to the rural area without telling Aggrey, basically stealing Candy. Aggrey is totally ripped up about it, he travelled to try and get Candy back but they didn’t allow him to take her.
He has approached the courts to try to revoke the joint custody but in Kenya that’s going to be a long and costly process with potential corruption involved. Aggrey is exploring every possible solution as he is desperate to get her back; he even considered marrying the aunt in order to get closer to Candy (in Kenyan culture that’s not as crazy as it may sound in the UK)
The situation is developing daily and Aggrey is constantly trying to figure out what is the right thing to do, he is doing an admirable job of keeping his head and striving to respond in a godly way to everything. The aunt is adamant that she will not bring Candy back to Nairobi. I spoke to her on the phone earlier and she just said a flat no with no good reason.
Aggrey has contacted the chief in that area upcountry and he has become a mediator between Aggrey and the family upcountry who all seem to want to keep Candy there. In the latest round of negotiations the aunt agreed to sending Candy to a boarding school. Aggrey is very pleased with that possibility as he feels Candy is not being cared for properly by the aunt, when he saw her she was thin and unhappy.
God has been working in awesome ways in Aggrey’s life recently, opening doors out of the deep poverty he fell into, restoring his hope and he fully believes that God can work in this lady to change her mind or to open some way for him to send Candy to a boarding school. Please stand with us in prayer for Candy, the aunt, family and chief and for Aggrey.
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