It’s Thursday, December 3^rd. We got up this morning to find out we are out of gas for our little 2 burner stove. Nelly was not sure what I would think of that but it wasn’t a problem. I just cut up some delicious fruit, pineapple, mango, avocados, and tomatoes, added a little strawberry yogurt, bread and butter, and a cup of tea made on the charcoal stove. This made a nice breakfast and we were all satisfied. Nelly said we probably don’t have charcoal in America. Yes, I told her we do, and began to describe how it comes in a paper bag that you just light to get the coals started. She was very surprised.

After breakfast we went to do a few home visits. School is out so we were greeted everywhere we went with, “How are you?”, “Do you have a sweetie?”,  “Take my picha”, “Mzungus!!” Every little one room home we visited was clean and tidy. We are asking questions about their businesses so we can decide how to help. Where to start? There is so much need. If they buy food there’s no money for their kids to go to school. If they pay school fees, buy school books and uniforms, they will often go to school hungry. When you think of how little they need according to our western standards, it is a shame we don’t give more. I am motivated to tell people who want to give but don’t know about the needs. I know people  want to be sure that they would be giving effectively. I think the generosity of Americans can make a huge difference in the economy here. We have only to get the word out. I am glad for what Dassie and Noah are doing in the continuation of Radical Outreach. This will be a timely venture that I hope will grow. We will bring back video and pictures to make a DVD.

Last night we met with the leaders of clans to make decisions about who and how to start the F.I.S.H. (Financing Indigenous Self Help) program. It seems there’s so much need it is hard to know where to begin. Please pray for these leaders that they will make the right decisions. We aren’t able to help everyone at this point so we will do as much as possible to learn how to work out any difficulties that might arise. It was a good meeting and I believe the people are getting closer to each other and learning to work things out together. Noah has been doing some good teaching and preaching. We are equipping the people to do the work here as best we know how. They are receiving the teaching and are getting ready to do what God asks them to do. We sometimes have problems because of the language/culture barriers but we are getting through. Love you all………..Haviylah

“Behold, how good and pleasant it is for brothers to dwell together in unity!”

Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving, being an american holiday, does not exisit in Africa. I had a little fun with Morella, our cook. When she came to make dinner for us I asked her to bake a turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoe casserole, green bean casserole, squash casserole, oh, and could she bake a pumpkin pie with whipped topping. Not to mention this would be impossible because we don't have an oven here. Her eyes got big and she was speechless. We had a good laugh, then she asked me what is thanksgiving? I told her the story. She had seen things on TV about thanksgiving and was wondering what it all meant. Anyway, we had a nice day. Our dinner was good - chicken, beans and carrots, rice and ugali. No desserts though. I think I will get a snicker candy bar today. It is the only thing that tastes like it is supposed to.
My computer is in the shop again. We took it to a different place this time. It seems Gerald doesn't really know what he is doing and pretty much just took it apart and put it back together. He said he replaced the processor but he didn't. It has the original processor in it. The man working on it now says it overheated and burned out a couple of transistors. He will replace them. I should have it back tomorrow.
Today we will go to the "Crater". We need an outdoors excursion to maintain our sanity. I definitely prefer country life to city life.
The work here is progressing daily. Thank you for your prayers..... Love and missing you, Haviylah

Home visits and......billiards???

November 23, 2009


It’s Monday and we started our day with fried rice for breakfast. We went to 3 homes today. Our first visit was to Rose Anindo Ochalo’s house. She lives in a rather large 3 room house with her husband and a friend and her small boy, Abdul. Her husband is retired from a railroad job because he was injured in an accident which left him handicapped. He had a fractured leg and now has a rod in his spine from the accident. As the story goes his equipment was sabotaged by a jealous fellow worker. During the post election violence they had to leave their home and spent 6 months in an IDP camp. They had to flee to avoid danger because of their tribe. That incident has really affected the economy. People who were doing fine in their businesses before the violence are struggling to get back on track. Rose is very active in the choir at the church. I love to watch her praise God with her whole heart.

As we arrived in the neighborhood of our second visit, I saw a cute little girl holding a doll as she skipped through the yard. We went to the one room home of Dorothy Anyango. I was delighted to see that the little girl with the doll just happens to be her youngest daughter. I gave her a “sweetie” (piece of candy)and, as most kids do, she instantly popped it into her mouth. Dorothy has 5 children and is married to a Tailor. She has a little grocery stand and has just finished a tailoring course. She wants to sew for a business but needs money to get started. She was a gracious hostess and said to us, “You do well to come back to us.” (Most mzungos don’t come back a second time).

Lastly we went to visit Rose Odhiambo. She is from Uganda and lives in a 2 room house with her husband, who is a gas station mechanic, and her 5 children, including a set of twins and her granddaughter, Aquilla. She sells fabric from Uganda. She goes to government offices to sell her fabric, which is a bit nicer and more expensive than the usual. She also weaves straw mats and does a very nice job. We ordered one to bring home. We may want to sell them and/or use them to decorate in the coffee shop. Her ambition is to raise her kids in a godly way and help orphans. We had Stoney’s – the best ginger soda in the world – and “cakes”.

After our visits George challenged Noah to shoot some pool. Now Noah hasn’t played for many years but he was ready to take a shot at it. George says he is the Nakuru champion. Joel and I sat back and watched. George told Noah he would give him some lessons so before each turn he repeatedly said, “lesson # 1, 2 and 3” with each game perspectively. Noah started out pretty good but the table and balls were smaller than usual and he kept hitting the balls too hard. It was fun to watch and I am sure we will do this again. I put up some pictures on my web album for your enjoyment.

Then we went to town to pick up a few things at the Wool Matt, had a light lunch and came home. We have 3 home visits tomorrow. I love being in the homes of the people. It is a good way to touch their lives and hearts. They are always so grateful and so are we.

Until tomorrow…. Haviylah

PS I can't seem to get the pictures on my blog so please go to my web albums for illustrations.

An Adventurous Day

November 21, 2009


Today was an adventurous day. We went to town to meet with the youth. That went well. There were 12 of us (that is if you count George who came and went throughout the meeting). We had tea and a snack. Abba talked to them about having ambition and not quiting. He encouraged them to find out what God wants them to do and tell someone. They are getting ideas for Christmas. Abba suggested a feast….. with sweets of course…. They said they could do it. I don’t know how without ovens and refrigeration but I’m sure they will come up with something. We went around the room and each one talked a little. Some told stories of how they came to the church. Simon told how he was in a group of boys that hung out at clubs and would usually end up in fights. He said you had to have a weapon, like a ‘blade’ to go there. When Lloyd asked him to come to church he didn’t want to at first but decided to go. He loved it and decided to quit his gang. He now has 3 close friends he can talk to God about. He is an awesome young man. Joel came even though he is not completely recovered - he is doing much better.

After the meeting we needed to go get some groceries. Joel wants chicken alfredo so I will attempt to make it this week. We went to the butcher first to get some meat. It looked like it was closed because there was no meat in the display but they let us in anyway. There were other customers there too. They were cleaning so the man went to the back to get our order. Then we went to Tusky’s. That is the best place to get bread. They bake it fresh every day. I got some hamburger buns too. I will make burgers for dinner tomorrow. It’s Morella’s day off. She likes to learn new recipes so I am teaching her some American meals. George dropped us off but stayed in the van with some of the young people to wait for us. While Abba and I were shopping Simon came in to tell us George was being taken to the police station. Evidently he was parked in the wrong place and he didn’t have his license with him. They were saying they would put him in jail for 2 days but he called his friend, the inspector, who came down and after hearing the story, let him go. George thinks the lady police wanted a bribe and he would not give it. She didn’t know who she was dealing with. George knows everybody. During this time we got a 'Tuk Tuk', 3 wheel taxi, to bring Abba to the station and I went home with Joel, Lloyd and Vivian. While the decision was being made Abba was praying with some of the youth that God would let George go. When they finished praying George walked out. Who is like our God? They came home. Since we didn’t have lunch so I was going to make some popcorn but it didn’t work out so I poured some yogurt mixed with mango juice. Ummm it was good. Better than a milkshake. Now Abba is having a mens meeting. George just walked in and gave me a bag of popcorn, Morella is cooking dinner – pork chops. Tomorrow is Sunday and we will have a gathering and ladies meeting.

“We pray for you, you pray for us. We need you to survive.”

Better go now. Dinner is almost ready…..Haviylah

Daniel's visit and stories of everyday life.

It’s 10pm on November 17th. I have my computer back and it seems to be working fine. We took it back to Gerald and he got it going again. Let’s see how long it lasts?

I was talking to Nelly at the table about the possibility of moving the refrigerator out of the living room dining room area and into the kitchen. She said the kitchen was too small and I agreed she was right. But she decided to ask Beatrice, who was in the kitchen. I heard them laughing so I went to find out what was so funny. Beatrice said, “If we put it in the kitchen no one will know we have a frig.” That was funny. Beatrice has a great sense of humor. She is always making somebody laugh. I wish I could understand her more. She doesn’t speak much English.

Last night Daniel taught our people to be ambitious and not waste their lives. He told how he was raised in a very poor home and had nothing, but God gave him much to do to help people all over the world. He encouraged us to make history and to change Africa. Now we are heading out to Nairobi to take Daniel to the airport. The van is quiet. We are tired and contemplative.

I am overwhelmed by what God is doing through people like us. He has given us the desires of our heart - to reach people all over the world. He has sent us to 3rd world countries and then given us the grace to be here. There is no hardship to be endured. It is not even worth mentioning the daily inconveniences. My love for God grows when my love for all mankind is realized.

My thoughts are wandering towards God’s will for me now. I hear a lot about miracles of healing and wonder why I am not drawn to pray for miraculous healing. It’s not that I haven’t seen God do miracles of healing, even as an answer to my prayer. But that is not where my focus is. I would love to see a world without sickness but as it is I feel most useful to His purpose when I am caring for those who have not been healed. I feel like my work is to take care of those who are not healed miraculously. To be with them in their suffering and to ease their pain when I can; and to bring them back to health through whatever means is necessary and beneficial; to show the love and compassion of Jesus who cares for us and draws us to himself through suffering.

Speaking of suffering. Abba just came in from working out at the gym. He stormed in and collapsed on the bed, crying out for electrolytes. I’m glad I brought the Ultima Replenisher! He went too far with jumping right in to a strenuous exercise routine and literally passed out on the floor. George managed to get him home and now he is sleeping. That’s our Abba …. Pushing the limits again. LOL Don’t worry, he is fine.

This blog has been a series of days all in one. I will try to keep them up now that my computer is back. Thinking of all of you everyday. We could not do this without your prayers and support.   xxxoooxxxooo  Haviylah

A Candlelight Service

Yesterday was a nice day, pretty uneventful, until we went to the meeting hall for a teaching. I sat down on the front row with Petranilla and Joel. Then the sweet little girl named Priscilla came along and sat down beside me. She looked up at me with her big brown eyes as if to say “Got anything for me today?”. I think she was the only child there. She loves to hang out at the meeting hall when we are there. I let her draw pictures and write her abc’s in my note pad. As it got darker outside Petranilla told her to go home. She got up and left. After about 5 minutes she was back peeping in the door. Petranilla sent her home again. Again she came back. Then Petranilla got up and took her home herself. We did not see her again that night but I am sure she will be there next time we come. I pray God will keep her and draw her to Himself and that she will serve Him with all her days.

Noah spent a good part of his day preparing to teach and he was excited. He was speaking about the difference between the universal and the local church and the accountability we have to each other. It was a hard concept for them to catch. They had never heard of the local church. Through illustrations he was able to help them understand. He wasn’t too far into the teaching though when the power went out. It was getting dark outside so it quickly got to where he couldn’t see people’s faces or his notes. Petranilla whispered something to one of the ladies and she left to who knows where for who knows what. Since this had happened the night before I had the foresight to bring a small flashlight. I gave it to him as he was speaking but it only seemed to add to his frustration because it wouldn’t stay on and then it wouldn’t turn off. He found a way to close his talk and promised to take it up at a later date. About that time the lady came back and handed Petranilla a candle and some matches. She lit the little candle, dripped some wax onto the pulpit, and skillfully stood the candle in. This brought a little light on the subject and George, as usual, backed up the teaching with further commentary in Swahili.

After the gatherings there’s always a lot of ‘how are yous?’ slap- shaking hands, hugs and smiles. Then we sit in the van and wait for George to check on people and things. It’s nice to have the van because we get to give people rides and we have them to talk to or listen to while we wait.

When we dropped everyone off Noah vowed to buy 4 oil lamps for the church. When we got home we ate a meal prepared by Morella (still haven’t got that picture of her yet and she just left), visited a little and got ready for bed. I always think of you all and what you are doing at your time of day 8 or 9 hours behind us. When I wake up in the morning you have had the day to write emails. I always look forward to checking my mail first thing in the morning. Your letters and notes mean so much to me.

May you have a day full of blessings.

Lala salama. Haviylah