THE FARM SCHOOL AT THE WIDOWS' FARM
We have purchased another acre of land adjacent to the Widows' Farm and the farm hands - Eric and Leonard - have cleared it of ant hills so it is ready to use.  Ant hills are very, very fertile, so the men spread shovels full of them all over the new land to be plowed under.

Our colleague/team member Jeremy has assumed oversight of the farm, giving us more freedom to minister to the widows in their homes and minister at cell groups.  He has recently initiated a project in Kadawa by which an agronomist from a local university, in partnership with an organization from the UK called Just Earth, is training villagers how to produce more diversity in the crops from the land on which they live and produce a bigger yield.

We have given a half acre to the project, which involves 36 people who have made a three-year commitment to learn new ways to plant, cultivate and produce different seeds/food.  The yields will be from 3 to 8 times greater than their previous crops.  The increase will give them more for their personal use and they will be able to sell the excess.  Additionally they will be encouraged to tithe their produce to the poor and needy.  Eric and Leonard are part of the group, so we will see the Widows' Farm benefited from their education.

Currently the group has planted 18 different varieties of maize to weigh their individual yield, how resistant they are to disease, how they grow in the local soil, etc.  Being able to experiment in this way saves them any risk to the crops upon which they depend on their own land. 

This program has been successful in many areas and when the neighbors see the results compared to their crops it is an incentive for them to want to learn the same techniques/methods.

Blessings and Great Affection!! 
John & Marty

               

                       WITH MANY BLESSINGS & MUCH LOVE - JOHN AND MARTY!

Early Morning: To Doctor for change of dressing and to check swelling, bruises and fractured shoulder.  Getting ready for a day’s work.

Afternoon:  Farm Worker meeting.  Eric and Leonard met with John and Johnfred.  Eric asked for an advanced loan from his salary for a mattress and a bed.  He and Belinda sleep on the floor on a straw mat.  Leonard asked for an increase in salary to help him pay school fees for his children.  The most important need above food is education.  They know their children will never escape their dire poverty without it.

It's Marty!  I am here in Kenya!  John is at home in Florida!  John had eye surgery because of complications with his eyes due to glaucoma. Owing to that, because of follow-up treatment, we had to cancel our trip to Kenya, which was to be about now, and are to reschedule it for September or October.  But last week we received an e-mail from Violet Odindo telling us that Lorna had just passed away (literally 10 minutes before) and that Lorna had repeatedly told her to remind us that we promised to be at her funeral.  (Truthfully, many of us were praying that she wouldn't pass prior to a time when we would be there.  But the sweet old saint just got too tired to wait and wanted to be with Jesus!) Therefore, hasty arrangements were made for me to come!
Normally people here in the village are not embalmed.  It isn’t traditional, it’s too expensive (they are desperately poor) and burial must be done quickly because the body decomposes rapidly in the tropics.  But to honour her wishes and accommodate my coming the family agreed to have her embalmed. We gladly paid for it since it was done to accommodate me.  
The funeral was held this past Friday.  Funerals are held outdoors at the home of the deceased - who was laid out under a small canopy in from of her house.  The hole is dug near the coffin and she is buried next to her house.  A woman is dressed in a white wedding gown made especially for the occasion, complete with veil.  Lorna never had a wedding dress in her lifetime.  It was an amazing fair - absolutely spectacular.  Much dancing - native style - and singing and many testimonies.  (The MC admonishes the testifiers before hand to keep the remarks short, but he is mostly ignored - even when he politely interrupts.)  Folks from her family, from the community and from the church take the microphone and talk.  They are not microphone shy at all.  Many, many folks paid tribute to Lorna.  She was well known for her generosity.  A poor destitute woman, but always giving something to people.  Consistently and joyfully.  In church, during offering - which is done to music and the people come down front to give it - she would dance down the aisle with her few coins.  When it was time for a special offering or fundraising, there she would be - dancing ever so slowly, but surely, down the aisle to give her coins.  You may remember that she gave us a chicken once (we named it Lorna) and it produced many peeps. (We just couldn't eat it - which is what was really expected.)
After the tributes the worship team came up to lead more singing and a group of ladies in white dresses and black satin sashes - (they are official mourners) went into the canopy and picked up the coffin (made of wood) and danced it out of there, across the yard and partially out the gate; then turned it around and danced it back.  All the while they are rocking the casket, lifting it high over there heads, then up and down, back and forth and everyone is following them and gathered around singing and dancing and praising God.  It is traditional that an 8X10 photo of the deceased be placed on the coffin.  There were 5 different ones and 5 ladies carried them up high on display as the coffin was danced along.  It was wonderful!  Such joy and celebration!!!
Then the casket is taken to the graveside and two men get down in the hole and others, standing at each end of the coffin, gingerly hand it down to them.  Words are spoken, more songs, and the first shovelful is scattered bit-by-bit.  Then several young men take turns shoveling the dirt into the grave - done with remarkable speed and agility.
I am so glad I came and John and I could keep our word, and honour Our Lorna.
On Sunday I told the church that I want a funeral like that.  I told them that my children would never agree to such a thing (figuring that John would be gone before me, so he wouldn't object; I didn't say that).  But, I said, if my children are gone before me I will have my body flown here and they can bury me down on the Widows' Farm.  Everyone thought that was a great idea!!

Look for more about what I've been doing here for these two weeks!  I'll update the blog shortly!

Bless,
​                           Marty & John
​

 OUR STAY AT THE FARM & THE SACRIFICIAL CHICKEN
Last year we decided that we would stay at the farm one or two nights a week.  It will save us money for transportation to and from the village and also help us to become closer to the land, the village and the villagers.  Moving in wasn't quite as easy as we thought.  It took us quite awhile to get enough furniture to live there comfortably.  Furniture isn't easy to come by.  We found that what is available in the local shops is not good quality and is very expensive.  So, we began to look around for alternative means.  It turned out to be quite fun, although very time consuming.  One of the fundies (pronounced: foon dee - craftsmen - often self taught) who was doing some work for us happened to run a carpentry shop and builds furniture.  We designed two single beds for the one bedroom and he made them.  We discovered that an older gentleman who does handiwork at the compound where we live in the city also makes furniture and we hired him to make us two tables - one for eating and one work table to use in the temporary kitchen.  Then, near our compound, on the corner of a street we saw some men making wicker chairs.  We ordered two chairs and two stools (they are actually like end tables).  These things took awhile to make - especially the chairs, as the fellow kept having reasons why they weren't being done when he said they would be.  Finally we were able to move in.  We only told one or two folks we were moving in, but not when!  That was a social blunder!!!  It seems that when someone moves onto his or her land or into their home it is tradition to give them a feast.  It is a deep-rooted cultural must.  
 
Now, some time back Lydia, Johnfred's wife, insisted that she was going to teach me how to prepare and cook a meal from scratch.  Which would involve sacrificing the life of a chicken.  She was going to show me how to do that as well.  Keep in mind that there is no electricity, plumbing, running water or kitchen appliances.  All food is cooked on a wood fire or, sometimes, a small charcoal burner called a jiko!

The next day, after our first night on the farm, Marty looked up the lane to the top gate where she saw a boy coming with his arms loaded, including some pots and - upon close inspection - a chicken!  It was Lydia's son Enoch and he was bringing the beginnings of a feast.  Awhile later Lydia and Evelyn arrived with potatoes, tomatoes, onions, sukuma wiki (kale) and cornmeal (for ugali).  It was time for Marty to learn how to prepare a chicken meal (ohhh nooooo!) and Lydia & Evelyn patiently and methodically showed her how - working right alongside of her.  

When it came time to slaughter the chicken, however, Lydia - she who for weeks had been saying how she was going to teach Marty how to do a chicken - sat in a chair with her head turned and eyes averted while Enoch dispatched said chicken (we won't show the actual deed).  Let it be known that chickens are not too bright, and she willingly held still for the process, which was quick and appeared to be painless with absolutely no fuss on the chicken's part. (Oh dear!)  This is daily life in the village!  Chicken isn't an everyday meal, but we don't know of any avowed vegans in the village!!

We will be going to the UK in mid-May and then on to Kenya some time in June.

Prayer requests:
 - Please continue to pray for John's eyes - his vision is fading.  We are believing for a miracle.
 - We have been considering the purchase of a used car for our use while there, and for Johnfred to use in the management of the farm and credit union, as well as to travel from the village to his church in Kisumu.  We have been presented with a great opportunity to buy an excellent car at a very good price ($5000 - £3500) from a Kenyan pastor who was given a new car.  Our two greatest expenses while in Kenya are for transportation and rent.  Our expenses would be greatly reduced if we had a car.

Blessings and Much Love

​John & Marty

Yesterday, December 7, Marty, Sarah Albitz (a full-time DOVE missionary here) and our friend/interpreter Sara Omondi were visiting a few widows in the Village of Kadawa.  Sarah O. told us that one of our friends, Eunice Paul, was in the District Hospital in Kisumu.  We told her that we would go visit her the next morning (today).  Sarah O. told us that we couldn't do that, because the visiting hours were set for later in the day.  However, because of scheduling issues it was necessary that we go in the morning.  We believed that the Lord wanted us to go - Eunice needed us.  

Here was an opportunity for Marty to talk about how God's presence and His authority apply in situations such as this.  Because we, as Christians,  carry the presence of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit with us wherever we go, we have authority and grace to do things that would not ordinarily be possible.  In instances such as this, the Lord often gives His people (us) favor with the people who could make it happen.  It isn't a matter of pushing our way around, or being obnoxious and forcing it to happen.  It is a matter of knowing that it is what the Lord wants, depending on and expecting  Him to make it happen. 

This morning, December 8, around 09:30, Sarah & Marty went to the hospital and drove through the security gates onto the grounds - Security helped us to park.  We saw two women walking, who we thought worked there, and asked them where Ward 2 was.  They didn't know, but seemed annoyed with us and told us that we couldn't visit anyone, visiting hours were at 1 PM.  Then they pointed to a security guard and said if he let us in the we could go.  We went through the gate, greeted the guard warmly and asked him where Ward 2 was.  He directed us and we went on our way.  We walked into the ward - staff in the distance noticed us, but paid no attention.  Please realize that we are the only two people in the whole compound who were not Africans.  We were very, very noticeable!!  We began looking for Eunice and a doctor came by.  Sarah told him who we wanted to see and he took us to her bed.  We chatted with her for awhile and prayed for her.  Another doctor came along and Marty offered to leave so he could be with Eunice, but he began to chat with her.  He asked where she was from and in the course of the conversation if she and Sarah were doing missionary work.  Then he told her he had a brother in Texas and was planning on visiting in 2 years.  She told him what she and Sarah were there for and then --- he asked her if we would pray for everyone in the ward and then went on his way!  Each person, all the sick women, and a grandmother taking care of a new baby whose mother was amongst the sick, gave us permission to pray for them and thanked us.  We even prayed for the new baby.  

BTW, Eunice was not allowed any food.  Sarah had brought a large hand of bananas and had baked some cupcakes for her.  So, when we left, the nice security guard got several bananas and a cupcake.  He was happy!

There - is an example of the Grace and Favor of God upon His people when they do what He asks them to do.  There - is an example of how much he loves those ill ladies and that Grandmother and infant by sending us to touch them and pray for them.  Many lives were touched by Him in one way or another today (including Sarah and Marty); some in ways we won't ever know.  It is so much fun to do what He wants you to do even when you can't predict or anticipate what will happen.  And then watch Him at work and realize that you are part of His plan to get it done.  Wahoooo!

We live in Kisumutown 99.9% of the time. Although it isn't like living in the UK or the USA, we do have running water (not hot), plumbing, a toilet and shower, electricity, a three-burner counter top gas cooker, a refrigerator, microwave, toaster and comfortable furniture. 
What I am about to write will have our Kenyan friends and loved ones, who have access to Internet/Facebook, laughing, and/or shaking their heads in wonder and puzzlement! Because, it is normal life here!  
When we got home from our Thanksgiving celebration we had no water. It was off! Mind you, we couldn't even flush. No idea of when it would come back on! After a bit, the staff on the compound brought all of the tenants 20-liter jugs of water. So, before bed we washed our face, and brushed our teeth; hoping good results by morning. Yaaay! Friday morning we had water. Put the kettle on for tea, and we were good to go. Just before we started breakfast the electricity went off! So, we heated left-over coffee on the cooker, buttered some bread and fried it and we did fine. BUT, with no electricity - no water! Heated some on the stove from the 20-liter jug, and then we used a basin (bowl, in England), stood in the shower, and bathed the old fashioned way.
Our friends and loved ones in the village bathe like that always, or in the river, or murky streams left after the rains. They have no running water, plumbing, indoor toilets, electricity, no gas cookers, no electric kettles, no refrigerators. Yet, they manage very well. There is much to be said for a simpler, albeit not easy, lifestyle.
Our Thanksgiving continues! We have so very much to be thankful for in our lives. Here in Kenya we are frequently reminded of it. We, John and I, need to express it more!
Some of our children, grandchildren, great grandchildren called on Thanksgiving night to wish us Happy Thanksgiving, and others wrote on Facebook, even from England! That made it a perfect Thanksgiving Day for us - ending our waterless day with much, much thanksgiving.  

Sorry no photos this time, but our next blog will show photos of the development of the large (and we mean LARGE) temporary shed for the tractor.

PRAYER REQUESTS

*  Our Lorna is poorly. (This morning Hesbone encouraged the congregation to take time to visit the old, destitute widows.);
*  A good tractor and implement shed that exactly meets the needs;
*  Continued safe and uninterrupted sailing for the tractor;
​*  The DOVE Africa leadership conference this week.