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THE ADVENTURES OF JOHN AND MARTY

An ongoing narrative of our lives and the lives of the folks we relate to in Kadawa, Kenya
and the general local!

THAT'S KENYA

11/29/2015

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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.


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OUR FIRST WEEK BACK IN KENYA

11/22/2015

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​THE TRACTOR SAILS ON
This is the Ship Carrying our Tractor - the CMA CGM Alexander Von Humbolt.  It is a Container Ship.  Gross Tonnage: 175,343; length & breadth 396m x 53.6m; Year Built: 2013.

Due to the unspeakable terror in France on Friday, November 13,  the country was closed down.  Our tractor was moored in port at LeHavre France at the very time the country was closed to anything coming in or going out.  The President of France made the declaration either Friday night or Saturday morning.  We didn’t know how long that would hold up the transport of the tractor.  We have been tracking the ship’s progress online as it sails to Kenya.  Yet – when we looked online later that day we saw that the ship had disembarked at 13:01 that afternoon.  Wow! Oh, Wow!  How did that happen???  It happened through prayer!!  People all over the world knew about the ship being anchored there and were praying for it even as we were all praying for France.  God is not deterred by man’s decree!  He wanted that ship moved and it got moved!!   Glory to God!  Hallelujah!!!

We have access to this tracking mechanism that shows EVERY ship at sea and in port or just at anchor.  It shows what kind of ship, its name, location, destination, speed, etc., etc.  We have the free, simple version, but are able to get much more sophisticated and thorough data if we purchase added applications.   When ships leave or approach a port there are reports every few minutes.  When out to sea there can be hours between reports; however, it seems to us that pirates could be using this system to their advantage.  So - they don't just "happen" upon an unsuspecting vessel.   They stalk it!
 
As of this post the ship arrived at Suez (having gone through the Suez Canal) at 00:22 on Nov. 22, 2015.  We are not able to determine its next port.  But, having gone through the canal it is now officially in North East Africa.
 
WELCOME HOME
 
We have received what is probably one of the most complimentary and heartwarming greetings from Kenyan loved ones as we were on our way to Kenya, but especially as we arrived in the village.  We went to the farm to see how things are coming along and we met a neighbor man with whom we had not been previously acquainted.  He greeted us with “Karibuni Nyumbani”!  Because dear Kenyan friends on Facebook had already said those words to us when they knew we were on our way, we knew what that precious man was saying.  How wonderful and warm and accepted we were to hear him say - “Welcome Home”!
 
CREDIT UNION SEMINARS
 
The credit union venture continues to prosper micro-finance businesses.  Various owners use loans to expand their business in fields such as tailoring, hotels (cafés), goats, second-hand clothes and ballast production. 
 
In addition, there are five groups of 10 people which have benefitted from “table banking” with smaller loans for their businesses such as selling tomatoes, maize, basket making, grocery supplies and barbering.  These groups borrow a certain amount and lend it amongst themselves and those within the group 
who did not benefit from the loan are guarantors for the money should the lender default.  These types of loans are very successful due to the peer pressure.


​These pictures show the latest development where members of the Credit union gather to listen to experienced successful micro-finance owners who pass on their experience in how to succeed, plus what mistakes to look out for while growing their business.  These business seminars have proved to be educational and inspirational to the members.  The speakers have been arranged for by Daniel Albitz, who is serving as a Dove missionary with his family in Kisumu.

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​PRAYER REQUESTS
​

* The end of jet lag (it's especially difficult this time).
* The procurement of specific official documents needed to authorize entry of the tractor into Kenya.
* Continued safe transport of the tractor to Mombassa and then the smooth transition to transportation by land across the nation.
* Planning and building the shed for the tractor so that it is ready upon arrival (it must be large enough for the tractor and all the implements.)

With Many Blessings & Much Love,

John & Marty


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THE TRACTOR IS ON ITS WAY TO KENYA!!!

11/1/2015

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The tractor is constructed and it is on its way to Southampton, UK where, on November 2, 2015 it will be loaded on board a ship for Kenya.  It will take 4 to 6 weeks to arrive at the Port of Mombasa.  From there it will be taken across the entire country of Kenya to Kadawa/Kisumu.  We will be in Kenya when it arrives in Kadawa.  Woohooo!
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BUILDING A TRACTOR HOUSE
When we arrive in Kenya our immediate focus will be the construction of a building to house the tractor and implements - all being shown above.  You can see the size of the tractor - John is 6'2".
Top left: Massey Ferguson 590; Top right: Plow; Middle left: Seed planter; Middle right: Harrow; Bottom center: Copy of a post-hole digger photo (we didn't get a photo of ours).


GOD’S PROVISION

We have known for several years that we needed to get a tractor in order to establish a business that would make the Widows’ Farm self-sustaining.  We have learned to wait until we sense God’s timing for whatever we do. When we do this He meets ALL the needs we have for any situation; and above. When we finally sensed it was time, we let people know our vision and financial need.  For the first time in our ministry we actually solicited financial support.  The response was nearly overwhelming.  AND!  He not only supplies our financial needs but also supplies for and meets other unexpected situations.  He will not let anything get in the way of His plans. 
Following are ways He has and is providing:

     -  We found a company in the UK that takes used tractors and TOTALLY restores them so they are as if new; a substantial savings over a new tractor.
     -  The company’s specialty is crating and shipping farm equipment to Kenya!
     -  The tractor was much bigger than anticipated so it wouldn’t fit into the crate unless the wheels were removed.  Problem – we have no human resources in Kenya that can put the wheels back onto the tractor.  Solution – another customer is sending a something  to Kenya at the same time.  A larger crate is available; one that will hold both our and the other customer's shipment, and both loads will be shipped together.  The shipping costs are now less than before!
     -  A man in our church in the UK, who farms 1,000 acres and has a great interest in our project, will be training our dear friend and colleague Jeremy, how to drive the tractor and use the equipment prior to his meeting up with us in Kenya in December.  
    -  We will be able to construct a building to house the tractor and implements.
    -  We have need of a tractor operator; it is specialized equipment.  We have interviewed a man who has 20 years experience operating tractors; he will be moving back to Kisumu/Kadawa; he is potentially the man we need.
     -  We knew of no one to receive the tractor and equipment at Mombasa or anyone to transport it across the nation. The folks who restored the tractor have a man there who will take care of it all for us.  This way we will be charged an honest fee and it will arrive safely.  

PRAYER REQUESTS


     -  Safe flights that are on time;
     -  Our health while in Kenya; 
     -  For Marty as she prepares to lead a prophetic team to Rwanda in January;
     -  Safe travels for the tractor and implements to Mombasa, Kenya and from there
        to Kadawa;
     - That we will finish all that we have planned to do while there.
     -  Wisdom in pacing ourselves.
     

 
 
 
 
 

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    Authors

    John & Marty Smith

    Our primary focus is to improve the lives of destitute senior widows to assist in giving them dignity in their declining years,  and give aid to other impoverished women, children and men in Western Kenya; predominately in the village of Kadawa on Lake Victoria.

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