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.

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.
     
 
 
 
 
 

Electricity to the Village
Electrical power is progressing well into the village.  Since last year, when there was nothing, we see poles and lines along the main roads several miles into the village and some homes are able to take advantage of it.  The government has made a priority of getting electricity into all of the schools in Kenya.  Lwala Secondary School (the high school not far from the farm and right across the road from Restoration Community Church) has recently been connected to the lines.  Whenever we have an eye clinic, which is held in the church, children from the local schools come.  Because of no light other than from the windows many of the children have poor eye sight (exacerbated by poor, or lack of lighting in their homes).  If you look closely you can see electric wires in the background of the photo.  We hadn't seen them until the photo was published.

Hooking up to electricity in the village is very expensive, and most won't be able to afford it, although the government has a special short-term program where the cost is dramatically reduced for homes that are close to the road.  The Widows' Farm is entirely too far away from the road to consider electrical service; costs would be out of the question,

We were in a home for a cell group meeting ; a typical mud house.  They had power into the home.  The first one we have ever seen.  This home had 3 rooms.  It began to rain heavily and the doors and windows needed to be shut – it was dark.  That is how we discovered there was electricity in the home.  One socket in the wall with a light bulb screwed into it.   We didn’t see any plug outlets, but did notice a radio on the table, and deduced there was one.  The light bulb was a dim long-life bulb.  We think that a solar lamp would give as much or more light and certainly not cost so much.

University Ready
We met a young man named Kevin Ochieng Juma, a graduate of Lwala Secondary School in the village, who is now a student in university.  We wanted to let you know that even though the children are receiving their education in the village (there are schools for all age levels in the village, from pre-school all the way to secondary [high] school) the quality of education is qualifying them for university.  Admission requirements into institutions of higher education in Kenya are very stringent.

Lorna's Axe
We went to visit Lorna to take a photo to her that was taken last year.  During our conversation she told us that she had some wood outside that she needed to split up for firewood, but she didn't have an axe.  She said she really needed an axe.  Keep in mind that Lorna is in her late 80s and is very frail.  We love to help meet Lorna's needs, but we think that she could seriously injure herself if we give her an axe.  
Here is the photo we took to her (a framed 8X10); it's now hanging on her wall.

These women, and others, lived in houses that were collapsing around them.  Thanks to sponsor funding we were able to build them new houses.  In the first part of this less than two-minute video, Maureen is expressing her gratitude.  (She was very shy and a bit intimidated by us.)  You will see the inside of her home, in which she has covered her mud walls with old lace curtains - something we haven't seen done before.  You will also see Margaret in her living room.  The house is only 3 weeks old and the walls are not finished.  You can see the door to the other room (her bedroom/kitchen) behind her.  The house was filled with smoke from the wood fire on which she was making tea for us.  Margaret had lived under humiliating circumstances in addition to the collapsing of her home.  She was a "co-wife" - meaning that her husband married another woman.  (The Luo tribe practices polygamy.)  In essence, he abandoned Margaret.  But the other woman left him and he came back to Margaret.  Later, he died.  A man is required to build a house for each wife.  It is her right and very important in the culture.  However, because Margaret's house collapsed she had to move into the house of the co-wife.  But the other wife came back and had the right to her own house.  So Margaret was forced to share the house with the co-wife; she had truly lost her identity.  Now she has her own home and has regained her dignity and status.  Unfortunately there was a glitch in the recording of her thanks and the translation didn't get recorded.  As you watch the short clip it barely needs translation, for her expression of gratitude is very evident.  Finally, you will see Anjeline and Marty dancing out of the door of her new home.  You will get a real insight into village life through this little video.

PRAISE REPORTS
*  We are home in the US.  Our journeys home to the UK and US went very well.  Thank you for your prayers.
*  We remained healthy the entire trip.
*  Crops are healthy - the sorghum (a new crop) is ready to harvest.  The maize will be ready in early August.  
PRAYER REQUESTS
*  That repairs to the house/barn will be well done.
*  For laborers for the harvest.
*  That we will be able to find good accommodations that are less costly.