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Hi everyone. Just wanted to give you an update on my activities here in beautiful Kitale, Kenya. Right now it’s a georgeous day – no rain yet so I’m enjoying the sunshine. We’re in the rainy season so it rains most days for periods of time.
This has been a wonderful week teaching and ministering to about 600 mamas (more than half of whom are widows). I would love for you to see the excitement on their faces when we arrive. For the most part these are village women who appreciate everything we do for them. Their African sounds and singing truly express their joy. I’m so privileged and often overwhelmed to be serving these precious women.
I'd like to request help for some specific needs. We urgently need funds to purchase BLANKETS for the widows and their families. It's a desperate situation. It has been raining quite a bit throughout the day and night so it's bone-chilling damp and cold at night. (We were quite shocked at how few people actually had blankets as most just sleep in their clothes).
One of our mama's died recently of AIDS. She had been rechecked and was told she was AIDS-free, however she succumbed to the disease. We found out after her burial that she had a bad chest infection for about 2 weeks and was so cold because she had NO BLANKET. That really impacted me and I still feel sad about it. I had visited her but never saw her bed and didn't think to ask if she had a blanket, so I was unaware that she needed a blanket. She has six children (age 4-11) - who also need blankets, so I'm going to take care of that immediately. Apparently the children shared one thin blanket and when they went to sleep she would borrow it to get warm and put it back on her children. Often the people won't tell if they have a need. So this month, as well as give maize (corn) to the mamas in our projects, we'll be distributing blankets to the most needy widows. Please let us know if you can help with this specific need. Since Pastor Mary and her team know the mamas so well, they are helping and doing the assessments.
I recently recovered from bout number six of malaria (it's peak season for malaria) and nearly everyone has gotten it - even our guests. Most all of the missionaries have had it too and some have been really sick. Please pray for HEALTH for all of us here.
Everyday I carry food stuffs in my vehicle (I call it my Punda…which is a donkey) because it carries so much stuff and helps alleviate the intense suffering of so many. I remember my pastor sharing from the Book of Ruth on “Handfuls on Purpose”. This is where Boaz asked his workers to let barley fall to the ground so Ruth could have food. So each day, I too carry “Handfuls on Purpose” to help the poorest of the poor.” We can’t help them all – but we can help the ones the Lord tells us to help. I want to thank everyone of you who SO Faithfully give on a monthly basis to help us do this work on the frontlines. We couldn’t do it without you and it’s such a joy to PARTNER together in the work of the Kingdom.
I would say that this is the happiest, most satisfying and fulfilling time in my whole life. I can’t even image doing anything else!
We go out weekly to visit in the homes of the widows, bringing them food (corn, beans, rice, sugar, salt, oil, tea, cookies, etc.) and assessing their needs. We generally have impromptu visits. One of our mamas left her family of 10 children. Her husband died a couple of years ago and she was so overwhelmed with the responsibility of trying to raise 10 children with no job, no income - she just disappeared. The 2 eldest, still in their teens, got married just to get out of the house (which is a 12x12 mud hut). So we found out that the 11 year old was going around the neighbourhood foraging food in the dump for her siblings (4-11 years) and cooking what she could. When we arrived at their home…there was absolutely NO food in the house… NOTHING!!! and 8 little pair of eyes silently looking at us! We lost it and our hearts were once again broken for these precious little ones. So we quickly loaded beans, rice, etc. into my little Isuzu and, with tears and joy, we filled their little home with chakula (food)! We’re seeking wisdom in order to know how to help with this family. None of the children go to school because they have no school fees. Please PRAY for these precious little ones! God sees them. He knows them and loves them and so do we!
We visited another widow on another day. She apologized that she had no tea to serve us and was very embarrassed. We quickly sent her kids to a shop to purchase tea, milk, sugar & biscuits. By the time they got back we also had around 20 little neighbour kids so our host ended up serving tea and had plenty of sweets for everyone. The children never grab – they just look on with silent stares and wait. We talked with them, shared the love of the Lord with them and sang lots of songs. They were delighted by their squeals of joy and many shared their testimonies of God’s goodness in their lives. When you have nothing, anything you receive is such a blessing! We also realized this widow had very little food as well so we were able to bless her and encourage her. She said, “God really does know I’m here and He has remembered me.” YES…God sees and knows all of these mamas and their children.
We continue to supply all the food for two of our children’s homes, one in Kipsaina (10 boys) and one in Milimani (18 girls & 1 boy). So, once again, thank you for your support because these are just a few of the things we do on a regular basis. Our shopping days, the 1st and 15th are quite a feat. We have to go to approx 11 different places to get everything we need (from beans, maize, rice (all in 90 kg sacks), and foodstuff to kerosene, charcoal, beans, maize, etc. Then, because I’ve got a little Isuzu, we have to make about 5 trips to and from just delivering it.
Also I’ve been going up with a team to North Pokot and Mount Elgon (this is about three hours by car on horrendous roads) on a monthly basis working with those who were involved and impacted through the clashes in 2008. One main need is to take BIBLES IN THE POKET LANGUAGE. They are hungry and thirsty for the Word of God and for teaching. PRAY also for RAIN in both of these areas. They have not have rain in about four months in Pokot and the situation is desperate.
In my last newsletter I shared that we had rescued a little 8 month old baby (Evans) who was 9 lbs and put him in a baby rescue center where there are 71 children under 5 years of age. I visited there last week and he is now 14 lbs, chunking up, laughing and motoring along in a walker. When we first met him we called him “floppy” because he couldn’t even hold his head up. Now his little legs are getting strong, he’s beginning to jump when you hold him, and he’s very active and happy. He has to grow about an inch in order for his little feet to touch the ground. Carla & Jeff, from Rehema Ministries, who run this center, said Evans is the happiest, most responsible little child they have had. I am trying to raise funds for Evans. It costs $50/month to raise a child (including special formulas, etc.) We also paid school fees for Ian, his 4 year old brother, and he is now attending “Seeds Ministry” school which is just 2 blocks from the slum he lives in. We also supply food on a regular basis for this Turkana family who are indeed the “poorest of the poor”.
If you would like to send funds for BLANKETS, BIBLES, FOOD or if you wish to contribute to raising little EVANS, please contact Ralph & Donna Bromley at “Hope For The Nations” in Kelowna, B.C. (E-mail: Ralph@hopeforthenations.com) Specify what you want the funds to be used for and I will make sure they get allocated properly.
Once again we bless you and wish to say a huge THANK YOU for all your PRAYERS and SUPPORT. We couldn’t do this work without you.
Joni Eveleigh (from Kitale, Kenya)
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Well, we decided to build the girls a new building with showers and toilets. The girls were overjoyed, and sang us three songs with shining faces. I have included a picture of the girls and their new structure. If you would like to help complete this project, we would be grateful. It will possibly cost an extra $10,000 to complete the building, along with new beds and furniture. This is a worthy project. Rosemary and the girls just exude humility and gratitude for their new living quarters.