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Evelyn and Cecilia burst through the door of the Guesthouse telling me my floor is dirty and they have come to clean it. With an old torn child’s jacket stretched between her hands all ready to kneel down and swish water all over the floor, Evelyn looked disappointed when I explained we didn’t want the cracks in the cement full of water, nor did we want them to sweep and create a cloud of dust because we needed to work in the big room. Sunday after a crowd of kids enjoyed drawing in the same room, I then let two stay to sweep. My computer had a layer of dust on the cover after wards but the floor was sort of clean.
Johanna beautified our cement walled living room with curtains and I was glad to close them when I was alone in the big house one night until Amelia arrived back from Nairobi. As the girls agreed to clean up the kitchen instead of washing the floor, I checked if any of the children on our porch were from Edwin’s or my devotional group. Each of us have taken on a group of 22 to do photos and sponsor letters. Finding 4 of mine I gave them paper and pencil suggesting some subjects they may write about. I think if we had a copy of every letter sponsors have received, we may find a lot of repetition, but alas, sponsors seem to be appreciative of the letter regardless. I like the letters to be legitimate, not written by a “bigger brother or sister” who wants to help the little ones. Since Patricia mailed out her group of letters, and now Johanna has also returned to BC and sent hers out, some of you will have received yours. If you have more than one sponsor child, please be patient as Edwin’s, Amelia’s and mine are not yet finished and yours may be in our group.
As the children began to write, Edwin called me aside for a moment to discuss his trip to Eldoret. My brief absence from the big room where the children like to visit us, resulted in the peanut butter scandal.
Our money at the moment is at par with the Kenyan shilling so when I tell you I paid 840 Ksh. for 800 grams of peanut butter, you will realize it cost $8.40. We had just opened the jar for breakfast. One of the older boys writing his letter told me my peanut butter had been raided. “They used their fingers but smoothed over their finger tracks so you wouldn’t notice.”
Finding the villain, I also found accomplices. None of the four would admit who actually took the scoop, only that they had all tasted. We discussed how that eating it was as bad as taking it. Anyway, their punishment was to be banned from visiting the guesthouse for one week.
Already today, two of them were back, but the sign I had taped on the door said, “Prayer Day, Please enter quietly.” Could I send out 2 girls who came to pray?
Today I have reinforced the punishment of one week absence and the four understand.
I wish you could experience Monday’s prayer day. Monday is our usual day for prayer and fasting at least until noon, and since Edwin, Amelia and Kennedy (board member) were not here, I thought I may be praying by myself. I mentioned to a few children that they were welcome to join me if they liked. They were off school as the Grade 8's were being instructed on how to use an answer sheet for their big exam. I put out about 8 chairs, and throughout the morning, those plus 7 more were filled with rotating children.
Across the circle sat Reuben, who loves to pray. He also loves to discover things, and on Sunday he discovered that if he pushed the tip of a pen into the middle of that thing that sticks out of the tire on the Toyota, the tire deflates. One of the older girls asked Reuben “Why did you do that?”
“I let the air out of a bicycle tire once and wanted to see if the same thing would happen to a car tire,” he answered, both speaking in Swahili.
“You better not try it on the motor cycle,” she warned. “No, I better not do that!” he agreed. He is so cute and innocent we couldn’t help but laugh, and the spare is now on with the original sent off on a pica pica (motorbike) for air.
When the grandmother who takes care of 2 of our home based children left the prayer morning, she commented, “I like the way these children pray. They pray like pastors!” I also am impressed with the spiritual maturity of little children walking around praying with hands raised in worship, and sending away demons in the name of Jesus.
Returning to the four children writing their sponsor letter, I crossed out, “Please send me stickers” and suggested on the final copy the child say, “Two calves were born, a girl and a boy.” We don’t like the children to ask for anything in their letters as sponsors are already sacrificing to send $35 or $50 or $110 (Secondary Boarding school child) per month. Thank you so much for those who are connecting with God’s heart for the poor and needy. These children are no longer destitute; they are unbelievably wonderful children, any one of which you would be proud of in your own family. The difference is education and daily worship, prayer and teaching from the Word of God. Those of you who pray for Mercy and Caring Home and support financially have been God’s hand extended to these dear children.
The murmur of 17 praying at once fills the room with a holy buzz. One starts a song and sings it all the way through knowing that the others will join in the second time round, with harmony and such strong voices. As Johanna used to say, “It sends chills up my back, the room is so full of the Holy Spirit during the evening devotions.”
We prayed that God would lead us to those who were hungry for God when we went outside the compound to visit neighbors. During the Gr. 8 big final exam, we are not allowed to have any noise on the compound so we exited in 6 groups of 13. Seven people came to know Christ in the outreach, and some plan to attend church on Sunday. Please pray for these new believers. We will go out two more times. |
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Birthday Gift |
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Baby Class |
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Sunday Walk |
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Edwin went to Eldoret in search of another vehicle for the centre and he found a 7 year old Toyota for $19,000 which he felt was expensive. However, we knows Toyota pick ups are in great demand in Kenya. He and a trusted staff, Frances Asava continued to Nairobi, and will view 3 more pick ups today. Our old Toyota has never been granted a proper license. It has broken down with us twice recently, and may not be roadworthy much longer. Please pray for God's clear direction re another vehicle.
UPdate: looks like they may be returning with a Nissan.
As Christmas approaches, we ask that you consider who among your recipients may welcome a gift given to MCCH in their honor. MCCH can give you a January tax receipt and send a note to the honored person if you make that request with your donation and provide teh address. Donations can be made to the address above, or by phoning Donna with a Visa or Mastercard number.
Here are some of the things needed.
a. new mattresses for the big boy's dorm. The foam is falling apart.
b. new blankets for the same. Some have only one thin blanket and with a vinyl covered mattress and no sheet the cement dorms are cold, especially during the heavy rains we have had this month.
c. The cups we bought last year are too few to go around, and some have to wait and wash cups before receiving their mid morning Chai.
d. some children need a jacket from the used clothing market. Johanna got a nice one for her sponsor child for 500 Ksh. ($5.00)
e with the extra rain there has been a lot of malaria, and for those who drink water elsewhere, a number of secondary students with typhoid. The medical fund is depleted.
f. The bigger needs are the vehicle and the Secondary Schooling. If you want to help a Secondary student with school costs, we have many needing funds, as our second class goes away to Boarding school in Jan.2012, each needing $110 per month.
Thank you so much for praying about what you can do. Many of you are already sacrificing to see these children who you have never seen with your eyes, are given the chance of knowing Jesus and climbing out of a cycle of poverty.
Edwin and I will be returning to Canada on December 11 to be with our Canadian family this Christmas. We were here in Kenya for Christmas last year.
May you experience God's peace. Isaiah 26:3 is the verse I have been encouraging the children with this week.
2 reminders: 1. donating used vehicles is a good way of sponsoring MCCH. Contact Dane (604-886-9792),a mechanic who can make them saleable 2. remember Mercy and Caring Home when you consider leaving a legacy (simply put a percentage to MCCH in your will)
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