When Jonny is writing this newsletter, he is back in
Kenya after two months in Norway and USA. Marianne
remained in Kenya, as it is a problem for both of us to
leave the kids at the same time. Jonny is definitely
also more fond of travelling than Marianne, and has a
strong network in Norway to take care of. One of our
slogans is “We believe in close relations”, and we find Jonny’s travelling well-spent time – although we don’t
like to be away from each other for too long…
Jonny’s tour to USA was first of all meant as a door
opener for further cooperation with some churches
there. As you might recall, a group of 6 people from
Salem Baptist Church in Virginia came visiting Maisha
Mema, Ric & Jane in August last year. This group had a
wonderful relationship with both our children and
workers, and we have kept contact since then. Jonny was
therefore very happy that he got the opportunity to
visit them and the church. Then in July this year, a
big group of mainly young people from Columbia TN came
visiting Maisha Mema and Ric & Jane. They ministered to
children in Soweto, and also made a big impression on
us. Jonny also got the opportunity to visit this church
Columbia, Tennessee meets Soweto, Kenya!
while
he was in USA and share about our ministry in Nairobi.
The two other churches he
visited,
were
Calvary Baptist Church in Jackson
TN, where a youth group is now supporting
one of our resident children, and Countryside Community
Church in Lebanon,
Ohio,
Ric & Jane’s home church. Jonny also really wants to
stress that it was very nice being with Ric and Jane,
travelling to different parts of the eastern USA –
including Washington – and solving world problems with
Ric during long driving hours. Due to our building
plans next year, which will take up most of the months,
we don’t know if it is practically possible to come back
already next year, but we definitely want to keep
relations warm with people and churches in USA. Thank
you all for a great tour!
We don’t hide the fact that the building project has taken a lot of thinking,
head scratching and worries. But at least now we have a more certain date for
the first stone to be laid. Ric had to take a back operation in the US. It
was successful, but he needs some time to recuperate properly. Jane and him
will also attend a couple of seminars in November and mid January, and will
then come back to Kenya towards the end of January. We therefore look very
much forward to start building in the beginning of February. And we already
have the building permit for the whole project! Pray with us that everything
will work out nicely!
Let us give you some glimpses from the work in Kenya: As you might know, all of
the children in our program (for the time being around 155) are covered
medically. This is a part of the “sponsor-package” either you sponsor a child
in our family in Doonholm, a Clubhouse-kid or any other kid in the program. In
Soweto, we cooperate with a good clinic where the sister in charge has been
very helpful. Just recently she shared with Marianne some figures from the
slums. They are scary! Of all the people coming for HIV-tests, 25 percent
test positive. Knowing that quite a number of people will never come for
tests, this is a high figure.
We also know that several mothers of children we are
sponsoring in Soweto are HIV-positive, and some are
AIDS-sick. We often ask the question what to do with
the children when their mothers die. It is not natural
for us to take care of them all, since many of them will
have relatives they can go live with, but some will
definitely end up on the streets if we don’t intervene.
That’s one of the reasons we desperately need the new
centre!
But we also know that knowledge is one
of the factors that can steer people away from
indulging in risky behaviour. We therefore
also try to have seminars in Clubhouse with
the mothers. Issues touched are hygiene,
HIV/AIDS, how to raise children (it is a giant
problem!), how to help and encourage the
children with homework, moral and social
issues. Some of the mothers we deal with,
though, have never gone to school. A few
months ago Kwame asked the mothers whether
they were interested in learning how to read
and write. Five mothers now come regularly
three times a week to Clubhouse. With too
many of the mothers, though, we often see pure
apathy. Many of them have no drive; no
ambitions whatsoever other than survive. We
understand that people in the slums fight to
survive, but then it is a reward to see at
least a few trying to better their life
situation with knowledge. It is just so nice
to see that these mothers actually want
to learn!
Sharon Khasandi has lived with us now for over 3 years.
She
is
seven years old
and
is through
with Standard 1 in school. And she likes going to
school! She is also a very social girl with lots of
stories to tell visitors, and likes entertaining
people.
And she is definitely also someone who can put a smile
on other people's faces!
Some times back she wrote us a
small note:
“Dear
Marianne und Jonny, I wish my mother Marianne and my
father Jonny a wonderful day. I love you Marianne and I
love you Jonny”.
You can imagine why we say these children are like our
own!
Fred – one of our workers in Soweto – wrote some times
back about the boys he is working with: “It has come
to my realization that these kids need (seriously)
mentors and this is the missing link in their lives.
Various cases of abusive parents, neglect, alcoholism or
even sheer unavailability has created a void in most of
these boys’ lives and when faced with simple decision
making tasks or situations, they are always left
wondering what to do”. It is just as much
applicable on the girls, of course. And this is why the
positive interaction with the children is so important.
The various activities also give the children a better
self esteem, as they see themselves taken seriously. It
is making them realise that they mean something
in society, and that they can also contribute
something for the common welfare of the group. And
through Bible studies, devotions, prayers and choir they
also see the meaning of Luke
11:33: “No
one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will
be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its
stand, so that those who come in may see the light”.
We want to see many lights shining in Soweto and
Doonholm!
Three of
our resident children just sat their Kenya Certificate
of Primary Education exams (KCPE). They are Caroline
Njeri -“Caro”, Beth Wanja -“Jaja” and Juma Mbukan. We
reckon none of them should have problems with our
required minimum of 275 points out of 500 possible, so
that they will all go to boarding schools next year. In
addition, Diana Wangare sat her Kenya Certificate of
Secondary Education recently (KCSE). We will not know
the KCPE results until the last days of December, while
we have to wait maybe until March to know Diana’s
results. Also three of the kids from Soweto sat KCPE
exams. Report will follow in the next newsletter!
Finally, let us again say that we are very grateful for
the opportunity we got to visit USA and make stronger
ties with people and churches there. Some text and
pictures will be posted at our internet-pages. We can
only say: Welcome in the Maisha Mema (Better Life)
family! We are now quite international, and together we
can make a difference in these children’s lives!
Take care, and please pray for the children,
workers and us in Kenya!
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