Visiting schools, Kenya, and the Women of Grace!

June 12

After making homemade oatmeal for the team, we headed off to the first CRF school visit named after Milton Jones the founder of CRF.  The school trained about 200 children of which about 65% were orphans or half orphans.  It was started by a Kenyan man named Francis who had been supporting the children.  CRF offered to help support the children to see the schools grow.  In the Eldoret area, over eight years, about 1000 children are now supported.  Communities are being impacted for the better by training children and with Christian values.  The school staff come from the communities and are now provided with jobs.  People are turning from witchcraft and increasing their faith in God.

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The next school that we visited was called Suzy Peacock.  It was a high school for about 150 children and only a few months old.  People in the USA had purchased some property for a school and Francis helped to have it built.  This school also has dorms for the children who live on site.  There is only one women who lives on site to care for all the children and she loves her job.

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Our goals for learning how to start a Christian School are well under way.  We are getting all kinds of advice and even good material to use with the school.  We are safe, enjoying the team fellowship and thrilled to be here!!

Visiting schools to learn how to start a Christian school.

June 11

With a good night’s rest, we headed for Eldoret.  The border between Uganda and Kenya took at least 2 hours to get through.  It was in a very poor and crowded town.  The crossing was mostly held up by what seemed to be at least a mile of freight trucks on either side.  It was a little frightening thinking about how in the world we were going to get through the very complicated process.  As God would have it, a man that had helped the Ugandan’s get through the border in the past walked right up to us.  It is his profession to help people through the border.  He spotted the Chariot and came right up to us to help us through.  If it were not for him, it could have taken 3 days to figure it out…  It was a great relief to cross over.

Four more hours to Eldoret.  Kenya looks a lot like Uganda with banana trees, rice fields, peanut farms, cattle farms, etc….however, it seems to be more rolling country and very lush.  The roads are about the same.  Some are great and some are not…

All of us spent the night with Jake Reeves who is a 20 year old missionary for CRF, and a great host.  We have really enjoyed spending time with him and I think he appreciated the company as he is here by himself.

June 10

Today we left Kampala for Eldoret, Kenya. We are taking two days to get there stopping in Mbale near the border.  On the way to Mbale we stopped to see the source of the Nile and dip our feet in it.  We also had lunch at the Source Café which was started by the Jinga Church of Christ.  We were surprised to run into Katie who wrote the book, Kisses from Katie.  In the following picture, there are three people.  The one in the foreground is Carmen.  The one in the far background is Katie.  She actually has an office behind the Source Café.

Girl in background is Katie Davis, author of Kisses from Katie. 

Once we made it to Mbale, we stopped by Messiah Theological Institute (MTI) where the guys were to spend the night.  Carmen and I spent the night in a guest house of Joy and Vince Vigil who arevery hospitable long term missionaries.  The last time I was in Mbale was when I was working on the Livingston International University project three years ago.  Since then, the school has been opened but is renting space at MTI.  LIU has made tremendous progress in the last three years. 

Next to MTI is a bakery.  They have several ovens that are wood fired.  They were making cookies, donuts and bread….Ugandan style.

Bakery next to Messiah Theological Institute

June 8

Saturday is the day that the Women of Grace get together for a Bible Study and then work on crafts.  They were studying Micah 2 which is what all of the KCC Life Care Groups are studying.  It was a very inspirational discussion where everyone participated.  I learned that I should not take pride in all of the blessings from the Lord, but rather bless others with all that God us blessed us with.  They were several prayer requests from the ladies concerning several health issues including those with HIV.  Due to lack of access to health care, there is an abundance of various health issues.  Please pray for the ladies to heal and b strong for the Lord’s work.  After the lesson, we had the very pleasurable experience of learning to make the Ugandan Bead products.  The ladies are going to finish working with beads for a while and then learn a new craft.  They are praying for a sewing machine to learn sewing.  I am hoping to teach them tie-dying and making curtains….curtains are straight lines and easy to learn….

Women of Grace craft time.

Women of Grace bible study.

Visiting Viviane in Uganda.

After church services, we visited with many of the members to introduce Carmen and for me to get caught up with dear friends.  We went to Viviane’s home for lunch, a local Ugandan meal.  She had prepared stewed beef, fresh peas, greens, Matoke (steamed plantains), rice, Sweet potatoes, Irish Potatoes and Coke!  After lunch we looked at her photo album and learned more about her escape from Rwandan threats after the genocide.  She had survived the torture through the genocide but was pushed out of the country due to remaining tension between the tribes.

Nancy Harbron reports from Uganda.

June 9, 2013 – Sunday

Today we attended the church services for both the Lugandan and English services.  The Kampala Church of Christ (KCC) sends their greetings to each of you.  They are very grateful for your prayers and for thinking of them.  They are always very encouraged when they have visitors. 

John Sekwa preached at the English Service and spoke specifically about not coming to church to expect a miracle, but rather to increase you relationship with God.  Many people here have learned one way or another about the message of prosperity, so, some have a view that if they come to church, God will cause them to materially prosper.  Jobey Terzol, led the contribution comments.  I was especially proud of him for his comments concerning not giving up in the cause of Christ and daily living.  He is one of the young adults who was a “street kid” at the age of 8 years old and has become a Christian through friendships at KCC.  He is now 21 years old and lives at the church as one of the guards.  He also attends school and is in the 10^th grade.  Living on the streets put him behind until a visiting American sponsored him.  He wants to be a doctor one day.

After church services, we visited with many of the members to introduce Carmen and for me to get caught up with dear friends.  We went to Viviane’s home for lunch, a local Ugandan meal.  She had prepared stewed beef, fresh peas, greens, Matoke (steamed plantains), rice, Sweet potatoes, Irish Potatoes and Coke!  After lunch we looked at her photo album and learned more about her escape from Rwandan threats after the genocide.  She had survived the torture through the genocide but was pushed out of the country due to remaining tension between the tribes.

In the evening, we attended a Ugandan Performance learning more about the culture and tribes. 

More to come!! Many blessings to all of you!!

Nancy

Nancy Harbron, Terzol, and Carmen Myer

Carmen Myer is a twenty-something college student and Montessori teacher from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She has been a member of the South Baton Rouge Church of Christ for her entire life and just recently joined a new church plant in the Baton Rouge area. Although this is not her first time to leave the States this will be Carmen’s first mission trip. She has been blessed to see God’s hand at work in every tiny detail of the trip and cannot wait to see his grace and love carried on throughout the rest of the trip. To follow Carmen’s journey head on over to her blog at carmendanielle.com. 

Enjoying the breeze in Haiti.

Enjoying the breeze again while sitting in the shade on the patio. It has been a busy couple of days as the household prepares for the rest of the team to arrive. Their flight should get in this afternoon and they should be here for dinner. Charlene and Dave have worked hard to prepare the house to be comfortable and welcoming; they've even planned some surprises for the team that I'm sure they'll enjoy.

Yesterday, I did get to go to Roberta's house and spend time with kiddos. Started with the kindergarten class and we had a " Painting Party"! Showed the children how to take their shapes and use them to help draw pictures of things around them. Then we broke out the water colors and had a great time creating art. Water was spilled numerous times, colors were mixed and lots of paper were used...the perfect party! Good conversation, special pictures were taken and I even received an invitation to snack time, a great wrap-up to a fun morning. Then it was nap time and I headed out to the field next to Roberta's where the farming projects happen. There's a team of men from Healing Hands helping the family start preparing to raise rabbits. First, on the list was building the enclosure. You can see them working away behind Ben who is the foreground holding an eggplant from their garden. They raise several vegetables, chickens (sell the eggs), and have a small grove of banana trees where several are loaded with fruit ripening right now.

Ben, in garden.

Ben, along with his brother Matochee, proudly showed me around their Tilapia farm.  They have 3 tanks dividing eggs and babies, mid-sized fish and the large, ready to eat or sell size. My tour ended with the women's group busily sewing under a porch covering. They have found a market for bags made by Haitians with Haiti sewn on them. Roberta reports they are delighted to take their profits and give the first 10% to The Lord, pay themselves and then put rest back into their business.  What delighted me especially is Roberta's account of how their self-esteem has grown with these accomplishments; also, though, how they are looking around now and helping those who need help and how much joy they have doing so. God is truly being glorified by these enterprising sisters in The Lord.

Tomorrow our team heads to Gantier for our first clinic this year. Please lift the people in that area in your prayers, and for the team to show them the love of Christ as we serve there.
Blessings from Haiti,
Jeanne

Jeanne Evans reports from Haiti!

Jeanne and Roberta preparing meds for first clinic.

Today I got to have my morning time break on the Guest House patio. There was shade from a mango tree and as I sat there, I got to listen to the local happenings.  A couple of streets down the way, there were a group of worshipers singing praises to God. The tunes sounded familiar but the words, not so much. The street beyond our wall was quite busy. Besides vehicles, people were walking along greeting neighbors, children were having fun with some kind of game and industrious folk were going along hawking their wares. Then, Bam! The breeze knocked another ripe mango off the tree onto the tin roof which covers part of the patio! I laughed out loud and thought to myself, this is all part of being in Haiti.

The couple who are the innkeepers of the Guest House this year is David and Charlene May. They are this delightful, Christian couple who don't happen to believe one should retire from doing God's work just because they've retired! I want to grow up to be just like them! They are busy organizing and creating a welcoming atmosphere here. Roberta is doing well this year, after recovering from surgery last year. She's also very busy! There are 19 children in the Sonlight Children's Home she mothers. For almost 3 months, she has had help with homeschooling her 5-8 year old kiddos by a young lady named Melissa. Melissa says, "it's been wonderful!  I've been blessed and have learned so much!"  I've seen the pictures from some of their activities; I think the blessings have gone both ways!

Last Thursday night, Charlene invited all from Roberta's over for a traditional Hmong dinner. As it turns out, they have been part of the St Paul Urban Ministries where Rob and Heather Starnes are now serving. It was a great  evening closing with a devotional. Roberta has some wonderful singers in her home and Dave continued a study about being ready, a theme he's been discussing with the young ones when they get together. I sat between two tired little boys who found a comfortable spot for their heads on my arms, precious!  I got in a lot of hugging, some snuggle time after dinner with a little fellow and caught up with some of the older children. These children are part of the reason I come a week before the rest of my team.

Another reason I come early, is an opportunity to prepare for the first clinic which occurs the day after the majority of the team arrives. Medicines are sent ahead and they always need unpacking(Roberta helped), sorting and dividing for each day of clinic. This  year I'm happy to report that I wrapped up that preparation today! Since I got that done (with help from several children and handy adults), i just started on the next clinic day's preparation. I'll continue to prep but I have a day scheduled with kindergartens on Monday; it involves paint, should be fun!

Thanks everyone for your prayers; please always keep Haiti in your prayers and all our brothers and sisters here. Hope I'll get to write again; thanks for letting me share!
Blessings,
Jeanne

New photos from NTCC meeting!

Steve Kenney leading us to the NTCC meeting, a little nervous.

Steve teaching from Colossians 2.

Dear Readers, Here is an update: Sunday night September 3, we attended Living stream meeting which is a meeting of young adults. We were super encouraged by the faith they cling to.

On Monday, September, 3, 2012 [we visited] chicken project in Ndejje, a 40 minute drive from Kampala. The goal is to train folks how to care for chickens and to begin a life-care group. Ndejje is a mostly Muslim community. Nearby is a village called Kibiri where a school is being built. Kindergarten will begin in March. There is one teacher so far, but needs two since expectation is 30 students.

Later we visited Chebondo village for lunch at Okello's house where a wonderful meal was served.

On Tuesday we went to Gganda where the church meets in the front yard of Jonathan Katerega who recently converted from practicing witchcraft. Some of us walked to a site where witchcraft was practiced, but due to recent conversions has been turned into a site where young Christians sleep. The holy spirit of God has now replaced the bad spirits. Willington, a Christian from Kampala church, told me that, "Most converts from witchcraft love God more because of the bad place from which they have come."

On Wednesday we spent the day at Wabegalo church. There we sang, the children performed, Steve spoke, and we ate a large meal together. Five people were baptized. They showed much bravery since the idea of submerging one's head under water here is terrifying. We toured the maize project where Jim took soil samples determining that lime was needed for the best corn crop. It is about 2 acres in size. Corn is needed because it stores easily in times of drought.

On Thursday plans to visit the new church-plant in Kasangiti changed when part of the team visited
an injured friend. In the evening we visited a life group at Emmanual's home. Many are from Congo.

Blessings,
Leslie