Monday, 25 February 2008
Blog 4 – Settling down to life in Kisumu, Kenya
Sunday 24th February 2008
Greetings to everyone from Peter & Paula!
We are well, enjoying the beautiful Kenyan people and climate.
We are slowly learning the geography of the city and the best ways of getting around.
We particularly want to focus on the theme of 'Kindness' in this 'blog'...
For our first two and a half weeks here we were travelling around on 'boda-bodas' (bicycles) and 'tuk-tuks' (3-wheelers), then we began using a car! This silver grey, 4x4, 21 year old Nissan Sunny became ours through the amazing generosity of our home church in Fareham, Hampshire, UK. We let them know of our need and they amazingly had a love offering for us.
It has been completely paid for by their kind generosity!
Such kindness is the substance of the Kingdom of God! We have an amazing and generous heavenly Father who sees our needs and as we reach out to Him he graciously responds.
5 days a week we travel the 6km from calm middle-class Milimani across to the poor and shanty suburb of Manyatta. We pass evidence of the notorious 'post election' rioting and demonstrations; burnt out and smashed buildings, cars, lorries and damaged road surfaces caused by burning tyres.
There is some semblance of normality returning to the community; roadside sellers pedal their wares of charcoal, wood, furniture, and materials of all shapes and sizes. Precarious 'boda-bodas' loaded with provisions keep closely to the edge of the tarmacadam road, narrowly being missed by the mad 'matatu' (mini-bus) drivers, whose vans are stuffed full of cheap paying locals hoping to get to their destination safely! The colourful 'matatus' have wonderful names emblazoned on their front and back windscreens; 'GLORY', 'CHOPPER', 'FAITH', 'AGAPE', 'HOPE', and 'BEG FOR MERCY'!
In Manyatta we have been developing good relationships with the local community. At the new primary school site we have completed the redecoration of the 2 largest office rooms to be used for the administration centre of the new school.
Each day has been a joy to work alongside two hard-working young men, Sam and Jacob. They have been gracious and friendly and very kind to us. Sam has been supported by To Kenya With Love (TKWL) for 15 years from nursery school and is hoping to study at a local University; finances permitting. He will make a great teacher one day.
5 minutes walk away from the new site is the rented accommodation for the Nursery part of the school. On arrival, we are kindly welcomed and if it is lunch-time we are shown to a small empty staff room where we have our hands washed and a tasty meal – usually rice or spaghetti with beans, or pieces of meat - served on immaculately clean glass plates.
Such kindness! This meal is served by one of the most joyful women we have ever come across; Vivienne. A tall elegant lady whose small mud-walled hut we had visited 4 years ago at Dunga, a small fishing village on lake Victoria; 10 km from the school. A single mother of several children who loves to serve with sincere joy and a broad smile. She cooks for all the children in Nursery and Primary 1(90 children, and all the staff) over a charcoal stove.
It is at this site we have begun to support the Primary 1 class teacher, George, with Pastoral/RE lessons on a Wednesday afternoon. On Friday mornings it is our privilege to join the staff at their early weekly prayer time. Then we love to pop in to every class (4 of them) and greet every child. Paula found some monkey puppets and somewhat frightened a young child when she appeared with them on her hands!
There has been an ongoing sewerage leakage from a mains sewer on the new site which is still unresolved. A local firm are struggling to fix it; we wonder if they have given up trying! None the less it has to be resolved before the 90 children and staff can move to the site as soon as possible.
All for now. Until next time when we hope to have news of a home we can rent and an update on the school development. Thanks to so many for kindly emailing and texting us.
Lots of love
Peter & Paula xx
Greetings to everyone from Peter & Paula!
We are well, enjoying the beautiful Kenyan people and climate.
We are slowly learning the geography of the city and the best ways of getting around.
We particularly want to focus on the theme of 'Kindness' in this 'blog'...
For our first two and a half weeks here we were travelling around on 'boda-bodas' (bicycles) and 'tuk-tuks' (3-wheelers), then we began using a car! This silver grey, 4x4, 21 year old Nissan Sunny became ours through the amazing generosity of our home church in Fareham, Hampshire, UK. We let them know of our need and they amazingly had a love offering for us.
It has been completely paid for by their kind generosity!
Such kindness is the substance of the Kingdom of God! We have an amazing and generous heavenly Father who sees our needs and as we reach out to Him he graciously responds.
5 days a week we travel the 6km from calm middle-class Milimani across to the poor and shanty suburb of Manyatta. We pass evidence of the notorious 'post election' rioting and demonstrations; burnt out and smashed buildings, cars, lorries and damaged road surfaces caused by burning tyres.
There is some semblance of normality returning to the community; roadside sellers pedal their wares of charcoal, wood, furniture, and materials of all shapes and sizes. Precarious 'boda-bodas' loaded with provisions keep closely to the edge of the tarmacadam road, narrowly being missed by the mad 'matatu' (mini-bus) drivers, whose vans are stuffed full of cheap paying locals hoping to get to their destination safely! The colourful 'matatus' have wonderful names emblazoned on their front and back windscreens; 'GLORY', 'CHOPPER', 'FAITH', 'AGAPE', 'HOPE', and 'BEG FOR MERCY'!
In Manyatta we have been developing good relationships with the local community. At the new primary school site we have completed the redecoration of the 2 largest office rooms to be used for the administration centre of the new school.
Each day has been a joy to work alongside two hard-working young men, Sam and Jacob. They have been gracious and friendly and very kind to us. Sam has been supported by To Kenya With Love (TKWL) for 15 years from nursery school and is hoping to study at a local University; finances permitting. He will make a great teacher one day.
5 minutes walk away from the new site is the rented accommodation for the Nursery part of the school. On arrival, we are kindly welcomed and if it is lunch-time we are shown to a small empty staff room where we have our hands washed and a tasty meal – usually rice or spaghetti with beans, or pieces of meat - served on immaculately clean glass plates.
Such kindness! This meal is served by one of the most joyful women we have ever come across; Vivienne. A tall elegant lady whose small mud-walled hut we had visited 4 years ago at Dunga, a small fishing village on lake Victoria; 10 km from the school. A single mother of several children who loves to serve with sincere joy and a broad smile. She cooks for all the children in Nursery and Primary 1(90 children, and all the staff) over a charcoal stove.
It is at this site we have begun to support the Primary 1 class teacher, George, with Pastoral/RE lessons on a Wednesday afternoon. On Friday mornings it is our privilege to join the staff at their early weekly prayer time. Then we love to pop in to every class (4 of them) and greet every child. Paula found some monkey puppets and somewhat frightened a young child when she appeared with them on her hands!
There has been an ongoing sewerage leakage from a mains sewer on the new site which is still unresolved. A local firm are struggling to fix it; we wonder if they have given up trying! None the less it has to be resolved before the 90 children and staff can move to the site as soon as possible.
All for now. Until next time when we hope to have news of a home we can rent and an update on the school development. Thanks to so many for kindly emailing and texting us.
Lots of love
Peter & Paula xx
Friday, 8 February 2008
Blog 3 – Safely living in Kisumu, Western Kenya
Sorry for the wait!!
Love you all.
We arrived on Wednesday 30th January at Nairobi airport mid afternoon. Swiftly we passed through immigration, having previously had our passports stamped with one year multi entry visas. Our 2 large suitcases and one large haversack soon emerged on the conveyor belt. We were quickly escorted across the terminal to our internal flight for Kisumu.
On arrival in Kisumu we were met with Chris Wheat (who leads TKWL) and pastor Eric.
On our 4km trip to Milimani, Kisumu, we saw beautiful bougainvillea, flame trees, and evidence of the riots , with burnt out buildings, and remains of road blocks.
Chris' home is safe and secure even though it is close to the city's ring road – where much of the road blocks and burnt out cars were taking place.
Chris is a bachelor (42 years) and has lived here for 3 years. He has a love for the people especially the impoverished children – who cling to him at every opportunity!
Our work is primarily to serve Chris and the charity To Kenya With Love, an educational sponsorship programme for over 200 children. A plot of flat land has been purchased to build a permanent primary school for about 200 ch'n, and a nursery for about 70 children.
This past week having recovered from our 3 flights – taking nearly 24 hours! - we have been decorating a building on the site to house the administration block.
Kisumu has been peaceful for over a week now. Exotic birds are in abundance, flora is bright and lush, the Kenyans are friendly and welcoming.
Peter met one yesterday on a walkabout – looking for a permanent home to rent – who supports Chelsea. They are mad keen on the Premiership over here!!
As we move into the weekend proper, we are resting, visiting a small lakeside village – Dunga – to order some hand made furniture for our new home! In the meantime it is a privilege to be staying with Chris, who has gone out of his way to make us feel welcome.
Gosh it's 28 degrees C!
Goodbye and love to all
Pete & Paula
Love you all.
We arrived on Wednesday 30th January at Nairobi airport mid afternoon. Swiftly we passed through immigration, having previously had our passports stamped with one year multi entry visas. Our 2 large suitcases and one large haversack soon emerged on the conveyor belt. We were quickly escorted across the terminal to our internal flight for Kisumu.
On arrival in Kisumu we were met with Chris Wheat (who leads TKWL) and pastor Eric.
On our 4km trip to Milimani, Kisumu, we saw beautiful bougainvillea, flame trees, and evidence of the riots , with burnt out buildings, and remains of road blocks.
Chris' home is safe and secure even though it is close to the city's ring road – where much of the road blocks and burnt out cars were taking place.
Chris is a bachelor (42 years) and has lived here for 3 years. He has a love for the people especially the impoverished children – who cling to him at every opportunity!
Our work is primarily to serve Chris and the charity To Kenya With Love, an educational sponsorship programme for over 200 children. A plot of flat land has been purchased to build a permanent primary school for about 200 ch'n, and a nursery for about 70 children.
This past week having recovered from our 3 flights – taking nearly 24 hours! - we have been decorating a building on the site to house the administration block.
Kisumu has been peaceful for over a week now. Exotic birds are in abundance, flora is bright and lush, the Kenyans are friendly and welcoming.
Peter met one yesterday on a walkabout – looking for a permanent home to rent – who supports Chelsea. They are mad keen on the Premiership over here!!
As we move into the weekend proper, we are resting, visiting a small lakeside village – Dunga – to order some hand made furniture for our new home! In the meantime it is a privilege to be staying with Chris, who has gone out of his way to make us feel welcome.
Gosh it's 28 degrees C!
Goodbye and love to all
Pete & Paula
Tuesday, 8 January 2008
Praying for Peace & Reconciliation
What has happened since our last blog is nothing less than a humanitarian crisis in Kenya.
Following the news and BBC world web site has left us shocked and stirred up within to cry out to God for 'peace and reconciliation' between those bent on their own agenda for power.
Friends of ours in Kisumu are living in fear for their lives. Our key worker, is still unable to return home from Kampala where he spent the Christmas break. Another works as a doctor in the very hospital Orla Guerren (BBC correspondent) visited yesterday. Such graphic and disturbing scenes of inhumanity to man.
First hand reports have informed us that of the 200+ children and families we support and sponsor, some have completely vanished. They are of the Kikuyu tribe.
Why is there suffering? What brings mankind to this level of violence and hatred, a base human instinct; our lowest common denominator!?
Perhaps we need to accept we will never fully understand! But we need to know that God cares about those suffering and wants to use us to do something about it.
For some reason it appears that 99% of the time God appears to alleviate suffering by working through humans...you and me. Surely it would be a lot more effective to bypass us as we seem to make such a mess of everything.
God is capable of miraculously feeding all the world's hungry and yet for some reason he prefers to do it through humans. Even when he miraculously fed the 5,000 men, he gave the food to the disciples to distribute.
Now why did he do that?
In the midst of all these atrocities in Kenya, let us not lose sight of the ever present person of the suffering Christ, who daily walks the same lonely and abused road; often in the form of another human being.
Such unconditional love. Grace at work.
Now that's what is needed in this beautiful land! Reconciliation and peace.
Oh by the way, in case you were wondering, yes, we are still planning on go to live, serve and work amongst the poor in Kisumu at the end of the month. This seems as good a time as any to be going.
However, we will respect the UK government's recommendations, and those who have our welfare at heart. Wisdom will prevail.
Peter & Paula xx
Following the news and BBC world web site has left us shocked and stirred up within to cry out to God for 'peace and reconciliation' between those bent on their own agenda for power.
Friends of ours in Kisumu are living in fear for their lives. Our key worker, is still unable to return home from Kampala where he spent the Christmas break. Another works as a doctor in the very hospital Orla Guerren (BBC correspondent) visited yesterday. Such graphic and disturbing scenes of inhumanity to man.
First hand reports have informed us that of the 200+ children and families we support and sponsor, some have completely vanished. They are of the Kikuyu tribe.
Why is there suffering? What brings mankind to this level of violence and hatred, a base human instinct; our lowest common denominator!?
Perhaps we need to accept we will never fully understand! But we need to know that God cares about those suffering and wants to use us to do something about it.
For some reason it appears that 99% of the time God appears to alleviate suffering by working through humans...you and me. Surely it would be a lot more effective to bypass us as we seem to make such a mess of everything.
God is capable of miraculously feeding all the world's hungry and yet for some reason he prefers to do it through humans. Even when he miraculously fed the 5,000 men, he gave the food to the disciples to distribute.
Now why did he do that?
In the midst of all these atrocities in Kenya, let us not lose sight of the ever present person of the suffering Christ, who daily walks the same lonely and abused road; often in the form of another human being.
Such unconditional love. Grace at work.
Now that's what is needed in this beautiful land! Reconciliation and peace.
Oh by the way, in case you were wondering, yes, we are still planning on go to live, serve and work amongst the poor in Kisumu at the end of the month. This seems as good a time as any to be going.
However, we will respect the UK government's recommendations, and those who have our welfare at heart. Wisdom will prevail.
Peter & Paula xx
Friday, 28 December 2007
Our Kenyan Experience Post 1
Today Kenya will discover who will be their president for the next term of office. Let's hope and pray this will be a peaceful and stable time.
27 years ago we both knew that one day we would be moving from England to live and work in Kenya, amongst the poor, needy and imprisoned.
On January 30th 2008 we will be landing on Kenyan soil. We are being 'sent' by Fareham Community Church. http://www.farehamcommunitychurch.com/
We have the privilege of serving as voluntary support workers, with a growing charity called 'To Kenya With Love'. http://www.tkwl.org.uk/ .
Their aim is to help others to help themselves.
To begin with we will have much to learn about the culture and people whilst initially staying with friends in Kisumu city.
27 years ago we both knew that one day we would be moving from England to live and work in Kenya, amongst the poor, needy and imprisoned.
On January 30th 2008 we will be landing on Kenyan soil. We are being 'sent' by Fareham Community Church. http://www.farehamcommunitychurch.com/
We have the privilege of serving as voluntary support workers, with a growing charity called 'To Kenya With Love'. http://www.tkwl.org.uk/ .
Their aim is to help others to help themselves.
To begin with we will have much to learn about the culture and people whilst initially staying with friends in Kisumu city.
Preparations for leaving UK have been wonderfully smooth. The future with all it's wonderful challenges lies before us; an ever opening door!
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