Christmas comes early!  We are almost at the end of our first school term here at RVA in Kijabe.  We have just under two weeks left before our boys return to their parents for a much anticipated 5 week break over Christmas.  This past weekend we hauled out our Christmas tree which we purchased from another missionary, and decorations, and had a decorating party with our boys.   Andrew was busy stringing up twinkle lights and I was busy setting up our Nativity sets and other decorations!  Beatrice asked us yesterday if we could open our presents now!  This Friday we are preparing for this term’s grand finale – our dorm Christmas party. 

The boys have already decided on their party menu – KFC style fried chicken strips and ice-cream sundaes with fudgy sauce and sprinkles – so we’ve already ordered the 6 kilos of chicken breast and 2 gallons of ice cream!  They have made it very clear that I don’t need to waste my time on vegetables of any kind – so chicken and ice-cream it is!  For our dorm party we’re planning on having a talent show and then a gift giving game – so there is lots of fun ahead! For the gift game, each guy has to come up with a gift – new, used or recycled.  Several of them are asking around for ‘donations’ from other staff members, others are making ‘slave for a day coupons’ and others are working on a hand-crafted item.  For the talent show the guys are practicing dance routines, songs and skits.  Andrew is working on a slide show and I am working on the lyrics for a dorm rap to perform!  Even Hannah and Bea are in on the action – Hannah plans to recite verses and sing a song, and Bea will do an improvised interpretive dance of some sort in one of her frilly tutu’s. Yup, this dorm keeps us ‘in the groove’. 

The rain continues to fall in Kijabe and as we look down into the Rift Valley below us, there are beautiful signs of new growth.  At RVA, the grass is now green and the flowers are lush and bountiful.  If the rains continue, this part of the country will receive a much needed harvest.  In Kasarani, which is about an hour away from us, the rains are also falling but far less frequently. Many people all over the world are praying for Kasarani rains – please continue!  In this picture which was taken in our backyard, if you look closely, you can see a faint rainbow just above the trees behind Hannah and I – you can also see our green and majestic surroundings!    What happened in April/May/June of this year (which is the long rains), was that the planting season started with heavy rains (like we are having now)  but by the beginning of June and straight into July, the rains stopped altogether and the plants which had started growing, all died from the draught.

Farming God’s Way – Test garden:  We have planted our second test garden of maize in our backyard–this one is about 3 times the size of the one we planted in May.  We have actually planted two different gardens: one larger one using FGW methods and another smaller patch on the end using traditional planting methods.  In this picture you can see our garden with planting holes and layers of mulch on top and the small bare traditional patch on the very end.  This picture was taken at the beginning of October and we were quite anxious because after we planted there was only one good down pour and it was very dry.  About 2 weeks after planting, our friend August Basson came and visited us and saw our garden.  Nothing had yet sprouted but when he dug up the soil, he saw that the maize seeds had already germinated.  He was very concerned because now that the seeds had germinated, they would die unless they received a good dose of water.  He told us that if they didn’t get water in 1-2 days they would all dry out and die and we would have to start again.   Andrew and I were a bit discouraged.  We could easily take out our garden hose and water the garden but we had promised ourselves that we would only depend on the rains. We prayed together that night and I remember praying – ‘God this is your garden, this is meant to glorify you, to be a model to help your people.  If it dies, then those who have seen what we are doing and watched closely, they will just discount these FGW methods.  We need rain.  Please send us the rain’.   

The next day there was no rain.  We stood our ground and didn’t touch it with water.  That second night around 9pm we were sitting in our living room when we heard the glorious sound of raindrops spitting on our metal roof.  Soon the gentle pitter pat sound turned into a torrential downpour.  It was so loud that we couldn’t hear ourselves talk.  The rains pounded the earth that night – all through the night and into the morning.   God had answered our prayers.  The rains have continued on a regular basis since.  I find it interesting that time and time again, God has answered our prayers..but often right at the last minute and usually at the point where we feel like giving up.  It’s like He is saying, ‘Do you really trust me, if you do, don’t worry about timing.  My timing is perfect and I will be glorified’.

 Well our garden has now sprouted healthy green shoots of maize.  We can already see a distinctive difference between the FGW and the traditional garden.  Yesterday I looked out our window and saw that our gardener named Zac had brought 5 other men from the community up to see the test garden.  He explained everything to them in Swahili and they were all very intrigued.  They were all bending over, examining the maize and comparing the traditional and FGW plants.  They were nodding their heads and talking excitedly with one another.  Andrew went out to talk with them and Zac said that they were very interested and wanted to come back again in a few weeks to look again.  The maize from the FGW side is healthy and strong, with bright green sturdy leaves.  The maize from the traditional patch has still sprouted but it is shorter, thinner and a bit yellow.  Both sides have received exactly the same amount of rain and we have never irrigated.  Seeing is certainly believing.  We’ll keep you updated!

In Kasarani, the rain has been less frequent but our farm manager Justice has already planted half an acre of potatoes and two additional acres of maize and beans.  In these pictures you can see the planting holes which have been dug using FGW methods.  This is different from traditional methods where they take a jembe (hoe) and dig up all the earth – turning and flipping it and aerating it.  They also laboriously mix manure throughout the soil. The idea is that if they turn and mix the soil, then the earth is ‘soft and fluffy’ that the roots will grow deeper into the soil. 

 What is really happening is root structures which actually hold the soil firmly together are broken and the soil density starts to disintegrate as the rains wash it away.  Anaerobic bacteria (not needing oxygen) is flipped to the top and exposed to oxygen.  Aerobic bacteria (needing oxygen) from the top is flipped to the bottom – so both die.  Any moisture that is retained in the soil below, is flipped to the top and the water quickly evaporates.  Then comes the scorching sun and without adequate water, the fields become parched and cracked and die.

 In FGW methods, only planting holes are dug and the rest of the soil remains undisturbed.  Manure and fertilizer is dropped into the bottom of each planting hole and then another layer of soil on top of that.  When signs of the rains are evident, then the seeds are planted in the holes, covered with soil and then the top of the soil is covered with organic material to act as mulch.  This mulch which is called ‘God’s Blanket’ is one of the most important pieces of the Farming God’s Way methods because it acts as a sponge to retain moisture. If El Nino comes, it helps keep the earth and seeds below from being washed away by torrential heavy rains and acts as a layer of protection around the seedlings when they are still young and fragile.  In times of draught, it keeps the earth below it cool and offers a level of protection from the scorching rays of the sun. When it rains, it allows the rainwater to absorb into the ground at a steady rate. 

 Justice continues to haul up lorry loads of mulch from Lake Naivasha up to the acres and we are currently in negotiations with local rose farmers with hopes that at least one of them will donate their unwanted organic waste to our cause which would be a significant help.  Covering the 3 acres of land with a thick layer of mulch is no easy task but it is a priority in order for there to be good results.  In the last planting season, it started off with good rains and then the rains stopped altogether.  It was the mulch that saved our garden and as a result we had an incredible harvest while all the farms and gardens around us here in Kijabe and in the valley below died from ‘heat exhaustion’. 

• Please pray – for heavy rains in Kasarani
• Please pray – that more and more villagers will see with their own eyes the recognizable difference between traditional farming and FGW methods.
• Please pray – for an incredible harvest on the 3 acres
• Please pray – for the local rose farm to agree to donate their organic waste for mulch

Feeding Centre:  We have some very encouraging news to share with you about the feeding centre!  God has once again provided us above and beyond what we could imagine as we continue on with preparations to build.  Just as God provided us with our missionary friend August Basson to help with the farming, he has now connected with another fellow missionary named Soren Pederson who is an expert architect and builder.  His mission is to assist local church communities with design and building of feeding centers and church buildings.  He does this at cost for the materials and charges minimal labor costs. 

Initially when he came to talk with us about his work we were a bit hesitant – we didn’t want for this project to be built entirely by an outside source or else the community would have less input themselves.  After talking we found out that he only constructs the roof which he says is the most important part of the structure.  After the roof is raised, the building is actually safe to use as a shelter and then subsequently, the walls are built up and the building completed.

 After discussing with Pastor Charles and community partners we have agreed to get started.  Just last week we spoke with Soren and he has a crew and prefabricated roof ready to deliver in the next 2 weeks!  So on Dec 1^st, he will be bringing a crew to Kasarani and they will construct a heavy duty metal roof and metal posts for the main feeding centre room.  They can do this in just a few days.  We have also asked his fundi’s (builders and craftsmen) to stay an extra week to help build the foundation for the walls and train the local mason how to do things properly.  Pastor Charles will organize for 6-8 strong men from Kasarani to volunteer and help with the raising of the roof. 

After the roofing team leaves, we will continue on with construction by hiring local village stone cutters and masons to build up the walls and partitions.  So in the end, it will be a joint effort – with outside and community expertise working in partnership with each other.   Yesterday some of the village boys were hired to start digging a pit latrine for the feeding centre – they will dig up to 40 feet down.  By the end of next week, a sturdy fence will be constructed so that by the time the lorries come to deliver all the materials needed for the feeding centre, there will be a secure enclosed space to keep them. 

As time goes on, Pastor Charles will also work with the feeding centre kids to prepare a small garden within the feeding centre compound which can be irrigated using dish and hand washing water from the feeding centre.  This garden will be tended by the orphan children and serve as a great training opportunity for them to learn about FGW methods.   At that point we will see what funds we have left to build a small house for a single or couple as property caretakers and will also start discussing a plan with the church for emergency orphan shelter.  Everything needs to happen in carefully strategized steps.

We have to be very careful that orphan care is well thought out – we could easily build 4 or 5 rooms to house about 20 orphans but these orphans would also need to be sustained on an ongoing basis.  The last thing we want to do is create a dependency situation whereby the community then looks to outsiders to care and pay for their orphans.  One of the things we will be investigating is the model of having an older widow from the community care for a group of 6-8 orphans in a house setting and also providing a garden, chickens etc as a means for self-sufficiency and income generation.  This is a huge learning curve for us but we are excited as we see things coming together.  It’s like when we finish the first step, then the necessary things fall into place for us to start the next step and so on. 

• Please pray – for safety during construction of the feeding centre roof.  That the AIC church will rally around this project and will find several volunteers to help.
• Please pray – for the provision of experienced and honest workers to build up the walls, fence, toilets, kitchen and storage room.
• Please pray – that we will get the basic building completed within the budget that God has provided .
• Please pray that the Lord will give us the wisdom and understanding that we need as we continue to investigate a self-sustaining model for orphan care in the Kasarani community.

The KBG (Kenya Bound Grannies):  We are greatly anticipating the visit of my mom and four other ladies from our home church in Oakville.  They call themselves the KBG! They will be arriving on Dec 3^rd and staying for 2 weeks (my mom will be staying on longer).  I have been busy planning their schedule while they are here and we are trying to give them a small taste of day to day life here in Kenya. 

One of the days they will visit two separate orphanages to distribute beautifully crafted quilts and teddy bears.  These ladies are very creative – they have actually turned five of the quilts into fashionable capes which they will be wearing on the airplane to save luggage space!  I was commenting to my mom that they might just start the newest fashion trend!

Another day we will go to the local village market and they will practice their bargaining skills as we purchase large quantities of sturdy second hand shoes which we will be distributing to Kasarani kids as Christmas gifts. They will also be visiting and observing at the local mission hospital, spending time with local ladies bible studies and prayer groups, being hosted for authentic Kenyan cuisine at local homes and the much anticipated highlight – to spend time in Kasarani.  In Kasarani,  we will be spending 3 days and 2 nights working alongside Pastor Charles and Beatrice to run a vacation bible school program for the orphans, spending time learning about FGW methods, prayer walking around the perimeter of the acres and feeding centre, and to top it all off, hosting a women’s conference for local ladies.  This will be an incredibly busy time but we trust that God will be glorified throughout!

Kasarani Ladies Conference:  Pastor Charles’ wife Beatrice is working with other women in the AIC church to invite 125 ladies from the Kasarani community for the ladies conference.  The date of the conference is perfect because it is a national holiday so the ladies who normally work will be off and able to attend.  The theme is ‘Luke’s Ladies’ – where our Canadian visitors and local ladies will be sharing short sermonettes and testimonies based on different women from the book of Luke.  Each woman who attends will receive her own copy of the New Testament.  We will also be sharing in music and drama.  As a treat, we will host a hot lunch with rice, stew, mixed vegetables and chai which will be prepared and cooked by Pastor Charles, Andrew and other community men!  Can you imagine how delighted these women will be having the men serve them!  At the very end, there will be an extended time for prayer ministry and all the women will be presented with a Christmas gift bag of food – rice, flour, cooking fat, tea leaves, sugar and soap.  We are excited about this outreach opportunity and the blessing of being able to learn from, share and serve the women and community of Kasarani.

Shoes for Kasarani Kids:  The lack of shoes is a significant problem for many kids in Kasarani – it breaks our hearts whenever we go to visit that kids are walking barefoot or in the case of the child in the picture – with just one shoe.  We’ve seen kids walking around in shoes where the upper part of the shoe is intact but the entire sole is missing and they are still walking on their bare feet  – but they wear the shoes because it gives them a small sense of pride. 

The cost of a good pair of second hand shoes (about 500Ksh each) or approx $8.00, is more than most single mothers would make in a week.  These women often have several children and struggle to just put basic food on the table so purchasing something as small as a pair of shoes is not even a consideration.

If this was a rural village setting, having kids without shoes would be no big deal – most villages take good care of their property, pick up garbage and have allocated areas for toilets.  In Kasarani, there is very little sense of ownership and pride – for the most part, the village ground is strewn with plastic, metal cans, glass and decomposing waste.  There is animal and human feces just lying in ditches.  People here are migrant flower farm laborers – they rent a room to live, they have no property to call their own and the quality of life is for the most part, dismal.    It’s like the people have just given up hope, given up caring for their environment.  So, that being said, shoes are important to protect these kid’s precious feet from cuts and from the germs and the filth and so that can freely run around and just be kids without worrying where they will step!

Over the past few weeks, we have been pre-purchasing the shoes in small quantities from a local street market – we figured we couldn’t leave all the shoes for the ladies to purchase when they come or else we’d use up a whole day!  Last Saturday we took along 3 boys from our dorm as well as Hannah and Bea.  Together we were able to sort through and purchase 104 used pairs!  When we got back to the dorm we spend the rest of the afternoon sorting through all the shoes and categorizing them according to size.  Several of the boys came down and after looking through them wanted to purchase them off of us because they thought that they were ‘cool’.  We are planning to purchase at least 200 pairs of shoes altogether which will be distributed to kids in the feeding program and other needy kids in the community.

Love in Action:  We want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has been and is currently involved in fundraising and donating to our various projects here in Kenya.  Time and time again we have been amazed that when we see a need and share it with you, that funds are sent to meet that need – in some cases before the need is even communicated.  We look back and see how in only one year, the Lord has opened doors and finances to purchase 3 acres of land and to farm it, to purchase land for the feeding centre, funds to build the feeding centre and funds to support individuals in the community.   We are thrilled to be witness to this beautiful example of the Body of Christ actively working together – caring for the things which God cares about, reaching out and giving generously.  For those who receive, they are blessed, encouraged, empowered and incredibly thankful.   We are also seeing this community closely observing and taking an active interest in the orphan initiative and Farming God’s Way – visiting the acres to learn the FGW methods and asking lots of questions.  This has been a great door opener for discipleship and pointing people back to God.

We are starting to see the beginnings of a transformational shift from a hands out, ‘I need help’  mentality, to an excitement to get their hands in the dirt with an attitude of ‘I can do this too.’   That’s what we’re here for, that’s the point of all of this.  When people are encouraged and empowered, they shift their posture from one of dependency and discouragement, to one of hope and determination.  So all of that being said, you, yes you, are a part of this too!

Mom’s n More Fundraising Breakfast:  One of my dear friends Laura organized a breakfast fundraiser with ladies from a group called Mom’s n More at Knox Presbyterian Church in Oakville.  Mom’s n More has been such a strong support and blessing to us as a family.  Below is an excerpt from an email Laura sent to me soon after the event. 

‘Were you feeling the love on Saturday morning?  Did you get a sense that dozens of women were learning about your ministry and praying for your continued success?  Did you, Andrew and the girls feel as though strong arms were reaching out from many miles away to embrace you and hold you up as you engage in God’s work?

Well, you should have…all of those things happened at the Knox Ladies’ Breakfast.  Oh, and your mom’s presentation?  She knocked it out of the ballpark.  My goodness, your mom certainly has a God-given gift for public speaking. The fabulous news is that we raised $1,500 and every penny will go towards your ministry work in Kenya.  (The ladies at MNM donated all the food and “craft” materials so the entire donation will further your work in Kasarani.) 

John Knox Christmas Shoe Fundraiser:  Our friends Lydia, Yvonne and Edith  have also been busy organizing a fundraiser with  John Knox Christian school where Hannah had attended Senior Kindergarten before we left for Kenya.  They are raising funds to specifically pay for shoes for Kasarani kids.  Below is an excerpt from an email which Lydia sent to me before the event.

‘As you know, many weeks ago your Mom came and talked with the kids about the Kasarani Kids at our assembly.  At that time I introduced the idea of making Christmas ornaments.  On Wednesday we finally got to do this!  Our school is divided into tribes with each tribe having about 20 kids in it from JK- gr.8.  I had chosen 3 different ornaments to make from beads and wire and assigned each tribe to make these certain ornaments, one per kid.  On Wednesday each tribe met in a teacher’s classroom.  We all opened with prayer for the kids in Kasarani and for rain in that region.  Then the kids got to make the ornaments.  It went really smoothly and I heard lots of positive reviews of the event.

On Friday we will have a Christmas tree set up in the foyer with kids talking turns selling the ornaments to the Grandparents on Grandfriends’ Day.  Your Mom is coming back and briefly telling the grandparents about the fundraiser.  When I think about how many people know about the kids in Kasarani and how many potential prayers are being said for these kids, it gives me goose bumps!’

After the event she wrote ‘The grand total raised was almost $1000!  

‘Our Father’s Art’ Quilt-a-thon:   On November 7th, my mom along with over 30 other women joined forces together to host a quilt-a-thon fundraiser for Kasarani.  They started at 9am and finished at 9pm and together in combined pledges, raised close to $10,000.00! In fact for several months now they have been meeting together at the church every Monday morning and piecing together these beautiful works of art. They started with six women meeting and busily sewing and now they have up to 25 women coming and going on any given Monday!  Each quilt is hand pieced and lovingly designed with careful attention given to pleasing colors and vibrant patterns.  Each quilt has a plain centre strip which is decorated with Scripture verses to remind each of the children of God’s promises.    These quilts will all be brought out in December with the KBG ladies and lovingly distributed to over 50 orphans.

So there you have it!  So much is going on here in Africa and also on the other side of the world.  Precious partnerships have been formed as we do what we can to work hand in hand to bless and care for others.    

We continue to appreciate your prayers regarding our house rental – as of November 16^th, we still do not have any serious inquiries and yet all we know is that we are meant to be here – so God will take care of our house in His time and in His way.  We really appreciate our next door neighbors Bruce and Patricia who are also realtors – they have helped us out so much and donated their services to assist us.  The house is now on the real estate market for rent and the listing is http://royallepage.mls.ca/PropertyDetails.aspx?PropertyID=8846796

We also really value your prayers for our future as we seek to understand what God wants us to do after our term is up with AIM in August 2010. 

So as we end this month’s update, we leave you with our words of thanksgiving and hugs of appreciation.  We appreciate your emails and hearing about your lives too! We can’t do any of this without your prayers, your partnership and your love!  I look forward to writing our next newsletter – to continue sharing the stories!

Love,   Andrew, Sue, Hannah and Bea