Brooks
Just had to write this before it gets lost in the sea of experiences day to day… we spent the morning in Bikeke Village with John, the Director of Liberty School. We were visiting the homes of some of the orphans who are being sponsored by some of the extremely generous partners with Appleseed. Thanks to their gifts, these kids who once did not attend school, now are; and where they once ate very, very little, they are now receiving at least one good meal per day. (Orphans in Kenya typically means children whose parents have either died or abandoned them and, they are now living with a relative who can ill afford to house and feed yet one more.)
I’ve written about John before, but today Roger and I have yet one more confirmation that God has connected us with the absolute right man; a man full of integrity, desiring to transform a village by the power of God. After a rain-soaked morning of trekking up muddy roads and tiny footpaths to visit some of the student’s homes, we got a ride with John back to Kitale where we stopped for lunch. John, as usual, knew about half the people in the hotel (restaurant), so just getting all three of us seated was a bit time-consuming. Fortunately for us, we even knew someone there, so time was not completely “wasted.” Quickly, we realized that even our waiter knew John as he greeted him warmly. After lunch, young 20’sh Daniel, the waiter, came up to me, “Mama, if there is any way you can help John, please do. He has helped me so much. I am from Bikeke Village; I was a drunkard and led a useless life. John has encouraged me so much; he is now my pastor and he has told me how to get a better life. He helps so many of the youths in our village and our lives are very different because of him and the message of hope he has given to us.”
We consider John a gift from God. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of Africans with a desire to meet up with a mzungu to do a “project.” John and his wife Naomi were already living in Bikeke Village, already had started a work with orphans, bringing them to sit in dirt or wooden benches so they could be taught…even using the dirt as a blackboard. He is a man of integrity, authentic through and through. He is the one whose mantra is:
I Samuel 2:8: "He raises the poor from the dust, He lifts the needy from the ash heap To make them sit with nobles, And inherit a seat of honor; For the pillars of the earth are the LORD'S, And He set the world on them.”
John has been there, where these kids now are. He has been lifted from the ash heap and made to sit with princes. The great part about John is that he doesn’t want to sit there alone; he invites all who want to, to join him there. Many in Bikeke Village are responding to his call and are being lifted up. Thank you all so very much – everyone who has ever partnered in whatever way with Appleseed Ministry Group has participated in helping to transform this village steeped in discouragement and hopelessness into one of daring to hope and receive the miracles that are theirs! Thank you!
Daniel the waiter
John
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