Appleseed Travel Journal

— Feedback From Your Prayers and Words

I want you to tell them that their love for us is so special and to partner together is so encouraging.

With many leadership team meetings to go, I still wanted to report back some of the feedback we have already received from sharing the words of prayer and encouragement from you guys ‘back home.’

As expected, your input has been VERY motivating for them.

"I hope we can pray for them to see God's Kingdom touch their nation just as they are praying for us."
"I am excited to have friends standing with us."
"Having people pray with us from another country makes me feel honored."
"We are ready to partner with them and run for God together!"

We will continue to share your words with many more teams as they set goals and prepare for a very fruitful year!

— The Brewery

Reeking of alcohol an old man sat pompously across from us in the tiny dirt floored hut.  Sadly, this is home to a young widow and her three sons.  The man, ragged, filthy, and very aggressive, is a client who comes here to buy alcohol.  He happened to notice us, the wzungus (whites), going into the home, so he quickly came in hoping to coerce one of us into giving him a couple of shillings for a “soda.”  But, first he rose up, demanding that we all stand while he prayed.  I’m not sure who or what he prayed for, but he was definitely letting us know this was his territory and we were visitors.  Still trying to adjust our eyes to the dim light coming only from the doorway, we sat down on what I could only imagine were flea infested chairs.  However, the filth and darkness in the room were so light compared to the story of this poor mama’s life.

Her husband had died in the post-election violence of 2007, leaving her sole supporter of her children.  Desperate times had ensued which drove her to start a home brewing business with two other widows.  This had at least made it possible for her to provide food and housing for her kids.  There’s no money left for school, though, so none of her three kids have ever been to school.  The oldest, Samuel, is 13.  He sat beside me, clearly intimidated, but by what?  I thought perhaps it was at having whites in his home, but the fear was clearly not only of his own mother, but also the drunkard in our midst.

His mom said she wanted the kids to go to school, but it was impossible.  When we asked Samuel if he wanted to go, he quickly answered, “Yes.”  Since he has no education at all, he would be placed in Class 1, starting at the very beginning with kids half his age.  We asked him if he was willing to be with the younger kids and again, he quickly nodded, “Yes.”  Already, this young boy knows only one life:  that of making beer and selling it.  The situation is extremely dangerous for him and his siblings:  Paul (11) and Maxwell (9).  Not only are clients coming to buy the local brew, but they are also taking advantage of the mothers sexually and even the children.

During our visit, one slight verbal interaction between the drunkard and Samuel belied so much more of the treatment these kids had experienced.   Both boys sitting with us were clearly filled with shame and fear.  Whether they will ever find a way out of this life, I don’t know, but for today, hope was offered.  The new school term opens on Monday.  If the mother is willing, and the boys want it, they can come.  The challenges are great; only a few will find their way out.  Today this family was offered a gift.  Only grace will make it possible.

(Addendum:  That was last week.  I’m happy to say that all three boys showed up on Monday.  Follow up article here!)

Drunkard poses with the family:

Samuel and Paul

Their home

— Lillian

A few days ago we trekked around Bikeke Village visiting some of the homes of the orphans who are being sponsored by Appleseed.  (I think I mentioned earlier that orphans in Kenya are kids who have either lost or been abandoned by one or both parents.  These kids are left with relatives who can ill afford to take care of their own, much less more kids, so oftentimes these orphans have very, very little in the way of food, bedding, clothes and rarely are able to attend school.)  Stanley is one of the kids we went to visit.  He’s bright, healthy, energetic and excited to get to go to school.  While we were there, however, we had the great chance to meet Lillian.  Lillian is 14.  She dropped out of school some time ago.  If changes are not made, she will go the way of many young girls in Kenya.  Her parents want her to marry soon for two reasons.  One, they will receive a dowry of several cows; and two, there will be one less mouth to feed.  Lillian doesn’t know what she wants.  She has little hope for a life any different than her mother’s.  She has no initiative, no initiative to seek a better existence.  The village is steeped in apathy and lethargy, a mindset that is bogged down in spiritual darkness and oppression laced with superstitions never quite satiated by prices paid to the local witchdoctor.  As an example, there is the common practice of wives buying spells to hopefully ensure that their husbands will not have an affair or get a second wife.

Can Lillian hope for more than this type of life?  Can she believe in a God that actually wants an abundantly good life for her and that He will even give her a way to get that life?  We asked her these questions; we challenged her.  Sheepishly, she agreed.  “Yes, I want a good life.”  We asked if she would come to school on Monday.  “Yes, I will,” she said.  Will her parents allow her to come instead of helping weed the maize or doing the wash or getting the water come Monday?  Will she push her way out of a generational system that is masochistically content in their poverty?  It takes courage and perseverance, a change of heart and mind.  Is Lillian one who can do this?  I pray against all odds, she will be a Margaret Thatcher and say, “Defeat?  I do not recognize the meaning of the word!”

— A Gift to Us and to Orphans

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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