Agape Kids Update

Please welcome Fred Odhiambo to the Agape family!  He left the streets last week and decided to make Agape his new home.  Fred is a very outgoing boy and has already made a lot of friends.  Please pray that Fred settles well in his new home!

Fred Odhiambo, Age 13

As I have discussed in other posts, Agape's reintegration team works closely with Remand, Kenya's equivalent of juvenile hall.  In Kenya, many abandoned children end up in Remand, and Agape helps reintegrate these kids with extended family.  Up until last year, Agape only reintegrated boys, but last year Agape began reintegrating girls with their families, as well.  Remand is only equipped to house around 70 children, but right now there are 133 kids resident at Remand's facilities (103 Boys, 30 Girls); so, they are horribly crowded and have to sleep two to a bed.

Please pray for Collins Odero; last week Agape's reintegration team successfully reunited him with his family in rural Kenya.

Collins Odero, Age 12

Also, please keep these other children below in your prayers, as Agape works closely with each of them to prepare them to be reunited with their families in the coming weeks.

Julie Akinyi, Age 11

Linet Akinyi, Age 12

Lukas Omondi, Age 12

Michael Oduor, Age 13

Peter Ayeko, Age 12

Valary Omondi, Age 11

Also, please pray for Zephania Ochienge, age 11; I didn't have his photo at the time of this post.  Thanks for your prayers!!!!

Work Permit Done!!!

Praise the Lord!  I received word that my 2-year Kenyan work permit has been approved by Kenyan immigration.  This is a huge answer to prayers as this officially allows us to serve in Kenya long term.  The next step is to get dependent passes for Tammy and the kids, which should be completed this week!

Rainbow Chameleon

Tammy happened to glance out of the window into the front yard and thought she saw one of the kids' toys lying on the ground.  Looking more closely, it turned out to be a chameleon.  In trying to take its picture, it ran up a tree, but we still got some really cool pictures!

He started out a really cool rainbow-blue color.

Once we spooked him, he ran up a tree and changed to a brownish-green color.

Once we went back inside, he changed back to his rainbow-blue color, probably because he thought that the threat was over.  He was doing a little dance on the tree, so he's probably out looking for a new girlfriend.

Isn't our Creator amazing!!!!

Our New Dining Hall!

Yesterday, we had a surprise dedication and ribbon cutting for our new dining hall at Agape's main campus in Kisumu.  Blake Gibbs has been working tirelessly for months to erect this new structure that will accommodate a new kitchen, dining area, library, and conference room.  The staff wanted to mount a plaque on the new building reading "Blake's Office" but Blake insisted on installing a plaque reading "To God Be the Glory, Great Things He Has Done."  Amen!

Our new dining hall!  The new dining area is four times bigger than our current space.  We also use the dining hall for our Sunday worship services.  The building also features much better ventilation, which results in 15-20 degree cooler temperatures inside (than our current space)!

The new stainless steel kitchen!  A huge thank you to the ministry's supporters who helped make this kitchen a reality!  Upon seeing the new kitchen equipment, one of our cooks said in awe, "This is an American kitchen!"

Assembling for the ribbon cutting and dedication.

Blake doing the honors of cutting the ribbon for our new facility!

The boys had "Queen Cakes" the Kenyan version of cupcakes to celebrate.

Some of my new friends peering through the window.

Zedekiah, Simon, and Briton hoping for more Queen Cakes.

The Agape staff singing "To God Be the Glory!"

A Baby Story: Kenyans Are Tough!

Our friend and guard, Patrick, recently had his sixth child, a little girl named Rejoice.  Patrick is an awesome guy, and is an assistant pastor at his church.  The other day, Tammy was talking with Patrick about the birth of his daughter, and Patrick shared the following story:

Patrick's wife went into labor at 2 AM, and because they did not have a vehicle for transportation to the hospital (bike, motorcycle, or car), Patrick began looking for a piki (motorcycle) or boda (bike) to take his wife to the hospital.  Because he couldn't find a piki or boda, Patrick and his wife began walking to the local hospital.  Halfway to the hospital, Patrick's wife began to give birth . . . so, Patrick delivered his new baby girl on the side of the road!  Tammy asked how Patrick cut the umbilical cord, and he replied that he had a razor blade and string (to tie around both ends of the cord).  Because Patrick's wife had already given birth there was no reason to go to the hospital, so Patrick, his wife, and their new baby girl just walked back home!

I don't know about you, but I'd say that Kenyans are pretty tough!!!

Patrick and Lyla

Agape Boys Update

Just wanted to send out a quick note to be praying for two of our newest boys to Agape Feizal and Backstone who joined us from the street last week.  Please pray that Feizal and Backstone will be comfortable at Agape and that they will get along with the other boys.

Backstone Omindo, Age 11

Feizal Odhiambo, Age 13

Also, please keep Calvins Okoth in your prayers, as well.  He jumped the fence a few weeks ago and has been living on the street.  Please pray that the Lord will draw him back to Agape!

Calvins Okoth, Age 12

Creating Goliath

This past Sunday, I taught the boys at Agape about how God is so much greater than any of our fears, using the story of David and Goliath as an example. What better way to show what David could have been scared of, than creating a life-sized drawing of Goliath (all 9-feet of him).  The whole family pitched-in and had a blast creating Goliath!

Creating Goliath was a family effort!  Lyla helped too, but fell asleep on the floor.

Connor plants a sloppy one on Goliath's cheek.

Seth said that this was the "best day ever!"

Connor providing moral support!

Sutton critiques with his keen artistic eye.

GOLIATH . . . as his shield attests, we have dubbed him "RAINBOW WARRIOR!"

Terrorist Threat: Our God Is Greater

Some of you may have seen the news that an imminent terrorist threat was identified and announced yesterday for Kenya.  A few days ago, Kenyan troops were sent into Somalia to fight Al-Shabaab, a militant group affiliated with Al Qaeda.  Over the past few weeks, Somali militants have kidnapped a total of five Europeans vacationing or working along the Kenya-Somali border (which happens to be on the other side of the country from where we live).

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/22/world/africa/kenya-us-warning/index.html?hpt=iaf_c1

From the outset, I'd like to say that "Our God Is Greater!"  I just finished teaching the boys at Agape about how God is so much greater than any of our fears, using David facing Goliath as an example.  The same applies for our family here in Kenya; God is so much greater than any fears or concerns for our safety that we may have.  When we were praying about moving our family to Kenya, we came to understand a significant truth . . . God is sovereign in Kenya, the same as God is sovereign in the United States!!!  We derive our peace and security from the Lord!!!

To further calm any other concerns, a lot of dealing with "security" questions like this is to use common sense.  Don't hang out where a lot of westerners may be . . . . be vigilant about your surroundings . . . purchase an AK-47 (just kidding).  Anyway, please pray that radical Islam will stay out of Kenya!!!

Monster Grub Worms Attack!!!

You may remember my post from a few months ago showing a snail that was bigger than my hand, but the grub worms that we just found beat out the snail easily!  We've been expanding our shamba (garden) to grow food for our family and the Kenyans who work with us, and we found these two monsters!

Say hello to the Grubs (no, not Dean and Jodi)

How big of a fish do you think you could catch with this?  Believe it or not, some Kenyans actually eat these!

Things are bigger in Texas?  No, try Kenya!

Expanding our shamba; you can see the maize we already have growing in the old shamba.

Mudbath

Yesterday, Lyla and Seth decided that they would cover themselves with mud.  One of our Kenyan friends said, "Oh look, they are African babies!"  Take a look below and you'll see what she means!

Stylin' and Profilin'

Our African Daughter

Seth & Lyla took turns painting each other.

Seth was surprised to learn that the mud didn't taste very good.

Please send de-worming pills!  :-)

Update on Agape Boys

Over the past few days, we had four boys at Agape who chose to leave and go back to live on the streets.  On Saturday morning, Erick Omondi and Barack Omondi decided to jump the fence, and yesterday evening two more boys, Backstone Mungao and Eugene Ochieng, decided to do the same . . . 

. . . . but, Praise the Lord, all four boys decided to come back to Agape today!!!  Please keep these four boys in your prayers!!!

Backstone Mungao, Age 10

Barack Omondi, Age 12

Erick Omondi, Age 12

Eugene Ochieng, Age 10

Happy Birthday Sutton!!!

Happy 11th Birthday to the "firstborn" Sutton!!!!  Kenyans always ask, "So, Sutton is your firstborn, yes?"  Anyway, we had a small party last night with some of our friends; some good ol' Betty Crocker chocolate cake and vanilla icing!  Sutton got some DS games from the US for his birthday, and he was pretty excited!

Happy Birthday Sutton!!!!

Sutton perusing his loot.

More loot . . . . 

Sutton was tied in knots with excitement!

Praise the Lord!!! Introducing Fred!

On Friday, I asked all of you to pray for a little boy on the street named Fred, who has always run away from our Outreach team members.  I'm excited to report that Fred joined us at Agape today!  Thank you so much for your prayers!!!!  As his picture will attest, he looks much younger than 10 years old, but that's how old he says he is.  Fred is very, very shy, so please keep him in his prayers as he settles into his new home at Agape!  Praise the Lord!!!

Fred Otieno, Age 10

Kenyan Economy Update

Earlier this week, I asked for prayer for the Kenyan economy, and I wanted to provide a quick update to show the impact of severe inflation on the Kenyan economy.  I pulled the image below from the following article:  http://www.nation.co.ke/business/news/Weak+shilling+wreaks+havoc+on+consumers+/-/1006/1251240/-/fylqd1z/-/index.html

Note:  Sh100 = $1 USD

As you can see, inflation has hit multiple sectors within Kenyan society.  To begin to try to drive down inflation, the Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) chose to raise the Central Bank Rate (CBR) from 7% to 11%.  Can you imagine that in the US?  Can you imagine the rate for a 30-year mortgage going from 6% to 10%? Please continue in prayer for the Kenyan economy!  The Kenyan Shilling has lost 26% of its value against the US dollar over the past year . . . .  here's a link to a video that further explains some of the impact:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cskRTkgBhe4

A Prodigal Son Returns!

As I was leaving the Agape campus earlier today, there were five street boys hanging out outside of the front gate.  Included in the group were Briton Kuzwa and Kevin Otieno Otieno, two of the boys that I wrote about earlier this week that chose to leave Agape and head back to the street.  Praise the Lord, Briton chose to come back to Agape!!!  I called Abel, who leads Agape's Street Outreach program, and we escorted Briton back through the gate.  God is good!!!  THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO PRAYED FOR BRITON!!!

Briton Kuzwa, Age 12

Abel and I spoke some to Kevin, but he's not ready to come back to Agape yet.  Please pray that the Lord will continue to work in Kevin's heart.  Also, Kevin suffers from scabies, a very contagious skin disease caused by a very small species of mite, so please pray that Kevin can come back to continue receiving attention for his medical condition.

Kevin Otieno Otieno, Age 13

Also, please pray for the other three boys that were with Kevin and Briton:  Dan, Brian, and Fred.  Fred, in particular needs prayer, because he is very young.  He said he was 10, but he looked closer to 6 or 7.  Abel has tried to reach out to Fred in the past, but Abel says that Fred always runs away whenever he tries to speak to him.  PLEASE PRAY FOR THESE BOYS!!!!