OASIS OF HOPE in TIME OF NEED (KENYA)
As a sign of hope there was rain more than half the days John and Fran Denham from Maysville, Kentucky USA came to Kenya. This was in preparation of the recipe that John and Fran were preparing not only for UMC in Kenya but the community that lives with us, “Clean and safe water for better health.” Every day from 24th February 2006, we visited churches and invited members of the community as John and Fran talked and demonstrated of the importance of clean and safe water.
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The main ingredient in the recipe was PUR, a product that purifies and collects germs and viruses from our contaminated water.
ReplyDeleteNot only did we visit church sites but broken water pumps all over the area where UMC members reside.
Before we concluded the demonstrations in our two districts Central and Nyanza, all of us Rev. Kephas, Pastor Paul and I who accompanied John and Fran for over 1000 kms had formed a formidable team.
From the first step of PUR usage to drinking of the purified water, we coordinated smoothly.
At one point people thought that it was a miracle, demonstrations were done to government officials, in a wedding, schools, clinics, family gathering and also at chiefs camps. All together we demonstrated in 15 points and visited many broken pumps and unfixed pumps that should be giving water to our society.
Most of the days we did not take lunch but had a lot of water to drink. We retired between 10.00- 11.00 pm everyday
In many places we had medical personnel who verified Johns work as true. As an indicator that our friends do not visit us often, every time we met children, we were greeted with words of “mzungu”(white man).
At every point the church members and members of the surrounding communities expressed their welcoming gestures and hope. John and Fran (Anyango, a name given to Fran in Luo land because they could not pronounce Fran properly) is an oasis of hope. As they go back to USA we see a great future. UMC in Kenya and community they met, see John and Fran as our ambassadors. They only visited 1/3 of area where we have United Methodists Churches. They need more that one-month to be able to visit most of the United Methodist Churches in Kenya. Many are calling like the man of Macedonia, asking when we can visit their Churches with John and Fran.
MORE THAN WATER
Apart from demonstration of PUR and visit to water pump sites, we were able to visit other Church related programs and projects, namely farming, sewing and tailoring shops, church plots, schools, clinics, pastor’s homes, members of the communities homes, assessing the conditions.
Among the priority areas we identified included,
1. Schools and Scholarships
2. Clinics
3. Seeds for Farming
4. Bikes for Pastors
5. Ownership of Church Property and Survey
6. PUR Training
7. Women’s Sewing and Tailoring
8. Children and Youth Programs
9. Boreholes
10. Salaries for Pastors (Classified as “very important”)
11. Bibles for Pastors
In all of the areas identified, the Kentucky conference through brother John and Fran gave us a start. We are looking forward to great evangelizations through the programs as they get approvals.
We all need to support each other as we move together for kingdoms sake. John and Fran did not only promise to keep us in prayer but to visit us again in September, this time with other friends who God is preparing.
He mentioned many times how we have many friends who pray for us, how Bishop King junior of Kentucky conference has been remembering when he visited Kenya and hope that he can be able to visit again. Yes Oasis of hope. Though we felt forgotten John and Fran reminded us that there are many who are our friends and who are praying for us. An “Oasis of Hope.”
We can drink and revive our spirit as we wait for the Lord’s answer to our anguish. We know that He will not only send us abundant showers but both autumn and spring rains as before. Jesus answered, “ …whoever drink the water I give him will never thirst”
Grace and Peace to all.
Rev. Paul Matheri Njuguna
District Superintendent
United Methodist Church, E.A.A.C
Central District, Kenya.
P.O. Box 119-20117 Naivasha, Kenya