Children's Conference

I wanted to update everyone on the GOA children's conference. GOA made the decision to proceed with the children's conference. The leaders of GOA recognize the many needs in Kenya right now and some questioned the wisdom of using resources for a children's conference. The GOA leaders feel it is important to continue to invest in the children who live at the children's homes. Costs were scaled back including not going to the National Park. The conference will be held at Tumaini and incluides the children from all the GOA children's homes including the 42 children who attend the school at the Msamaria Project in the Kiambui slum. The theme is Becoming a Champion for Christ.

We are blessed to be partnering with Camp Highland who is sending an intern to help at the conference . They have worked with GOA to develop the curriculum - Lead, Trust and Follow. And they have made Camp Highland/GOA/Partners for Care Champions for Christ t-shirts for all the children and counsellors. Christ Harvesters Ministries young adults have spent the last two Saturdays putting together school kits and making bracelets for each child. Pastor Karanja is sending via video a prayer for the fatherless.

We are asking for your prayers for this conference specifically:

*For safe travel for the children to and from the conference. They will travel to the conference on April 14 and return home April 18

*For the children that they will feel the love of their peers, their counsellors and God and they will feel like they are Champions for Christ

*For all the workers, counsellors, leaders, musicians, and Bishop David as they pour their love, energy and give to these children.

*Many of these children were street children, some are infected with AIDS, all are orphans having lost one or both parents. May they leave this conference knowing that God is their heavenly Father.

Thank you for your support and your prayers,

Connie

*
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PEACE BUS

Please see what the Peace Team is doing! It is amazing how the post-election violence has provided an incredible opportunity for GOA to reach the most vulnerable with the life-saving hope of Jesus. The Peace Team is so committed to the opportunity God has provided them they are are going out this weekend - Easter. They feel there are people they can reach with the message of the gospel. We are blessed to be their supporters through financial and praver support. Prayers are being answered in Kenya, Connie



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-----Original Message-----

From: "GOA" <goa@africaonline.co.ke>



Date: Wed, 19 Mar 2008 08:51:34

To:"Connie" <CCheren@aol.com>

Subject: PEACE BUS





Hi Connie,

Peace bus team is working soo hard. See their weekend Mission.

Bishop David


Glory Outreach Assembly
P.O. Box 13940 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: + 254 (20) 606738/48
Mobile: + 254727407247
Skype: dthagana
Email: goa@africaonline.co.ke <mailto:goa@africaonline.co.ke>
Website: www.goaweb.org <http://www.goaweb.org>

… Making Christian disciples of all Nations

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Correction

A correction for donating on-line

http://KenyaRelief.kintera.org/donate

Thanks! Connie
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GOA Peace Bus

The need for the GOA Peace Bus continues. While there is peace in Kenya there are still many who are struggling with the effects of the post-election violence. GOA Peace Bus is reaching those most effected. The Peace team was out Saturday and Sunday and on Sunday they reached 1,000 people. There are funds for the Peace Bus to go out three more days and then all funds in the Kenya Relief fund will have been exhaused. I am preparing a report for all donors that will provide information on how the funds have been spent. As you know I have been with the team for two of their major trips so I can tell you the money you have donated has reached the ground for those most in need. We will provide information on how many people reached, how much food given, how many blankets distributed, how many treated medically, etc.

I received this email over the weekend from Linet Oknet who works for Liverpool. I contacted the Bishop and he can send Laban and members of the Peace team to assess the situation of these children. GOA needs our financial support as they reach these children.
"Connie I took team of LVCT counselors to Kiserian Slum in Nairobi to offer HIV services but what I witnessed was pathetic - ten children living with HIV most of them are opharns living in a very poor way. Some of them have been attacked by Jiggers. This is a needy situation. The caregivers who are also living with HIV and have formed a support group with more than 50 people who are infected. But suprisingly they don't have any support system.
 
I intervined by talking with pastor Paul Ngie who invited us there, but I could hear his plee for support. He is crying loud for this group to get helped.
 
It is my hope that God will touch your heart and extend your support to help these children." Linet

You can help by sending funds to the Kenya Relief Fund
ILI
PO Box 1005
Carrollton, GA 30112

Or donate on-line 

www.iliteam.org <http://www.iliteam.org>

Visit www.reliefforkenyablogspot.org to see pictures and read the updates of the work of the Peace team.

Thank you to all those who have generously supported GOA during this greatest humanitarian crisis Kenya has ever experience. Continuing our prayers for Kenya, Connie
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Pictures from trip

I wanted you to see the people, places and events I told you about in all of the updates. It was a blessed trip as I was able to serve with Partners for Care/GOA staff. Many of you will see people you know and love. Thank you again for all your prayers and support of the Peace Bus! God answered prayers and there is peace in Kenya! Connie here is the link
http://web.mac.com/partnersforcare/Site_6/My_Albums/My_Albums.html
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Last update - Peace Bus

As always it was difficult to leave Kenya. The country is peaceful, goverment is functioning with Parliament opening on Thursday and there are many Kenyan iniatives to help heal a nation shocked and tramanized by the post-election violence. A convoy of pastors left Mombasa today travelling to five cities over 10 days visiting the IDPs with a message of healing and hope and delivering food, praise and worship, etc. The purpose is to address the spiritual warfare the pastors believe the country has experienced. It is a wonderful iniative and will be welcomed in the IDP camps. GOA considered joining them and we visited their headquarters and spoke with organizers. The Bishop made the decision to use the relief funds to continue to support the Peace Bus. GOA has been doing (of course without as many people) what the convoy is going to do. It costs for people to join the convoy and GOA can continue to go the IDP camps that will not be visited by the convoy.

GOA has received attention for their work with the Peace Bus. They have been on televison and a full page article written about the Peace Bus in the Christian newspaper. People ask where they can buy the Pray for Peace song written by Sammy and David. And on Thursday Pastor Muturi and I were invited by Professor Orego, Director, National Aids Control Council to meet with a task force set up to assess and study the IDP camps to help now and to plan for the future. We were able to give them information on the 20 IDP camps GOA has visited. We were also able to give them a recent ground report of the number of people in IDPs. Task force members include the United Nations Aids program. They were grateful for the information.

If funds allow the Peace Bus will begin next Tuesday going to the IDP camps taking praise and worship, sports - the Peace balls, showing the message from Pastor Karanja, peace and reconciliation preaching by Pastor Muturi and HIV/AIDS testing. It will be a nine person team. Due to costs and not enough relief funds the team will not give medical care or take food. If funds are available they will buy food at the location. This trip we purchased a cooler for the team so they take packed lunches to keep costs down.

Sammy the lead muscian on the team will drive the van and we will rent the van on a daily costs and the team will fuel the van. The costs for this team to go is $200.00 a day. It is a good value for the dollar as they reach from 500 - 2000 people in a day depending on how many are in the IDP camp. The Peace Team is well equipped now with the support of Pastor Karanja and others. They have the speakers, keyboard, PA system, DVD player, projector, banner and a generator. We would like to add a couple small tents (inexpensive ones without sides) as the sun can be hot for those being treated or tested when outside space must be used.

I learned this trip more about the needs on the ground right now and how much relief items costs. It costs a minimum of $500.00 to deliver food. The food is really needed. Pastor Muturi did an excellent job of gathering data from the ground about the current situation. The good news is it appears many of the displaced people have gone with families. According to the GOA pastors there are 18,500 peple in Kenya Red Cross IDPs and 24,150 in churches, etc. and these are being managed by pastors. A total of 42,650 displaced people known by the pastors. Of eleven areas reporting all but one listed food as a challenge. I inquired of people if there is enough food in Kenya and was told yes - this is informal information. What I was told is the money to buy food is the issue. We were also told as we found last time the Kenya Red Cross is overwhelmed and not able to meet the capacity. Where they have established a IDP camp the needs of the people are met.

Now I want to convey that Kenyans are not ignoring this problem at all and neither are relief organizations. I see relief bags of food when I go to some IDPs. GOA is trying to meet the needs of those people not being reached. This is an important time for us to stand in the gap for our brothers and sisters in Kenya. Help GOA help those most affected and least reached. And as always all of the funds except a wiring fee goes to GOA for relief efforts.

For all those who love kenya, its people and who even wanted to travel there but didn't over the last couple months this is the closest you can get to being on the ground yourself - give the money to GOA to buy food for those in need. This problem will not go on forever - the US, the UN and other countries are stepping in to help. But sometimes it can take awhile for all those processes to work. Meantime the GOA Peace Bus goes out and serves the needy. Remember how much it has taken in New orleans to rebuild.

I can also tell you how grateful the Peace Team is for your support and so are Kenyans. Everywhere I go people make a point to thank me and ask me to tell all the supporters thank you.

If I can answer any questions or speak at a group, etc. I would b e happy to. I can show people the pIctures of the people on the ground and GOA at work.

Thank you for your prayers - they worked to cover us isn Marsabi.

Blessings

Connie
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6th update

As we leave Marsabit I want to tell you about the home visits we made with Mare yesterday. What brought us here was her report from her first month as a Partners for Care/GOA social worker in Marsabit. When I read her report a month ago I did not know I would walk with her to see what she was telling me.

The first place Mare took us to was to visit a woman who had seven living children - one deceased. The children were from two husbands who have both died. She had twin girls 10 months old. A seven year old girl carries one of the babies on her back as she cooks in the outside "kitchen". The house was deplorable with nowhere for children to sit or sleep. The children were dirty and not playing. The mother leaves them alone locked in the house when she goes for firewood to sell. She makes less than a dollar aday.

The immediate concern were the infant twins. They were obviously failure to thrive. Mare tried unsucessfully to convince her to surrender the children. She was not feeding the babies formula. She refused. She would give her older children up but not the babies. We left heavy hearted as we knew the infants were at risk.

We went to discuss with Pastor Hirbo what to do. He was very wise in suggesting they would try to convince her to let us take them to the hospital. We returned later that day and she agreed. We took her and both babies to the district hospital. The nurse weighed the babies - they weighted 4.2 KG and 4.3KG. That is birthweight. The babies do not roll over, sit up and have not cut teeth. Pastor Hirbo and Mare will meet with the children's officer to discuss the babies. We returned late Sunday night to the hospital and with the mother's permission Charles tested the babies. They were both negative. Starvation is their medical problem.

The second place we went was to a very, very old man whose daughter died and left seven children. They were double orphans ages 2-12. They were dirty, malnourished and some had fungus and sores. The small mud house they were living in was collasping so some Muslims had given him a tent. The tent was equilavent to a tent we were sleep six. There was nothing in the tent - no pads for sleeping, no clothes for the children - only several dirty blankets. The children didn't laugh and they don't want to play with you like most Kenyan children.

The grandfather is willing for them to be moved to a GOA children's home. In kenya there is a process which includes the children's officer, the chief and signatures from any available relatives. Pastor Hirbo and Mare will start the process this week.
After all our house visits we took the grandfather and the seven children on the bus to the quest house with us and fed them. Charles tested all the children for HIV/AIDs and they were all negative. Praise God at least the children are not sick with AIDS. We fed them all before they went back to their tent.

The third she wanted us to see was a 12 year old boy with AIDS - a double ophan. Plans are to see if he can go to Peat the Drum. That has to be arranged by the Bishop and Pastor John

These are just some of the 125 orphans in Marsabit.. Mare has identified 20 other chiildren at risk.

The Peace Team was very impacked by what they saw. Haneil wanted to give his clothes to a man who told him he had AIDS and needed clothes. Paul wanted to leave all of the remainding drugs. Several team members wanted to stay and most want return to help Pastor Hirbo and Mare. Some of the reasons we want to return include Daniel a 16 year boy who is an orphan, sings in the choir at Pastors's Hirbo church - he sleeps in the church. Sade - 18 year old sister of Mare, so sweet and special. Ready to go to the university if her parents can send her. She was second in her class and scored B- mare and Pastor who are like people you will never meet anywhere else on the face of this earth.

The Peace Team did great working very hard! Pastor Muturi led with strong direction and guidance and a sense of humor. The team slept in the bus, endured hours of very difficult road travel, three flat tires and working in hot, difficult situations - including under trees and outside in a park and carried drugs and nets on their heads for 1.5 kilometers. They treated 1049 and tested 181 for HiV/AIDS. Worship Saturday night led by Sammy and David was wonderful and the church wants them to return! And the great thing is Haneil has everything on video and pictures including the testing of the babies at the hospital at midnight. He was there early in the morning, late at night and covered all the home visits. And as always Simon kept us safe, never lost his joy and smile even after 8 straight hours off-road travel and he only laughs and jokes when he has three flat tires!

We left Pastor Hirbo money for food to distribute, medications and 700 nets and money for the hospitalization of the babies.. And we left him encouraged that we care and that Pastor Karanja's church cares. He sent a message to Pastor Karanja - thank you for supporting this mission to Marsabit and we are waiting to greet you in Marsbit.

Blessed to be serving with the Peace Team, Connie

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5th update

Pastor Hirbo is taking this Muslim territory of Marsabit for God. And he is doing it on foot. It is really hard to explain Marsabit. I have been to the Turkana and the Samburu regions but nothing is like Marsabit. It is economically disadvantaged, dry, dusty with very little water and the infra-structure is very poor. First, just getting to Marsabit is a challenge. Unless you fly. The only other option is a 12 hour drive from Nairobi with 8 hours being off-road. The road is not paved and very bumpy - we were air-borne on the bus more than once. In Marsabit there are no paved roads. Only dusty roads.

The GOA church here is different - and the people of Marsabit have noticed. First let me tell you Pastor Hirbo went to the church Friday night with other church members and prayed all night for our team. And they prayed all night last night for us. I don't think Pastor Hirbo sleeps. He was with us all day in the medical camps after praying all night. By the time he came to meet us at 8:00am he had already preached in the church. And last night we worshipped with them Sammy and David singing the Pray for Peace in Kenya song and the shouting the congregation does to the Lord and the songs they sing sounds like a church of a thousand people. Pastor Hirbo has grown the church to 125 and 50 youths plus planted 4 more churches under trees.
Bishop David always tells us God uses ordinary men to do extraordinary things. God used many people who were aware of God's purpose to reach the 6 unreached tribes of Marsabit. And he used a very special little girl named Rebecca. Rebecca is one of the five children Pastor took to Nairobi on the top of a lorry truck because they were sick Rebecca being very sick. The children all went to Merciful Redemer. I remember reading Mama John's emails about how sick the children were. I met Rebecca in May when we took the children to the park to see the animals. We knew then Rebecca was sick. I saw her again in June when we went and tested all of the children for HIV/AIDs. Five were positive including Rebecca - in the third phase of the disease with large blisters on her face.

As most know Rebecca was one of the first children at Beat the Drum - Kathi's House. Pastor John and his wife Mary are the people God selected to build Beat the Drum and care for children with HIV/AIDS. David Gruber helped raise the funds for Kathi's House in memory of his wife who died in June. Milele group with our friend Christian did a concert to raise funds to build Kathi's House. Because of everyone's efforts and partnering together Rebecca and all the children are thriving, happy and in school. They know the Lord and are growing spiritually.

This was Rebecca's Home in Marsibit

Pastor Hirbo said it was when people saw what the GOA church has done for Rebecca that GOA began to have a break-through in this area. And today I met Rebecca's father. He is avery old man. He "gave" me Rebecca and told me I was responsible for and should help her with her wedding. He also is leaving GOA the two acres of land.

We did medical camps in three locations. We divided into three groups and left staff at each site. The third site was a very rural area and we could only get the bus 1.5 Kilometers away. We walked the medications and nets in down a hill and up a hill over many rocks.

We did another medical camp today bringing to over 1,000 patiets seen and treated. And to Pastor' Hirbo's suprise people want to test for HIV/AIDS. 185 people tested and we had to turn people away as we did not have enough to test them all. There is a low prevelance rate of 2.5%. That could mean more people are dying from malaria in this area.

S.N. brought 1,500 to the fields for a peace tournament almost all Muslims. Three Muslim boys accepted Christ.

The medical camp and VCT/AIDS counselling was in the park today under trees. They wanted to test even though it was in public.

This is a place we all want to come back to. There is much work to be done and the people of Marsabit responded to the offering of help..

Blesed to serve with the peace team in Kenya, Connie

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4th update

Yesterday when in Isilo as we were walking through the town to the restaurant for breakfast Njokie saw something in a ditch along the road. As we stood there looking I was reminded of what Bishop David says how we respond when we see something - somebody must do something. There in the ditch lay sleeping were 20 street boys. Some were just small little boys. There were two older boys sitting there with them - the "boss" boys as we are told. The "boss" boys asked us if we would get the boys water and bread.

After telling them we would return we walked on to the restaurant. As I stood in the door to look back I saw the "boss" boy threw small rocks in the ditch at the boys to wake them.

Njokie and John instead of eating breakfast went to find a place to get food for the boys. They found a restaurant where they would give them bread and Chai out the front door - they wouldn't let them come in. As we helped pass out the bread and Chai the boys asked us if we could help them go to school. They just wanted to go to school. They didn't even ask for a bed to sleep in or anything else - they just want to go to school. More and more street children came and Njokie made sure they were all fed. The boys then sang us a song about AIDS killing their parents.

S.N. gathered them all around and spoke with them. He told them he will work with a pastor to help organize footbal teams and he would give footballs to the pastor. There isn't a GOA church in this town. Somebody must do something and S.N. will do something. He told me he would develop a short and long term strategy.

Seeing and spending time with these street boys and knowing some of their parents died from AIDs can't help but make you feel urgency about HIV/AIDS awareness and testing. It is one thing to know there are 1.3 Million orphans in Kenya, it is another thing to spend time with them and hear their pleas for the opportunity to go to school so they can have a chance at being more than a street boy.

The GOA Peace Bus Team
(click on pictures for a larger view)

Praying for healing in Kenya, Connie

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3rd update

Yesterday the Peace Team wittnessed first hand the difficulty of a lack of food in some of the IDP camps. The Peace Team went to Nyrahruru at the invitation of Pastor Simon. The pastors had set up an IDP for those displaced during the Navasha clases. There are 300 people sleeping here with another 1300 coming for food. These 1300 are displaced but living with other people and in need of food.

We did medical camp, tested 85 for HIV/AIDS and brought food. Many were sick with diarrhea and upper respiratory illnesses. They sleep on the floor women in one room and men in another room. Sammy and David did praise and worship and Pastor Muturi encouraged them.

When the pastors passed the food out there was almost total chaos as people are hungry and there wasn't enough food for everyone. Five media people came TV, radio and print and stayed a couple hours with us. They were amazed to watch people in the Eastern region of Kenya scambling for food.

After all the food was gone, everyone seen in medical and all tested who wanted to be tested Sammy and David led people in praise and worship. Half-way through praise and worship Pastor Simon received a message that a peace agreement had been signed! People cheered as Pastor Simon told them and they thanked God!! And then we showed them Pastor Karanja's message DVD Prayers for Kenya. It was just perfect message as Pastor Karanja told them to have an attitude of forgiveness. Sammy and David ended with their song Par for Peace Kenya. Everyone listened intently as David sang. There was a spirit of needing healing in Kenya.

I have been asked how this agreement will change kenya Relief and the Peace Bus. Pastor Muturi is surveying the ground to determine those still displaced and hungry. And it will take a long time to close all the IDPs. Many of their homes and buisnesses have been burned. The Bishop will advise how he sees the Peace Bus used best. The healing and reconcilation is now beginning in ernest

God delivered peace in Kenya, now we pray for healing, Connie

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Kenya reaches peace agreement!!

In an IDP with Pastor Simon and he just received word there is a peace agreement!!!! IDPs to return home and be resettled. More later....praise God!!!
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From Bishop David Thagana:

Dear Friend,

Today Thursday, February 28 the Kenya government and the opposition party has signed an agreement to work together.

President Mwai Kibaki in his National address speech has said "Kenya has enough space for everybody" Raila Odinga in his address speech has said "today Kenya has marked a significant day from confrontational politics to co-operation. Join us to thank God for answering our prayers for peace. Meanwhile keep praying that our parliament will enact laws to protect these agreement. Thanks for your prayers and standing with us when we went through hell.

Blessings

Bishop David

Glory Outreach Assembly
P.O. Box 13940 00100 Nairobi, Kenya
Tel: + 254 (20) 606738/48
Mobile: + 254727407247
Skype: dthagana
Email: goa@africaonline.co.ke
Website: www.goaweb.org

… Making Christian disciples of all Nations

2nd Update

Kenya seems very much different from my last visit. The KLM crews are now staying in downtown Nairobi, there are no police with riot gear, and no reports of violence. While the leaders have yet to settle their difference the Kenyan people very much want things to stay calm. I even went to Mathare Slum today and there is calm there. Buildings are being repaired and repainted. There is talk from the people of a healing nation. That was my first message when I arrived in Kenya - welcome to our healing nation.

The last two days have been spent preparing for the trip to Marsabit. Tonight 16 of the 18 team members are here in the apartment. The Peace Bus sits in the parking lot with hundreds of bed-nets on top, the back of the bus packed with medications, musical equipment, HIV/AIDS test kits and sanitary pads. We will buy food in Nyharuru and in Marsabit. We are taking the Partners for Care staff - three nurses, three social workers, four Aids counselors and the praise and worship team - Sammy and David. S.N. sports evangelist will be joining us. He has purchased Peace Balls, nets and a trophy. He is setting up a peace tournament.

Sammy and David Singing Pray Peace in Kenya

The reason for the trip to Mathare Slum was to see Nick and Charles. For those who don't know my friend Vickie Winkler introduced me to Nick and Charles a few months ago when we needed to hire AIDS testers (VCT counsellors) to go with us when we doing the testing iniatives for Professir Orego. They are young men who grew up in Mathare Slum and are amazing Christians. They run an organization called Community Transformers - mobilizing volunteers to make home visits in the slum to 150 people infected with Aids and they have 250 children come for fun. Food and Christian fellowship on Saturdays.

During the burning in Mathare they stayed helping people carrying out the injured on stretchers and promoting peace as they could.
Nick and Charles already had five children living with them. They are relatives whose parents died from AIDS. During the violence 12 more children were brought to them to care for as they were separated from their parents. These includes the three street boys I found on the streets of Nairobi when I was here last time. I had asked Nick and Charles to care for them. They had rented two more 10X10 rooms for the children. Njokie had gotten the school age children uniforms and they were in school.

Nick and Charles are not funded and the money they receive is when they are able to do AIDS testing. Vickie has provided help for them getting them furniture and renting a building for their Community Transformers work.

I had never visited Nick and Charles because I have grown to love them like family and I really did not want to see where and how they lived. But I know after sitting in their one room today with them that something in me has changed. Today I did not care about they did not have - a kitchen, a bathroom, a bed for themselves, etc. I have seen so many without here in Kenya that I compared what they had with the nothing of many others. But more importantly I saw the joy of Jesus Christ in these young men. Nick and Charles are always happy - never in a bad mood. I asked them if they were always like I see them - happy, laughing and joking and they said yes - and they told me they had God to thank for that!

I thought how many people I know including myself who have so much and can be in a bad mood! I really saw how it is not what we possess but it is how we manifest God's love.

More tomorrow on how we are helpng Nick and Charles place all the children!

Blessed to be in Kenya,

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1st Update

Good start to the trip. Ed was working today at KLM so able to take two extra bags without charge so am able to bring some of the medical supplies donated by Med Share International. I am in Amsterdam boarding flight for Nairobi. As last time there many empty seats on the flight.

Goals for this trip include:

1. Assessing situation on the ground, in the IDP camps in respect to food, water and shelter. GOA social workers and I will visit with Kenya Red Cross as they are the designated agency for coordinating relief.

2. Travelling to Pastor Simon's area to provide food, medical care, PEACE balls, worship and whatever supplies GOA has been able to purchase to the people in the displaced camps.

3. Travel on the PEACE bus to Marsabit. From the report sent by the new Partners for Care/GOA social worker in Marsabit and Pastor Hirbo there 125 orphans with several in need of immediate interventions. We are taking the GOA nurses and medications. We will have almost 1000 nets to distribute. Also we have 4 VCT counsellors who will test as many people as possible for HIV/AIDS. People are dying in this area from malaria and probably AIDS. There are very few nets in the area and very little testing for HIV/AIDS. GOA hopes to not only care for the orphans but to stop people from dying creating more orphans.

3. We will visit other IDP camps as funds allow.

We have not raised enough funds to take the Lorry with us this time. We do hope to buy food at both Simon's and in Marsabit. ILI is keeping up with the donations and if more donations come in early this week they will wire them to GOA and we can still fill it with food and take it with us.

We are very blesed to have the nets. They are donated to us from our partner Vickie Winkler of HEART. And we have thousands of test kits donated to us from OraSure.

Pray for the Kenya Peace Team. They are going where others are not going. They are doing what God calls them to do - feed the hungry, cloth the naked and care for the orphans and widows. Thank you to so many who have donated funds - they know it is because of your financial support they are able to serve.

Blessed to be going to Kenya, Connie
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I just got off the phone from speaking with the Bishop. He was trying to make the decision where the Peace Bus should go while I am with the team the next two weeks. Please pray with the Bishop as he makes this very difficult decision.

The reason it is difficult is because of the great human need for food right now. Every district of GOA has asked the Bishop for money for food to feed displaced people. While I am in Kenya this time I will return to the Kenyan Red Cross to determine when they will be able to have everyone under shelter and with food. GOA pastors know there are still thousands of people living without adequate shelter and food. I met with Kenyan Red cross before and know they are trying but they told me they never anticipated Kenya would face such a great humanitarian crisis. Remember Kenya has been host country to refugees from other countries. Now they are the country experiencing the crisis.

The second place the Bishop feels we need to go is Marsabit. Some of you know Partners for Care funded Mare, a social worker who is of the tribe Boran, to work with Pastor Hirbo in Marsabit. She was to assess the needs in this area as that is what social workers are trained to do is assess. We just received her report - you will be moved by her words. She found 120 orphans. Her assessment is 20 of them will die from starvation without intervention.

Her words:
House to house visitations of the orphan children was successfully made by Pastor Hirbo and social worker in Marsabit. The main objective of the visitation was simply to collect inventory data of the orphans.

CHILD CASE HISTORIES
Despite the long-distance to the children residents we assured the collection of child’s report. (Note from Connie neither Pastor Hirbo nor Mare have transportation not even a bike so they walk to do these assessments - waling miles) It was investigated that one hundred and twenty children lived as orphans. The interviewed children are from central, Milima Tatu, Shauri Yako, Dirib Gombo, Kubibagasa and manyatta Duba. The research reveals that Kubibagasa and Gombo totaled to 17km and manyatta Duba 7km from town. The targeted community includes Burji, Gabra, Borans and Turkana.

On the other hand the targeted children mostly age ranged from 3 years to 7 years. According to the decision made, 20 children needed to be transferred to a children orphanage and 100 supported at their household. In addition to that 20 (twenty) cases of histories have been sent to the head office. The twenty selected were based on their situation which is so pathetic aiming to do better ending physical and spiritual hunger.

Beside that, manyatta Duba has also difficulties on its own. Something so touching is to find an old man living with six double orphans and himself doesn’t have a good conditioned house and it is about to fall if it rains. Recently a group of Muslims established a tent in order for him to live in and the children themselves stay starving whole day since grandfather himself is too old to serve them. During the interview, grandfather made exclamation to the children; “please eat lemon if you are hungry”. This is horrible but on the ground this is how they live.

In another household, a mother of five children is shivering because of malaria. Since the mother was shivering of malaria I continued to ask why she haven’t visited hospital where she knows there is a dispensary in the village but she didn’t have money. When she was asked how much it cost, she answered only thirty shillings (50 cents). This made researcher so disappointed and regretted why go empty handed but all in all prayed for her with tears and left the place.

The Bishop is trying decide if we should go with the Partners for Care nurses and social workers and HIV/ Aids testers to Marsabit. We would take food for Pastor Hirbo to give to the most needy, conduct medical camps, deliver nets and test for HIV/AIDs. Mare's assessment found most have never been tested for for HIV/AIDS.

The Bishop would also like five of the most at risk children brought to Tumaini. For those who know Rebecca she came from this area. She has AIDS but today is thriving and healthy and in school. She lives at Beat the Drum children's home. You can see in her before and after pictures (below) what miracles can happen for even children who have AIDS.




Obviously the woman Mare met needs to be treated for malaria. She is a widow and if she dies there will be five more orphans. We have already sent money for Pastor Hirbo to meet this immediate need. It is probably deaths from malaria and HIV/AIDs that are creating so many orphans in this area. These are public health issues that can be addressed with nets, testing and education. "My people are destroyed from a lack of knowledge" Hosea 4:6

The problem the Bishop is having is how best to use the remaining funds which right now are $7,500.00 for the relief effort. We could go without the lowry just taking nets and medication on the Peace Bus. Bishop also wants to help give funds to the GOA pastors for food for displaced people. If anyone has any ideas of how to help please let me know. I leave Sunday.

Praying for God's wisdom for the Bishop, Connie

The following is an email received today from Bishop David Thagana of Glory Outreach Assembly.

For those planning trips to Kenya this year please read carefully to understand the immediate needs of GOA and the people of Kenya.

Dear Friend,

Since post election violence broke in Kenya over 300,000 people have been internally displaced, while 1000 people have died. Peace is slowly returning to all parts of Kenya. No violence has been reported in any part of the Country in the last couple of weeks. Tourists and Mission teams have started coming in. A team from Mt Pisgah United Methodist Church played with Merciful Redeemer kids, fed the displaced people in Mathare North and preached a power message from Luke 10:2-5-37 at the Nairobi GOA church on Sunday Feb 17th. Today they are serving in Maji Mazuri project and on Friday they join my wife Joyce and myself to Beat the Drum, Strong Tower and finally Tumaini Children's home.

On Monday 355 tourists landed in Mombasa beach. Now we are not worried about violence. We are worried about:

1. That the opposition and the government may not agree in the near future. They have started shifting goal posts in their discussions with Kofi Anani.

2. Resettling the displaced. Basic needs like food, clothes, medicine, sanitation are a huge need particulary among the internally displaced people, and the families that are hosting other displaced people in very small houses.

Different people have responded in different ways since our nation started suffering. While some have devoted their time to pray, others have come to comfort us and others have sent funds which we desparately need. We thank all of you for your support at this critical time of our nation. While the minority have turned their compassion into action in one way or the other, the majority have continued to say: The government and the opposition must agree. What is the United nations and red cross doing? What is the church doing?

Today I was presented with the attached report of what GOA Peace and reconciliation ministry in partnership with Partners for Care have been doing while I was away. It is refered to as the Peace bus initiative. You will be blessed like I was to see that your donations have continued to produce rays of hope to the displaced, naked , hungry, sick and helpless internally displaced people.

THANKS A MILLION TIMES

Going Deeper

Bishop David Thagana

Glory Outreach AssemblyP.O. Box 13940 00100 Nairobi, KenyaTel: + 254 (20) 606738/48Mobile: + 254727407247Skype: dthaganaEmail: goa@africaonline.co.keWebsite: http://www.goaweb.org/

… Making Christian disciples of all Nations

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GOA Peace Bus Update

The violence has subsided in Kenya - praise God. But what it has done to this country and its people we love is heartbreaking. Please read the following from GOA staff who are truly on the ground. They went out to the displaced people in the Internally Displaced Camps as a peace team travelling on the Peace Bus. As you read their words you can feel their pain. You also can read their intense appreciation of the funds that have been sent to enable them to reach out to the hurting. The peace team on this trip included Paul, RN, Ann and Priscilla VCT counsellors, Pastor Muturi - Peace and Reconciliation Ministry field and team leader, Njokie - "cook" turned health care worker, Sammy and David singing the Peace song, S N setting up peace soccer tournaments, with David driving. The team picked up Pastor Francis and his wife Elizabeth, RN. Read what they said about the day:

From Francis: Today, I feel very satisfied for having helped someone in need at the Rongai camp. The Peace Bus picked up me and my wife who is a nurse to take the so much needed food and medicines to the IDPs.

After buying the foodstuff, we set off for Rongai, a fertile valley in the great rift valley, about 25 kilometers East of Nakuru city.

We found the many women, children, and men living in a police station for their safety. We visited the Officer in-charge of the police station and mapped out our work for the day. The camp leaders are responsible for the distribution of the food.

Instantly, my wife and Paul began to treat the sick. I became a pharmacist, having been with Elizabeth for 16 years, I know a little of dispensing medicine of course with her guidance. The patients were many. We treated almost 300 patients. We also tested 27 for HIV with one positive. We helped people infected with AIDS to travel tomorrow to get ARVs at the Provincial hospital, where my wife works.

I saw people walking with a smile despite all that has happened to their relatives and friends, properties burnt, but the hope in Jesus surpasses all the pain and suffering. Hope of now having food to cook for their family and that their the children will have something to eat when they returned from school.

On our way home after giving all that we could to the people and giving out peace balls to the youth and school children, we gave a ride to an intelligence officer from the interior, and this is what he told us:
"When peace is restored, the many people who have been fighting and burning peoples' houses are already starving. Get ready to start taking food to them and medicines, lest they die of dehydration and hunger"

I am worried because the Kikuyus are farmers, they grow food crops to feed the Nation, but now they are out of their farms. It means that hunger is going to bite hard, especially to the non agricultural people. They have been displaced and unless they go back to their farms before the rains come in mid March, there will be no harvest for the year.

Pray that His eminence Annan and the two parties are going to come to an agreement that will bring long lasting peace to Kenya.

I want to thank all those who have given for this noble cause in helping the displaced people and praying for them.

Give all that you can afford to our people. We thank God that we came to Nakuru not knowing what lays ahead of us but God knows it. We are very strategically located in the rift valley to reach out to the people who need love and care, and healing.

We thank you all for your support in prayers, for we have gone through many dangers and snares but have overcome them.

We love you, Shalom.
Francis and Elizabeth

From Njokie:

I've realized Connie that we've not finished yet, the journey is long and we are needed. We gave out flour, beans, rice, and mosquito nets.

Their journey is long but we can help them so they can help others. Donate on-line or send a check marked Kenya Relief and encourage others to donate.

Do not grow weary of doing good or of helping others do good, Connie

4th update Peace Bus

The Peace bus was in the Internally Displaced Persons Camp again. Nick and Charles could not go with the team because of violence in Mathare. Please keep them in your prayers. They have taken in 14 children now. GOA checks on them daily and makes sure they have food. Here are the reports from the team:

GOA staff are risking their lives to serve God and help the many Displayed People who need medical care and prayer.

From Nojie (mary mugo's sister)
Hallo,i thank God so much for the unity that we had today. We worked as a team and all was well. Thanks so much for the funds which is making our work easier, we treated 168 patients who were seriously sick, 14 people were tested for hiv and one was positive, we prayed together and encouraged them.
We escaped so many barriers that were set on the way but God protected us all through. May God bless you as u continue serving His people,GOD BLESS U

From Pastor Muturi

The peace bus team went to uplands against very high tension of insecurity alert on the way. About 1000 internal displaced people are housed by pastors and families at uplands. They come to the grounds of full gospel church every tuesday for food . The red cross have done very little to assist these people.

When we went there about 250 who missed food the previous day were eagerly waiting for us as the only hope of putting some food in their mouth that day. Our services was seriously needed there and when we were through we were highly appreciated.

168 people were treated of cold related sicknesses, hyperacidity, malaria, skin infection. Two cases of pregnant women with discharge refered to kijabe catholic hospital. 14 people underwent VCT and one who was positive was adviced on where to get special help.
50 bales of maize flour were given, five 90kgs bags of beans , 100 kgs of cooking fat, 90 blankets, 1 carton of sanitary pads. They requested us to go back on tuesday for a medical camp when all the one thousand people will be on the ground.

compiled by pastor PAUL MUTURI

Post Election Violence and GOA Response

Please pray for Kenya as our brothers and sisters in Christ are suffering from the devastating effects of the post-election violence. To see a slideshow illustrating both the impacts of the violence and the response of Glory Outreach Assembly (GOA), click here.

To listen to a special song, written by Sammy of GOA in Kenya on January 13, recorded on January 14, and carried to the US by Connie Cheren as she returned that evening from a humanitarian relief trip - click on the following link - "Listen Now".

To donate to the relief efforts, please go to KenyaRelief.kintera.org/donate, or write to
Partners for Care
2001 Breckenridge Lane
Alpharetta, Georgia 30005

3rd report from the GOA Peace Bus

The news reports and the text messages and emails from the Partners for Care/GOA staff are staggering. I will send you some exerpts - read them if you want, share with friends and cry and pray. These are people we know and love so much. All the children in the 6 children's homes are safe and protected but GOA leaders, pastors and Partners for Care are risking their safey as they continue to do as God calls them to do respond compassionately and without oncern for themselves. The enemy will be defeated - I pray and I believe.

Updates -

1. The Peace bus goes to the camps tomorrow. They wanted to go to Marthare slum but it isn't safe. They will provide blankets, medical care, sing the Pray for Peace in Kenya song People on the Peace team -
Pastor Muturi - team leader
 (He escaped from the GOA church in Eldoret but goes back to serve)
Jane Chege - worship and prayer
Sammy and David - sing the Pray for Peace in kenya
Njokie (Mary Mugo's sister) - food and blanket distribution
Penny (she attends Christ Harvester's Church) - help with medical
Priscilla, Ann, Nick and Charles - help with medical camp or do Aids testing
Kennedy - logistics coordinator and ministering to the people
Paul - medical
Daniel - medical

Funds we are raising goes to support GOA in their efforts to keep this Peace bus on the road and sharing the message of hope and peace in the camps

2. Christ Harvester's is inviting all those who love kenya to a prayer gathering at their church. The date will possible be February 17 Sunday afternoon - I will let you know the date and time

3. Christ Harvester's will be doing a benefit concert when we return from Kenya in March. Pastor Karanja and several of his leaders are planning on going with me February 24-March7. He wants to travel on the Peace bus to the camps.

4. We are working with Med-Share. They are sending medical supplies with each pastor returning to kenya and Coke Africa is funding 2 containers - which will contain over $300,000 of medical supplies. They have asked us to help with the selection of what is needed. Partners for Care will be getting some of the supplies.

5. Kathy Armor has done a great job of having churches show the Post-violence DVD and taking a love offering for the Peace bus.

6. Pastor Karanja has told his staff to make the DVDs for us and the CD of the Pray for Peace song - we will be mailing copies to everyone in the next couple days encouraging people to show to churches, friends and community groups.

7. Pastor karanja is making 10,000 DVDs with a messgae of hope to be shown in the camps.

We are in the process of buying a generator for the Peace bus and sending a keyboard, projector, a camera, and a Blackberry so Pastor Muturi can send us reports from the ground.

I am reminded how Pastor Simon told us a story of the animals watching a forest fire. The little bird flew away and filled his beak with water to put on the fire - the other animals laughed at him. The little bird said I am just doing what I can if everyone else would do their part we can put this fire out. I know GOA must feel like the bird - so many homeless, so many hurting - but GOA is doing their part. I pray everyone who loves them will not just watch but do something.

Exerpts:
From pastor Simon
Dear Friends,
 
I want to register my heartfelt gratitudes to all of you for your continued prayers and financial support to us during these hard times in the history of our nation.  Your emails of encouragement have meant so much to us at this time when all that surrounds us are news of people murdered, houses burnt and properties destroyed.
 
We are thanking God for the mediation process spearheaded by Kofi Annan.  We are so saddened by the fresh flare-up of violence in Nakuru, Naivasha and Kisumu.  We are in continuous cry to our Lord to stop these senseless killings.  The devil is at work here but we know Jesus will prevail.  Today an opposition MP has been killed.  We are worried this will bring revenge and more lives dying.
 
Last Sunday, I had woken up as usual.  Before going to church I went to Good Shepherd Children Home to see how the kids were.  While there my wife called.  She was in the church.  She instructed me to avoid down town Nyahururu for there was fighting between police and demonstrators who were protesting the killings of their kinsmen in other parts.
 
GOA Nyahururu church had just started the service and members had to flee for safety.  No one was hurt. Calm has returned.  The children at Good Shepherd are safe.  If worse comes to worst I will have to move them to a safer place.  We are optimistic that soon calm will return all over Kenya.
 
On Friday I risked my life to go to Eldoret to rescue a friend and a brother in Christ in Eldoret.  Despite the renewed violence God granted us safe passage to and from Eldoret.
 
At one point we feared for our lives.  We found one of the towns (totally) burning and a group of youths armed with bows and arrows overseeing the burning.  By God’s grace there were police officers and we passed without any problem.  Towns all the way from Nakuru to Eldoret have been burnt down.  Goods trucks were also burnt.  We found 5 of them that day.
 
Since coming back we have received so many distress calls for people asking us to help rescue them.  We have a huge shortage of diesel in Nyahururu town.  My landcruiser and the “Agape” truck are grounded.  We pray that fuel will be available so that we can take food and rescue people from the clashes affected areas.  Please pray for us.
 
God bless you.
 
Simon
 
From Sammy
Hi mum we are fine in limuru many yesterday were misplaced and they are camping at police station no food they really need us

From Nick

Hi  mum, how  are  u  doing?with as  we  r  doing a little bit  better.the  kids are also doing  better,now  they are 14 kids and i have rented aroom 4 them.

(This is Nick and with Charles they have taken in 14 children - the chilldren are displaced from their parents. Nick and Charles are young Christian men who live in Mathare Slum)

From Laban

I am getting reports from friends, relatives and others, including my own sister who was marooned in between the raiders at a place called Solai. This is the area over which we found a warning leaflet written by the Kalenjin for Kikuyus to vacate.  The houses have now been burnt and several people killed there, as promised.  My sister is living at Bahati Police Station now, before she is able to come out.  She did not escape with anything as the raiders were bold enough to come and start the arson and killings during the day.
 
May the Lord continue to use you mightily as you so strongly campaign for the support we need to bring back sanity to Kenya.  For my part, I continue to pray, especially pray, as these affairs of my country cuts deep.  There is a big obligation to work, especially trying to prevent the revenge actions of the Mungiki cult that is re-emerging to kill Luos and Kalenjins.

These reports are hard to read from those we love in Kenya, Praying for Peace and healing in kenya, Connie

Pastor Karanja

Today I worshipped with Kenyans at Christ Harvesters Church. The members were anxious to see the pictures from my trip last week of their beloved country.  Penny from their church was on the bus with us in Kenya and is still in Kenya helping GOA for the next month.

Right at the end of the service Penny sent me an email - a letter to the church members. Pastor Karanja read it to the congregation on my Blackberry. From Penny:

Dear Brethren,
I greet you in the name of Jesus to whom we continue to give all the praise. Kenya is beautiful, and abundantly blessed. We continue to pray and bless people who have been affected by the skirmishes and even though sometimes it is difficult seeing all these, we thank God for the resources and touching people to give. I have seen so many things and agony and I have come to appreciate the little that I have. Sometimes it has been dangerous for us on the road but we have seen Gods hand as you continue to pray. At times we go to this these camps and we are not able to meet their needs as we would like to. Please give what you have and especially in areas of evangelism we need bibles and soccer/volley  balls as we can see how effective they are as this people need something to keep them busy as they have nothing to do. They also need the word of God and that is why we need the bibles.Connie will tell you about this campaign. Last but not least, continue to pray as ever before because a lot of people are suffering. I will continue to represent you here as one of you and be assured that as you give you are in together with us down here. God bless you and I love you all.

Yours in Christ
Penny.

The young adult dancers were to dance today at the church but gave up their time on the stage o play Sammy's song Pray for Peace for Kenya. Pastor Karanja called me up and laid his hands on me along with his wife Teresa and prayed for me. He did that before my trip and I believe that is why I was so protected on the trip. He took a love offering for Kenya Relief. When the service was over they played Sammy's song over and over. Sammy called my Blackberry from Kenya - and he could hear his song playing in church. Pastor Karanja spoke to him on the phone and blessed him!  How amazing is God?  Connecting all this together.

Pastor karanja is partnering with us to raise funds to keep the Peace bus on the road and in the camps delivering blankets, giving medical care, soccer balls and singing the Pray for Peace song.. We are planning several events and will keep you informed as the dates are set..

The DVD of Post-Election violence and Churches respond was shown in several churches today. We will know tomorrow how much was raised.

Praying for peace and healing in Kenya, Connie