Happy New Year!!

Many greetings for a very Happy New Year from us all at IcFEM Kimilili.

We had good services on Christmas Day and a family meal in the evening.

We do thank God that Christmas is Christ-centred and that commercialism hasn't yet hit this part of rural Kenya! We do not exchange gifts, but celebrate the Gift to the world, Jesus.

New Year's Day is also celebrated with Church Services.

We are looking forward to what God has in store for us in 2009 and wish all our many friends a very HAPPY NEW YEAR.

At last!! An ATM in Kimilili!!

No photo for this one, but just to let all our visitors know that we now have an ATM (otherwise known as a hole in the wall) at Kenya Commercial Bank in Kimilili. I have used it for a local cash withdrawal, but as yet we haven't succeeded for international, but I'm sure that will come soon and save visitors the trip to Bungoma, Webuye or elsewhere. It started to work on Friday 19th December.

Naitiri Local Transformation Unit leads the way!

*************************************************************************************
The Local Unit has just launched their very own project - the Naitiri Vulnerable Child Support Project. The Fellowship members have contributed and have raised a good sum of money to help vulnerable and needy children in their midst. The Project was launched yesterday at a colourful meeting, attended by the local Councillor, the Mission Director, two Deputy Directors and other IcFEM HQ staff. You can see part of the crowd in the photos. We reckon there were around 250 people there. The meeting was held in a local Church at Mukuyuni.

We do thank God for this wonderful initiative from the Local Unit members.

Books for Local Transformation Unit Libraries.

We are very grateful to Sovereign World Trust for supplying excellent new books for our Mission library and for Local Transformation Unit Libraries. Boxes of books for LTU libraries have arrived very recently and have been greeted with great excitement. The photos show them being opened and recorded in my Office, with staff very anxious to read before the books go out to the Community next year.

Local Transformation Unit Leaders' Meeting on Monday 15th Dec.

The leaders arrived early - many before 8am - and had so much to share. The meeting was wonderfully lively, with many good testimonies, as the way forward for next year was plotted. There are ten LTUs and more planned for next year as God opens doors.

Ann is back home!!

Hello friends!

I am safely back home, but arrived to find big problems connection to the Internet from here. It has been very unstable.

On Monday we had an amazing meeting with leaders from all ten local transformation units. I hope I can post some testimonies from that meeting very soon - and maybe a photo as well.

We are also very happy to see a number of our Mission staff getting married. This December is the month for so many weddings! On 6th, I was still away, so missed witnessing Mary and Anthony, two of our staff, tying the knot. Last Saturday was the turn of our Deputy from Dreamland Education Centre. Next Saturday it will be our Clinical Officer, Sarah, who becomes Mrs!

Power photos!

******************************

Oct 17th 2008

Great joy as we arrive at a bright Dreamland Medical Care Centre and find Nurse Petronila putting out the paraffin lanterns!!

DMCC lights on at last!!

I am having some difficulty posting photos, but will keep trying!

POWER AT LAST!!!

The Director was away all of September, hence the silence. When all is quiet, either we have Internet problems or I am very busy - most likely both!

NEWS!!

Hallelujah!!

Power has come to Dreamland Medical Care Centre after almost 3 years of prayer and patience.

I'll post a photo as soon as I can.

Trauma counselling for IDP children.

Very many IDP children are severely traumatised. Need for counselling these children was identified and IcFEM Mission is running a very successful programme, which included four-day Counselling Clinics at Dreamland Education Centre. Parents, caretakers and Guardians also had special sessions at a later time and many of them were also seriously traumatised.

Children were given gifts to take home, including blankets, soap and a New Testament. They were also measured for school uniform, which they received shortly after the photo was taken.

Busy here in Kimilili!

Why have there been no posts for such a long time?

I went to visit my Mum (98) Since I got back, we have been VERY busy. Also the Internet has been slow (or off) with power cuts many days.

We had a successful Holiday Club and also a very good Seminar for sponsored students and their parents/guardians. We were hit, as usual, by compulsary holiday coaching in many schools, including Primary. However the Minister of Education has now banned this. Let's trust the ban will be enforced in future holidays.

The Mission has had the AGM and our new Board is elected. (The elected Board members can serve two three-year terms before having to stand down.)

The Mission Director, Solomon Nabie, is in UK at the moment and will be joined by his wife as soon as schools here open and the children are in school.

The Dreamland power is STILL not connected - the transformer has yet to be installed.

I hope to put some photos in my next post.

A Strange World

How funny 100 shillings looks so big when we take it to church but so small when we take it to shop.

Funny how long 60 minutes is when we are serving God, but how short when we are watching a movie, playing a game or having a favourite pastime.

Funny how laborious it is to read a chapter in the Bible but how easy it is to read a 200 – 300 pages of the best novel.

Funny how we believe what a person or a newspaper says but question what the Bible says.

Funny how we need 2 – 3 weeks to fit a church event in our schedule but no problem adjusting for a social event at the last minute.

Funny how we can’t think of anything to say but we don’t have any problem of things to gossip about a friend.


Funny how we get thrilled when a soccer match goes into extra time but complain when a church sermon takes longer than the regular time.

Funny how people scramble to get the front seat at any event but scramble to get the back seat during church service.

Funny how difficult it is to share a gospel with others but how simple it is to talk about anything else.

Funny how everyone wants to go to heaven provided, they don’t have to believe, think or do anything else.

By Enock Ambongo (Std 8 Pupil)
During the launch of Mautuma Local Unit

The key to the work of IcFEM is prayer.

The last Friday of every month is a special day for IcFEM Mission. We start our end-month prayer and fasting, until Sunday morning. This is a wonderful time here in Kimilili. Around 100 people meet together to pray, hear God's word and fellowship together. You can join us anywhere in the world! To get the prayer letter, e-mail office@icfem.org WELCOME!!!

Launch of Kimilili Local Transformation Unit.

More photos of the crowd.

Why am I so lost?

Yes, we are BUSY!!!

Also we have had a number of power and e-mail connection problems, but we are still here and seeing God doing exciting things amongst us.

The eighth Local Transformation Unit has been launched (on June 13th) and the next launch is on 5th July at Chesikaki.

Wheels for the World and IcFEM help so many needy people.

The Team, together with chairs, crutches and walking aids were transported to the Distribution in our school bus.

One chair went to a boy who is very talented practically, but who had not been able to get to school. You can see him happily in his chair and hoping to go to school very soon.

D.C. presents certificate at Naitiri Field Transformation Unit Launch.

The DC presents the Certificate to some of the Naitiri leadership team.

Deputy Director welcomes DC to speak to gathering.

Naitiri Local Transformation Unit Launched!

Part of the large crowd attending the Launching.

Next Local Transformation Unit to be launched on Friday 25th April.

Naitiri Local Transformation Unit will be launched this week. I hope to be able to post some photos.
Meanwhile ....watch this space....

Holiday Club!!

I just heard today of a Nursery School which gives the children compulsary Holiday Coaching!!

We think our Holiday Club is a better alternative.

I've been to Nairobi for a week, but took a few Holiday Club photos before I left Kimilili.

The small children enjoyed the bikes etc which were in the Container.

The programme included Bible teaching, games and academic hints for the older ones.

More photos from Mautuma.

Director presents Certificate to Local Unit Leaders.

Part of the crowd at the meeting - the crowd was too big to photograph it all at once!

Mautuma Local Transformation Unit (Field Unit) Launched. Sat 5th April 2008

Here are a few photos of the launching service.

Director encourages Village Elders.

Mrs Nabie opens Local Transformation Unit Office.

Launch of Mautuma Local Transformation Unit.

The next IcFEM Field Unit will be launched on Saturday 5th April 2008.

Please pray for this special occasion. More - and we trust some photos - next week.

WATER for IDP Camp, schools and community.

We are praising God that an Aid Agency has intervened. They are installing water storage tanks, piping and an electric pump so that the water can be shared and the water problems we trust are over!

This leaking water tank has been serving the school for many years. Now we are looking forward to seeing a new system.

Little power, poor Internet connection, but MUCH activity!

Internally displaced people have receieved quite a bit of help from Kimilili Relief Coordination Committee, spearheaded by IcFEM.








THANK YOU to many friends who have contributed - both from within Kenya and from without.

You can see maize being loaded onto a hired lorry at IcFEM HQ, Kimilili. This was followed by mats and blankets, then some donated clothes.

The second photo shows maize being distributed at a Chief's Centre. In the background is the queue waiting for their maize.

Easter Greetings to all from IcFEM Mission, Kimilili, Kenya!

May you find joy in the Risen Lord as you seek to serve Him with us.

From the Board, Management and Staff of Interchristian Fellowships' Evangelical Mission, Kimilili, Kenya.

More info from www.icfem-mission.org

Still putting sponsored students into school.

Daniel sets off to find schools for our last three boys this term - using the Withington Girls' School (Manchester UK) motorbike. He has to collect letters.

Meanwhile, back in Kimilili.......

In Kimilili, the Mission work goes on in the community. Fellowships are growing and the effect is very widespread. We thank God for His hand on us.

We are still putting very needy children into Secondary School. This involves doing home assessments for all shortlisted applicants.

Thank you, Withington Girls School, Manchester, UK, for your fantastic effort raising money for a motorbike for this purpose. It is the red one in the photo. The others are used in the community and it is rare to find them at Mission HQ!

Meet Gladys and her children

This is where Gladys stays with her ten children after being displaced from Mt Elgon. The eldest boy (18) is mentally handicapped. The baby is 1 month old. She doesn't know where her husband is now.

She rents this room - initially a church building. The boys sleep in one corner and the girls in another. Another corner is used for cooking. There is no proper toilet! No seats at all - just sacks.

This group of displaced people is about 5km from the Camp visited earlier. There are about 25 families staying around this place.

The old Church building where many stay.

Everyone wanted to be in the photo!! The volunteer camp supervisor is just off the photo on the left.



The men stay on the other side behind the dividing partition in the background.

Where other families sleep.

Other families stay in tents - we wonder what will happen when the rains come.

Some have an old mud Church building. This is divided into two. Men and boys stay on one side and women, girls and children on the other. I took a photo on the ladies' side.

A visit to a camp for IDPs

This is a small camp, not far from Kitale. People have come from many places. Some families rent places outside tha actual Camp and others stay with relatives and friends.

The total number served by this Camp is 2697. These are from 427 families. However we observed others coming from far, looking for food.

Staying in the actual camp are 155 families.

Food is cooked for many of these families in a structure kindly lent by the school for use as a kitchen. The photo shows the two large sufurias. We have now taken them another two.

The kitchen is has one of the IDPs as a watchman/supervisor. He has the great luxury of a proper bed in the corner. He shares the room with fireplaces (3 stones) and firewood.

WATER for IDP Camp, schools and community.

Mr Julius Wanyama, Primary School Headmaster shows the pump to IcFEM Mission Hospital Administrator, Mrs Margaret Soita.

The borehole is 200ft deep, with plenty of clean water. The pump was installed in 1994 and breaks down very regularly now. At present it is not working.

PLEASE HELP US TO REPLACE THIS PUMP! It will supply water for the schools, IDP Camp and the local community.

Gifts can be made on-line through IcFEM's website. All gifts can be gift-aided. the estimated cost is about £500

http://www.icfem-mission.org/

More from Kimilili

No news doesn't mean no activity!!

THANK YOU to all who have sent gifts for helping the IDPs (Internally Displaced People).

IcFEM is very involved with the Kimilili Relief Coordination Committee, but we are also doing our own investigations concerning needs in two other areas.

Meanwhile we are helping individuals daily.

Last Saturday (March 8th), two large teams of Mission staff went out to see for ourselves. The information collected is being acted on right now. On Monday, two smaller teams (5 people in each) went to some Primary Schools in the areas visited on Saturday. We were particularly looking to see how the schools were coping with the big influx of extra children, many with no uniform (just dressed in rags) and very hungry.

One Primary School has a Camp next door. They are doing a wonderful job, but with very limited facilities. The major need identified there is for WATER. They are also doing some central cooking for the ID families. They were struggling to cook for hundreds with only two large sufurias. We observed this when we visited the Camp on Saturday, so on Monday, we went back with another two large sufurias and two cartons (each 12 bars) of bar soap. Every small gift is WELCOMED with great joy.

Now we are investigating the purchase of a new water pump. There is a good borehole, but the pump is old and keeps breaking down. A new hand operated pump would cost about £500.

As I write, our power is going on and off, as is Internet access. I hope to post this and then add some photos later.

ARRIVAL OF CONTAINER. Feb 2008

Praise God!! The container carrying wheelchairs has arrived; all of the wheelchairs have been off loaded and are now safe in Dreamland Medical Care Centre (DMCC). Please thank God for the safe journey which started in the UK then to Mombasa and finished here in Kimilili after going through Nairobi and the Rift Valley.

CRISIS IN KENYA. Jan 2008

Kimilili is an oasis of peace in these troubled times in Kenya. The work of IcFEM is continuing normally. Please remember that the media rarely present good news.

IcFEM’s Community Transformation programme is showing that TRANSFORMATION WORKS!

Displaced people are running to Kimilili and the areas where IcFEM has been working for the last few years.

We are overwhelmed with needs and are an influential part of a local Committee formed to assess the priorities and distribute help fairly.

Any financial help sent to IcFEM (Europe) will be passed on to Kimilili as soon as possible. Remember you can give using this Website and we are able to receive Gift-Aided donations.

We also need longer-term help to put some desperately needy bright children into Secondary School. Those who have lost their homes will be safest in Boarding School at this time.