Elijah Malenje

Elijah has been a wonderful friend and brother in Christ during all my years in Kenya. He was our IcFEM Mission Patron and Board member for many years.
On Sunday, Elijah went to Heaven. He had been battling with cancer for some years, but never lost his smile.
The funeral is on Saturday 2nd January at their home in Kakamega and we are expecting MANY people.
Testimonies will be posted later. Please pray for his wife, Elizabeth, and their daughter Marian and many friends and colleagues as we mourn, although we rejoice that he is now free from pain and with the Lord he served so faithfully.

Coffee at Kimabole

Coffee Farmers at Kimabole meet to report on the progress of their coffee sales. The Word of God is shared by the Mission Chaplain, Paul Ng'ang'a as farmers listen intently.
Other photos show coffee being taken from the store before being loaded into the lorry.

Wedding of Mike and Catherine in Eldoret.

Catherine's family were my neighbours at Lugulu for many years. Her father was Head of Chemistry. I have known Cathy since she was a baby. She is now studying in USA and brought her American fiance here for their wedding. He has been able to meet many of her large extended family, including one sister and six brothers.
Cathy's older brother, David Scott Omutimba, and his wife, Harriet, were the best couple. David has been an IcFEM Board member for two terms.
The bride was escorted to the marriage by her parents, Rev Johnston and Mrs Florah Ashene.
The cake was an unusual combination of brown and white and absolutely delicious!!

Sarah Akello's wedding

Sarah is in charge of the Ministry to the Elderly.
Her wedding was on 19th in Mumias. I was unable to go because I had another wedding in Eldoret. I called at her home as she and her maids were waiting for her fiance to arrive for the pre-wedding at St James in Kimilili.
This is the time when her home Church prays for her and sends her to her wedding and new home.

Miconazole Mat Award

We praise God that the Mission has been awarded a Second place on our first entry for this award - out of 63 entrants.

Miconazole Mat Award, partnering with MEDS and Johnson and Johnson to support HIV/AIDS patients in the community.

This award is worth 75000/- and is most likely to be used to get home-based care kits from MEDS for our Home-Based Care programme.

We thank God for this wonderful recognition of the Mission's Health Care work.

Alex and Nancy 12th December 2009

Our Orthopaedic Technologist, Alex, and out Mission Accountant, Nancy, tied the knot in a colourful ceremony in Friends' School Kamusinga Hall on Saturday.

I went to Nancy's home to fetch her. Trevor Sankey drove Alex and other vehicles went for her family members.
One photo shows her leaving home, with her best maid.
Another photo shows her putting the signed marriage certificate in Alex's pocket after they became Mr and Mrs!

Harvest thanksgiving at Sikhendu LTU

Macdon (Head of Evangelism) encourages the members as they line up for prayer, each carrying a token handful of maize.
After the prayer, the Chief speaks powerfully to all present. We thank God for this encouragement.

e-mail is a bit of a problem!

At the moment, Internet connection and e-mail is a bit difficult. We are using dial-up, so forgive me if I don't reply to yours, especially those sent to depdirector. I can't open some of them!!

Pray with us as we trust God for a good connection before Christmas!!

End of November Prayer and Fasting at HQ

I didn't take my camera, but hopefully can get some photos from Robert tomorrow!

This was a packed out prayer meeting. We need a tent!!

Friday night the Hall was FULL and people were sitting outside on the verandah. On Saturday there were so many outside the Hall that I guess there may have been about 250 there. On Sat night, the Hall was still very full and people had to sit outside. The number was 150.

Testimonies from the Community were very exciting.

The age range was also great - from Primary school children (a few) to wazee. Almost all the local Transformation Units were represented.

The news about COFFEE from Chesakaki is particularly exciting and will come in a separate post.

With growth we were also facing many challenges. Thank you to all who pray with us.

If you are reading this and do not get the UK Newsletter, but would like it and/or the monthly prayer letter, please let us know. office@icfem.org

Rosemary Ambooka graduates.

On Friday 20th, Rosie graduated at Kabarak University. The ceremony was attended by her parents and other family members. On Saturday night a Thanksgiving Party was held for her at the Guest House.
We were delighted to see her photo in the Daily Nation on Saturday, receiving a trophy for Christian Service from the Chancellor of the University, Retired President Daniel Arap Moi.
Since finishing at College, Rosie has been 'holding the fort' in the Gap/Volunteer programme.
The photo shows her with Solomon and Ruth at the Thanksgiving Party.

A few wedding photos.

The happy couple cutting the cake, greeting the congregation and serving the DC, who came to share in the occasion and led the congregation in worship.

Pre-wedding at Caroline's home

The service was held outside under the trees.

The photo shows some of the gifts, which were carried to the Church.

Wedding of Peter and Caroline

Today was the joyful occasion of the wedding of Peter (DEC bus conductor) and Caroline. There was a colourful service at her home (pre-wedding) before we set off for the PEFA Church in Kimilili. Tatwa drove the bridegroom and his men and I drove the bride - with her best maid, Mary and two little girls. The DEC bus and another school bus carried all the other people - girls, family members and all wishing to come.
This is very slow tonight, so I'll try to add the photos tomorrow.

Harvest Festival at Kimilili LTU today.

Today the Harvest Festival was held inside a Church. The heavens opened a big blessing, just as the preaching and prayers ended. There was much rejoicing at the goodness of God.
Each individual was prayed for as he/she brought the token tithe.

More Misikhu photos.

Men lining up to present tithe tokens.
Praise and worship. People coming for prayer - I hope these photos give you a glimpse of the day.

Harvest Festival at Misikhu LTU today.

The Harvest Festival was held under the trees outside the Local Transformation Unit Office. There were testimonies and people brought their tithes. Much praise and thanksgiving. Preaching and many accepted Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Then they gave to God. Men in one line and ladies in the other. Maize was a token handful, but there were also beans and eggs as well as the bananas and chicken you can see in the photo. Each person was prayed for as he/she gave.

It was a wonderful and exciting day!

The local Councillor was passing by and came to see what was happening. He stayed and was very touched.

IcFEM Christmas cards drawn by children.

Have you seen our Christmas cards? Pictures are drawn by children from Dreamland Education Centre.

http://www.icfemcharitycards.bigcartel.com/

Jo Finlay held an exciting competition for the card artists. We love the results. We hope you will too.

A major donor for the DEC Scholarship fund for very needy children has just had to pull out, so we need to sell lots of cards and also get more new friends to help the scholarship fund. Please publicise the cards for us - buy some and sell them as well!!

Kenya Certificate of Primary Education

I arrived from London on Friday morning - to Kitale via Nairobi.
I was just in time to go to Dreamland Education Centre to join in prayer for the candidates. Today (Tuesday) was the first paper. The exam continues until Thursday. We are praying for all our candidates and trust God for good news at the end of December.

KCSE (Form Four) exams are drawing to a close and we pray for God's blessing on all our students sitting this exam.

Ann is home!

After a very busy and good time in UK and Eire, I am now home in Kimilili. Many thanks to all the wonderful friends, fellowships, schools and Churches who welcomed me and gave me a chance to talk about IcFEM and what God is doing in Kimilili. God bless you all.

Harvest Festivals continue, with three more this week.

Harvest Festival at Kimabole - November

Farmers bring their token tithes to be prayed for.


This man carried his sack of maize on a donkey.

Harvest Fesitvals

The Local Transformation Units are preparing for Harvest Thanksgiving Services.
We do thank God for His hand on our harvest. We shall give our tithes and offerings to Him.

Please pray for a good price for our farmers who have maize to sell.

Physiotherapy Room in Action

Thanks to all the friends who have raised money and worked so hard to prepare and decorate this room at Dreamland Medical Care Centre.
The lives of many children will be changed.
God bless you all.

Meanwhile, in England......

Ann is moving around talking to as many people as she can about IcFEM.

Dorothy and Mary Pearson were happy to have a copy of the Daily Nation as a change from British news when Ann visited Heaton Baptist Church, in Newcastle with them!!

IcFEM visitors in Kenya

We have had a number of visitors in Kimilili. From overseas, our UK Chairman, Peter Latham, and his wife, Viv, have been welcome visitors. We have also been happy to have Roel and Marianne Meijers around. There have also been many visitors from within Kenya. All are welcome!

Never a dull moment!

The work for God at IcFEM continues apace.
Ann has travelled safely to UK.
Schools open for Third Term on Monday or Tuesday, but a number of young people have gone back to college this week. We do have some who still need more sponsors, so if you'd like to help at all, please contact office@icfem.org
Third term is the term for external exams, so there is a lot of pressure on our children. We aoppreciate prayer.

August has been so busy!!

I am horrified to see that there is no up-to-date news from a very busy August! I haven't even downloaded the photos from my camera, but work continues.

At the moment we have a team of 10 young people from Didsbury here. They are from Ivy, Manchester (formerly Ivy Cottage Church), brought by Sarah and Steve Small of Dignity. I hope to give you a link to their blog when they have written it!

Tomorrow we have our Mission AGM, so have been preparing the Annual Report for 2008/9. If you'd like to see a copy, send an e-mail to office@icfem.org and we'll send you a pdf copy. It makes exciting reading.

Rachel Biboko and her children.

We thank God for those who contributed towards Rachel's medical costs. She had a successful operation to remove a tumour on the edge of her brain when she was 7 months pregnant. We are praising God for the safe arrival of Ebenezer. Her you can see Rachel with her three children, Roz, Baraka and Ebenezer. (Patrick was at Church when we went to see her.)
The other photo shows me with the baby!

Board visits Dreamland Medical Care Centre where there was an eye clinic taking place.

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Six Board members were on this part of the visits. The Hospital was very busy.
You can see patients waiting to be screened and a small boy reading the eye chart!

IcFEM Mission Board visits Local Transformation Units. July 20 to 23 .

Board visits the LTU Office at Kimilili and also gives thanks for their maize. The latter is a big contrast to much of the country.

For friends who knew Jenny Lipson

This is my last photo, taken with a mobile phone. Mum was stone deaf, so all my communications with her were in writing. You can see the conversations on the table and also the photos she was looking at.

We are in the community sitting room of the Nursing Home.

Personal news from Ann

There is so much IcFEM news to give you! Two more Local Transformation Units have been launched and there is much other activity.

I have been away to visit my Mum, aged 99 1/2. She was in a nursing home and suffering from some dementia, but she knew me most days and we had a nice time together, for which I thank God.

The day after I left her, she died. I thank God for His timing of my visit.

So this blog has taken a back place in the days since my return.

12th Local Transformation Unit launched.

Well over 1000 people attended the launch last Friday of the Kabuyefwe Local Transformation Unit.

The first part of the occasion was graced by the presence of our MP.

Photos will follow.

Photos of teachers.

Original photos are quite sharp!! Sorry folks!!

School Partnerships

Recent visitors have included a group of nine Headteachers from C of E Primary schools in the Lichfield Diocese in UK, led by Mrs Rosemary Woodward. Each school is partnered with a local Primary School in IcFEM's area of operation. The teachers each spent a week in their partner school. They have many photos, but mine are only a few - just to give a flavour of the visit.
The final meeting was with each Head of the Partnered schools to discuss the programme. The UK teachers left for Nairobi using a hired bus. IcFEM really needs our own bus for such visits and other activities!
We hope that this partnership programme will grow and include other parts of UK.
I am having trouble downloading photos, so will try in a separate post!!

Visit from St Paul's University in May

A team of Post Graduate students from St Paul's University, Limuru, paid a fruitful vist to IcFEM Mission in May. The 3-day visit was practical work for Masters students in Development Studies.

We enjoyed this short visit - welcome again!

Our gate has been painted at last!

Welcome to IcFEM's International HQ in Kimilili.

The gate is the wonderful art work of our volunteers - Jo, Jo, Jo and Gemma. Thanks to you all. Watchman, Simon, is on the left.

Good News at last!!

Praise God that ALL our farmers now have their seed and fertiliser (DAP). Some planted seed first, waiting to add fertiliser.
We are trusting the supply of CAN (fertiliser for top dressing) will happen much more quickly.
Please pray for the right rain. There has been hail in some places and no rain in Kimilili for the last three days.

News of the maize project.

We are really wanting to say that all our local Transformation Unit farmers have received their fertiliser and seeds, but sadly this is not so.
It is raining here in Kimilili, but not all fertiliser and seed has been distributed. The work for Equity Bank of processing all the forms seems to be overwhelming! And we only have just over 4500! We are trusting God that the exercise will be finished by the end of this week.

Testimony from a Board Member.

Mrs Sarah Wepukhulu attended Kimilili FYM primary school. She has not let the polio she suffered from as a child stop her from great achievements. She has an engineering degree and is now a Senior member of staff with Kenya Power and Lighting Company.

A large crowd gathered for Disability Day

Hundreds of people gathered at Kimilili FYM Primary School for Kibingei Local Transformation Unit's day to celebrate the achievements of disabled people.

The preacher was Mr Benson Liru, Deputy Principal of one of the top Boys' High Schools in Bungoma. He zoomed up and down in his wheelchair as he challenged the people!

Disability Day - Saturday 14th March

WELCOME to join us at Kimilili FYM Primary School, Temba Temba from 9.30am.

Kibingei Local transformation Unit is hosting a very special day to highlight the achievements of disabled people in the whole of IcFEM's area of operation.

Special guests include Mrs Sarah Wepukhulu, IcFEM Board member and the team from Wheels for the World who are here to distribute wheelchairs next week.

DO and Chiefs from Kiminini came to IcFEM HQ

The District Officer and all his Chiefs and Assistant Chiefs came from Kiminini to Kimilili to learn about IcFEM's programme for the disabled. They came in particular to prepare for the Wheels for the World visit on March 16th to distribute Wheelchairs in their Division.

She came for help for her first-born child.

The baby has a hare lip. She is hoping that the Bethesda Pool programme can help her.