Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Obama Inauguration - We're Praying for You

Hello Friends,

I just want to take a minute of your time to thank you and wish the new president-elect the best of luck in leading your great country.

This election and finally the inauguration has attracted the world's attention and we surely wish u all well. Just a few minutes ago, i got a glimpse of CNN, and was amazed at how many people are bracing the cold to see Obama's inauguration (i guess it was so early there).
This is a new thing and we do hope that your country will prosper again and meet the challenges that are right ahead . Just know that we are praying for you and wishing u all God's Blessings.

We applaud your democracy as we in Kenya failed miserably in this test last year....

God Bless again
Jonah
p.s
Kenyan's are celebrating too. What joy this is!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090120/ap_on_re_as/obama_world_celebrations

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Urgent Prayer Requests

this is just a short to let u know that Kenya is experiencing the worst famine disaster in years. food and maize (corn) in particular has not been harvested in so many places due to drought and the violence that came early last year.

staple food prices have increased over 100% in the last 6 months alone, and most incomes have remain the same or even reduced due to economic recession. the government was not able to give economic bailout as expected during this time due to its weak economy.

my city and other towns have become very dusty as it had not rained for so long.
please pray for the following:

please pray for the following
- For the rain to come
- Food to be available
- The prices of food to come down
- The economic recession globally to boom again.
- For the grace to go thru' this very hard period as there so many people waiting on someone to help.

i have to end here. Please pray. Pray.
God Bless
Jonah
p.s
i have attached daily local news articles with this info
http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/515792/-/u1ag48/-/index.html
http://www.eastandard.net/InsidePage.php?id=1144004275&cid=

Sh37bn plea to save victims of famine

By MUCHEMI WACHIRAPosted Friday, January 16 2009 at 17:36
In Summary
  • Post-election chaos, drought and global economy blamed for national food crisis
The massive task facing the Government as it tries to save 10 million Kenyans from starvation was laid bare on Friday when President Kibaki declared the food shortage a national emergency.
Related Stories
standard newspaper

Kibaki declares famine a disaster


Updated 3 hr(s) 41 min(s) ago
By Isaac Ongiri
President Kibaki has declared the current food shortage a national disaster and sent a passionate appeal for international help.
And the US, China, Japan and 27 EU countries through the France Ambassador Elisabeth Barbier promised to respond to the distress call. However, they told Kibaki reports of irregularities in the maize sector must be handled.
The President said the country urgently needed Sh37 billion to boost food security before the next harvest in September.
More than 10 million people need relief food.

Friday, January 16, 2009

High School Kids in Kericho

I wrote about the school needs for 5 dear orphans in Kericho, Kenya. The orphans range in ages from 13-16 years though it is difficult to know some of their precise ages due to lack of documentation.

The amounts below are the amounts needed if the students are to enroll in school this month.

- $1851.95 (US)
- 2165.40 (Cdn)
- 1172.90 (British Pounds)
- $1348.85 (Euros)
- $2580.96 (Aussie)

See the full post concerning the school needs here http://jonahsmissions.blogspot.com/2009/01/getting-back-to-school.html

We are seeking God's provision for these dear ones. If the funds are not received soon, these children will not go to school this term which starts February 2-6, 2009.

Please pray for these dear ones. Here are their photos:

Mercy

Evaline

Beatrice

Olivia

Victor

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

The Railway in Kenya

travelling by rail in Kenya is great.

though this rail was built more than a century ago by the British explorers. i am told it was completed in the early 1900.



the government has been thinking of changing the face of this rail for a while now. it seems a lot is needed to be done to make this one look like the great railways linking London and Paris and those railways in the cities of Moscow and Singapore. i loved traveling 'under' the roads, buildings, etc. while i was there. it was cool.

the ones in Kenya are a favorite for tourists who love to travel on them as they remember the exploration times of the first explorers. i took these pics in Kisumu where i had taken Siele to get some government documents. it was his first time to be there. here is a slide show of the railway in Kisumu and Siele.



i've also included information here about the rift valley railways.

have a great day and God Bless

http://www.riftvalleyrailways.com/


"The change is happening! The latest trend of moving around Kenya and Uganda in comfort is finally here!

If you live, or maybe visiting Kenya and Uganda, you can now truly travel around in style. On this site, you will find useful information aimed at making it easier and more comfortable for you to travel around these two East Africa countries. The railway system has been revamped and made an affordable, convenient and comfortable way of traveling in Kenya and Uganda. Since 1899, the railway held that promise. Now it's a reality! Click here to read the fascinating history of the "Lunatic Express".

Through www.riftvalleyrailways.com, you will be able to access train schedules for Kenya and Uganda, fares for both passenger and freight, updates on train movements, and much more.

  • If you are a business person, take advantage of the cost savings and peace of mind available to you by using the new railway system to transport your goods through out Kenya and Uganda.

  • If you simply want to travel around in style and comfort, whether on holiday or business, use the railway system and get your money worth.

  • Traveling around Kenya and Uganda will never be the same thanks to the newly re-furbished railway system.


‘'My family and I no longer have to endure the hassle of driving to Mombasa for our holidays! We simply book our tickets, get on the train, have a meal on board, relax and arrive in Mombasa fresh and ready to start our holiday. Excellent value for money!''. Mr. John K., Nairobi

Friday, January 9, 2009

Getting Back to School

hello,

with high schools opening soon there is great need for books, textbooks, bags, pens, shoes, shirts, sweaters, rain coats, soap, lotion. etc. these are the top needs as the students begin the new school year in february 2009.

this year five of our orphans qualified for higher level grades and were called to various high schools to go and study.

the form one students are to report to school in February and i hope by then we can be able to send these kids to high school. getting an education will help them so that their lives will be like ours where they are able to go to high school, then college and later find work. so far, in january we have managed to cover the basic school cost of several primary children and now we need to concentrate on these 5 older students who start school soon.

i've listed the cost for all items* for each of the 5 orphans who have moved on to higher grades below. you will see the cost in several currencies, for one student and then for all 5 students.

One Student
- 28,150.00 (Kenyan Shillings)
- $370.39 (US)
- $433.08 (Cdn)
- £234.58 (British Pounds)

- $269.77 (Euros)
- $516.19 (Aussie)
- $538.88 (Singapore)
- $2827.92 (Hong Kong)
- 32,892.40 (Japanese Yen)

Five Students
- 140,750.00 (Kenyan Shillings)
- $1851.95 (US)
- 2165.40 (Cdn)
- 1172.90 (British Pounds)
- $1348.85 (Euros)
- $2580.96 (Aussie)
- $2694.44 (Singapore)
-$14,139.56 (Hong Kong)
- 164,462 (Japanese Yen)

Fee Payment Schedule

The school year is for a total of 9 months with 3 terms (3 months each) per year. Half of a full year's payment is needed up front. The remaining half can be paid in 2 parts if needed.

Minimum due January 2009

1 student- 14,075. 00 (Kenyan shillings)
5 students 70,375.00 (Kenyan shillings)

a payment would then be needed again about 3 months later (march/april 2009). we have opened an account to try and set aside money for these students to help us plan ahead. we really need your help and we gratefully accept what u can do to help these kids.

we can receive funds through money gram or western union (see the information in the right side column). if u want to send funds through international bank to bank transfer, let us know and we can tell you how to do that. i also have a mailing address but that method is very slow and is insecure as cheques can be lost in the mail.

the photos below show the school kids lined up to return to boarding school.



i want to let you know that everything here in kenya has gotten harder since last year. the costs of everything has gone up and education fees have also gone up very recently making it even harder to get an education.

the December 16,2008 issue of The Standard, Online Edition described in graphic terms what happens to children who do not get an education or who have to walk far to go to school.

"The children are often sucked into the informal employment sector where they are exploited by their employers, and exposed to physical and sexual abuse.

Ms Phelomena Elizear, the secretary for Embakasi Constituency Right to Education advocacy group, says distance to learning institutions present a big challenge to the girls. "Parents are reluctant to send their children to school because they are at risk of being waylaid and raped," she says. The problem is compounded by insecurity and poor infrastructure."

click the news link for an article in the Daily Nation news for more information on school costs http://www.nation.co.ke/News/-/1056/512242/-/u18940/-/index.html
we want to do what we can to help these kids that God has entrusted to our care..and will send them to boarding school as God enables us through your help. please pray with us and, if you can, send us your support today. May God richly bless you.

Because He lives
Jonah

* books, textbooks, bags, pens, shoes, shirts, sweaters, rain coats, soap, lotion. etc

Three Centuries & the Curtain Closes

hello,

we had bereavement in my community today. it was a sad day as we had lots of thoughts as we think about someone who has lived to see three centuries.

he was born in 1895 and he lived through the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. not so many people live through this many centuries. we do feel that God was gracious unto him to live for 113 years.

he left behind grown up children in their 80's. Some of his family died already like his first wife that he married in 1923. he was taken care of by his 2nd wife that he married in 1932.

his first wife had not given birth and when he married the second wife they learned that she was able to give birth. this was a miracle after being childless for close to ten years. He later became blind for 18 years and his wife took great care of him. At his funeral, people commented that few women (wives) would take care of their wives or few husbands would take care of their wives in such difficult times and advanced ages. what a great example they set for the younger people.



he left behind, his wife, many children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren may the Lord lay his soul in eternal peace. and my wish is that you will also live long in this world too.

God Bless
Jonah