Edwin's Story

The young man's name is Edwin and he is 21.  Recently,  Missions of Hope has helped Edwin to have a Bone Marrow Aspiration test done at the Aga Khan Hospital in Kisumu, Kenya.

The medical report says that Edwin has a massive hepatosplenomegaly and is recommended to have a peripheral smear for conclusive opinion of Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. This is a serious condition and he needs help for further diagnosis and treatment as soon as possible.

Most Kenyan families cannot cannot afford the cost of medical testing and treatment. Edwin's mama has already sold almost everything they own to get her son the help he needs.

We pray for someone who could help Edwin and his family to continue getting the medical help he needs for a final diagnosis and to get medical treatment as soon as possible.  The more people who know about Edwin, the better chance there is that he will get the help he needs. 

We are asking if you would share this story as widely as you can.  If you look at the bottom of this post you will find share buttons. It is very easy to share this story on Facebook and Twitter or via email with your friends.  You can even write a post about Edwin for your own blog and share it with your friends.

If you can help this boy directly with your finances, please let us know or simply send your gift to kerichojoy[at]gmail[com] via Pay Pal. We also value your prayers.

Thank you so much!

 

UPDATE: FEBRUARY 29, 2012

I will be taking Edwin to the doctor tomorrow (Thursday) to discuss his preliminary test results and next steps. Please keep us in your prayers for the miracle we need for his treatment and healing. 

God bless.

Visiting the Samburu People

Hello,

I had a short visit to the Samburu people in the Maralal region of Kenya.

Near Marsabit, Kenya. Can you see the zebras under the shade of the trees?

Another photo near Marsabit, Kenya.  This time people are sitting on the grass.

At Maralal Safari Lodge, Kenya.

Having a drink of mursik (curdled milk made in a calabash).with lunch.

Our goal was to see the need for development in an area where less than 2% of the population receives an education.  This is a place where even the Mayor of the town we visited is starting grade one!

This region is really lacking in development though I found countless NGOs in the county.

The bulletin board at the lodge is full of information for the traveller.

My assessment of the county is that it needs prayers,  schools and water.

 

One good thing I did see is that someone started a greenhouse in the region. That was a happy moment for me when I saw the greenhouse.

The greenhouse.

In pastoral communities you see goats everywhere. These ones are grazing by the water tanks  which are located near the greenhouse.

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It's great to see tomatos growing here!

Here I am with with my Samburu guide.

Enjoy the pics and please pray for these dear people.

A photo on the bulletin board of a tourist riding a camel.

Join others for Scenic Sunday hosted here.

Join others for Our World Tuesday here.

You can help raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the 

share buttons at the bottom

of this post.  

Thank you!

Urgent Appeal

Dear Friends,

We have an urgent appeal for a young student, named Jeremiah Lokol who lives on the border between Turkana and Pokot areas; one of the poorest parts of Kenya. I met him in September when I was on a food relief mission to the people in that area.

Turkana people waiting for food relief

Jeremiah

Jeremiah has just been accepted to the top school in the country and this has made my day with this news.  But he needs tuition and school uniform costs in a matter of days (by the end of this month) so I am making an URGENT appeal to everyone.

Sadly, everything that Jeremiah's family had was stolen by their neighbours just around the time the parents were planing to sell some cows and goats to pay for his education. Some of you will know that in this area the people are pastoralists and they suffer from cattle raiding.

Standing with some Turkana women holding their water cans.

As the boy comes from a family of  9, it looks like his dream of attending the school which is located in Kikuyu town near Nairobi, might not become a reality. He might lose the chance of joining this great school and achieving his dream of becoming a pilot after finishing high school.

What we need to do is gather everyone's support to ensure he can go to school. He needs everyone's support to make this possible.

The fees and costs for term one are 24,943 Kenyan shillings ( $304 Canadian, $275 Australian, $292 US, 222 Euros, 187 GBP) There are additional costs of 6695 Kenyan shillings for school uniforms ( $81 Canadian, $74 Australian, $78 US, 60 Euros, 50 GBP and some modest amount for travelling to the school and making sure he has the other clothing and bedding he needs.

I am praying to God for someone to come forward and answer the prayers for this family and this boy.

Please pray with us and help to raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the share buttons at the bottom of this post. If you can do more than pray, please donate now at the donate button (see top right of this page).

Thank you and may God bless you.

Jonah

Changing Lives

We continually monitor the work of this lady--Mama Linet since giving her start up funds to get a small business going. She is the one with the little girl, Linet; the one with a cleft palate.

Mama Linet's business is booming (according to her).  She has rented one more room so she can use one for her business of selling charcoal and omena (small fish).  She also sells cabbages to her friends and neighbors.  I'm so glad she has been able to pay fees for her kids who are going to primary school.

With the little help we've given her, I am seeing a big sign of moving forward and lifting herself and her family out of poverty through small business.

Please continue to pray for her.

At the same time, continue to pray for the medical student Kipngeno.  Kenya desperately needs young men and women who will study and train to become doctors.  Kipngeno went back to school today with only 10% of all the fees he needs.  We are trusting God for a breakthrough for him. 

Many thanks for praying with us for these needs.

Jonah

You can help raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the 

share buttons at the bottom of this post.

Thank you!

December Missions in Photos

Helping a young mother start her charcoal business so she can support her family.

She has her charcoal lined up for customers.

Everyone is eager to see what we have brought. We usually bring sweets for the kids.

This woman is showing me her crowded living quarters. There is no room for cooking inside.

She cooks for her 5 children outside where these stones are.

The main things I bring for the people are mosquito nets to protect them from malaria. I also bring blankets to keep them warm as their shelters are not adequate to keep out the wind and rain.

These are the makeshift shelters they live in. There are about 35 families here.

Someone is always in need of medical attention.

Even the smallest things can make a big difference to the health of the children. These people are too poor to buy even the cheapest of medicines.

I brought sweets too. Even the adults like these little treats.

The Missions of Hope also provided food relief on December 24, 2011. If you missed it please see my last post.

You can help us by donating whatever you can so we can continue these kinds of relief efforts.
The donate button is on the top right of the screen.

If you cannot give, we would really appreciate if you can help raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the share buttons at the bottom of this post or any other post. Thank you!

Christmas for the IDPs

Helllo,

I had a busy day going on a quick Christmas mission taking gifts to the IDP camp near where I live.  I managed to secure some volunteers to help me out.  I'm glad I could make it there before Christmas.

It is so sad to see the situation these people live it.  Indeed it is so heartbreaking.






I want to tell you of the love these guys have for you after you gave them these gifts. They are so grateful for the gifts, especially at this time of year.

I wanted to get this report up before Christmas passed and to upload a new slideshow set to music in my language, Kipsigis.

We look forward to hearing from you again.

Please feel free to comment here or on youtube.

You can help raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the share buttons at the bottom of this post or any other post. Thank you!

Gift Ideas for Christmas Giving

Hello friends, I wanted to give you an opportunity to see the Gift Catalogue for the Missions of Hope.  These gifts might help you if you are still in need of Christmas gift ideas.  For sure if you buy something from this catalogue, it will help the very need here, in  Kenya. God bless!

Orphan & Family Needs

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$155 to $205 US - School Fees per Boarding student

$25 US School Uniforms per student
$15 US School Shoes per student

$25-50 US monthly for Orphan support

$55 US Family Support

 

Farm Animals

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$5 US per chicken
$6 US per rooster 

Just a few hens can help provide eggs and chicks to raise poultry for sale.

$55 US for one goat ($50) + vet inspection ($5)

A goat can provide milk and if two goats of opposite sex are purchased, can provide a simple livelihood for a family.

$800-$1000 US for one high grade cow

A good cow gives quality milk for consumption and for sale.

8 or 10 donors can help to purchase 1 cow.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Agriculture

 

 

$120 - $250 US for seeds & fertilizer per growing season   For several years, Missions of Hope
has planted communal crops (corn, cabbages, potatoes) and given out the
harvest to the widows and orphans.  We were unable to do this in the
Jan.- March 2011 planting season.  Instead each farmer must find
adequate funds for planting. Help us to help them, with the planting in
Jan.-Mar. 2011.

Other Suggestions

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*corn 30 kg  $22.00 US

* oil 1kg  $7.00 US

* beans 5kg $4.00 US

* flour $2.00 US

* onions 2kg $2.00 US

* royco 500 gr $2.00 US

* veggies $3.00 US

* rice 3kg $4.00 US

* meat 2kg $6.00 US

Based on monthly needs per family of 5 members

* $250 US to sponsor 1 mother for small business start-up or to learn a trade

 

* 300 US/yr to help 1 child attend school

OR

* $3000 US to send 1 youth to college/uni.

OR

* $60 US to buy 1 cell phone for pastor or college student

OR

* $10 US/mo. to buy airtime for pastor or student

* misc. $10.00 US (eg. soap, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc.)

Based on monthly needs per family of 5 members

* 1 pit latrine - $60 US

sponsor 1/2 latrine - $30.

* legal title deeds - This need has been met.

OR

* Build 1 Refuge Centre  $15,000 US OR any amount to help get project underway

* blankets n mattresses

$25-$50 US for 2-3 people

OR

*day clothes 1 child $15. US

OR

* medicine n doctor - $20 US

 

NOTE:
All prices fluctuate greatly in this time of incredible inflation. We
have tried to give accurate costs to the nearest rounded up dollar.
These figures will be updated when there is a significant change in
prices.

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If you wish to donate more than $300. US, kindly contact our patron first by clicking here to make arrangements.  The DONATE button is on the top right hand corner of this page.

You can help raise awareness of the Missions of Hope by using the share buttons at the bottom of this post or any other post. Thank you!