Newsletter 28

NEWSLETTER 28September 2014

AGAPE IN ACTION BIBLE YOUTH GATHERING – WESTERN REGION KENYAWhat happens when you bring 470 young people together for 5 days in Western Kenya? I was contemplating this question as the bus made its way down the dirt track towards the Agape in Action Academy. The first Agape in Action Bible Youth Gathering was just about to begin. I had no idea what lay in store.

The excitement built as we neared the school entrance. The Agape Team from Australia, Canada and the US were ushered into the school compound by a sea of singing youth from Western Kenya. The next few days took me quite by surprise. Everything went as planned! Classes started on time, meals were served on time, everyone went to bed on time. The young people didn’t complain, they were engaged in the studies and enthusiastically participated in the organized activities. It was quite impressive.

There were some challenges nonetheless. Water was in short supply, the electricity sometimes went off and some of the young people came down with malaria or other illnesses. Sadly in Kenya, these things are not out of the ordinary. Sis Tabby, our resident teacher and nurse, was on hand to provide treatment for the ailing, water was rationed and a generator sparked to life whenever the power went out. Hakuna matata. (continued next page)

Above: Preparing for the soccer game

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The studies were focused on Nehemiah (first series) and Mary & Martha (second series). There were also a number of Bible classes and meditations given by local and visiting brethren. The organized activities each afternoon were a big hit. They included making bookmarks, learning how to make solar lights, health promotion talks with a cast of very animated actors, crazy olympics, soccer and volleyball tournaments, farming activities, landscaping and preaching. The last activity was quite interesting. There were three concurrent activities to choose from on one afternoon. One of these activities was a preaching effort down at the local market. The young people were to give out leaflets while a series of open-air talks proclaimed the good news. We were worried that we wouldn’t have enough volunteers for this activity and made a special announcement requesting people to sign up for preaching so we could assess the numbers. We hoped around 50 young people would volunteer for this activity. Immediately after the announcement, there was a mass exodus of young people running over to the administration block. They all neatly lined up. Somewhat puzzled I went over to see what was going on. I thought that perhaps they were giving out mwandazi (a yummy Kenya style donut). However, it was the signup sheet for preaching that was the attraction! The young people were rushing and queuing for the opportunity to go preaching! It was amazing to see. The activity went well and later in the week the Chief of the village said he had heard about the preaching activity in the market, in fact, he said the entire village was talking about it! It was the first time the Kamakuwya ecclesia had done anything like this. With the enthusiasm of the young people, I don’t think it will be the last.

We had hoped to hold a second youth camp in the coastal region where there are several Agape in Action projects and an equally large number of young people. Unfortunately, this camp was postponed because of the terrorism threats in that region. God willing, we will have the opportunity to host the camp on the coast (continued next page)

Top Left: Waiting in line for lunch Top Right: Volleyball Middle: Crowded bus leaving the gathering Bottom: Musical chairs Kenyan style

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Top: Set up for the AinA Bible Youth Gathering Middle Left & Right: Open Air Preaching Bottom Left: Getting to know each other Bottom Right: 1050 people at the memorial service (not including children).

in the not too distant future if our Lord wills. These camps are incredibly valuable. So many of the young people at this camp have experienced incredibly challenging childhoods. Like Eli, they have lost their parents, been unwanted by their families and been deprived of the love and care every child craves. However, during this week they came together as one large family. They laughed, talked, studied and sang together and left with a real sense of being part of something very special. We can once again thank our Heavenly Father who has adopted these young people as He has us. In Kamakuywa, His blessings are everywhere evident.

- Bro. James Flint

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KIMBILIO YOUTH: ELIThis is Eli’s summary of his life:

I was born from around this village (Kamukuywa). I don’t know my Mum and Dad. I tried to stay with my brother when I was very young, but my life was not good at that time. I was not treated well. I was going to Sunday School at that time and the teacher taught us that God is good and that He is the only Creator and is able to control your life. I was thinking, “how will God remove me from my problems?” One day I was taking care of the cattle, I was about 7 years. From afar I saw our loving Father Justus Mabuka. It was a school day, but I was taking care of the cattle and I had never seen him (Justus) before. So when he came near he looked at me and stopped and was wondering who I was. At that time he gave me 30 shillings (about 35 cents). That was big money to me at that time. I was happy and I thanked God and praised God and I went home happy. I was able to buy some food to eat before I went home. So after that I continued to stay with my brother. One day I heard that we had some visitors. They had come to our church, the Christadelphian church. So Justus collected us at Sunday School and called out our names and asked us to assemble here at his house. We came and stayed here. A visitor from overseas came and I was now 10 or 11. He taught

us about Noah building the Ark. He said let us build our life on Jesus Christ. At that time I was understanding who Jesus Christ was and how to pray. At that time I thought I cannot go back to my brother. We were able to play with our visitor’s football and tennis ball up to the evening. Mother Annette was able to provide us with food that evening. So we were able to eat but there was nowhere for us to sleep at home. She was sorry for us. She is a good mother. They provided me some food and somewhere to sleep. Justus & Annette had lots of girls staying in their house and even on the kitchen floor by the fire and the boys stayed outside or in the drying shed behind the ecclesial hall. When there were too many we stayed in the place where they kept firewood. There was nowhere else to sleep. So long as they could give us the blanket. There was no leaking in the shed and it kept the rain out. I am not sure how old I was then about 13. I was very happy and our Father and Mother (Justus & Annette) told us that they love us. They told us that God will answer our prayers. So I joined this family and he said now you are brothers and sisters here (mostly orphans from the community). We know that we can have our problems that

(continued next page)

Above: Eli - just baptized

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can face us in our life, but God knows what will happen tomorrow. We thank our Father because He keeps his promises. I thank Him. Agape in Action came and saw the problem that we were facing and they went to Kitale town and got a big tarp for us to sleep under. Soon they provided sponsors and I was able to go to school. We would always come back here to take lunch and then go back to school. On that day I thought that my life was going to change. We praised God in the morning and in the evening with our Father and Mother (Justus & Annette). Justus taught us a word from the Bible and Annette organized for us the hymns that were able to sing. They made our faith to grow in Jesus Christ. I heard a story from father Justus that God is a wonderful God and we are going to build a home where we can all sleep. Kimbilio was constructed by Agape in Action and we were in the boy’s side and the girl’s in the other side. That is wonderful because God is a wonderful provider. We love one another and we praise God together. I think at that time that God has lifted me up. I was about 14 ! at that time. We wrote some letters to our sponsors. I still have the same sponsor Uncle Tom from Canada. I thank him. I first got a sponsor in 2009, and it has been amazing having one.

Trust in God and He will help you. Father Justus started talking about needing a high school. We heard that Agape in Action were going to build the school. There has been some big changes. God is good. I thank our sponsors. If you could see back where we come from you would not be able to tell someone. We can now have electricity and water and so many people with the love of God. That is why I always thank God.

Now I am 17 and I am in form 3. I am the head boy at the Agape in Action Academy high school. My work is to make sure everyone is in the correct way. I want to be an electrical or mechanical engineer when I leave school. What I love most about being here is that many of the people have faith in God. They believe in the living God and that He is able to direct you.

Last year I was baptized. I attended baptismal classes with Brian Lloyd. We had very many classes and then I was baptized.

!!!!!We are thrilled that the number of youth responding to the call of Jesus continues to increase. Last Sunday Kingethu Muthi who has been in the sponsorship program since 2008 put on the saving name of Jesus.

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Eli

Born: August 4, 1994

Favorite food: Ugali (boiled maize flour)

Favorite activity in spare time: Soccer with friends after class in the warm sun

Where do you see yourself in five years: I would like to be working in my trade.

Where do you get inspiration and strength: From the Bible, especially Psalms. Also David, the whole story of his life, especially when he asks for forgiveness and his friendship with Jonathan. I gather many lessons from David.

My kingdom vision is: beautiful music and singing, and meeting Jesus.

RECENT BAPTISM

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FIELDWORKER IMPRESSIONS: Sis. Felicity King For 16 days in August, I was very blessed to be a part of a group of people from Australia, America and Canada, volunteering throughout Kenya. It was truly an amazing experience to be a part of the first Agape in Action youth conference in Kenya - about 470 young people registered, it was so overwhelming to see so many happy faces, all eager for the truth, such a positive energy all week. Over 1050 people were present for the memorial meeting. I remember the night that we arrived into Kamukuyuwa after a long bus ride from Nairobi and being greeted by hundreds of the young people around our bus singing and dancing- such a beautiful and humbling thing to witness. From being announced as “sister Philistine”, to having lots of people ask questions after my health session, teaching Sunday schools, singing hymns

spontaneously at the top of the mountain in Athi with the young people, being a part of the Bible weekend in Yatta and much, much more, we were all encouraged spiritually and a zeal to spread the truth grew in everyone. It's so incredible to see the truth spreading like fire throughout Kenya, some ecclesias have over 200 in the Sunday school. I will never forget what brother Sammy said, "some walk over 4 hours to get to the meeting, some go without breakfast and sometimes lunch. They all live by God’s good grace". Truly we have an amazing hope, let us pray for the day when there will be worldwide peace.

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MEDICAL FUNDPlease consider donating to the AinA medical fund. On a monthly basis we have children in our program with injuries or sicknesses that need treatment. Broken bones, malaria, various infections, dog bites, snakebites, HIV and a host of other ailments. The money contributed enables us to make sure the kids get treatment. It has saved many lives. As the sponsorship program grows, so does the list that we receive each month of those who need medical help.

WIDOW’S!PROGRAM Joyce Muwanga was born in 1943 and has been a widow for 37 years. She had 12 children and has 80 grandchildren, but her family lives far and does not come to see her. She has no land to grow any food and lives in a small hut. These are her comments:

"I am happy with the AinA widow’s program, I think if it were not there I would not be existing. The widows in the program get together to have Bible readings every 2 weeks and get together at the end of each month for food distribution. Someone also comes to my house two times a week to read the Bible with me through this program. I still struggle with enough to eat and have constant pain in my neck, back and chest. I am so very thankful for the help of this widow’s program and pray regularly that the program will continue.”

MUTONGOIThings are progressing well at Mutongoi on the Coast. Bro. Fred from Australia was able to assist there and the land has been leveled and a kitchen and dining hall are going up for the young people that reside there. Full details about Mutongoi can be found in newsletter 26.

Above: Kitchen/Dining area being built Above: Two of the Mutongoi children.

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READING COMPREHENSION PROGRAMGreg and Des Mogg have been working at the Agape in Action Academy since January 2014.

One of their priorities was to improve English comprehension, as all subjects (except Kiswahili) are tested in English.

In general, the kids come to high school with very little English language ability and the hope was that if their English skills were improved, this would help across the board in all of their subjects.

All of the form 1 students were tested using an Australian-designed test of English comprehension (TORCH test). Their reading age was also tested. The poorest 36 performers were selected for one-on-one tuition, divided between Greg, Des and Sammy, a local brother. These students were withdrawn from class for one lesson per week.

(Most Kenyan students can read well in English. Their pronunciation is good and their vocabulary acceptable. However, when you ask them about what they have read it is obvious that they have not derived the meaning).

They began the program with simple readers. The students read the story and were constantly questioned about what they had read. This had never happened before and they were initially quite surprised that their understanding should be tested. Many grasped the concept and improved in leaps and bounds. For others it was a more difficult road to improvement.

The second stage in the program was the completion of worksheets that tested the students’ ability to interpret written and graphical information. To spice things up they were also allowed time on educational ipad apps, which they all loved. Thanks to Fred Johansen for bringing over a second ipad when he visited in April.

After eleven weeks with these students they were again tested, along with the remainder of Form 1. The second test was an easier TORCH test as the first was too challenging. Raw improvement in scores therefore had little significance. It was encouraging to see that while the control group had increased their scores by an average of 110%, the tutored students increased by an average of 262%. The tutored students also managed (in eleven sessions) to increase their reading age by an average of 2.07 years.

“Graduating” students were presented with a certificate of completion and a pen at a school assembly. They were all very excited and proud of their achievements.

Des, Greg and Sammy have now started with a second group of Form 1 students, and are anticipating similar improvements.

This program has proved to be an excellent adjunct to classwork. The participants and facilitators have all found it to be a rewarding experience. We hope and pray that the program will continue in future years, ably coordinated by our brother Sammy.

– Sis. Desleigh Mogg

Above: Desleigh working with one of the students

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AGAPE IN ACTION 39 Manor Park Cres. Guelph, ON N1G 1A2 Canada [email protected] Phone +612 4973 4719 (AEST) "

AGAPE IN ACTION-AUS For Australian Donations: 14 Windemere Rd. Albany Creek, QLD 4035 Australia !!!

AGAPE IN ACTION-US For US Donations: 521 Valmont Dr. Monrovia, CA 91016 USA

!www.agapeinaction.com

INDIA FAITH HOME

Top: India Faith Home Children Bottom (left to right): Bible readings, growing up and kids helping with meal preparation.

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