| |
|
|
|
The Grace Journal is a place where Rev. Wambugu, and perhaps occasionally others of the Grace Ministries staff, will summarize the work of the day or week. We want you to feel that you are an active part of our work and our lives, and hope that this on-going journal of our activities – our joys, our sorrows, and our day-to-day work – will help to bring you more closely into our world.
God bless you for your interest and your support!
|
Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, August 27, 2005 at 09:53 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING AUGUST 27,2005
This was the last week of the four weeks School break. The teachers had only one week, as they remained giving remedial help to the slow children. All the children come back on Monday the 29th to start the final term of the year. It is crucial term for it will determine which child qualifies for the next high class. It is this in mind that the teachers sacrificed their time during break to make sure that all our children have reached academic grades for the next class. The Lord bless them.
Many purchases are done at the beginning of the term especially food. Monica spent Wednesday doing that. She bought Rice, cooking fat, beans and corn to last for two weeks. The ideal situation was to buy enough food to go for half the School term, but funds could not permit. We shall wait for the children to come back and receive the few bucks paid by the few children and see how they shall supplement in buying the food.
The temperature has changed and it is now warm. We are getting the highs of 22 degrees Celsius. This is now normally the expected trend until December.
MARY IS BACK.
In May 1989, the Lord put a young girl aged four in our home. She became part of our family. We took her through School up to high School, which she finished in the year 2001. By the time she finished High School, Mary was impossible to stay with and wanted to go and look for her Biological family. She has literally gone through hell for those years she has been away. She finally ended up at Dada Rescue a Catholic home for the destitute and street children. The Counselors talked with her and she disclosed how she had been abused in her Biological family and how she had been stubborn and ungrateful to the family that had brought her up. Through a protracted mediation with the home, my family has agreed to take her back just like the prodigal son. She has agreed to repeat two years in High School to up grade her previous dismal performance. Mary had gone through a severe childhood Trauma inflicted by her mother who wanted to kill her. We therefore understand and appreciate her peculiar character. She has extremely grown emotionally and in her perception of life for the last two years that she has been away. They have been difficult years for Mary but important. We therefore need School fees, uniforms and books for Mary. We have already gotten a School for her.
ANTICIPATED VISIT:
A Kenyan Bishop pastoring a church in Boston Massachusetts will be visiting us on Monday 29th. He has been referred to us by one of their church family who comes from Limuru and knows the work of Grace School. We hope that the visit will be beneficial to Grace School children.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, August 20, 2005 at 09:16 A.M. (Limuru time)
Teachers continued with the remedial program for the second week. There is one more week before normal schooling resumes. Teachers have graciously agreed to continue assisting these slow learning children for the remaining one week. We praise God for this voluntary hard work that the teachers are doing.
Monday:
The grand mother of Caroline whose mother died the previous week came to School. She thanked the teachers and children for the assistance they gave during the funeral of her daughter Irene. The family has promised to organize transport for Caroline to continue attending Grace School.
Tuesday:
Samuel went for Medical check up. The sugar was 5.3 and blood pressure 130/90. These are good results and we hope that they will remain stable. The burning and itching at the feet and toes still continues.
Wednesday:
Josephine a Std 5 pupil was bitten by a Mad dog. She is a daughter of a single and mentally challenged mother. They could not afford the important vaccines against rabies for Josephine. Grace School had received a monetary gift that helped her get the needed treatment.
Thursday:
It was another extremely cold day with temperatures as low as 8 degree Celsius. Monica left for a three days women conference.
A sister to Francis who takes care of animals and garden was hospitalized with a pregnancy problem. She gave birth to a seven-month-old child that died immediately. Francis is mostly away and Samuel takes over the responsibility of taking care of the animals.
Our prayer is for the reduction of the extreme cold weather that we currently experiencing. There is need for improved medical care. It is sad that the minister of health was quoted as saying that 20 million Kenyans out of a population of 34 million do not have access to basic medicines.
Grace School is in need of extra classrooms and we have sent an appeal to friends and partners for construction funds.
Samuel
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Saturday, August 13, 2005 at 10:46 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING SATURDAY 13TH AUGUST.
Last weekend was an energizing time to Monica and I. We had to travel to join extended family members for a memorial service for a family member who died 25 years ago. This turned to be a moment for our boding and personal reflections. We have never had an opportunity to be just by ourselves since we were in the US last year. We realized that we were tired and needed a break from our routines.
MONDAY:
Children that did not perform satisfactorily in their end of term examination returned for remedial work. There 30 children being helped. Jane the Head Teacher had a difficult time persuading the parents of the children who did well to stay with their children. There were also children from other schools that wanted to join our children, but we found that this will not be possible as the remedial help is very personalized as per individual childs needs. Seven teachers are working with children. We received the sad news that Irene
Mother to Caroline in class 3 at Grace School finally died of AIDS.
TUESDAY:
We continued planting to harvest the cold wet weather. We planted tomatoes and cabbages. We also cut firewood from trees that we bought. These are the ones that we use as fuel in preparing children food.
WEDNESDAY:
Jane led a team of teachers to visit, mourn and express solidarity with young Caroline for losing her mother. This is a unique ministry of Grace School standing with the children and their families as they go through agonies of life. We always endeavor to offer God directed response in a moment like this. The teachers major concern is that Caroline will continue with education even after the death of her mother.
Pastor James and Samuel attended a Session meeting. This was at Community Presbyterian Church where James is the Clerk and Samuel a member. The Session under the Chairmanship of Rev. Paul Kinyanjui noted that there were misconceptions as to the role of James being the Session Clerk as well as an administrator at Grace School. The Session decided that Elder Gad the Church treasurer would accompany Rev. Paul to the presbytery meeting to be held in Mombasa on 29th and 30th August He will explain the Ministry of Grace School and the important linkage of having Pastor James there.
THURSDAY:
Grace community divided into three groups. One group under Jane remained at School with some children. Another team led of four teachers and ten pupils led by Pastor James attended Irenes funeral. Caroline was very happy to see her friends from school attend the funeral of her mother. Samuel and Monica went to Kenyatta National hospital to visit Monicas nephew Ken. Ken is the son of Monicas brother who died last December from AIDS. Ken has dislocated hip joint and multiple fractures of left femur sustained after falling from a third level of a building under construction.
FRIDAY:
Samuel paid a Pastoral visit to Peter (Brother to Elder Gad) who is recovering at Nairobi hospital. Peter is diabetic and had a head operation because of a ruptured vein resulting in internal hemorrhage. The family is organizing a fund raising for 3rd Sept. to raise the cost of the bill that is currently at KHS. 1.3 million. (about $ 20,000).
Finally I (Samuel) have resolved to begin learning how to pray key board/piano to enhance the rather dull worship service at our church. Elder Gad has said that he will too learn how to pray a guitar. We do not have these instruments but we are trusting God for their provision.
It was a week with many activities and we look forward to a refreshing weekend.
Samuel.
| Author: Samuel Wambugu
Friday, August 05, 2005 at 10:25 A.M. (Limuru time)
WEEK ENDING 6TH August 5, 2005.
Children and teachers of Grace School are having a break and it has been most welcome, as the weather has continued to be very cold. We had a low of 6 degrees Celsius on Sunday 31st July. Many people did not attend churches.
Monday 1st August:
There is wetness associated with the current cold. This made it possible for us to plant vegetables and Spinach in the garden near our home. These will be ready by October when the current lot in is finished. This helps to maintain fresh vegetables in the childrens diet.
Tuesday 2nd August:
We went visiting the children at their homes. We took time to visit one of our childrens mothers in hospital. We found her to be very sick, confused and with memory. This is usually the final stage of AIDS. We are apprehensive as to what this may spell to young Caroline in grade 2 the only child of this lady. Her grand mother lives 10 km away with the nearest school being 4 km. We gave three mothers spinach seedlings to plant in their gardens from Grace school garden. Our desire is that children should also have food at home.
Wednesday 3rd August.
We decided with Pastor James to set this day as a day of prayer. This was prompted by what we perceive as evil schemes to frustrate the work of Grace School. The beatitudes were central to our meditations and prayers. The Spirit of God has used a book by Phillip Yancey: The Jesus I never knew as an instrument to comfort and encourage us. Pray for us that Grace School will remain a center of excellence; giving hope to children for this life and eternity based on sound Christian doctrine without human fear or favor.
Thursday 4th
We went with Gad one of our Church elders to Nairobi Hospital. His immediate younger brother was being prepared for head surgery to contain a ruptured capillary resulting to internal hemorrhage.
Friday 5th
We are to travel with Monica to join our families 130 miles away for a family function. I was brought up by a guardian after my father died while I was still young and in School. This guardian died 25 years ago and the family is using this time to do the ceremony we call the unveiling of the cross. This is an important family occasion. I am humbled by the privilege the family has bestowed on me to do the ceremony. Two clergy friends are joining me for the occasion.
It sounds as if the week was all grooms. In away it was an exceptional week, but agree with the old Job that we are also to have of trials in this pilgrim way.
NATIONAL NEWS:
There has been interesting news concerning Non Governmental Organizations working with AIDS patients, Orphans and the poor. The concern is that the government has given a lot of money to non-existing groups. They have been conduits of both local and International funds and the intended recipients never get anything. The concern went on that the officials of these organizations own big homes and big cars. The government has instituted an investigation to this scandal with an aim of prosecuting these people/organizations. We pray that this might result to funds going to genuine organizations in the future. Grace School has never received a penny of this money.
Samuel.
|
|
|
Please know that your donation can help, not only to save the life of a child in Limuru, but to guide that life in such a way as to loosen the stranglehold of despair and death that threatens so much of Kenya's population. Thank you, in advance, for your compassionate support!
|
|
