st Peter's Life-Line

Supporting St Peter's Schools and Community in Kajuki, Kenya.  

A remote, rural and desperately poor community.

“Our core vision is to Embrace, Educate, Equip and Empower the next generation.”

http://www.stpeterslifeline.org.uk/

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO HELP PLEASE EMAILenquiry@stpeterslifeline.org.uk

TO DONATE PLEASE CLICK HEREDONATIONS 


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – JUNE 2021

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building our community of Love”

 

Regrettably, I am having to postpone my proposed June visit indefinitely, with Kenya’s current status as ‘Red’ I am unable to secure adequate travel insurance. Big disappointment!

 

Please do have a go in our Big Birthday Virtual Balloon Race, supporting our Disability Clinic at St Peter’s. There are lovely Kenyan prizes aplenty! Create your own favourite wildlife animal balloon for a fiver. Also, special category for Tortoises – a prize for the LAST tortoise over the line. By way of thanks, every entrant will be sent Letty’s delicious, authentic Kenyan chapati recipe (Letty is the St Peter’s cook/housekeeper). Race starts 1200 Mon 7 Jun, and finishes 1200 Thu 10 Jun – you can view online as to how your balloon is doing. Closing date for online entries is 1200 Sat 5 Jun. Please help us Build our Community of Love. Please share with friends/other organisations! 

https://www.balloonrace.com/StPetersLL

 

Schools are going full blast, and the children are so happy to be back learning again! Our two brothers with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Silas and Salesio, are also now attending lessons at St Peter’s, picking up from those many years ago when they finally were physically unable to get to school. It is also part of their reintegration into the community – particularly with children, who rarely see disabled youngsters, and when they do, are fearful of them, because of the curse attitude.

 

Our primary schools’ feeding programme is also underway feeding over 1,400 kids at 8 local primary schools. Big incentive for children to get to school every day to fill their tummies – and their brains!

 

Pauline (21) has a mysterious paralysis of her legs, and despite us funding scans and specialist examinations, there seems to be no diagnosis or prognosis for her condition. Although wheelchair-bound, she is very positive and wants to better her life, so she will attend the St Peter’s small Polytech and gain a NVQ as a seamstress. Strangely, her brother, Onesimus, 8, also has disfigured and paralysed legs, for which we are seeking medical investigation. He has never been to school, so we are orientating him at St Peter’s to start next term. We have brought both of them to live in our respite house at St Peter’s, with Silas and Salsesio, so they can be cared for. Part of our Community of Love.

 

Our teams are going to 10 local primary schools and forming children’s rights awareness clubs with the top classes. These clubs meet once a week and children learn about their rights, through dance, drama, poetry and singing. One of these rights is to say NO! to FGM.

 

Our Community Board Chairman, Principal Chief Simon and Project Co-ordinator Veronica met a local representative from the Ministry of Agriculture to set in motion a feasibility study on cricket farming as a viable food source and as a potential micro finance opportunity.

 

Some of you very kindly sponsor secondary school students, giving these children that very precious extra level of education usually out of reach of most. Erick is one of them. He is keen, ambitious and hardworking, to the extent that in one year when he achieved below-average grades, and knowing he could do better, he asked if he could repeat that year. His sponsor generously agreed. He has now finished his secondary education, achieving an average Grade of B- which makes him eminently and widely employable. Along with his profound thanks to his sponsor, he wrote to me: “Thank you again for your perpetual support to me, even when I was oppressed by failure in my first attempt, you never left me! You stood with me when I was hopeless. I have more than a thousand reasons to say THANK YOU to you, as I rejoice! I am sorry I am running out of words that I can use to express my gratitude to you. Through prayers and your support, my family has now found a reason to rejoice today. May God bless you!”

 

Covid reported cases in Kenya are 171,000 with 3,188 deaths. A vaccination programme is underway, but not significant enough to make an impact on suppressing infections. It is still classified as ‘Red’ by UK govt.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“…do not stint…”

 

   Honour the Lord with generosity, do not stint the first fruits you bring. Add a smiling face to all your gifts and be cheerful as you dedicate your tithes. Give to the Most High as he has given to you, generously as your means can afford; for the Lord is a good rewarder, he will reward you seven times over.             Si 35:7-10

 

“…this is my commandment…”

 

   Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete. This is my commandment: love one another, as I have loved you. A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do what I command you. I shall not call you servants anymore, because a servant does not know his master’s business; I called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have learnt from my Father.”                             Jn 15:9-15

 

Meditation: The essence of love

 

   God is not just loving; he is the very essence of love (1Jn 4:8). He is the source of all life…. God did not create man and woman because he was lonely. Rather, as an expression of his life-giving love the Triune God created us for the joy of creating us and making us life-giving lovers like himself. Man and woman were made to reflect God’s inner life and love….

   People tend to view law as negative: restrictions we do not want with consequences we fear. But that is not how the people of God in the Old Testament viewed law. Psalm 18, for example, describes the law as sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. This is why Israelite parents, before they spoke of the law, touched a child’s tongue to honey. They wanted the child to associate goodness and desirability with knowing and obeying the law. Each time we pray the Our Father, we pray, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. How is God’s will obeyed in heaven? Perfectly. So our prayer is that we would obey him perfectly. We seek to know his will and to do it with our whole heart.                         Kimberly Hahn

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Our Clinic and staff serving over 120 families with disabilities

Schools underway

Our generous sponsors

Inclusion of our disabled into the community

Primary schools’ feeding programme

 

We pray for…

 

A successful and fruitful term

A successful balloon race!

Successful children’s rights awareness clubs

 

Pauline and Onesimus

Cricket farming research

Progress of our san pad project

Continued limitation of Covid in Kenya

Indication for David’s visit

 

Justice and right are the pillars of your throne,

Love and truth walk in your presence.

Ps 88:15


Pics: Lovely prizes aplenty for the Balloon Race; Pauline, and her brother Onesimus; the joys of school!


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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – MAY 2021

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building our community of Love”

 

Schools return on 10 May. St Peter’s pupils are going to be treated to their ‘brand new school’ which, thanks to the generosity of one of our donors, has undergone a major refurbishment during the holidays.

 

Results of the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education national exams again demonstrate the quality education that the pupils at our two schools are receiving: of the 70 primary schools in the Sub County, St Peter’s was ranked 3rd, and Our Lady of Consolation 9th. Solid testament to the hard work of the teachers and the ambition of the kids – despite the massive disruptions of Covid in 2020!

 

We held 8 two-day Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) seminars round the area, at which 362 girls attended. These seminars gave them the tools and the courage to say NO! to the foul scourge of FGM. Saying NO! opens wide the horizons of life choices for these girls who would otherwise suffer severe mutilation, be forced into early arranged marriages, denied a secondary education, and subjected to a life of servitude and subordination.

 

One of the graduates from the ARP, Mary (see pic), said, “I now know well that FGM is a violation of my rights. My dream is to become a nurse and I will work hard to attain this. God created me wonderfully and I know I must keep my body pure, clean and holy.”

 

Our annual cycle of education against FGM will start again once schools get going – we will start up children’s rights awareness clubs in 10 local primary schools, where Years 5-8 will meet every week at school and learn about their rights through drama, dance, poetry, and song – basically have fun whilst doing so!

 

The Community Board has awarded secondary school scholarships to four needy children, and one private donor has come forward to fill a fifth – bringing our total of sponsored secondary pupils to 16. We will maintain our total of Transforming Lives pupils at primary school at 51, and for 6 disabled children, some in specialist schools.

 

113 loans totalling £33,000 were made to our micro finance ladies, bringing the total of loans made to 3,595.

 

Yes, we’re thinking crickets! The practice of consuming 'flying ants' (termites) is well known in Kenya, and something I remember well from my childhood. They breed and swarm in the rainy season and can either be eaten 'on the wing' or gathered and deep fried for consumption. They are a rich, but random source of protein. An article about commercial cricket farming in Zimbabwe as a protein source that is reliable, not weather dependent and always available at an affordable price, caught my eye. We will investigate... another food source for this ever-hungry part of Kenya, as well as a possibility as a viable micro finance business. Watch this space....

 

Those amazing girls, Emma, and daughter Annabel (12), successfully yomped round the Mendip Ring Walk (117 miles) in 6 days, raising an amazing £7,048 for Period Poverty, smashing out of sight their target of £4,615! They were joined on part of their journey by Amy Peake from our partner charity Loving Humanity who are providing the equipment and materials for our san pad micro factory at St Peter’s. Their efforts caught much media attention, including BBC Radio Somerset, BBC Radio 4 News, and this BBC article: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-56679016 as well as the local press.

  

Covid is still relatively low in Kenya, with 160,000 cases reported and 2,763 deaths. Internal travel restrictions imposed earlier have now been lifted. Thankfully Fr Frankline has fully recovered from his bout and is back in harness at St Peter’s.

 

The March harvest was good, but current rains are intermittent and crops struggling to fully grow.

 

I’m still praying for a June visit….??

 

This is the time of year when I collate all the donations given in the past year to claim Gift Aid. As I input your names and amounts, I give a prayer of thanks to you all individually, for your generous hearts and your care for this community, for which we are helping to transform lives in all their aspects.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

The Spirit of Truth

 

   “I still have many things to say to you but they would be too much for you now. But when the Spirit of truth comes he will lead you to the complete truth, since he will not be speaking as from himself but will say only what he has learnt; he will tell you of the things to come. He will glorify me, since all he tells you will be taken from what is mine. Everything the Father has is mine; that is why I said: All he tells you will be taken from what is mine.”                                         Jn 16:12-15

 

Pentecost

 

   When Pentecost day came round, the Apostles had all met in one room, and suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.                                   Ac 2:1-4

 

Meditation: “Come, Holy Spirit”

 

   This morning I was feeling low in spirits because I did not feel the presence of God. It seemed to me that my heart was like iron, I could not think of God, so I invoked the Holy Spirit saying:

   “It is you who made us know Jesus. The Apostles spent a long time with him without ever comprehending him; but the fire you sent down on them made them understand him. You will also make me understand him. Come, my consolation; come, my joy; come, my peace, my strength, my light. Come, give me the light to find the spring where I can quench my thirst. One ray of your light is enough to show me Jesus as he is. I ask you for no other learning, nor any other wisdom than the knowledge of how to find Jesus and the wisdom of remaining with him. O most Holy Spirit, when you sent forth the ray of light, the disciples were transformed; they were no longer what they had been before; their strength had been renewed, offering sacrifices became easy; they then got to know Jesus better than they had ever known him when he was among them. Source of peace and light, come and enlighten me. I am hungry, come and feed me. I am poor, come and enrich me. Holy Spirit, I abandon myself to you.”                  Mariam Baouardy (d1878)

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Amazing exam results

 

The empowering of 362 girls to say NO! to FGM

Ongoing success of the micro finance scheme

Emma and Annabel’s heroic Walk and funds raised

All you, our generous donors

A bountiful harvest

Fr Frankline’s recovery from Covid

The Holy Spirit!

 

We pray for…

 

A successful and fruitful term

Courage for our ARP girls to say NO! to FGM

Formation and operation of our children’s rights awareness clubs

All our sponsored scholars and those just joining the scheme

Cricket farming research

Progress of our san pad project

Continued limitation of Covid in Kenya

Rain!

David’s proposed visit to go ahead

 

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful and kindle in us the fire of your love! Alleluia! 


Pics: an ARP seminar graduation (Veronica, left); Graduate Mary; St Peter’s refurb - before and after; Yum! Deep fried flying ants!; Journey’s End - Annabel & Emma.


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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – APRIL 2021

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building our community of Love”

 

Schools have broken up, and there will be unusually long holidays of 50 days (usually held over the Christmas period) to gain some time and space to keep Covid at bay. School leavers – Class 8 Primary and Form 4 Secondary – sat their all-important National Exams. As usual we held a massive Feast and Party for our Class 8s, taking them to a Motel Resort with swimming pool – a totally novel experience to them all!

 

The micro finance scheme continues to grow in numbers - there are now 2,105 active members who will have loans or savings, or both, and by the Grameen model of micro finance are formed into 176 Groups which are organised into 5 Centres where they gather for their monthly meetings.

 

The latest Covid restrictions made it impossible to stage our one-week residential Alternative Rite of Passage at St Peter’s for over 200 girls to empower them to say NO! to FGM, but we have had permission to stage 8 two-day workshops for up to 50 girls at each workshop in various locations round the area. This will keep our anti FGM profile high, and potentially we can reach up to 400 girls – and they will all get the message… and the tee shirt!

 

Tilling and planting of the fields has been completed and the precious rains, which should go through until May, have started.

 

The Community Board has approved a much-needed renovation project for the St Peter’s classrooms, and having considered tenders have approved a contractor to undertake the work during the school holidays at a cost of £5,500.

 

Working locally with the charity Child Fund, we have been keeping in touch with the many schoolgirls who became pregnant during the long school layoffs. We provide support and counselling where needed.

 

The marvellous Walkabout Foundation has provided more wheelchairs, giving that very precious gift of mobility.

 

Some personal stories:

 

  • When I last saw Ewis he could hardly bend his body. I had this message from Veronica from our free Clinic for the disabled, where Ewis receives weekly therapy from our physio: "I'm so happy to see Ewis sit, although supported. This boy had such a stiff back that could not bend. He's such a joy." I can't wait to see him again!

 

  • Lucyline, 56 years old. She is a hardworking veteran of our micro finance scheme, having joined in 2012. She has had 5 loans, being able to expand as her business grew. She sells cereals and grains, has funded two of her children through university, and is paying fees for the other four currently all at university! This is the power of micro finance for women - harnessing their enormous potential for the good of family and the boosting of the local micro economy!

 

  • From the pictures sent to me of the brothers Silas and Salesio with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, both being cared for in our Respite Home at St Peter’s, I have never seen them looking so happy and healthy. They are being kept occupied, and making necklaces is one activity, of which some I hope to bring some back to UK!

 

 

Very encouraging signs of movement on our sanitary pad project! For many months, Amy Peake has been battling bureaucracy in trying to reduce swingeing import taxes for all the materials we need to bring into Kenya. In her determination to get our factory at St Peter’s set up and running, she has very generously offered her own charity’s resources (Loving Humanity) to pay the current taxes on all the materials we have purchased which are awaiting export to Kenya, whilst still continuing negotiations with the Kenya Government.

 

Known and reported Covid cases and deaths are still relatively very low in Kenya, but there has been a detectable upsurge which has resulted in travel and other restrictions being re-imposed in certain hot spot areas. Of the 31 cases recorded for our County of Tharaka Nithi, Fr Frankline was unfortunately one of them and was hospitalised for a short time in Nairobi; he has now awaiting discharge. A national vaccination programme is underway.

 

I am planning to visit at the end of June!

 

I had a lovely Teams Assembly with Puriton Primary School, where I was able to give all the children an update from their twinned school Our Lady of Consolation, and they had the chance to ask questions. Unfortunately, no opportunity for massed tribal dancing this time – much to the Head Teacher’s relief!

 

With all their training and preparation now complete, Mum Emma and daughter Annabel just can’t wait to get going round the 117 miles of the Mendip Ring from 5 to 10 Apr, raising funds to End Period Poverty. They have walked over 220 miles to prepare, and in Emma’s words, “We’re pretty confident that fitness and blisters won’t be an issue… but praying for fair weather!” They have now reached the £4,000 mark to their target of £4,615. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk

 

We had a very fruitful Trustees’ meeting via Zoom to review goings-on in 2020, and plan for the future.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“…crushed for our sins…”

 

    And yet ours were the sufferings he bore, ours the sorrows he carried. But we thought of him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low. Yet he was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins. On him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through his wounds we are healed.                       Is 52:4,5

 

“…the stone had been rolled away…”

 

   On the first day of the week, at the first sign of dawn, they went to the tomb with the spices they had prepared. They found that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb, but on entering they could not find the body of the Lord Jesus. As they stood there puzzled about this, two men in brilliant clothes suddenly appeared at their side. Terrified, the women bowed their heads to the ground. But the two said to them, “Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you when he was still in Galilee: that the Son of Man was destined to be handed over into the power of sinful men and be crucified, and rise again on the third day”. And they remembered his words.      Lk 24:1-8

 

 Meditation: “…the message of hope…”

 

   At dawn the women went to the tomb. There the angel says to them: There is no need for you to be afraid…. He is not here, for he has risen. They hear the words of life even as they stand before a tomb. And then they meet Jesus, the giver of all hope, who confirms the message and says: Do not be afraid. Do not be afraid, do not yield to fear. This is the message of hope. It is addressed to us, today.

  God is faithful. He does not abandon us. He visits us and enters into our situations of pain, anguish, and death. His light dispels the darkness of the tomb: today he wants that light to penetrate even to the darkest corners of our lives. Dear sister, dear brother, even if in your own heart you have buried hope, do not give up: God is greater. Darkness and death do not have the last word. 

   All you have to do is open your heart in prayer and roll away, however slightly, that stone placed at the entrance to your heart so that Jesus’ light can enter. You only need to ask him: Jesus, come to me amid my fears and tell me too: Courage! With you, Lord, we will be tested but not shaken. And, whatever sadness may dwell in us, we will be strengthened in hope, since with you the cross leads to the Resurrection, because you are with us in the darkness of our nights; you are certainty amid our uncertainties, the Word that speaks in our silence, and nothing can ever rob us of the love you have for us.              Pope Francis

 

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The end of a successful term

Loving Humanity, Child Fund & Walkabout charities

The work of our Clinic

Technology for keeping us in touch

Our lovely Trustees

The continuing success of the micro finance scheme

The Resurrection!

 

We pray for…

 

Happy & safe holidays

The success of the ARP workshops

Continuing rains

Emma and Annabel’s successful walk

Progress of our san pad project

Continued limitation of Covid in Kenya

Fr Frankline’s full recovery

David’s visit to go ahead

Rolling that stone away!

 

You have the message of eternal life, O Lord.

Cf Jn 6:68


End of term!! End of term treat! Wheelchairs from Walkabout; the last time David saw Ewis; Lucyline; Silas and Salesio.

End of Term End of Term Treat


 Wheelchairs from the Walkabout    David and Ewis


Lucyline     Silas & Salesio April 21



ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – MARCH 2021

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Because of social distancing requirements the days of 3 or 4 to a desk and 4 to a bunk bed are over, and we have had to purchase 50 desks and 10 bunk beds for St Peter’s. But in true Kenyan practical style we bought the components and had our St Peter’s Polytech students assemble them!

 

Our two mega-yomping girls, Mum Emma and daughter Annabel, are doing fantastically well in their training for their 117 mile walkies round the Mendip Ring this Easter, raising funds to fight Period Poverty. Last weekend they successfully completed their 3-day endurance walk of 48 miles, just to get used to the idea of having to walk day-on-day! They have reached 74% of their target of £4,615. They will be doing the Big Yomp from 5 - 10 April. https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk

 

Our newly constituted Community Board held its Inaugural Meeting on 2 Feb, to orientate and introduce their responsibilities and roles.

 

Introducing our new video clip series, putting our Story, and subsequently our Projects, on to YouTube – see what you think? Big thanks to Georgiana Ives who has undertaken to run our Instagram Account and other techie stuff! https://youtu.be/qLMR8KvscTw

 

Loans totalling £29,250 were given out to 116 micro finance ladies, making a grand total of 3,482 loans made since we started. Lifting families out of poverty.

 

More romance @ St Peter’s! Gideon, a teacher got married this month to Grace, a beauty therapist.

 

We see a lot of joy in our work, but often, utter heartbreak... Veronica was called to visit a family with Immanuel 6, Immaculate 3, and Melissa 1, orphaned when their Dad died on 13 Feb. Their Mum also died not long before. There is no universal health care in Kenya, but it is thought that the mother died of cancer, and the father from a liver disease. The children will be looked after by their maternal granny, Elizabeth. We will enrol Immanuel onto our Transforming Lives scheme, where he will receive the precious gift of a quality primary education at one of our parish schools. We will ensure the family has adequate food.

 

Veronica addressed a regional anti-FGM convention, hosted by the national government and the United Nations Funds for Population Activities (UNFPA). She met and briefed the Country Director of UNFPA over our problems with tax-free import of our sanpads, as well as meeting the National Government Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Linah Kilimo; and, Agnes Paleiyo, Chair of the National Anti FGM Board. Our little voice getting heard!

 

Every little helps… a LOT! Amos, was brought by his parents to St Peter's as he was unable to make the long, painful daily walk to this local primary school. A severe injury led to one of his legs being shortened and a twist in his spine. When we saw him we had his parents take him to a specialist, who amongst other things recommended that he was given a specially made orthotic shoe. We have bought him his shoe, costing £22. Already making a big difference!

 

Evangeline, one of our disabled sponsored students at St Peter’s Polytech, has been diagnosed with an ovarian mass and is now recovering from successful surgery. We have covered the costs.

 

You may remember Doreen’s daughter, Fortune, who had to undergo surgery soon after birth to relieve excess fluid on her brain. Well, she’s now 1 year old, and blooming! The power of prayer!

 

Covid cases in Kenya are recorded as 106,000, with 1,859 deaths.

We are exploring possibilities of holding an Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) seclusion week at St Peter’s in the April/May for 300 girls in an effort to try and regain some of the lost momentum in our fight against FGM. This is normally held in December, during the ‘cutting season’ each year, but an unusually long Easter holidays may bring forward ritual circumcision, and we aim to pre-empt this.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Take up your cross…

 

   Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man is destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death, and to be raised up on the third day”.

   Then to all he said, “If anyone wants to be a follower of mine, let him renounce himself and take up his cross every day and follow me. For anyone who wants to save his life will lose it; but anyone who loses his life for my sake, that man will save it. What gain, then, is it for a man to have won the whole world and to have lost or ruined his very self?”                                           Lk 9:22-25

 

Meditation: Taking Up Our Cross

 

   Just as our Lord did, we must go to heaven by way of Calvary. Saint Matthew emphasises the “taking up” of our cross: this means the will is in it. We must bend down and take it up, as our Lord did, not just accept it passively. And it has to be our own cross too, not someone else’s: carrying our own cross is how we work out the task planned for us by the Father.

   So our Cross is given us, and we must take it as we find it, not pick and choose the one we want, an oak one or a teak one. Other people’s crosses often look more attractive, but the one the Father gives us is our very own. Our Lord in the Gospels is always talking about his hour, his crucifixion; he cannot be separated from it, for his Father wills it. We are disciples of a crucified Master, and so we have to be crucified with him. Our cross is usually given to us in instalments, weighing differently at different times: it is made up of small cells, little fatigues and worries and things that go wrong. We have to try to put them together so that one day they will add up to a glorious cross, shaped like Christ’s. We cannot see the proper shape yet, partly because we are too close; in our self-pity we see each little bit magnified and distorted, and anyhow your loving Father will not let us see it as a whole yet, we would think it too big and heavy, and so lose courage.

   But we can carry our little crosses, little parts of the cross, and trust that in doing so we are growing like our Master, that one day we shall resemble him: glorified as he is in heaven, with his cross and his wounds glorified too. “And follow me”, our Lord says, because he never asks us to suffer what he has not suffered; he always goes before, we only have to follow him.                     Bonaventure Perquin

 

“Choose…”

 

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today: I set before you life or death, blessing or curse. Choose life, then, so that you and your descendants may live, in the love of the Lord your God, obeying his voice, clinging to him; for in this your life consists, and on this depends your long stay in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob he would give them.                   Dt 30:19,20

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Emma and Annabel’s commitment to relieving Period Poverty

Technology as a means of telling Our Story

The continuing success of the micro finance scheme

The little things that mean such a lot

Baby Fortune and her good health

Successful surgery for Evangeline

We pray for…

 

Lifetime blessings on Gideon and Grace

Granny Elizabeth and her orphan children

Progress of our san pad project through UNFPA

Continued limitation of Covid in Kenya

Fair distribution of Covid vaccines throughout the world

Clear plans to hold an early ARP

Taking up and carrying our cross

 

For he has never despised nor scorned the poverty of the poor. Ps 22:24

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Emma & Annabel; Gideon & Grace; Newly orphaned - Immanuel, Immaculate & Melissa; 

Veronica with UNFPA Rep; Amos; Fortune!


The report of the expenditure on repair of St Orsola's Hospital Kitchen- Matiri Kenya


Dear Friends of St Orsola’s and St Peter’s Life-Line

Hope this finds you well.

I am now in position to reporting the expenditure for repair of the Kitchen. We involved the public health officers and the findings were astonishing.  There was the urgent need to separate the kitchen from the rest services for proper (IPC) infection prevention control, hence the repositioning of the kitchen, which stand closely near the laboratory and the incinerator and Morgue plus the laundry was urgent.

Considering the above factors, and keen of the financial implications we repaired kitchen temporally and spent little for the same as reported in the attached receipts. Together with the HMT, we also sat down and immediately started the New building with some funds solicited from all walks of life plus few hospital savings. The New building which will have hospital kitchen I will also attach the picture.

As you realize from the pictures, it was pointless to use all donors’ money for a temporal structure which by all fact is soon repositioned, so we carried quick and most necessary unavoidable repairs as indicated in the picture.

There were volunteer labours in the work of repair that helped to bring our expenditure down.

The good News is that we have some of your money remaining and the committee and the HMT, (Hospital management team) asks whether you would allow as to use the money in the ongoing construction of new building that will have more spacious, more permanent and cleaner kitchen, serving both the outpatients and the inpatients and other clients as well. Should you be able to contribute to the new building we will be grateful. Otherwise feel appreciated from the depths of the hearts. Our kitchen is now better in services and now rains. Waiting for you reply and guidance on what to do with the remaining funds. I feel so sorry and ask of your forgiveness for the delayed reply.

Thanks for your consideration.

Be blessed as you work and observe the lent period.

FR Emilio- hospital administrator


St Os 1 St Orsolas Hospital St Orsolas Hospital


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – FEBRUARY 2021

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

We have reached the stage of our development as an Aid Charity where we need to ensure the wider engagement of, and ownership by, the community of our many projects, as well as strengthen probity and accountability of our project work. We have therefore constituted the St Peter's Life-Line Community Board, with its seven members representing the many facets of their community. We are very honoured that the Principal Chief of the County of Tharaka Nithi, Simon Maingi, has accepted to Chair the Committee. Simon is an old friend and supporter. He is a uniformed, National Government appointee, running the County's extensive network of Chiefs and sub-Chiefs. He and his Chiefs are the bridge between community and government, resolving and mediating on a variety of local issues, many linked to tribal and cultural matters. The other members are: Daria Kagwiria (known to us as Mrs Tom!), Headteacher of Ntumbara Primary school  – Deputy Chair, Treasurer and Women’s and government primary schools rep; Robert Kioji, former teacher at St Peter’s and Area Chief – representing St Peter’s and Kajuki community; Tarcisio Kithinji, architect and building contractor – representing OLC and Kathwana community; Doreen Mugambi, St Peter’s School Secretary – representing Transforming Lives primary school education scheme, secondary, tertiary and university sponsorships; Purity Mukami, sponsored student nurse at Chuka Medical College – representing youth and young women; Veronica Nyaga, SPLL Project Co-ordinator – Secretary and Permanent Member.

 

We are so grateful to the Souter Charitable Trust who have granted us sufficient funding to run our annual programme within the community to eliminate FGM. Because of Covid restrictions we were unable to run the programme in 2020, and sadly have seen the return of FGM - in one hotspot there were known instances of 18 young women being mutilated. We will start next term, with our visits to local primary schools, to start up and run our children’s rights awareness clubs, as well as begin to engage with the community with our one-day, educative forums.

 

Ruth (15), a single child of a single parent in very impoverished circumstances plucked up courage and came in to our office at St Peter’s pleading for us to fund her secondary education. Our request over social media for a sponsor was responded to positively (twice!) in very quick order! Yes, the miracles continue! Ruth’s educative future is now secure.

 

We say a temporary farewell to three of our sponsored uni students, Christine, Purity and Marcella, who are now returning to their establishments to resume full time studies. We took them on in our office at St Peter’s after Covid restrictions sent them home, to not only give them work experience (paid) in the Clinic and the office, but also to have access to electricity to charge their phones to enable their online studies!

 

Our intrepid walkers, Emma, and daughter, Annabel, continue to battle through mud and snow to maintain their training regime prior to their 117 mile walkies round the Mendip Ring. Just have a look at how much they have raised: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk to help us fight Period Poverty!

 

Now that schools have returned in full we have resumed our feeding programme, giving a hot nutritious lunch to 1,746 kids at 8 local primary schools. With a leap of faith we have taken on that 8th school – Kamaindi, with 247 pupils, from the original 7 schools.

 

Mercyjoy, a young single Mum, approached us on social media, asking if we could help her. As only in God’s way, with our uni girls returning to study, we needed help in our Clinic and office. Mercyjoy now works for us, and her son is now in the Transforming Lives scheme as a pupil at St Peter’s.

 

The seemingly never-ending, wading through thick bureaucratic treacle of trying to secure import tax exemptions for our sanitary pad materials continue – and not apace! The burden is on Amy Peake of our partner charity, Loving Humanity, in trying to push all this through.

Incidence of Covid in Kenya is still very low – 101,000 known cases, and 1,766 recorded deaths.

 

On a personal note, I’ve just had my first Covid jab, with the second due in April – hopefully harbingers for my return to St Peter’s for some massive catch-ups!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditation: ‘Doing’ Lent… 

   The real mystery of the human is that we are so convinced that we have to get somewhere, failing to realise that we are already there. We wouldn’t be thinking of goals and objectives unless they were already activated in our personal consciousness. So, during this Lent, let’s think ‘Resurrection’.

   Because, without the Resurrection, Lent would be a dull, self-centred time devoted to cultivating one’s own spiritual garden. We would be concerned only with giving things up that we like or doing difficult things that we think would be good for us. Maybe they would be, but motivation is everything. Many Christians will be having conversations about what they are ‘doing for Lent’ often with a humorous tone and a little bit of religious competitiveness. “If he is giving up alcohol for Lent, maybe I should as well…”. Jesus’ teaching on all this is clear. Don’t publicise your ‘good deeds’ and even ‘don’t let your left hand know what your right hand is doing’. If this sounds very complex and challenging, in fact it is ridiculously simple.

   When spiritual practice is covertly run by the ego (and most things are) we unconsciously slip into thinking that progress, coming closer to God, is linked to suffering or to voluntary discomfort. It’s like thinking that we have to do something unpleasant to make someone who already loves us continue loving us. We don’t feel worthy. We don’t trust. We hedge our bets. God must be having a good laugh at our reluctance to believe the obvious.

   Like meditation, Lent isn’t about spiritual leverage over God or about taking back control of our spiritual journey. As we begin Lent, let’s decide, with the simplest motivation, whether we will do something or do nothing. (Her mother told the young Queen in the TV series The Crown that doing nothing is the most difficult thing!) The gift today is to determine to more deeply believe the gift of God’s love. This is impossible until we feel that God actually likes us.

   Let’s try this Lent to shed whatever remains of our pagan, ego-coloured idea of God and so prepare for the Resurrection by living in the new light of Christ. The old gods died when devotion to them dried up. They looked powerful, but, like celebrities, they feed off human attention and wither when it fails.

   The true God is far more real and interesting and infinitely friendly. So, something or nothing? Simply being more faithful to our daily times of meditation and to the simplicity of the mantra combines both options. (As John Main said ‘prayer is the essential ascesis of the Christian life’). Laurence Freeman, The World Community for Christian Meditation.

“…whenever you pray… 

   “Beware of practising your piety before others in order to be seen by them; for then you have no reward from your Father in heaven. So, whenever you give alms, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, so that they may be praised by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your alms may be done in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you. And whenever you pray do not be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and at the street corners, so that they may be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But whenever you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

   And whenever you fast, do not look dismal, like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces so as to show others that they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that your fasting may be seen not by others but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you.”                            Mt 6:1-6; 16-21.

 

“Paths and purposes…” 

Never turn your face from any poor man and God will never turn his from you. Give your bread to those who are hungry, and your clothes to those who are naked. Whatever you own in plenty, devote a proportion to almsgiving; and when you give alms, do not do it grudgingly. Bless the Lord in everything; beg him to guide your ways and bring your paths and purposes to the end.                         Tb 4:7; 19

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for… 

The willingness of the Community Board members to serve

Souter Charitable Trust for enabling continuation of the FGM programme

Sponsors who give the precious gift of education

Emma and Annabel’s commitment to relieving Period Poverty

 

We pray for…

The effectiveness of our Community Board

A successful term for all schools

A fruitful return to studies for our uni students

Full funding for our primary schools’ feeding programme

Progress for our sanitary pad scheme

Continued limitation of Covid in Kenya

Fair distribution of Covid vaccines throughout the world

A fruitful ‘doing’ of Lent!

 

If the Lord does not build the house, in vain do its builders labour. Ps 127:1


David with Principal Chief, Simon; food glorious food!; Ruth; Annabel & friend - walking to defeat Period Poverty.

David with Principal Chief Simon, Food Glorious Food! Ruth Walk


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – JANUARY 2021  

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building a community of Love”

 

Our most treasured gift this Christmas is taking in the two brothers, Silas and Salesio, suffering from life-limiting Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, into our custom-built accommodation at St Peter’s, where we will provide spiritual, physical and medical care, and bring them in from their former isolation at their remote home, into our St Peter’s community. Martha, who has a wealth of experience with disabled youngsters, will be their fulltime carer. “The boys are very OK and happy! The kids treat them very well and they love them so much, David! They take them to the field for games!”.

 

In a very encouraging initiative the Government is formally registering all disabled people. Our Clinic staff offered their services as a registration centre at St Peter’s. 88 were registered, most of them already known to us and attending our free Clinic, but some newbies also showed up, and are now in our system.

 

Another bright and happy event this month was the wedding of our lovely Admin Assistant, Lydia, to Josphat, in the church of Our Lady of Consolation, Kathwana.

 

In traditional style we celebrated end of term by giving our pupils a massive, tummy-busting feast: substitute a whole goat for turkey, and add lots of rice and veggies, and goodies – sweeties, bics, drinks…. The St Peter’s gang were joined by Silas and Salesio.

 

We distributed food packages to over 50 of our families with disabled children so that they could celebrate over the Christmas period with (very) full tummies!

 

98 loans totalling £27,900 were made to the micro finance ladies, bringing the grand total of loans since we stated the scheme to 3,366. This project is now a significant player in the micro economy of the area, with a perceptible transition from a subsistence economy underway.

 

A very impressive £2,375 was raised from the Pasta-thon, which will help massively with the urgent roof repairs to St Orsola’s Mission hospital. From Fr Emilio, the Administrator: “I was shocked by the overwhelming generosity and have shared happily with the Hospital Management Team, and we are very happy." 

 

We were very happy to help the lovely presbytery housekeeper Letty’s, daughter-in-law and granddaughter, with medical expenses after an unfortunate road traffic accident. No universal health care in Kenya.

 

Another very special Christmas gift was seeing baby Fortune, who is doing so well after her brain surgery, having lunch with her Mum, Doreen, and big bro, Faustine, with Silas and Salesio in their new house, and having a lovely cuddle with Silas.

 

Our doughty duo, Mum Emma, and daughter Annabel, have resumed their training walks for their 6-day, 117-mile yomp round the footpaths of the Mendip Ring, for their fundraiser for Period Poverty. Last Sunday they ploughed through 20 miles of mainly mud, a bit of sunshine and a lot of hail! Please give them a helping hand! https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk

 

Incidence of Covid in Kenya is still very low – 96,000 known cases, and 1,664 recorded deaths.

 

Term commences for all pupils on 4 Jan ’21. No doubt there will be tremendous excitement for all those children, always so eager to learn, that have not been able to attend school since last March – plenty of relieved parents, too!

 

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditate and pray for 2021:

 

   Word became flesh, you make your dwelling among us. Yet you do not live your life for yourself, but for us. And you enable us to live in you all that you yourself lived. Help me to embrace this truth with all my mind and heart. Come and live your life in me. Empty me of my willfulness, my petulance, my hardness, my cynicism, my contemptuousness. Fill me with your truth, your strength, your fortitude, your purity, your gentleness, your generosity, your wisdom, your heart, and your grace.

O Emmanuel, may the assurance of your unfailing Presence be for me the source of unending peace. May I never fear my weakness, my inadequacy, or my imperfection. Rather, as I gaze with faith, hope, and love upon your incarnate littleness, may I love my own littleness, for God is with us. Endow my life with a holy wonder that leads me ever more deeply into the Mystery of Redemption and the meaning of my vocation and destiny.                                                         John Peter Cameron

 

The light of salvation

 

“Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace, just as you promised; because my eyes have seen the salvation which you have prepared for all the nations to see, a light to enlighten the pagans and the glory of your people Israel.” As the child’s father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “You see this child: he is destined for the fall and for the rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected – and the sword will pierce your own soul too – so that the secret thoughts of many may be laid bare.”                     Lk 2:29-35

 

Knowing the love

 

This, then, is what I pray, kneeling before the Father, from whom every family, whether spiritual or natural, takes its name: Out of his infinite glory, may he give you the power through his Spirit for your hidden self to grow strong, so that Christ may live in your hearts through faith, and then, planted in love and built on love, you will with all the saints have strength to grasp the breadth and the length, the height and the depth; until, knowing the love of Christ, which is beyond all knowledge, you are filled with the utter fullness of God.

   Ep 3:14-19

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Bringing Silas and Salesio into our community

Govt initiative for the disabled

End of term for those Years attending school

Ongoing success of the micro finance project

The outcome of the Pasta-thon

All you - our lovely supporters

Jesus in our lives

 

We pray for…

 

Long, happy and blessed married life for Lydia and Josphat

Successful recovery of Letty’s daughter-in-law and grand daughter

Ongoing success of our fundraisers

Continuing protection from the pandemic

A Blessed and Bright New Year 2021

 

He is the image of the invisible God, the first born of all creation…. Co 1:15 


Silas & Salesio at the Christmas Feas Lydia & Josphat

appreciative staff of St Orsola’s  Team St Peter’s with their Christmas boxes!

Silas & Salesio at the Christmas Feast; Lydia & Josphat; appreciative staff of St Orsola’s; Team St Peter’s with their Christmas boxes!


Below is a message of thanks received personally from Fr Emilo

 

Receive Christmas Greeting from Kenya, specifically from St Orsola Catholic Hospital Matiri.  I guess all is well under control. We are  grateful for the contribution make to our Hospital as indicated in the cheque attached below. May almighty God bless the hands that have been extended to us. You consistent generous and supportive  hand has no equal praise , no equal rewarding equal recompense for this magnificent efforts  but but prayer that God himself reward you all. God bless you more and more abundantly.

Thanks a lot Fr Emilio 

St Orsolas Hospital 



ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – DECEMBER 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Incidence of COVID in Kenya is still very low – 84,169 known cases, and just over 1,474 recorded deaths.

 

Term ends on 23 Dec for the three Year Groups currently attending schools, and starts again for them - and possibly all the other Year Groups - on 4 Jan.

 

The last of our ‘mini AGMs’ for the micro finance Groups are now complete. In giving thanks, the micro finance Management Board made a grant to purchase much needed equipment and toys for our Clinic for the disabled – so heartening to see the community giving back.

 

Our lovely Admin Assistant, Lydia, is getting married on 12th December. We mourned with Purity, our Clinic Assistant, the sad loss of her Dad.

 

One of our supporters just loves funding the purchase of goats on behalf of his grandchildren. This month we bought and gave 3 goats each to two very poor families – one was Mary, for whom, you may remember, we built a new house.

 

A video message of thanks from Lena, Class 8 , St Peter’s, sponsored by Butleigh Primary school, prompted donations from three of the Butleigh pupils.… and more to come as the staff may donate their ‘Secret Santa’ money to us.

 

Two ongoing fundraisers: The Pasta-thon, raising funds to repair the roof of our nearby Mission hospital, St Orsola’s, where our pupils are referred to, and where I visit regularly (once to get stitched up!). There’s still a chance to take part, as it is running until Sunday 6th December. We would love to you to send your Pasta Pics to us! https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/pasta-thon

 

Emma and her daughter Annabel are in serious training for their 117 mile 6 day yomp round the footpaths of the Mendip Ring https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk

 

One of our supporters has alerted us to a new wheeze for fundraising without you having to part with a penny:

You can now support St Peter's Life-Line on #easyfundraising! When you sign up as a supporter, 4,400 shops and sites will donate for free, every time you shop online. This includes all the big names like eBay, John Lewis & Partners, Argos, ASOS, Expedia, M&S, Just Eat and many more!  https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/stpeterslife-line

 

Lastly, a massive thanks from all of us at St Peter’s Life-Line and the St Peter’s community for your faithful and generous support over this quite extraordinary and challenging year. We wish you and your families every blessing and much joy over Christmas, as we look forward and pray with Hope for 2021.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditation: God’s Grace…

   God’s grace has been revealed. On Christmas night we realise that, when we failed to measure up, God became small for our sake; while we were going about our own business, he came into our midst. Christmas reminds us that God continues to love us all, He says today: “I love you and I will always love you, for you are precious in my eyes”. God does not love you because you think and act the right way. He loves you, plain and simple. His love is unconditional; it does not depend on you. You may have mistaken ideas, you may have made a complete mess of things, but the Lord continues to love you. How often do we think that God is good if we are good… Yet that is not how he is. For all our sins, he continues to love us. His love does not change. It is not fickle; it is faithful. It is patient. This is the gift we find at Christmas. We discover to our amazement that the Lord is absolute gratuity, absolute tender love. His glory does not overwhelm us; his presence does not terrify us. He is born in utter poverty in order to win our hearts by the wealth of his love.      Pope Francis

 

The Word…

   In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, and light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.

   The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.                                 Jn 1:1-5; 14

 

Shout to the Lord..

 Sing a new song to the Lord

   for he has worked wonders.

His right hand and his holy arm

   have brought to salvation.

The Lord has made known his salvation;

   has shown his justice to the nations.

He has remembered his truth and love

   for the house of Israel.  

All the ends of the Earth have seen

   the salvation of our God.

Shout to the Lord, all the Earth,

ring out your joy.        Ps 97:1-6

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

The end of term

Goats!

Another successful year for the micro finance ladies

The community giving back to the community

All you - our lovely supporters

Children caring for children

This year and all its blessings

 

We pray for…

Lydia and Geoffrey at their wedding

Purity for her loss

Ongoing success of our fundraisers

Continuing protection from the pandemic

A Blessed Christmas

A new start in 2021

…in your light we see light.

Ps 36 35:9

 

Goats for Mary Annabel Trains for Long Distance Yomp Clinic Goodies Front Line at St Orsolas

Goats for Mary; Annabel trains for their long distance yomp; Goodies for our Clinic being unpacked by Pamela;

The front line at St Orsola’s Mission hospital


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – NOVEMBER 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Incidence of Covid in Kenya is still very low – about 57,093 known cases, and just over 1,000 recorded deaths.

 

Selected classes returned to schools in October – Years 4 and 8 in Primary, and Form 4 in Secondary. Decisions by the government about all or other Year Groups returning are pending.

 

Gary Bright raised a stonking £859 (target £620) on his heroic sponsored London Marathon. This will enable Purity, who wants to become a nurse to attend Medical College for the full first year. Here is part of Purity’s thanks to Gary: Your support in my career shows just how incredible of a friend you are. Your warmth, generosity and kindness mean the world to me. I promise you studying smart to achieve my goals and career. May God bless you so much for your great effort”.

 

Veronica attending a meeting of the County Working Group of the National Anti FGM Board. Representatives from all public and private sectors attended. The declared aim is to eliminate FGM in the area by 2022. Our very successful Alternative Rite of Passage programme is recognised and being held up as the benchmark in how to achieve this!

 

As I think you all know by now that I had to cancel my planned trip to Kenya: Age + FCO travel ban + Covid = No insurance!

 

Jackline, 14, in Class 8 of one of our primary schools, has a cancer in her neck. There is no universal health care in Kenya, and the family have exhausted all their savings in paying for her chemo and radiotherapy. They have come to us for help. We will support this family and pay for any further treatment/surgery.

 

We were unable to stage a full AGM of the micro finance ladies (many hundreds attend!) so are holding ‘mini AGMS’ at the five micro finance Centres. As well as reviewing the past year, discussing plans for the future, and having a good old natter and celebrations, the ladies collected the annual dividends on their savings. We are offering 1.5% interest – anyone know of any better rate on a simple savings account?!

 

We are hopefully in the final stages of bringing the two brothers with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, Silas and Salesio, into their special accommodation at St Peter’s, where we can start caring for them. Many thanks for the advice to those specialists in palliative care, who helped us shape an outline Care Plan.

 

One of the students whom we sponsored through secondary education, Christine, has been successfully enrolled into university to study for a BA in Education, for which we will take her through.

 

The rainy season is underway, with ‘adequate’ rather than plentiful rain, and crops are starting to grow.

 

The results of the annual micro finance Audit indicate the success and scale of where this project now stands.

The worth of the scheme is £223,000 overall, and showed a healthy Surplus of £4,830. In giving back to the community they have made a donation to the Parish to purchase equipment for our rehab Clinic at St Peter’s. Our massive thanks to the Management Board who give of their time and experience in running the project.

 

With the huge uncertainty of school programmes, private schools are suffering financially, as parents of those kids attending are unwilling to commit to full fees through continuing Covid uncertainty. With no other guaranteed income, other than our sponsorship for our pupils, times are very hard. We continue to fund the staff required to keep the school compound running.

 

Early notice: Annabel (12), a former pupil of Butleigh primary school, and her Mum Emma, are going to walk the Mendip Ring - connected footpaths and byways round the Mendip Hills - next Easter. They aim to cover the 117 miles in 6 days, carrying their own kit. They are taking it very seriously and have started training, and will let us know how they are doing. We have yet to nominate a specific project for which to raise funds. See https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/mendipringwalk for further details. Children caring for children.

 

Just a reminder – whilst we can rightly moan about Amazon (other brands are guilty as well!) not paying their taxes to the Chancellor, we can at least give them a squeeze if you register for .5% of your purchases to come into our coffers: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1136150-0

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Only one….”

 

Jesus came to a village, and a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. She had a sister called Mary, who sat down at the Lord’s feet and listened to him speaking. Now Martha, who was distracted with all the serving, said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister is leaving me to do the serving all by myself? Please tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered: “Martha, Martha,” he said, “you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.”                                                    Lk 10:38-42

 

Meditation: Only one thing…

 

There is only one thing we must all do, and that is employ well the time and powers at our disposal. Only thus shall we realise our destiny, and that is the whole purpose of life. The consciousness, realised as far as possible, of what we are and of what we do; the concentration of our whole being on the duty of the present moment: it is this that gives us our true value and develops it. Once we have understood this and have the courage to live it; when, quietly and without undue strain and with just that effort of which we are capable at the time, we put all our strength into what we are doing, then we may be said to live fully. Such a full life is not necessarily the life of a great person.... To be little or great does not depend upon us, but to realise that being of which we are capable, moment by moment, does depend upon us, and it is this realisation persevered in that makes us a complete person.

So carry on: you are on the right way. Give yourself wholly to what you are doing, without looking back or worrying over what the future will bring. Live just for today, for the present moment, while it is yours to live…. We must never forget that, in spite of all our methods and all our efforts, we are and shall always be different from others…. We are too apt to look at one another and make comparisons. We must take ourselves as we are. That is the starting point if we are to develop as much and as well as we can; but it will always be along the lines of our personality, which is unique and must always remain so.               Augustin Guillerand

 

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

Gary, and his marathon efforts

Another successful year for the micro finance ladies

The Mwiaki Group Management Board

The community giving back to the community

Our lovely supporters and donors

Children caring for children

 

We pray for…

 

Continuing progress in eliminating FGM

Healing for Jackline

Admission of Silas and Salesio into St Peter’s

Christine as she starts her BA course

Continuing rain!

Private schools and their survival

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

 

May Christ live in our hearts through faith, planted in love and built on love. Amen. 

cf Ep 3:17


SPLL Nov SPLL Nov

 SPLL Nov SPLL Nov

Back at school; Jackline & her Mum; Micro Finance ‘mini AGM’; Annabel & Emma.


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – OCTOBER 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building a community of Love”

 

Incidence of Covid in Kenya is still very low – about 39,000 known cases, and just over 700 recorded deaths. There are still stringent restrictions in place, and school remain closed. I’m reading that scientists are puzzled about this low occurrence generally in sub-Saharan Africa.

 

Doreen’s baby daughter Fortune, whom we were so worried about with her swollen fontanelle, is blooming beautifully, and it appears that there may no longer be a need for an operation to check her stent. Such a little beauty!

 

A total of £31,000 was distributed to 86 women as loans from our micro finance project, now totalling 3,268 loans since we started this very successful scheme. Lifting families out of poverty – empowering women!

 

Our partner charity, Pocket Money Fights Poverty, staged an online appeal, #Challenge15, to raise £1,100 to fund the 10 children they support through primary education for a year. Result with Gift Aid - £1,447!

Huge thanks to Julie and all who supported this appeal. The precious gift of Education.

 

One of our junior fundraisers in Butleigh, Grace (Year 7), decided that it was high time that all the 5ps that her family had been accumulating, were liberated! A handsome £160, which she wants to go to fill hungry tummies – from which 11 primary school children will receive a tummy-busting lunch at school for the whole of 2021!

 

There was a buzz of excitement with an expectation that schools may open in early October – to the extent that teachers were summoned to their schools on Monday. This, however, was forestalled by the President announcing soon after that he was not happy that sufficient precautions could be put in place to prevent the spread of Covid, so schools will remain shut for the foreseeable future.

 

Our extra community gatherings to forestall the re-emergence of FGM, and special gatherings of schoolgirls to continue to persuade against early pregnancies are continuing. We have now established that there are 78 pregnant schoolgirls. We are assured that there are now sufficient community clinics to give pre and post-natal care to these girls, and clinic/hospital births, and that families will generally welcome and care for these babies. But we are identifying those who are very young (one is 14) or vulnerable, and will give what support we can. These girls need to go back to school and complete their education, which again, we will monitor and help where/if possible.

 

Gary Bright, one of our Warfield supporters, is putting his body on the line by running his first marathon in the rescheduled 2020 London Marathon, where all runners will be pounding round their own patch. He aims to gather at least £620 to pay for the fees of Purity to do her Community Nursing Diploma (and then Degree). You may remember this young woman who willingly repeated two years of her secondary education to earn the right Exam Grade to become a nurse. You may sponsor Gary at: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/2020-london His route round Warfield is shown on the covering email. He will set off at about 0900, doing 4 laps, with each lap at approx. 1:20, and hopes to complete in under 5 hrs. Here’s a call to arms to all you Warfielders to get out and support his heroic effort!

 

I’m in the stages of preparing for an ‘essential’ trip out to Kenya – it’s nearly a year since I last visited, and there is a lot of catch-up that I needs to be done! Dates are 13 – 20 October.

 

Just a reminder – whilst we can rightly moan about Amazon (other brands are guilty as well!) not paying their taxes to the Chancellor, we can at least give them a squeeze if you register for .5% of their sale to you to come into our coffers: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1136150-0

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“A Time for everything…”

 

   There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

   What do workers gain from their toil? I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.                                  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

 

You will recall Marcella, our sponsored uni student who is struggling to undertake her uni studies online from her remote rural home? Well, she is also a budding poet, and her beautiful poem below, chimes perfectly with the passage from Ecclesiastes, above…

Meditation: “Days…”

 

There are days you feel beautiful

Days you’ll feel all ugly

Days when everything is animated

Days when you feel like it’s pitch darkness

Days your soul will feel alive

And days you’ll feel the absence of your existence

Days when flowers will smell nice

Days when flowers will remind you

Of red and red means pain

Days you feel like everything is black

And white

Days when everything is just the same

Maintain the inner goddess

Those kind of days… Look up to the nature

And take delight in yonder

Hold onto the fabric

Of the anything fascinating left…

And when this is over….be grateful

To the Prince of Peace…

Marcella Karimi https://www.facebook.com/marcella952

 

“…a steadfast spirit…

 

A pure heart create for me, O God,

put a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me away from your presence,

nor deprive me of your holy spirit.

 

Give me again the joy of your help;

with a spirit of fervour sustain me,

that I may teach transgressors your ways

and sinners may return to you.

 

O rescue me, God, my helper,

and my tongue shall ring out your goodness.

O Lord, open my lips

and my mouth shall declare your prayers.

Ps 50:12-17

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

Fortune’s good health

Ongoing success of the micro finance scheme

Pocket Money Fights Poverty donations

Grace and her collection

Gary, and his marathon efforts

Our lovely supporters and donors

Children caring for children

 

We pray for…

 

Progress in setting up our san pad production

Continuing support for pregnant teenagers

Suppressing the outbreak of FGM

Protection of all young girls subject to FGM and pregnancy pressures

Funding for food provision

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

A safe and Spirit-guided visit for David

 

He saves, sets free, and works signs and wonders in the heavens and on earth.

Dn 6:28


Fortune       Grace


Fortune                                                            Grace


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – SEPTEMBER 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Comparatively, the incidence of Covid in Kenya is still low - 34,493 cases reported and 581 deaths.

Many restrictions are still in force.

 

We were starting some initial explorations to see how/if we could provide some sort of structured educational activity for all our three parish primary school children. This however has since been overtaken by the government’s announcement for a ‘community-based learning programme’ for the 10 million or so pupils in schools. The scheme is based on the premise that a teacher will be living in or near a village community, and will engage not more than 15 pupils at a time in various life-skills and educational activities for at least four hours a week. An extremely challenging prospect, but we will assist, supplement and participate where possible.

 

Our lovely partner charity, Pocket Money Fights Poverty, launched #Challenge15 on 1st Sep. It demonstrates 15 good reasons over 15 days to invest in a child’s education. Their target is to raise £1,100 to give a quality education over a year for the 10 orphan or vulnerable children at Our Lady of Consolation primary school that they are committed to supporting. Please do consider their appeal: www.justgiving.com/fundraising/pocket-money-fights-poverty

 

We are so proud of Purity, who was at a poor performing local secondary school when we started sponsoring her secondary education. She was so dismayed with her poor results from the National Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams - which sets the bar for employment prospects - that she immediately rang Fr Frankline, asking if she could repeat the final year at school with the plea, "I know I can do better!"

We enquired of a well acclaimed Regional school if they would accept her. They would - but on the condition that she repeated her last TWO years, so they would be confident that she could achieve the high standards she was seeking. Result: a B- Grade overall in her KCSE, which is entry level for the Diploma (and later, Degree) to be a Community Health Nurse. In her words, "It's my career choice since I was a child, so I wanted to take this initiative, as I can see many people suffering from various diseases of which they are unable to access medication. In our country, I want to be a role model to all nurses and doctors."

She has been admitted to the Kenya Medical Training College. She is currently working in our Clinic for the Disabled, getting some useful work experience!

 

Young Jack, our amazing supporter from Butleigh Primary School (but now going on to secondary school), has collected an amazing £183.76 all in small change, mostly by helping his Mum on her egg delivery rounds. Children caring for children: Role Model Extraordinaire.

 

Our programme of talking to community and schoolgirl gatherings with the participation of local community leaders and the Police, to forestall schoolgirl pregnancies, and prevent FGM, continue to take place.

 

It is always a sad date in August when we remember with such love, Fr Joe, the founder of St Peter’s primary school, who died in a traffic accident in 2011. His legacy not only lives on, but has expanded beyond all our wildest hopes!

 

You will remember our sponsored uni student, Marcella, struggling gamely in her rural setting to keep up with her uni course. We are now employing her part-time at St Peter’s, primarily to attend our many community forums as a powerful role model and inspiration to other young people. We have also started to employ Christine, whom we sponsored through secondary school, in our Clinic, to try and help her save some money for her further education plans. Her Mum was a leading member of St Peter’s church, and died a while back from TB.

 

We invited parents and some of our sponsored secondary pupils to lunch and a get-together at St Peter’s, just to keep in touch. Out of school uniform they all look so smart and grown up in their party clothes!

 

San pad factory roof timbers going up. All we need is some kit and materials! Pole pole!

 

Just a reminder – whilst we can rightly moan about Amazon (other brands are guilty as well!) not paying their taxes to the Chancellor, we can at least give them a squeeze if you register for .5% of their sale to you to come into our coffers: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1136150-0

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

The new Jerusalem

 

I saw a new heaven and a new earth; the first heaven and the first earth had disappeared now, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, and the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, as beautiful as a bride all dressed for her husband. Then I heard a loud voice call from the throne, “You see this city? Here God lives among men. He will make his home among them; they shall be his people, and he will be their God.”                                                 Rv 21:1-3

 

Meditation: “Come…”

  

Come, my Father’s blessed ones, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you who did not make an idol of wealth, gave alms to the poor, help to orphans and widows, drink to the thirsty, and food to the hungry.

   Come, you who welcomed strangers, clothed the naked, visited the sick, comforted prisoners, and assisted the blind.

   Come, you who kept the seal of faith unbroken, who were swift to assemble in the churches,  listened to my Scriptures, longed for my words, observed my law day and night, and like good soldiers sharing my suffering because you wanted to please me, your heavenly King.

   Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Look, my Kingdom is ready, paradise stands open, my immortality is displayed in all its beauty.

   Come now, all of you, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…. Enjoy forever the gifts of my heavenly Father, and of the most holy and life-giving Spirit. What tongue can describe these blessings? Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love him.                                        St Hippolytus (d236)

 

Come to eternal life…

 

Jesus said, “I tell you solemnly, there is no one who has left house, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, or land for my sake and for the sake of the gospel who will not be repaid a hundred times over, houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land – not without persecutions –  now in this present time and, in the world to come, eternal life.                                          Mk 10:29,30

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

Pocket Money Fights Poverty

Purity, and her desire to serve her community

Young Jack – Role Model Extraordinaire

Fr Joe, and his legacy

Keeping in touch with our pupils

Amazon’s donations

Our lovely supporters and donors

Children caring for children

 

We pray for…

 

The success of the community education scheme

Progress in setting up our san pad production

Continuing support for pregnant teenagers

Suppressing the outbreak of FGM

Protection of all young girls subject to FGM and pregnancy pressures

Funding for food provision

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

 

 

Seek the Lord, all you, the humble of the earth, who obey his commands.

Seek integrity, seek humility.

Zp 2:3

 

Purity; Young Jack; Fr Joe; San Pad Factory; Pocket Money Fights Poverty.


SPLL SPLL 

SPLL  SPLL  SPLL


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – AUGUST 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building a community of Love”

 

Incidence of Covid is still relatively very low in Kenya: 28,873 reported cases, and 391 deaths at time of writing. These low figures may well reflect a shortage of test facilities, and although they continue to rise, there is still no indication of Covid sweeping through densely populated areas such as Kibera slums of Nairobi. Some travel restrictions have been eased which now may contribute to increased levels of infection. Medical facilities to cope with a massed outbreak are very sparse.

 

It has been some time in the planning, but St Peter’s Parish has now been divided in two, and a new parish, Our Lady of Consolation (OLC), centred on the County Town of Kathwana, has been created. This is to cope with the increased pastoral load as Kathwana continues to grow as the County Town. We will continue to support our associated primary school – Our Lady of Consolation – and all our other projects and activities within the new parish. Always a very good sign when new parishes are starting up! The very heavy workload on Fr Frankline, will now hopefully decrease. We warmly welcome the new parish priest, Fr Gerald Mugendi.

 

Our search for pregnant schoolgirls within the parishes continues. So far 33 have been identified. We are expecting around 40. The youngest, so far, is 14 years old. We aim to give some pre, natal, and post-natal support where needed, to form support groups where possible, and to try and cater for their return to school, again where practicable. Now that Covid restrictions on gatherings has been raised to a maximum of 100, and in an effort to pre-empt any more schoolgirl pregnancies, we will be holding 10 forums for girls across the community, as well as ensuring the message is continually heard in church and other gatherings. We will also distribute sanitary pads to the girls at these meetings.

 

Schools in Kenya will not open until January 2021, putting more pressure on young people, (and their parents!) as they seek to stave off boredom. All pupils will re-join the original Class/Form that they left in March, posing the problem of double Year 1 intakes into primary schools. For those of you donating specifically to our primary school Transforming Lives and secondary school scholarship schemes, please be assured that your donations are much valued in funding all these ‘extra-curricular Covid’ projects, so vital to supporting the community in these challenging times.

 

Distressingly, Veronica reports that FGM is creeping back into the community. She heard of 3 confirmed cases, and has reported them to the authorities. Arrests have been made. 7 other cases have also been reported which she is following up. It is most unusual for cutting to be done at this time of the year, as the circumcision ‘season’ is usually during the long holidays in December. With schools not starting until January, people are therefore taking advantage of this long lead-up period, so that girls have plenty of time to ‘heal’ physically. This is another unfortunate Covid side effect – as, at this time of the year we would be conducting large gatherings of the community with all-day forums, putting the anti-FGM message across. But at least we can try and pick up some momentum again by staging, in addition to the girls’ forums above, 5 general community gatherings to warn against FGM, and make it clear that every incident will be reported.

 

The construction of our sanitary pad factory at St Peter’s is now underway – building should be completed by mid-September. Amy Peake’s negotiations for tax exemptions for the imported equipment and material for the factory grind along with the Kenyan Revenue authority.

 

We have sent £10,000 to give sufficient food for 350 families for about a month. This demand will continue with bread winners having lost their jobs/businesses, and further funding will be critical.

 

Business (more or less!) as usual… 89 loans were made to our micro finance ladies, bringing the total of loans made since we started to 3,182. Some were new ladies with a starter loan of 10,000/- KShs (about £80), but many were 3rd or 4th loans to those successful businesses that need more capital to expand of between £400 - £800. Lifting families out of poverty.

 

The amazing Walkabout Foundation, who have a workshop constructing wheelchairs just round the other side of Mt Kenya from us at Nanyuki, have donated 17 more wheelchairs for our disabled – giving that precious gift of mobility.

 

No operation for baby Fortune still in sight, but thankfully, she is not in any pain or discomfort, and there may be a possibility that an op is not now required.

 

Nancy, one of our young supporters, raised £37.77 with a roadside plant sale. Very encouraging – children caring for children.

 

Just another reminder of that Amazon link to nominate us as your preferred charity when you shop with them online: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1136150-0

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

God’s Providence

 

“Look at the birds in the sky. They do not sow or reap or gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not worth much more than they are? Can any of you, for all his worrying, add one single cubit to his span of life? And why worry about clothing? Think of the flowers growing in the fields; they never have to work or spin; yet I assure you that not even Solomon in all his regalia was robed like one of these. Now if that is how God clothes the grass in the fields which is there today and thrown into the furnace tomorrow, will he not much more look after you, you men of little faith?”                             Mt 6:26-30

 

Meditation: Every day counts

 

   We can’t believe simultaneously in Chance and Providence. We do in fact believe in Providence, but we live as if we believed in Chance. It is from this that the inconsistencies in our lives stem; both the situations where we get over-active and the situations where we are unduly passive….

   And yet we receive each morning and each day in its entirety from the hands of God. God gives us a day which has been prepared for us by him. There are no ‘too muches’ or ‘not enoughs’ in it. No part of it is neutral, no part of it is useless. It is a masterpiece of a day that he has just asked us to live. But we regard it as just another agenda sheet – with a number and a month upon it. We treat it casually like a sheet of paper. If we could research the history of the world and watch this day as it was being developed and formed from the beginning of time, we would grasp the unique value of one single human day. And if we had a little faith we would want to go down on our knees before this day that we experience as Christians.

   We are charged with an energy which is way out of proportion to the measure of our world: the faith that moves mountains, the hope that refuses to accept that something is impossible, the love which sets the world on fire. Each minute of our day, wherever we are supposed to be and whatever we are supposed to be doing, allows Christ to live through us in the midst of human beings. So, there is no more question of calculating the effectiveness of our time. We make our humble measurement of the will of God.                     Madeleine Delbrel

 

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The new parish of OLC

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

Being able to feed many hungry families

The ongoing success of the micro finance scheme

Amazon’s donations

Progress of the san pad project

The wheelchairs from Walkabout

Our lovely supporters and donors

Children caring for children

 

We pray for…

 

Fr Gerald and his new parish

Continuing support for pregnant teenagers

Suppressing the outbreak of FGM

Protection of all young girls subject to FGM and pregnancy pressures

Funding for food provision

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

Fortune’s continuing stability

 

Love does not rest, so how can the lover rest?



Families Collecting Food Happy to be Mobile Micro Finance Loans Being Made Nancy


Pics: families collecting food; happy to be mobile! Micro finance loans being made; Nancy!


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – JULY 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Incidence of Covid is still very low in Kenya: 6,673 reported cases, 149 deaths at time of writing. The outbreaks are mainly limited to Nairobi and Mombasa, with few in outlying Counties. The number, however is slowly rising, and strict measures continue to be enforced to try and prevent a mass outbreak.

 

One of our lovely supporters, Olivia (14), completed 20 gorgeous handmade dresses as part of her Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award, and handed them over at a suitably socially distanced but very happy occasion at Puriton Primary School! Children caring for children.

 

Veronica has reported a dramatic increase in pregnancies amongst schoolgirls. All schools are shut, there are no online or other learning facilities, and with only household chores to keep them occupied, boredom reigns! There is very little access to pre and post-natal, and other birth care facilities. Again, through the church and women’s networks, we will identify the scale of this, and draw up an Action Plan to give assistance and support how and where we can – funding dependent. Some of these girls may have been assaulted, some may be required to marry the father, some may just have to cope on their own. This is a sensitive issue, but one that needs addressing and dealing with.

 

With the longer term effects of Covid, food has now risen to the top of the agenda again. A survey by our church and women’s networks has identified about 350 families in the area who are suffering hunger and food shortage, with many bread winners having lost jobs/businesses. Within available funding we will provide food to as many of these families as we can, and have done so already.

 

The sanitary pad project continues to progress slowly, understandably being delayed in Kenya with the Ministry involved dealing with Covid. We are visiting Amy Peake, the founder of Loving Humanity, our partner charity in this project, at her prototype san pad mini factory in Wiltshire, to finalise design details for our own mini factory being built at St Peter’s.

 

We were hopeful for an early operation on baby Fortune to ease the bulge on her fontanelle, but Doren is still waiting for a surgeon’s appointment.

 

Our friends – the amazing Walkabout Foundation, which has already been so generous to us, is donating another 17 wheelchairs, which will be fitted for our patients in early July. They are round the other side of Mt Kenya, where they manufacture wheelchairs for distribution.

 

This week the pupils of Year 6, Butleigh primary school, twinned with St Peter’s, would have been attending the Leavers’ Service at Wells Cathedral with many other primary schools in the area. With their own school banner they would have proudly processed with the St Peter’s banner, and received their Leavers’ candle from the Cathedral, which would have been taken out to St Peter’s, where it would have burned during prayers at school assemblies.

 

We continue to be richly blessed by our many supporters, with your gifts of love, care, prayer and treasure. As with most other charities, incidental donations have declined. Some of you though have been passing on to us some of your cash not spent because of Covid limitations – like myself – hardly anything on petrol in the last three months! Please feel free to offload any surplus to us!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Building on rock

 

“Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!”                          Mt 7:24-27

 

Meditation: “It’s free but costs everything…”

 

Have you built your house on rock?

Or do you live a fantasy life

where harm comes only to others –

the ones you see on your

computer screen

or across your living room wall

or wide screen TV?

 

You sit on your sofa and pray,

“Dear Lord, keep such tragedies

far from my door.”

Meanwhile your floor is

sinking more and more each day.

 

There is only one rock.

It’s free but costs everything.

If you see your own need,

you’ll pay.

Rita A. Simmonds

 

“I trust you…”

 

To you, Oh Lord, I lift up my soul.

I trust you, let me not be disappointed;

do not let my enemies triumph.

Those who hope in you shall not be disappointed,

but only those who wantonly break faith.

 

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my saviour.

 

In you I hope all the day long

because of your goodness, Oh Lord.

Remember your mercy, Lord,

and the love you have shown from of old.

Do not remember the sins of my youth.

In your love remember me. Ps 24:1-7

  

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The continuing suppression of Covid in Kenya

Olivia and her gifts of love

Progress of the san pad project

The wheelchairs from Walkabout

Our lovely supporters and donors

Children caring for children

 

We pray for…

 

Resources and a plan to support pregnant teenagers

Funding for food provision

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

Fortune’s operation

 

Accept God’s message for what it really is: God’s message, and not some human thinking.


Olivia SPLL  Cartoon SPLL

Picture of the month: a socially distanced handover from Olivia!;
And, Fr Frankline, David Brown, Jonathan Hunter Dunn - hopefully it won’t come to this!


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – JUNE 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

The miracle of Covid suppression in Kenya continues! At the time of writing there has been 2,216 reported cases and 74 deaths, and no reported cases in our County, although from Fr Frankline, “All the neighbouring counties have recorded a victim. We are very scared, David”.

 

Our team is manufacturing industrial amounts of liquid soap and distributing to public places and families, and we have distributed food to vulnerable families.

 

We have re-opened our Clinic for disabled children on a limited basis to continue with much needed treatment. Our micro finance ladies are meeting in small, socially distanced numbers to keep their businesses and the system running. There is no news of schools returning soon.

We continue to build our Corona Fighting Fund to deploy in the event of outbreak.

 

Our International Socially Distanced Lockdown Big Cuzza Night was a great world-wide success, with many of you sharing your pictures with us. Over £3,000 was raised for the Fighting Fund – well in excess of our target. Thank you all so very much – a true gesture of Togetherness and spreading the LOVE! Here is a lovely video compilation put together by one of our supporters – see if you can spot yourselves?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjD8uO0xkfc&fbclid=IwAR2LSCILIDkfhyfiZcq35SIYO36d2Clma2oCBMAyBT749ILt0u_YbpRzduI

 

Beatrice Nkatha, the Women’s representative MP for the County, and a long-standing friend of ours, presented a cheque for £2,000 to our Ladies Group to part-fund the building of our micro factory at St Peter’s to manufacture low/no cost disposable sanitary pads. We will augment that donation to meet the full building specification. The equipment and materials to manufacture 250,000 pads still sit patiently at Southampton Docks, now awaiting ‘post Covid’ clearances.

 

For the second season running, the rains have been sufficient for a good harvest. This is such a blessing, as amongst all the current worries, food security won’t be at the top of the list.

 

Sadly, two of my trips so far have had to be cancelled, the latest when I had hoped to take young Jack, one of our ‘young collectors’ from Butleigh Primary School and his Dad, and my granddaughter, Lily, and her Dad.

 

If anyone is interested, I am writing a (partly educative) illustrated story for children about a Kenyan girl’s life and growing up, which so far I have been distributing on a limited basis. Please let me know if you want me to send it to you (3 chapters so far!).

 

Despite the Covid and lockdown gloom, it has been a month of joy and fulfilment for us as we celebrated our 10 years, made all the more fulfilling by your support and participation. We really are a community of LOVE, reaching round the world, and into that small part of Kenya – to our brothers and sisters of the St Peter’s community, Kajuki – and by God’s Grace and Providence, let us continue building our community of Love!

 

We are also very conscious that present events continue to overshadow the Easter message, and last Sunday’s joy of Pentecost, made all the more challenging by us having to commemorate and celebrate alone. But of course, we are never alone, and the Easter message is for ever.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“…the spirit from above…”

 

Once more there will be poured on us the spirit from above; then shall the wilderness be fertile land and fertile land become forest. In the wilderness justice will come to live and integrity in the fertile land; integrity will bring peace, justice give lasting security. My people will live in a peaceful home, in safe houses, in quiet dwellings.                                                 Is 32:15-18

 

The Spirit comes to help us

 

The Spirit too comes to help us in our weakness. For when we cannot choose words in order to pray properly, the Spirit himself expresses our plea in a way that could never be put into words, and God who knows everything in our hearts knows perfectly well what he means, and that the pleas of the saints expressed by the Spirit are according to the mind of God.                                      Ro 8:26,27

 

Meditation: Come, Holy Spirit!

 

Come, Spirit,

Holy Spirit,

into every crevice of my heart.

Leave no narrowest defile

for pride to walk.

For hard-lipped judgements to stalk,

leave no smallest part.

 

Come, Wisdom,

Holy wise One,

visit the warped reason of my mind!

Flame in my confusion

with white light.

Waft the sweet diffusion

there of certained might.

 

Come, Love,

Heart of all love,

into the embraces of my soul.

To my thousand-armed desires

come in all fulfilment.

Speak with tongue of fire

in my soul’s stillness.

 

Finger of God,

flaming finger,

cauterise my folly.

Be in all the cunning maze

bright and burning sign.

Trace with fire on dubious ways,

Love’s design.

Mary Francis

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The miracle of Covid suppression

Being able to help the wider community

Continuing our project activities

The fellowship and gifts from The Big Curry Night

Beatrice and her donation

A bountiful harvest

Our 10 years’ service of Love

All our supporters

 

The Risen Christ!

The Holy Spirit!

 

We pray for…

 

Rescheduling of visits

Continuing protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer

Many more years’ in Your service, Lord!

 

“The wonderful thing about praying is that you leave a world of not being able to do something, and enter God’s realm where everything is possible. He specialises in the impossible. Nothing is too great for His almighty power. Nothing is too small for His love.

Corrie ten Boom


SPLL June 20  SPLL June 20

SPLL June 20 SPLL June 20

Micro finance ladies back in (limited) business; manufacturing our exclusive range of liquid soap "St Peter’s Sabuni ya Mkono" (Hand Soap); distributing the soap to public hand wash places and families; our Clinic for the disabled kids back in limited action.

As part of our 10th Birthday celebrations David asked Marcella, currently being sponsored through university by one of our supporters, to write an article.

Marcella was one of our very first sponsored pupils at St Peter’s Primary school in 2010, and has journeyed with us over these ten years.

She reflects on the contrasts of her ‘town and country’ life, and how COVID is affecting her studies.

 

THE LIFE OF MY TIMES

My name is Marcella Karimi. I am a 21 year old Kenyan from a polygamous family of 10. I am the eldest of 3 full siblings. My parents are peasant farmers living in rural Tharaka Nithi County. It is a harsh, semi-arid area where food is always short. I was fortunate to be sponsored by the British charity St Peter’s Life-Line and joined St Peter’s Primary School in 2010, in Class 5, as a boarder. Basically, I'm one of the pioneer alumni of that newly formed school.

I met David Baldwin the founder of the charity in 2010, as one of the donors to the school. Since then St Peter's Life-Line has journeyed with me. My above average exam results from primary and secondary schools led me to the University of Nairobi pursuing Bachelor of Education Arts, majoring in Geography and Kiswahili. I am being sponsored by St Peter’s Life-Line. I am a second-year Student and hope to graduate in two years.

Earlier in my life, I couldn't imagine that 10 years later I would be in a University and studying.

But now the Covid-19 pandemic has changed things as all schools are now closed.

It was a mighty blow to my university studies. We had only one month to sit our end-of-Semester exams. So, I went back home to Tharaka Nithi, some four hours’ drive north from Nairobi and awaited directives from the University.

I go home quite regularly during vacations, but this longer period has given me time to reflect on how I stand in two very different generations.

 

Life in Nairobi and at my rural home is so contrasting in so many aspects. A typical day in campus involves me waking and getting ready for the day, visiting the school cafeteria for breakfast which is basically tea and some doughnuts. At lunch I usually take rice, beans, ugali, kale etc. During the day I attend my lectures. I sing in the university choir and that occupies most of my evenings.

Here at my rural home a typical day starts around 6am in the morning. I start off by helping my Mother prepare breakfast. After breakfast, duties are distributed in the family, from herding the cattle, to fetching water and weeding, and I mostly I indulge in all these activities. In the University hostel, clean water and electricity are available throughout. There is Wi-Fi to help me do my research and projects on time. At home, there is no Wi-Fi, and no public library nearby. I'm depending on books that we are sharing with my classmates via WhatsApp for the research.

There's no electricity supply in my rural home and this is a major challenge. The university directed that our studies be done online. The nearest place with electricity is about 3Km from our home. I need to charge my phone and laptop at least once a day so that I can complete my Assignments and submit to the Lecturers via email. It's a challenge to do my live online classes due to poor Network connections. I'm only depending on the notes sent by the Professors via email to do my studies, and it is a bit tedious with not enough time to complete. 

We're depending on the radio to get the news on the fight against the pandemic. The radios are aired in the local tribal language, and as such people are not fully in the know of what is really happening around the world.

The Pandemic is really affecting our economy and education. The university was supposed to close on 17th April. We were to head home for long holidays and resume in September 2020. The holiday period is supposed to help us seek jobs, and help at homes. But, there are no jobs because of the lockdown. There's minimal traveling. Very few activities are left, the markets are locked. People in the rural places are depending on stored-up food harvested from last season. There is a dusk to dawn total curfew in force.

I'm living in the hope that the Pandemic shall finish soon and render everything back to normalcy. In rural areas people are scared with not having all the facts. This is a major challenge because people are just panicking, and the precautions given are not that effective here, as having to buy masks and sanitisers is a heavy task for people living below the poverty line.

If the situation comes to normalcy around June to July, I would still graduate from the University in two years’ time.

Upon completion of my undergraduate studies I wish to give back to my community.

This is something I have already been doing. My rural community still upholds traditional practices of FGM, and does not focus on education for girls. So, I have been an active role model to the girls in my area in shunning the practices and changing the cycle. Through my education and interactions with the community, I give hope. My family, my community have much expectations from me. I'm keeping the flame alive into realising that I won't fail.

To the donors, friends, wellwishers of St. Peter's Life-Line, ‘Asanteni Sana’ - thank you very much! It has been through your support that I've been able to achieve my dreams this far. It has been quite a journey!

Keep safe during this trying period of Covid19 Pandemic. Sending love to everyone.

Marcella Marcella Marcella

Marcella Marcella Marcella


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – 11 May 2020 – 10 YEARS YOUNG!

 

10 years ago today, we enacted our Trust Deed and officially became a Charity!

 

So, some trumpets need to be blown very loudly! Firstly, those of our lovely supporters, because without your extreme generosity of prayer, time, expertise and treasure, we would just not have got here. The other trumpet is of the people of the St Peter’s Parish community – from the dedication of the community leaders, who conscientiously implement our projects, down through all members to the smallest child – who all play their part in running, receiving or participating in our projects.

 

Our sole mission when we started out in the Autumn of 2009 was simply to prevent a small primary school – St Peter’s – privately founded by the then parish priest, Fr Joe, to educate orphans and the very impoverished – from going under, due to lack of food during a severe drought period. Hence the ‘Life-Line’.

 

Since then we have been gently led along this challenging but very fulfilling path to scope out and put in place all the projects now underway. As a Christian charity, we believe that this is God’s Providence being manifested through all our supporters and benefactors. We have listened to the community’s many needs, and have reacted to fulfil them. Through some quite large leaps of faith we took on some seemingly very daunting projects, but with that faith and your support, they have all come, or are coming, to fruition. We have never had to say No to any proposed project.

 

And the process has been two-way. We have given – through our supporters – the prayers, time, treasure and expertise – and the people of St Peter’s have very gratefully received, and prospered. And they have given us back, unreservedly, their prayers and thanks. This is their enduring gift of their love, as have been our gifts to them. We build, and continue to build, our community of Love. We do emphasise that our mission extends unreservedly to those of any faith or none.

 

No expenses at all are taken to run the charity (unavoidable bank charges excepted). ALL donations go to our projects. We visit regularly and monitor expenditure and outcome. We are totally confident of the probity of the principals who spend and account for our funds.

 

For full details of our projects please go to our website www.stpeterslifeline.org.uk

 

The Headlines

 

You our supporters, and a very few corporate donors, have so far given £620,595 which has been richly translated into:

 

* 17 classrooms built for our four parish schools

* An average of 48 primary school children going through our Transforming Lives programme; 14 through secondary school; 3 through tertiary or vocational courses; 3 through university.

* A (second hand) school mini-bus

* Multiple toilets and 2 ablution blocks

* Boys’ dormitory

* Many smaller construction projects

* Miscellaneous equipment

* Over 2,200 young women empowered to say NO! to FGM, and arranged, early marriages; with a prospect of a secondary education, and a career and a life of their own

* Initiating the micro finance scheme for women, which has made 3,093 loans (only 1 defaulter), lifting families out of poverty through their successful businesses, and many with substantial savings. The worth of the project now is some £180,000 

*  Currently giving daily school lunch to 1,579 primary school kids at 7 local schools – filling tummies, filling brains!

*  Established a daily Clinic at St Peter’s to rehabilitate about 120 disabled children, who had hitherto been hidden away as cursed

* Facilitated the operations in Nairobi to reverse the condition of fistula for 7 women

*  Built a substantial 4 Unit Refuge at St Peter’s to accommodate and care for those with life-limiting disabilities

*  Many goats, chickens, desks, shoes, clothes, books, toys, sports equipment…

*  Curated and presented a relevant school library to St Peter’s school

*  Primary schools’ Graduation Days’ prizes and Grand Feasts! 

* Continuous, plentiful and totally sustainable gravity-fed water supply to St Peter’s and next-door secondary school compounds, and irrigation for 5 acres of school fields for crops

* Drip feed irrigation system on 2 acres of church fields for crop growing 24/7/365.

* Purchased requisite materials and equipment to manufacture at St Peter’s 250,000 disposable sanitary pads, and to build a micro-factory.

* Trials to use silicone menstrual cups ongoing, as a totally sustainable solution

 * Our twinning with two Somerset primary schools has provided a valuable insight for children, with exchanges of pictures, posters, letters, poems, video clips and school banners

 

* From Fr Frankline: “Hi David & Susie! I hope you are fine and the rest of our St Peter’s Life-Line friends! We pray God is protecting you all during this hard time of coronavirus pandemic. On behalf of all the St Peter’s community I would like to express my sincere gratitude towards St Peter’s Life-Line Group for their good work done and yet to be done by you. On this 10th Birthday I acclaim all those projects that we have been able to undertake through your generosity and prayer. Ours is to say a big THANK YOU to all and promise you our prayers.

May God bless you all.”

 

* From Veronica, our Project Co-ordinator, “Our community has changed so much for the good, thanks to your contributions. In the last 10 years we have all grown, including myself. It has taken a lot of perseverance to achieve the great success we celebrate today. It is down to sacrifice and teamwork, but above all God’s Providence.” 

 

All of us have been given an extraordinary sense of privilege to be such an intimate part of this amazing community.

 

“God’s kingdom is the place of abundance where every generous act overflows its original bounds and becomes part of the unbounded grace of God at work in the world”.

(cf 2 Co 9:10-15)


David and Susie Pulling Together


THE BIG CURRY NIGHT - 1st MAY 

A great time was had by all who joined in The Big Curry Night - donations are still coming in but we have already topped £2000 - thank you! It's not too late to make a donation - these can be sent to: https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/bigcuzzanight




ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – MAY 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building a community of Love”

 

Let’s start with the positive news!

 

With all the digging and planting having been done in the family fields, the seasonal rains, which always seem so reluctant, have started well.

 

You may remember Alice, with terrible burn scars, has now fully recovered from her major operations, and is back home with her daughter, Irene. With some physio she should have full use of her right arm.

 

Also, single mother Mary and her family of six, including a severely disabled daughter, have moved in from the previous wreck of her ‘house’ into a very smart new home, built with funds so generously donated! Transforming Lives.

 

We had about 30 days’ food stocks at our seven primary schools to give daily lunch to 1,579 kids, which since schools were closed, was sitting about doing nothing. So, we are now redeploying those stocks (maize and beans) to 54 needy families with enough to feed them for 45 days or so.

 

The four-unit Refuge accommodation for severely disabled, or End-of-Life Care for young people that we are building in the St Peter’s compound, is nearly completed. We hope to move the two brothers, Silas and Salesio, who both have life-limiting Duchenne muscular dystrophy, in soon. Building our community of Love.

 

At time of writing the outbreak of Coronavirus in Kenya is being reported in the low hundreds, with few deaths, and mainly confined to the Nairobi and Mombasa areas. There are no reported cases in our area. People are very fearful, though, and taking this seriously. We continue to build up our Fighting Fund, with which we hope to be able to respond to any urgent needs.

 

With schools being closed, all teachers have had to be laid off with unpaid leave, although Headteachers will be paid a retainer. We will continue to fully pay the four people who do our work, and will also contribute to fully paying the key workers at the St Peter’s compound – goatherd, cowman, presbytery housekeeper, night watchman, school secretary (Doreen), etc.

 

On 11th May we celebrate 10 years of operating as a recognised charity! Through God’s Providence, and Him hearing and responding to our faithful prayer, and manifested through the generosity of our supporters and corporate donors, we have achieved far, far, far beyond what we ever envisaged! Our original goal was to rescue one small parish primary school – St Peter’s – hence the ‘Life-Line’ bit! But from there, we were gently and inexorably led by our Lord – never being asked to do what we were not capable of – and with all our projects we have never had to say No to what was being asked of us.

More later on in the month.

 

Part of the Birthday celebrations will start today, Friday, when we are reaching round the world with our Big Kajuki Cuzza Night!

 

 

We are also very conscious that present events continue to overshadow the Easter message, and this month the Ascension, all made the more challenging by us having to commemorate and celebrate alone. But of course, we are never alone, and the Easter message is for ever.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditation: God in our suffering…

 

   The whole life of Christ proves that God wants to give himself entirely to us, even to the point of identification with all our sufferings. How deeply consoling this thought is! Otherwise, when we suffer, we are tempted to think that God sits far away in his blissful eternity indifferent to us….

   No symbol in the history of mankind so helps us to trust in God’s love in the midst of suffering is that of the cross. There is all the difference in the world between believing that Christ was a wise human teacher who showed us how to trust God in the midst of suffering by his own resignation to the cross, and in believing that Christ is God himself, who identifies with and participates in our suffering. The Incarnation means that God removes all distance between himself and our pain, taking on even the evil of our sins. He poured out his love for us, not in abstract words, but in the Word made flesh. He sacrificed his life by shedding his blood for all mankind as exemplified so obviously in the conversion of the thief on the cross next to him.

   Through the sacrifice of the cross it becomes certain that nothing – either on the part of God’s transcendence or on the part of a man’s rejection of love by sin – can keep us from the unity of love which God’s self-giving offered us.                                        Rhonda Chervin

 

The Love of God.

 

   We can boast about our sufferings. These sufferings bring patience, as we know, and patience brings perseverance, and perseverance brings hope, and this hope is not deceptive, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.                       Ro 5:3-5

 

“Go out to the whole world…”

 

   Lastly, he showed himself to the Eleven themselves while they were at table. He also reproached them for their incredulity and obstinacy, because they had refused to believe those who had seen him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go out to the whole world; proclaim the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptised will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned….”

   And so the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven: there at the right hand of God he took his place, while they, going out, preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word by the signs that accompanied it.                     Mk 16:14-16; 19,20

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world.

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation.

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families.

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick.

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace.

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily.

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world.

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” (Jn 3:16)

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25)

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The start of the rains

Alice’s healing and return home

Mary’s new house

Redistribution of food

Our 10 years’ service of Love

 

The Risen Christ!

The Glorious Ascension!

 

We pray for…

 

Continuing rains

The move-in of Silas & Salesio

International fellowship of the Curry Night

All those who have been laid off

Protection from the pandemic

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer, above.

Many more years’ in Your service, Lord!

 

Jesus Christ is the same today as he was yesterday and as he will be forever.

He 13:8


Alice and Irene - reunited; Inside Mary’s smart new house, nearing completion; Redistribution of food.

Alice and Irene House

Food  Food 2


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – APRIL 2020 
 
“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”
 
It is most sobering and humbling to see the havoc that is being wreaked on what we regarded as our invincible, material world now being held to ransom by a tiny, deadly microbe. Whilst we may be bemoaning our woes from the comfort and security of our homes and all the facilities of the western world, they are as nothing compared to what may overwhelm those densely populated third world countries that have no or little basic facilities, nor effective medical services.
 
It has been an extraordinary month of dramatic contrasts – beginning with just a vague threat, where ‘normal’ carried on –  to the ‘now’ of a very unsettling unknown! In this context, our news for this month:
 
The African Sanctus Concert took place on 14 Mar just before the restrictions on gatherings were made. It was a marvellous, vibrant evening with Africa shining out brightly through song and dance. I had the opportunity to talk to an almost full house of some 800, and a retiring collection raised a magnificent £2,867! (Truth be known – the audience had to fight their way past our formidable ‘bucket rattlers’ at the Exits, organised by one of our supporters!).
 
Doreen’s baby, Fortune, had to have two major operations relating to her spina bifida condition. They are now back at Kajuki, and Fortune is recovering well. From Doreen: “I thank you all sincerely for your prayers and kind support for baby Fortune, she is growing well and turning one month on Sunday.” We are very grateful indeed to our supportive friends at Festival Medical Services who made a substantial donation to help cover costs.
 

We have had to adapt our projects for the current Covid situation: 

 

Preparation and planting will be going ahead at full speed in family shambas in anticipation of the seasonal rains due soon. There will be no shortage of labour, as with the schools being out, there are plenty of ‘willing’ workers!

 

After our successful fundraiser, construction has started on Mary’s new house, with massive thanks to all who contributed. 

 

We had a pre-Covid, routine Trustees’ meeting.

 

With UK schools being closed, and Olivia’s DofE expedition element postponed, so she has been cracking on making dresses for us – up to No 10 now!

 

I had to cancel my Mar/Apr trip, and an accompanied trip in May is looking decidedly shaky!

 

I am very conscious that some of you donate for children’s education through the Transforming Lives or scholarship schemes. These funds will of course build up until we start paying fees/expenses for education again. Please may we ask that we may deploy at our discretion any of these funds in the meantime to any crisis requiring assistance during the Covid outbreaks. I will take a ‘no response’ as ‘Agree’, unless you particularly wish to comment – to which of course you are always welcome!

 

I am also very conscious that present events are overshadowing the Easter message of the Passion of Christ and the Glorious Resurrection. Made all the more challenging by us having to commemorate and celebrate alone. But of course, we are never alone, and the Easter message is for ever.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Master, do you not care?”

 

On that day, when evening had come, you said to them, “Let us go across to the other side”. And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great wind storm arose and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, “Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith? And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” 

  Mk 4:35-41

Meditation:

 

This Meditation consists of excerpts taken from Pope Francis’s address to City and World (Urbi et Orbi) on 27 Mar:

 

“When evening had come” (Mk 4:35). The Gospel passage we have just heard begins like this. For weeks now it has been evening. Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice it in people’s gestures, their glances give them away. We find ourselves afraid and lost. Like the disciples in the Gospel we were caught off guard by an unexpected, turbulent storm. We have realized that we are on the same boat, all of us fragile and disoriented, but at the same time important and needed, all of us called to row together, each of us in need of comforting the other. On this boat… are all of us just like those disciples, who spoke anxiously with one voice, saying “We are perishing”, so we too have realised that we cannot go on thinking of ourselves, but only together can we do this.

 

The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits and priorities. It shows us how we have allowed to become dull and feeble over the very things that nourish, sustain and strengthen our lives and our communities. The tempest lays bare all our pre-packaged ideas and forgetfulness of what nourishes our people’s souls; all those attempts that anesthetise us with ways of thinking and acting that supposedly “save” us, but instead prove incapable of putting us in touch with our roots and keeping alive the memory of those who have gone before us. We deprive ourselves of the antibodies we need to confront adversity.

 

In this storm, the façade of those stereotypes with which we camouflaged our egos, always worrying about our image, has fallen away, uncovering once more that (blessed) common belonging, of which we cannot be deprived: our belonging as brothers and sisters.

 

“Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?” Lord, your word this evening strikes us and regards us, all of us. In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things, and lured away by haste. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick. Now that we are in a stormy sea, we implore you: “Wake up, Lord!”.

 

In the face of so much suffering, where the authentic development of our peoples is assessed, we experience the priestly prayer of Jesus: “That they may all be one” (Jn 17:21). How many people every day are exercising patience and offering hope, taking care to sow not panic but a shared responsibility. How many fathers, mothers, grandparents and teachers are showing our children, in small everyday gestures, how to face up to and navigate a crisis by adjusting their routines, lifting their gaze and fostering prayer. How many are praying, offering and interceding for the good of all. Prayer and quiet service: these are our victorious weapons.

 

Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: “Do not be afraid”. And we, together with Peter, “cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us” (cf. 1 Pet 5:7).

 

The full text can be found at: https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2020/03/27/read-pope-francis-urbi-et-orbi-address-coronavirus-and-jesus-calming-storm

 

Prayer of protection and healing – sent by Fr Frankline:

 

   Almighty and merciful God, you assure us that your hand is not too short to save, nor your ear too dull to hear our prayer. You have revealed that you are ever attentive to our supplications. Your children are under the grip of fear because of the fast spreading coronavirus pandemic in the different parts of the world. 

   Send the power of your Word and calm the storms of fear and desperation. 

   Father God, take authority over this present crisis that your children may live in peace and security. You are the Lord who heals us. Heal those affected and strengthen their afflicted families. 

   Give courage, protection and comfort to the medical personnel taking care of the sick. 

   May your grace and comfort surround the dying and may their souls rest in peace. 

   Holy Spirit, give wisdom and guidance to the scientists doing research that they may develop an effective medicine to combat the sickness speedily. 

   We pray for the government authorities that they may take appropriate steps for the good of the world. 

   Lord Jesus, we remember you said, “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life (Jn 3:16). 

   With the Apostles we cry out to you, “Lord, save us, we are perishing.” (Mt 8:25

   Let not this present crisis lead your children to fear and gloom; let them rather turn their hearts to you, finding their hope in you who is our refuge for ever and ever. Amen.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The African Sanctus Concert

Baby Fortune’s healing

The generosity of Festival Medical Services

Mary’s new house

Our Trustees

Olivia’s dressmaking

Your unconditional Love for us, Lord.

 

Christ’s Sacrifice

The Glorious Resurrection!

 

We pray for…

 

Our beloved community of St Peter’s.

All the intentions of Fr Frankline’s prayer, above.

 

Our natural tendency is to praise God only when things are going well. But Scripture tells us, “Rejoice always, pray constantly, gives thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you…” (1 Th 5:17,18)  Mary Healy


 African Sanctus; Doreen and Fortune back home; empty market, Kathwana; Mary’s new house being built.


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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – MARCH 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

The appeal to rebuild Mary’s house https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/aHouse4Mary is as good as done! Any extra donations will be used to buy/make some basic furniture. Funds to start the rebuild are on their way.

 

The san pad factory saga to try and mitigate taxes on imports into Kenya drags on – a change of Health Minister has not helped. I have written a personal letter to the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, hoping to work the ‘Old Boy network’ – we went to the same school, St Mary’s in Nairobi!

 

Olivia (14), one of our young supporters, has started sewing lovely colourful dresses for her Duke of Edinburgh’s award, to give to our girls at St Peter’s – children caring for children.

 

Doreen, the wonderful St Peter’s School Secretary, has given birth to a baby girl, Fortune, who has spina bifida, and has been referred to Jomo Kenyatta Hospital in Nairobi for surgery.

 

We have already held one gathering of three children’s rights awareness clubs which we operate with local primary schools in our fun but educative programme to eliminate the foul scourge of FGM. A great day, with a tummy-busting lunch, and lots of song, dance, poetry and drama – getting the message home!

 

We continue to give daily lunch to 1,589 primary school kids at seven local schools. This project has a voracious appetite of its own! I will be making a personal appeal towards the funding of their next term’s feeding programme at the African Sanctus concert – see item below.

 

I will be visiting St Peter’s from 30 Mar – 8 Apr. First Friday Prayers for April will be delayed, so that I can give you all a full account of my visit.

 

Thankfully, the harvest has now been gathered safely in. Although the local area has not been plagued by locusts yet, the threat still remains to the extensive grazing grounds used for families’ goats and cows. National efforts continue to try and keep the spread at bay.

 

The concert at GLive, Guildford of African Sanctus at 7.30pm on Sat 14 Mar, from which we are the beneficiaries of a retiring collection, is looming large. Ticket sales are very good. Still time to join us! Tickets direct from: https://glive.co.uk/Online/booking_info?menu_id=6EFA6E07-0D6F-4586-B6D1-E79B65DD8F33

Those attending, if you can, please wear the colours of Kenya – green, red, white and black – so that people know we are in town, and so I can spot you in the audience!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditation: Prayer before action…

 

   It is important that you are a person of faith and prayer…. as, by praying, we not only pay homage to Christ on our own behalf, but we worship him in the name of the whole world, which either does not know how, is unable to, or does not want to pray. One thing is certain: if we do not pray, no one will need us. The world does not need empty souls and hearts. When we ask what the relationship is between prayer and action, then the priority of prayer and sacrifice should be emphasised more than action. We can bring God into the lives of our children whom we teach at home or in school only to the extent of our having begged for it earlier on our knees. The issue of the relationship between prayer and action can be summarised in this statement: all authentic action is born of prayer and contemplation. For everything that is great in this world comes from God; everything that is great in this world is born of sacrifice and prayer….

   There may arise in your life a stage of dryness at prayer, stripped of emotions. It is then difficult to pray. Therefore, you may be tempted to give up with the thought that this prayer is pointless. However, it is then that your prayer may have special value because you will begin to undertake the effort to pray all the more on account of God alone.                                           Tadeusz Dajczer (d2009)

 

Open the gates…

 

Open to me the gates of holiness:

   I will enter and give thanks.

This is the Lord’s own gate

   where the just may enter.

I will thank you for you have given answer

   and you are my saviour.                                      Ps 117:19-21

 

The fast that pleases…

 

   Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me – it is the Lord who speaks – to break the unjust fetters and undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and break every yoke, to share your bread with the hungry, and shelter the homeless poor, to clothe the man you see to be naked, and not turn from your own kin? Then will your light shine like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Your integrity will go before you and the glory of the Lord behind you. Cry, and the Lord will answer; call, and he will say, “I am here”.                                                 Is 58:5-9                                   

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Funds to rebuild Mary’s house

Children caring for children

The children’s rights awareness clubs

The lunch feeding programme

The harvest safely gathered in

Fundraisers and their efforts to support our work

All our donors, individual and collective

 

We pray for…

 

My letter getting to the President

The locust invasion to be quelled

Doreen and her baby Fortune

Success for continuing efforts to export the sanpad micro factory

A good response from the African Sanctus concert

A safe and Spirit-led visit to St Peter’s

 

I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance. Lk 5:32


Olivia starts her dress making! Doreen’s baby girl, Fortune; Children’s rights awareness clubs singing it as it is!

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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – FEBRUARY 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

There is a looming danger of a massive locust invasion into the Kajuki area, threatening the rare bumper harvest. At present unseasonal rain has kept the locusts away, and the harvest is being gathered swiftly in – although being hampered by the wet weather! The UN is now involved in helping to control this outbreak.

 

Some news from Veronica about our Clinic at St Peter's, treating over 120 families with disabled children... "We have a few new patients at the Clinic, although it has slowed down a bit because of the harvesting season, and parents are extremely busy”. New patients means news is still getting around!

 

Our micro finance ladies were extremely happy with the 20 beehives and equipment gifted by the Nairobi Hilton! This will supplement handsomely the 10 hives we gifted some time ago. Honey is a very prized commodity - and it's 100% organic. Sales will go towards running costs for the micro finance scheme

 

BIG milestone!! 114 loans were made to our micro finance ladies in January, bringing the total of loans since we started to 3002!! This project has exceeded all our expectations in lifting families out of poverty by income generated from these women's successful businesses. And it is completely self-sustaining with over 1,500 members - and continues to grow.

 

Rain has put back construction of our four-unit Respite accommodation for the severely disabled and end-of-life-care occupants. Hopefully it will be ready in about a month’s time for our first three – the two brothers with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and the lady paralysed from the waist down.

 

I reported a while back that the charity started by Arch-Inquisitor John Humphrys gave us a grant towards our Alternative Rite of Passage. I wrote to thank him and to invite him to come out to St Peter’s: Here’s part of his response (which in all truth I was not expecting!): “Many thanks for what you describe as your “serious invitation” to go to Kenya, but I’m afraid I never make any visits. I decided when I set up my charity that every penny we raised would help those people who need it rather than pay for people like me to fly around the world.  In any case, I need no persuasion that you are doing a first-rate job in a vitally important area. Most of our grants go to educational charities of one form or another. I have no doubt that education is THE single most important gift we can make to sub-Saharan Africa and its poorest children. I wish you well with your work”. *From Arch-Inquisitor to Heart of Gold*!! As we’ve been saying all along - Hope through Education!

 

You will remember Alice – so badly scarred by fire – as you have seen in the pics she has had her operation, and we look forward to seeing her regain full mobility of her right arm.

 

There have been a number of fundraisers held this month: a very generous donation from Pocket Money Fights Poverty for our Clinic; a coffee & cake morning in my village of Butleigh; a mega cake bake and sale at Warfield churches; and All Starz, the youth of Warfield churches, raising a magnificent £77.11  from filling their Pocket Money Fights Poverty money boxes – this is what is so heartening – children caring for children. A massive thanks to all who organised and participated, it does offset to a degree the failure of my latest bid for a grant for our feeding programme.

 

I took an assembly at Puriton Primary school, and showed them more about the totally contrasting way of life in Kenya. They also gave me the greetings cards that every child had made to take out to ‘their’ school.

 

A reminder of the concert at GLive, Guildford of African Sanctus at 7.30pm on Sat 14 Mar, from which we are the beneficiaries of a retiring collection. Various groups are getting together to attend and make our presence felt – do join us. Tickets either from the organiser of groups or direct from: https://glive.co.uk/Online/booking_info?menu_id=6EFA6E07-0D6F-4586-B6D1-E79B65DD8F33

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“…your will be done…”

   And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. This, then, is how you should pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the Evil One.              Mt 6:7-13

 

Meditation – God’s will

   We learn from the Holy Spirit (by his gift of knowledge) to do not our own but God’s will, and by virtue of this gift we pray to God that his will may be done on earth as it is in heaven. It is in this that the gift of knowledge is proved, so that when we say to God, Thy will be done, it is as when a sick man consults a physician. He takes the medicine not precisely because he wills it himself, but because it is the will of that physician. If he only took what he willed himself, he would be a fool.

   Hence we should ask nothing of God but that his will be done in our regard – in other words, that his will be fulfilled in us. For one’s heart is right when it agrees with the divine will. Christ did this: I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me (Jn 6:38)…. For that reason he taught us to ask and pray, Thy will be done.                                    Thomas Aquinas

 

Be transformed…

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will.                Ro 12:2

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

Our Clinic giving ever increasing support to the disabled and their families

The gift of beehives to the micro finance project

The continuing success and expansion of the microfinance scheme

Fundraisers and their efforts to support our work

Children eager to learn about children

All our donors, individual and collective

 

We pray for…

The locust invasion to be quelled

A successful gathering of the harvest

Alice, and a full recovery from her surgery

Success for continuing efforts to export the sanpad micro factory

A good response to the African Sanctus concert

 

If the essence of the divine goal is an embrace of love, faith is the arms with which we enfold our beloved. Ruth Burrows.

 

A vid clip of our micro finance ladies doing an impromptu dance on the delivery of 20 bee hives - a must watch!

(Veronica in the blue dress, nearest, in starring role. Also note the slightly embarrassed driver!)

https://www.facebook.com/328519129029/videos/162894741710645/ 


Locusts!! / Our Clinic with this young chap with cerebral palsy having some stand-up straight time to stretch his muscles and improve his posture, and scrunch his toes in the sand! / Alice before - and just after having had her op / Reminder: African Sanctus!


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Alice Before Alice After

African Sanctus


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – JANUARY 2020

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

249 girls attended our one-week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage at St Peter’s school in December, educating and empowering them to say NO! to FGM. They celebrated with joy and confidence their Graduation with local VIPs and families. Our programme to eliminate FGM starts again in January with our team visiting various local primary schools, forming and operating children’s rights awareness clubs with the top three classes.

 

Our Programme Co-ordinator, Veronica, represented us at a high-profile meeting to launch the government initiative within the County to eliminate FGM within two years, chaired by the National Cabinet Secretary. A number of our girls from our Alternative Rite of Passage also attended and spoke powerfully to a high-ranking audience about their desire to be rid of this harmful cultural aspect.

 

Our pilot scheme to get boys away from the tribal ritual circumcision – and all the negative attitude towards women that goes with it – also took place, with 7 boys being surgically circumcised, and during their recovery period at St Peter’s, receiving the same educative and positive content that the girls have.

 

Schools start their new academic year on 6 Jan. Our schools start with 45 orphans or impoverished children being sponsored on our Transforming Lives scheme, taking them through the 8 years of primary education; 11 through 4 years of secondary education; 3 through tertiary or vocational training; and, 2 attending university (both girls). 6 of our disabled ‘Hidden Ones’ are attending relevant specialist schools, receiving a precious education.

 

Our primary school feeding programme will get underway again – providing daily lunch to over 1,500 kids in seven local primary schools – their big incentive to go to school every day to fill their tummies – and their brains!

 

Our Advent Appeal for £6,000 to build our four accommodation units for the two boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy and other disabled, raised an amazing £5,369.86. We aim to start building soon!

 

Our primary school twinning scheme with two Somerset primary schools goes from strength to strength. Puriton Primary, raised £301 through various events, and Jack, a pupil in Year 6 at Butleigh primary school, raised £40 to buy a water filter pump to provide clean drinking water for our small Sacred Heart nursery school. At the heart of this programme is “Children caring for children”, and this is visibly bearing fruit.

 

If not already, please do take a look at our new promotional video, painstakingly put together by one of our supporters - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpP0D1bARU8

 

We have been awarded a £2,000 grant from Beatrice Nkatha, the County’s Women’s MP, to be used to construct our sanitary pad micro-factory at St Peter’s, the contents of which are still being negotiated through tax exemptions and delivery details.

 

Diary date: we have been nominated as the beneficiary charity from the retiring collection of the performance of David Fanshawe’s ‘African Sanctus’ by the Vivace Chorus at GLive, Guildford on Sat 14 Mar. The Mighty Zulu Nation Theatre Company and the Backbeat drumming ensemble will also be performing, providing for a very exciting event!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.


The Word…  

In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.                                                     Jn 1:1-5

 

Meditation for the New Year

    Make us worthy, Lord, to celebrate and to conclude in peace the feast which magnifies the rising of your light, by avoiding empty words, working with justice, fleeing from the passions and raising up the spirit above earthly goods.

   Bless your Church, formed long ago to be united with yourself through your life-giving Blood. Come to the aid of your faithful shepherds, of the priests and the teachers of your Gospel.

   Bless your faithful whose only hope is in your mercy: Christian souls, the sick, those who are tormented in spirit, and those who have asked us to pray for them.

   Have pity, in your infinite clemency, and preserve us in fitness to receive the future endless good things.

   We celebrate your glorious Nativity with the Father who sent you for our redemption, and with the life-giving Spirit, now and forever and through all ages. Amen.                         From the Syriac Liturgy.

 

Glory shine

I will thank you, Lord, among the peoples,

I will praise you among the nations,

for your love reaches to the heavens,

and your truth to the skies.

O God, arise above the heavens;

May your glory shine on earth.

Ps 108:3-5

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

Children caring for children

The successful ARP for girls and boys

The resources to educate the orphan and the impoverished

The very generous response to our Advent Appeal

The government grant for our sanpad factory

All our donors, individual and collective

All that has been achieved during 2019

 

We pray for…

Abundant blessings on our community, at St Peter’s and around the world, for this year

A successful start to 2020 for our schools and projects

The successful construction and delivery of our san pad micro factory

A bountiful harvest

Continuing provision of resources to fund and carry out our projects

 

Come, you nations, worship the Lord, for today a great light has shone down upon the earth. Alleluia!


A few pictures from 2019, and what we will continue doing, by God’s grace, in 2020: girls gathering for their Graduation ceremony from the Alternative Rite of Passage (yes, they get the T shirt as well!); caring for the disabled; feeding the children; micro finance for women; provision of water; children caring for children; educating the orphan and the impoverished.


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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS –  DECEMBER 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

There have been recent reports of serious flooding in some parts of Kenya from very heavy rains, but happily not around Kajuki, where sufficient rain continues, giving hope for a good harvest from February onwards.

 

We will be staging our Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) at St Peter’s from 8 – 14 Dec. This is a one-week residential for girls aged 12-18, who we take out of harm’s way during the ritual tribal ‘circumcision season’. The girls will receive expert instruction on all things modern womanhood and be empowered to say NO! to FGM. We plan on 200 attending, usually more come, and Veronica reports that recruiting round the community in the past weeks has been going well.

 

Kitchen Table Charity Trust, started by John Humphrys (the BBC inquisitor!), has very generously granted us the funding for the ARP. We await results from grants made to the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts and the Waterloo Fund for other projects.

 

The results for the Kenya Certificate Primary Exam from all our Class 8 leavers continue to reflect a high academic standard being achieved at St Peter’s, and now Our Lady of Consolation (OLC) schools, with high rankings in Zone and Region.

 

Our trial on use of Ruby cups with 20 volunteer women of all ages is now complete. There has been, as expected, challenges on all fronts. We will assess, and proceed ‘pole pole’!

 

Amy Peake of Loving Humanity continues her patient and heroic efforts to bring our sanitary pad micro-factory to Kajuki (and now, other parts of Kenya). Lots of lessons have been learned on what is still a difficult and frustrating journey for her. We will get there!

 

You will remember Alice, severely injured by a fall into her cooking fire – she has been assessed at the local Mission hospital (St Orsola’s) and she awaits reparative operations from a volunteer surgeon from Italy who will be working at the hospital from Nov – Jan.

 

Our Advent Appeal to build four units to house disabled children is well underway and has reached £2,273 through On & Offline donations. I know we – not the royal ‘we’, but the all ‘we’ – can do this! Please do keep spreading the word far and wide if you can - https://www.justgiving.com/campaign/end-of-life-care

 

Sadly, Catherine, our lovely Headteacher at St Peter’s, will be leaving us as she has secured prized employment working as a Government teacher.

 

Deacon James, a former St Peter’s parishioner, will be ordained to the priesthood on 7th December.

 

I have visited both our twinned primary schools – Butleigh and Puriton – and given updates and Christmas greetings from St Peter’s and OLC, including presenting Christmas cards beautifully drawn by our Kenya schools.

 

St Joseph’s and Theresa’s primary school, Wells, have very kindly donated some KS1 books.

 

A plea from Fr Frankline for: “More donors to sponsor some of our very desperate candidates who have performed very well this year, but through poverty have very low chances to continue with their secondary education”. The cost of sponsoring a pupil through secondary school is £20 per month, and is on a ‘one-to-one’ basis with sponsor/pupil, as some of you already are.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Glory to God…”  

 

   In the countryside close by there were shepherds who lived in the fields and took it in turns to watch their flocks during the night. The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them. They were terrified, but the angel said, “Do not be afraid. Listen, I bring you news of great joy, a joy to be shared by the whole people. Today in the town of David a saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. And here is a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger”.

   And suddenly with the angel there was a great throng of the heavenly host, praising God and singing:

“Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace to men who enjoy his favour”.             Lk 2:8-14

 

Meditation: “The work of Christmas…”

 

"When the song of the angels is stilled,

when the star in the sky is gone,

when the kings and princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with the flocks,

then the work of Christmas begins:

     to find the lost,

     to heal those broken in spirit,

     to feed the hungry,

     to release the oppressed,

     to rebuild the nations,

     to bring peace among all peoples,

     to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ,

every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.

Then the work of Christmas begins”.

Howard Thurman (adapted)

 

A Christmas prayer

 

   May your Presence, Prince of Peace, bless the world with peace, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief.

   Loving Jesus, you are the only real joy of every human heart. I place my trust in you.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The continuation of the rains!

Children caring for children

The grant for the ARP

Head teacher Catherine’s service

Good primary school exam results

All our donors, individual and collective

Books donated by St Joseph’s & St Theresa’s

The Christ Child!

 

We pray for…

 

A successful ARPA positive and definitive outcome to our Ruby Cup trials

The successful delivery of our san pad micro factory

Successful funding applications

Successful treatment for Alice

Fr James on ordination

Continuing rains and a bountiful harvest

Sufficient funds to build our refuge homes

Continuing efforts to bring our micro factory to Kajuki

 

The people that walked in darkness has seen a great light. Is 9:1



ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS –  NOVEMBER 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Great joy and anticipation – the rains have started!

 

Schools broke up on 25 Oct for the long holidays. Many children will go back to homes where there is little or no food. Many will be expected to tend the grazing of livestock or work in the family fields, not exactly ‘holidays’ as we know them, but nonetheless, Christmas will be a time of great rejoicing and thanksgiving!

 

The only pupils who have not broken up are the Year 8s, who are taking their Kenya Certificate of Primary Education exams during the next two weeks. The outcome of these crucial exams will determine what stream of secondary school they will be eligible for: the high performing and prestigious national schools, the respected regional schools, or the very ordinary and low-resourced local schools – assuming that parents can afford the fees for any of these, in the first place.

 

Isla from Warfield, with her Mum and younger brother, raised a magnificent £142 from her bake and cake sale. This is so inspirational for us, as this is at the heart of it all – “Children caring for Children”.

 

Our Ruby menstrual cup trial with twenty volunteer ladies of all ages has just started. There are naturally many misgivings and apprehension – both practical and cultural – but in Veronica’s words “They are all willing to try… and generally there is great enthusiasm”. We anticipate being able to evaluate the outcome in mid-November, and plan the way ahead.

 

Eternity Bullbrook church, Warfield, are staging a ‘Month of Plenty’, where the contrast between our rich and plentiful harvest with the paucity of Kajuki’s, is starkly highlighted, and donations are being made from the savings made in resisting ‘a nice but naughty, but not actually necessary’ item or treat! AllStarz – the youngsters of Eternity Bullbrook have helped raise a stonking £197! Yes, Children caring for Children. See https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/ebmonthofplenty2019

 

Our deep gratitude, also, to Headley with Box Hill Parish; St Mary’s, Glastonbury; SS Peter & Paul, Shepton Mallett; Mary @ Jaz Hair, Warfield; and our partner, Pocket Money Fights Poverty, for their recent collections/donations.

 

I went to our twinned schools, Butleigh and Puriton Primary, to pass love, greetings and news from St Peter’s and Our Lady of Consolation schools. At Puriton we explored with one class, the huge significance of water for this community, and had great splashy fun transforming a bucket of muddy water from a Somerset puddle into crystal clear drinking water with one of our amazing filter pumps, which are on trial at St Peter’s. Children learning about Children.

 

We have formidable funding challenges which have always, through God’s Providence, been met. I have applied for funding grants from three organisations – the Sainsbury Family Charitable Trusts, the Kitchen Table Charities Trust, started by the broadcaster, John Humphrys (showing his softer side!), and the Waterloo Fund.

 

Veronica and her teams are busy touring the communities to personally invite the girls who may be under the threat of mutilation in the name of tribal ritual circumcision (12 – 16 year-olds), to attend our Alternative Rite of Passage. We mirror the tribal custom of taking the girls into ‘seclusion’ by boarding them at St Peter’s for a week in mid-December during the ‘circumcision season’. Here they will receive expert tuition on all things modern-womanhood, and graduate with rejoicing and ceremony, achieving that same sense of transition given by the tribal ritual, of that from girl-child to womanhood, but without the brutality of mutilation. The ARP costs £25 a head – we are hoping for up to 300 girls to attend.

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Meditation: “Service…”

   God has created me to do him some definite service; he has committed some work to me which he has not committed to another. I have my mission – I may never know it in this life, but I shall be told it in the next….

   I have a part in a great work; I am a link in the chain, a bond of connection between persons. He has not created me for naught. I shall do good, I shall do his work; I shall be an angel of peace, a preacher of truth in my own place, while not intending it, if I do but keep his commandments and serve him in my calling.

   Therefore, I will trust him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain; he may prolong my life, he may shorten it; he knows what he is about. He may take away my friends, he may throw me among strangers, he may make me feel desolate, make my spirits sink, hide the future from me –  still he knows what he is about.                              St John Henry Newman

 

“Go…”

   Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshipped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age”.                 Mt 28:16-20

 

God’s will…

   In the scroll of the book it stands written that I should do your will.

My God, I delight in your law in the depth of my heart.

   Your justice I have proclaimed in the great assembly.

My lips I have not sealed; you know it, Oh Lord.

   Let there be rejoicing and gladness for all who seek you.

Let them ever say: “The Lord is great”, who love your saving help.                     Ps 40

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The start of the rains!

The end of term and holidays

Children caring for children

All our donors, individual and collective

 

We pray for…

Successful exam results for our Class 8s

A positive and definitive outcome to our Ruby Cup trials

The successful delivery of our san pad micro factory

Girls answering our invitation to ARP

Successful funding applications

Continuing rains and a bountiful harvest

 

Prayer which persists and besieges heaven, touches God’s heart; and that is why he tells us to persevere.

 

 Pictures: Our harvest, theirs; Team Isla and her Bake Sale!; drinking water from a Somerset puddle!

  

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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – October 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi,

building a community of Love”

 

The first two days of my visit was spent in Nairobi, where amongst other related activities, I visited Jane Anyango who works protecting young women in the Kibera slums, and saw her successful san pad micro-factory, the same of which we soon hope to be operating at St Peter’s.

 

On moving up to St Peter’s, four hours’ drive from Nairobi, I was very struck and dismayed at the parched and scorched nature of the countryside – in my ten years of visiting never have I seen it so dry! These hardy people have been going hungry most of this year after the failure of the last harvest. The rains are due in mid-October, and tilling and planting is almost complete, as people wait… and pray for rain.

 

After the lovely massed greeting from all the staff and kids at St Peter’s, my first stop was our newly established and now successfully operating Clinic, treating over 120 disabled, mostly children. The room is now cheerfully decorated, and is full to capacity every morning. Our Occupational Therapist, Pamela, and assistant Christine, visit families at their homes in the afternoons, which is exactly what we did, visiting the two brothers with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, Silas and Salesio, at their home. They are still living in very unsatisfactory conditions, but the transformation in these two was amazing! I have never seen Silas, the elder brother – who understandably was always angry – smile and laugh so much – as well as Salesio. They now know that they are being loved, and Silas admitted heartfeltly, to this feeling. We now have the Bishop’s approval to move these two into the St Peter’s compound, and we are progressing plans for this.

 

I saw for the first time, the operation of our splendid gravity-fed water supply system to St Peter’s and the next-door secondary school. Described as ‘nothing short of miraculous’, it now provides non-stop, copious water to both compounds – totally sustainable and eco-friendly. Action is now underway to provide piping to irrigate the surrounding fields to grow crops. Our deep gratitude to the Pickwell Foundation for funding this game-changing project.

 

Still talking water – I took two water filter pumps for trialling at St Peter’s. Both pumps – a small one for our smaller nursery school, and the larger one for St Peter’s, performed as expected, producing ‘gin clear’ totally drinkable water from the river, and to prove a point, from a sludged-up bucket of muddy water. We watch with interest as to how this all can be put into practical use, before committing to supplying further pumps. But again, a potential game changer in alleviating the sicknesses caused by drinking dirty water.

 

I visited the nearby town of Kathwana on market day – always a sensory overload of sound, sight, and smell, as hundreds of people trudge in to sell or buy. I visited many of our micro finance women, who are doing so well in running their small local businesses – many now being able to afford to pay for their children to go to secondary school – yes, another major game changer – for not only these families, but for the very welcome stimulation to the micro-economy, contributing significantly to it moving from a subsistence to a cash economy.

 

At Kathwana, we have installed Goffrey, a severely crippled man, into a small shop, where he can now deploy his skills as a cobbler, making and repairing shoes. He is a very resolute character, devoted to his family, determined to make his own way in life.

 

As a follow-up, I specifically asked to meet two of our ‘fistula repaired’ ladies. Esther, 42, with 4 children had suffered urinary incontinence for over 5 years, as a result of a very difficult birth of her last born. As a result she had stopped going out socially, feeling an outcast at this young age. She was very scared at the prospect of the operation, thinking that she wouldn’t wake up! And when they put the name bands round her wrist, she thought she was being labelled for the morgue! Although not funny at the time, we had a really good laugh at that! She is completely back to normal, and so very grateful to get her life back. And just to prove it’s never too late, I met Endelina, aged (about) 80! She suffered urinary incontinence for about 20 years. She was incapable of describing her Nairobi experience – never having left her very rural tribal area. She was also very scared at the prospect of the op, but being in company of the 5 other ladies from Kajuki, she felt reassured. She is still working in the fields, and now complaining about her back – things are obviously back to normal! We are now spreading our search for other ladies suffering from fistula to adjacent parishes.

 

I visited one of our seven government primary schools to whom we are giving a hot, daily lunch to all pupils (over 1,500). This is particularly beneficial in this prolonged period of drought and food shortage. I had a hilarious time with the kids – who (I think pretend?) to be frightened of me, as I chase them about with my video camera. This was one of the schools where I was the first white person they have ever seen – no wonder they were alarmed! At this school Veronica also took the opportunity to talk to the senior classes about avoiding FGM and inviting the girls to our December Alternative Rite of Passage.

 

I attended the AGM of the micro finance ladies, and also one of their Centre meetings at which they were being given their annual dividends on their savings. The micro finance and savings scheme is such a success, and keeps growing steadily.

 

I was invited to brief the Bishop of Meru, in whose Diocese is St Peter’s, and under whose authority we work.

He is kept fully abreast of our work by Fr Frankline, but it was reassuring to tell him personally what we are doing and trying to achieve, and to receive his sincere thanks and blessing.

 

I had a truly God-incidental meeting with two extraordinarily courageous women – whose story I will tell separately.

 

I visited all our three parish schools, and had a lovely time talking and interacting with the kids. I presented the Wells cathedral/Butleigh School Leavers’ candle to the Head Teacher of St Peter’s to burn brightly in prayer at their assemblies during the year. I also presented her with a banner made during the summer activities by the children of St Mary’s and St Andrew’s churches of Headley and Box Hill, which hangs for all to see in the dining hall.

 

I met Godfrey, 30 years old, married with 2 children. He has epilepsy, but undeterred, earns his living making clothes. But his sewing machine had irretrievably broken down. We very readily supplied him with a new machine so that he could continue to support his family.

 

I interviewed all our secondary students that we are sponsoring at their various schools – 15 in all. Sponsors will get their reports and letters in due course.

 

As is customary, we took all our Class 8 pupils, who will face the National Exams at the end of October, prior to leaving primary school, for a feast and a swim in a pool at a resort. Portions that would grace a hungry truck driver were consumed with impunity, and there was some serious imitations of drowning people as they gave full energy in attempts to swim (before the meal!).

 

We will be starting a controlled trial with 20 volunteer women of various ages in use and acceptance of the Ruby Cup to manage their periods. If accepted, this would be another game changer, being completely sustainable, and negate any costs of sanitary pad purchase, normally completely out of reach of most women – a cup lasts 10 years. However, for various reasons there will always be a demand for sanitary pads, the production and distribution of which will run alongside the Ruby Cup scheme.

 

I had the chance of giving condolences to Eric’s Dad – the boy who recently died from severe cerebral palsy.

 

My bid for funds for our Alternative Rite of Passage being held in December unfortunately was not granted, £7,500 still needed.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Humility

 On a Sabbath day Jesus had gone for a meal to the house of one of the leading Pharisees; and they watched him closely. He then told the guests a parable, because he had noticed how they picked the places of honour. He said this, “When someone invites you to a wedding feast, do not take your seat in the place of honour. A more distinguished person than you may have been invited, and the person who invited you both may come and say, ‘Give up your place to this man’. And then, to your embarrassment, you would have to go and take the lowest place. No; when you are a guest, make your way to the lowest place and sit there, so that, when your host comes, he may say, ‘My friend move up higher’. In that way, everyone with you at the table will see you honoured. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted”.                                                       Lk 14:1, 7-11

 

Meditation: Trust…

 Confidence and humility always go together. One of the reasons why people are so anxious to exalt themselves – to overestimate their own value and their own powers – to resent anything that would tend to lower themselves in their own esteem or in that of others – is because they see no other hope for their happiness except in themselves. That is often why they are so ‘touchy’, so resentful of criticism, so impatient of opposition, so insistent on getting their own way, so eager to be known, so anxious for praise, so determined in ruling their surroundings….

   The attitude of the one who has true Christian humility is just the opposite. His hope is placed in God; he sees no hope in himself. He has not to worry about getting his own way; all that matters is that God should get his way. He knows that the less he has to do with the arranging of things, the more likely is it that things will turn out for the best. He is by no means spineless or inert. On the contrary, let him but once be certain that God wills him to undertake a particular work, and he will tackle it, no matter what it may be, because he knows his sufficiency is from God. He knows his life is a partnership and he trusts with unshaken confidence in God.                                                         Eugene Boylan

 

Keeping faith

   It is the Lord who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed.

It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

   It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down.

It is the Lord who loves the just, the Lord, who protects stranger.

   He upholds the widow and orphan but thwarts the path of the wicked.

The Lord will reign for ever, Zion’s God, from age to age. Ps 145

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 Jane Anyango and her team for their vital work in Kibera

Our Clinic team and their work for the disabled

Our water supply system, and Pickwell for the funding

Our micro finance ladies and their commitment

Successful fistula repairs

Our primary schools’ feeding scheme

All our sponsors helping to educate children at all levels

  

We pray for…

Rain, rain, rain!

Robust plans to move and care for Silas & Salesio

Successful and committed outcome to the clean water trials

Our Class 8 students as they prepare for National exams

A positive and definitive outcome to our Ruby Cup trials

The successful delivery of our san pad micro factory

Funding, particularly for the ARP

 

O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide. Ps 42


Pics: with Silas & Salesio; Endelina - fistula fixed! Our Management Board… “Mmmm… what is this Ruby Cup thing?! Fr Frankline producing clean water from river water.


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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 6th September 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

All schools went back on Mon 2 Sep. This is a short term, which ends early Nov with the all-important National Exams for Year 8 primary schools, and Form 4 secondary schools. We wish all pupils, teachers and staff a most productive and enjoyable term.

 

The food availability and prices situation is still dire. The community will now be tilling and planting (all by hand) their smallholding plots (‘shambas’) in anticipation of the next rains, due to start mid-October.

 

We gave all our Forms 3 and 4 sponsored secondary school students 13 days extra tuition at St Peter’s during the holidays to bring Form 4s up to speed for their all-important end of school National Exams.

 

We mourned the passing of Eric Njeru, aged 22, one of our beloved disableds, who succumbed to his debilitating disability of severe cerebral palsy and convulsions. He was buried with full Christian rites in land at his home, as is the custom in rural Kenya, where there are no central cemeteries. St Peter’s was represented at his funeral. Thank you for the many expressions of condolence for his Mum, Doreen, and family, they have all been passed on to her. I know she was so grateful, and amazed that they came from all over the world!

 

We now move into the mobilisation phase of our campaign to end FGM. Veronica and teams will be going around the communities, and approaching individual girls (and where willing, parents) to personally invite them to attend our one-week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) at St Peter’s, where we empower them to say NO! to FGM. We hope, as on previous years, to host up to 300 girls who are in the age-range for the ritual tribal ‘cutting season’ in December, and keep them out of harm’s way, as well as empower them.

 

Despite high food costs and the weakened GB£, we have forwarded sufficient funding for our lunchtime feeding programme – over 1,500 kids at 7 local primary schools for the whole of this term (£6,400). (Not to be confused with the emergency funds I have sent to Fr Frankline to supplement our own parish schools’ food budget of £1,500).

 

I have purchased one community water filter pump, and two smaller family-size pumps to take out and trial at St Peter’s. I have trialled the family pump, taking water from our nearest river and a large muddy puddle, and as you can see from my trusty trials team – the amazing results – and yes, we drank the filtered water (some more than others!).

 

We have received a very welcome grant of £5,000 from the Souter Charitable Trust, to be used on our Disability Action Plan. I have forwarded a bid to the Hilden Trust for funding our Alternative Rites of Passage one-week residential at St Peter’s (£7,500).

 

We are starting a blue ribbon scheme for those who are willing to say NO! to FGM, of whatever age and gender, to wear them. Our micro finance ladies will be busy making them!

 

I am visiting St Peter’s from 21 Sep to 4 Oct, so October’s Friday Prayers will be slightly later than usual, so that I can report all the goings-on from my visit.

 

We are now on Instagram - please do join us – stpeterslifeline

 

We have had a major redesign of our website – thanks to Susie who designed and put in place all the techy stuff. Please do have an Ooooh! and an Aaaah! when you look! We are still awaiting details of a new donation platform, but payments can be made by PayPal, and they do make us a donation, according to the amount of payments made. www.stpeterslifeline.org.uk

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Great faith…

   Jesus left Gennesaret and withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. Then out came a Canaanite woman from that district and started shouting, “Sir, Son of David, take pity on me. My daughter is tormented by a devil.” But he answered her not a word. And his disciples went and pleaded with him. “Give her what she wants,” they said, “because she is shouting after us.” He said in reply, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of the

House of Israel”. But the woman had come up and was kneeling at his feet. “Lord”, she said, “help me”. He replied, “It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the house dogs.” She retorted, “Ah yes, sir; but even house dogs can eat scraps that fall from the master’s table.” Then Jesus answered her, “Woman, you have great faith. Let your wish to be granted.” And from that moment her daughter was well again.

Mt 15:21-287

 

Meditation: Great faith!

 

   Let us, therefore, rid ourselves of any scepticism regarding the power of prayer. Eternal Truth cannot lie; and Eternal Truth has asserted: Ask and you shall receive. “He who has redeemed you”, taught St John Chrysostom, “would have you persist in your prayers; he would have you ask and receive what his goodness is longing to impart. Gladly then should you accept this encouragement the Lord himself gives you”. This teaching is confirmed by St Augustine, who declares: “God would not encourage you to pray if he were not willing to give”.

   Let us take as our model that truly amazing woman. What an example does she give us of how to pray! Her attention and fervour could not be surpassed; her faith and confidence in God’s goodness and mercy never wavered for an instant. Her humility could not be ruffled even by being likened to a dog! In the face of every discouragement from the Apostles of Christ, nay, apparently rebuffed by the Son of God himself, this incomparable woman persevered in her prayer.

   Oh woman, great indeed was your faith!                         William R Boniwell

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The life of, and love shown to Eric

The Souter grant

Ongoing love and care for our disabled ones

Sufficient funding for feeding schoolchildren

Technology that enables us tells our story

Our hardworking exam students

 

We pray for…

A positive start to term

Sufficient food for the community

A successful mobilisation for our ARP

Successful water filter trials

Hilden funding grant to come through

Courage to wear NO! to FGM ribbons

Safe travels and fruitful visit to St Peter’s

The continuing spread of our story

 

“Let the poor be considered one of your ordinary expenses, and God will not fail you.”

Concepcion Cabrerea de Armida

 

ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 2nd AUGUST 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

At the final assembly at Butleigh Primary School, the Headteacher presented the candle given to the Year 6 pupils at their leaving service at Wells Cathedral (1st pic). It is the school’s custom to pass on this candle of Light to St Peter’s, to burn at their school assemblies and in St Peter’s parish church…. moving from one of the most majestic churches in the world…. to the one of the humblest. The school also presented a cheque for £200 – the annual fees for Lena, an orphan, to whom they’re giving the precious gift of a primary education. Also… Jack has been at it again! He presented a Celebrations tub brimming with loose change – collected when helping his Mum with her egg round - £20, enough to give lunch to a primary school child for a whole school year! Children caring for children.

 

Our work with the children at Puriton Primary School for this academic also concluded with the presentation of a cheque for £200 which will provide a nutritious lunch to ten hungry primary school kids for a whole school year (205 days).

 

The Fetcham Tandoori Curry night was a huge success. With 54 diners, just about a full house, £870 raised…. and the curry was deeelishus! A single meal that filled each of our 54 tummies will provide 8,918 lunches for the primary school kids… simples!

 

We have contacted the UK-based charity The Walkabout Foundation, which operates in Nanyuki, the other side of Mt Kenya from Kajuki, where they have a clinic for the disabled similar to ours, but also operate a large factory manufacturing wheelchairs (pic 2), which they distribute free to the disabled. We already have some wheelchairs, but this will now give that 'mobility freedom' to ALL our patients who need 'wheels'! We are taking those who need wheelchairs round to the factory for their ‘fittings’ and to take delivery.

 

AMAAAZING! Steve Curtis ran 160 kilometres (100 miles) in 24hrs 21 mins, coming fifth in the Thunder Run Challenge! So far he has raised £1,037 to his target of £1,200. If any of you have the irresistible desire to round-up numbers, or having thought about the effort involved, can just about muster the energy to click the link https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-curtis11 as we are still open for donations… see pic 3, “on his last legs”!

 

It can’t be coincidence, now that we have our constant water supply at St Peter’s, our long quest for a simple, sustainable, minimum-maintenance water purification system could be over. I recently heard about, and visited, the Water Survival Box at Radstock, Somerset. They are a bunch of Rotarians who source, pack and despatch all necessary items to aid families in disaster areas, which includes the Community Filter hand pump which will purify river water @ 300 litres per hour to 'gin clear' drinkable water, and the much smaller Family Filter pump @ 90 litres per hour. We will be trialling these items in September. (4th pic)

 

In the Survival box mentioned above, is a small inflatable, solar powered light, one of which Rotary kindly gave me as a sample – again, the unexpected appearance of the long-looked-for! (pic 5) This may be an answer to our day pupils doing their homework after dark?!

 

We have started the referrals process of our some of our disabled to specialists for further investigation and treatment.

 

Veronica will soon be contacting the Ruby Cup team in Nairobi to start exploring the possibility of their use, particularly considering any cultural objections or barriers. Enquiries about exporting our sanitary pad micro-factory with minimum tax liabilities, still ongoing.

 

We have forwarded a bid for further funding of our Disability Action Plan to Souter Charitable Trust, who have given us such generous support in the past.

 

On a personal note, please join myself and my wife, Ros, in prayer on 9th August, as we celebrate with much joy and thanksgiving (and amazement!!) our 50th Wedding Anniversary (6th pic).

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Ask…

   “So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given it to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.”                                  Lk 11: 9,10

 

Persist…

   The theme of perseverance in prayer can be found throughout the Bible. I would make bold to call it one of the rules of prayer. The Lord wants us to ask with persistence, even stubbornness. This is the point of the parable of the persistent friend knocking on his neighbour’s door in the middle of the night for bread. If the man that won’t get out of bed out of friendship, he might do so out of sheer exasperation!

   Now we mustn’t think of God as becoming exasperated by our prayer of petition, but the clear implication is that we will get what we want through persistence: “Ask and it will be given to you…”.

   How do we make sense of this? For me, the best explanation is offered by St Augustine when he says that God doesn’t always give us immediately what we ask for; and in fact, he compels us to ask again and again. The reason is that the Lord wants to stretch us, expanding our desire so as to receive the gift he desires to give us. Isn’t it true? If we got everything we wanted, right away and without effort, we wouldn’t appreciate what we’ve received, and more to the point, we wouldn’t really be capable of taking it all in.

   So if the gift doesn’t come right away, don’t despair; rather, feel your very soul expanding in anticipation.

Robert Barron

Give thanks…

I thank you for your faithfulness and love,

   which excel all we ever knew of you.

On the day I called, you answered;

   you increased the strength of my soul.

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The support of Butleigh and Puriton primary schools, (and Jack!)

The success of the Curry night

Steve and his heroic effort

Finding water filters and solar lamps

Finding the local supply of wheelchairs

50 years of marriage!

 

We pray for…

Successful research in the use of silicone cups

Expedited, tax-free action for our sanpad goods

Food provision for this suffering area and for our schools

Successful bid from Souter

Successful specialist treatment for our disabled

 

God’s generosity is shaped according to the capacity of human faith. John Cassian (d435) 


Pics: Eric Njeru, aged 22 years, RIP. NO! to FGM blue ribbon.

The water filter trials team @ River Brue, and, from this river & a muddy puddle water to ‘gin clear’ and drinkable.

SPLL SPLL

 SPLL   SPLL SPLL


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 5th JULY 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

The news of the month, and indeed the year, is that our gravity-fed water supply system, via a 3km underground pipeline upstream from the adjacent river – constructed in the most challenging of circumstances (mostly underground rocks!) – is now delivering water aplenty 24/7/365 to the St Peter’s school and next door secondary school compounds – truly a once-distant dream come good! This system is completely sustainable, and our deepest gratitude goes to the Pickwell Foundation for funding this project. The days of kids trudging down to the river every day to haul water up to the school in containers for their washing, and the days of expensive, temperamental, noisy and manpower-intense petrol engine pumping to the school’s main tanks – are all over. There will also be enough water to irrigate the adjacent school fields to grow food for our schools, and thereby mitigate our food bills – particularly in current circumstances of food shortages and high prices.

 

News of our Hidden Ones is spreading! The Catholic Sisters at Meru town have given boarding scholarships at their school to the two sisters of our beautiful Doreen, who has severe cerebral palsy (see pics at email). This will give her Mum more time to care for Doreen at home, and to get her into the Clinic more frequently for treatment.

 

As we prayerfully wait in hope of a grant from Festival Medical Services, we are starting to review all our disabled ones to identify and prioritise those whom we believe we can refer on to specialists to seek advice and prognoses for further remedial treatment, or appropriate medical interventions. We have also started our planned, supplemented feeding programme for the very malnourished.

 

We are (cautiously!) exploring the possibility of using menstrual silicone cups (Ruby/Mooncups) as a truly sustainable solution to period poverty. It all hinges on whether the ladies of this tribe – who generally have an aversion to human blood as a curse – will in principle accept them. In the meantime, efforts to find a way round the prohibitive taxes that could be levied against our sanpad factory waiting to be shipped from Southampton, continue.

 

Loans were given to 91 women of our micro finance scheme, bringing the total of loans since we started to 2,687. This project continues to flourish, with many of the women's businesses growing, and many new ladies starting up.

 

With a very generous individual donation, we were able to give our three schools a feeding funding supplement to keep them on ‘full rations’ for the rest of term.

 

Our Butleigh Primary school Leavers proudly displayed our St Peter’s School banner, alongside theirs, at the Leavers’ Service at Wells Cathedral. Children caring about children.

 

I visited Puriton Primary school, Somerset, twinned with our parish school Our Lady of Consolation, to pass on the work sent from all the Classes at OLC, as well as have an in depth session with Year 2s, who are doing Kenya as their project, and a hilarious, practical session of ‘Strictly Come Tribal Dancing’ with Years 5 & 6!

Children learning about children.

 

There are still places available at our Curry Night, being held at the Fetcham Tandoori, Leatherhead on 22nd July. Please could I ask all those who may have friends in striking distance to blast out an invitation to them? This is a very symbolic event where with one meal we (in my case, over-) fill our Western tums with delicious curry – the proceeds, if we have a full house, will give 45 children lunch for a WHOLE school year! The flyer is attached at the email. Many thanks.

  

Steve Curtis is at it again! He’s running his little body ragged over a 24 hour period on a Thunder Run on 21/22nd July at Catton Park, Walton-on-Trent – this is his heroic response to raise supplementary funds to keep our primary school lunchtime feeding scheme going at full rations!

Details at https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/steve-curtis11 If you could please spread this about on your social media, it will bring in those pennies!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Called to liberty…”

   My brothers, you were called, as you know, to liberty; but be careful, or this liberty will provide an opening in self-indulgence. Serve one another, rather, in the works of love, since the whole of the Law is summarised in a single command: Love your neighbour as yourself. If you go snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, you had better watch or you will destroy the whole community.

   Let me put it like this: if you are guided by the Spirit you will be in no danger over yielding to self-indulgence, since self-indulgence is the opposite of the Spirit, the Spirit is totally against such a thing, and it is precisely because the two are so opposed that you do not always carry out your good intentions. If you are led by the Spirit, no law can touch you.                                         Ga 5:13-18

 

“Your love is eternal.”

   When I am so convinced about some negative aspect of my life, I sometimes sink into despair. I must put my trust in your love and abandon myself to you.

   When I am so convinced about some negative aspect of another’s life, I am sometimes inclined to detest them and to stay away from them.

   Then, I must stop to contemplate your love for me. Why do you love me, Lord, when I feel disdain and disgust for my brothers and sisters?

   Give me the courage to see things as you see them, Lord, and to love unconditionally. Only then will true communion be realised.

   Often, behind a façade of courtesy and attentiveness there exists a hidden dissension, which weakens communion and renders it insincere.

   Lord, you are infinite patience.

   You are limitless understanding.

   Your love is eternal.

Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan (d2002) was imprisoned by the Vietnamese regime for thirteen years

 

The Lord who gives…

It is he who keeps faith for ever, who is just to those who are oppressed.

   It is he who gives bread to the hungry, the Lord, who sets prisoners free.

It is the Lord who gives sight to the blind, who raises up those who are bowed down,

   the Lord, who protects the stranger and upholds the widow and orphan.   Ps145

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The successful delivery of our water supply system

The Catholic Sisters of Meru for their generosity

The continuing success of the micro finance scheme

All our donors, and particularly Pickwell Foundation

Children wanting to learn about, and help, other children

 

We pray for…

A funding grant from FMS for our disabled

Successful research in the use of silicone cups

Expedited, tax-free action for our sanpad goods

Food provision for this suffering area and for our schools

Urgent need for more funding

Our Butleigh and Puriton primary school leavers

Steve, as he maxes his physical effort to raise food funds!

A full house at the Fetcham Tandoori

 

This has taught us love – that he gave up his life for us.

1Jn 3:16


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 7th JUNE 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

With four of our supporters we had a very busy and fruitful visit to St Peter’s in May.

 

Jan and Jenny, who have been twice before, sourced and presented many relevant books for all ages, and a handsome set of shelves made by our Polytech boys, to St Peter’s school, as the nucleus of the school library, which they will maintain and ‘grow’. Jules, accompanied by Jon, is one of our very ardent supporters, with a particular interest for the disabled, and raises funds for us through Pocket Money Fights Poverty and her Warfield church, (appropriately!) St Peter’s.

 

What I was looking forward to with eager anticipation was seeing in action for the first time our newly founded Clinic in full swing. I was not disappointed! Initially, there was a gathering of about 63 disabled children under 15, with their carers, of which I was glad to see some ‘new faces’ – the word is still getting around!

 

I was very impressed by the way Pamela, our full-time Occupational Therapist, and her helper Christine, were running the Clinic, giving lengthy, caring and very professional treatment to the kids. Every time I visited, the Clinic was invariably full, with people waiting patiently. The biggest joy was seeing visible improvement to some of these kids – particularly the cerebral palsy cases, and babies catching up their milestones. However, this joy was tinged with sadness, too – some children here are very poorly indeed. We will endeavour to refer cases to specialists for assessment, and if affordable, procure relevant treatment/operations. Some of these children are also very seriously malnourished, and this is something we are addressing urgently, with specialist advice and treatment.

 

We all attended a Centre gathering of micro finance ladies, learning about their businesses, as well as attending a Management Board meeting. The success of this scheme is reflected in the amount taken in from repaid loans and savings from a routine gathering of all five Centres – some £14,000. Lifting families out of poverty.

 

I attended and spoke at two of our regular community forums on FGM – where arguments and counter arguments are made passionately and without let! There are still some hotspots of resistance, but we do know that through our persistent and well structured programme throughout the year, that we are winning!

Men do attend this event – adding to the ferocity of debate – and many men spoke up against FGM.

 

I was very impressed by the work done by the water engineers and their workforce in building the 3km underground pipeline, and associated infrastructure, for our 24/7/365 water supply and irrigation project to St Peter’s and next-door secondary school. They faced formidable boulders en route, and still have just one more rock formation to blast, before completion, in a few short weeks.

 

Still no visible progress in our attempts to reduce proposed import and VAT taxations on our sanitary pad micro-factory, still awaiting shipment from Southampton. Efforts continue, but ‘pole pole’!

 

I visited our primary schools’ lunchtime feeding programme – where we are providing – despite a huge hike in food prices – a daily lunch to over 1,500 kids in seven local primary schools. Even more needed, and effective in this period of food shortages.

 

I delivered posters, poems, drawings and stories from our two Somerset school – Butleigh and Puriton to their respective twinned schools, St Peter’s and Our Lady of Consolation, now being displayed and studied with interest – and have brought back their return offerings. Children learning from children.

 

I visited and spoke to our sponsored secondary school students in their various schools – about whom sponsors will hear in due course.

 

The prospect of a harvest is minimal – it did not rain at all during our visit in May, and, in Fr Frankline’s words “Since you left nothing, except for the last two days, we had some showers down here, but many farms have

already surrendered. Our situation on food and other sustenance is more threatening than any other time before. I foresee closure of St. Peter's institution prematurely due to financial constraint and especially food. Thank God we are expecting around 25 to 30 bags of maize from our farm at Ntumbara [the drip feed and irrigation scheme that we funded] which is not yet ready – it needs around 3 weeks - we thank God for this”. These people face a long period of hardship until they can start planting again in anticipation of the rains in October/November.

 

As part of a new initiative – ‘Horizons’ – I took seven students (some of whom we sponsor) from various local schools, with a member of staff, on a three day trip to Nairobi – to widen these guys’ horizons – some of whom have never been out of their tribal area. In a varied programme: Marcella, our university sponsored student, gave a conducted tour, giving a personal and inspiring insight into uni life; we had a tour of the Kibera slums, and saw the work of the amazing Jane Anyango who mentors young women at risk; were given a tour of the National Museum by a friend of mine, who gave marvellous, relevant contexts; a guided tour of Parliament; and visited an Animal Orphanage. Eyes, horizons and ambitions opened wide!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

The Advocate…

 

   “And my word is not my own: it is the word of the one who sent me. I have said these things to you while still with you; but the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything and remind you of all I have said to you”.                              Jn 14:25,26

 

“…holy surprise…”

 

   The Spirit descends on those gathered together in a small room and breaks the doors wide open. We are reminded that practising resurrection is not for ourselves alone, but on behalf of a wider community. Not only for those with whom we attend church services, but beyond to the ones who sit at the furthest margins of our awareness. Pentecost is a story of the courage that comes from breaking established boundaries.

   We may limit our vision through cynicism, but equally through certainty or cleverness. Sometimes we fear doubt so much that we allow it to make our thoughts rigid, we choose certainties and then never make space for the Spirit to break those open or apart. The things we feel sure that God does not care about may be precisely the source of healing for a broken world.

   Life isn't about knowing with more and more certainty. Life is about moving more deeply into the mystery of things. If when Pentecost arrives you do not find yourself perplexed or amazed, consider releasing the tight grip of your certain thoughts and make space for holy surprise.                  Christine Valters Paintner

 

Pentecost Day

 

   When Pentecost Day came round, they had all met in one room, when suddenly they heard what sounded like a powerful wind from heaven, the noise of which filled the entire house in which they were sitting; and something appeared to them that seemed like tongues of fire; these separated and came to rest on the head of each of them. They were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak foreign languages as the Spirit gave them the gift of speech.                                            Ac 2:1-4

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

Our lovely visit in May

The successful operation of our Clinic

Positive action against FGM

The continuing success of the micro finance scheme

The progress of the water project

Children learning from children

The successful Nairobi visit

 

We pray for…

 

Continuing progress in treating our disabled and malnourished

Expedited, tax-free action for our sanpad goods

Food provision for this suffering area and for our schools

Success of the water project

Urgent need for more funding

 

Send forth your Spirit, O Lord, and renew the face of the earth.

cf Ps 104:30


 Ewis, aged 17, cerebral palsy, severely malnourished at 2.3 stone

Ewis  

Posters from Somerset

Posters from Somerset

Excitement at the New Library

Excitement at the New Library

Nairobi Visit

Nairobi Visit

Gathering of Disabled Families

Gathering of Disabled Families


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 4th May 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

The day after our prayer request went out to you for rain… yes… it rained! And has continued to do so on and off, but needs to continue if there’s any hope of a harvest in July/August. So although the rains have come, families still have to eke out what they had left from the last, not-so-good harvest.

 

Efforts continue on both our fronts – Amy Peake’s, and ours – to try and find a way to get our sanpads micro- factory into Kenya without succumbing to swingeing import taxes and VAT. Fr Frankline had a meeting with the County Governor, who knows us and our work, and also met with his Bishop to see what approach can be made from that direction.

 

Loans were made to another 96 ladies, bringing the total of loans made to 2,596! The average size of each loan has increased significantly from the modest £80 in those early, exploratory days, to £290. A sure sign of the increasing success and confidence of this scheme. The associated savings scheme has much improved our business model, with loans now being given with savings as collateral. And… still only one defaulter on loans – where originally we had factored in a 10% default (ie 260!) rate, yet another sign as to how committed these ladies are to their businesses as a way of lifting their families out of poverty.

 

One of our sponsored secondary school pupils, Jackline, has been ill for some time (details unknown), and we will fund any specialist treatment, as required.

 

St Mary’s, Glastonbury, and Headley with Boxhill parishes both put on Lent lunches, raising much needed funds to maintain our primary schools’ lunch time feeding programme – more vital than ever to bring hungry kids into school.

 

Our twinned Somerset schools – Butleigh with St Peter’s, and Puriton with Our Lady of Consolation, have been making heroic fund-raising efforts to keep our primary school lunchtime feeding scheme going. Puriton with a range of activities, and Butleigh pupils putting on, totally of their own volition, planning and execution, a lively circus performance. We have many aims to fulfil for the St Peter’s community, and apart from our major aim in UK of raising funds to meet these aims, I would happily top that by seeing children in this country catching the passion, and doing something positive for their not-so-fortunate peers in Kajuki.

 

Whilst the rains are a very welcome ‘blessing to the fields’ – not so for the roads! Veronica delivered the bulk food to our seven primary schools, and in her words, “It was a challenge... From flooded rivers with swept away bridges to getting stuck in the mud for hours. All the same I thank God we have delivered all of it on time”.

 

David, and four supporters, are visiting St Peter’s in May. Two of them, Jenny and Jan, are working very hard to provide and establish a library for St Peter’s.

 

Ben Durbin, a supporter from Eternity Bullbrook, one of the Warfield churches, combined a Nairobi business trip with a brief visit to St Peter’s. He made some useful observations, and we have been posting his reflections on our Facebook Page. But his summary perfectly sums up our own thoughts on our visitors to St Peter’s:

 

“Growing up when I heard about people making trips to low income countries, I heard of the idea that the purpose of such trips is not to make a difference where are you going, but it’s really about your own transformation. At the time I never really understood this. But increasingly now I do, and this trip has really sealed the deal. There are so many skilled, hard-working people who need work that pays and gives purpose, that for me to visit and try to displace this labour makes no sense at all. But for me to get to know them, and to love and encourage them, and to better understand their lives and be inspired to work in other ways to improve their circumstances and bless them using the skills and resources God has given me - that makes much more sense!”

 Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Ascension:

    Jesus said to his disciples: “You see how it is written that the Christ would suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that, in his name, repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be preached to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses to this. And now I am sending down to you what the Father has promised. Stay in the city then, until you are clothed with the power from on high.”

   Then he took them out as far as the outskirts of Bethany, and lifting up his hands he blessed them. Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven. They worshipped him and then went back to Jerusalem full of joy; and they were continually in the Temple praising God.         Lk 24:46-53

 

“Let us glorify…”

    Having blessed them…. he was carried up unto heaven, that he might share the Father’s throne even with the flesh that was united unto him. And this was the new pathway that the Word made for us when he appeared in human form; and hereafter in due time he will come again in the glory of his Father with the angels, and will take us up to be with him.

   Let us glorify, therefore, him who being God the Word became man for our sakes; who suffered willingly in the flesh, and arose from the dead, and abolished corruption; who was taken up, and hereafter shall come with great glory to judge the living and the dead, and to give it to everyone according to their deeds; by whom and with whom to God the Father be glory and power with the Spirit, unto ages of ages. Amen.

    St Cyril of Alexandria (d444)

 We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

Rain!

The ongoing progress of the micro finance scheme

Lent lunches!

Children catching the vision

Safe and timely delivery of schools’ food

Ben’s visit

 

We pray for…

More Rain!

Expedited, tax-free action for our sanpad goods

Jackline’s recovery from illness

Continued provision of funds to meet our needs

Safe travels and Spirit-led interactions for David and guests

 

Peace I bequeath to you, my own peace I give you,

a peace the world cannot give, this is my gift to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.

You heard me say: ‘I am going away and shall return’.

Jn 14:27-28


Pics: Challenges that faced Veronica delivering food to schools!
Butleigh school do-it-yourself circus! / With our huge gratitude to Puriton Primary - welcome funds for feeding.

SPLL SPLL SPLL

ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 5th April 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, building a community of Love”

 

Schools broke up on 29 Mar for Easter holidays. Sadly, as drought grips this area again, many of these children will return to homes with little or no food, with their next square meal probably being the first day of next term, 28 Apr. The knock-on effect is a rise in food prices, which puts the budget of our primary school feeding programme under severe pressure. There is a small relief though: our 2-acre drip feed scheme continues to produce crops to supply our schools.

 

To our massive disappointment and dismay, we have had to put on hold the shipping of our sanitary pad container of equipment and materials to Kenya, as we discovered that we would be liable to swingeing Import taxes and VAT, which a. we are unable to afford, and, b. our donors wish only to help the needy women of Kajuki, not the needy revenues of the Kenya government!  Amy, our dynamic and determined partner, who is driving this project for us, has good contacts with UN Women UK, who have promised to see what they can influence for us. I will also be working my contacts in Kenya.

 

The water project, to supply 24/7 water to St Peter’s and the next-door secondary school, despite having massive rocks to remove from the 3K pipeline’s route, is progressing well, with the intake having been completed, and pipe laying starting next week. We plan on irrigating up to 5 acres of adjacent school fields to grow food crops, which will further mitigate the termly school food bills.

 

All the ladies suffering from fistula that we can locate in our area have now undergone the reparative operation to give them their lives back! As this is such a significant and simple ‘life improver’, we will now seek to spread our fistula net wider, to other parishes.

 

Our local primary schools’ programme of interaction on FGM culminated in March with gatherings of all the schools involved for a day’s celebration, and education, on children’s’ rights, consolidating what they learned in Jan & Feb through lots of singing, dancing, drama and poetry – and a tummy busting lunch for all!

 

Ben, one of our Warfield supporters, is combining business with pleasure, by making a visit to St Peter’s whilst  on a business trip to Nairobi.

 

The routine treatment and pastoral care of our disabled ones is progressing well.

 

As I plough through the many payments made over the year to claim our Gift Aid, I thank you all individually each time with so much gratitude, as I record your names and your donations. You are the unsung heroes, without whom we just could not do our routine business, which gives us the confidence to break new ground in support of our beloved community. You are never taken for granted.

 

We had an amazing cruising holidays from Miami to Los Angeles via the Panama Canal!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“…darkness came…”

It was now about the sixth hour and the sun’s light failed, so that darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. The veil of the Sanctuary was torn right down the middle. Jesus cried out in a loud voice saying, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” With these words he breathed his last.         Lk 23:44-46

  

“…he must rise…”

So Peter set out with the other disciple to go to the tomb. They ran together, but the other disciple, running faster than Peter, reached the tomb first; he bent down and saw the linen cloths on the ground but did not go in. Simon Peter who was following now came up, went right into the tomb, saw the linen cloths on the ground, and also the cloth that had been over his head; this was not with the linen cloths, but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple who had reached the tomb first also went in; he saw and he believed. Till this moment they had failed to understand the teaching of scripture, that he must rise from the dead.       Jn 20:3-9

 

Meditation: “It is I”

“It is I,” says the Christ,

“I am he who destroys death,

and triumphs over the enemy,

and crushes Hades,

and binds the strong man,

and bears humanity off to heavenly heights.”

“It is I,” says the Christ.

“So come all families of people,

adulterated with sin,

and receive forgiveness of sins.

For I am your freedom.

I am the Passover of salvation,

I am the lamb slaughtered for you,

I am your ransom,

I am your life,

I am your light,

I am your salvation,

I am your resurrection,

I am your King.

I shall raise you up by my right hand,

I will lead you to the heights of heaven,

there shall I show you the everlasting Father.”                    

St Melito of Sardis (c 180)

 

“Open the gates…”

Open to me the gates of holiness:

I will enter and give thanks.

This is the Lord’s own gate

Where the just may enter.

I will thank you for you have answered

And you are my savior. Ps 117:19-21

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

A fruitful term completed, and holidays!

Progress of the water supply project

Fistula ladies having back their lives

The message preventing FGM continuing to get through

Treatment of our disabled ones

You, our ever-faithful prayer warriors and donors!

 

We pray for…

Rain, Rain, Rain!

Expedited, tax-free action for our sanpad goods

Ben’s visit

Continued provision of funds to meet our needs

 

Jesus was not the hapless victim of a Roman execution; he was a victim of love.

His life was not taken; it was given.

Scott Hahn


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 1st March 2019

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of Love”

 

February has been quiet as our schools and projects get on with their business.

 

Another 87 loans have been made to our micro finance ladies, bringing the total of loans made to 2,500!

This initiative is gradually changing the micro-economic and social dynamic in this community - over 1,300 women are participating and running their own successful businesses. Empowering women. Lifting families out of poverty.

 

Some our sponsored secondary school pupils have now left school after taking their National exams. We have an intake of new pupils, mainly into Form 1 to whom the precious gift of further education will be given. Through donors’ generosity we are currently sponsoring 48 orphaned or impoverished children through primary education, 15 thru secondary, 4 thru tertiary, and one young lady thru university.

 

Construction of the water supply project to St Peter’s is making good progress.

 

Export clearance for our sanitary pad factory is still agonisingly slow: as in Amy’s words, “We are still learning – the hard and slow way!” (Brexit’s got nothing on this!).

 

Veronica attended the Timeless Women’s conference in Nairobi – a significant gathering of the shakers and movers in Africa who are driving forward initiatives to empower women within their communities.

 

We collaborated in a large gathering at a local primary school to mark the International Day of Zero Tolerance to FGM – the message is beginning to be made louder, and getting through clearer!

 

With our new and total commitment to the Hidden Ones, funding is tight, but God’s Providence has always met our needs. We keep seeking those doors to knock on…

 

Children caring for children… young Noushi, a keen ballet pupil who follows our fortunes on her Mum’s Facebook, made cup cakes many, and sold them at her ballet classes, raising a delicious £60:58!

St Peter’s Life-Line is going on holiday! We are going on an exciting cruise from Miami to Los Angeles via the Panama Canal and other stops in between to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary and Ros’ X0th birthday! So we will be ‘off the air’ between 27 Feb and 19 Mar.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Love…”

 Jesus said to his disciples: “If you love those who love you, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what thanks can you expect? For even sinners do that much. And if you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what thanks can you expect? Even sinners lend to sinners to get back the same amount. Instead, love your enemies and do good, and lend without any hope of return. You will have a great reward and you will be sons of the Most High, for he himself is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be compassionate as your Father is compassionate. Do not judge, and you will not be judged yourselves; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned yourselves: grant pardon, and you will be pardoned. Give, and there will be gifts for you: a full measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over, will be poured into your lap: because the amount you measure out is the amount you will be given back.                                             Lk 31:16-20, 24-25, 31-32

 

“Love is…”

 Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence, and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. In short, there are three things that last: faith, hope, and love; and the greatest of these is love.               1 Co 13:4-8, 13

Meditation: The “Hymn to Love

  St Paul’s “hymn to love” in the 13th chapter of his First Letter to the Corinthians is one of the most magnificent passages in the literature of the world. St Thomas Aquinas clarified that Love is willing the good of the other. It is desiring, not one’s own good by means of another (the typical move of clever sinners), but the good of the other as other. It is to escape from the black hole of egotistic preoccupation, and to want, really want, what is best for one’s neighbour.

   Once we understand this, St Paul’s words become especially luminous. The one who loves is “patient”, precisely because he is not concerned about his own boredom or frustration. He’s willing to wait. The one who loves is not “jealous”, for she positively rejoices in the achievements of the other. The one who loves does not “brood over injury”, for he looks to the future good of his friend, and not his own wounded past. The one who loves “bears all things, hopes all things, endures all things” for her own discomfort, and the achievement of her own plans are not of paramount importance, but what will benefit the one she loves.

   In describing love, Saint Paul is not merely expatiating on sublime human achievement. Instead, he is telling us, ultimately, what God is like, for God is love. Precisely because God is perfect, he has no self-interest. He has, quite literally, nothing to gain. And therefore, every move that he makes vis-à-vis creation is an act of love, willing to the good of the other. When we act in accordance with love, we are not simply being ethically upright. Rather, we are becoming partakers of the divine nature.                 Robert Barron

Thus, in conforming myself to your perfect desires and not to the inclinations of this present age, I shall become more like you, and in loving you with my whole heart, I shall be transformed into you, since love transforms us into the very object that we love.                                         Hyacinthe-Marie Cormier

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

Continuing fruits of the micro finance scheme

Continuing progress of the water supply project

The fruits of the Timeless Women Conference

Positive progress in the battle against FGM

Children caring for children

David & Ros’ Golden wedding!

 

We pray for…

Patience for export clearance for our san pad factory

All new pupils joining us

Continued provision of funds to meet our needs

Continuing and progressive healing of our Hidden Ones

Let your face shine on your servant.

Save me in your merciful love.

Ps 30:16


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 1st February 2019

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of Love”

Term is now underway. We have taken on some new needy primary and secondary pupils, for which relevant sponsors will soon be informed, when we’ve had a final sort-out.

Our one big step of faith has rewarded us with one big step for the St Peter’s community. Our Therapy Clinic is now operational, and Pamela, our Occupational Therapist is beginning to provide individual programmes of regular treatment for our disabled children. She will be assisted by one of our Form 4 leavers from secondary school, whom we have employed to help lift patients, entertain the children, look after parents and generally keep the Clinic running smoothly.

Big steps have also been taken by four of our disabled children: Evalyne (11) who was born blind, is now at a specialist school, receiving education for the first time in her life; Isaac (13) who has dwarfism and was unable to make the long walk to his local primary school, has now happily settled in as a boarder at St Peter’s; Tysy (6) a bright little button with brittle bone disease, and longing to go to school, is now at St Peter’s, proudly wearing her uniform, and using the wheel chair with her full-time carer; and, Evangeline (20) with scoliosis, and who is determined not to let her disability get in her way, has started at a Polytech doing a tailoring and knitting course.

Next door to the Clinic is our first dedicated St Peter’s Life-Line office – much to Veronica’s delight!

Our programme to eliminate FGM starts its annual cycle again – with our teams visiting selected local primary schools and starting up and running children’s rights awareness clubs, which the schools will operate once every week, with the children of the senior classes gathering to learn about and celebrate their rights. This element of the programme is a great success in imbuing in children the courage to say NO! to FGM when the time comes for their so-called circumcision ritual.

Final processing of equipment and materials for our sanitary pad factory to be despatched to Kenya continues, as we now turn our minds to constructing the simple facility at St Peter’s in which our ladies will manufacture the low/no cost sanitary pads.

The gravity-fed water project delivering a constant supply of water to St Peter’s and the adjoining secondary school from the nearby river, has now started construction, with the intake 3kms upstream being built.

Sadly, our bid to DfID was not accepted, but our primary school feeding programme continues, with over 1,500 primary school children at 7 primary schools receiving a hot, nutritious daily lunch (we were hoping to double this number!).

Plans for 2019 for our continuing twinning with Butleigh and Puriton Primary schools are being hatched, to keep our schools’ strong links going. Children learning about, and helping children.

The harvest resulting from the last rains has not been very productive, and there will be food shortages again. Our drip feed irrigation scheme has continued to prove invaluable, with a crop of maize being available to supplement our schools’ feeding requirements.

Our amazing partner charity, Pocket Money Fights Poverty, in conjunction with St Peter's church, Warfield have raised the fantastic total of £2,690! £1,440 will give a quality primary education to 8 orphans/impoverished children for the whole of 2019; £600 will go to equipping our Clinic for the disabled children; £300 will go for treatment of the two brothers suffering from terminal muscular dystrophy; £300 will go towards 6 months’ salary for Tysy's carer - the little girl with brittle bone disease - to be able to attend school for the first time in her life; £50 towards crayons, paper, books, toys for children attending the Clinic.

 

A new Assistant Priest, Fr Peter Nthiga has taken up his appointment at St Peter’s. We give great thanks to Fr Gervasio, the former Assistant, for his support to our work, as he takes up his new post as a Parish priest.

Building our community of Love.

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

Meditation: Knowing God’s Love

  Almost always when we talk about prayer we are thinking of something we do, and, from that standpoint, questions, problems, confusion, discouragement, illusions multiply. For me, it is of fundamental importance to correct this view. Our Christian knowledge assures us that prayer is essentially what God does, how God addresses us, looks at us. It is not primarily something we are doing to God, something we are giving to God, but what God is doing for us. And what God is doing for us is giving us the divine self in love.

  Surely the central message is of the unconditional love of God for us, for each one of us: God, the unutterable, incomprehensible Mystery, the Reality of all reality, the Life of all life. And this means that this divine love desires to communicate its holy self to us. Nothing less! This is God’s irrevocable will and purpose; it is the reason why everything that is, is, and why each of us exists. We are here to receive this ineffable, all-transforming, all beatifying love. To really know this means living that knowledge, and living out of it. It means that our way of looking at things, our attitudes, our actions, arise from this knowledge. Ruth Burrows

Perfect Fulfilment

  God would not be so unjust as to forget all you have done, the love that you have for his name, or the services you have done, and are still doing, for the saints. Our one desire is that everyone of you should go on showing the same earnestness to the end, to the perfect fulfilment of our hopes, never growing careless, but imitating those who have the faith and the perseverance to inherit the promises.   1 He 6:10-12

Love is a sweet tyranny, and one who loves has no other language, ever ancient and ever new, which in thousands of years has not lost its perennial freshness and which always has a never-fading youthfulness on the lips of the One who loves.    Luis Maria Martinez

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The opening and start of the Clinic

Those disabled children we have been able to send to schools

Pocket Money Fights Poverty and St Peter’s church Warfield for their generous hearts

Fr Gervasio and his work at St Peter’s

We pray for…

Funding to expand our primary schools’ feeding programme

Continuing enrichment from our primary schools’ twinning programme

Provision of adequate, affordable food

Fr Peter, as he takes up his new post at St Peter’s

Successful delivery of the water project

Love is the one thing that cannot hurt your neighbour; that is why it is the answer to every one of the commandments. Rm 13:10

Pics: Pamela giving therapy to Christine (cerebral palsy); Isaac looking smart (and very serious) in his St Peter’s uniform; Tysy always with a smile in her uniform; Evangeline, off to Polytech.

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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 4th January 2019

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of Love”

 

2018 – Happenings:

 

We dished up a total of 325,950 lunches to over 1,500 kids in 7 local government primary schools during the school year. This daily lunch has brought kids into school who would otherwise just not have the energy to make the long walk every day - let alone learn during a full-on school day.  Attendance rates have risen and stabilised, and year-on-year, overall academic standards have visibly improved in these schools.

 

491 loans were made to ladies in our micro finance scheme, bringing the total of loans made to 2,413. Some of their businesses are so successful as to allow them to send their kids to secondary school - building the next generation. Some ladies have had second or third loans to keep pace with their businesses' growth. Our associated savings scheme, a concept hitherto completely inaccessible, is significant, and now a factor in us being able to lend with financial collateral. These ladies continue to show total commitment to the scheme, and focused dedication to their businesses. And... the whole thing is now fully sustainable - job done!

 

We ran our annual programme to eliminate FGM, starting in 6 local primary schools, forming and operating children's rights awareness clubs. We staged 8 x day-long community forums - debating the issues; then an intensive one-to-one recruiting drive inviting girls to attend our one-week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) in Dec - at which we plan on 200 attending - this year 300 girls graduated - Result!

With well over 2,000 girls now graduated and saying NO! – FGM will be a thing of the past within this generation.

 

In supporting education and our parish schools, we funded 48 orphan and impoverished children through primary school, 16 in secondary school, 2 in tertiary education, and 1 thru university, with 3 already having graduated. We built one classroom, a toilet block, minor projects, as well as providing goats, shoes, clothes, desks, emergency feeding, knitted woollies, and many Chupa Chups...

 

This was the year we discovered the ‘Hidden Ones’ – those disabled children regarded as cursed, and kept completely out of sight. Through our extensive church and micro finance network we persuaded these families to bring their children to us for registering and medical assessment. So far 114 have registered, some children with severe disability. We have engaged the full-time services of an Occupational Therapist – Pamela – who is at present visiting these children, and putting together individual care plans. Our refurbished out-of-use dormitory at St Peter’s will soon be in action as a Clinic and Social Centre for these families.

 

Alongside the disabled children we also identified 14 ladies suffering from the awful, isolating condition of fistula. 6 have so far have been taken to Nairobi and had their fistula repaired – giving them their lives back.

 

We have had such a generous response from individuals, churches and organisations during the year, and from our Christmas Appeal, all of which is so affirming, and gives us such encouragement to tackle the projects placed in front of us with confidence.

 

Our schools’ twinning with Butleigh Primary and Puriton Primary continues to strengthen the bonds between these children so far apart from each other in many ways. It is so heartening to see the desire of the UK kids to help those in Kenya in a very practical way through their own fund-raising efforts, as well as their desire to understand and learn about each other more. Children caring for children.

 

2019 – Looking ahead:

 

The continuing funding of education at all levels of the orphans and impoverished.

The continuing support and development of our parish schools.

 

The setting-up of our sanitary pad factory at St Peter’s so that we can make this much needed commodity as affordable and available as possible to the many women in the area.

 

The continuous and reliable provision of plentiful water to the St Peter’s and next-door secondary school compounds, as well as irrigating up to 5 acres of adjacent fields to grow food for the schools.

 

Continuing our successful programme to eliminate FGM until this foul scourge is a thing of the past.

 

Providing lunch to those hundreds of primary school kids – improving their health, academic standards and their prospects. We still await a decision from DfID over our grant application to double the existing programme.

 

The continuing growth of the micro finance and savings schemes – lifting more families out of poverty.

 

The individual treatment and holistic care of our Hidden Ones, and their full assimilation and acceptance into the community at large.

 

Building our community of Love.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“Be joyful…”

Always be joyful, then, in the Lord; I repeat, be joyful. Let your good sense be obvious to everybody. The Lord is near. Never worry about anything; but tell God of your desires of every kind in prayer and petition, shot through with gratitude, and the peace of God which is beyond our understanding will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, let your hearts be filled with everything that is true, everything that is honourable, everything that is upright and pure, everything that we love and admire – with whatever is good and praiseworthy. Keep doing everything you learned from me and were told by me and have heard or seen me doing. Then the God of peace will be with you.                                           Ph 4:4-9

 

Meditation: The Wisdom of God…

   The wisdom of God… is the expression of intelligence and mercy with which God accomplishes his plan. In the end, events will render justice to this wisdom. And her children – those who have known how to enter the plan of God – will bear witness to it.

   It is true that, to our way of thinking, this wisdom does not seem too readily apparent. Actually, the world appears to lack wisdom, to be governed by chance; it does not show forth the work of an intelligent and merciful God. That is the most common objection we encounter. And we too can be bewildered by the way things happen. But this is true only until the time when we penetrate more deeply into reality, and place our confidence in the words of Jesus. Then we will discover that in the midst of all these apparent detours, the plan is being carried out: a plan guided by a wisdom infinitely superior to our own, a plan in which we can justifiably place our complete confidence

   This, the children of wisdom will testify to, by acknowledging that they acted correctly one day in placing their confidence in God’s plan, in abiding by the delays, in letting themselves being guided by this wisdom, even though they were puzzled by its ways.                              

Jean Danielou

 

The Father’s Love

Think of the love that the Father has lavished on us, by letting us be called God’s children; and that is what we are. Because the world refused to acknowledge him, therefore it does not acknowledge us. My dear people, we are already the children of God but what we are to be in the future has not yet been revealed; all we know is, that when it is revealed we shall be like him because we shall see him as he really is.                 1 Jn 3:1,2

 

Christmas Prayer

   O Emmanuel, may the assurance of your unfailing Presence be for me the source of unending peace. May I never fear my weakness, my inadequacy, or my imperfection. Rather, as I gaze with faith, hope, and love upon

your incarnate littleness, may I love my own littleness, for God is with us. Endow my life with a holy wonder that leads me ever more deeply into the Mystery of Redemption and the meaning of my vocation and destiny.

   May your Presence, Prince of Peace, bless the world with peace, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief. Loving Jesus, you are the only real joy of every human heart. I place all my trust in you.                           

Peter John Cameron

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 All that was achieved in 2018

All those who have unstintingly given of their time and treasure

Our staff, and community leaders

 

We pray for…

 A good start to the academic and working year

The successful sustenance and growth of all our projects

The Wisdom of God

Love

 

God’s grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race Ti 2:11




ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 7th DECEMBER 2018

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of love”

 

The headline this month, is that after long and frustrating bureaucratic delays, we have finally secured approval from the Water Authority to proceed with our project. This will be a game-changer, supplying 24/7 by gravity feed from the river, water to the St Peter’s compound and the secondary school next door. It should also provide sufficient for us to irrigate up to 5 acres of adjacent church fields to grow food for the school. Gone will be the days of our pupils making the long trudge every day to get water from the river, and the expensive, polluting petrol engine pumping. All totally sustainable and very eco-friendly. Our deepest thanks to the Pickwell Foundation for funding this project.

 

We had a most joyous occasion at St Peter’s, when the Naval family – who had heard about the ‘Hidden Ones’, came up from Nairobi on 1st December, and presented 22 wheelchairs to a gathering of parents with their disabled children! This has now given these kids mobility, and a great opportunity for them to meet and mingle with the community at large.

 

The rains held back to the extent that the initial sowing of crops did not have a chance. But a late onset has prompted the massive and expensive task of replanting, and hope for some sort of a harvest.

 

We took six ladies suffering from obstetric fistula on the long journey to Nairobi, to have the operation to repair their fistula. All were successful, and all these ladies have now been given their lives back! After the op, it was lovely to see Regina, who suffered from double incontinence, smiling widely for the first time since I met her!

 

Ros Kearney, raising funds for the fistula ladies, made a heroic attempt to complete the grueling 170km Etape cycling event Down Under. In her words, "Sadly, Mt Kosciuszko defeated me, with the prospect of 2-3 hr climb into a headwind at +30C, and my legs were cramping up. I just couldn't do it!! I'm so sorry, I thought about your ladies, and it helped me tremendously en route...". To which our response: "No worries at all, Ros! It was a heroic effort, and the taking part and giving it your all for others, is ALL that counts!" Her pain was our gain: an astounding £800 of her £900 target raised… so far!

 

Young Jack from Butleigh Primary School, twinned with St Peter's, raised a sterling £17.01 from selling some of his toys and his granny's chutney, and donating some of the money he earns helping his Mum on her egg round. His thoughtful and caring effort is sufficient to give lunch to a primary school child for a WHOLE school year (205 days), plus a few platefuls extra. He has given a very special meaning to the spirit of Christmas!

 

We have been making Christmas Appeals to raise funds for our campaign against FGM and for the Hidden Ones. Still ongoing, but we have had a most heartening response.

 

Amy Peake is still battling with the onerous task of obtaining ISO certification and other clearances for export of our containerised sanitary pad factory to Kenya and Kajuki.

 

Our one-week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) will be held at St Peter’s from 9 – 15 Dec. Here we mirror the tribal custom of taking the girls into seclusion during this the ‘circumcision’ season – but to educate, and not mutilate! They will receive expert instruction on all aspects of how to live as modern young women, and empowering them to say NO! to FGM, and arranged, early marriage, and to look forward to opening their horizons wide with a secondary education…. and well beyond!

 

We are still piloting the surgical circumcision of boys, with five currently recovering at St Peter’s, to take them out of the misogynistic attitude prevailing when they are ritually circumcised in their villages.

 

We have quite a few applications for grants in the pipeline – one so far for FGM has been turned down. We STILL await with bated breath for the outcome of our grant to DfID, to give lunch to 3,000 kids at local primary schools for the next three years – a quantum leap to what we are doing now! Please keep storming heaven for this!

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

The Word was made flesh

 

   In the beginning was the Word: the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things came to be, not one thing had its being but through him. All that came to be had life in him and that life was the light of men, a light that shines in the dark, a light that darkness could not overpower.

   The Word was made flesh, he lived among us, and we saw his glory, the glory that is his as the only Son of the Father, full of grace and truth.                                   Jn1:1-5, 14

 

Meditation: Child of Bethlehem

 

   In the Child of Bethlehem, God comes to meet us, and make us active sharers in the life around us. He offers himself to us, so that we can take him into our arms, lift him and embrace him. So that in him we will not be afraid to take into our arms, raise up and embrace the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, the imprisoned…

   In this Child, God invites us to be messengers of hope. He invites us to become sentinels for all of those bowed down by the despair born of encountering so many closed doors. In this Child, God makes us agents of his love.

   Moved by the joy of this gift, Little Child of Bethlehem, we ask that your crying may shake us from our indifference and open our eyes to those who are suffering. May your tenderness awaken our sensitivity and recognise our call to see you in all those who arrive in our cities, in our histories, in our lives. May your revolutionary tenderness persuade us to feel our call to be agents of the hope and tenderness of our people.

Pope Francis

 

Christmas Prayer

 

   O Emmanuel, may the assurance of your unfailing Presence be for me the source of unending peace. May I never fear my weakness, my inadequacy, or my imperfection. Rather, as I gaze with faith, hope, and love upon

your incarnate littleness, may I love my own littleness, for God is with us. Endow my life with a holy wonder that leads me ever more deeply into the Mystery of Redemption and the meaning of my vocation and destiny.

   May your Presence, Prince of Peace, bless the world with peace, the poor with care and prosperity, the despairing with hope and confidence, the grieving with comfort and gladness, the oppressed with freedom and deliverance, the suffering with solace and relief. Loving Jesus, you are the only real joy of every human heart. I place all my trust in you.                         

   Peter John Cameron

  

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

Approval of the water project

The generosity of the Raval family

Onset of rains

Successful fistula operations

Ros Kearney & her fundraising

Young Jack, and all children who care

Donors to the Christmas Appeal

The coming of the Christ Child!!

 

We pray for…

Successful construction of the water-supply pipeline

Ongoing rains and hope for a harvest

Final clearance for our sanitary pad container

A good attendance and successful girls’ ARP

Ongoing progress to develop the boys’ circumcision

Successful grant applications and further funding opportunities

 

Light shines forth for the just and joy for the upright of heart.

   Rejoice, you just, in the Lord; give glory to his holy name.

Ps 97:11,12


                                                SPLL Christmas 18       

Christmas at St Peter's

Pics: this sight should soon be a thing of the past…; the first time I’ve seen Regina smile - after her fistula op; the Raval family, presenting wheel chairs.

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ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 9th NOVEMBER 2018

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of love”

I had the most fulfilling, yet challenging visit this time.

Schools in Kenya have their long holidays leading up to Christmas, and also end their academic year, so our schools’ Graduation Day was held on 23 Oct, a joyful, family occasion with all children celebrating their moving on. But… it is a sobering fact that many of these children will spend their holidays doing family work – grazing livestock, fetching water, and tilling and weeding their fields.

The rains have started in Kenya, but nothing substantial in Kajuki yet. For this subsistence economy rain = food!

I attended, with St Peter’s school children, a National Holiday celebration held in Kajuki. I had the opportunity to address the assembled throng, whilst perchance comforting a cerebral palsy child. Holding that child, I stood before the crowd and VIPs and made an impassioned plea that she was not an item of shame and shun, but a person who needs welcoming, embracing and loving by the community.

We took the Class 8 students – who were about to take their final National Exams, for their farewell feast at a nearishby resort with swimming pool. A treat and novel experience for all those kids, who surprised me by demonstrating their swimming skills self-taught in the river near the school – albeit with a lot of misdirected, very energetic and not very elegant splashing and shrieking!

Our Disability Action Plan (DAP) – to tackle the 114 or so ‘hidden ones’ – is beginning to take off. We have refurbished a redundant dormitory at St Peter’s as a family treatment clinic and social centre, and to include next door, our first dedicated St Peter’s Life-Line office! We have engaged the full time services of a fully qualified Occupational therapist, to start treating our disabled ones. This was a lovely ‘Godincidence’ – Pamela was one of the medics who helped assess our ‘hidden ones’, and has just finished her internship at a local hospital, and was starting to look for employment! We hope to bring all of the disabled into St Peter’s every week, not only for treatment, but to socialise, eat, and get used to being ‘out in the open’.

I had the joy, privilege and heartbreak of meeting some of these disabled kids and their families, some with such severe disabilities as to wreak despair as to what can be done – other than start pouring out love in much abundance. Some we were able to offer solutions straight away: 11 year old Evalyne we will fund and send to a specialist blind school; 13 year old Isaac, with very stunted growth, but lively and intelligent, we will take as a boarder at St Peter’s; 21 old Evangeline, with a severely deformed spine, but mobile and ambitious to get on in life, we will fund for a Secretarial Course at a Technical College.

I will make no bones about it: there is a formidable challenge in providing adequate funding for this ambitious programme to run… and succeed. If any of you have any fundraising ideas (or inclinations!), please let me know. I am always willing to come and talk to gatherings, with some powerful and moving video clips to show. For my part, I will continue to push every button in sight to gain access to funding, including a letter to Prince Harry, who as the recently appointed Captain General Royal Marines, is now a fellow Marine!

I also met 2 ladies suffering from the awful condition of obstetric fistula – one was 65 year old Regina, who has given birth 10 times, of which only five children survived, and of which her last-born involved an agonising 3 day birth, causing double and permanent incontinence. But, as you will hear later, this will all change!

I visited two government primary schools on our lunchtime feeding programme, where it was so heartening to see these kids looking healthy and full of energy. At one of these schools we distributed lovely, colourful dresses, knitwear and shorts made and dispatched to us from UK by the lovely charity Little Dresses to Africa  (http://www.littledressesforafrica.org ). The kids thought Christmas had come twice in one day!

102 loans totaling 2.2M KShs (approx £17,500) were made to the micro finance ladies, making a total of 2,234 loans made since starting this extraordinarily successful scheme. I also had the joy of attending their AGM, with over 700 ladies gathered to collect their dividends on their savings, and generally have a good old celebration and natter!

I spent 3 days in Nairobi, accompanied by Veronica, to make various calls on movers and shakers in the Kenyan orbit, mostly involved in women’s and girls’ rights and empowerment. One of our visits was to the Kibera slum, which included an interesting walkabout!

I wanted particularly to visit the hospital in Nairobi, Jamaa Mission hospital, to talk to the team involved in reversing obstetric fistula. They could not have been more helpful. The gynecological surgeon explained that the process lasted about an hour, being performed under an epidural, with about a week’s recovery. The most surprising and welcome news was that they will do the operation for free – funded by a US charity! All we had to fund was the travel to and from Kajuki for our 14 or so (so far) ladies. This process is starting right away with 6 ladies being transported to Nairobi shortly for their operstion. These ladies will at last get their lives back!

Final documentation is still under way to ensure smooth passage of our sanitary pad container into Kenya.

I visited the Water Authority HQ in Meru with Fr Frankline to attend as ‘concerned benefactor’, but still bureaucracy intervenes. The water officials visited Kajuki – and hopefully give final approval.

In promoting and reinforcing our twinning with two of our schools with the two primary schools in Somerset (Butleigh and Puriton) we not only exchanged posters, pictures and poems between the schools, but four sweaters each, with children at each school in both countries being allowed to wear their twin school’s sweater during school time, as a treat.

Our massive gratitude to Richard, and everyone else from Warfield’s Eternity Bullbrook church, who did daft things during October in their Month of Plenty Appeal. An amazing £1,525 (£1,827 with GA) was raised, a handsome contribution to our lunchtime feeding scheme.

Ros, my comrade-in-arms Down Under, is also enduring vicious magpie attacks during her training periods to raise funds for supporting expenses involved in our fistula and disability programme https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rosalindkearney1

We have quite a few applications for grants in the pipeline. We still await with baited breath for the outcome of our grant to DfID, to give lunch to 3,000 kids at local primary schools for the next three years – a quantum leap to what we are doing now! Please keep storming heaven for this!

In our campaign against FGM we are still in the phase when our teams go round communities and personally invite girls to attend our one week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) held in Dec. We need funding for this event - £4,800 required.

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

The first of all commandments: 

One of the scribes came up to Jesus and put a question to him, “Which is the first of all the commandments?” Jesus replied, “This is the first: Listen, Israel, the Lord our God is the one Lord, and you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: You must love your neighbour as yourself. There is no commandment greater than these”.                                 Mk 12:28-31

 “Nothing can ever come between us…”

For I am certain of this: neither death nor life, no angel, no prince, nothing that exists, nothing still to come, not any power or height or depth, nor any created thing, can ever come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus our Lord.                                                                                                                                     Ro 8:38,39

Meditation: Let us build that community of love…

God is love, and love can only be realised and expressed in relationship: the give-and-take of love.  Julian of Norwich said there is in God, “a desire, a longing, and a thirst from the beginning,” and this longing is for relationship.  With you.  God, if not loving you and if not loved by you, is somehow incomplete. Jesus says, “As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love.” (Jn 15:9) The God whom Jesus calls “Father” loves us – loves you – just as the Father loves Jesus.  You are loved that much! You have been created by God with love, for love, to love.  It’s of your essence.  Love makes you real.

   I wonder how you hear this. Do you nod or shrug or shake your head? Some of us—many of us—might discover some resistance within our own souls at the promise of God’s love. We think, ‘God doesn’t love me, couldn’t love me, can only partly love me, cannot completely love me.’  But in that assumption we are thinking only about ourselves.  Think of God. You have probably known the best of times and worst of times, and sometimes the muddle in the middle.  God is well apprised of your goings-on.  You do not have to change to know the love of God, but the love of God will change you, will make you real. God’s relationship with you is one-of-a-kind, beloved that you are.  There’s no one like you.  You make God’s day.  This is God’s love on God’s terms.  Nothing, nothing, nothing will ever separate you from the love of God. You need only say “yes” to that.

   We read, “Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God . . . if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.” (1 Jn 4:7) We are created to be in relationship: with God and with one another. Our attention and care to reordering our time has the goal of freeing us up to deepen and thrive in our relationships. Jesus shows us that to be human is to love: “Love one another” is his parting command to the community he drew around him. Beloved, let us love one another. Make time to love.                                                                                                                          ssje.org

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

The end of the academic year and moving on

Celebrating with Cl 8

Opportunities to affirm love for the disabled

The successful start of the DAP

The gift of Pamela

Meeting and sharing the pain of the disabled

Little Dresses to Africa

The success of the micro finance scheme

Fruits of visits to other organisations and people

Free fistula operations and the dedicated team

Our primary schools’ twinning

All our fundraisers – particularly Richard and Ros at this time

A very fruitful visit by David

 

We pray for…

Rains!

Successful grant applications and further funding opportunities

Continuing momentum of DAP and successful fistula operations

Progress on sanitary pad and water schemes

Funding for our ARP

Many young women accepting our invitation for the ARP

He has put into my heart a marvellous love for the faithful ones who dwell in his land. Ps 16:2

1: Always good to see these guys - always smiling! 2: With cerebral palsy child at National Day celebrations, Kajuki - addressing VIPs and crowd (behind me). 3: Beautiful Natasha - being treated for her cerebral palsy. 4: Little Dresses to Africa! 5: Spotted at Graduation Day! 6: Meeting the hidden ones, and having a boogie with Victor! 7: Micro finance AGM; 8 & 9: Sweater swaps - Butleigh & St Peter’s, and, Puriton and Our Lady of Consolation. 10: A stroll in Kibera Town… 11: The fistula team at Jamaa - our Veronica, Ward Sister, Dr Stephen gynaecologist, hospital psychologist, latest patient - Grace, lovely Masai lady, and… Matron Frederick! 

SPLL Nov 18 1  SPLL Nov 18 2 SPLL Nov 18 3 SPLL Nov 18 4 SPLL Nov 18 5 SPLL Nov 18 6

SPLL Nov 18 7 SPLL Nov 18 8SPLL Nov 18 9

SPLL Nov 18 10  SPLL Nov 18 11


COMING TO KAJUKI

Margaret & Bill Donnelly, St Andrew’s Church, Box Hill and Christine & Pip Burley, St Mary’s Church, Headley

We had gone to see the work being done which has been supported by all your UK contributions to St Peter’s Life-Line - the small personally run charity founded by David Baldwin, an ex-Royal Marines officer and committed Christian.

  The visit started at the local St Peter’s Primary School, where incredibly focused boarding pupils were spending their Saturday morning in study time – amazingly well behaved children aged from five to thirteen were busy at their books, with almost no immediate supervision from the teaching staff – imagine that in England!

  We were shown around by not only Katherine, the very proud young head teacher, but also by Jacqueline and Isaac, the head boy and girl respectively – and no lack of ambition there, as he plans to be an international pilot whilst she sees herself as a world famous cardiologist – and we believe that will happen!

  The school facilities are inevitably rudimentary and bare by British standards – but all the school fees, desks, books and lunchtime food provision that SPLL supports were making a real difference. More investment will be still needed for some of the dormitories, water storage and toilet facilities here, but these are already on stream for some of the other local schools that SPPL provides support for.  

  From the calm of children’s studies, and accompanied by Father Frankline , we moved onto the chaos (to the uneducated eye) of the local market in the nearby County Town of Kathwana with sheltered stalls, or small lock-up shops for the more successful entrepreneurs. Everything was on sale, from shoes to goats, from peas to clothing repairs – with many stalls being run by the Micro-Finance small business initiative ladies that SPLL had provided the initial loans for.

  We met many more of these young (and not so young) business women the next day when we went to their monthly get together after their local church services. In small groups, they kept a strict record of their loans, repayments and any additional savings, under a broader leadership committee – both a humbling and an inspiring experience, as these ladies were creating the means to take their children through to secondary school and college level education from a background of semi-illiteracy themselves.

  With a little more “sales and marketing” advice, these start-up businesses can become the economic foundation for the whole community in the near future.

  The bumpiest ride of all was reserved for the road up to the local Mission hospital, run by three Convent Sisters under Father Emilio’s guidance .  If you were not sick when you set out, you would certainly have very bad backs by the time you got to the hospital – maybe that was why we saw so many freshly born babies in the children’s wards! Again a very good basic facility to start from, but still needing professional as well as financial support to develop its operational practices.

  Sunday morning Mass in the local church, led with both seriousness and humour by Father Frankline (with 28 other churches and prayer houses also under his leadership!) was a wide community event, with (mainly) ladies and children walking in from miles around, and singing hymns vociferously in African rhythms. It was followed by visits to other local churches, to see the SPLL investments there, in school buildings, irrigation areas, and toilet facilities – even when one of the church rooms was in effect an open “wattle and daub” mud hut.

  Again huge aspirations and intent, with firm local organisation and governance, simply needing just a little more guidance and financial pump priming.


  As well as meeting local children and adults, we had time to talk with the priests and committee chairpersons leading this community, to understand what was possible with the society and the resources available, and the political and governmental constraints that can impede grander plans – eg to repair the roads to an adequate standard, to provide buildings, teachers and equipment for improved schooling, or to stamp out any corruption that might be siphoned off from important investments.

  Overall, we found that the monies raised by St Peter’s Life-Line here in England are being very effectively used for the important projects in and around Kajuki that they have been allocated towards but, as always, there is so much more to do, and only limited leadership time and capability to make it happen!

  So our message remains - please start or keep giving to St Peter’s Life-Line and its people of the Kajuki district – your support is much needed and is being well applied to real life local challenges, and is needed both now and into the near future.

 The Charity takes no overheads, expenses or other costs.  All donations go directly to the projects.

 

Kajuki 1Kajuki 2


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 5th October 2018

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi, and building a community of love”

 

Richard, from Eternity Bullbrook, one of our supporting Warfield churches, is encouraging a ‘month of silliness’ amongst their congregation to raise funds for our primary schools’ lunchtime feeding programme. For during our ‘month of plenty’ in this country, as our abundant harvests come in, there is still a need to provide a meal each day for hungry school kids out there, to fill their tummies and brains! But don’t leave it all to Eternity Bullbrook – feel free to do something totally daft (or give something up in lieu) to see if you can give a child a lunch for a whole school year - £15 only! Do let us know, with pictures! Details at: https://mydonate.bt.com/events/monthofplenty2018/475419

 

To us, the most inspiring of fund raising efforts are when children catch the vision, and do something positive to help their less fortunate peers. The Butleigh primary school fund raising committee held a planning meeting at the start of term, and have come up with another fiendish plan to hold parents’ purses to ransom! And at the other end of the world, in Sydney, Maya and Bella, raised an amazing £85 from the sale of the cakes made at their very own ‘Great Ozzy Bake-Off’! Children helping children.

 

Something serious is obviously stirring Down Under, as another of our supporters, Ros, is going to tackle the  170kms ‘Tour de France Down Under’ on 1st December, to raise funds for obstetric fistula. Although a challenge in itself, apparently the biggest threat is warding off the hostile attacking magpies during her training sessions. But as a former British Army officer – no problem – tin hat and flak jacket to the fore! Details at: https://mydonate.bt.com/fundraisers/rosalindkearney1

 

David is visiting St Peter’s from 17 – 30 October. Apart from much business at Kajuki, we are also making contact with some amazing ladies in Nairobi, involved mainly in women and girls’ charities working in the slums of Kibera.

 

Our equipment for our sanitary pad ‘factory’ has now been manufactured, and is on its way to Southampton Docks. Soon, we hope to purchase all the necessary materials to make 200,000 sanitary pads, where it will all be put in a container and shipped to Kenya.

 

We have quite a few applications for grants in the pipeline. We still await with baited breath for the outcome of our grant to DfID, to give lunch to 3,000 kids at local primary schools for the next three years – a quantum leap to what we are doing now! Please storm heaven for this!

 

In our campaign against FGM we now enter the phase when our teams go round communities and personally invite girls to attend our one week, residential Alternative Rite of Passage (ARP) held in Dec. With momentum gathering over the years, many girls, and some parents are willing, but there are still areas of resistance which will need patience, persistence and prayers. We need funding for this event - £4,800 required.

 

Our discrete survey within the community of those unfortunate women suffering in silence from obstetric fistula continues. So far 13 ladies have been identified – we know there are more out there – in Veronica’s words, “Yes, it is slow progress. The stigma is huge. They will come out eventually”. We hope to be making contact with the fistula surgery specialists in Nairobi during David’s visit, to plan the way ahead to set these women free through corrective surgery.

 

And so…. Fr Frankline’s frustrating wait for the outcome of his court case goes on… At the last hearing he was told by the magistrate that ‘the judgement was not ready’ – no reason given. “We keep on praying for patience. Thank you all for standing by me. God bless you abundantly”. His next hearing is TODAY, 5 Oct, please cover him in prayer.

  

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Sowing and reaping…

   Thin sowing means thin reaping; the more you sow, the more you reap. Each one should give what he has decided in his own mind, not grudgingly or because he is made to, for God loves a cheerful giver. And there is no limit to the blessings which God can send you – he will make sure that you will always have all you need for yourselves in every possible circumstance, and still have something to spare for all sorts of good works. As Scripture says: He was free in almsgiving, and gave to the poor: his good deeds will never be forgotten. The one who provides seed for the sower and bread for food will provide you with all the seed you want and make the harvest of your good deeds a larger one.                                  2 Co 9:6-10

 

Meditation: “Broken…”

   The Farmer comes in from the barn, leaves a bucket from the hen house at the back door with his boots. I can hear him washing up that the mudroom’s porcelain sink. He steps into the kitchen. I look up from the dishes. He’s seen it already. The man can read my eyes better than he reads the skies. Sometimes all our unspoken broken speaks louder than anything we could ever say. He reads my slow breaking over the kids lightning bolt news and all my not-enoughness that I can’t even grope through the pain to find words for.

   He pulls me into himself, enfolds me. And then, into the quiet, he says it’s so soft I almost miss it, what I have held on to more than a thousand times since.

   “You know – everything all across this farm says the same thing, you know that, right?” He waits till I let him look me in the eye, let him look into me and all this fracturing. “The seed breaks to give us the wheat. The soil breaks to give us the crop, the sky breaks to give us the rain, the wheat breaks to give us the bread. And the bread breaks to give us the feast. There was once even an alabaster jar that broke to give him all the glory.”

   He looks right through the cracks of me. He smells of the barn and the dirt and the sky, and he’s carrying something of the maple trees at the edge of the woods – carrying old light. He says it slowly, like he means it: “Never be afraid of being a broken thing.”                             Ann Voskamp

 

“A grain of wheat…”

   Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me; wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.”             Jn 12:24-26

 

We give thanks and praise, and glory to God for…

 

The courage of those women declaring fistula

All our fundraisers

Children caring for children

The coming together of our san pad factory

 

We pray for…

 

Safe travels and Spirit-led events & meetings for David

Many applicants for our Dec ARP

Funding for our ARP

Successful bid applications, particularly DfID

Progress with our sanitary pad scheme

Justice for Fr Frankline’s court case

 

Let the favour of the Lord be upon us: give success to the work of our hand. Ps 90:17


Proceeds from the HARVEST SUPPER at HEADLEY VILLAGE HALL on TUESDAY 3RD OCTOBER AT 7PM will be sent to St Peter's Life-Line. 


Sadly David Baldwin is unable to join us for the Harvest Supper, but has sent us the letter below:

Dear Parishioners of St Mary’s and St Andrew’s,

 

I’m very sorry that I am unable to be with you  for your Harvest Supper, but I’m certainly with you in spirit!

Since we last met, there has been much very encouraging progress in all aspects of our support to the St Peter’s parish community.

 

Schools: Our four parish schools (which when we started was just one small primary school, St Peter’s), are now burgeoning with 700 plus pupils, all providing a quality primary education. Our contribution this year has been the building of four classrooms, and a small toilet block, by way of capital works. Our current numbers funding orphan and impoverished children through education are: 49 primary, 16 secondary, 3 tertiary and 3 university students – all paid for by faithful donations from you, our supporters.

 

FGM: our annual programme to eliminate the foul scourge of FGM continues. Over 1,700 young women have attended our Alternative Rite of Passage over the years, and we will be holding another of these one-week residential gatherings of young women at St Peter’s, seeking freedom and empowerment to have a say how they live their lives as they approach womanhood. Next year we will be concentrating on those communities who are still resistant to our message. We are winning.

 

Micro finance and savings: this scheme has been an outstanding success, with women starting up their own businesses through the loans given to them – with over 1,300 women participating, through the 1,700 loans made. We have also included a savings scheme for these ladies, where for the first time in their lives, they have something to ‘fall back on’ in time of need, or to indulge! The scheme is now fully sustainable, and will continue to grow organically, without any further input from us, apart from the satisfaction of seeing all these happy ladies, as they go about their businesses!

  

Primary school feeding scheme: the area has been through a very tough time over the months, with one harvest completely failing (as widely publicised in the press), and the latest only producing a limited  result, so hunger still stalks the land.

We have provided a hot, tummy-busting lunch for over 1,100 kids in six government primary schools this year (the kids at our own schools are very well fed!), which has had the expected result of bringing in many more children who otherwise would not have the energy or motivation to walk the long distances into school, thereby raising and stabilising attendance rates. The completely unexpected and other amazing outcome was the visible raising of academic standards in all these schools – as measured by national exam results and scores! We hope and pray that not only can we continue this scheme in 2018, but increase numbers to at least 1,500.

 

I was recently contrasting the hundreds of acres of the lush, green, tall maize crop down here in Somerset, of which ironically goes to feed livestock, to the mean, withered and scorched crops that I saw in and around Kajuki on my last visit – meant to feed human beings.

 

Water and irrigation: the supply of water has always been a problem here. There is an intermittent, low pressure and highly unreliable public supply to St Peter’s, so the main provision to our big storage tanks is by pumping from the nearby river (expensive, time consuming and very un-ecofriendly), or of course the time-honoured method of the kids going down to the river to lug their water back to school. We commissioned an engineering survey to provide gravity-fed water from the river, which will not only provide sufficient for domestic use for St Peter’s, but also the government secondary school next door… AND sufficient to irrigate up to 5 acres of crop fields that belong to the school – a very significant game-changer. A charitable foundation has granted us the £14,000 to build this in April next year. Sustainable and Green. However the perennial problem of provision of clean drinking water remains… but, we pray… one day…

 

More irrigation: at another of our school’s locations, which is very close to a river, we have initiated a professionally engineered drip-feed irrigation scheme, currently and successfully irrigating 1 acre. In Fr Frankline’s words:

 

“In our prayers, we thank God for the irrigation project which has picked up very well. Everyone on the vicinity is marveling at what their eyes can't believe. Today kids from all our schools will eat greens from our farm as a welcome gesture. They are very scarce currently. I feel very encouraged, and ready for the second portion for a bigger endeavour. We are getting somewhere in this David”.

The ‘second portion’ is the second acre, of which preparation is underway, and has been funded specifically by one of our lovely donors.

 

I am planning on visiting at the end of October to say farewell to our Year 8 primary school students who will be leaving primary school after their national exams, and attend the AGM of the micro finance ladies, as well as doing the rounds of all our projects and people.

 

We thank you so much for your faithful support to these faithful people, to whom you give so much – not only materially, but in your prayers – and that all gives them the precious gift of hope.

 

Enjoy your rich fellowship in Our Lord – and your meal!

 

God bless,

 

David Baldwin





St Peter's Life-Line is a small grass roots charity, with the passion and vision to make a big difference, where 100% of donations reach the school and community. St Peter's Life-Line partners with St Peter's primary school and community in Kajuki, Kenya, by helping to lift a community out of desperate poverty, through education, micro finance, empowering girls, feeding programmes, clean water, sanitation and the prevention of disease. The charity aims to bring Hope Through Education and a more secure future.

St Peter's School was established in 2006 by a young, dynamic priest, Fr Joe. The school is in Kajuki, situated near the foot of Mt Kenya, in the South Meru District. It is a harsh, semi-arid part of Kenya, and is home to some 40,000 people.

In January 2013 St Peter's school has 344 pupils, of which 150 live at the school during term time (many whom are orphans, vulnerable or very poor children within the parish).  Its new sister school, our Lady of Consolation has 118 pupils and the Sacred Heart nursery school has 28 pupils.

The school has no formal Government or Church support – it has to find its own means. The aim of the school is to bring in children from all around the parish, from whatever faith or none, whose parents cannot even afford the meagre costs (books, uniform, food) of sending them to local government primary schools.

St Peter's Life-Line was started in the summer of 2009 after hearing cries of desperation from the founders, during a famine period and in the violent aftermath of the Kenyan elections of 2008.

The aims within the school are to raise funds for priority capital projects, the feeding programme, school fees and salaries. The charity also funds the incredible life saving and life changing programme which fights against Female Genital Mutilation and new for 2012 they have created and established a micro finance programme for women within the community.  Donors also have the opportunity to provide funds for other, smaller items which are urgently needed. St Peter's Life-Line aims to work in a sustainable manner, helping to bring long lasting legacy. Wherever possible, items are bought locally or nationally to further aid the economy of Kenya and the local people.

St Peter's Life-Line believes that every child has the right to receive a primary education, (as set out in Article 28, The Convention on the Rights of the child, UNICEF) and that poverty should not prevent that from happening. They have seen the HOPE that education can bring to individuals and families helping to give them a more secure future to families who are trapped in the cycle of poverty.


ST PETER’S LIFE-LINE – FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 7th July 2017

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi”

 

I took the opportunity between my wife, Ros’, hip operations, to make a short-notice visit to St Peter’s, and have just returned after a wonderful 10 day visit.

 

The fickle rains again petered out, so the maize harvest has largely failed, but there is some consolation in the production of the faster, lower growing crops such as sorghum, millet, peas and greeny grams. As ever, it is a situation that we will keep a constant watch over.

 

In connection with this scenario, the government has designated our area (Ngambang’gombe) a separate sub-district which will now qualify as a ‘hardship area’, and subject to some government relief.

 

In a very full programme I visited our schools, had the chance to talk and engage with teachers and children, and again marvel at their ambition to better their lives through education. I saw all our sponsored Transforming Lives primary school pupils (total 47), who as ever expressed their gratitude for your support.

 

I interviewed all our secondary school sponsored pupils (total 18), and will forward individual  letters of thanks and their report forms to sponsors in due course.

 

I spent an interesting morning with our Project Director, Veronica, exploring the business and practical case for bee keeping and honey production as a micro finance activities for our ladies. Very promising, and we will investigate further. We are also exploring the not-often-spoke-about provision of affordable sanitary wear for women, again as a community service and/or micro finance prospect.

 

I visited two community forums organised by Veronica, fiercely debating the issues of FGM. There are still some communities who insist on clinging to the culture of female circumcision, but encouraged by the successes we have experienced elsewhere, we are confident that with persistent education and discussion, this cruel practice will be eliminated.

 

I visited two government primary schools (out of six, where we are feeding 1,111 children) where our lunchtime feeding programme is running. Seeing these children with full tummies and bags of energy was so encouraging. One head teacher showed me proof positive that academic achievement was also being raised in her school with the Mean Score of Class 8 in their national exam rising to 234/500 in Dec 2016 from 223 in 2015 before the programme started, and I know this is similar with the other schools. I would love to add at least another 500 children to the programme for 2018, but at present we have no funds in prospect to feed any of the schools (approx £22,500 needed!).

 

I attended a meeting with the formidable ladies of the micro finance Management Board, and as ever I was very encouraged and impressed with the growth and progress of this very successful scheme. As usual I was put against the wall to part with more funds for particular purposes – I try to resist….

 

One of our lovely donors insisted that we give our schools a ‘special treat’ – which we did by having a gathering at St Peter’s of our four schools (over 700 kids) to partake in a magnificent feast, with, on the menu, a cow, masses of rice and heaps of veggies! All schools put on songs and dances, and we partied for most of the day! It was a treat – a true family gathering without any VIPs to impress, or programme to try and hold to. We also formally exchanged banners between our newly twinned schools – Our Lady of Consolation, Kathwana, and Puriton Primary, Somerset.

 

I made one of my regular visits to Rita, the amazing Italian lady in a nearby mission station, who has devoted her life to raising orphan children in the children’s home that she built and operates.

  

There are many, many cases of heartbreak in this community. I met Winnie, a young mum with 6 children. Her father had disowned her, and her husband committed suicide as a result of a family feud. She is suffering from breast cancer, for which she had an operation, but was unable to pay the bill. She was discharged from hospital, and there has been no follow-up action such as biopsy reports or ongoing treatment. Her community is giving her what support they can, but she is living hand to mouth, as she is unable to do any heavy work,

which women do to earn some money. We will directly and practically support Winnie as best we can, as

directed by Fr Frankline. One immediate way is to take on one of her sons – Peter – a lovely, bright lad, as one of our Transforming Lives pupils, where he will board at St Peter’s and be looked after.

 

On my return an email awaited me from the Trustees of the Pickwell Foundation  (http://www.thepickwellfoundation.org.uk ) informing me of our successful bid for £14,000 for our water supply scheme to St Peter’s. Another amazing miracle, demonstrating the power of prayer!

 

Doreen, the school and parish administrator, has recovered from her recent illnesses.

 

Fr Frankline is due in court for another hearing today (Friday) regarding his traffic accident.

 

So far, the lead-up to the elections (8 Aug) has been peaceful.

 

News of my visit will go up on over the next days on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/St-Peters-Life-Line-328519129029/); those who don’t have (or don’t want!) a Fb account, you can see these posts on our website: http://www.stpeterslifeline.org.uk/news/ - scroll down the box below ‘Latest news from the St Peter’s community’.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

“And when you pray…”

 And when you pray, do not imitate the hypocrites: they love to say their prayers standing up in the synagogues and at the street corners for people to see them; I tell you solemnly, they have had their reward. But when you pray, go to your private room, and when you have shut the door, pray to your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward you.  Mt 6:5,6

 

Meditation: “…let him see you…”

Another reason for our presenting ourselves before God is to speak to him, and hear him speak to us by his inspirations and the interior movement of his grace. And one of these two benefits can never fail us in prayer. If we can speak to our Lord, let us speak, let us praise him, let us listen to him. If we cannot speak to him because we are hoarse, let us stay nevertheless in his presence and do him reverence. He will see us there; he will be pleased with our patience; and he will look with favour on our loving silence.

Whenever, then, you come near to our Lord, speak to him if you can. If you cannot, remain there, let him see you, and do not trouble yourself about anything else.                         Jean-Nicolas Grou (d1803)

 

 “God is great…”

 Let there be rejoicing and gladness

for all who seek you.

Let them say forever: God is great,”

who love your saving help.  Ps 70:5

 

We give thanks and praise for…

Safe travels and marvellous encounters during David’s visit

All our donors who give so generously

Progress on eliminating FGM

The benefits of the current primary schools’ feeding programme

Being recognized as a hardship area

Our very special schools’ treat

The Pickwell Foundation grant for our water project

Rita and her gift of love and care for her orphans

Doreen’s healing

 

We pray for…

Provision of sufficient food

Continuing development of micro finance projects

Ongoing successful elimination of FGM

Successful interaction between our newly twinned schools

Healing for Winnie and provision for her family

Justice at Fr Frankline’s next court hearing

Continuing peaceful lead-up to the elections

 

 

Anyone who humbles himself will be exalted. Mt 23:12


FIRST FRIDAY PRAYERS – 5 MAY 2017

 

“Together in prayer – Umoja kwa maombi”

 

This month, as we see the close of Eastertide approaching, we celebrate the conclusive act of Jesus’ ministry on earth with His Ascension in to heaven.

 

As you all know, we had an astounding response to our Dosh4Nosh appeal, and were able to meet all our hopes and aspirations for feeding our St Peter’s community during this difficult time – meeting last term’s food debt, feeding families during the school holidays and boosting the food budget ready to face next term.

 

Despite the feeding programme, many children will be very glad to get back to school this month, knowing that their tummies will be kept full every day!

 

Although there has been some rain reported in the area it needs to persist to bring in a full harvest come August. I have been tracking the weather forecasts there on an App – and the rain clouds seem to keep stubbornly away from Tharaka!

 

Our programme to eliminate FGM continues this month with the start of community forums, where robust debates take place with community members – fuelled by a hearty lunch that we provide! Many of the more conservative members and elder women are gradually coming round to recognising the realities of the awful health and social consequences of FGM to their girls.

 

Our proposed water irrigation scheme is out to experts in this country for evaluation and comment.

 

Another 97 loans were made to our micro finance ladies – bringing the total now to 1,605 loans made. Amazing! We are also taking on another lady to help with the growing administrative load of our FGM, micro finance, and primary schools’ feeding programme – healthy growth!

 

Our separate, primary schools’ feeding programme, feeding over 1,000 children at six government schools, will recommence at start of term, much to the relief of parents – and kids – at those schools! Although sufficient stocks for next term are already in place, we will need funding for the Christmas term.

 

Lord, as we now turn our face towards Yours, let time stand still in our busy lives. We take a moment to seek You, to talk to You, to listen to You. Lord God, by Your Holy Spirit, we ask that You inspire us to open our minds and hearts to Your loving attention. Let us meet with You now in prayer.

 

Bread to eat

 “That”, said Moses to them, “is the bread the Lord gives you to eat. This is the Lord’s command: everyone must gather enough of it for his needs, one omer a head, according to the number of persons in your families. Each of you will gather for those who share his tent.”                                   Ex 16:15

 

“I saved you…”

Ring out your joy to God our strength,

shout in triumph to the God of Jacob.

Raise a song and sound the timbrel,

the sweet-sounding harp and the lute.

 

A voice I did not know said to me:

“I freed your shoulder from the burden;

 your hands were freed from the load.

You called in distress and I saved you”. Ps 81:1-3,5-7

 

Meditation: Seek the Lord

 “Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.” (Jn 20:11)

With Mary, we may seek the Lord, weeping when he is not to be found – in prayer, in worship, in our daily round of activities – only to come upon him in the most unexpected of places and discover that he has been there all along. It was we who did not recognise him. As he promised, our risen Lord is with us always.

 

“I am with you always…”

 The eleven disciples set out for Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had arranged to meet them. When they saw him they fell down before him, though some hesitated. Jesus came up and spoke to them. He said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, make disciples of all nations; baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teach them to observe all the commands I gave you.

And know that I am with you always; yes, to the end of time”.                          Mt 28:16-20

 

We give thanks and praise for…

 

Our very generous donors

Provision of food to families most in need

The start of the rains

The success of our team battling the scourge of FGM

The continuing healthy and fruitful growth of the micro finance scheme

 

We pray for…

 

Continuing rain, rain, rain!

Continuing clarity to the community over consequences of FGM

Successful grant applications for ARP and water provision

Continuing blessings on our supporters for their kindness and generosity

The means to meet the challenges of this term

A blessing on all teachers, staff and pupils at our four schools for the start of term

 

“Now as he blessed them, he withdrew from them and was carried up to heaven”. Lk 24:51

 

Many of you have listened to David Baldwin talk about the work undertaken by St Peter's Life-Line at our Harvest suppers over the past few years. As a parish we are proud to help this small, grass roots charity educate and feed to young people in this desperately poor semi arid region in Kajuki, Kenya.

 

Drought disaster in this region is not 'news' anymore, but David has written that the current water shortage has caused a huge increase in the cost of providing a hot meal once a day for the 700 students at four schools (Please see David's email dated 21st February below). Fr Frankline is almost at breaking point. 

 

A portable water pump has been donated to support the irrigation scheme near the Sacred Heart School, but until the next seasonal rains arrive in April/May, additional funds are needed to maintain the food budget.

 


HOW CAN WE HELP? 


Donate directly through their donation page: https://mydonate.bt.com/donation/start.html?charity=75087


David sent us the pictures below.

On the left, one family's crop terrace during drought. On the right, the same terrace after rain.


Kajuki Drought Terraces            St Peters Lifeline Terraces after Rain  


Fr Frankline surveying the school crops, withered and dying.


Fr Frankline Surveying the Crops






 

Below is the email from David and Susie, outlining the current desperate situation in Kajuki:

21 February 2017

Dear Lovely Supporters All,

 

I had an email from Fr Frankline a couple of days ago telling me of problems that are besetting him "almost to breaking point" - a couple being transportation problems of day scholars to school who live some distance away, with our faithful minibus now in terminal decline, and failure in his efforts to try and encourage one of our sponsored tertiary students to take her studies seriously, and us, sadly, having to discontinue her sponsorship. However his biggest concern is feeding the kids at our four schools (over 700) over this and next term, now that shortage of food prices are rocketing in the face of the severe drought gripping this area.

 

In his words: “The climatic condition has deteriorated terribly. Food prices have hiked enormously. I was studying the budget and I’m so scared of the survival of these two terms before there is a harvest.” I heard this just before I heard news that the Kenya government has declared a drought disaster in the affected ares (ours being one).

 

The next seasonal rains are not due until Apr/May, for a harvest in Jul/Aug - if they come. In amongst all the bombardment of other daily news, we read and hear about ongoing droughts (and now the awful famines not so far from us in S Sudan) in a rather detached way. But for us, these are real people whom we know personally and love, and it affects us personally. This of course, is nothing new in this area - and is why we initially engaged with St Peter’s by throwing that life-line to save them, at that time, from closure.

 

I have sent some immediate aid - £500 to boost the food budget, but if it goes anything like the last time they suffered severe drought conditions we had to raise about £5,000 over the period to maintain a full and healthy diet for our kids. On social, and other media we will be launching a “Dosh for Nosh" appeal.

 

In the longer term two generous donors have given sufficient to buy a portable water pump (£1,600) to start an irrigation scheme on fertile fields adjacent to one of our schools (Sacred Heart), that are now available for this use, and are very close to a river. This should give some degree of food security and cushion to the cash budget.

 

This is by way of an update. I am always very reluctant indeed to ask of you who are already so committed to our community. So I hope you don’t find it totally disingenuous of me just to say that only if you feel moved to give anything, no matter how small, it is easily done from our donation page: https://mydonate.bt.com/donation/start.html?charity=75087

 

I am in constant touch with Fr Frankline, and I know he is so grateful for the prayers, support and encouragement that he is, and will be given, by you all.

 

If you do have any queries, please do get back in touch,

 

As ever,

 

David & Susie



Below is a letter from David, following his recent visit to Kajuki and receipt of our Harvest Donations:

                                                                                                                                 13 Oct 16

Dear Lovely Supporters from Headley and Box Hill,

I am writing to thank you all so very much for your amazing donations to St Peter’s Life-Line from your Harvest Supper!

Having just returned from my visit out to St Peter’s I was able to see, for the first time, our primary schools lunchtime feeding programme in action, with the 740 or so children at 5 local government primary schools. It was clearly evident from all concerned, how appreciative they all are of this initiative. I heard of a comment from one person, “How is it that a complete stranger can come along and feed our children – we are so grateful”.

Your donation has given great encouragement for us to increase our programme by at least one other school for next year, and after I’ve done a few more sums (and said some more prayers!) we might be able to increase to yet another school - making a total of 7, with over 1,000 children. Please pray too!

It was extremely hot, dry and very dusty out there. There are obvious food shortages generally, and food is expensive. Most of the planting has been done as they wait expectantly for the coming rains at the end of the month. They really need a good harvest come Jan/Feb next year.

All other projects are thriving – the four schools we support, the anti-FGM initiative that we run, and the continually burgeoning micro finance scheme – thanks be to God!

Asenteni sana tena – many thanks once again!

Blessings, as ever, David


St Peter's Lifeline School Pupil         St Peters Children

Grain St Peters   Lunch St Peters