Fresh from the garden!

I love living in a farming community!

Everyone shares in the disappointment of a harvest that yields no crop in years of drought, 

but recently we’ve had ground quenching rain that allows us to celebrate the victory of bountiful harvests!

These are all fresh from the garden, and from a girl who LOVES her veggies, I could not be more excited!  I’m off to make zucchini bread!

Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close

Email sent to Carla, our church secretary, on May 15, 2012

Hi Carla!

I hope this email finds you doing well.  I'm coming to you for some direction on an idea that I have regarding fundraising for my next trip to Africa. 

I already have people wanting to make monetary contributions towards my next trip to Kenya at the end of this year.  The idea that I have is, if these people make the checks payable to me, they don't get an tax advantages because I am not a non-profit organization.  Could and would First Lutheran Church be able to or interested in accepting these donations on my behalf?  A couple of reasons for this question...first, any people that contribute would have a taxable deduction at tax time.  Secondly, the company I work for will match any associate donations 2:1.  For example, if I contribute $1 to a non-profit organization, they will send an additional $2. 

Do you know the answers to these questions or is there someone that I can ask/meet with?  Any help you can provide would be beneficial!

Thank you,

Jordan Bremerman


Response from Mrs. Moczygemba, Treasurer of the Church Council

Jordan,
  Please let me know if you get this e-mail.  I sent you an e-mail last week, but may not have sent it to the right address.
The Council of FLC would be glad to help you with your next trip to Keyna.  We have a fund set up for anyone who
would like to make donations.  Anyone can send a check to the Church and just put a designation on the check that
it is for your trip to Africa. We would cut you a check shortly before you leave on your trip.  We are all extremely proud
of you and your willingness to spread God's word to the far corners of the earth!! In fact, I am somewhat jealous that you
have caught the meaning of discipleship at such a young age.  It has taken me a life time to learn what your already know!!
Keep in touch and all the best.  Patty Moczygemba

Pickle Making {in pictures}

 Washing of the cucumbers, by hose, in the front yard.

The simple ingredients that make {in my opinion} the worlds best snack!

 

 Some of us like 'em hot, so this one has a jalapeno for heat!

 This is the worst part of the job, stuffing cucumbers in the jars like puzzle pieces.

 About as good as they're gonna get packed.

Sunshine Pickle recipe, trying something new this year.

Pour the water, salt, vinegar mixture over the cucumbers.

Seal the lids by water bath.

And now they are sitting in the sun for the next 14 days.  I'll be sure to let you know how they taste, or you just might be a lucky recipient of a jar!

And because I *absolutely* love my new cabinets my uncle made for me, I decided to share them with you.  They are newly decorated and still a work in progress- watch out Hobby Lobby!!

Happy Birthday Ava!

There are times in our lives when time seems to drag... and drag... and drag.

Then there are those times, usually when you want them to drag, that just fly by.  

Today, is my sweet niece Ava's 1st birthday!  I can't believe how time has just flown! 

Happy Birthday baby girl!  I love you more than words can describe!

Ring, Ring.... It's Nairobi Calling

It's been five months since I've returned from Kenya, but there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of the people there.  The same people that I've come to love as my own family.

This mornings routine was much different that it usually is.  You see, once the alarm goes off, usually I head to the bathroom to brush my teeth and get ready for the day.  But this morning, I was more worried about uploading the new music I downloaded (man, I sound like a nerd) to my iPod from the computer. This means that I had to go into the office/spare bedroom which is definitely not on my list of priorities.

To my surprise, I had TWO missed calls from David Kariuki on Skype.  David is the social worker that we first met when we went to Tumaini in 2010 and lived at the home.  He had tried once at 4:30am, and again about 5:30am.  The best part about missing his calls: HE WAS STILL ON SKYPE!!  So I quickly called him and he answered. 

We talked about the recent happenings with him, his family, Isaac, and Tumaini.  Everyone is doing well. All except for Isaac.  He's back on the streets again.  This is now the 5th time in a years timeframe that he's gone back to the streets.  David said that he just saw him yesterday and that he had a bandage on his head.  He ran before David could question him about it but he was sure he was either beaten or had fallen and hit his head while he was high.  My heart breaks for that boy.  I wish he could understand that life is so much better in a home, but the people there do not understand him or the life that he's lived.  I pray that when I go back, that I might see him.  Just to talk to him, hug him, and let him know that there are people halfway around the world that love him dearly.  I pray God keeps him safe until then.

Cruising the Carribean

The Aftershocks

Wednesday will mark the one month anniversary since I've returned from Tumaini. Forgive me if I've already shared this information, but while I was there, I was informed that the small boy, Isaac, that captured my heart last year, had run away from Tumaini. It had been 5 months that he had been gone.

I was so upset that everyone acted like it was no big deal. Mum and Paul, the manager, seemed like there was nothing they could do and really didn't want to talk about it. They focused their time on the children that remained at the home. I on the other hand, didn't understand why they hadn't gone to get him, why they'd let a boy, 14 years old (but looked like he was 10) live on the streets by himself, that they would let this child of God be disposable like so many other children are in Africa. I was more than bothered by it and found myself crying and trying to take matters into my own hands. Here is the journal entry from that night:

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

What a wonderful surprise! James came back today. He walked into Mum’s house about dinner time. He came in with his sweater on and his hood on his head. After looking at him for about 3 seconds, I jumped up and gave him a huge hug. He said that he had missed me so much. It was so good to see him. We only have 2 ½ days left here and we are going to make the most of it!

He says tomorrow we are going to share stories with one another. I’ve missed him so much. I asked about Isaac and he told me that he wants money and didn’t want to go to school- that’s why he’s still on the streets. David Kariuki told me that he wished to take me to the streets to see Isaac because he talked a lot about me. I don’t know how I’d be able to handle that. It breaks my heart just to think about the condition he might be in. Then, selfishly, what if when I walk up, he doesn’t recognize me because he is high? I wrote to David and told him that I wished to go look for Isaac if he is willing to take me. I’ll pray about it and let God lead me. Until then, I pray that he is safe and realizes that he has a very good life at Tumaini and comes back.

As much as I wanted to go back to the streets, I wasn't sure that I was called to do so. After some thought about how it would effect me, and Isaac, I sent this email to David:

I hope you are safely traveling back to Nairobi and that this note finds you doing well when you read it. I have been thinking about the comment you made about taking me to the streets to see Isaac. I would love that very much if you are willing to help me look for him. We fly back to the US on Dec 24th and our flight does not leave until 11:30pm, so I was thinking that if we get into Nairobi early enough, Kennedy can take us to meet you somewhere and we can look for him until it's time to go to the airport? Let me know your thoughts. I know it's Christmas Eve and if you'd rather spend it with your family, I can certainly understand that. I just miss him very much and think about him very often!

But it wasn't mean to be. David was spending time with his family and was not able to take us to find him. I've been in touch with a former employee of Heart for Africa through her blog and I think you should take a look at it here.

She and her husband Steve, have made it their mission to go out into the unsafe streets of Nairobi and rescue not just Isaac, but both Joseph's that ran from the home 3 weeks ago. God bless them!

The life these boys knew before being taken to Tumaini consisted of huffing glue to stay warm, make them forget they were hungry, and it was cheaper for them to buy. They knew stealing, beatings, running from law, and being a family for safety. You would think that being at a home where they are fed, clothed, bathed, and taught would be perfect for them. But ever since David Kariuki, once a street boy himself, left the home, these boys feel they have no one to turn to, no one to help them cope, no one to help them understand. My heart breaks for these children.