Saturday, May 15, 2021

Slow Return

Hi friends,

I haven't been posting for awhile.

I have been quite busy with the needs in Kenya. The one friend I posted about last time has now been released from hospital and is recovering at home.

In the meantime, another Kenyan man I'm acquainted with through other contacts fell off a boda boda (motorbike taxi) and fractured his leg. These boda bodas can be quite dangerous.  I've known at least 4 people over the course of time who have had accidents and ended up in hospital.  This latest accident involved a man named Livingstone.  He spent a few days in hospital and has now been discharged with a cast on his leg to recover at home.

In Kenya if you go to hospital they will also check you for Covid.  If you test positive they will keep you in hospital or send you home with a prescription for medicines if you are not showing signs of medical distress.  Unfortunately Livingstone tested positive and so he needs help with the cost of the medications.  Thankfully he is not hospitalized for Covid treatment and we hope it remains that.  Truthfully though I am concerned about the possible exposure of his other family members. These are humble villagers and they live in very small homes.  Given he has a cast on his leg, someone has to take care of him.

We hope he can continue being treated at home and get better. He needs a variety of medications for a total of 10 days. As of the time of this post he will be going into his 3rd day of medications.

 

If you can help at all please donate to the Pay Pal account on the side bar.  If you make a donation and you have any problems sending it through please let me know as it happens from time to time.  I do not really like asking for funds.  On the other hand, as Christians who try and help others, we ought to let people know about the needs so they can help too if they are felt led to do it.  Some kind and generous people will never have an opportunity to help someone if no one ever brings the needs their notice.  This is, after all, a ministry we are doing in Kenya. It is not formalized through a registered organization though some day it may be.  It is ad hoc and really focussed on helping the very destitute who are not able to access help through organizations.  There are so many who fall between the cracks.  

I do as much as I can on my own with helpers in Kenya and I fund most of it myself. When the needs that come to my attention are too much for me on my own I post about the needs.  We could do so much more if we had more helpers but we do what we can. If  you feel led to help these people, you will know who you are.  If God is speaking to you, please be in touch. Thank you.



I've written from time to time about another young man, Alvin whom we assisted through the final years of  engineering degree.  He graduated with wonderful grades but it is next to near impossible to find work in Kenya.  He has been praying for open doors and God's leading his life. He has now moved on to what may be his life's calling and is now on the path to becoming a priest in the Catholic faith. He left a few days ago for the first phase of his multi-year training.  Though it isn't a job in engineering there may be opportunities to serve in his church with his background. Up to now we (mainly he) have been involved in getting him ready and getting all his needs in place (special clothing and other necessary items). He has been in seminary before as a high school student so the early part of studies will not be new to him. I wish him every happiness and success in life and in the ministry to come.

From time to time, I've mentioned a digital project I've been working on. It has eaten up a lot of time and energy but soon the main part will be done. Then I won't look at it again for a very long time. I'm so glad!

I've used the time in between the above activities to read a few books. Here is a collage of 4 books I'm currently reading or have read recently.  


My modest goal for the year was to read  25 book and I've now surpassed that goal.  I have several other books on the go and on hold at my local library but I will slow down a bit. I need to focus now on enjoying the summer ahead and doing some household projects and making more time in prayer and study.  There so many people in great need for a great many things, not just material needs but physical, emotional and spiritual needs as well.


Thursday night I bought a big ball of cotton yarn to make a few dish cloths. I rather like the multi-green colour. It reminds me of the spring season we are in. It feels good to pick up the needles again.

I'm not sure how often I'll be on line over the summer but I expect to pop in to various blogs and visit with you. I have already started doing it.  Hopefully I will have a chance to pop into my own blog too in between activities but I expect to resume normal blogging in the fall.  I don't even want to think about fall right now though it is one of my favourite seasons due to the crisp air and the beautiful, seasonal colours.  I am looking forward to enjoying the spring sunshine and beautiful colours as we move into the summer months.  Along that line, I have finally started working in my patio garden and once it starts blooming that is something I will post on this blog. I can't wait to see what it will look like in a few weeks.  The photo below is a before photo taken on Friday, May 14, 2021.


Stay safe







14 comments:

eileeninmd said...

Hello,
It is nice to see an update from you. I will keep your Kenya friends in my prayers. Reading is always one of my favorite things to do. Your patio garden will be lovely in bloom. We have a few flowers that bloom early and are hardy. We are having a chilly spring. Take care, stay safe! Have a happy weekend!

Terra said...

You are blessing people in Kenya with your support. I have projects I support too, like the American Bible Society which gives away Bibles through out the world. Together our efforts make a difference, don't they! Enjoy your garden, my garden is a source of joy for me, plus quite a lot of hard work.

Joyful said...

Hi Eileen, thank you for your kind words. I know we share a love of reading. It's such a nice hobby. Thanks too for praying for the Kenyans. We all appreciate it so much! Have a great week.

Joyful said...

Thank you Terra. You are a gem to support the Bible Society. I too love to help others get Bibles in underdeveloped nations especially and also to support the important work of Bible translators. How awesome when one can read the word in their own language. You speak my 'language' when it comes to the garden. I'm very sore today. It's a good thing I don't have much that really needs to be done and other stuff can wait until after the rain. Have a great week!

Pamela M. Steiner said...

PRaying now for your Kenyan friend with the broken leg and Covid. May the Lord speed healing to him and provide for all his needs. Thank you for being a humble and willing servant of the Lord. It is good to hear from you and know you are doing well and keeping busy with good projects. Love the dish cloth colors too! Very cheery and calming. I hope your garden will surpass all expectations! Looks like you've found some good books to keep you occupied in reading as well. Please take care and stay well. Thank you for visiting with me this morning as well. God bless you dear friend.

Joyful said...

Thank you my faithful blogging friend. I so much appreciate your comments and your prayers 🙏.

Jeanie said...

I love that you have your patio garden! It's always good to see what you are up to, especially after a bit of wait. It's good to know your one Kenyan friend has recovered and the other no so ill he can't be home. Isn't it nice to have spring at last?

Joyful said...

Hi Jeanie, I so agree that its great to have spring at last. After a year of largely being indoors it is such a blessing to have a little garden in which to work. Thank you for kind thoughts about the Kenyans. They can use it. Much love.

Rhodesia said...

Good to hear from you. I am struggling to keep up with blogs, the garden takes up so much of my time along with the kitchen. One day maybe we will be able to go out for the odd meal once again!!! I am hoping we might soon get some relaxation in lockdown and curfew, but it does not look like things will be lifted in a hurry.

Your patio garden is going to look good very soon now with spring around, though we are being washed away at present and I cannot keep up with the weeds!

Keep safe and have a good week, Diane

Joyful said...

Hi Diane,it's good to hear from you too. I understand what you mean about the garden taking up so much time. I feel that way too but you have a larger garden than I do and you also have several blogs to keep you busy. I hope you get some rest in between activities. I finished planting most of my garden now we get several days of rainfall. Later when the sun shines again the patio pavers need to be pressure washed.

stardust said...

I love the shades of green of the cotton yarn. It resembles the colors of your patio. Wish your Kenyan friends good sooner recovery.

Yoko

Joyful said...

Thank you Yoko for the good wishes for the Kenyans. Green is a great colour in nature and I find it very soothing. The other colours like reds, pinks, purple all give vibrancy and joy. I know you too enjoy the beauty in nature with all your wonderful walks and photos.

Jan said...

Hi Penny, it is good to hear about your friends in Kenya and how you are helping. I hope the fracture heals well and he is soon back to full health. Thank you for the book recommendations. I am looking forward to summer too, it will be good to see photos of your garden as you progress it. Take care and have an enjoyable summer season. I hope to pop in again soon, and maybe like you pop into my own blog....perhaps.

Joyful said...

Hi Jan, it's nice to see you again. Thank you for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate your positive thoughts for Livingstone's leg fracture.

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