FiveKennys

The Church in Muslim Communities

2012-01-28T21:00:00.003+03:00

While Kenya is a predominantly Christian nation, there are 3.7 million Muslims living in Kenya's crowded urban centres, coastal communities, and spread across the Northern Frontier. From the arid lands of North East Province to the narrow streets of Eastleigh, Muslim people live with their Christian neighbours interacting in the marketplace and the byways of life. Although Canadian Baptist Ministries has been serving in these communities for nearly thirty years, we continue to learn from our brothers and sisters within the African Church. Their experience and perspective has much to teach us, and the wider Body of Christ, about living in peace and cooperation with our Muslim neighbours, while standing in the assurance and hope of the Gospel. Their story has not been an easy one and at times has fallen into patterns of mistrust, tension and violence.

This past week, Sam Chaise, the general secretary of Canadian Baptist Ministries, posted an update by Aaron on his blog "Cut To the Chaise", about how the Church in Garissa is bonding together through the intense time of persecution and unrest that has hit Garissa and this region. Along with their deepening desire to strengthen the unity of the Church, it was encouraging to see the humility and sincere love for their Muslim neighbour shine through their conversations. Rejecting the urge to strike back, the pastors spoke of forgiveness and reconciliation -- This is God at work!

You can read the post and view short video clips of two of the pastors by visiting Sam's blog through the link below.

Click here to read Aaron's post in:

Cut To The Chaise

Rosslyn

2012-01-25T17:24:00.003+03:00

Saying farewell!

Joann and Irene at the Nest

As the New Minas ladies prepared for their return to Canada, we had some fun together at the Rosslyn River Garden and visiting our friends at the Nest Children's home.

So many answers to prayer during these past two weeks. The big praise early yesterday morning was the word that our friend was freed from Somalia - God is so good!

The ladies departed last night for Toronto

We are thankful for all their help these past two weeks

Sack Gardens in Eastleigh

2012-01-24T20:58:00.005+03:00

Eastleigh, Nairobi

Erica and Coral visiting a home in Juja, Eastleigh

Earlier this week, the team from Nova Scotia joined us in Eastleigh as we helped Laura Muema following up with the eight refugee women who had won our vertical gardening contest in Eastleigh through Canadian Baptist Ministries Urban gardening project. Each of the women had successfully started sack gardening outside of the Eastleigh Community Centre and are now having a regular harvest of fresh produce for their families.

Climbing narrow stairways in the crowded

apartment blocks of Eastleigh

Laura Muema presenting prizes to

two of the Somali Women in Eastleigh

Each of the winners of the contest (8 women in the top three teams)

received food bundles to help supplement their families diet

Sack Gardens in Eastleigh

Guardians of Hope - Kigumu Upper

2012-01-24T20:08:00.008+03:00

The members of the New Minas Baptist STM presenting gifts

to Henry, Patrick and representatives of the

African Christian Church & Schools (ACC&S)

Today we had the joy of travelling with our friends from New Minas Baptist Church into the dramatic highlands of Kenya's Central Province to visit with beneficiaries of the Guardians of Hope HIV and AIDS ministry. We climbed some steep and dusty trails on our journey to the homes and businesses of members of the Guardians of Hope project in Kigumu Upper. This is a peaceful rural region bordering the jagged Aberdare Mountains. Each family lives on small land holding rich in lush tea bush and kitchen gardens.

Joann visiting with a committee member

from the Kigumu Upper GOH

Please continue to pray for Henry and Patrick as they give leadership to the ACC&S GOH. Under their direction, the GOH is making a deep impact upon their community.

We were very encouraged to meet GOH members today who have benefitted from the project and are now "paying forward" the help they were once given to assist other families affected by HIV and AIDS. Paul and Jane are two Guardians living positively with HIV with their three children. Through ongoing ARV treatment, they are both strong and building a good life for their family. They recently shared their first calf from the heifer they had received from the GOH project several years prior. The calf was given to a neighbour, Charity, who is also HIV positive.

Aaron, Erica and Yattani

at the ACC&S Headquarters in Thika

We also had a chance today to visit with our colleague Yattani, who is living in the beautiful town of Thika with his family. While Yattani works on his Masters degree, he is also dedicating a week each month to connect with our CBM NEP program in Garissa supporting CBM's efforts in building cooperation with local pastors in Garissa. In Thika, Yattani will be serving under Henry Mwangi as part of the ACC&S Development team and lecturing in their Bible school.

Fivekennys January 2012

2012-01-21T14:40:00.000+03:00

Our first audio podcast for 2012 is now available on iTunes or directly through our pod bean site through the link below.

Join us this month as we listen to three pastors from CBM's recent Garissa Pastors Conference, who share prayer concerns for the Church in Kenya's North East Province.

Fivekennys January 2012

Interview Video

2012-01-21T00:32:00.001+03:00

You can watch this short video interview with Erica and leaders in Canadian Baptist Ministries Self Help projects in Kenya here or download it directly from Vimeo at http://vimeo.com/35389128

Untitled from Aaron & Erica Kenny on Vimeo.

Self Help Group Conference

2012-01-20T19:15:00.005+03:00

Participants in CBM's first Women's

Self Help Group Conference in Nairobi

This past week, Erica hosted our first Nairobi Women's Self Help Group Conference with representatives from all 12 of the Muslim Self Help Groups in Eastleigh and from three Guardians of Hope groups from the Africa Brotherhood Church. We are so thankful for the contribution of Laura Muema, Mercy Mwikali, Aisha Hussein, and the women of the New Minas STM who all contributed.

A highlight of the conference was having members of the Guardians of Hope working together with members of the Somali SHGs from Eastleigh -- the spirit of cooperation and sisterhood was felt throughout the conference.

Aaron & Erica wearing gifts from our Somali friends

Solidarity Ceremony

At the close of the conference, each of the Muslim and Christian women came together in a sign of love and support, and presented each other with solidarity necklaces made by the women of the Noor Self Help Group. We thank God for the respect and acceptance demonstrated by all of the participants, and for their desire to work together in unity.

Sports Day 2012

2012-01-20T12:16:00.003+03:00

Sport's Day 2012

Today was the annual sports day at Rosslyn Academy. We joined Tristan and Emma to cheer on the RED TEAM for a day of races and track & field events.

Picnic on the field side

Emma with her friends Diana, Naomi and Hannah

GO RED TEAM!!!

Michael Lower Cheering

for his green team mates

Tristan and his friends making a RED team pyramid

In the end, RED was victorious winning the most points

and the "Spirit" award -- sorry Michael

It is not easy being green!

Smile Dresses for Guardians of Hope

2012-01-20T09:04:00.004+03:00

Mercy and Erica with Smile Dresses

from First Baptist Church, Charlottetown

This week, we had the joy of spending some time with Mercy Mwikali, the project officer from the Africa Brotherhood Church's Guardians of Hope. Mercy and representatives from three of the ABC GOH groups participated in a Self Help Group Conference hosted buy Erica, with members of the New Minas Baptist Church, STM. At the end of the conference, Erica presented Mercy with Smile Dresses for Guardians caring for young AIDS orphans within the program.

Please continue to remember the Guardians of Hope and the important ministry they have in caring for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS throughout Africa.

Mosquito Nets in Garissa

2012-01-17T21:35:00.002+03:00

Garissa, North East Province

Kenya

Canadian Baptist Ministries drought response program in Kenya's North East Province continues amid insecurity as CBM continues to work with local groups and community leaders in supporting vulnerable communities along the Tana River. We wanted to share with you this brief report from our CBM colleague William Wako, who has been living in Garissa and serving this community.

Greetings from Garissa,

After a long drought situation in North Eastern Province, God graciously provided rainfall towards the end of last year. The rainfall was good news to people, the few existing animals and the land that has severely dried up by the long heat. On the other hand the rains also came with challenges, for instance, due to the flooding all the water pans, dams and rivers burst its bucks and rendered some people homeless, besides causing disease outbreak.

Among the areas that are worst affected are the Bakuyu community, next to Iftin location, and Bula Bakari of Korakora location. Both of these communities are the marginalized tribe of Waliwana (Malakote), and they live right at the banks of Tana River. Beside being rendered homeless by the flood, both of the communities suffered from disease outbreak because of poor sanitation. One of the major crises was Malaria breakout because of the pollution and bush environment of the river.

Upon visiting and assessing the situation, CBM established the urgent need of intervention with Mosquito nets to save the lives of children and pregnant mothers who are the most vulnerable group of the community. It was in early December last year, through the organization of Yattani and myself, we distributed mosquito nests for 80 vulnerable families with assistance of community elders and leaders.

Before issuing the mosquito nets we gathered the community and offered training about, ways of treating the nets and how to use it. One month later, I visited the community to assess the impact of the project and found out that the community are not only using the mosquito nets but also treasuring the gift because it was of higher quality than any they have had before. According to Mzee Juma, the use of the nets drastically reduced the spread of malaria particularly among children and pregnant mothers. Similar statement was expressed by Abdulahi of Bula Bakari, who insisted that the quality of that mosquito net was also recommended by public health office from Red Cross who visited them. Also the supply of the mosquito net to this communities help our relationship grow better, that was clear in the way they express themselves.

In addition, the exercise build community trust and confidence with CBM and that we offer quality services. The both community registered their sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Organization for concern and quality service.

Shalom

William

Speaking with William tonight, we expresses his thanks to CBM and for everyone's support that makes such interventions possible. On behalf of our team here in Kenya, thank you for upholding this ministry in your prayers.

On the Ground

2012-01-15T20:43:00.003+03:00

"ON THE GROUND"

Heather, Judy, Joann, Coral and Erica with

Mama Turtle, at the 140

We have had a full and wonderful weekend of orientation and preparation with the New Minas team as they have started pulling together their ministry plans with Erica. The ladies will have a variety of experiences over the next two weeks as they come along side Canadian Baptist Ministries self help group projects in Nairobi and with the Guardians of Hope.

The ladies working through plans to help

strengthen the Noor self help group

Ava, Emma and Joann "African Style"

We want to thank everyone who has been upholding this team in your prayers. Please continue to pray as we prepare for the upcoming women's self help group conference this Wednesday and Thursday.

New Minas Baptist Church

2012-01-14T07:35:00.003+03:00

The New Minas Short Term Mission

Coral, Heather, Erica, Judy, Joann

Last evening, Erica and I had the joy of welcoming four women from the Annapolis Valley of Nova Scotia who will be volunteering with us in CBM's Urban Muslim Ministry program over the rest of January. They are being led by Coral Rafuse of New Minas Baptist Church. After crossing the city, we had a wonderful visit together at the 140 Guest House which will be there home for the next two weeks.

Praying for the Church in Garissa

2012-01-13T15:53:00.012+03:00

Garissa Pastors & Church Leaders Gathering

Ruiru, Kenya

This week, we are facilitating a conference with 18 pastors from the North East Province capital of Garissa with our CBM colleagues. Together we have been blessed to fellowship with this courageous group of Christian leaders who shepherd Christ followers in a community which has becoming increasingly volatile over the past year. In many ways this has been a historic gathering as the Garissa pastors have committed to work together in mutual support and cooperation for the strengthening of God's Kingdom and the building up of the Body of Christ. Moreover, they have demonstrated great sensitivity and wisdom as they seek to build peace and live out the love of Christ toward their Muslim neighbours.

Sharing our hopes & fears

Timothy Bannister sharing about the care of creation

and central importance of food security in the holistic

ministry of the church.

Throughout the gathering, the pastors worked together in accessing the effectiveness of their ministry and encouraging one another on how they might work together in new ways. We were impressed by their honesty and humble spirits. The room was a diverse mix of not only 19 Christian denominations, but pastors who have served in Garissa for a wide span of time -- from "patron pastors" with 34 and even 36 years experience in Garissa, all the way to those who have been in Garissa for merely a few months. One pastor declared himself the "baby" as he has been leading his church for only 7 days. And yet, the openness and teachability of the entire group was evident as everyone spoke equally showing deep respect and interest.

We came into this gathering not knowing most of the Christian leaders with whom we would be working with, or the dynamics that we would meet, but we were blown away by the maturity and wisdom of these pastors. It is evident that God's spirit is at work in this community!

Colin Godwin teaching the pastors about

models of Christian and Muslim Relations

ACC&S pastor Samuel, Yattani and Aaron

On Thursday evening, Yattani lead a service of prayer for the church and the community, during the prayer time one of the pastors received the devastating news that 8 of his friends and family members had been taken by a group of Somali bandits. It was a painful reminder of the constant threat and anxiety that both the community and the church are living through in Garissa. Our brother had little sleep as he prayed for the hostages.

This morning, during our time of worship the news came back that all 8 hostages were released unharmed. "I thank God for what he has done!" shared pastor Mutemi. "When I heard 8 were captured, I feared as 7 had just been killed in another community by bandits. Praise God they have been released and they are safe! The cattles are gone, but my brothers are safe!!!!"

It was an incredible answer to prayer

Pastor Ibrahim MaKunyi

One of the self proclaimed "patrons" or Church fathers in Garissa, Pastor Ibrahim Makunyi Kamwara leads the East Africa Pentecostal Church in Garissa where he has served for 34 years. Pastor Ibrahim spoke powerfully about forgiveness to myself and a small group of pastors, as he shared about the November 6th grenade attack against his congregation which killed two of his church members and seriously injured four others. The attack happened during a Saturday night and early Sunday morning prayer time in a house on the Pentecostal compound. According to pastor Ibrahim the extremists who attacked the church have just been apprehended by police. "What do we have to fear! God is with us!" he shared. But even with such great faith, all of the churches in Garissa do live with fear. "We are on edge." another pastor shared. "I know these threats are affecting my health. I trust my God, but it is hard."

Insecurity is not only felt among the pastors, but for their congregations it is a daily concern. Pastor Ibrahim shared how much it meant for him to know that Christians around the world were praying for his congregation and the churches in Garissa. Amongst such persecution, all of the pastors have come to appreciate the gift of Christian unity and fellowship.

"How can our friends in Canada and around the world be praying for the Church in Garissa?" I asked.

"Pray that the Church will be united."

"That we will compliment each other and not compete."

"That God's community will work together as and be light and ambassadors."

"That we will see God's Spirit end the insecurity and the fear."

BBC Article Link

The Gathering

2012-01-11T23:12:00.007+03:00

Watching the sun set over our conference centre

in Ruiru, Kenya

Over the next few days, we are helping to facilitate a gathering for pastors and Church leaders serving in Garissa, Kenya. As many of you know, this past year has been an extremely difficult time in Kenya's North East Province where threats and attacks against churches, public sites and individuals has become rampant. Please keep these pastors and their churches in your prayers, and remember the communities of Garissa that have suffered from insecurity and the militant activities of El Shabbab.

ACC&S pastor, Samuel, and our colleague William Wako

During the first evenings session

Ngong Hills

2012-01-08T15:09:00.013+03:00

The Beautiful Ngong Hills

This weekend, to celebrate the end of of kid's Christmas break, we took them for a night away in the beautiful Ngong Hills. Here are a few shots from our getaway!

Mommy and Emma at Ngong House

We stayed in their incredible family cottage called the

"Wrong House", an amazing log cabin.

the cabin nestled amongst the trees and flowers

Playing card games on the giant couch

Mommy, Tristan and Emma playing

N I N J A

Tea Party on the lawn

Taking a walk through the forest to see the tree houses

A happy boy with his bucket o'chicken

Our kids on the front porch of the cottage

Weekenders

2012-01-08T12:30:00.001+03:00

Enjoying a great Saturday in the Ngong Hills with our kids.

January 2012

2012-01-05T20:31:00.006+03:00

Laura Muema and Erica today in Nairobi

We are excited to begin 2012 with several new ministry initiatives with the Guardians of Hope, Urban outreach ministry and the CBM North East Province program. Today, we were laying out plans with our project officer, Laura Muema, as we prepare for an upcoming conference and curriculum development for CBM's self help group projects in Kenya.

Please remember us in prayer as we work together over the coming months to both strengthen the existing self help groups, and expand this ministry. We are looking forward to a conference on the importance of sisterhood in two weeks time, as we gather representatives from urban and rural self help groups to share how they have experienced the power of women helping women in their contexts. We are glad that a group of four women from New Minas Baptist Church, Nova Scotia, will be joining us for this time of training and encouragement.

Maureen and Wayne Morgan

Yesterday, we helped the Morgan family move into their new home at the Shade Language School in the beautiful tea hills above Nairobi. The Morgans have jumped right into life in Kenya, with Wayne bravely driving along the narrow and crowded roads from his first day -- please remember them in prayer this weekend as they move their son Sean and friend Jenny into University here in Kenya.

Picnic at the Kennys

18 Candles

Tristan made a yummy birthday treat for Sean Morgan,

who turned eighteen enroute to Kenya.

An unexpected guest looking for birthday cake

Giraffe in the Tree House

2012-01-05T15:44:00.007+03:00

H A P P Y

N E W Y E A R

Ava getting a kiss from Daisy the friendly Giraffe

Earlier this week, we had some fun showing our new team mates, the Morgan family, around Nairobi. On one of the mornings, we stopped in to visit the Giraffe Centre in Karen. Here are a few fun photos from our visit. You can follow along with Morgan's journey at their blog at:

www.morgansinkenya.blogspot.com

Tristan making friends

Tea time at the Giraffe Centre

Meet the Morgans

2012-01-02T22:33:00.006+03:00

New Year's Day Breakfast

This past Sunday, we were delighted to welcome our new CBM team mates, Wayne and Maureen Morgan, two of their sons, Sean & Michael, and their friend Jenny. The Morgan's will be serving with CBM in Kenya facilitating integral mission with the ACC&S. We are so thankful that they arrived without any trouble and that they are settling in well.

Maureen & Ava colouring at Java House

Touring Rosslyn Academy

where Michael will be attending

Emma with a fallen Weaver bird nest

Coming to the end of 2011

2011-12-31T09:49:00.017+03:00

Happy New Year!

To celebrate the end of 2011, we took our children

back to the Solar Ice Rink for a family skate.

It was a fun day slipping and sliding!

H A P P Y

N E W Y E A R !!!!

Baby Joanne at Mel & Kerry's place

We hope you have a wonderful New Year's Eve

Wherever you are this evening!

The Days of Christmas

2011-12-30T09:10:00.008+03:00

"Wacka, wacka!"

Erica and Emma on the way to the Muppet Movie

Although Erica and I are working from home this week, we are enjoying some great time in the evenings with our children and friends. We have enjoyed learning new games and playing old ones (Our kids are even learning to play Tiddly Winks for the first time). Nothing says reliving our childhood though, like going to the Muppet Show. We had a fun family date to the movies this week to see the latest Muppet movie. If you haven't seen it, it is a fantastic walk through memory lane for anyone who grew up watching Kermit and the variety show cast of Muppets and special guests each week. Although our children haven't grown up with the Muppets, or Sesame Street, the colourful characters are infectiously loveable.

Ava and TK ready for the Muppets

Visiting with our friend Kami

It has also been a great week of catching up with friends. Over the coming weekend, we will be meeting the Morgan family, our new team-mates who are arriving on New Year's Day from Canada. Please keep Wayne, Maureen and the children in your prayers as they prepare for the big journey ahead!

Dinner and card games with the Gilmer Family

Christmas Day 2011

2011-12-26T08:43:00.019+03:00

At last, the advent journey brought us to

Christmas Day and the lighting

of the Christ candle

We had a wonderful day at home yesterday with our children and a few friends. Although we miss the fun of a snowy white Canadian Christmas, it was great to be able to visit with our families through the magic of Skype -- it was the best connection we'e ever had!! We didn't get to chat with everyone, but we were thinking of you all -- Merry Christmas!!!!!!

The girls up early to see what Santa left

under the Christmas tree

Mommy gave us all new pyjamas

Ava in her new dress

Christmas Quilt

Tristan snuggling with his Christmas stash of gifts

The cool early morning soon melted away as the sun shone brightly and we enjoyed a beautiful Kenyan summer day... December begins our summer here south of the equator

Daddy and our little elves

Mommy and Ava

Emma ready for our Christmas Day party

Gobble gobble!

Ava, Kerry and Joanne at the Christmas feast!

Ava loved her little kitchen she made PlayDoh cookies

and "ironed" her clothes all day -- she is a busy little bee

Wacky Stacky with our friends Amy, Hans, Mel and Kerry

It is like jenga... with a blindfold

Oops!!!

Erica and Mel

MERRY

CHRISTMAS!!

Christmas Eve 2011

2011-12-24T23:11:00.003+03:00

Christmas Chameleon

It is Christmas Eve here in Nairobi, and the kids are already tucked in. Our three dogs are keeping watch for Santa as we head to bed as well. It was a great day of preparing for Christmas. We even braved the crowds at Village Market for lunch, on the way home we were met by this chameleon as he tip toed across our gate. Emma, our lizard hunter, scooped him up and made sure that his passage across our yard didn't meet any trouble from Henry, Reese or Hermione.

Emma with her new friend

Emma lighting the Advent candles for our

family Christmas Eve Service

After our Christmas Eve service, we followed our tradition of cuddling together in the living room and watching It's a Wonderful Life with Chinese take-out. Ava was beside herself with excitement for Christmas morning. The one present we all open on Christmas Eve is always new pyjamas, which is fun, but Ava has her sights on the packages under the tree.

For all our family and friends in Canada and around the world, we hope that you are enjoying a blessed Christmas Eve. May the Lord fill your Christmas with joy and laughter!

M e r r y C h r i s t m a s !!!

Smile Dresses

2011-12-23T09:46:00.018+03:00

Erica and Tristan distributing

Smile Dresses to children

This week we had the joy of sharing some Christmas cheer with children living in Haruma slum, near our home. We brought three baskets of sun dresses and bags of candy to the kids. They were thrilled as the entire community gathered at the local school.

Haruma Slum, Nairobi

Tristan walking to New Dawn School

with a group of neighbourhood kids

The "Smile Dresses" were a gift from women living in Prince Edward Island, Canada. Joyce Rhead, from First Baptist Church, Charlottetown, organized the sewing of hundreds of dresses that the church is distributing to children in Kenya and Latin America.

Everyone was so excited to receive a new Christmas sun dress

Little ones lining up for their smile dress

Erica helping the little girls find the perfect fitting dress

Afterwards the kids lined up for some sweet treats

Styling!!

M E R R Y C H R I S T M A S !

Fourth Week of Advent

2011-12-18T17:22:00.006+03:00

Today begins the fourth week of Advent

We shared in a family Advent candle lighting time this morning before going to worship at the International Christian Fellowship where we joined some friends from Eastleigh. Aaron preached again this Sunday on the Christmas story, and we had a great afternoon visiting with our guests. This had been their first time to our church and they really loved the worship music and the friendly people.

The Christmas Poinsettia growing outside our bedroom

Good-bye supper with our friend Melissa

Many of our friends are travelling home for Christmas this year (we are so jealous!). On Saturday, we enjoyed some time with our friend Melissa Dunning, before her departure.

All evening, Ava made her way around

the house in her pink roller skates

-- She is our little Tootie!

Hermione & Reese wanting to follow us to church this morning,

Henry was content to nap!

Ngong Hills

2011-12-15T18:11:00.009+03:00

Sunset over the Ngong Hills, Kenya

Erica in our tree house getaway

Yesterday afternoon, Erica and I headed for Karen, on the western side of Nairobi at the foot of the Ngong Hills. As our kids finish school this Friday, we took a night away to have some quiet time during our vacation. Friends from our church recommend Ngong House as the perfect getaway, and we were not disappointed! It was a "Swiss Family Robinson" experience as we stayed in the beautiful rustic tree house with thatched roof and stunning little details.

Enjoying the sunset from the tree house veranda

A long way down!

We are having a great rest together and appreciate

the chance to have a night away -- No matter how long

we live in Africa, there are some things that continually

give thanks for especially the wild spaces!

Erica and I also had a lot of fun playing with the

filters on our camera -- lov'n the vintage look!

Breakfast on the beautiful lawn of Ngong House

Christmas Vacation

2011-12-13T21:33:00.006+03:00

COUNT DOWN TO CHRISTMAS!!!

Third Week of Advent

This week, we begin our final two weeks of vacation time enjoying some fun with Ava who is already on her December School break (Tristan and Emma have only one week left to go!). On Sunday, we worshiped at the International Christian Fellowship and had fun helping Mommy with Christmas cookie decorating -- our kitchen has become Santa's workshop!

Daddy, Mommy and Ava enjoying a date day at

Amani Ya Juu's tea garden and sewing project

There were lots of little wonders to see...

...But our Ava was best of all!

Christmas is a Com'n

2011-12-10T10:52:00.006+03:00

Women Helping Women

for a Brighter Tomorrow

This past week, the women of the Noor Muslim Women's Self Help Group teamed up with a group of Christian women in the Jacaranda Creations Self Help Groups to sell their beautiful products through a Christmas Tea in Nairobi. Both groups did very well in their sale, but perhaps the greatest success was just have these two groups working together.

Erica with members of the Noor Self Help Group

While Canadian Baptist Ministries work in Eastleigh has been among Muslim ethnic groups like Somali and Oromo refugees, we are excited to see these groups begin to fellowship and cooperate with Christian neighbours and women's groups outside of Eastleigh. Women's empowerment brings diverse people together, because together we have stronger voice.

Some of the wonderful hand made products

of Jacaranda Creations

Some of the jewelry created by the women

of the Noor Muslim Women's Self Help Group

Some of the ladies of the Jacaranda Creations

Women's Self Help Project

Brenda Kean and Erica so excited to see the women of the

groups they each founded working together

Merry Christmas!

Three Wise Men and a Baby

2011-12-10T10:10:00.018+03:00

Three Wise Men and a Baby

Yesterday, Rosslyn Academy Elementary School presented its 2011 Christmas production. It was a fantastic pageant from the perspective of the stars of the night sky. This year Emma was literally the "star" as she had the role of the Star of Bethlehem.

Each year the entire elementary school participates in the Christmas production through either drama, instrumentals or the choir. This was the largest production yet with a such a large enrolment in the elementary. The theatre was packed out with rows of parents and guests standing at the back of the house.

The stars looking down upon the story of the nativity

Angels meeting the terrified shepherds

The sinister King Herod looks on as the Wise Men

who have followed the Bethlehem Star, come seeking

the true King of Kings

All of the children did a wonderful job singing some

funky versions of familiar Christmas carols and worship songs

In the end the lesson of the play was clear,

God sent his Son into the World because of God's love for us.

The greatest gift he wants from his children, is our love!

So proud of our little star!

Gemma (Cirro) and the Bethlehem Star (Emma)

after a great performance

Mary (Emma's bossom buddy, Diana) and Emma

We were thrilled to have several friends from Eastleigh

join us for the Christmas Concert and stay over with us.

The cast and soloists

Erica and Kim

Once again, Erica and her friend Kim Remich teamed up! Along with Erica as the drama director and Kim as the program director, this year teacher Mark Statler joined the team as the 5th grade Music Director. They were very thankful for the army of parent and student volunteers who helped make this such a great program.

The stars!

Gemma (Cirro Thuo), Bethlehem Star (Emma),

Zaniah (Mattie Kohl), and Mira (Laura Mixon)

Praying for the Church in Africa

2011-12-09T08:57:00.005+03:00

This Week in Mitaboni

Congolese Baptist Leaders Rev. Cavasiya and Rev. Jonas

with our CBM colleague Gato from Rwanda

Great to be back after a busy week in Mitaboni with fellow Christian leaders from from Eastern and Central Africa. I am so thankful for the opportunity to share and join in theological reflection with such a diverse group. The stories from each of their churches were both heart wrenching and hopeful as they shared about the church's struggle to to bring grace and reconciliation into areas of war, conflict and moral disorientation.

In the world's newest country, Southern Sudan, pastors are faced with communities and congregants that still carry automatic weapons to church unwilling to give up their arms after decades of tribal conflict, cattle rustling, and blood shed. Please pray for our friend Rev. Francis as he gives leadership both to the Baptist Churches of the Upper Nile and to his county where he serves as the local government official. May the Holy Spirit work through God's people to bring peace and reconciliation into communities scarred by division and distrust.

The beautiful hills of Ukambani, Kenya

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Baptist Church is active in ministering to victims of sexual violence, which has sadly become epedemic in the volatile East. Women are banding together in the churches as they share their trauma and seek healing and restoration. Please pray for Christ's protection and courage for the Church as they stand in solidarity with victims of rape and violence, and reach into their community to address the causes of such terrible acts.

Vibrant colours of a roadside market near Machakos

Please continue to pray for the Church in Rwanda and Kenya, as they seek to faithfully live out Integral Mission in bringing about spiritual and social transformation in communities that struggle with poverty and change. May the light of our Advent hope shine brightly in these communities, as we remember, anticipate and experience the coming of Christ!

Thank you for praying

CBM/Carey

2011-12-07T21:13:00.002+03:00

CBM/CAREY Kenya DMin Cohort

with Professor Dr. Barbara Mutch

Mitaboni, Kenya

Aaron has been traveling to Ukambani this week for his doctoral program. Canadian Baptist Ministries and Carey Theological College are working together to provide capacity building and advanced training for Christian leaders throughout Africa. It has been a busy twelve months since the program started last December. We pray for our Christian brothers and sisters in Kenya, Rwanda, Southern Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of Congo who are away from their families to participate in training and study.

Also this week!

Tomorrow is the Christmas Concert of Rosslyn Academy's Elementary School. We are very excited for Emma who is the "Star of Bethlehem" in this year's production, Three Wisemen and a Baby. It has been a lot of work for the Elementary children and the parent volunteers who support the annual school dramas. Erica is back directing this year with her friend Kim Remich.

In Prayer

* North East Province continues to be a place of insecurity as militant groups strike out in anger with grenade attacks and land mines. Please keep our friends and colleagues in your prayers, as we work together this week to distribute mosquito nets and emergency relief to vulnerable communities. Please remember our friends William and Yattani who are on the ground this week.

* Please remember our new team mates the Morgans and the Legassies who will be joining CBM's Africa team in Kenya. We are looking forward to meeting the Morgan family this coming January.

* Please continue to pray for the Muslim women's self help groups in Eastleigh and the work of the Guardians of Hope. As these ministries begin to wind down for Christmas, we now that the individual families continue to seek God's strength and presence as they walk together amid many challenges.

Click here if you would like to read our

2011 Christmas Update Letter

Second Week of Advent 2011

2011-12-04T18:05:00.010+03:00

For the Second Sunday of Advent, we joined our friends Matt and Venessa and their family for the baptism of their daughter, Evelyn. We had the honour of standing in for her godparents during the service. Although the worship was mostly in Kiswahili, it was a joy to be a part of this community in Haruma as they read scripture, prayed, and sang without instruments.

During Evelyn's baptism at the Haruma Catholic Church

Erica and Tristan after the morning service

After the service, we had some time to visit the ministries of the sisters who care for many vulnerable seniors, handicapped children and orphans.

St. Theresa's Sisters of Charity Orphanage

It was wonderful to see how loved and cared for

the little ones are by the sisters.

Emma making a little friend

Advent 2011

2011-12-02T16:04:00.013+03:00

Advent Begins

We have always loved Advent and celebration of Christmas, but since coming to Kenya in 2006 it has become such a important part of our year as a way to help our family feel connected to our traditions and Canadian roots. It is fun to share these traditions with our Muslim friends as we learn from each other. Here are a few snap shots from our first week of Advent.

Ava Singing in her Preschool Class Choir

Ava playing the role of the kind inn keeper

in her pre-school Christmas pageant

Ava doing the "Makarena" at the close of

the Montesouri Christmas Concert

Mommy & Ava after the concert

So proud of our tiny dancer!

Noor Christmas Party

Erica and our friend Patrick

Ava playing with the ladies in our backyard

Merry Christmas from the Noor Self Help Group!

Urban Gardening

2011-11-15T20:18:00.009+03:00

Iftin student, Ikran, very proud of her sack garden

in the Iftin Unity Garden at the

Eastleigh Community Centre

It has been so encouraging to see how well the Iftin ladies are doing in their gardening project both at the community centre and throughout the city. We now have students starting gardens of their own in three communities outside of Eastleigh. We pray for their success, as they seek to help their families improve their diet and income.

Sack Gardens are doing well in Eastleigh

The Unity Garden is now supporting families with sweet potatoes, peppers, tomatoes, spinach and kales. "What is next?" we asked some of the girls today.

"Fruit trees!" one of the students answered. And no doubt, it won't be long before this will be a reality.

Nasra finds a little space in her apartment

building to grow a sack garden

Erica and Laura helping the Noor Self Help Group

prepare for an upcoming Christmas Sale

Thank you for upholding these ladies in your prayers.

World AIDS Day -- December 1, 2011

2011-11-12T23:09:00.001+03:00

CBM World AIDS Day 2011 from CBM on Vimeo.

Kampundu and her family faced the darkness of fear

with the diagnosis that both she and her husband are

HIV-positive. Life as she knew it was over. Yet within the

grip of rejection and despair, the compassionate love of

God changes all things. Through the touch, comfort and

acceptance of her church family, she found forgiveness,

healing and strength.

As we listen to Kampundu’s story, what is most

encouraging to us is how God’s healing within her life

has overflowed into love and compassion for AIDS

orphans within her small community. Kampundu and her

husband became Guardians of Hope.

We invite you and your faith community to stand in solidarity

with Kampundu and thousands of other Guardians of Hope

this World AIDS Day!

To learn more please visit the CBM Website at

http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/WAYD

Spirit Week!

2011-11-11T10:46:00.004+03:00

Emma all set for "Wacky Tacky" Day

Tristan certainly has the

"wacky" part down

This has been Rosslyn Academy's annual "School Spirit Week", along with all the fun the kids have been dressing up each day for different themes, including: "Blast from the Past", "Ethnic Costume Day", "Clone Day", "School Colours" and today "Wacky Tacky". As you can see, they are having a great time!

The Fall is moving along quickly, as they prepare for Christmas productions and choir concerts. The December school break will be a welcomed change of pace.

Integral Mission in Rwanda

2011-11-07T16:39:00.005+03:00

Bruno & Kathleen Soucy with the Development Team in Rwanda

(Lawrence, Esperance, Sam, Andre, Gato, Isaie)

One of our joys in being a part of Canadian Baptist Ministries, is the great family of coworkers with whom we have the pleasure of serving with. I just returned from a week in Kigali, Rwanda, where we are helping with the Children of Hope and Guardians of Hope projects with the Rwandan Baptist Association.

It is exciting to see the holistic impact the church is having upon communities throughout Rwanda. Please uphold the Rwandan team in prayer as they prepare for 2012 ministries and anticipate the arrival of the Bustin family who are being redeployed by CBM to Rwanda where they will be involved in rural pastor training and Integral Mission projects.

In Prayer:

* Pray for the work of the Guardians of Hope as it seeks to strengthen home based care for people living with HIV and AIDS. This is an important component in each of the 29 GOH groups in Rwanda.

* Also in prayer this week, please remember the Christian churches in Garissa still reeling from the grenade attack on a Pentecostal Church this past Sunday that killed two people and injured three others. Insecurity in Northeastern Kenya has escalated over the past few weeks and has resulted in the withdraw of several international and national organizations. CBM will not have personnel in NEP until the situation improves.

Urban Gardening Video

2011-11-04T18:59:00.002+03:00

The Fall 2011 Issue of Mosaic features an article on the

Iftin Urban Gardening Project in Eastleigh

Along with the article, Canadian Baptist Ministries created this short video. We want to thank all of the Iftin ladies who contributed to the video and for everyone who has been a part of the Unity Garden!

You can find the lastest issue of mosaic here:http://www.cbmin.org/cbm/mosaic

Happy Halloween 2011!

2011-10-31T20:34:00.008+03:00

H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N

Creepy Pirate Zombie!!!

This Halloween, we joined our friends Matt and Vanessa for a neighbourhood party and "trick or treating". It was a fun afternoon and evening with fellow Canadians!

Little witch and the black kitty

Trick or Treat!

Tinkerbell

Andre & Erica

B O O !

Mosaic

2011-10-28T20:45:00.005+03:00

The Fall Issue of Mosaic Available Online

We are excited to share this link for the latest issue of Mosaic which features articles on the current crisis in East Africa by Rupen Das, Paul Carline and Aaron. With photos in North East Province taken by Erica.

Sack Gardening in the

Iftin Unity Garden

Eastleigh Community Centre, Nairobi

To read the latest issue of Mosaic

Click Here

Or follow the link at Fall Mosaic_D4b.pdf

Growing

2011-10-26T08:56:00.014+03:00

Vertical sack gardens doing well!

Over the past month, the Iftin ladies really don't need a watering can, as Eastleigh is getting almost daily rains. It may make the streets muddy, but all the rain has been great for the Iftin gardens.

Laura at work in her new office

Activities are going on as usual in Eastleigh. The ladies are back in full attendance within all of the Iftin projects. Presently, Erica and Laura are working on the final reporting for the Canadian Baptist Ministries pilot project that has funded the Iftin Women's Empowerment initiatives over the past three years. As this project comes to an end in December, we are already dreaming with the ladies about the future. We are excited to be working on what the next phase of the project will look like!

More new books and supplies for Iftin

Nelius teaching in the Iftin Literacy Class

Patrick, Laura and Erica

labelling new chairs donated by the

Fallingbrook Heights volunteers

Seed beds and sweet potatoes in the Iftin Unity Garden

Sack Gardens

Two local guys helping three of the Iftin ladies bring sack garden supplies to their home with a hand cart. We are so excited to see how many women are embracing the bag gardening project!

Nairobi Under Construction

2011-10-26T08:40:00.002+03:00

Highway Construction in Nairobi

Over the past year, the investment in infrastructure in and around Nairobi has been incredible. Kenya is creating new by-pass roads (unfortunately, none are dual carriage ways), around and through the city. Of course, anyone familiar with road construction knows that it leads to detours and long traffic jams. Multiply that by a hundred and you have a bit of a picture of driving in Nairobi. Our 15 minute drive into Eastleigh can now take us 3 hours in the rain!

Security issues have become more intense in the city as Kenyan authorities carry out sweeps for Al Shaabab. Everyone is taking extra precautions, including our friends in Eastleigh. Our projects continue to go ahead, but we covet your prayers especially for the Iftin ladies and their children as they walk back and forth from the community centre.

We know that a lot of family and friends are seeing some pretty scary images in the media, but we want to reassure you that we are safe!

Sleeping Warrior

2011-10-23T20:25:00.002+03:00

Sleeping Warrior Camp

Lake Elmenteita, Kenya

We just returned home from a relaxing weekend in the Great Rift Valley with our friend Vanessa and her her children. We had a delightful time at the Sleeping Warrior Camp within the Lake Elementeita Conservancy. Among our highlights was coming face to face with a leopard, as he jumped out of a tree and ran past us. Unfortunately, we were not fast enough with our camera, but we do have a few other photos from the trip to share.

Our Friendly Neighbourhood Tree Hirax

Rose, Tristan, Emma, Erica, Vanessa, Evelyn,

Owen, Eliot, Ava and our Masai guide, Sampson

We had a lot of fun exploring the local conservancy

which is home to a host of wildlife

Cape Buffalo

Emma and Owen riding on the roof

on the look out for another leopard!

Sleeping Warrior Crater on the border of the Lake Elementeita

Another friendly hirax at our camp

Apartment Scam!

2011-10-19T18:09:00.002+03:00

W A R N I N G !!!!!!

As we posted last month, someone has been using our name and referencing this blog in a Craig's List scam for an apartment in New York. We have contacted Canadian authorities and Craig's List, but unfortunately we continue to here from people who have been scammed.

We do not know what else to do to help, but if you are checking out our blog to confirm the authenticity of this listing -- IT IS A SCAM!

We pray that no one else loses money to this.

Drought Response in Kenya

2011-10-12T11:10:00.003+03:00

Somali Children in Sankuri Division, Garissa

Rain is falling in Northeastern Kenya, but will it be enough?

Today is another cloudy day in Garissa. A fine mist of rain has raised the humidity, but there are no puddles of water to be found. After several years of failed rains, Northestern Kenya and the rest of the "Horn of Africa" are praying that this October-November rainy season will be different. They desperately need good rain as people rely on rainfall for pasture and rain catchments for water. If the rains do not come, the current famine and humanitarian crisis will only get worse.

During times of drought, tens of thousands of people are drawn to the Tana River. This mud brown river snakes from central Kenya eastward, forming a border with Northeastern Province and eventually emptying into the Indian Ocean on the Kenyan coast. Rate of flow is remarkable as water gushes past Garissa on its way to the ocean.

A few weeks ago, we were visiting farms started by the Kenyan Red Cross, north of Garissa on the banks of the Tana. As we visited with Somali farmers, a dark cloud opened up and wet our heads, but remarkably the ground beneath us never got wet. It was so dry, it was as if the rain evaporated before it could land. I've never seen anything like it before. If we can not trust the rains, why not the river?

As Canadian Baptist Ministries assists in famine relief, we are already beginning to work with communities to help them to literally tap into this resource and find food security and livelihoods through farming along the river. This represents a seismic shift in local culture and values, as we help traditional wandering pastoral communities settle into agricultural life.

This week, our colleagues Yattani, William, Laura and Pauline are carrying out a baseline assessment within three small communities where CBM will be serving. Please keep them and these communities in your prayers.

In Prayer:

* Please remember the people of the Horn of Africa.

* Pray for much needed rain.

* Pray for peace, humility and wise leadership that will be needed to stabilize Somalia.

* And please remember our CBM NEP team as we struggle to love and serve our neighbours in a way that will help bring about growth, healing and change.

To Learn More about how you can be involved with CBM's Drought Response

Click Here

Knowing Your Status

2011-10-12T10:39:00.002+03:00

Moonlight Voluntary Counselling and Testing Centre

Embu, Kenya

On October 9th, our friends Patrick Maina and Henry Mwangi from the African Christian Church & Schools (ACC&S), participated in a moonlight VCT clinic with the Embu Guardians of Hope. We are excited to share part of their brief report!

Greetings!

I am writing to update you on the progress of Embu GOH project on their moonlight VCT. I and Henry paid a visit to Embu on 9th October to witness the event.

The event was so well organized as the local Chief together with the local OCS (Police) were in attendance. The level of stigma have gone down so much that the people are so much willing to know their status. Those in the waiting were so many such that the counselors could not handle all of them. Again from their report they were able to test about 100 people both male and female.

The importance of one knowing his/her status was well explained by the counselors emphasizing that once a person knows his or her status it helps in planning. Again the cases of discordant couples is in the increase among the married people. Once a person knows their status, it helps to prevent reinfection, and helps to prevent a mother from infecting their new born babies. Prevention of Mother To Child (PMTC) is being emphasized.

Why is it important for people to know their HIV status?

• It helps those who are not infected not to become infected

• It helps those who are infected not to infect their uninfected partners or reinfecting one another among the infected once.

• It helps those who are infected to receive support, early treatment, care and help from the community and family members.

God bless you and your family.

Patrick

Pastor Mbau taking the test

to lead others by example

Thank you for praying for the ministry of the Guardians of Hope and work of the African Christian Church & Schools in Kenya. Coming up this December 1st is World AIDS Day*. This years theme is "Getting to Zero". Canadian Baptist Ministries is currently preparing materials for churches, individuals and organizations interested in participating in the 2011 day. We will be posting links for these resources on the blog once they are ready.

WORLD AIDS DAY*

AIDS is a condition resulting from damage done to the human immune system by HIV. It affects tens of millions of people around the world. The United Nations' (UN) World AIDS Day is held on December 1 each year to honor the victims of the AIDS pandemic and focus attention on the prevention and treatment of HIV and AIDS related conditions.

Thanksgiving Podcast

2011-10-09T15:37:00.007+03:00

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

This Thanksgiving, we have a new podcast featuring a short interview with Emma and Ava. In this podcast, our girls talk a little about life for a missionary kid in Kenya. You can listen by clicking the link below or by visiting www.fivennys.podcast.com.

To subscribe to all of our podcasts, you can also find us on iTunes, just search "fivekennys" in the podcast category.

We wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Click here to Listen

Canadian Maple Leaf Ball 2011

2011-10-09T10:35:00.007+03:00

Erica and Vanessa

Last night, we attended the annual Canadian Maple Leaf Ball. This year's event was held at the Muthaiga Club, Nairobi. It was a wonderful evening celebrating Canadian Thanksgiving with fellow Canadians and friends. Erica serves on the executive of the Canadian Association of Kenya; this has been a busy time for them as they pulled together such a big event. Here are a few snaps from the evening:

The girls

Vanessa, Krista, Erica, Andrea, Jeanette, and Vanessa

We had fun at a little pre-party at a cottage with friends

Sandie, Andrea and Erica

The Ball itself was held under large tents

and within the Muthaiga Ballroom

Brenda and Gary Kean

Time for dancing!

Farewells

2011-10-06T20:39:00.004+03:00

The Fallingbrook Heights Team

at The 140 guesthouse, Nairobi

Late this afternoon, we said our good-byes to our friends Don & Joy, John & Julie and Nick & Lila. The team begins the return trip to Canada tonight after a busy two weeks with us in Eastleigh. We are so thankful for the contribution and love shared with the members of the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program, and the staff of the Eastleigh Community Centre. But most of all, we are grateful for the time we shared together as a family with the team. We pray for their safe journey home.

WARNING!

2011-10-03T16:43:00.002+03:00

W A R N I N G ! ! !

Recently, someone has been trying to hack into our email and blog, and has been using our information in an apartment scam on Craig's List.

We are not leasing an apartment in New York, or anywhere else.

If you have come to our blog to check out who we are, we pray that you haven't lost any deposit to this person. We have contacted Craig's List and asked them to take down this false advertisement.

Happy Fifth Birthday Ava!

2011-10-01T18:36:00.007+03:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY AVA

Today we celebrated Ava's 5th Birthday

with some of our friends. Ava was excited

to have her buddies Njeri and Braydon

over to go swimming at a local pool

and celebrate at our home.

Ready to cut the cake!

Ava with auntie Mo and auntie Kerry!

Kerry, Mel, Erica, Whinny, Tom,

Ava, Cabbie, Njeri, Diana, Emma and Braydon

What a Week!

2011-09-30T09:05:00.009+03:00

WHAT A WEEK!

John hard at work in the renovations

of the new Iftin classroom

All this week, Erica and the Fallingbrook Heights volunteers have been busy in Eastleigh with Laura, Nelius, Farhiya, Patrick and the Iftin ladies. Here are a few glimpses into the week:

Nelius and Farhiya moving the Iftin literacy classes

outdoors as the entire Eastleigh Community Centre

undergoes a much needed facelift!

The new Iftin Unity Garden

is taking shape!

Nelius helping one of the Iftin girls water some of the sack gardens infront of the new classroom. Already eight teams of refugee women have entered the urban gardening contest and are growing vegetables in sack gardens throughout Eastleigh. We are so excited to see the ladies are putting their gardening training into practice both in the community centre and in their own homes. We pray for great success!

Lila helping to lay out the hundreds of new Kenyan readers and story books for the Eastleigh Community Centre library.

Yesterday morning, they presented a mountain of new books and sports equipment to the staff and students of the primary school. It was an emotional day as the little library rarely receives new books, especially African readers. All of the books provided by Fallingbrook Heights were purchased in Kenya and are a part of the official Kenyan curriculum. A huge thanks to the generosity of the Fallingbrook Heights Baptist Church who raised the funds for the library. (On behalf of the team, we also want to thank the Nairobi Textbook Centre for their discount -- it is amazing how many books they were able to bring into the school!)

Erica and Don in the new workspace for Noor Creations.

The Renovations were completed late yesterday afternoon, thanks to the dedication of the team. On behalf of the members of Iftin and Noor, we want to share a BIG THANK YOU! The transformation is incredible!!!!

The team is off for a weekend break, but they will return to the community centre on Monday to lead two days of professional development workshops with the entire staff.

On a personal note, we are excited to be celebrating Ava's 5th Birthday this Saturday. She left for pre-school this morning with a big box of mommy's cookies to celebrate with her class.

We hope you all have a great weekend!

Moonlight VCT

2011-09-28T11:10:00.004+03:00

Moonlight VCT

in Embu

The ACC&S Guardians of Hope in Embu, are working in partnership with the Kenyan government to help their community know their HIV status. While the church has been promoting voluntary counselling and testing for several years, they have recently discovered a strategy for overcoming the fear and stigma attached to attending a counselling and testing centre -- hold them at night!

"We want people to know their status," shares ACC&S GOH project officer Patrick Maina. "Church members and the community have long associated HIV and AIDS with immorality, but we are helping the community understand that there are other avenues that people contract the disease. Knowing your status is key if we are to stop the spread. But more than this, we need people to access counselling and testing in time rather than waiting until they are so far gone."

Embu's next moonlight VCT visit will be on October 9th. They are anticipating 360 people over the night long event, to come and receive counselling and testing. Counselling is important, as people need to be prepared to hear their results and know what options they have. Please be praying for this vital ministry of the church as they follow Jesus' example of being available to their community, even in the dark of the night.

To learn more about the Guardians of Hope program check out the Canadian Baptist Ministries webpage at www.cbmin.org

Eastleigh Makeover!

2011-09-27T09:42:00.009+03:00

Pharis Nyaga introducing the Fallingbrook Heights team to the vocational training centre program at the Eastleigh Community Centre

Erica is leading the Fallingbrook Heights short term mission team in Eastleigh this week. Yesterday she brought them in for a quick tour and then they jumped in with both feet as the team began helping out with the literacy classes, and renovations to our work spaces. Don and John also began a series of workshops with the older students in the school, and Don and Joy went on a home visit in the community.

Joy Hepburn sharing some geography with the Iftin Women

The team teaching a class with Iftin:

they appreciated the openness of Nelius and Farhiya

who are sharing the morning classes with them this week.

Erica, Julie and Lila painting

the new Iftin literacy classroom

Along with the renovations to our new work spaces and offices, the entire community centre is getting a major makeover through the support of the European Union and other donors. Carpenters, tilers, painters and a host of volunteers are working throughout the centre. This Wednesday will be a huge clean up day with all of the students participating. The centre is a bee hive of activity!

John and Nick working on the renovations to the new Noor Creations' workshop

Erica was the first customer for the Peace Group SHG

who are using their savings to start

a scarf making micro enterprise

Erica introducing the Fallingbrook Heights

team to her favourite basket shop

Praying for Change

2011-09-27T08:56:00.009+03:00

Children receiving vitamin supplements

at a CBM feeding project in

Northeastern Province, Kenya

In the past three months alone, approximately 30,000 children have died from malnutrition and preventable illness in the Horn of Africa. Canadian Baptist Ministries is partnering with the Sister's Maternity Hospital, in Garissa, to provide immunizations, medical services, and daily food and water to nine affected communities along the Tana River. This is an area where thousands of displaced people have come for help with small villages more than doubling in size from the influx.

Through the generous support of churches and individuals, we are working with partners in the local community to help vulnerable families survive. But more than survival, we are praying for change. The present relief efforts are only a first step, as Canadian Baptist Ministries works with communities eager to break a pattern that has held them in a feast and famine cycle for generations. Together with the local government, the Kenyan Red Cross and community elders, we are actively seeking sustainable change that will enable the communities we are serving to make better use of the waters of the Tana River to grow their own food and provide a rich economic benefit for the region.

Change is not easy. We all favour what we know over the unknown. Certainly, there will be a lot of learning, risk and failure on the journey ahead. But as we make this journey with local Kenyan churches and Muslim communities, we pray for deeper bonds of love, understanding and grace. God is a liberating God. Ultimately, we trust his Spirit at work in the lives of many to bring about healing, growth, and transformation!

Women and children lining up for water at a mobile clinic and feeding program of Canadian Baptist Ministries and the Sister's Maternity Hospital, near Garissa.

A Waliwana women participating in a small

women's farming cooperative near the

Tana River, in Northeastern Province.

Under the Acacia Tree

Erica and Diane Bannister speaking with Somali women

at a feeding clinic in Doloweyn,

Northeastern Province, Kenya

Children taking turns drinking from a large water container

at the Doloweyn feeding centre and clinic in NEP.

CBM NEP Drought Response

2011-09-25T17:12:00.002+03:00

A little boy in the CBM Ambulatory Feeding Project

in Bula, Northeastern Province, Kenya

Since July, Canadian Baptist Ministries has been responding to the impact of the drought and famine in the Horn of Africa, through targeted feeding projects and health care services in mobile clinics in Kenya's Northeastern Province. Through partnership with local community-based organizations and agencies, we are feeding 7000 people living in overlooked villages and informal settlements.

Presently, Erica and I are working with our CBM colleagues, Tim and Diane Bannister, Yattani Gollo, and William Wako, to implement the next phase of CBM's drought response as we seek to help vulnerable communities to become more food secure, and mobilize them for self help initiatives and improved public health.

Please pray for these ministries as we work side by side with communities desperate for change!

September 2011 - Family Fun

2011-09-25T16:30:00.008+03:00

BROWN'S CHEESE PLEASE!

Tristan at the Brown's Cheese farm in Tigoni, Kenya

Last weekend, we had a delightful time with friends visiting the Brown's family cheese business outside of Nairobi. It was a fun Sunday visiting with new friends and learning about how cheese is made.

Mommy and Emma in the cheese aging room

The Brown's Cheese Company was started a generation ago, as the Brown family started making cheese for themselves and for gifts. Soon their friends were wanting to purchase it, and from a small attachment to the farm house, a booming business grew.

Daddy and Ava on the tour -- It's not easy being cheezy!

Guinea Fowl roaming around the farm house

Emma's first swim meet of fifth grade

Also this past week, Emma was back in the pool competing in freestyle and back stroke in the Rosslyn Academy Invitational Swim Meet.

Emma did fantastic placing in second and third in her two heats

Fallingbrook Heights Arrives!

2011-09-25T07:59:00.004+03:00

Joy, Don, Lila, Nick, Julie, John, Aaron and Erica

photo taken by Emma Kenny

Early Friday morning, we had the pleasure of welcoming the Fallingbrook Heights team who just arrived from Ontario, Canada. We are thrilled to be working together with them in Eastleigh over the next two weeks.

We have shared the past two days in orientation as the team prepares to work with both the Eastleigh Community Centre's primary school and the Iftin ladies. It has been raining off and on since they came -- also a sign of blessing in Africa!

Please keep this team in your prayers. We know that the next two weeks will go by quickly.

Urban Gardening

2011-09-16T15:05:00.010+03:00

Our friend and colleague, Andai Jackson, teaching

some of the Iftin ladies about

URBAN GARDENING

It has been an exciting week in Eastleigh, as Erica and the members of the Iftin Women's Empowerment Program begin a new chapter as both Noor and the literacy class move into new space. Erica also led the ladies in building a new urban garden for Iftin. Here is a glimpse of the work, but we will have pictures of the completed garden in a few weeks.

Patrick and Erica meeting with ladies of the

Noor Creations women's self help group

in their new work space within

the Eastleigh Community Centre

Erica helping Nelius and Farhiya move into their new

classroom for the Iftin literacy project

Aaron interviewing some of the Noor members

for fivekennys podcast

You can listen to our audio journal on iTunes or

at www.fivekennys.podbean.com

Tomatoes in the vertical sack gardens

Nelius and Hawa ready to plant

seedlings in the new garden

Farhiya and some of the Iftin women using rocks

in the irrigation columns of the vertical bag gardens

Several of the school children joining the Iftin

group as they prepare their new urban garden

New Beginnings in Eastleigh

2011-09-07T22:21:00.006+03:00

The new school term has just begun at the Eastleigh Community Centre, and with it lots of beautiful new faces!

Farhiya, Nelius, Patrick, Erica and Laura

in the new Noor Creations workshop

We are excited to be starting the fall in two new spaces for the Iftin literacy classes and the Noor Creations jewelry project. Not only are we expanding our space, but we now have offices and a garden area. This will be a busy month as the team pulls together with the Iftin ladies to make this new space home!

Tunis, Fardosa and Ayan making beads in Noor

Rachel, Sarah and Nicole meeting with

Erica and the Noor ladies.

Today, we also had the pleasure of connecting three fellow Canadians with Noor and the ministry of the Eastleigh Community Centre. Rachel is a professional jewelry artisan from Regina, and shared some time today teaching in Noor.

Jacinta, Sarah, Racheal and Nicole

with children in the ECC Preschool

CBM Drought Response

2011-09-07T21:15:00.009+03:00

Malakote women weaving prayer matts along the Tana River,

in Northeastern Province (NEP), Kenya

Erica visiting with a group farming group of Somali and Malokote women who live in the community of BulaIftin, in Garissa District, NEP.

Aaron and Erica meeting with Malakote women and elders as part of our CBM Drought Response Assessment, this past week in NEP. Aaron is returning to the drought affected region this coming week with another assessment team, as CBM prepares for its next phase of ministry in NEP. It is encouraging to see these communities working together to grow food along the River -- a source of life in an arid land.

While listening to the stories of mothers struggling to feed their families and find clean drinking water, we heard again and again words of appreciate to God for the compassion and help of Canadians who have helped them and their children through this famine. Please continue to pray for these strong women who walk through this dry and barren place to provide for their children.

Diane Bannister greeting Somali children at one of the

ambulatory feeding centres in Sankuri, NEP

A Hornbill poking around the Bura

daily feeding project, looking for his breakfast!

On the road in Garissa

Sunday in Garissa

2011-09-05T20:31:00.009+03:00

Salomi, Diana and Erica on the way

to an ACC&S worship service this Sunday

During our assessment trip, we had the joy of spending a Sunday with our friend William and the Gollo family. We decided to join the local ACC&S worship service in Garissa.

A little girl sitting next to us in the Church service

Dancing in the aisles!

Aaron with Titus at the ACC&S

Church and School in Garissa

It was great to meet some one of the teachers from the ACC&S school that has been serving the community of Garissa for nearly 25 years. The school is presently ministering to many young Muslim students who make up 70% of the student body.

Erica holding Joshua

Joshua turns three months old this week!

Yattani, Salomi and baby Joshua

Please continue to pray for our CBM team in Kenya, especially the remember our NEP team responding to the drought in Northeastern Kenyan.

Famine Relief CBM: Making an Impact!

2011-09-03T14:50:00.008+03:00

Canadian Baptist Ministries Food Relief

Northeastern Province Kenya

Fifty-two children eating at the daily feeding project

in the village of Atheley, near Garissa.

Since the beginning of June, Canadian Baptist Ministries has been working with several partner agencies on accessing and responding to the drought that is impacting this entire region. One of our responses has been with the Sisters Maternity Hospital (SIMAHO) in Garissa.

Together with our colleagues Yattani Gollo and William Guyo, SIMAHO has been serving nine villages along the Tana River through mobile outreach clinics and daily feeding programs targeted at helping expecting and lactating mothers and children under the age of five. The project is called an "Ambulatory Feeding Program" as it is delivered in cooperation with mobile clinics carried out by SIMAHO's nurses and nutritionist.

Over the past month, Erica and I have become increasingly involved in CBM's Drought Response. This week, we are apart of an assessment team with Diane Bannister who is a registered nurse in Kenya and Canada, as well as Yattani and William. We are working with several agencies and consortiums as we coordinate our efforts and seek to make the greatest impact both for the immediate emergency and for longterm sustainable change.

Change That You Can See!

This is a photograph of our nutritionist colleague, Hassan Abdullahi, measuring the mid-upper arm circumference (MUAC) of a little girl a part of the Dololoweyn Feeding Project. Only six weeks ago, 35% of the children in Dololoweyn were underweight and among them several wasting away. The MUAC is a medical instrument for health care workers to measure sever and acute malnutrition. "It is incredible to see how quickly these children have bounced back!" Hassan told us. "I can see the change." Daily feeding, paired with the provision of monthly rations through the Kenyan Red Cross, USAID and the government of Kenya is making an impact upon people living in towns and targeted villages. But there are many gaps in the relief work, and the challenge is working effectively to avoid duplication and reach the people being missed.

While in Dololoweyn, a group of 40 mothers crossed the Tana River from a neglected community in the arid plains beyond. They have no other medical centre or source of food. This is it. Despite the danger of crossing the Tana, they came to feed their children and receive medical help. "We must ensure that everyone is immunized," explained the Zahra from SIMAHO. "Measles, whooping cough, and other communicable diseases are a great concern as so many refugees come to us from Somalia and the bush. We are already seeing outbreaks of measles in the camps, and cases of polio in the western parts of the country."

Erica helping a little girl too weak to lift the

heavy cup of unimix at the feeding clinic in Atheley

With the help of the mobile clinics and feeding program, the villages have attracted hundreds of new arrivals as an influx of pastoral families have moved into each of the nine villages in search of help, most having lost their herds to the drought. Dololoweyn's population, for instance, has jumped from 300 to over 800 in the past two months.

Despite the huge influx, the people are sharing what little they have and are caring for the neighbours. Camilla was one of the many pregnant mothers we met at the mobile clinics. She was carrying an infant and walking with a two year old into the feeding shelter, when we asked her about her children: she explained that her brother returned with the infant and five other children and asked her to care for them because his wife had died in the drought. "I can only feed these children because of the food I am given," she told us thankfully. "I have nothing else to give them."

Diane Bannister checking on a newborn

at the Bura Daily Feeding Project, near Doloweyn

In Prayer:

* Please pray for the 4 million people within Kenya presently affected by the drought.

* Pray for the frontline medical workers, churches, agencies and community groups that are responding to the needs of these people. We pray not only for lives to be saved in the immediate crisis, but for sustainable change that will enable these communities to mitigate against future crisis.

* We pray for hope and spiritual healing among the countless families who have suffered such loss and anguish through this famine.

* We thank God for the people he is using around the world and in tangible ways to show love and compassion to their neighbours. It has been heart warming this week to see men and women stepping forward and serving the sick and weakest among them. People who may not have eaten much themselves, feeding the children of their neighbours.

Aaron in Raya with Abdi, one of the volunteer

men helping in the feeding project

Skating with friends

2011-08-28T16:18:00.012+03:00

Ice skating at the Solar Ice Rink

at the Panari Sky Hotel, Nairobi

Emma and Diana -- Cookie Elves!

After church today, we brought some friends with us for a picnic at the "Solar Ice Rink". Along with our sandwiches we enjoyed some super oatmeal cookies made by Emma and her friend Diana, who stayed up late together last night baking cookies.

Ava skating with the help of a penguin

Amanda and Emma

Our friend Amanda Lindhout also joined us for the picnic and skate. She is just back from a visit to Canada. Amanda and her organization, The Global Enrichment Foundation, is returning to Somalia this week for a second food convoy to the famine affected areas.

Tristan and Daddy on the ice

This was Aaron's first time back on skates after he cracked his ribs this past June. He was feeling very good, as he helped the kids around the rink.

Erica & Amanda

Michael Lower and Tristan

Diana Ojeda & Emma trying out their skates

Tristan, Ava and Michael on the ice

"Don't fall!"

Micro Enterprise Development

2011-08-22T18:24:00.003+03:00

Mano Salah a member of the

Golden Sisters Self Help Group

This past week, we met with members of three of the twelve Refugee Women's Self Help Groups within the Iftin Women's Empowerment project in Eastleigh: Golden Sisters SHG, Unity SHG and Peace SHG.

During our time together, it was moving to hear the stories of several of the women who had come to Kenya to escape the violence of Somalia. As we spoke of the conflict, Mano shared how one the flying bullets had taken her eye and nearly her her life. Whether visible or not, each of these women and their families carry the scars of discord that has resulted in twenty years of suffering and unrest within the Horn of Africa. "We are thankful for the peace of Kenya," shared one woman. "But we pray for the peace of Somalia. One day we must return home!"

The life of a refugee is an uneasy one. This week our friend Francis Nyok of Southern Sudan joined us in Eastleigh. He shared with the women of Iftin he experience as a refugee in Kenya, and the challenge of loss the identity and dignity that every refugee faces. The women appreciate his words of hope as he shared of his return to Sudan and the building of a new peace and restoration among his people.

Erica looking at the beautiful scarves

being sold by the "Golden Sisters"

Self Help Group in Eastleigh.

Mano and her friends are a part of the self help group project of Iftin. With the help of Canadian Baptist Ministries and the Eastleigh Community Centre, they have received training and support in building sustainable livelihoods.

In Prayer:

* Please continue to pray for the people of Somalia and the hundreds of thousands of people in the grip of famine within Northeastern Kenya.

* Please pray for us, as we work with our CBM team to respond to the present crisis. Today, CBM is distributing urgently needed food rations to nine villages in Kenya's Northeastern province. Over the next few weeks, we will be accessing the needed and putting together a staged plan for long term sustainable development in this region.

* Please remember Mano and her group, as they strive to provide a better future for their children and grandchildren.

Wedding Bells in Machakos

2011-08-21T21:16:00.004+03:00

W E D D I N G D A Y

Laura Muema entering the Africa Inland Church Bomani, Machakos

This Saturday, we travelled back to Machakos to join the celebration of the wedding of our good friends Laura's Muema and Kennedy Maundu. Many of you will know Laura who is the project officer of the Iftin Women's Empowerment project in Eastleigh.

CONGRATULATIONS !!!!

Higher Learning

2011-08-21T19:51:00.012+03:00

Doctoral students visiting with leaders of the Iftin Women's Empowerment Self Help Group projects in Eastleigh, Kenya.

Last December, Aaron joined leaders from each of CBM's partner organizations from Kenya, Rwanda, Congo and India to begin doctoral studies with Carey Theological College, BC, who are offering a doctoral cohort through Canadian Baptist Ministries and the Eastern Kenya Integrated College, Mitaboni. This August was their third course, so far Aaron has been studying the African Churches attitudes and response to Islam within his research. Along with the academic value, the courses are giving him a wonderful opportunity to build friendships with the leaders of each of the denominations with whom we are serving here in Africa.

During one of the classes this past week in Mitaboni

Tea Time at EKIC

Terry Smith lecturing on Integral Mission

Morning chapel in Mitaboni

Francis Nyok, Southern Sudan

This was Aaron's first course with Francis Nyok of the Upper Nile Baptist Church, where he serves as the vice moderator of the church and the County commissioner for the newly formed government of South Sudan.

Morning Worship at the Africa Brotherhood Church, Mitaboni

Members of the DMin and MDiv Kenya Cohort with Carey Theological College, Canadian Baptist Ministries, and the Eastern Kenya Integrated College (EKIC), with our lecturer Dr. Terry Smith.

Kenneth and Erica

with the DMin students in Eastleigh

One of our highlights this week was being able to host the DMin students for a forum on Christian ministry among Muslim communities. It was a joy to have the class in Eastleigh for a day, where they were a great encouragement to our team and members of the self help groups.

CBC Interview with Erica

2011-08-18T18:26:00.005+03:00

Drought Response in the Horn of Africa

Please keep us in your prayers as we coordinate CBM's drought response in Kenya's Northeastern Province. We are presently assessing the immediate needs in villages and informal settlements outside of the Dadaab Refugee Camps, and working with our team to design immediate relief and long term sustainable development initiatives to help the affected communities become food secure. We are thankful for the support and encouragement of so many friends and churches in Canada that have been upholding this ministry.

This morning, Erica was interviewed by CBC radio's Mitch Cormier about her participation in the food convoy to Dhobley, Somalia, and CBM's long term work in sustainable community development in Kenya's Northeastern Province.

Bringing Help to Somalia

Posted by Nancy Russell

A UPEI graduate turned missionary brings aid to Somalia. Erica Kenny was part of the first convoy to enter the volatile country since famine was declared last month. We reached her at her home in Nairobi, Kenya.

To Listen to the interview: Click Here

BIG Birthday!

2011-08-16T20:34:00.011+03:00

HAPPY 10th BIRTHDAY EMMA!

This past weekend, we had a fun birthday

celebration for Emma who turns is turns ten!

Diana, Emma and Tristan

Bowling for Emma's Birthday

Mommy and TK going head to head!

Daddy and Ava after the big game

Emma & her Birthday Unicorn

This was a very special birthday for Emma, as it marks half of her life in Canada and half in Kenya. We moved to Kenya when she was only five years old (It is hard to believe that Ava will be five in only 6 weeks).

August 16th -- Birthday Bash

Tonight, we all celebrated together

with a giant birthday cake

that mommy made for Emma.

Gotta love the cake!!!!!!!

Back to School 2011

2011-08-13T09:35:00.001+03:00

B A C K T O S C H O O L

How quickly summer break goes by! Tristan and Emma returned to school this past week after a busy summer. Emma went in on Wednesday to help with "new student orientation", and they both met their new teachers and classmates on Thursday. It has been cool and wet in Nairobi, as the city is getting light showers. The kids are excited to be up early and out the door -- The big challenge in the morning is getting around our three dogs and their muddy paws!

Emma begins grade 5 and Tristan grade 7

at Rosslyn Academy, Nairobi

This week, we've also been able to connect with several of our CBM team mates. Tim Bannister joined us on Wednesday night for the Canadian Association of Kenya's first official function at the residence of the High Commissioner. Erica is serving as the treasurer for the Canadian Association. It was a great event with special guest Roberta Bondar, the first Canadian woman astronaut. The next day, we also had a chance to connect with a short term team visiting Kenya from Whitby Baptist Church, Ontario.

Last night, we had our CBM director, Terry Smith, and his daughter Katelyn stay with us. We had a great evening out together with the Godwin family. Terry will be teaching Aaron's doctoral course this coming week in Mitaboni.

Influx Areas Dadaab Refugee Camps

2011-08-10T08:38:00.007+03:00

Photographed by Erica

Dadaab, Kenya

This dehydrated little girl was just sitting by herself in a tent covered in flies and dirt. Her mother didn't understand how to access the medical clinics within the larger camps, and told Erica that she was waiting for a doctor to come and help. Erica and Amanda took the mother, her new born and this two year old to the MSF clinic to get help. The doctor admitted them right away.

Photographed by Erica

A young boy running along the edge of the refugee extension area that is now home to an estimated 65,000 new arrivals to the Dadaab Refugee Camps. The population of the camps and extension area are now in excess of 465,000 people -- the majority of whom are children.

Photographed by Erica

This young mother walked pregnant across the southern plains of Somalia to reach the refugee camps. She gave birth here in the extension area. We pray for her children who are beginning life in this place.

Photographed by Erica

Children living in the extension zone

Photographed by Erica

A mother washing her family's clothes in the

extension area of the Dadaab Refugee Camps

In Prayer:

Please uphold the people of the Horn of Africa in your prayers.

* Pray for the thousands of children who are struggling to survive in the camps. Security and safety are major issues as so many people crowd into one area. We pray for the aid workers who are working to provide order and stability for people who have experienced so such trauma.

* Remember the untold numbers of refugees still walking the dusty camel paths of the Somali wilderness, seeking help.

* We thank the Lord for the help streaming into the Refugee Camps of Dadaab. We pray for the hundreds of thousands of people that are not within the Camps or receiving such help.

*Please pray for CBM as the mission raises support to help with famine relief.

Praying for Somalia

2011-08-08T21:25:00.005+03:00

Children in the Dadaab Refugee Camp of Ifo

Erica is in Dadaab again this week with our friend Amanda Lindhout. They spent today in the refugee camps visiting with new arrivals. Between 1300 and 1500 new people are being registered into the camps each day. At one point, Erica and Amanda were visiting a family outside the camp who had a very sick child. They helped the mother bring her daughter to the hospital. The medical facilities of the camps are over run, as they respond the affects of the famine. Please continue to pray for the Somali refugees crossing over into Kenya and for the famine relief within Dhobley and the surrounding area.

Canadian Baptist Ministries is also involved in emergency food relief in other drought affected areas in Kenya's Northeastern and Eastern Provinces. We appreciate your support and prayers.

Tonight, Erica and Amanda will be going to the UN compound where Amanda is being interviewed by Anderson Cooper for CNN.

Anderson Cooper 360

http://ac360.blogs.cnn.com/

Update on the Drought

http://abcnews.go.com/International/somalia-famine-relief-progress-slow-race-save-millions/story?id=14249541&page=2