Transformed International Updates Blog

.: ti Updates / Blog :.

.: JOHEBETO Project Update (July 25th) :.

Sunday, July 25, 2010

After two weeks of hard work today was a time for team 2 to clean up their living quarters and get ready for their departure. They refused to say that it was a goodbye, but insisted they will be coming back. A piece of them will be left here forever and they will carry Kitale with them everywhere they go from this day on. It is sure that their lives have been profoundly changed, never to be the same.

The walls went up both on the inside and out. The exterior ones have reached the height of 7 feet. At this heights there will be an 8 inch beam of poured concrete with steal reinforcing rods which will hold everything together, and is known as a ring beam or tie beam. The inside walls have been going up and a few of them are at tie beam height and the rest will surely be there soon.

Also there has been one section of floor slab poured in this building that the small office wall and toilet room wall off of the master bed room will be built.
some of the windows and doors have been delivered to the sight and will be installed after the tie beam is poured.

The lower building the footers have all been completed and the floor has been leveled. Walls are set-up and have started to go up. Things are being done a little differently in this building, so 5 of the 18 sections of the floor slab have been poured.

We thank God for giving the team the strength to work, and for keeping everyone safe. May he watch over the following two teams and receive the glory of everything accomplished.

http://johabeto.blogspot.com/

.: 300 Families Get Food :.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Last Friday 300 families, mostly widows caring for orphaned children, received enough maize and beans to feed their families for two months.

Thanks to the funding and work by the Hope 2 Kenya team, from North Bay, Canada, these families have a renewed hope of survival in a time of great poverty.

On Thursday, the Hope 2 Kenya team, TI team along with the Shimo Girls project and Neema Girls, took 40,000 pounds of maize and beans and repacked and separated them for two major food distributions the following day.

Friday began with the first distribution in MailiSaba where TI has been working with widows and orphans for the past four years. In only two hours the maize and beans were distribution to the 150 families as each family received their sack.

The team then moved to the Shimo La Tawa slums where an addition 150 families received food.

In all, around 1,500 people will be fed for two months by the food provided.

Year after year I am moved by the poverty seen in both of these locations. I am also moved by the constant work these widows do to provide for their family and to survive one more day.

My favorite scene from Shimo was when the Hope 2 Kenya team performed songs with the widows who sat patiently waiting for their name to be called. Their smiles and joy are engraved in my memory.

Thank you to the TI crew who organized the distribution and to the Hope 2 Kenya team and donors who made it possible.

www.hope2kenya.org

.: We Remember Veronica :.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

It was one year ago today that our child Veronica passed away. She brought so much life and joy to everyone around her; she danced like none other; she was eight years old; she was HIV positive. As I watched them lower the child sized coffin into the ground a year ago, I wondered why God allows a child to die.

Veronica’s death gave life to a new project idea, a home for orphans with HIV. A place where they would get the nutrition, medication and care they needed.

Thanks to Hope 2 Kenya from North Bay Canada, a dream became a reality. Hope 2 Kenya funded the buying of the land and renovation and remodeling of the house, a house where fifteen children now call home.

This past Sunday we were honored to have the Hope 2 Kenya team visit the Veronica Home for the first time. Joining the team was Cathy who used to sponsor Veronica. Cathy and the team planted a tree in memory of Veronica. Not a memory of her death but of the life she lived and the joy she brought to others.

The hard word of the team impressed the children and the staff as the entire inside of the house was painted and each room took on a new personality.

The kids were overjoyed as the team handed out gifts including hand made quilts.

On behalf of Transformed International and the children who live at the Veronica Home now and who will one day move into it, thank you to Hope 2 Kenya for caring abundantly for these children. Also thank you to The Rotary Club of North Bay and North Bay Nipissing for your donations and I.O.D.E. Manitou Chapter for furnishing the home. Although a half world away, you have changed the lives of many.

.: JOHABETO Project Update (July 10th) :.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

With the first segment completed Team 1 has accomplished a monumental task by the grace of God. Starting with little more than an open field with a few bricks on it and a pile of metal, to having three structures standing with completed rooves.

The team also moved massive amounts of earth leveling what will be the floor base and 100s of tons more in the preparation of the footers/foundation.

As of yesterday the team finished pouring concrete in all but two little sections for all of the footers for the northern dormitory.

The team pushed themselves possibly further then they thought possible, overcoming the exhaustion of 12 hour work days to give a great new beginning for the second team whom arrived in Kitale today.

Yesterday was an amazing farewell from all of the locals at the work site. They had a tree for every member of team that we all planted one by one as the sung and danced and lifted us up showing their joy and appreciation for all the work that everyone had done.

Today team 1 cleaned up their living quarters to prepare for Team 2s arrival. There was a brief overlaps of the two teams, about half an hour, just long enough to meet and give a few little words of wisdom. As team 1 headed for the airstrip in the faithful matatu (van/bus)

team 2 headed out on foot to town with the hope that I could remember the way, and get them to the restaurant. which was a step in faith since it was 3pm and most had not eaten all day and been traveling. Getting to town wasn't as much of a problem as finding the restaurant which looked so much different two weeks ago while half in a daze from the whirlwind tour of Egypt. however after doing a little grocery shopping for the week at Transmatt we were able to find the restaurant and get some prepared food.

here is where the kids of the kingdom are currently staying

and after the johabeto project they will live under these rooves

but before that walls and windows and doors all to come in the next few weeks...

We would like to thank everyone for their contributions, both financial and spiritually through prayer. Without them this project would be impossible, as some of the team members have said we have set unrealistic goals; but God has blessed every part of this project and everyone involved both here and abroad and with faith mountains can be moved and unrealistic goals can be met, Glory be to God!

http://johabeto.blogspot.com/

.: JOHABETO Project Update (July 4th) :.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

We awoke today with much anticipation and excitement because today we traveled to the town of Soy to meet Marting and his family at their home. Our bus from Kitale was filled with visitors eager to spend time with the children for whom we've traveled such a long distance.

After a joyful service, we headed to Martin's home and received exceptional hospitality. The time we spent with the kids helped us to understand what our project is all about. We are all so excited to see Martin's family move to their new home later this summer.

This 4th of July was spent in the company of dear friends we are blessed to have. We took a break from celebrating our nation to celebrate another. Martin and his family shine brightly in western Kenya and are well deserving of a new place to call home. Team 1 can't wait to get back to work tomorrow.

http://johabeto.blogspot.com/