Letters

Since Joe came to Kenya in 2003, he has received many letters from students along the way.  Sometimes they are writing to say thank you for something, or to apologize for a mistake they made. Over the past few weeks as he has been clearing out his desk drawers and various files and boxes, he’s rediscovered some touching letters he had saved for many years.  He read through each one, trying to decide which ones to throw away and which ones had special significance to save.  

Jane in 2004, Class 5 

There were a few special letters which brought back good memories.  However, in the last week he has received a couple of e-mails from former students that have really touched our hearts, even more than the all the others.  Both students are now in University.  One is a bright, young lady studying Chemical Engineering in the U.S., and the other is a young man studying Information Computer Technology in Nairobi.  Joe taught both of them during his first 4 years in Kenya and also followed them closely through high school.  

Victor in 2004, Class 4

When God called Joe to serve in Kenya at CGA many years ago, he didn’t know why.  Looking back, it is plain to see the purpose was to touch the life of one of two of these students.  If we can each make a true and lasting impact in just a handful of young people, we’re doing something right!

A Letter from Victor – 

When Joe first came to CGA, Victor was one of the few non-orphans we had at CGA.  Within the next couple of years his mother passed away, and then a few years later his father also passed away, leaving Victor as the head of a family of 5 siblings when he was still in high school.

Hi Uncle Joe n Daneen, 

It is sad, so sad indeed.  Again it is like a joke, unbelievable that you are soon leaving this country for good. I can't imagine you leaving forever, its as if you cease to exist. I have been tongue tied for quite a long time since I saw this email. I have never gotten the strength to email back, but today at least I got some little energy and decided to overcome that weakness by writing back.

I just don't know how to put it, but to begin with, I want to thank God so much for working out His plans through you. You have taken a better part in bringing up of students in CGA . You nurtured us to be God fearing students in all things that we do and wherever we are. Surely speaking, up to my current level of education, I have never regretted that and I don't see myself doing so in the near future up to the end.

You again showed a good example of what a real leader should be; that is ready to serve the juniors and not to be served. By action you did that, you taught in classes and my math class was one of them. I  really miss such times, I really got such a good base in math that has pushed me this far. In addition the novel  'The Lion The Witch and The Wardrobe' was so full of great lessons.

If not for God through you, then many individuals would have not gone to secondary school, just because majority are from such humble backgrounds and are not able to afford the costly secondary education.

You struggled and created something that never existed in CGA before, that is The Post Secondary Bursary (Scholarship). I just can't imagine myself experiencing shortages even after such a grand favor, what if it never existed..?  Uncle you are worth showing gratitude and thanksgiving. My prayer is that it continues.     

We can't afford to pay you back in cash or anything. All we can do is show gratitude to God that He may continue working out his plans as He wishes. Thanks a lot for allowing God to use you, you did it to the best of your capacity and may God bless you for that. May God bless all the works of your hands, may he bless your descendants to the 3rd n 4th generations. All that you started, may those who are taking over do exactly what you would have done. SUCCESSS....!!

Sincerely,
Victor.

A Letter from Jane

Hallo Uncle Joe,
Reading this email over and over again made me smile at the FANTASTIC work you have done to impact thousands of lives at Christ Gift Academy. However, it is sad and hard to accept the fact that you have to leave the CGA family and the whole Kenyan family who had become so attached to you already.

The work you were able to do has blessed many people, including me, making our lives change for the better. May God's reward to you and Daneen be the best He could ever offer. Meanwhile, I am looking forward to meeting you all when you get to the US.  I wish you all a happy transition time as you prepare to leave. Thank you.

Jane Agwaro

~~
Receiving letters like these help us realize it's all worthwhile!!  Every challenge or struggle along the way is worth it to make a lasting impact in a few lives!  We're grateful and honored to be God's servants and allow Him to work through us!

Beautiful Kenya: Safari

God's beautiful creation is all around us; in every country, throughout the world.  Yet there are few places today where an abundance of wild animals roam freely in their natural, God-created, habitat. Kenya is one of them.

Safari is a Kiswhali word meaning travel or journey. In the late-1800's, Colonialists adapted the word to use in reference to going on an overland journey throughout Africa; especially when the journey was a big-game hunt.

While Joe's brother Steve visited us in May, we wanted to take him on safari to experience Kenya's wildlife.  We didn't take him to the world renown Masai Mara for his safari experience.  Instead, we first boarded The Ark; a large hotel built like a cruise ship, similar to what might have been the design of Noah's ark.  This "boat" doesn't go out on the water, instead it's located next to a large watering hole where the animals naturally come to drink and look for food.  We enjoyed sitting on 1 of the 4 decks (some open air, others enclosed) and watched the animals come and go, play and drink and even fight!  

It was a really special experience!  We even woke up to a beautiful sunrise over the watering hole coming up behind Mt. Kenya; the 2nd tallest mountain in all of Africa.

On the 6th Day, "God made the wild animals… and the creatures that move along the ground." Genesis 1:24-25

Sweetwaters Serena Camp is located in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy.  The Conservancy has a large focus on restoring the continent's population of black rhinos which are endangered.  We spent 2 days there and saw many rhinos.  This is a treat, considering at the Masai Mara there are so few rhinos (less than 25 in the entire preserve), that it's very rare you might see one even after days on safari.  

Sweetwaters is also located next to a large watering hole.  The horseshoe shaped grounds opens-up to a the plains where many zebra, antelope, warthogs, water buffalo and many more animals hang out.  We could literally sit on our safari tent veranda and watch the animals! 

In the early morning hours, you could even catch a glimpse of Mt. Kenya before the clouds roll in.

We went on a few game drives in search of seeing lions or leopards; sadly, they were too stealth-like for us.  We encountered many other beautiful and rare animals, including lots of babies. 

The highlight might have been when we were driving on a path which grew less and less like a path the farther we drove in the mud from the previous day's rain, and we ran into a road block of a stranded watering truck…and at the same time, another road block of a heard of elephants who wanted to cross over the road.

We feel immensely blessed to live in a country with such beauty and diversity.

"How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures." Psalms 104:24

Book Suggestions: Missions, Africa & Development

Reading books and current magazines or blogs is a great way to learn more about missions or the history and culture of a particular African country.  We often have people ask us for book recommendations.  While neither of us are devout bookworms, we have read a number of books on these topics.  Below is a list we've accumulated over the years.  All titles with an asterisk (*), are books we've personally read, and would recommend.  All other titles are books we've heard about from others or ones which are on our "to read" list.  We don’t necessarily agree with everything written in these books; in fact, some of them we might strongly disagree with.  However, we believe they are good books to learn about different cultures and countries.  Hopefully they will challenge and inspire you to look at the world from a different perspective.  
This list is by no means inclusive of every good book out there.  PLEASE COMMENT with your additional recommendations!

Go forth and read.

MISSIONS & CROSS-CULTURAL

*When Helping Hurts - Steve Corbett & Brian Fikkert

*Africa Friends and Money Matters  - David E. Maranz

*The Hole in Our Gospel - Richard Stearns

* Let the Nations Be Glad! - John Piper

* Foreign to Familiar: A Guide to Understanding Hot - And Cold - Climate Cultures - Sarah A. Lanier

AFRICA

General

*Dark Star Safari: Overland from Cairo to Capetown – Paul Theroux

*The Only Road North - Erik Mirandette

* West With the Night - Beryl Markham

*Africa United: Soccer, Passion, Politics, and the First World Cup in Africa – Steve Bloomfield

Kenya

*It Happened on the Way to War: A Marine’s Path to Peace – Rye Barcott

*One Day I Will Write About This Place – Binyavanga Wainaina

*I Dreamed Of Africa - Kuki Gallman

*Playing by Their Rules – Sarah Ford

*Infidel - Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Uganda

*Girl Solider - Faith J. H. McDonnell

*First Kill Your Family – Peter Eichstaedt

*Aboke Girls - Els De Temmerman

*The Teeth May Smile but the Heart Does Not Forget: Murder and Memory in Uganda – Andrew Rice

The Wizard of the Nile: The Hunt for Africa’s Most Wanted  – Matthew Green

Sudan

*They Poured Fire on Us From the Sky - Benjamin Ajak

*God Grew Tired of Us - John Bul Dau

*Emma’s War – Deborah Scroggins

*What is the What (fiction) – Dave Eggers

Rwanda

*Left to Tell: Discovering God Amidst the Rwandan Holocaust

*Land of a Thousand Hills - Stephen Kinzer

*We Wish to inform you that tomorrow we will be killed with our families – Philip Gourevitch

As We Forgive: Stories of Reconciliation from Rwanda by Catherine Claire Larson

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC, Congo, Zaire)

*The Ponds of Kalambayi - Mike Tidwell, RPCV

*The Poisonwood Bible (fiction) - Barbara Kingsolver
* In the Footsteps of Mr. Kurtz: Living on the Brink of Disaster in Mobutu's Congo - Michela Wrong

A Thousand Sisters: My Journey into the Worst Place on Earth to Be a Woman – Lisa Shannon

Journey to the Heart of Darkness – Tresor Yenyi

Zambia

*Don't Let's Go to the Dogs Tonight - Alexandra Fuller

South Africa

*The Power of One - Bryce Courtenay

Kaffir Boy: A Black Youth's Coming of Age in Apartheid South Africa - Mark Mathabane

WEST AFRICA

Ivory Coast:

*Nine Hills to Nambonkaha: Two Years in the Heart of an African Village – Sarah Erdman, RPCV

Sierra Leone:

*A Long Way Gone: Memoirs of a Boy Soldier - Ishmael Beah

Cameroon:

Mango Elephants in the Sun: How Life in an African Village Let Me Be in My Skin - Susana Herrera, RPCV

CHILDREN & TEEN BOOKS

*I Know An Old Mzee Who Swallowed A Fly - Cathy Kreutter
*A Long Walk To Water - Linda Sue Park

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT and FOREIGN AID

*The Blue Sweater: Bridging the Gap Between Rich and Poor - Jacqueline Novogratz

*Dead Aid: Why Aid Is Not Working and How There Is a Better Way for Africa - Dambisa Moyo

*The White Man's Burden: Why the West's Efforts to Aid the Rest Have Done So Much Ill and So Little Good - William Easterly

The Road to Hell: The Ravaging Effects of Foreign Aid and International Charity - Michael Maren

The End of Poverty: Economic Possibilities for Our Time - Jeffrey Sachs

The Trouble with Africa: Why Foreign Aid Isn't Working - Robert Calderisi
Global Outlaws: Crime, Money & Power in the Contemporary World – Carolyn Nordstrom

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Following God's Lead

Back in 2002, I (Joe) began feeling God’s call to come to Kenya and serve at Christ’s Gift Academy.  At the time I was living out my dream of being a college basketball coach, but as a follower of Jesus, I always try to be open to wherever God may lead me.  At first I had no desire to leave my career and move to Kenya.  Eventually God made it so clear that I couldn’t resist, so I committed to serve for 1 year in Mbita as an administrator, teacher, coach and role model at CGA.  As I look back 11 years later, I can see how God had been preparing me my whole life for the work he had for me here in Mbita.  My time overseas has been absolutely amazing as God has used me to impact the lives of many young people, and he has also matured me and drawn me closer to Him. 

For we are God's workmanship, created in

Christ Jesus to do good works, which God

prepared in advance for us to do.  Eph 2:10

In 2012, I met an incredible woman who also shared the same passion for Africa.  During her time in Zambia and Uganda, God worked in and through Daneen’s life in similar ways as he had done with me in Kenya.  We agreed that after getting married, we would fulfill my latest commitment of serving in Mbita through 2014.  During our year together here, Daneen has also grown to love Mbita like I do.  We have enjoyed serving together with CGA and Suba Lakers.  We love our home and life here, and we value our friendships, especially the young ones we have an opportunity to serve daily.  CGA is truly a special place that is brining hope to the many orphans here in Mbita and our Suba Laker girls are growing up to be incredibly talented football players and remarkable young ladies.

  

As 2014 began, we committed to praying and fasting about our future, asking God to show us the way.  In similar ways that he called me to come and serve here 11 years ago, He has shown us that it is time to leave.  With heavy, yet peaceful hearts, we have made the decision that we will not return to serve in Mbita in 2015.  I feel strongly that what God originally called me here to do, I have done to the best of my ability.  As a missionary in a foreign land, there reaches a time when you have to let go.  The longer you stay, the more difficult it is; but that time will eventually come at some point. 

Early in the morning, David left the flock 

in the care of a shepherd, 

loaded up and set out.  1 Sam 17:20

As a ministry, CGA in recent years has been handing over more of the leadership to Kenyans.  We have helped with that process, and us leaving will accelerate that process even more.  We have a very capable and experienced Kenyan Leadership Team who understand the ministry and want to see it flourish.    

What is next for Team Pete?

In the long term, we have no idea what we will do or where God will us!  In the short term, we will continue to serve here in Kenya until mid-August.  At that point we will return to America and spend the last 4 months of the year travelling around the U.S.A. to share with friends, families, supporters, groups and churches about the work God is doing through CGA and Suba Lakers.  We trust that in God’s perfect timing He will open up the doors and lead us to the right direction for 2015 and beyond.

We so grateful for the many people back home who have prayed for us and supported us financially during our time serving in Kenya.  You are truly a huge part of this journey God has taken us on.  We could not have done it without you.  We hope that God has blessed you as abundantly as he has for us over these years.  

We look forward to seeing you sometime this Fall!

Suba Laker Day and KYFA Tournament

We love getting to spend quality time with our Suba Laker girls.  During the school break between Term 1 & Term 2, we brought all the Suba Lakers together for a Suba Laker Day. On Monday, May 21^st, we had a great day with the girls at the Mbita High School pitch. Suba Laker Days are an opportunity to check-in on how they’re performing academically, encourage them to keep working hard and remaining focused on what’s important (1. God, 2. family, 3. academics, 4. football) and, of course, enjoying a day of training together as a team.

After the day of training, many girls remained behind to train for the upcoming Kisumu Youth Football Association (KYFA) Nationwide Ladies Tournament.   On May 25-27 we traveled to Kisumu with 2 teams to compete in both tournament categories; Under 15 and Open Age. Some of the top teams from all over the country traveled to Kisumu to compete.  Since the Kenya Women’s Premier League hasn’t yet started this year, many Premier League teams flocked to the tournament.  In addition to great football, KYFA does an excellent job of bringing in successful women to share with the girls.  Throughout the 3-day tournament, speakers discussed many topics which affect young girls in Kenya today. 

GOAL!

On the field, our Under 15 team showed great skill and teamwork on the smaller pitch designed for the 7 v. 7 competition.  Though many of the other teams used players who were over the age of 15, our Suba Lakers were young girls with great potential.  They played aggressively, dominated a number of matches, but ultimately finished 1 point behind 2^nd place and thus didn’t qualify for the Semifinals. 

In the Free Age category, our girls battled hard.  Several of our top Suba Lakers were not able to play with us in the tournament because of injuries, home responsibilities, and a few were also playing with their secondary school teams.  That gave opportunities for some of the other players to step into their roles and get a chance to gain some valuable experience against strong competition.  They played against top teams from across the nation, including the Kenyan Premier League team, Thika Queens.  Besides the previous 3 days of training, our girls hadn’t played together as a team since last December. But they battled hard, gave their best and worked well together as a team. They finished 4^th in the pool of 6 teams. 

Suba Lakers and Jera Secondary School football teams

Great Coaches ~ Great Friends

Though both of our teams were now out of the tournament, we scheduled a friendly match against our friends from Jera Secondary School for the following day.  Jera is a school we love.  We are good, long-time friends with their Head Coach, Jacob Oganga.  We appreciate how he cares for his players and his skills as a great coach.  Joe has learned much from Coach Oganga over the years. During the match we mixed in some of our Juniors (primary school girls) with the older players and had a lot of encouragement from the bench. The friendly match ended in a loss of 3-1 but the girls gave a great effort and enjoyed the entire weekend.