The Kimpurs: - Our Family’s Annual Briefs, 2011

Dear Prayer Partners,

The Kimpur Famly

Greetings in the mighty name of our lord and savior, Jesus Christ. 

Our family is doing great. The year, 2011, has been an eventful one for both our family and the greater Daylight community, which is, in effect, our extended family. We have seen the lord remain faithful in protecting and providing for the Daylight’s kids’ ministry and also our family. During the year, the lord has brought us many visitors and guests – most of them were locals on the move and who needed a place to spend a night or two. A couple of the visitors were Daylight’s visiting friends: Rachel Finsaas (MN), Lauren Soderstrom (MN), Megan Green (CA), Michael McCranie (FL), and David Maus (MN/Uganda).  We are thankful to God for bringing us the so many guests into our family circle and we consider it a blessing.

Mama Daylight

As I write, we are full-house, for all of the children who have been attending their respective schools are back home for Christmas holiday. Angelina (aka Mama Daylight), my wife who prides herself as a mother of the so many children at Daylight, 157 and counting ( who knows, may be the Guinness book of records may someday in the future recognize her so), is now even busier with a bustling house. When most of the kids are out for school, Angelina has been kept busy at Daylight serving as a matron. She makes sure the children have eaten, washed and dressed up well. Indeed, we recently took an end-of-year family photo and it looked great having the whole family together. The children, on the other hand, have been doing well in their schooling:

Christine Arupe

Chelain Rael, 20, - our adopted child and who assumes the position of the family’s first born, just graduated from High school (grade 15) in her school in Tororo, Uganda. Rael started schooling relatively late and we thank God for seeing her through High school. She is poised to start college sometime next year for a vocational training as a nurse.

Christine Arupe, 17, - She lost both parents and ended up staying with our family. Chrisitne’s mom died, as we watched, sometime in September 2010. Her mom’s wish to our family was that we help take care of Christine and that we should keep her in school. During my visit to the US in the fall last year, I shared Christine’s story with Joyce Schwartz. Joyce offered to find a friend to help with Christine’s fees (some US $ 400 per school term). She did. And Christine was able to continue with her schooling. We thank God for Joyce for helping see Christine stay in school that otherwise was going to drop out of school due to lack of parental support. Indeed, Christine who attends Moi Girls’ High School, Kabartonjo in Baringo, Kenya, will be in grade 12 next year, and so will be a candidate to sit for exams at the end of the year.

From Left: Grace, Rael and Lauren

Grace Kakuko, 12, - Grace (not her original name, but a name given to her by Lauren Soderstrom) also puts up with our family. Lauren Soderstrom while on a casual walk during her visit in Alale ran into Grace. At the time, Lauren discovered that Grace had pus oozing from one of the ears. And it looked really bad. As we found out, Grace was an orphaned child. We decided to get the kid to Kapenguria – and she has since got treatment and has realized a full recovery. While in Kapenguria, Lauren decided that it would be cool to consider a special name for the kid, and “Grace” was the name that she settled on. Everyone now calls her by the "Grace". The whole encounter was, indeed, an act of Grace - or is it a "chain of grace?" And I think Lauren put in some good thinking in coming up with the name for the little girl from the nomad world. And so let’s thank God for Lauren who met Grace, and who in turn helped raise funds to get treatment for her. Grace is scheduled to start classes at Daylight next January.

Roselyn

Chelimo Roselyn, 16, - she is joining grade 11 next January, 2012. She attends school in one of the best Girls’ High school in Kampala, Uganda – The Trinity College, Nabbingo. Roselyn is a straight ‘A’ student and she an assortment of trophy paraph

ernalia to show for it. She is also active in athletics, a national schools’ soccer player and a marathoner. We thank God for the family of Pete and Lu Welch for helping with Roselyn’s school fees.

Chepkite (aka Cherotich) Milka, - our second born who just turned 14, completed grade 7 this year  at the Jerusalem Christian School in Chepareria, West Pokot. And she will be a candidate next year, 2012. She will be sitting for National comprehensive exams in November, 2012. We thank God for the family of the JA and Joyce (aka Kama Ridley) Schwartz for helping with her school fees all along.

Chenangat Leah, 12, - she came 7^th position in the end- of -year class rankings. And she will be joining grade 5 come January, 2012. We thank God for the family of Joyce Schwartz for helping with Leah’s school fees.

Nelson

Yatich Nelson, 9, - Nelson who is an avid soccer player and a crazy soccer fan ( read a devout  Manchester United fan) graduated from grade 2 and will be joining grade 3 next January, 2012. He sees other boys his age with bikes, and in turn has been asking for one, time and again. Though, we have not had the opportunity to get him one, we tell him to continue praying about it “until something happens.” He is grateful, all the same, for he is attending school whereas the so many Pokot boys his age who  are out tending cows and face the risk of running into the hands of the marauding cattle-rustlers, and therefore do not have the opportunity to go to school just as he does. Of course Daylight is a novel attempt to give a handful of those nomad children the rare opportunity to access schooling and turn over a new page for themselves and the nomad communities. We are thankful to God for the Joyce Schwartz family for helping with Nelson’s school fees at AIC Bendera School, Kapenguria. 

Naomi

Little China

Chesang Naomi Sheila, 7 - just graduated from 1^st grade. Come January, 2012, she will be joining grade 2. Sheila is the most talkative and free-spirited one in the family. She enjoys performing dances, poetry, singing games at home and at school where she has so perfected her art to the national level – and has received a number of performance awards.  Her two great friends at school are Naomi Arupe and Mercy Kangusur, both in her class. We thank God for the Joyce Schwartz family for helping with Sheila’s school fees.

Little China (Joshua Ruto), - the last born and will be 1 next January the 16^th. He has been nick-named “China” – and how the name came about is a story for another day. He was recently taken ill for chronic Malaria. We thank God for healing China man.

As a family we are thankful to God for the breakthroughs we have realized this year, and I will highlight the following:

Family House under construction 

Family House (Margie Smith’s House) – our family house is under construction. We have been living on a two roomed hut just off Kapenguria Township, and it has been quite stressing to house the family and take in the visitors who swing by. So far US $5000 (a generous contribution from Margie Smith and family, FL) has been used to get the house to the lintel/rim beam level. Roofing and finishing is awaiting and some US $5000 or so is needed to complete the construction. We would love to move in as soon as it is possible, we can’t wait to be there, and so join us in prayers for the funds to see the completion of this project.

Dairy Cow- We’ve got a dairy cow for the family. And we thank God for Michael McCranie and family for blessing our family with the dairy cow. We now have a steady source of milk, serving our family and also Daylight. We hope to have an additional or two dairy cows in the near future to meet milk demands for the family and at the greater Daylight family.

Our Truck's Engine undergoing repairs

Truck for the Ministry – we have had a truck (a 1993 Toyota Hillux) that was purchased by Michael McCranie and family in 2007 to facilitate the Outreach ministry in the nomad world. We have been able to do lots more with the truck: getting visiting friends from the Capital Nairobi to Daylight, getting supplies for the children, rushing sick kids who medical attention to hospitals, and most of all, providing general mobility in the day-to-day chores at Daylight. Conversely, the truck, of late, breaks down quite so often. And we feel it is time we think of another dependable truck. Join us in praying for a breakthrough in 2012 for a new truck, preferably a Toyota Land-Cruiser given the tough terrain of Pokot and the nomad region.

Trip to the States – I was planned to visit the US in the month of October, 2011. Unfortunately, a change in Visa requirements caused the postponement of the trip – which might be sometime early next year. Do join us in prayer for this trip, and that the lord will lead the way in the Visa processing with the US Embassy in Nairobi, Kenya. The Embassy wants me to have an R1 visa instead of the regular B1 visa which I normally use to visit the Sates. The processing of an R1 visa is a slow and a demanding one. With God’s guidance it will come together and that I can make the visit to the Sates.

This is Daylight, Pokot, Kenya

Wishing all of you a Merry Christmas, and a blessed new year, 2012 – Right from our family and the Daylight community to yours, is our warm festive greetings to you. We want to wish you a merry Christmas and a blessed new year, 2012. Thank you for the regular prayers and partnering with us this year, and we hope and pray for your continued partnership and prayers in the coming year, 2012. We have made ourselves available for the lord to use us and our family as vessels in His greater purpose and Kingdom. In turn, the lord has brought so many of you in our way to make things happen – so many orphaned children, of diverse tribal backgrounds, need someone to be there for them so bad. And at Daylight, these children find a new place to call home, a safe place to live, and a rare opportunity to attend school together and grow up physically, mentally and in the Knowledge of Him. 

Daylight Kids Showing off their candies

At the end of the day, we are optimistic these little and lovely children will overwhelmingly impact their cultures for Christ. We thank God for placing us right here, at this point in time, to make a difference in the lives of these children. It’s like lighting up a candle, and with your continued prayers, we hope to light up a thousand of such candles in the nomad world now overshadowed by so many ills … and indeed, let’s together let light, “… shine before [them], that they may see… and praise your Father in heaven,” (Mat 5:16, NIV).Amen!

Where There is no Doctor

Sometime back in 2007, I traveled to attend a peace meeting at a village called Akelin ( where my friend and Daylight's Staff assistant,  Peter Loesengoria, comes from) situated in Kasei Division of West Pokot District. I had been invited to speak at the meeting. The peace meeting was well attended for there women in attendance too. Tell you what, everything at the meeting went according to plan.Then came my  time to speak. I rose to speak, and as I went about with the talk, then some thing out of the blues happened, all of a sudden - a woman a few yards away from me yelled hysterically...

The woman, I came to learn was expectant, and the yelling was a signal of labor pains. And this was happening at such an odd place - and most of all there was no mid-wife let alone a Doctor anywhere near. In fact, the nearest health care facility was so far away. And in that milieu, some of the women present surged forward toward the woman who was at great pains, and then some beckoned on me to get over there. What? I suspect, they thought my schooling had something to do this unfolding scenario and that I should be there to offer any help or somewhat I knew how to. On my part, I was not prepared for this.I didn't know what to do.I have no idea what needs to be done. Even still, I found myself moving in.... and we went into action! At this point, the men relocated to a nearby shade ( I could understand, according Pokot, this is no men's territorial jurisdiction). 

Just arrived - it is baby Seretion!

The whole drama happened so fast, for in about 15 minutes, it was all over ( the picture above shows us in celebratory mood,  me holding the fresh dude so close to the chest)! And there we had a bouncing baby boy - whom the whole crew chose to name, SERETION! He was given my name, for in effect I am commonly referred to locally here in Pokot as Seretion owing to the nature of work I do with Children and community outreach work in the villages. It's a nick-name which has overtaken all of my other names. Seretion is a name derived from a special grass in Pokot, a special type of grass indeed that grows by way of knotting, making a knot after another as it spreads along the ground. Translated, "Seretion", among the Pokot, denotes  a "Chain of Grace"  going by the nature  and character of this  grass type -  that makes knots as it grows and spreads out, and interestingly also appears green even in the worst of time.... or so it goes.

I should add that, the women and I who helped with this were so grateful that the whole process worked out so well. The women told me that oftentimes  it is not always so. And when that happens, it becomes one big problem and sometimes life-threatening. I had a rush, and sort of wished I had trained as a Doctor or something. At least, in a moment I thought to myself....

Then something hit me concerning the newborn.Aware that Pokot villagers do not readily take children to school, I pleaded with the baby's mother,  whom I came to learn her name to be Chemiliong, and the other women who were milling around there that little Seretion will have to attend school when he attains the school going age - and that he may someday be the future nurse to the village. I made my case. From the look of things, the mother seemed to agree, and there was one challenge, a big one, that which has to do with the father.  He might stand to be a true Pokot man, and say no. However, the women present promised me that they will talk to the father about that.

All along I kept a close touch with the family and little Seretion. Recently, the father ( Lokadakapel) and family agreed that young Seretion  (who will be 6 next year) will be going to school! And indeed, he will be joining Daylight come January, 2012,  or so sometime in the year. 

The Story of a White Stallion

By Pr Hammond

......So, I want to ask myself as well as ask you, how can we change? How can I respond and wait patiently for God's justice in my life, rather than muttering like the Pharisees did. How can I focus outside of myself rather than at the injustice that I perceived then perpetrated upon me? And, I believe maybe this final story may help us understand.

It's a tale that is told of a kingdom long ago. There was a poor farmer who had a prize white stallion. The king offered to buy this horse from the farmer and make him a very wealthy man. But after thinking about it, the farmer said, "I'm sorry. This white stallion is like a member of my family. I can't sell him."   

Some weeks later, as the farmer always did, he got up and went out to the stable in the morning and to his surprise, as he opened the door the door to the stable was open and the stable was empty. The prized white stallion had run away, escaped through the gate.

Now as the villagers came by they evaluated the situation and then said, "God has cursed you because you didn't sell that stallion. Now he's gone. You'll never see him again." The farmer said, "I don't know if it is a blessing or a curse. All I can say is that my horse is not in the stable."

Well, two or three weeks later when he came out, as he did early each morning to the stable, there was the white stallion. This time the white stallion had six wild horses that had returned. He closed the gate. And the villagers soon came by. They said, "God has blessed you! You stallion is back and you have six more horses. You are now a very wealthy man." To which the farmer said, "I can't say if it's a blessing or a curse. All I know is that my stallion is in the stable and there are six other horses with him."

Well, now to take advantage of the wealth he had received in these wild horses, he and his son set about breaking these horses so that they could be sold or kept or used. As they were breaking them an accident occurred. The son fell of the horse and broke his leg. At which time the villagers came around to give their assessment of things. "It was a curse that those wild horses came to you! Your son will not be able to help you bring your crops in from the field this year. You are going to be a pauper as a result of this." To which the farmer said, "I cannot say if it was a blessing or a curse. All I know is that my son fell off the horse and broke his leg."

Well, some time later, a king's herald arrived to the village. He told the villagers that a neighboring rival king had attacked their country, and that the king was taking all able-bodied young men to go and fight this terrible invader. The villagers began to weep. They all turned to the farmer and said, "Our sons will go off and die in war, but God has blessed you because your son's leg is broken. He cannot go off to war." To which the farmer replied, "I can't say if it's a blessing or a curse. Al I know is that my son can't go to war."

Now, why do I share this story with you? Well, often in our spiritual life we try to interpret every event that happens to us as a blessing or a curse from God. Is this good? Is this bad? What is it? And we end up being like the villagers, or the Pharisees, kind of mumbling in a very contradictory way about how God is working in our lives. But what God calls us to do is to listen patiently as the farmer did, to allow God to bring His will into our lives, the plan that God has prepared for us.

China is Out of Hospital

Dear Daylight Praying Partners:

Greetings from Daylight, Pokot, Kenya. 
Mine is to tell you that little "China" in Pokot, Kenya who has been in hospital, on a critical condition, for the most part of last week, is out of hospital (Cherangany Hospital and Nursing Home, Kitale). Little China now has a clean bill of health. Thank you for all of the prayers!!! Your prayers have made all of the difference - as a family, we thank God for you all. And let's together rejoice for God has healed our son - little China ( Joshua)!

Subsequently, we wish to share with you some of the correspondences and prayers that flew around during, what otherwise was an intense moment, and they went as follow:

First, a distress call reached Nathan Roberts who in turn sent out this message: -  

...on IV drips at Kapenguria hospital

“….his [Michael] son Joshua was in a mild coma this morning and he went to the hospital immediately. He has since been on an IV drip and has begun looking around and making some movements. Joshua will be moving to a larger hospital once he is stabilized. Keep the family in your prayers …”…Nathan Roberts, Daylight Center and School, US Director

And then lots of you went into prayer and intercession mood - 

"Dear Michael – I am so sorry to hear about how sick little Joshua is.  I have sent a prayer request to our congregation and we will hold Joshua and your family in our prayers.  We are anxious to hear that the doctors have discovered the cause of Joshua’s illness and that he is getting better. Blessings to all of you!" Pam DeLaittre, Daylight Partner, Edina Morningside Community Church (UCC)

“…Please let Michael know that I am praying for his son and his entire family.   Our God is a mighty God and nothing is impossible for Him.  Love and Prayers.” - Margie Smith.

“ Dear Michael, We will continue to pray for your son's speedy recovery and your family as well... In His Hands,” -  Larry Vukov

"… Thank you so much! I will pray for the baby and I hope he gets better soon!

thank you for the answers and your time God bless you very much!" - caleb wild.

"Hi Michael.....Great News about Joshua......our God is so faithful.....Praise His Holy Name!Happy Thanksgiving to you and your Family". - Margie Smith

"Michael, I am so happy that China is recovering!  But I am very concerned about him contracting malaria - this is very serious and avoidable.  Does your family sleep under mosquito nets?  Michael, if not we really need to do something about this!  All of the Daylight children should sleep under mosquito nets and so should your family.We can talk more about this when I come in December - I am very worried about your family and the Daylight children! Can't wait to come there myself!" - Faith Kroeker

"Thank you, Michael – Joshua, you and your family continue to be in our prayers.  We are anxious to hear that Joshua is, once again, well, laughing and playing with his friends...Many Blessings," - Pam DeLaittre

Edina Morningside Community Church (UCC)

"Hi Michael, How is Joshua doing? I was so concerned about him being in the hospital. I am so glad you were back from Alale in order to rush him to the hospital and receive the care he needed. Angelina looked so worried and tired in the pictures you shared. I hope everyone is all right now.Thanks, Michael. Greet your family for me!...." - Rachel Finsaas

And then,-

“ Dear Nathan and Michael McCraine - I will certainly try to join the pray-ers for little "China" in Kapenguria.Bless him and you all”. Arthur Rouner, The Rev. Dr. Arthur A. Rouner, Jr. Founder and President. The Pilgrim Center for Reconciliation

In addition, I wish to share with you photos of the little guy ( taken from his photo album) as follows:

hmmm, the eyes....china?

Yes!

...putting on the helmet...

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah....!

And yes, PRAISE HIM! ...and again, thank you all for the  prayer support.

Michael and Family

Daylight, Pokot, Kenya.