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.

Our little Joshua aka China is taken ill

Daylight's praying friends,

We wish to thank you all for the prayers and support following our baby Joshua Ruto's sudden illness. Little Joshua, who is also known as "China", and how this nickname came about is another story for another day - but suffice to say that locals think that everything about him is made here in Pokot save for the eyes and eyebrows which appear,  in most likelihood, to have come from somewhere in Guangzhou or Beijing, in the greater People's Republic of China (and hopefully, as it were, these are not counterfeits though but original Chinese products).

I should add that this correlation is no accident, Chinese people are common sights here in Kenya and in extension Africa. In the recent years, China have opened shop in Africa. As a result, there are lots of Chinese companies ( not to mention products) and people here. And as such, I can understand why the locals compare in resemblance Joshua's facial features wit that of the Chinese folk - whereas in fact everything about him is homegrown, no exotic additions, whatsoever. At least not any that I know of...

That aside, baby China, who is now approaching  his first birthday anniversary, has been in hospital since last Sunday. He was taken ill at Kapenguria District Hospital in Pokot on Sunday, with a severe health deterioration ( it is now established by the Doctors in Kitale that his is a case of a chronic/advanced malaria).

At the hospital he was treated and discharged on Monday at noon. At around 4pm, just a few hours after being discharged from Hospital, little Joshua went into convulsion. And it was a rush against the odds, and thank God we arrived at the Hospital at the nick of time, and on arrival his heart was still beating. Thank God! And he was immediately resuscitated and put on IV drips. China continued to be on  IV drips and medication until yesterday, Wednesday when the Doctors at the Kapenguria Hospital recommended that he be referred to Cherangany Hospital and Nursing Home. 

We did move him there, and that he is receiving some good medical attention. Apparently, little China is out of danger - the lord is healing him. And soon he will be out of hospital with a clean bill of health. We all want to thank you praying friends for all of the support we have received. And I wanted to put you updated on China's wellness - and continue to do so in every step on the way. 

I took some snapshots of Joshua receiving treatment using my cellphone camera, and I have included some of them here below. Take a look:

On the first IV drips 

Angelina, my wife, and Joshua at the hospital ward