Greetings to everyone we have recieved another report of the work going on in Northern Uganda. The well is on it's last dig before they should reach water. This will be an amazing blessing for the village. The whole rock that was hit while digging has been removed. They have hit wet soil so this is a very good sign. Ps Dan has visited a village deep in the jungle and has come across more need. These people can only be reached on motorcycle or foot and even then sometimes motorcycles can not access them. Here the people and livestock share the same water source. They have lost hope and have been told that a well is not possible. They have little access to water and many families rely on milk instead of water. The dirty water that is found in some places is shared between livestock and the people.

The family that was first contacted has greatly improved the children are back in school and the unhealed sores have healed. They find it amazing that there are people in Australia who care for them. We have provided some clothing for the children and parents.

Please search your hearts and supports us in our endeavours to bring life to these people and many others showing them the love of God.


John and Jean.

Northern Uganda 2009

Dear Friends,
We feel compelled to send to you these images which we have received very recently from our AAI Pastors in Uganda. As many of you know our Pastors regularly travel up North and of recent weeks and months have been digging a well. Recently there was a hold up because of a rock which was in the way of the then 50 foot deep well, it was blocking the way and most of the men working on the well had left. The engineer alone was there when Pr D arrived. They the set out to find more workers and the engineer knew of a man in a village some distance away.
They travelled there only to find families in that village were suffering from drought, hunger, sickness and sores. One family were sitting, five children not in school, all with sores, weak, hopeless and alone without help. Ps D ministered to them, provided some food stuffs and some finance to get the children in to school again. The mother recommitted her life to the Lord and the Father, who had been drinking local brew was invited to go work with them on the well!!
They also went to a nearby IDP, (Internally Displaced Persons camp) to visit health Centres as we are trying to ascertain what is happening there, (up North) since we found out the terrible state of the Main Referral Hospital in the capital City of Kampala. The situation was even worse in the IDP camp health centres. Please read Ps D's report and do whatever the Lord puts on your hearts. We feel we must respond to this door of opportunity God has give to us. The need is great but look what God did with a few loaves and fishes!!! Please pray that the suffering in Northern Uganda may receive help through the power of the Gospel and the response of God's Kingdom people.

God Bless you all. John & Jean Leak.

‘AFRICAN ACTION INTERNATIONAL CELEBRATION ’

John & I are anticipating a great AGM and get together for the AAI working team and all who are interested in the work of African Action International. Whether you have sponsored a child, given finance, or prayed for us and the work, you are all most welcome. We are opening this day to all who would like to find out more of the AAI Vision. Please come and enrich us with your input and presence. You are the heart of the work through which the Holy Spirit moves and strengthens us in all we do. It is our time to say thankyou to you! Invite friends who have shown interest in AAI. This is an ideal time to spread the word. THE BLESSINGS ARE MANY. God has blessed us over the past year and this gathering will be an opportunity to praise and thank our mighty God together! The team who went with us in 2008 will be represented with testimonies and stories of the trip and its impact in their lives. You will hear the testimonies of the special things God has done in the lives of so many people. We will be featuring some great African music for your enjoyment. The ‘AGM’ part of our meeting will be brief, informal and informative, followed by a short DVD for Uganda and then Kenya . These will reveal the breadth of the work and the churches, Pastors, people and projects we are supporting together. All this & more?? YES! Now Enjoy Afternoon Tea with a Tropical flavour at 4pm with lots of chatting & fellowship! The Date is May 16th. 2 till 4pm . The venue is the lovely ambience of Christian Family Centre, 7 Tarwin Street , Warragul.

Hoping to see you there,

John & Jean Leak.

PS:-We will anticipate your reply by snail mail, Email, carrier pigeon, text or phone by May 1st. The Baw Baw Shire has many beautiful places of interest you could visit. Maybe you could plan to spend the weekend in our lovely town. B & B’s, Motels & Caravan Park available.

Photos from Mercy Children's home

Oxen


Children on arrival at the Mercy Home


Kids writing letters to their sponsors


Mercy Children's Home


The farm!


The cow

‘AFRICAN OUTREACH’ AAI Mission trip to Uganda and Kenya

Dear Friends,
The Directors and Committee of African Action International, and the team who went to East Africa recently, send their appreciation & thanks to all who were supportive in prayer & by other means during our time in Uganda & Kenya. We all felt privileged to have such a special experience.
Jean Leak.

We left Australia on the 18th Nov. for a 24 hour journey to Nairobi, staying overnight and travelling to Uganda the next day. We returned to Melbourne on the 18th Dec. via a two day stopover in Hong Kong. Our team consisted of John & Jean Leak, Founders of African Action International, Kerryn Leak our eldest daughter on her first ever trip with AAI, and another first timer, 21 yr old Jason Frith, all residing in Traralgon, & our friends/Committee members, John & Shirley Easton from Blackburn who met up with us in Nairobi, following their one week safari in Kenya.

UGANDA.
We were joyfully met outside the Entebbe Airport by AAI Uganda Director, Pastor Sunday Sula Lasa, and a small group of our friends who drove us through Kampala. We travelled in all 38 km’s to Sula’s family home. The home property also houses the boy’s accommodation block with ‘kitchen’ attached, (containing small charcoal stoves and little else), the newly opened Safe Way Medical Clinic, and an open-sided church building constructed of bush poles, red dirt floor and corrugated iron roof. The church was built in a corner of Sula’s house block as a temporary measure three years ago. The white ants have been coming to church very regularly and have had many good feeds. Many of the planks on the sides and the poles holding the roof up are dangling freely in the breeze at their lower end!! As you can imagine this small plot of land has become very congested. It is time to look for and purchase a block of land on which to site a new & more permanent building for the Gospel Hope Church congregation.

We slept well in our new home apart from the early hours of the first and every proceeding morning, we were woken by an over zealous rooster, who crowed continuously from early hours onward, so no one needed an alarm clock. The next sound that occurred I enjoy, which is the swish of the coconut fibre brooms, (orweyo), sweeping the red earth around the house, announcing another day has begun. We enjoyed two weeks of amazing hospitality. All three bedrooms in Sula’s house had been vacated for our use! The graciousness and humble spirit of this family was a challenge to our western attitudes and lifestyle!! Pr Sula slept on the couch throughout and Betty and children in one of the ‘boys block’ rooms. Latim, a young man who impressed us all, became our able & cheerful cook. He would discuss the menu each day and presented us with delicious meals, he came with us to Kiriandongo, Northern Uganda, during the second week of our stay to cook for us there, no wonder we have come back overweight!

TEAM DIARY
This first excerpt is from John & Shirley Easton’s day by day journal.
Note:- John Easton was called ‘Mr Chips’ by the guys in his carpentry course, as having two Johns in our visiting team was confusing.

1. CARPENTRY COURSE.
Shirley writes, John’s primary role was to teach carpentry to five ‘apprentices’ around 20 years old. A few tools were bought in Oz, the others were bought locally, along with timber for the projects he had in mind. A group of us set off on day two with list to the timber yard. The purchasing process was a long drawn out process and took upwards of five hours. The first project was to build a work bench with vice, then a tool box to house the donated tools and a tool box made by each participant. Ten days later we presented the boys with a Certificate duly signed on completion of the course, and celebrated with coke and cake. It has been proposed to move the chickens and build a workshop next to the outdoor kitchen, in order that those who did the course can continue to exercise their new found skills.
These young men & many others will be released from a life of poverty if we can encourage this workshop to continue by supporting what has been begun by ‘Mr Chips’.

2. VISITING FAMILIES.
Living near and mixing with the village families proved to be a special time for members of the team. They were encouraged to go and visit the village people in their homes, and see what life is like beneath the surface for local families.

Shirley Easton wrote, ‘We met our sponsored child Joel for the first time and his family. Kerryn & I visited their home one day and were so warmly welcomed. They are desperately poor – the father deserted them a few months ago. Mother, Prossie, 36 years old, has been left with her five children and no means of income. The way this beautiful person is bringing up her children, despite their poverty, is miraculous. They are never without a smile and the least little thing we were able to do for them was greeted with the most profuse thanks. Prossie and three of her children are part of the Sunday church praise group. We helped them to sort and clean the tiny white mushrooms they had harvested that morning. A meaningful friendship has been formed between the Easton’s and Prossies family which is bringing joy to both families. You can’t put a price on things like this.

3. FUN FESTIVALS.
AAI supports an initiative which runs weekly tutoring classes for children in the local community. This program runs every Saturday morning with classes in Maths & English, taught by one of our Pastors, who is also a teacher, Pastor Christopher Grace. Sister Betty is the other Leader in the program and organises for lunch to be served to the children. Later in the day they gather again for singing, bible teaching and related activities. These children are all great friends together they enjoy lots of fun and fellowship and contribute to various community events with songs, dancing & drama, to the enjoyment of the parents and acquaintances.

A Sunday School Choir has been formed with those who already attend church with their families, these children march in singing each week delighting all with their innocence and joyful items. We chose the Saturday as the ‘Children’s Fun Day’. There was great excitement and wonder as children arrived to participate in some new adventures, such as, making a colourful ‘Wise Owl’ with brightly coloured craft paper, then face painting, creation of ‘Balloon Animals’ and a throwing of Water Balloons to end the day on a wet note! Soccer balls were presented to the boys by Jason at each place we visited and were received with great joy & appreciation. Following that day, when we drove past their houses we received waves and beautiful loving smiles. What a reward for our labours!

4. SAFE WAY MEDICAL CLINIC.
The Clinic in Uganda is now OPEN FOR BUSINESS and people are receiving much needed help with medicines and first aid. The laboratory is about to be set up with cupboards and shelves to hold the purchased equipment. On our last night in Uganda we were surprised by a knock on one of the metal security doors at 11.30p.m. A grand mother who lived nearby had been trying to bring her daughter to the clinic for the birth of her baby, but the baby had other ideas and proceeded to be born on the hillside in the cassava plantation. We jumped into action but discovered that Betty was not yet set up for the birthing procedure; some boys were sent to the clinic for supplies as we hurried up the hill through wet grass to find the poor lady and baby on the ground and baby in the wet grass covered by a cloth. So, with Jason holding a torch, Jean holding the cord with forceps, Betty caring for Mum to prepare her to cut the cord, (we were concerned that the baby was cold and not breathing very well), we then sent Jason running to the house to wake Kerryn, (a nurse), who was asleep. She then joined our team and followed Betty and baby back to the family home to work on clearing the airways. I suddenly realised that everyone had gone with the baby and I was left in the dark with the mother still on the ground! However with a little support from me she got up and made it back home to her bed. Both are doing well. The baby girl has been named Mercy. We have now sent finance to Betty for a ‘Baby Delivery Kit’!

5. HOSPITAL VISIT.
We planned to visit wards in a major hospital in Kampala as part of our outreach to those in need. We joined with some members of Gospel Hope Church who accompanied us. Pastor Ephraim in Kampala was our contact there as he works in the hospital. Goods to the value of $300 AUD were purchased and divided into separate bags with soap, sugar, and tea included. These had been requested by Ephraim, as such things are not provided by the hospitals. It had been arranged that we would visit the Maternity Ward first & then the Paediatric Ward.

The hospital is large having six storeys. We mounted up staircases to reach the ward. Official permission had been granted for our group to visit these wards and Ephraim went ahead to clear this with the staff on duty that Sunday afternoon. We could see even as we moved through the security staff as we had entered the hospital and through other areas that our friend Ephraim was held in high regard.

We climbed the stairs and eventually reached the Maternity Ward. As we entered the ward we saw a large ward with one division in the centre. On each side were rows of beds fairly closely packed together, each patient had a relative or friend standing nearby to care for them. As we entered we divided into two’s and each woman received a visit and a gift bag. We asked each one if they would like us to pray with them. This offer was accepted happily by most patients and it was an amazing sight to see our team scattered through the ward talking with, praying for or hugging either the patient or carer. Some cases were very sad as some couples suffered the loss of their baby. One lady was in deep distress and very ill. Everyone was very thankful for the small provisions we provided. We then reluctantly left the ward and set off down the stairs and outside again, ready to climb the steep drive and steps that led to the children’s ward.

As we entered the children’s ward we saw rows of old metal drop-side cots. Being Sunday many parents were with their children. Again we divided into twos and visited each family, talking with the parent or parents and discussing their situation. My first visit was to a young couple hovering over a tiny baby desperately trying to breathe, his little chest heaving rapidly up and down. They had just been told that the test revealed that he had tuberculosis. When I offered to pray for the baby the husband explained, “I am a Christian but my wife is a Moslem.” I asked her, “Do you believe in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob?” She answered that she did, so on that basis we prayed for that little baby boy.

Another small boy was so emaciated, his stomach swollen with a large plaster on one side. He was close to death. We prayed and held his mothers hand. Some mothers were there with their sick children but had been told a test was needed costing the equivalent of $10. These mothers were desperate to save their child but had not funds. John acted as banker while I whispered to them to go see him. We were careful not to start a stampede!

As we had entered the ward we had noticed a small boy sitting on a chair at the entrance, his legs covered with a cloth. Upon leaving I bent down to talk to him, as I pulled the cover on his legs down a little and gently stroked his little legs, he instantly smiled and began to chuckle. I was hooked. ‘This is an intelligent little person’ I thought! We took a photo and headed down to our vehicle for the trip home. However as we descended the steps, Ephraim told us that this child had been abandoned by his mother. He would not be accepted into an orphanage because of his disability and he would just stay in the hospital only cared for by hospital volunteers. Shirley and I were devastated. I have now set in process some inquiry into his condition and want to proceed to find help and home for this little fellow. How precious is he to our Heavenly Father? Will you help me?

I realised how much these patients need people to offer some moral and practical support. Everyone had expressed genuine gratitude and appreciation for our short visit. I thought, ‘Could the church at Magere continue with these visits? Later I discovered that John and Pastor Dan had also been discussing such a possibility. As we travelled home we all expressed the desire to continue this ministry to the sick people in their time of need.

5. NORTHERN UGANDA
In Masindi District, (a 5 hour drive north from Kampala), we stayed in a house at Kyriandongo provided for us by a lovely Ugandan family. The house has power and running water and good beds. We were very thankful for this. Masindi is the district where AAI is conducting Leadership Training for church pastors and leaders on a regular basis. While there we conducted two Mobile Medical Clinics, first in a town called Bweyale at Gospel Hope Church with Pastor Christopher, then in a village in the opposite direction, working from 1pm to 6.30pm in a round mud hut with grass roof at Pastor Monica’s church property, in Kitwala. Over one hundred families were treated for various ailments over the two days as Betty Sula, our nurse patiently diagnosed the problem and prescribed the medication and three of our team assisted her, Jean keeping records, Kerryn counting and wrapping tablets, Sula translating and Shirley taking Photo’s. We received a gift of a live chicken each.

One more soccer ball and pump was given to the youth by Jason. A game of soccer enthusiastically began as we drove down the road. We travelled home from the village on the very bumpy dirt road elated that we had been able to minister to so many sick children and parents that day as well as teach the word of God in the leaders training sessions. We are planning to purchase a large tent that can be transported and house our Mobile Medical Clinic in the future. We would like to conduct three clinics a year in rural areas.

6. SCHOOL VISIT.
On the last morning in the Masindi District we visited a school for 500 children in the town of Bweyale. In January when we were in Kyriandongo with Helen Crothers, we met Annette then and she had shared with us about the school where she is principal. The school was set up by the Church of Uganda, (Anglican Church), to care for and educate five thousand children who have been rescued from the LRA at that time. The LRA rebel group have tortured, raped and killed thousands of people, and kidnapped many thousands of children to become slaves or ‘child soldiers’. This has been going on across the Northern region of Uganda for over 20 years. We were thrilled to introduce our team to Annette. At our request Annette told them the story of Opio, a young boy who had been kidnapped at the age of 8 years. He suffered much in his four years of captivity but eventually risked his life to escape during a clash between the LRA and the Ugandan army. He was originally extremely troubled and traumatised but now through much intervention and loving acceptance he is a happy well adjusted boy and has now completed primary schooling. We were very happy when Annette agreed to send a teacher on a hired motorbike to find Opio. He had waited two days after his school year had closed, in order to meet us, but had gone home the night before our arrival. When Opio arrived it was a very special moment for John & I as we had heard his story in January 08 during our visit to Annette’s home in Kyriandongo. He has now completed his ‘Primary 7’ year at age 15 years and is to be enrolled in a tailoring class in 2009, this will enable him to earn a basic living as he has no way of paying secondary school fees. Opiyo sang a song for us and was given a soccer ball by Jason. Finance for a sewing machine has been provided from a family member of one of our team. We praise God for His provision for this lovely young man and for all the other 500 children in this school. All they have are school rooms completely filled with beautiful children, a blackboard and teacher. We feel challenged to assist this school in the future as God leads us.

7. EDUCATIONAL GIFTS.
Meanwhile back in Kampala we presented laminated posters in math, English & grammar, and a set of lesson books in various subjects. These books are called ‘Black Masters’ for copying only. We are planning to provide a printer with bulk printing ink systems for the tutoring program and also for Mercy Academy in Kenya to reduce photocopying costs.

8. MICRO-FINANCE.
Pastor Daniel Kageni is now going to be working with increased time and input to assist Pr Sula with the increasing load of admin work and legal issues which arise. Daniel will be able to lift much of that load and work closely with Sula in many areas. He is a competent teacher and soul winner with a good heart for God and the church. One area that needs development is in the area of ‘Micro Finance’. Dan has already produced a document outlining this plan which we are perusing. We would like to welcome Daniel on board and commend him to you.

A great need in under-developed countries is the inability to access loans because of lack of collateral. People have little hope of rising out of poverty or gaining self employment without some kind of micro loan to get them started. AAI has been looking at this situation and hoping to be able to create access to micro financing for school leavers and widows. We envisage these loans to be ‘revolving loans’. During our recent visit we had opportunity to begin this in a small way by financing a loan for two young men. They have both proven their moral character and work ethic over a long period and as they are now both adults we felt it was time to give them this opportunity. Each one had a vision to begin a small business that would provide them with experience and some income with which to begin budgeting and assisting not only themselves but other family members.

These two businesses have now begun, one being a brick-making project, land has been leased for one year, and the other one is leasing and setting up premises for viewing ‘live’ soccer matches via satellite dish & TV screen. In the evenings up to 150 soccer fans can be accommodated on the bench seating. Other young men & women known to us are asking for our help. If you feel this is your ‘bag’ we would be happy to hear from you. What an opportunity by providing $500 to $1,000 Australian dollars to give genuine people with potential the opportunity to climb out of poverty. Not on hand-outs but with ‘repayable loans’ which will be passed on to another person in need. A gift for this cause would just keep on giving and multiplying.

9. MERCY MINISTRIES ORPHANAGE.
We arrived in Nairobi from Entebbe on 2nd Dec for the Kenyan part of our journey. Next day we travelled down into the Rift Valley, stopping to see the view at the look-out and glance at the craft stalls. John & Shirley walked further down. Not realising they had not come back we quickly jumped back in the vehicle and took of down the steep and narrow road. After driving on some 400 metres, John asked, “Where are the Easton’s? Whoops! We had left them behind at the look-out!! We all held our breath while the driver turned the vehicle around, a precipice on one side and a rock wall on the other! As we arrived back, here were John and Shirley just strolling back unaware of our little drama! We travelled on through the rift and climbed up to the tea growing areas, eventually reaching Kiisi. We made a quick stop to pick up groceries then on to Uriri, which is near Migori, and close to the Tanzanian border. After Nine hours travel we arrived at 7pm at Mercy Children’s Home. The children had been waiting for hours. They welcomed us with singing. I was able to recognise and name all the children with the exception of a few new ones I had not met before. Connie and her team of dedicated workers were there. Her son Peter, the Manager, Stephen, the right-hand man and all round good guy, Beatrice, the social worker, and her darling twin babies. Elizabeth, a beautiful lady who is Matron, attending to the children’s needs day by day and is also acting nurse at this point. Widows who come in day by day to help cook, clean, wash clothing and assist wherever they can.

10. MERCY HOME-GIRLS ACCOMODATION BLOCK.
The team slept in the old portion of the house and have seen and experienced first-hand the congestion in the girls sleeping area as it is at present. We are committed to prioritise the completion of the girls sleeping quarters in the new building. During the 8 days we stayed Kerryn shared Connie’s room with seven others having three long legged teen girls in the top bunk above her bed. Shirley & I slept in the second bedroom. The three men slept in the Office. All other girls sleep in what is really a hallway between the upper two bedrooms and the store room with a walkway from outside going through the middle of the room as access to the other side of the house. No privacy & not ideal. So we are keen to complete at least one of two bedroom areas in the new building as soon as possible. We are endeavouring now to procure a quote for this. If you can assist us with funds we can assure you 26 little girls will be very happy.

It was good to see the extension for the ‘boys accommodation’, built some time ago. It contains a large bunk room for the 16 boys and the Office, a visitor’s reception room, and large dining room. It was also satisfying to see the development of construction of the new girls building. There is also a completed septic system yet to be connected to cater for all sewage needs for many years to come. The new school opened in January now has six classrooms. They are of a temporary nature with a timber frame lined with corrugated iron sheets. Thanks to our Builder able Pr Edward.

11. MERCY ACADEMY.
School begins in Kenya on January 5th, this year we have four girls moving up into secondary which means school fees for the term and transport to schools outside the orphanage which adds up to a lot of finance needed in January. For Mercy Academy we are planning that each student will be able to have their own personal copy of the Kenya School Curriculum student book on each subject taught. At present only the class teacher has one of these books.

We donated Posters and ‘Master’ books as we had in Uganda. Jean met with any teachers able to come and showed an informational DVD about teaching English with the ‘Jolly Phonics’ system. All teachers agreed they would like more of these materials if we can get them.

Although we visited in school holidays we were still able to conduct some classes.
The children were quite happy to return to the classroom for some extra curricular instruction Needlework for older girls was taught by Shirley Easton.
Jean gave some instruction regarding drawing, and painting pictures.
Kerryn taught the children the ‘wise owl’ paper-folding craft.
John Leak taught “New Creation’ truths to three older boys who were really blessed by it.
One of the boys, Benson told us he desires to be a ‘Pastor’ in the future.
John Easton taught the all children simple games from his Scouting days which are designed to sharpen thought/motor skills in the participants. The children excelled in each one and a fun time was enjoyed by everyone.
The team also helped all the children to write letters and draw pictures for their sponsors.
Jason donated two soccer balls and organised another impromptu soccer match with the boys and by the sound of the squeals and shouting of the spectators, it was a great success.
We repeated our Children’s Festival for Mercy Home on the Saturday of our visit.

12. FINAL THOUGHTS.
Through this latest visit, relationships with our African brothers & sisters have been enriched & strengthened. Projects visited have proven the reliability of the work that is being done, and the integrity of those we are working with. To see first hand the amazing development of the AAI Ministry outreaches and Training programs in Uganda and the development of buildings and facilities in Kenya has been most satisfying and enjoyable. We have come home with an even greater resolve to do more in the future, by God’s grace, than we have done before. Now you know what we did in East Africa.

When will you go?

November 2008 mission to Kenya and Uganda - leaving soon!

African Action assists single parent families and homeless children with accommodation, food, clean drinking water, medical aid and education. Our visiting teams bring instruction regarding hygiene, nutrition, crafts and micro business development. We also develop programs to train pastors and leaders from outlying areas who then return to the village to share with the people in their communities.

Our mission in November 2008 to Africa will include;

Visiting prisons, we are hoping for funds to buy blankets for prisoners who have none and bibles or bible portions. Opening our new Medical clinic for serving the local community. Ministering in local churches and working with youth and widows to teach crafts (doll making and saleable items) at our project in Magere, a village 20kms from the capital city Kampala. The second week of our mission we will be travelling for five hours to the Masindi district where will we will be visiting the poor, families and churches, holding a conference for the leaders and their wives and families, taking medical aid if funds are available.

We will be visiting a school in Bweyale for 500 children rescued from the ‘rebel army’ in Northern Uganda who kidnapped them years before. These children need much help. We hope to inspire and assist them with English tuition, art therapy and games and to share stories and the gospel message in a creative way. We then fly to Kenya and work for two weeks in Mercy Orphanage for forty children who were orphaned or abandoned. Much help is needed there and we will be teaching the children and reaching out to the poor widows and families nearby.

We ask for your prayers and if you are willing to be part of our outreach by donating please contact Jean from the African Action website.

Safe way Clinic

The Clinic will be managed by Betty, the wife of Pastor Sula, Betty is a well qualified nurse, having spent a number of years working in the Adjumani goverment at a hospital in Northern Uganda. Betty has now completed her Advanced Nursing diploma with distinction and is keen to have the clinic open for business. The clinic has been built and supported exclusively by African Action International, Australia. The aim of the Clinic is to provide nutritional products and medical drugs to treat the many illnesses suffered by the people such as Typhoid, Malaria, HIV/AIDS, Sickle Cell Anemia, Viral and Bacterial illnesses thereby reducing the death rate in the community. They have to incorporate a Diagnostic Laboratory in order to test for Malaria and typhoid. People often fail to get help because they cannot afford this testing process or the medication and therefore suffer and die needlessly. Support and teaching for women during pregnancy, birthing and child care will be another focus of this clinic. We also want to provide nutritonal supplements for malnourished people. Betty and Pastor Sula have a vision to also reach out to people suffering from terminal illnesses in the Magere community, to medicate, counsel and share the gospel of Christ Jesus with them. This is a great vision and is worthy of our support! The clinic has received funding and hopes to provide medicines and staff for the first 12 months. It is hoped that in the future a mobile clinic will operate from the Magere Clinic to reach remote areas.

Mercy Children's Home

The Mercy Children’s Home is located in Uriri, South Nyanza, Kenya. This home for orphaned and abandoned children was started in 1998 by Consolate A Muga. The boy’s wing was completed in May 2007. It is now home for ten boys who were sleeping in a portion of the tin shed which is used for the Mercy Nursery School and Church. A cow-shed has been built for the cow provided by a Victorian church and a calf was born in December 2007. The children now enjoy fresh milk every day. The cow is hand fed with a special long grass that is especially grown for animals. It has to be cut and chopped each day to feed the cow. All cows are raised in the ‘zero grazing’ method because of the danger to cattle of tropical diseases. A new kitchen and storeroom has been built.

A second extension for the thirty girls is currently underway. The trenches for the new girl’s wing have been dug, the traditional ‘huge rocks’ were placed into the trenches and the concrete poured. Mercy Home was originally ten girls, now Mercy Home has thirty six children, a third boys and two thirds girls. An upper slab is being poured to allow another storey to be added later. We urgently need funds to complete this building. It is a large building and it is eventually to be two or even three storeys high to be able to accommodate staff, a baby section and other facilities such as offices. At present people are sleeping on the floor on mattresses as there is just not room for everyone. Fifteen to twenty thousand dollars is needed to complete the upper slab on top of the ground floor.

We continue to believe God for the completion of this building.

African Expo coming up in Box Hill

Where: Living Streams, 245 Middleborough Road, Box Hill South
When: Saturday 4th October 10am-5pm
Why: To support the work of African Action Inc and the forthcoming mission trip to Kenya and Uganda.

Kenya & Uganda Today.

Some interesting details and statistics about Kenya.
People
Kenya

Population:
33,829,590 note: estimates for this country explicitly take into account the effects of excess mortality due to AIDS; this can result in lower life expectancy, higher infant mortality and death rates, lower population and growth rates, and changes in the distribution of population by age and sex than would otherwise be expected (July 2005 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 42.5% (male 7,252,075/female 7,124,034) 15-64 years: 55.2% (male 9,378,428/female 9,295,471) 65 years and over: 2.3% (male 356,116/female 423,466) (2005 est.)
Median age:
total: 18.19 years male: 18.08 years female: 18.3 years (2005 est.)
Population growth rate:
2.56% (2005 est.)
Birth rate:
40.13 births/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Death rate:
14.65 deaths/1,000 population (2005 est.)
Net migration rate:
0.08 migrant(s)/1,000 population note: according to UNHCR, by the end of 2001 Kenya was host to 220,000 refugees from neighboring countries, including: Somalia 145,000 and Sudan 68,000 (2005 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.02 male(s)/female under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female 15-64 years: 1.01 male(s)/female 65 years and over: 0.84 male(s)/female total population: 1.01 male(s)/female (2005 est.)
Infant mortality rate:
total: 61.47 deaths/1,000 live births male: 64.26 deaths/1,000 live births female: 58.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2005 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 47.99 years male: 48.87 years female: 47.09 years (2005 est.)
Total fertility rate:
4.96 children born/woman (2005 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
6.7% (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
1.2 million (2003 est.)
HIV/AIDS - deaths:
150,000 (2003 est.)
Major infectious diseases:
degree of risk: very high food or waterborne diseases: bacterial and protozoal diarrhea, hepatitis A, and typhoid fever vectorborne disease: malaria is a high risk in some locations water contact disease: schistosomiasis (2004)
Nationality:
noun: Kenyan(s) adjective: Kenyan
Ethnic groups:
Kikuyu 22%, Luhya 14%, Luo 13%, Kalenjin 12%, Kamba 11%, Kisii 6%, Meru 6%, other African 15%, non-African (Asian, European, and Arab) 1%
Religions:
Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2% note: a large majority of Kenyans are Christian, but estimates for the percentage of the population that adheres to Islam or indigenous beliefs vary widely
Languages:
English (official), Kiswahili (official), numerous indigenous languages
Literacy:
definition: age 15 and over can read and write total population: 85.1% male: 90.6% female: 79.7% (2003 est.)


A PROJECT OF AFRICAN ACTION INTERNATIONAL.



NOTES ON COSTS OF GOODS
FOR MERCY CHILDREN'S HOME IN RURAL KENYA.

FOOD STUFFS.

Rice – 50kg = $40.00

Maize flour - 100kg = $40.00

Dried beans - 100kg = $70.00

White wheat flour - carton = $20.00

Mercy Home uses each week:-

1 sack of maize flour weekly, = $160.00 per month.

1 sack dried beans per month, = $ 70.00 “ “

Once a week meat is part of the meal.
Twice a week Beans with onion and Tomatoes.
Available Vegetables each day. (Grown on property).
Most meals are Posho, (maize), and veg.
Once a month one meal with fresh fish.
Twice a week meals with dried fish.

Fruit trees are banana’s fruiting throughout the year.
Mango’s in season.
Avocado’s – not sure.

All children help with chores.
School uniform must be washed on arrival home and hung to dry.
In rainy season they are rubbed dry with towels and ironed with charcoal iron.


CLOTHING.

Foot wear is normally thongs. (called ‘slippers’).
Some school shoes were bought in 2006 by an Australian lady.
Also some school bags, each child then had a bag.
One School uniform per child was bought in Jan. 2005.
This one uniform has been made to last until now. June 2007.
Uniforms are therefore urgently needed. Also additional children are now in the home.

School Clothing Needs – full uniform is as follows.

1 dress or shirt n’ shorts, per child for 40 = $640.00

2 pair socks per 40 children @ $2.00 = $ 80.00

1 pair Shoes for 40 children @ $10.00 = $400.00

1 dark green cardigan @ $10.00 = $400.00

1 undergarment per child = $280.00

SPORTSWEAR.

T-shirt & Shorts per child = $200.00

Sneakers @ $15.00 = $600.00

We want our children from Mercy Home to feel valued in providing for them the correct school uniform. We believe this will affirm them and give self esteem to each child.
The Mercy Nursery School for pre-school children, ( many from the poverty stricken community), see costs above, has a red & white check dress for girls and white shirt and coloured shorts for boys. Some individual children have one thanks to their sponsors sending enough supplemental finance to enable Consolate to acquire it for them.

The next challenge for African Action International is to believe for God’s great provision to enable the completion and equipping of the newly built kitchen next to the new boys Dormitory & Dining room.

To also commence the foundation for the 30 bed girls Dormitory within 10 weeks, and to connect electricity to the property.

We are awaiting a quote for the electricity connection.


Email received on 3/3/08 from Mercy Children's Home:

Hi,
These are children needing sponsors.

The three year old has a sad story, the mother died at night and the boy continued to suck the mothers breast till morning. The father had died when he was born.

They are a family of six children.

I have only taken the photos of three children namely, Vincent Otieno 3. Steve Omoka 5. Mary Atieno 10.

These children were taken by a neighbour who is a very old woman and a drunkard. The other girl Edwina Akinyi is homebased and the mother is alive. From the time she began nursery school to now the mother could not afford to buy her uniform or books and they live near Mercy home.

May God bless you,
Connie.