My grandson is with me, on this last night before we fly off on KLM to Amsterdam and then to Nairobi where Cindy Klassen, Adam Beriault, John Beriault, Byron Thiessen, Leon Janzen will cycle for 6 days, with 10 cyclists from Kenya, visiting 7 to 8 different Kenyan Community Groups. The point is to connect. Ourselves with people from Kenya. People from Kenya with each other. The hope is that in any connecting, any relational interaction .... there is a pretty good chance that the people of the world learn to love each other, appreciate each other, forgive each other, commit to each other. Should be a fascinating week in Kenya, traveling 480 km ... cycling, visiting. Michael and Lisa Bade, from Cambodia, will be filming the week. Here in Calgary, we are in touch with CBC radio, and several other major media ... as this happens and after we return.
Joshua, my three-year old grandson, just told me I am his best friend. What about grandma, I asked? She is at work, he said. What about your mommy, I asked. She is at home, he said. Since I am the only other person in the house, I am his best friend. I am good with that. I miss him already.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, April 24, 2011
One week until we go!!
Hi everyone! Well, only one week to go before we leave for Nairobi! We are getting pretty excited about the trip, and can't wait to see Ron and Martha, Waihenya, and Joseph and his family again! It's hard to believe that it has already been a year and a half since we visited Kenya. From what Joseph and others have said, the rain has fallen, the land is green, the goats are fat. We hope that this continues.
We will be visiting 10 different community groups who are working to raise the profile of peace in their homes, schools and communities. As well as visiting groups working to support folks who are living with HIV. The work is critical, and we hope that we can help contribute something positive to their work.
On Good Friday morning, at the annual Calgary inter-Mennonite Good Friday service, Abe Janzen (MCC Alberta Executive Director), was given a few minutes to highlight the HIV work of MCC. He spoke for about 4 minutes, showed a few slides, told a few stories and prayed. It was moving and inspirational, as all of Abe's stories are, and in the end, the very good and generous folks of Calgary raised $41,000 for the HIV work of MCC. That was inspiring in itself, and so humbling. The impact of the contribution will be so significant on the ground where people like Joseph and Waihenya work to improve the lives of folks impacted by HIV.
We know that our time in Kenya, cycling, building friendships, visiting MCC peace and HIV partners, will send us home with inspiring stories to tell of the work that is happening with peace and HIV. We hope that this will help us continue to raise awareness and much needed funds to help the work continue.
We hope to blog and update the cycleforlife website every day. Follow us, and keep us in your prayers!
We will be visiting 10 different community groups who are working to raise the profile of peace in their homes, schools and communities. As well as visiting groups working to support folks who are living with HIV. The work is critical, and we hope that we can help contribute something positive to their work.
On Good Friday morning, at the annual Calgary inter-Mennonite Good Friday service, Abe Janzen (MCC Alberta Executive Director), was given a few minutes to highlight the HIV work of MCC. He spoke for about 4 minutes, showed a few slides, told a few stories and prayed. It was moving and inspirational, as all of Abe's stories are, and in the end, the very good and generous folks of Calgary raised $41,000 for the HIV work of MCC. That was inspiring in itself, and so humbling. The impact of the contribution will be so significant on the ground where people like Joseph and Waihenya work to improve the lives of folks impacted by HIV.
We know that our time in Kenya, cycling, building friendships, visiting MCC peace and HIV partners, will send us home with inspiring stories to tell of the work that is happening with peace and HIV. We hope that this will help us continue to raise awareness and much needed funds to help the work continue.
We hope to blog and update the cycleforlife website every day. Follow us, and keep us in your prayers!
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