Challenges to change

Always. it seems, there are those who embrace a status quo with out regards to the affect, that is the real affect on the potential of any effort to bring new priorities. So it is in the village. For Rionchogu the most entrenched in damaging traditions are the men. For centuries the men have lived the undisciplined lives of expecting women caring for food, children, work in the field and every other complication of life except standing on the corners chatting about . . .and wasting away their time, Granted this may be a very generalized view but it is one of the most predominate challenges to any cultural move forward.

During a conversation with Pastor Kiefa he mentioned his great pride and affection for the women who had broken a traditional barrier. They were making a decision. That is right, they were making a decision to help others and not asking their husbands for permission. The outcome was a simple as helping elderly women to plant, weed and prepare for harvest small plots of Maize so the elderly would have food for the winter. This may sound overly dramatic, but it is ground breaking and culturally defiant in rural Kenya.

These are the kind of activities which are becoming more an option for the groups who have in the past been at the mercy of men who wanted the gift and control and none of the responsibility

There is movement, yes, among many men who have taken up the challenge and embraced the opportunities that come with the discipline and accountability to authority related to the village and relationships. This is our hope and our Prayer

The vision of Pastor Kiefa is being embraced by more and more, this is a difficult transition. The villagers are beginning to believe. Our support becomes more and more a significant ingredient in the successful outcome.

Solar . . . a new light in Kenya

Since we began our efforts to support the people and the leadership of Rionchogu village in western Kenya we all have held education as a primary objective to provide a better future for these people. Education though is not always limited to classrooms and the process for children to gain information. It also comes from the experience of those who support.

Intertwined in this experience of education is also the process the community goes through as it learns the 'cost' of educating children. One such cost has been that of buying the fuel for light. As there is no electricity the day ends as the sun disappears. The answer for light has been the use of Paraffin lamps even while they are both low light source and unhealthy for both eyes and lungs and they are expensive to burn. Today the village is alive with a new potential, Solar Light.

Here are comments from Kiefa Ontiri, the local leader of GAD Kenya as well as the one person most directly responsible for the hope found in Rionchogu.


There is anew hope in the village with the non pollutant technology of lighting system.the students that received the solar head lamps have something precious to put a happy smile on because they are sure to do their studies at night especially the homework they are given from school.previously doing studies at home was uncertain because of paraffin.
The women on the other side have greatly appreciated the solar lights because their children cannot miss to study at night and the smokey candles which they have been using has affected the health of their children by causing lung diseases as well as affecting their eyes.Also the money that they have been purchasing parraffin can now be used to purchase other basic items.
the GADK board has the pleasure to inform you that the solar lights has been received with great appreciation.the board has realized that there is great need for these solar lights.Everyone is demanding for even at least one clip light for their school going children and for home lighting.

Because of the poor economical status of the people in the village ,the information we have gathered shows that everyone has a great desire for the solar lights and most of them can afford to purchase the solar lights as follows:
The solar lamp @ KSH 600.
The clip light @ KSH 300.
The cell phone charging kit@ KSH 250.

I hope you can convert these to U.S dollars.this means that ,they are willing and able to get the solar lights at ahalf the cost price.However ,there are those that cannot afford and we must help them.

we shall soon send you the solar light photos. we praise God for bringing another opportunity in the village as well as kenya.

The ability of the villagers to pay equals about one fourth the cost of these lights. We need for others to come forth to help us fund the remaining amounts for these lights.

Will you be one of those people?

A common thread

I read today an article on Yahoo news about private schools in Pakistan and the potential for real hope they carry. Interesting how current our own status is with this same understanding. Education is the/an answer for the future standing against oppression. Even in our little corner of Africa, the tremendous hope that is attached to education is more than we can believe. The villagers and the children know the truth, we say we believe it and yet so many of us are seemingly desensitized about taking serious steps to become the answer to this problem. Education, something we take for granted in this country because it is so available, in my opinion, holds so much of the potential for a future we can all embrace. Here is the article, it rings a note of truth and future.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_pakistan_improving_the_schools

Assisting a vision for transformation

The women have begun to help the elderly weed and care for their Maize.

In this are two very positive steps; 1. The women are learning to make decisions this is not part of their upbringing; 2. they are taking steps to care for a larger circle of need in the village, together these two are very encouraging

I am sorry for the delay in an update on the village, leadership and the issues of life in Rionchogu. This is not because of any lack of activity or challenges facing the day to day life there. Rather a result of changes and opportunities directly related to the face of Go and Do Likewise and the variety of challenges of sharing the news and presenting to heart of who we are. We have redefined our purpose and have adopted a new mission Statement which is much more focused on today and the work in Kenya.

We spent much of the past two months in an attempt to redesign our Web presence. Our hope was to engage people visually and replace some of the text and difficulty of use. While we have a new look a recent effort to fine tune our focus has brought us to a new place of web focus, so look for more change. All this to say it all takes time and focus, the partial cost has been to put off new updates, for that I am truly sorry.

Village life has been greatly affected over the past few months by the election of a representative. Much like our House of Representatives, each local district elects a person to participate in the Government process to move forward and frankly this elected position carries with it the opportunity to raise monies, supporters and political clout. So not unlike our elections, however maybe not as sophisticated, the process can be fraught with conflict. While this is a good thing and a positive process there are still those who take advantage of times of election to attempt intimidation and extortion. During the recent election these practices were used on the leadership in Rionchogu through attempts to take from them some of the blessing that has come. Particularly the vehicle, Edward, Kiefa and their families were threatened and in danger, including threats on life itself, but the constant efforts of the leadership and others protected everyone and everything affecting the village and now life is back to normal.

I share this all with you because sometimes I think we take for granted that daily life of the rural poor is simply to find food. This is in fact true but so much more as well. The purpose of my updates is to attempt to share what life is like and frankly to create a greater awareness and willingness to become partners with us in this effort. What we are doing in Kenya is assisting local leadership in their efforts to bring transformation to this area. As I have shared the main channels of this assistance have been connected with Education, Health and Economic opportunity. Opportunities have presented themselves and we have tried to be responsible to this people and purpose. Opportunities continue to be presented our response depends on our commitment to step forward and your support.

Some of you have made the determination to support what is happening financially, I could never find the words to tell you how much your support means. Simple without it, there is no new future for many in the village area.

Today we have agreed to Partnership in Kenya with New Option Lighting. This company is providing Solar lighting solutions that are very positive for the future of a generation committed to education. Education brings light to a community, a generation and to a people; for education to be accessed, light for reading and studying is a huge advantage. In a rural poor environment where electricity is available to very, very few and is so very expensive, light to read by after the Sun goes down has been provided by kerosene, not only is it poor light and un-healthy light but also consumes a large part of their family budget. The opportunities for the village opened by this new partnership are almost unlimited they affect the area of education, health, improve the family economy and are environmentally friendly.

The special request for prayer support from the village is for the primary students who are about to take the national test for secondary school admittance. They are currently studying specifically for the test and will begin the testing on November 5^th. We hope for them peace during the testing process, rest before and during and for clear minds as they go through the process.

Pray for all of us, for the village and for those who are called to come with us. If you have been thinking about getting involved in something that will change lives and find some sense of common identity or purpose, take the big step to join our support network.

www.goanddolikewise.org go to any page after the intro and click, “support Go and Do Likewise”. Acceptiva is a secure site and the easiest way to get funds to us.

You can also send checks to; Go and Do Likewise, 10408 La Cebra Ave, Fountain Valley, CA. 92708

Go and Do Likewise is a 501 c3 non-profit organization

FIVE TALENTS: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

FIVE TALENTS: The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope

Welcome Back

New Web site, New Twitter, new happenings in Rionchogu and a revisit to the necessity for this Blog. Today it is just a beginning to refocus some efforts here and to welcome anyone who ventures and ask you to please add your email at the bottom for updates on this Blog. The content may vary a little but it will remain focused on a belief that we are created to be a blessing to those who are placed in our paths, not only those who we know and share some common bond of family or history with, rather with any who are placed in our paths of life. So welcome to my Blog