KISUMU

KISUMU...a very special place. After praying for over 6months for the people here, I finally have placed my feet on the soil of Kisumu. The air is friendly and pace more relaxed than the metropolis of Nairobi.

Bordering Lake Vitoria (third largest lake in the world) home of the "Lake People"and active port delivers fresh Tilapia by the truck load. Just a few kilometers north is Kitale, "bread basket" of Kenya where most fruits and vegetables are grown. In spite of the natural resources here, the death rate is staggering. The killer is AIDS. Pray that God would open eyes to change destructive tribal customs in Kisumu.


OBAMA...WELCOME OBAMA
Arriving in Kisumu we stopped for petro. Attendants at the station extended welcome handshakes with a unique welcome, "Obama, welcome Obama!" Our Kenyan escort explained that Americans are welcomed in Kenya as a reflection of Kenya's hero, OBAMA.
Many leaders in Kisumu, birthplace of Obama's father, home of Obama's grandmother, validate that Obama's success in America gives hope to the poorest of the poor. Photos are widely circulated of 10yr old Obama working a roadside booth helping his grandmother sell vegetables. "If Obama can overcome this poverty, I can too." Pray that God would use this enthusiasm to open hearts to depend on Him for strength to overcome spiritual poverty in Kisumu.

JUne 8
GOING NEAR ORPHANS IN KISUMU

Our friends Benson and Hellen Okundi are passionate about empowering people in poverty. They both come from very poor villages. Hellen worked hard on the family farm. Tribal customs passed down for many generations limited Hellen to hard labor while her brothers were given an education. She endured harsh treatment and was severely devalued as a woman. Hellen overcame with the help of her faith and great determination. Benson had two pair of pants and one pair of shoes until he was 10 years old. Today they are white collar Kenyans who choose to give back. Hellen visits her homeland often to empower women with life skills. Benson provides for his parents and desires to help orphans in his homeland, Kisumu. He has invited Go Near Ministry to join him. We will visit his village and stay overnight with his family this week. Pray that God would allow YOU to Go Near orphans in Kisumu...the place where AIDS victims are highest in Kenya and teen led homes are highest in the world.