Day 10 pics

Menno Simons Christian School and MCCA Cycle South for AIDS

Day 10 was awesome! John, Adam, Abe and I (along with Iliana Friesen, Pholani Dlamini, Hun Ryu and Michael Harms...MCCA staff and IVEPers), met at Menno Simons school at 8:30 this morning. There was a 45 minute chapel with the junior high students and staff, focused entirely on MCC's work with HIV/AIDS, and the Cycle South for AIDS with John and Adam. Abe interviewed John and Adam, and Pholani (IVEPer at MCCA) for the students. We watched a really powerful 30 minute documentary called "Living With Slim," which focuses on 7 children/youth from different countries in Africa, who are all HIV+. Very compelling movie, and it gave the kids and staff a real sense of the urgency of raising awareness and money for HIV/AIDS. After the chapel we posed for some shots with the whole group, donned our helmets and set off on a 40 km ride on beautiful Calgary bike trails. A few delays along the way...rain, a minor bike accident, and a flat tire for Adam (first one in over 1000 kms)...thanks Anne and Iliana for saving the day!! We ended at Fish Creek Park in south Calgary, enjoyed a hot dog roast together, and then John and Adam continued on for an additional 76 kms, ending in Nanton, AB.

Tomorrow is a well deserved rest day for John and Adam. Both are very happy to NOT ride their bikes tomorrow. Thursday morning we drive out to Nanton, and then they hit the road one last time for Coaldale, about 135 kms.

The goal of raising $170,000 for MCC's Generations Program has been surpassed and is now over $176,000 and counting. A big, big shout out to Kennedy Krahn, a student at Menno Simons, who has been raising money and awareness for the Generations Program for the past few years! Today she presented us with yet another great donation...her savings from her piggy bank...$40.38...thank you Kennedy!!! Every single donation counts and makes a difference in people's lives around the world!

Kim

The Water Valley Hitching Post News

Hi all,

A good day behind the wheel and on the bike. John and Adam rode hard, lots and lots of hills, but good humour, Mars Bars, Winegums and other treats saved the day! My neice, Heather Schellenberg, and I, spent the day in the van supporting. Adam and John began their ride just north of Water Valley today. They were met at the General Store in Water Valley by a reporter from the Hitching Post News, who interviewed them and took some great photos...thankyou! And then on to Menno Simons Christian School in Calgary, where they were greeted by Menno students, and encouraged by the 1097 kms ridden so far! Only 2 more riding days until they reach Coaldale, and then a 90 km ride with Cindy Klassen and 40 or so others on Friday, and Cycle South for AIDS will be complete. To date, $175,000 plus has been raised through Cycle South for AIDS for MCC's Generations Program. Amazing. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this very worthy cause!!

I will download pictures from today tomorrow...does that make sense??

Kim

Back in the drivers seat

Adam and John reached Cremona today, with a few other riders...Jeff, Ingrid and Eli Janssen Schellenberg, Byron Thiessen, and Michael Harms. It was a shorter and slower day for them...only 84 kms as opposed to the crazy 161 kms they have done in past days. Rod Reynar and Michael Harms also handed in their keys to the support driving van, and tomorrow I am back in the drivers seat, following behind, supporting as best I can. I'm looking forward to it. Their morning faces and grunts and groans, their kind of happier faces as we pass them treats on the way, their almost ok faces at lunch, and their beaming and happy faces at the end of a long biking day. We are so proud of their determination and commitment. Only 3 more biking days until the bike-a-thon in Coaldale with Cindy Klassen, Olympic gold medalist! Should be fun!

Tomorrow Adam and John ride from Cremona to Menno Simons Christian School in southwest Calgary. They hope to arrive there just prior to the end of the school day, to greet students and get them excited for Tuesday. On Tuesday morning, some MCCA staff, Adam and John, will be participating in a chapel at Menno, talking about Cycle South, and watching a 30 minute video called "Living with Slim". It is a documentary that highlights the lives of seven children/youth in Africa who are all HIV+. It is a gripping documentary, and will hopefully give the students an idea of why this Cycle South initiative is so important. And then after chapel, we don our helmets (yes, I'm riding too...and I'm pretty sure I will collapse half way through) and off we go on a 40km ride through Calgary, on a bike path that follows the river most of the way, and ends at Lake Sikome with a weiner roast. After that, Adam and John will continue on their way for another few hours until they reach Claresholm.

All for now.

A few more day 5 pics

Day 5...It's the end of the road for me and Anne

Hi all. Day 5 and some really big hills, or valleys, whichever. Adam and John are working hard today, slogging it up hill after hill as semis and campers and cars scream past them and us. Their determination is pretty astounding, and as their aunt (yes, I'm their aunt), I am so deeply proud of what they are doing for the Generations program, raising awareness and funds for people like Joseph, who work on the ground, caring for people so deeply impacted by AIDS. Pretty phenomenal.

Sadly, today Anne and I pass the torch (keys) to two new support drivers, Rod Reynar and Michael Harms. They will carry on with John and Adam providing good support, snacks, gatorade, and anything else they might need. We really are quite sad to be going home and leaving them. They are inspirational to be around, and a lot of fun too. Thanks John and Adam for Taking Your Place!!

Here are a few pics from day 5....plus a special shout out to John and Adam's sister, Kaelin, and my niece, who turned 25 five today. Happy Birthday, Kaelin! Thanks also to the Pomeroy Inn in Valleyview...a very generous free two night stay!

Rocky and the Muskeg Farmer Crew

Hi again everyone. For some reason Anne and I had a bit more energy this evening than John and Adam, so after supper we took a drive through Valleyview and came across a mini Calgary Stampede midway with rides and games and popcorn, etc. Lots of folks having fun, lots of screaming, laughing and yelling. As Anne and I walked around we saw a man sitting on a bench watching the fun and having a smoke. He had such a great face, we couldn't resist saying hi to him and visiting for a bit. He told us his name is Rocky. He's from Sturgeon Lake and has been working as a fire fighter since he was 15 years old. He talked about how forest fires work, how they create their own wind and turn on you when you least expect it. He was fascinating. And a kind and gentle soul. He is the head crew member of the Muskeg Farmer Crew. In the end he let us take a few pictures with him, and with another crew member, Ian. Turned into a very rich evening. Thanks Rocky and Ian.

Wind Breaks

Here are a few pics from the start of day 4, mid day, and the days km total.

Today has been a bit tougher than the last three. This morning the first half hour of the ride was almost as tough as the full day ride yesterday, according to John. The wind was blowing from the south east, and slowing them down. Anne suggested they ride side by side, and switch regularly, so as to break wind for each other. There was a pause, and then a lot of laughter. I told them that would be better than riding one in front of the other and breaking wind for each other.

As support drivers we are finally figuring out that it's not actually helpful for us to roll up beside the cyclist to hand them water or snacks and make them slow down to 15 km while doing it. It's much more helpful to do it at the same speed they are riding. Who knew.

The Mighty Peace River Hill

Post by Anne: Wow! Quite the marathon undertaking today! Adam & John made it to the top of the mammoth Peace River hill with seemingly little effort. The managed the very steep 5 km incline in only 17 minutes! According to John, I guess this was a valley, not a hill. He says a valley goes down, then up, and a hill goes up, then down! Go figure! And then they just kept going, and going; stopping in Nampa only very briefly. We are now continuing on to Donnelly Corner, and who knows, maybe farther...the guys seem to have an unending supply of energy.

Kim has taken some fabulous photos of the very scenic Peace River valley. We'll have to make sure those pics are available to everyone. I guess we can only load so many on this site, but to do justice to this trek, you will need to see her whole photo album.

An interview with the Peace River Record Gazette

Erin, from the Peace River Record Gazette, interviewed John and Adam and took some pictures of them. We met her on the north end of Peace River in the IGA parking lot. She asked some great questions, made lots of notes, took down info for the website, blogs, and donation information. Very cool. Adam and John did a great job, and look mighty spiffy in the shots! Thanks Peace River!

Jen, your mother did not listen to you

Ninja's at Deadwood

A few more pics from day 2

Close call. Just made it to Manning in time! Anne got a bit confused about distance on day 2. Alas, it's so hard to find good support drivers now a-days.

The cycle of a lifetime for the lifetime of others

We have had so much support from so many people. Joanna Hiebert Bergen, Binational Generations Program Coordinator, has been so helpful in encouraging us, giving us information about MCC partners working with HIV/AIDS, and giving us energy and inspiration to keep going. Today she sent us a note that said, "Wishing you well on this cycle of a lifetime for the lifetime of others." Such a great line. John and Adam are indeed on the cycle of a lifetime for the lifetime of others.

We received a note from Joseph last week that told us that Susan, a client of the Najile POMC AIDS program, died. We met Susan in October and listened as she shared her story. She had lived with AIDS for ten years. She was one of the first clients at the POMC program. Joseph told us that surviving AIDS for ten years was a good, long time. In Canada, AIDS is considered a chronic condition, treated with the latest medications. People can live long and productive lives. In developing countries, the life expectancy of people living with AIDS is ten years, depending on their access to ARV's, nutritious food, clean water, and support. The hope, says Joseph, is to keep people alive long enough so that their children can take care of themselves. Sad reality. And reason to keep going.

Hills go down and up and up and down...who knew

Day two of Cycle South for AIDS...Today's km goal was 136. John and Adam rode 160! We are in Peace River for night rather than Manning because of the crazy pace these two are keeping! Not easy riding, lots of hills...and hills, as John knows, go both down and up. Anne warned them the ride today would be tough with the hills. John said, "Like, down and up hills?" We were not aware that there are any other kind of hills. Interesting. His comment made me and Anne laugh the whole day. John, not so much. Tomorrow is "pick on Adam" day.

All the hotels that we are staying in from LaCrete to Lethbridge are sponsoring Cycle South and have given us rooms at no cost. Very generous. And the van we are renting from Enterprise has been given to us at 50% off for two weeks. Wonderful!

Jazz Hands John

Getting a jump-start on day 2 of Cycle South for AIDS

Donation on the Tompkins Landing Ferry

As we crossed the Peace River yesterday, one of the staff on the ferry handed Anne a business card, pen and $40. A couple named Tina and Herman Wiebe had driven past Adam and John and saw the Cycle South for AIDS van, and when they reached the ferry, they asked the staff to hand this donation to us when we arrived. Pretty amazing! Thanks, Tina and Herman!

LaCrete Commissioning service, and the cutest cyclist around

This morning we attended the LaCrete Christian Fellowship service, where Peter Fehr led a commissioning service for John and Adam, and I sang a few songs and talked about the Generations Program. What a very warm and affirming congregation! We were welcomed so warmly and affirmed in our efforts and blessed by so many people. After the service we were invited for lunch to Jen and Kevin Janzen's...a feast...and then John and Adam were off! They cycled to just south of Paddle Prairie!

Friday afternoon Abe, Darryl and I drove north from Calgary to Edson (about 4.5 hours) for a concert at the Red Brick Arts Centre...a really lovely and intimate theatre. We had a great time with the folks in Edson! Thanks Glen and others for all of your work, and thanks to everyone for buying cds and making donations!

After the concert we drove an hour north to Whitecourt where we spent the night. Bright and early on Saturday morning we hit the road for LaCrete...about a 5 hour drive. We arrived at about 2:00 and went to the LaCrete Heritage Centre where we sang to about 150 people, visited, told stories, and listened to a very compelling presentation on MCC's work in Haiti, post-earthquake. Paul Driedger travelled to Haiti with an MCC medical team and talked about his experiences there. Thank you Jake, Eva, David, Sharon, Paul, and I'm sure many others, for organizing the afternoon event!

heading north this weekend

Concerts in Edson, just west of Edmonton, and then La Crete, way north the next day, then back down to Calgary the following day. There's quite a community of MCC supporters up in La Crete... so, we drive.

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G8 warned of ‘moral betrayal’ over AIDS funding

This article makes it all the more critical that we keep at fundraising for HIV/AIDS work!
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/g8-g20/africa/g8-warned-of-moral-betrayal-over-aids-funding/article1583868/ 
Full article included below. 

G8 warned of ‘moral betrayal’ over AIDS funding
Summit’s emphasis on maternal health will mean little, critics say, without funding for treatment of one of the world’s leading killers of women
Geoffrey York
Johannesburg — From Thursday's Globe and Mail Published on Friday, May. 28, 2010 4:04AM EDT Last updated on Friday, May. 28, 2010 8:04AM EDT
While the G8 is putting maternal health at the top of its agenda for next month’s summit, fears are growing that the club of wealthy nations is neglecting one of the biggest killers of women: AIDS.
Many of the biggest Western donors are freezing or reducing their budgets for AIDS treatment, leaving nine million people at growing risk of death because they cannot get medicine, including six million in Africa alone, activists say.

Hi everyone! Well, 6 concerts, 530 people in total attendance, and just over 400 cds sold! It's been a great couple of weeks singing and promoting MCC's work with HIV/AIDS, hopefully raising awareness, and raising money for the work of MCC's partners. Thanks to everyone who came out and showed their support, hopefully enjoyed the music, bought cds, and donated money. Quite apart from the fun we have had, the issue is so critical and dire. Funding for HIV/AIDS is declining worldwide, from big governments and organizations, to individual donors. People are suffering even more, and no longer receiving the treatment they so desperately need.

I was caught off guard by a comment a few weeks ago by someone who said they didn't like AIDS, and would not give money to support the Generations Program, because "all of those people are just screwing around." Makes me want to weep. AIDS is far more complicated than unhealthy relationship choices. Rape has become a tool of war. Women and young girls are at such great risk. Poverty and hunger drive women to make awful choices to make sure that their children are fed. Cultural practices such as polygamy complicate the issue further. And so many more complexities in the crisis that is AIDS. And people that are suffering from no fault of their own, are stigmatized and left to suffer. It is tragic. But we know that there is also hope and amazing work happening around the world with MCC partners, and we want to continue to support them as much as we can.

We have met so many folks that have encouraged us to continue to raise awareness and money to support the work of Generations. Thank you!

Kim

Calgary Release Concert!

Hi everyone! We had a great time at Foothills! The gym was packed with friends and family! There was great food, lovely decorations, and hopefully some good music too! I find it way more nerve wracking singing in front of people I know, so tonight I think I hit the top in terms of nerves and stress...sorry Darryl and Jonny. But people seemed to enjoy themselves. On a couple of tunes we had Megan Enns, Heather Schellenberg, Rachel Braul and Jesse Thiessen join us. They, plus another 5 or 6 people, are on the cd on two tracks...The House and With My Own Two Hands. It was great fun to have them with us tonight!

Joseph called us today. It was so good to visit with him again. When he called he was having a late supper with Elizabeth and her family. After exchanging greetings, he told us about his week. The budget for the AIDS program in Najile is spent. They have no money to take on more patients, particularly those in the second stage of AIDS, who require more intensive care and treatment. So, on Joseph's regular rounds of walking and visiting clients, he was told about a man who was abandoned by his family because he had AIDS, and was living, suffering, on his own. Joseph decided to check in on him. Tepipe was very ill, and needed immediate treatment. Joseph spent much of the week with him, caring for him, getting home most nights long after midnight. He managed to take him to Nairobi on Friday. After being turned away at one hospital because of the cost of treatment, Joseph found a public hospital that was willing to give Tepipe a blood transfusion. Joseph will go to Nairobi tomorrow to visit him. I told him that the work he is doing is so good, so important, and hard. He said to me that God calls us to serve, but sometimes serving can be very complicated and difficult. The barriers that Joseph and the GAR staff and clients face are huge. Today Joseph challenged, moved, and inspired us again to do what we can to continue to raise awareness and money to support not only his work in Najile, but MCC partners worldwide who are involved in such critical work with AIDS. Humbling.

Calgary and Didsbury next!

Yup, Foothills Mennonite in Calgary this Saturday at 7:00pm.  Join us. Jonny G is coming with to provide vocals, viola and mandolin (if we can find one for him in Calgary).

Then it's out to the country for a show in Didsbury... the start time is 5:00pm, with a meal. Then on to the music.

Good Times

It really was fun to have a few extra folks join us.  JP, Joey, Julia, Clare...

Me again. I forgot to thank the students from Westgate Mennonite Collegiate, who spent a Saturday evening serving and cleaning, when they could have been at a birthday party! Thanks to all of you for being a part of the evening!

Hi everyone! Well, day 3, concert 3, and another amazing evening with folks that are so kind, affirming and bought a whack of cds! Tonight we had our cd release concert at Douglas Mennonite in Winnipeg. We think about 325 people came. They enjoyed the most amazing array of tortes, hummous, and other goodies! The organizers, bakers, setterr-uppers, and taker-downers were incredible, just as in Brandon and Morden. And then there were the musicians...this evening we had the great pleasure of having on stage with us Joey Penner on bass, John Paul Peters on key board, violin and electric guitar, Jonny Guenter on viola, mandolin and vocals, Julia Kasdorf on vocals, and Clare Schellenberg on banjo and vocals. What a treat it was to sing with them and enjoy the amazing music they made!

Grace Mennonite in Brandon, Morden Mennonite, Douglas Mennonite...thank you to everyone who organized the events and hosted us so well. We are grateful and humbled by the support and welcome and affirmation of our music. And what is most gratifying is the money that is being raised for people like Joseph to continue the amazing work that they are doing.

Tomorrow Steinbach!

Thanks everyone!

Kim

Morden

A great reception in Morden, Manitoba.  Little kids dancing in the front. The Bare Yogis opened up the evening with a set of classic rock hits. We slowed it all down with our future folk hits.  Good times. Big thanks to Harold Hildebrand-Schlegel and Stephanie Dueck, pastors at Morden Mennonite for getting the ball rolling and then all the folks who picked it up and ran.

First concert in Brandon

Kim and I had a very nice time in Brandon: A lovely turnout and very warm reception. Arnold Hildebrand and the folks at Grace Mennonite put on a very nice event including three song opening act, Peter Letkeman: a retired chemistry professor who loves country gospel.

What are all those words on the CD cover?

What, you can't read them?  (see the cover here)
OK, so they're a bit small... but they're good. It's a description Kim wrote up of the theme: "Take Your Place" and it's worth a read.

The first CD release is coming!! May 8, Winnipeg

So yes, we will formally release the CD on May 8, at Douglas Mennonite Church in Winnipeg. There will also be three other concerts outside Winnipeg that weekend... see the poster below and our concerts/performances page on the left.
The Douglas event will include a number of the musicians who played/sang on the CD. So far confirmed:  Joey Penner, Julia Kasdorf, Jon Guenter, John Paul Peters.

The Calgary Release is the following weekend. See the concerts listing on the left!

Sam, Pares, Anne and baby Karen

Sam Kiranto jumping!

Me and Sam Kiranto

We are missing Najile! I received a text message a few days ago from Joseph's brother, Sam, who told us that he had been in a very bad car accident, but thankfully was unhurt. He is a truck driver, and as he was driving down a very steep and rocky road, the brakes failed and the truck went out of control, hit the ditch and rolled a few times. He and his passenger both walked away unhurt. People could not believe that they survived because of the condition of the truck. We are so grateful that they are ok. Sadly, though, this leaves Sam without work. Anne and I visited with Sam on the phone today, and a comment that he made really sticks with me, "If I can make enough money for the children to eat that is good. If they go to bed having eaten, then it is less stressful." Honestly, even having lived within his family compound for 3 weeks, I don't think we understood how very difficult and close to the edge life is for Sam and his family, and for so many other people in Najile.

Please pray for Sam and his family, and for so many other people who daily face the reality of poverty and hunger. Their faith and hope is inspiring and humbling.

some good news!

Ok, so here's the thing...Darryl has been encouraging, cajoling, nagging, bugging, insisting that I get back on this blog and say something. So, here I am after a few months of silence. It isn't that I didn't want to post anything, it's just been that life is busy...weak, I know. But there is some very exciting news to share, and that is that the cd/dvd and beautiful artwork by Hellmut and Leona, is at the manufacturer in Toronto! We are so glad that it is done, gone, and we hope that it makes it back in time for the releases! 18 tracks, lots of great singers, musicians. Can't wait to see it all put together in one package.

We have been keeping in touch with Joseph and his family in Najile, and they are all doing well. It has been raining every day, and the grass and trees are lush. Joseph sent a note a few days ago saying that the goats and cows are all fat, and the vegetables in the gardens are growing. Such good news. Our group has done 15 public presentations about our time in Kenya, highlighting the work of MCC partners with AIDS, food and water security, and peace. It's all so compelling. I'm glad we have had lots of opportunities to talk to people about it. Remembering the folks in Najile and their work really does inspire us all to keep doing what we do on this end to raise awareness and money to support what they do.

TYP artwork

The artwork for the project is fantastic.  All four CDs have had the packaging designed by Hellmut and Leona Regehr who own/operate Spindrift Design. Here's a small shot of the cover... and there's lots more beautiful stuff in the booklet and packaging.
The picture was taken by Byron Thiessen.  These are a few of Joseph's siblings.

Take Your Place, Twice

We will have two songs entitled Take Your Place on the new CD by that same name. Yes it seems a bit much, but let me explain.

First, the whole title came about in discussion with our good friend Joseph Kiranto while he was still here in Canada. We were discussing a potential theme for this next CD... We had the book of Ruth in one hand, and some other Scripture passages in another, and the hope that we might connect these to the needs around HIV/AIDS around the world. I'm not exactly sure who came up with the name "Take Your Place", but Joseph sure expanded on it. It reflects the need for everyone to take their place in the fight against HIV/AIDS... from those with the disease, to the people trying to educate in communities, to community leaders who need to encourage further steps, to donors and supporters across the world... The phrase also invites those who might not have a place in the community, because of the stigma of AIDS, or whatever, to be welcome.

Once we had this theme in place, I invited my good friend Phil Campbell-Enns who wrote "Mountain of God" on the last CD, to take a shot at writing a theme song. He dug into some of the other Scripture we had in hand from Romans, and came up with a very dense and remarkable song, entitled, surprise: "Take Your Place". It spends time with some of the darkness and despair of life (like, if you have AIDS), and reflects the light and hope we have in God... it packs quite the punch lyrically/theologically.

The story continues... so, I was playing a demo of this song to certain MCC Alberta staff persons who shall remain unnamed... and in the course of debriefing the "meatiness" of the lyrics, said staff threw out the joke, maybe you two should do more bluegrass.  As you may know, blugrass tends to deal with matters of faith in a more simplistic, often cliched way.  It was a good laugh.

Something about the comment stuck, so, some weeks later, as a bit of a joke, I threw together a few nice cliches, a few old-timey type musical ideas, and a VERY short time later, Take Your Place (At the Table) was almost done. Oddly, something about the song didn't end up being the satire it was intended. The verses pointed to a simplistic take on discipleship... sort of like the faith of a child... less smarty-pants thinking and more working.

So, not only did Kim like it, the group out in Najile chose it as one of the few songs they would try to learn, so, the recording includes a mass choir of Maasai people... half or more who didn't speak English.  The Godly irony of the whole business is rather fantastic.  What kind of God takes dumb jokes and makes something of them???

Watch the recording video in the Video archive to enjoy seeing the people learning the song.  Then listen to the (almost) final versions of both songs on the Music page.  They will be on the CD.

Crunch Time

It's go time.  The CD needs to be mixed by the end of this week, and all video items for the DVD need to be sent away by Thursday.  Yikes!

Here's a picture of John Paul Peters, our engineer, working on one of the songs. He's been a major contribution to this project.  If it sounds great, it's because of him.  If it sounds bad, it's our fault.

This weekend

Kim and I are singing in Coaldale at a pre MCC relief sale fundraiser, then at a Haiti relief fundraiser on Saturday.  It will be good to dig into our new repertoire a bit deeper.

In the studio

Here's a picture of a small group learning a few parts for the CD... Kim's in there helping get it going. Yes, this all took place in January... Further recording is still underway.

The most current news is that we're looking at a May 8 CD release event in Winnipeg, and the following weekend in Calgary.

testing the new songs

The Annual General Meetings for MCC Alberta are this weekend. Kim and I have been singing a couple of the songs we want to put on the CD. It's been good to have positive feedback on "Take your place", the bluegrass version. One music critic who works in the MCC AB office has remarked that the song has been stuck in his head... and that hasn't been negative. So we may have a "title track" that actually moves this idea of "Take your place" forward. Sweet.

Kim, Kari and Anne have been sharing about our trip, and that has been received well.

Kim comes to Winnipeg this next week and we'll try and finish off her vocal recording. Which means we really need to know what songs we want on the CD. That's always a bit concerning... second guessing some decisions, etc. Then it's time to get busy with the other musicians building the arrangements.

We're still looking at a spring release. Heaven help us.

POMC/MCC GAR program

In this video, Joseph describes the work of Generations at Risk in his community.
One way I felt I was able to give a bit to the community before we left was by creating a VCT promo video with Joseph. It is all in Maa (the Maasai language) and it describes for people why they should be tested and what the testing process looks like. They will show it on the laptops they have and they're hoping to raise money for a video projector. The video includes a whole segment of one of the young men in the community actually being tested.
You'll see a bit of this testing in the video here. Joseph felt awful about doing this without gloves, but one of the realities of being in Najile is not having access to all the things you need. What would you do if you had to choose between testing or not based on the fact you didn't have gloves?

POMC/MCC GAR program from darryl on Vimeo.

Eunice

Eunice is a young woman that we met at the Ewasuo Primary School, which is about 8 kilometres away from Najile. Eunice was 12 years old when her dad told her that he was going to sell her to a 60 year old man as his 3rd or 4th wife, for the equivalent of about $200. Eunice had seen this happen to her two older sisters and knew that she did not want this kind of life. The night before she was to be married she ran away. She ran for two days and nights, and ended up outside the gates of a primary school. In the morning, a teacher found her, listened to her story, and took her into his family, and raised her as his daughter. Eunice's story is not unique. It is common. It is her courage that is strikingly unique and amazing. She is now 17 years old, and is the leader of the Peer Educator group at the Ewasuo Primary School, and is finishing grade 7. She went through four grades in one year. Her teacher, Timothy Tanin, has become a true father figure to her, and his encouragement and support has allowed her to grow in confidence and to share her story with other students. We were so touched by her courage to tell her story. We videotaped her two times, trying to get all of the details of her story. When she was done, she was exhausted and wept in our arms. The video does not do justice to the trauma that she has faced. But it clearly shows her courage and strength. I will never forget her.

Video of Eunice

Survival Tips from Clare and Jesse

Enta Sopa oleng!!!!

This is once again Nashipae (Clare) and Namunyak (Jesse) back in Canada. We thought it was about time to write up another blog and possibly give you some pointers if you ever choose to go to Najile, Kenya.

1. You should first understand that there is no such thing as personal space. We discovered this while camping on Mount Suswa with the VCT staff over many events while staying there. During the night, in our 2 person tent with 4 people staying in it (and all the food for the week), we found that sleeping on top of one another was considered normal? ( Elizabeth had no problem sleeping flat on top of Clare). We also soon learned that it is ok to whip down your pants and take a little 'sit' (squat), even if you are surrounded by crowds of people. This took a while to adjust to, but eventually we didnt really care.

2. Be prepared to feel like massive giraffes in a zoo. Well...maybe we only felt this because we are two massively tall white girls in a foregin country. But seriously...waking in the morning to crowds of children peeking through your window or tent was how we started our day. We had many occations where we attempted to shoo them away...but it seemed that everything we said was absolutely hilarious to them. This became a little frustrating.

3. Goat is considered a very special food to eat. Not only the meat of the goat..but eveything..including the hooves, heart, lungs and tongue.This was not so special for us. It took us a while to figure out exactly what it tasted like..but after spending some time surrounded by herds of goats, we soon realized that it tastes exactly how they smell..which is not too pleasant. We also discovered that if you have the choice to eat inside our outside...outside is definetly the place to eat. This gives you a chance to sneakily chuck the goat pieces over your shoulder with a small flick of the wrist. You must undestand that this food was not going to waste. The hungry dogs enjoyed it very much which made us feel much less guilty. However, sometimes we ate inside. This is when a napkin comes in handy to 'wipe your mouth'.

4. Bathing with a small tin of water is much harder than you think. Not only is the water for yourself..but for the following person using it. It was even more difficult for both Jesse and I to bath in the maasai huts. These huts are not made for people over 5 feet.. it was a little tight but we managed to squeeze our long limbs inside and somehow divide the small cup of water between us evenly.

5. You may be forced to drink a traditional maasai drink or 'herb' on special occasions. This herb is made up of all the rare roots of trees on Mount Suswa mixed with goat fat and water that and then fermented over a long period of time. On Clares birthday, a large cup of this was given to drink. We had a pretty good sleep after that.

Toads between your toes, mosquito nets wrapped around you like a cocoon, special herb drinks, leopards and hyenas lurking behind every acacia tree...well, not really...milking goats and making cjapaties and chai...it really could not get any better than that! An amazing two extra weeks. We wish we could go back! Olesari! Nashipae and Namunyak

Three weeks ago today we arrived home from Najile. The memories are still fresh, but every day seems to make the distance between Calgary and Najile grow. Almost daily text messages with Joseph help, but all of us miss Kenya and want to go back! Today was Elizabeth's pre-wedding. We were fortunate to be in Najile for Joseph's pre-wedding, and celebrate with his family and friends.

MCC Alberta held a World AIDS Day event at Foothills Mennonite Church on Tuesday evening. Anne, Henry, Kari, Byron and I each took a theme and shared stories, images and what we learned on our trip. Henry and Byron spoke about food and water security/insecurity. Kari shared about the Lari Peace Memorial Museum, the peace clubs and computer initiative. Anne spoke about the peer educators and PLHA's (People Living with HIV/AIDS) that we met in Najile and area. And I tried to pull all of the themes together and hopefully explain how critical each of those themes are to the other...oh, and then talk about the music and recording and cd #4. It was a great evening! A highlight for me was the candle lighting that took place after the sharing. Kari invited people to come to the front to light a candle as a sign of their commitment to take their place in the fight against HIV/AIDS. In the background the recording that we did in Najile of "Glory Bound" was playing. Very moving time.

Jesse and Clare are home! They arrived on Sunday afternoon, and have more hilarious adventures to share! And also some really touching and profound experiences. The Kiranto family hosted them for two weeks, and taught them to milk goats, make chipatis (sp?), chai, and more!

From 30 above in Najile to minus 12 and falling...and a 4 foot snow drift outside our back door! Home...

World AIDS Day and Food Security

The event at Westgate last night was good. Lots of good info, good food, etc. MCC shared the evening with a local group called Focus Africa. They support a number of projects in Kenya, and MCC (through Ten Thousand Villages) has teamed up with them.

I think we kept our presentation close to the required time... it included a number of videos. Joshua shared about the food security work and how it is tied to Generations at Risk. The Food Security work helps people learn to produce their own food and it is a source of food for people who need it in this time of drought. Both angles are shown in this video... the second half is particularly conflicting for me... as people receive food and you see all the Canadian flags... and I know that it's good that we send food but, of course, our lifestyle has impact on so many people around the world.

Anyway, I was proud of Joshua who spent an hour lugging 50kg bags of beans off a big truck in the darkness. He came back exhausted and completely blackened by dust.

Maasai Food Security Program from darryl on Vimeo.