SEVERAL ACTIVITIES (X) - 2 - HOMELESS BOYS - KAWANGWARE

We are back with a new Blog, reporting special activities that happened during the month of July and beginning of August. It was a blessed month, with very special activities. Follow us in the three postages about: I -Homeless boys Shower Block Dedication in Kawangware ; II – Our trip to Germany; III – My trip to Mozambique and the TEE Course. – We thank you all for the contacts and support.
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Shower Block Dedication

The shower block had been built since last year with the help of many donors, but only now it was possible to install a water pump to have running water in the showers. –What seems to be very natural to some people is not common in Nairobi’s slums: They don’t have showers to wash themselves or running water to wash their clothes. – This shower block will be used not only by the homeless boys, but by the local community as well. – Thank you to all who helped Heart to Heart (HHOCC) and ELCK Kawangware Lutheran Church to build this shower block!

The dedication took place on 11th July, after the service. The pump installation had not been finished yet when we arrived there.

Dr. Balint was supervising the last preparations.

The old well is still there and some people are using it. A new well was dug, but the water is not clean either. The next project for that Kawangware community is to have a borehole; some friends in the USA are working on that project. You are welcome to join them in their efforts.

Pastor Zedekiah preached in English and was translated to Swahili by Evangelist Emmanuel.

After the service, Pastor Zedekiah went out of the church to the shower block, followed by the congregants and visitors. He offered prayers of thanksgiving and read the Word of God.

He unveiled the main plaque first:

“ELCK (Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya) Kawangware Shower Block – Donated by Heart to Heart Orphan Children Center – Officially opened on 11/07/2010.

The second plaque was unveiled: “In loving memory of Mark Mast Haws”. Mark passed away; he had had a big concern about water to the people in Africa. The plaque was his mother’s last wish before she passed away as well; and a donation was sent for this project by Mark’s sister.

Pastor Zedekiah finished the dedication ceremony…

…and blessed the people.

Pastor and some youth in charge of the Homeless boys Program opened the tap and water flowed abundantly!

Immediately some of the homeless boys ran to the water and washed their hands!

You can see their happiness!

Heart to Heart (HHOC) Board is glad to report this event as a joint effort of many friends around the world through HHOCC and through Kawangware Lutheran Church. . THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU!

Some of the homeless boys; proud about the shower block.

They had received bread and tea on that morning with their regular Bible Study as usually…

… and sodas were offered to them and to all people who attended the dedication service. (See more about the Dedication Day: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLZrFDYTGYU
Lídia filmed it and our son Léo edited it in the YouTube in Germany. (I haven’t been able to see it because our Internet is limited and we cannot open YouTube here.)

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B – The Homeless Function

A special party was planed for the Homeless boys the week after the dedication. It took place on 15th July.

Some people of the Kawangware church prepared the food…

… with the help of some of the boys.

While the food was prepared, the homeless boys had several activities: Bible study, counseling…

...games…

Mrs. Beata Balint, member of the HHOCC Board, with the boys (She took the pictures of the function. Thank you!)

After the activities, each of the homeless boys received a big plate of food and a soda.

They enjoyed it and they say a big THANK YOU to all donors and supporters of that Homeless Boys Program and of the Shower Block building.

SEVERAL ACTIVITIES (X) - 2 - OUR TRIP TO EUROPE

Lídia and I had the opportunity to go to Germany to celebrate our birthdays there with our son Léo…

… and with our daughter-in-law Carolina.

We flew direct from Nairobi to Zurich, were Léo and Carol met us at the airport. – Zurich is Ulrich Zwingli’s city, were he performed Reformation at the same time as Luther was preaching and doing his reformation in Germany. This is Zwingli Church, were most of the religious reforms occurred. – It was very important and exciting for me to see that place, about which I had heard so much at my Church History classes during my Seminary time.

A plaque on the church commemorates Zwingli. – He died in a war defending his ideals. The location of Zwingli’s grave is unknown.

The engraved gate of the church depicts several moments of Zwingli life. This detail shows the Marburg Debate (1529) between Luther and Zwingli. They agreed on several Biblical points at that time (14 in total), but they didn’t agree on The Lord Supper doctrine. Zwingli affirmed that bread and wine were only symbols of Christ Body and Blood; but Christ was not really present at the Lord Supper; just in a spiritual sense. On the other hand, Luther pointed to the Scripture and affirmed the Real Presence of Christ in the Lord Supper as a Means of Grace. – It was not possible to join the efforts of both Reformers, as it was the wish of some common friends.

From Zurich, we went to Konstanz, Germany, on the same day (just a 2-hour drive). (The border between Switzerland –S - and Germany – D= Deutschland - )

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Konstanz is an old and historical city, with several nice old buildings well preserved, on the bank of the Bodensee.

We found a Brazilian flag among other flags just at the City Map…

… and this is where we were in the map!

That house was rebuilt in 1294… When was it build? Other buildings are from 1209 and later.

Goethe lived for some time in that house.

Graff Zeppelin was born in Konstanz…

... and we saw a Zeppelin!!!

We enjoyed seeing the many beautiful gardens in that and in other cities as well. It was the first time I was in Germany during summer time. It’s a very special season to visit Europe!

The Cathedral of Konstanz.

Under it’s altar…

… there is the tomb (relics) of St. Pelagius, Patron of Konstanz (Born ca. 270 - Died ca. 283). The relics were transferred to that city around 904 AD (as it is believed).

Many fountains of fresh and drinking water are around the city, some of them in a very strange design…

The Council of Konstanz was held from 1414 to 1418. It is the 15th ecumenical council recognized by the Roman Catholic Church. Besides several other matters, it sentenced John Huss, a Czech Reformer (born ca. 1372, Boemia – Put to death in July 1415).

The conclave was held in this old building, now a restaurant (where we had dinner that day).

John Huss was hosted in this house before he was sentenced by the Council

… Now it is a Museum.

St. Stephen Church, …

…where several activities of the Council were held.

Memorial Stone where John Huss was burnt.

The date on the monument: 14th July 1415 – It was a coincidence that I was there just on 14th July, 595 years later! – “Huss was a key predecessor to the Protestant movement of the 16th century, and his teachings had a strong influence on the states of Europe, most immediately on the approval for the existence of a reformist Bohemian religious denomination, and, more than a century later, on Martin Luther himself” (Wikipedia).

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From Konstanz we went to Leo and Carol’s apartment in Schiltach, Germany. From their balcony we could see the church we attended while with our children.

Lidia’s birthday was celebrated on 15th July. Lidia’s brother and sister-in-law, Luis Gustavo and Olivia, came from Sulzburg to the birthday party.

Carol and Léo prepared a fondue and a strawberry cake…

… and we all sang “HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU”!

On my 60th birthday, 20th July, we spent the day visiting some beautiful cities near Schiltach. It was especially remarkable to visit the open air Museum: old houses rebuilt as an old village from the XVI century. Some people are there working in the very old style to show to the visitors how the life at that time was.

The Museum Map.

Old furniture was well exposed inside the houses.

An old picture was on the wall of one of the houses: Melanchton, Martin Luther, King Gustav Adolph and a German Dignitary.

In the evening, Carol prepared a genuine Black Forest Cake (we were in the Black Forest region!)…

… and a nice and good table, with several kinds of cheese, ham and homemade bread. HAPPY BIRTHDAY was sung again. – We thank God for one more year of blessings in our lives and that we could spend the birthdays with our children. – I went back to Nairobi for the weekend service (25th July) and then flew to Mozambique for two weeks (see the next postage). Lidia remained with the children in Germany until I came back from Mozambique.