Thursday, March 31, 2011

SMS message from my neighbor - A Live lepard sighted 3 blocks from our home in Mombasa!

I thought it was a April fools joke when I received this sms message from our neighbor last night. Then I called him and said it is two hours before April fool and you are kidding me right. He said no it was seen by guards at the Mombasa Academy and might be headed our way to the old quarry behind our house and we need to check our dogs if they start to bark. When I went out of my office to go into the house you bet I did look around before I left the office. I have heard stories that Cape Buffalo used to be in this area in the 1950’s but this is the first time I have heard of a Leopard in the city area of Mombasa.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

I could see death in his eyes!

Before I went to the court I had prayed God please make me an example to many of these young people that might not know you.

 

It was about 6:30 in the evening this past week and the lights came on at the volley ball court. I saw one of the young men I was playing go over to the light pole bend over to pick his drink up off the ground and he grabbed hold of the metal light pole. As he bent over I saw his eyes as if it he was a dead man. I knew instantly what had happened because I had felt the shock by just touching the pole two months before. I had reported it to the hotel but no one did anything.

 

Now he was grounded to the light pole and the ground. Others around also saw what was happening but no one was doing anything. It was like a flash that the training I had some years ago came back to me. Do not hold on to him. I was also barefoot and sweating like him. If I grab him I would also be stuck to the pole. He was going to die. What can I do? Then I thought if I hit his leg that is in the air maybe I would not take to much of current and he would be release. As I hit him the 240 volts went through me like a freight train to my hand and jarred my heart and numbed both my feet. Thank God it worked and Marcus was released and he rolled over on the ground but he was  sore from the jolt. His leg was sore from where the  voltage went through and his eyes were blood shot. He laid there for some time and he said several times thank you for saving my life. After a while the doctor came & checked his blood pressure and they said it was high. Someone hit me on the back to say well done and when they did they got a charge. Guess I still had a little voltage in my body. The bottom of my toes are still a little sore but I am thankful Marcus is alive today. I talked to Marcus latter to tell him that he could be in eternity NOW. When we pray something will happen that would not have happened if we had not prayed.

 

Thanks for your prayers,

David D. Smith

Kenya E. Africa

 

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

YWAM attacked in Athi River

YWAM Athi River Mourns Loss of Missionary



26/02/2011 12:30 pm

At around 1am on Friday, 25th February, armed robbers broke into a property owned by the Youth With A Mission (YWAM) team in Athi River, Kenya, 50 km outside of Nairobi.

In the attack, 36-year old Ebel Kremer, a Dutch national, was shot and killed. His wife Lora was assaulted during the attack, which took place in their home on the property. Their two children were present, but unharmed. A night watchman was also injured, and is now recovering.

The Kremers have been volunteers with Youth With A Mission in Kenya since February 2008. The YWAM centre in Athi River runs Christian training schools and a preschool in addition to their focus on caring for local orphaned children. “Homes for Hope and Healing” has been providing community-based care for orphans and Ebel was leading a project called the Maanzoni Children’s Village which aimed to merge with this effort to include a village of 8 homes which would accommodate foster families caring for up to 12 children each. Karin Kea Sued, the leader of the YWAM Athi River center until very recently, says it is too early to determine what will happen to the plans for expansion. “Ebel was overseeing the building of the second of the eight homes,” she said. “We were waiting for the homes to be completed before accepting more children.”

The YWAM property in Athi River accommodates 25 resident volunteers and approximately 50 other people, including students and visitors were also on the 70 acre property at the time of the attack.

The incident is being investigated as a robbery. The police are conducting extensive inquiries and have increased security in the area. YWAM has also engaged additional security.

Lora Kremer and her children are being cared for by friends in Nairobi and are preparing to return to Holland, where the funeral will be held, later this week.

Karin Kea Sued expressed gratitude on behalf of Lora Kremer and the YWAM community in Athi River for the prayers being said for them around the world. She says, "Our hearts are hurting as we are all in shock and disbelief that Ebel has been taken from us so suddenly, and in such a cruel and heartless manner. We have lost a fellow missionary and friend who beamed with energy and determination serving the One we all know to give perfect peace, comfort and eternal life. Our prayers and sympathy remain with Lora and their families in Holland."