ANGLICAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF MOUNT KENYA EAST CONNECTED CHURCH ANGLICAN DEVELOPMENT SERVICES OF MOUNT KENYA EAST

A FAMILY RESTORED April 2017

Is there someone in your family you’d love a better relationship with? Notes to leader: Use this question as a way to get people engaged in the update. Ask people to talk to the person next to them, and then feedback to you.

This is the story of Elias Wachira Njanja, a father and a priest whose relationship with his son has been restored by CCMP and the grace of God. These are his words.

‘we were working hard yet we never had enough food for family consumption leave alone for selling. The struggle for taking care of the family was so real.’ Wachira Njanja This story is in Wachira’s words. Just read the notes for each slide. Before CCMP I was only using the traditional method of farming. I did not care on practicing good farming practices like using certified seeds or applying manure. As a result, our harvest what was hardly enough to feed the family. My cow was only producing 1 litre of milk and on a good day it would produce 1½ litre. It was ironic because we were working hard yet we never had enough food for family consumption leave alone for selling. The struggle for taking care of the family was so real.

Thanks to CCMP, he is now my best friend’ ‘My son thought I never cared and loved him, and that affected our relationship so much, it took a while to earn his love and trust again. Thanks to CCMP, he is now my best friend’ I could not afford to feed my family well and give them a good meal, my sons were in school and paying school fees was a big problem’. ‘I remember on several occasions my elder son was sent home to collect school fees. One day he asked me, “Dad, why don’t you pay school fees on time like other parents” sincerely I felt embarrassed. I had no answer.’ At that moment he looked at his wife who said. ‘I was only a housewife; sorry I could not have done much to help.’ They looked at each other and as if Wachira was addressing his wife said, ‘My son thought I never cared and loved him, and that affected our relationship so much, it took a while to earn his love and trust again. Thanks to CCMP, he is now my best friend’.

‘The feeling of being empowered through CCMP is unexplainable ‘The feeling of being empowered through CCMP is unexplainable. We are a happy family. Glory to be God.’ ‘I was introduced to CCMP in 2007 when I was invited for a CCMP workshop by my priest. It was a one-week workshop, but to me it was a week of a total change, one week of new beginning.’ After that session my mind started thinking differently and that was the beginning of a new life for my family. Back home after the workshop I shared with my wife and together we began dreaming and talking on the entire lesson we learn in CCMP workshops. Actually it is as if we had opened a CCMP class at home’. ‘My life and that of my wife were transformed holistically. Our eyes were opened to see things differently and to do things systematically. The Bible study on Elisha and the widow with a little oil from 2 Kings 4:1-7 helped us appreciate the little resources. We prayed as a family and envisioned on how to multiply it. Our lives have never been the same again.’ We visited the agriculture office to ask for advice on our crops and what seed to plant, we were advised on good agricultural practices like use of compost manure, pest control, livestock management etc. We religiously practiced what we were taught. Surprisingly, within a short time we started realizing economic benefit. Our two cows currently produce 16 to 18 litres of milk per day. A litre of milk is bought at Ksh. 60 thus on average we make a thousand shilling per day which add up to 30000 per month on milk sales alone. We have 20 chicken traditional chickens. We chose to keep traditional chicken since they are resistance to diseases and do not require feeds from the shop. The eggs are a good source of protein the children. In a month we sell 2 trays of eggs at Ksh.15 per egg. A tray fetches Ksh. 900”. ‘Beside maize and beans we plant for family consumption, we have also planted 20 stems of bananas that we sell at ksh700 a bunch when ready. We sell up to 3 bunches a month giving us Ksh. 2100 per month. I could never be happier than this. I am able to pay school fees especially for our first son who is in Kenyatta University Nairobi. I comfortably pay a huge amount of money. Thanks to CCMP and God for his faithfulness “My spiritual life has never been the same since I was introduced to CCMP, the Bible studies helped me learn to read and understand the Bible; I used to read the Bible just like a novel, but CCMP has taught me to read the Bible carefully, get the context and what the passage in the Bible is trying to tell me. I am able to relate well with God, my family and others too. I used to be a very tough father but now I deal with my family gently. The feeling of being empowered through CCMP is unexplainable. We are a happy family. Glory to be God. Wachira Njanja

PRAYER Pray for peace of mind & family unity Pray for my family for good health and lasting happy relationship Pray for my 2 teenage sons that God will watch over them and that they will not be influenced by bad company. Pray for me that as I lead the people of God, I will lead in a Godly way.