John and Mary Home of Bees Abroad visit with their Grandaughter Becky

The recent successful visit to Kenya by John and Mary Home of Bees Abroad UK, was not without its usual share of challenges, interesting episodes and experiences that anyone coming to Africa usually meets especially when you are visting Kenya. The  Homes’ can  tell you their part of the story! But just to mention one case in point- there was a 

visit to the welding and carpentry workshop

john and mary cutting the tape

john and mary with a sponsored child

“sprint record “ broken by none other than Roger the Wings of Mercy –Founder, as he dashed past Mary! to Evade a bee Sting!, as John in protective gear,carefully and comfortably instructed John and Job,on the art of harvesting honey.You could see the bees were at home with John as he expertly succeeded in  harvesting some honey without stirring too much fury from the African bees!. Mary was standing some safe distance away with an umbrella to shield her from the hot African sun.I presume she also  used the umbrella as a camouflage – as she coolly stood still, as the bee flew past in hot pursuit! .She understood,bees can sense one who is not at home with them.It was such fun for her to see Roger run, she could not help but laugh her heart out!. Do you know why the bees were in hot pursuit, one  ”culprit”, by the name John one of the beekeepers, had sneaked a comb to his beckoning wife across the fence for her to have just a taste of the honey! The bees came calling…!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We had gone with John and Mary, to visit  4  of our new trainees for the expanded work in beekeeping as well as assist the current two beekeepers in the area with protective gear and expert advise from John on bee farming and harvesting of honey.

 

Being a first time visit for their granddaughter was certainly an experience any teenager would wish for or dream about. Becky certainly enjoyed her trip to Kenya, as she accompanied her grandparents on a visit to various projects, that John and Mary and Bees Broad have an interest in. The trip took them around various towns and rural villages of Kenya.Roger and Christine of Wings of Mercy, played host to this wonderful family while they were here in Nairobi.

 

The Homes have recently retired from active service. Rather than spend their time enjoying their retirement benefits and holidaying, they have chosen to give their most valued asset i.e. time, energy, skills and resources to help alleviate poverty in Africa.  

 

Wings of Mercy, through John and Mary, have partnered with Bees Abroad, to initiate bee-keeping projects in the surrounding villages, where poverty is rampant. Secondly it is through their efforts that Wings of Mercy Welding and Carpentry project, received an initial donation, which helped buy the first tools to start the Welding and Carpentry Workshop. It should be made worthy of mention that this gift donation was given by Mr Hedley, John’s 96 year old father in-law- Dad to Mary. This gift donation was meant to be his birthday present. Talk of nobility and a heart of Gold, certainly this can be aptly described of Mr Hedley, who the workshop currently has been named in his honour.

 

John and Mary accompanied by their granddaughter also had an opportunity to visit the slums; they were given the onus to open the new Classroom, at Blue Sky. In the words of the Head Teacher Mrs Edna, who wrote a thank you note she said, ” We are touched by your love to us and our school, may God lift you all…!”They later garlanded John and Mary who later cut the tape to officially open the class. The class has been named St James class and it now requires desks, in order to support the growing number of pupils enrolling in the School. We now currently have about 120 children attending school up from 109. The Home’s have also been   instrumental in helping facilitate the funds for the construction of an additional class in partnership with St James Southam and Wings of Mercy -Kenya.

 

 

Wings of Mercy, also does organize visits and tours to various places such as the Giraffe Centre/Sanctuary, (recent visits have been made by Debbie, Nick and Rachael with their sponsored child),the Animal Orphanage, Kazuri the bead place, and the Elephant Orphanage/Sanctuary, the Maasai market and the Bomas of Kenya.Bomas of Kenya for instance is a place,where you have an opportunity to sample the various cultures of Kenya depicted in song and dance, and it also affords you the luxury of seeing the way traditional homes of the various tribes in Kenya look like and the way of life. It is an experience you cannot afford to miss. We are encouraging our visitors, or any other person wanting to go on a Safari or holiday in Kenya, to package their tour through Wings of Mercy, part of the proceeds go towards running Wings of Mercy program activities and projects e.g. providing skills training, feeding program to schools and supporting orphans and vulnerable children in the slums among other related issues.

 

 

Last but not least John,Mary and Becky did also visit,a school in the slums of Kware,where Wings of Mercy,has initiated a tailoring project in partnership with footsteps international – A UK charity.They came to donate tailoring tools and materials,which had been graciously donated,by friends,and members of St James Southam.Wings of Mercy also donated over 20 girls uniforms,to be given to the school.This was a kind donation by Debbie Perkins’ mom,we will be showing in the next news posting,the children wearing those lovely dresses.Wings of Mercy supports some orphaned children in this school known as fair oak school. 

 

Reporting Roger Molera- Wings of Mercy-Kenya