Cycling through Europe... to Kenya!

The bike painting is based on one by Bob Dylan. I saw some of his pen and watercolour prints at the Woking Lightbox a year or so ago. And they inspired me, in that I thought: 'I could do that!' I wrote a blog about it in Jan 09: Drawn Blank

The bike makes me think of 'the Continent' as we Brits call it. The idea of leaving your bike propped up against a tree, whilst you have a coffee and croissant in a street cafe. There is something very appealing about it all.....

My son Tim and his mate Mat have just set off from Woking to Kenya on an epic 6500 mile cycle2kenya. You can follow their cycle2kenya blog or Facebook group and Facebook community or track them on twitter. You can also donate online via Just Giving to the Turning point trust. They are cycling to raise money for farms to rehabilitate mamas from the slums of Kibera Mat's sister Emily works for TP and has written a blog about her brother Woking-2-Nairobi tandem adventure. I also wrote an older post on this improbable bike ride

(If you are a firm and are interested in sponsoring, then be in touch by email cycle2kenya@gmail.com)

So this painting evokes something of the beginning leg (or wheel) of their journey through Europe. Except they are riding a tandem not a normal bike.

We're off soon for the Dover-Dunkirque channel crossing and on to Brugge/Bruges to meet them on the first leg. This was partly inspired by the darkly humorous, violent comedy thriller film in Bruges (2008) which we watched together - you can read a review by Philip French in the Observer.

With its cobbled streets, Bruges is not so good for bikes. But then with Africa in view, who's worried about a few cobbles.....

An 'improbable' CYCLE2KENYA

The painting is based on a photo which I saw in a magazine last summer, when I started drawing and painting.

I am dedicating the picture to two mad cyclists, Tim and Matt, who are planning to Cycle2Kenya to raise funds for Turning Point. My daughter, Jo and another son, Jonny are going there with Graceworks this summer to help with a Kids Summer School. In fact all our kids have been there. But the sponsored cycle is for the farms, to help resettle people out of the slums and into a new life. Matt's sister, Emily works there. Read her excellent blog: God in the Slums

It is a long way, around 5000 miles. But the problem is that the democratic movements and protests in the Middle East are making cycling through Syria and even Lebanon/Jordan difficult. And it will be during Ramadan! And if they go from Turkey to Egypt by boat then there is still the Sudan to negotiate. Wars and rumours of wars......

My old lonely planet copy of 'Middle East on a Shoestring' (1997) puts it quite clearly:

'while there are a few places and occasions in the Middle East where a bicycle would be useful, there are many more where it would be a distinct liability. Many long distance routes in the Middle East are arduous, even for motorists and for a cyclist they would be both difficult and dangerous. The distances the climate, the terrain and the politics all make cycling a most improbable method of long distance transport'

They have been loaned a very sturdy Tandem to make it even more 'improbable'. So that got me thinking about 'improbability' and so I found a few inspiring quotes:

"Aim for the impossible and you will achieve the improbable". — Camillo Särs

"Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities" -- Aristotle

At first, dreams seem impossible, then improbable – and eventually, inevitable.’ -- Christopher Reeve ("Superman")

I for one am right behind them in their improbability and am supporting them in any way I can. But that's inevitable...

You can follow their exploits on Facebook and Twitter, read their CYCLE2KENYA blog and donate online at Just Giving. They are seeking to raise over £11,000......

Be faithful unto death ...

Francis Omondi from Sheepfold ministries in Kenya has just had a reflection published on Fulcrum aboout the brutal murders in March 2010 of Christians in Jos Nigeria Be faithful unto death

I particularly liked the quote from Tohito Kagawa's book Meditation:

“I do not deny the eventuality of death, death lies sternly upon my course, nevertheless I believe that Love [the love of God] has far greater power than death. ‘ death is swallowed up in love …’

Love is stronger than death, love’s glory tramples even death under feet, I am thinking that death is transformed through love. Death is an aspect of change, while love is the substance that persists through all changes.

The Anglican diocese of Jos have published pictures on thier website. Be warned theya re very disturbing

At the end of the pictures there is a prayer:

WE PRAY FOR A MIRACLE FROM GOD TO HALT THE
VIOLENCE, DESTRUCTION AND BLOODSHED AND FOR THE
SPIRITUAL GIFT OF FORGIVENESS IN AND ON THE CHURCH ON
THE PLATEAU, AMEN.

Turning Point - Kenya

Jon and Jo are from our church,  Christchurch Woking  (CCW).  They are also linked to CMS through the Salt Programme.   They are with us this weekend reporting on their work in Kibera with Turning Point Trust. 

TPT works in Kibera, the biggest slum in Kenya, 'home' for more than a million people tightly packed in 3 square kilometres. They run 2 centres in Masumau and Kianda, helping to improve the quality of life for families there. It is child-focused community development.  As well as 2 centres in Kibera itself, there are Micro-Finance projects to help families start up small buinesses and a 30 acre Farm Project in Kinangop, 120km northwest of Kibera, to rehabilitatea dozen  single mamas and their many children and to help them with a new life out of the slum.  As Jon said  'It is easy getting them out of Kibera, but it's hard getting Kibera out of them'.

Graceworks is sending a team to work there again this summer running the summer camp for 121 chldren in a boarding school for 2 weeks.  It is being hosted by 'Em', also from CCW who is a volunteer working for TPT. And my son Andy is part of the team.

Have a look at the video materials on the Turning Point website on Kibera,  Camps  and Farm 

and also a video my son Jonny made of one of an earlier camp Project Kenya 2007

I have visited the project a couple of times and met up again earlier this year in Nairobi. It's a great project and Jon&Jo are doing a  fantastic job. 

A mission giant - Dr Pat Nickson OBE

Rev Dr Patricia Nickson, long time CMS mission partner, died peacefully yesterday (1.pm, Sunday 26 April). She had suffered from abdominal cancer for nearly two years. Her health took a downward turn last Wednesday and she was transferred from hospital to a local hospice the following day. On Saturday, in a simple ceremony, she received a final anointing, heard a reading from Bishop Tom Wright’s book Surprised by Hope (which she greatly treasured) and her vicar prayed the Nunc Dimittis. Later various friends called to say their farewells. She is survived by a brother and a sister.

Pat Nickson, 62, was one of the mission giants of her generation. She worked in Northern Australia, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Congo and became a world authority in her field, working closely with the WHO, the World Council of Churches and Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (where she had a faculty position). She was a leading trainer of indigenous healthcare workers, became a leading authority utilizing the healing properties of local herbs and how ‘well-ness’ is understood in different cultures (which involved rich dialogue with local healers). She was awarded the OBE for her work. Quite recently she was ordained to the Anglican ministry.

Pat’s funeral will be held at St Mary’s Upton at 11.00am on 5 May. CMS will be represented. The vicar the Rev Graeme Skinner is preparing a book of condolences. Anyone may contribute, email graeme@stm-upton.org.uk Also, if anyone has stories of Pat and how she influenced their lives, Graeme Skinner would be glad to receive it via email.

May she rest in peace and rise in glory.

John Martin, CMS Head of Communications 

There are more details on the CMS website  including links to other webarchive materials on her ministry including a nice article on Dr Pat going clubbin

I personally remember Dr Pat Nickson's keen interest in Afghanistan where she had served as a community health practitioner. She was always keen to be updated on developments. She was a person with a very wide grasp of global affairs haveing lived and served in DR Congo,   Bangladesh,  Afghanistan - some of the world's real troublespots. A great lady with a  great spirit. 

  

Africa needs God

Matthew Parris   From The Times      December 27, 2008

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

Missionaries, not aid money, are the solution to Africa's biggest problem - the crushing passivity of the people's mindset

This article was published on my birthday and it makes for fascinating reading. It is  a helpful  apologetic for Christian, faith-based aid, development and charitable ‘mission’ work . 

do read the full article from Times Online