Year End Update

A couple of months ago, this journey started -- one that will end with a home for Muia's family.

• Peggy and Cindy had been training until Peggy's injury.  They hope to resume training in January.
• Peggy, thankfully, did not require a cast.  Now, about 5 weeks after the injury, she's able to walk without the boot.  She will need the brace for the indefinite future, including during the actual marathon.
• Marites, our cousin in N. California, wants to run the marathon and has been training with her husband Gil and on her own.  
• We're closing in on 10% of the fundraising goal.

Fundraising can be distasteful.  I know we're all bombarded with pleas, especially at the end of the year.  However, one of the blessings during this journey is to witness the response from unexpected places.

• A niece and nephew who chose to have the money that would've gone to their Christmas presents be redirected to the fund.
• A 90+ year old aunt who's giving so much more than the monetary donation.  (She wakes up before dawn each morning for hours of prayer.)
• Friends from church who've donated money and even jewelry to be sold for the fund.
• High school friends who've expressed an interest supporting this effort.
• People we don't know and/or who choose to remain unknown.

UPDATE: (Thanks to Paul, the Director of Tumaini in Kenya, I got these updated pictures of Muia today!)

For those who may be wondering, the donations go to Tumaini Ministries and is tax-deductible.  If you're so inclined, you may donate by clicking below.

Another $200 Anonymously

Today, I logged onto our site and found that someone had donated $200 to Muia's home.  Though I always like to know who's donating, there's something special whenever someone does it anonymously.  I don't want to discourage people from listing their names.  But whoever donated in the last day or two, THANK YOU on behalf of Muia and his family!

We're at $630, 7% of our goal.

Injury/Training Update

Peggy's ankle continues to heal.  She now walks with the boot and brace but no longer relies on the crutches.  There's some residual pain, especially after being on her feet for some time.  Peggy's toughness and determination continue to amaze me.

With the holidays and Peggy's injury, it's been harder for Cindy to train.  However, she's faithfully put in time on the treadmill and, I'm sure, can't wait for Peggy to be back on the roads with her.

Marites, our cousin, also plans to run the marathon.  She got a later start than Peggy and Cindy but has already run 8-miles.

Quadruple the Size of Your Home?

What does $8,500 buy you in Africa?  In the United States, you can barely renovate a kitchen for that price.  In Kenya, a family can get two acres of land and two small houses -- you get a home.

By any standards, the houses are nothing extravagant.  Each house is about 150 square feet with two rooms. Coming from an 8' x 8' room for eight people, these houses represent a significant upgrade.

Current:

Outside of the room where the family lives.

On the other side of the curtain is a twin-sized bed, which occupies half the room.

New Home: (These images are from a home the team helped with last summer.  Muia's family's houses will be similar in size and design.)

Muia's family of eight would have two of these dwellings, probably to separate the boys from the girls/women.

Each room in this two-room house is about 8' x 8', the size of Muia's current home.

Down But Not Out

For the last two and a half weeks, Peggy's been in pain.  While running 10-miles with Cindy, Peggy took a tumble.  What we'd suspected was a sprain turned into a chipped bone.  Thankfully, a cast isn't required though Peggy will be in a boot through December.

I share this to give you a glimpse of my amazing wife.  While others would see this as a reason to bow out, her greatest concern throughout this injury is that she would not be able to complete this run for Muia with Cindy.  Though slowed, this injury will not stop her.  Rather, the crutches and the boot have offered her opportunities to share about Miles for Muia.

If anyone serves, it should be from the strength God provides,  so that God may be glorified through Jesus Christ in everything. To Him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.

(1 Pe 4:11,HCSB)

Miles for Muia: Introduction

Background:
A few months ago, I wrote here and here about Muia and the desperate condition of his family.  He and his family of 8, have "no land of their own on which they could raise animals or plant crops.  Without land, the family has no means of sustaining their meager lifestyle."  Video tribute to the family.

A few weeks ago, Stanley Mutunga, the President and founder of Tumaini International, and his wife Rose presented Peggy and me with a unique opportunity.  Though Tumaini has served more than 1000 children and their families, Muia's situation is unique in its despair.  So much so that Tumaini  has explored how the family could be helped with land on which the family could have a house and make a living.  For about $8,500, the family could have two acres of land, and two two-room homes.  The Tumaini staff would help the family to plant and grow crops and raise animals.  In time, the family could survive from what's produced from their land and their labor.  Muia's mom would be saved from having to sacrifice her body and dignity in order to provide for her family.

Running for Muia:
Peggy and I left dinner with the Mutunga encouraged by the opportunity.  We didn't know where the money would come from but, it was clear, as we prayed, that we needed to seize the chance to help Muia.  Around that same time, Peggy had been training with our friend, Cindy Hoverson, for the L.A. Marathon.  Until that point, Peggy was only interesting in running with Cindy to help her train.  After hearing of Muia's situation, Cindy suggested that, perhaps, Peggy could get sponsors for running the marathon herself.

On March 9, 2014, Peggy will run from Dodgers Stadium to the Santa Monica Pier with a picture of Muia pinned to her.  Each step of training and each step taken that day will be a tribute to Muia and his family.

How You Can Help
Neither Peggy and I are comfortable asking for money.  When the kids have school fundraisers, we typically end up with a lot of overpriced, useless items.  But I believe this is different.  After my initial post about Muia, many of you wanted to know how you could help.  I believe this is an opportunity to tell this family that strangers from across the world love and care for their well-being.

Our goal is to raise $8,500, and we hope to do this by having people sponsor each mile of Peggy's run.  If you're willing, we ask for a donation of $26 toward this fund.  In the end, we wish to be able to tell Muia that 327 people came together and purchased them this land and home.

If you're interested, click here for more information and/or to donate: http://grouprev.com/milesformuia