Picture Gallery |
Bikes Hanging Like Bats.... What do you do to keep from stumbling over ten thrift store bicycles in various stages of “functioning decrepitude” ? Ken solved the problem(as you see in the photo) by hanging them on hooks (as Melli so aptly described) “like so many bats on a wall”. Ha! No problem directing people to their house—just look for the carport with all the hanging bikes! A neighbor gave them a basketball goal that needed only a net to make it complete (well, the plastic tank/base for holding water to stabilize the unit leaked—so Ken anchored it to a tree with ropes) and it serves as a magnet for other kids in the neighborhood after school. | |
Trophy Time at Cub Scouts Pinewood Derby  Front Row: Sammy, James & Danny Back Row: Ken & Cindy Melli
took this photo just after James and Danny were awarded trophies for
the second and third place performances of their hand-fashioned
pinewood race cars. Sammy is not yet a Cub Scout, but is
obviously happy to hold up one of the winning racers. None of the cars have "motors". The winners are the ones that respond best to the "pull" of gravity as the cars roll down a steeply inclined track. | |
“Studying At Home" while waiting… Lizzie (age 14) Sarah (age 15) Carly (age 13) Sarah
and Carly were supposed to return to school in Kenya on January 6, but
their flight was cancelled—so the airline booked them to return with
Lizzie on the 18th. Lizzie was unable to go with them on the 6th
as she and Cindy have to appear in person for final interview with US
Immigration in the process for U.S. Citizenship. So, they really
are studying at home to compensate for arriving two weeks late at Rift
Valley Academy. Thank you for remembering them in your prayers—along with the rest of the family while separated in the coming months. | |
Johnson Family Photo 2009 Left to right in photo (front row): Lizzie, James and Christopher, Samuel, Cindy, Carly, Daniel, Sarah (with Angel); (back row): Ken, Melli (with Andy). | |
Trick or Treaters WITH
A SPIRIT OF HIGH ADVENTURE Cindy & the older boys donned their
costumes ready to invade the neighborhood. Angel and Andy settled for
riding in the stroller as we set out Trick or Treating. When I
was a child, we didn’t go to such extremes... I think I colored a paper
bag and stuck it on my head with eye holes. My sister Vondria, the
artist of the family, won best costume prize when she put green oatmeal
on her face and wrapped herself in torn up sheets. My
kids asked, "Mama, what are you going as?" I replied, "I'm going as
your spacey, worn out looking mama! If costumes were being judged, I'd
probably win!" Actually, we all came back winners with lots of candy to
share with Lizzie who chose to stay at home to greet "Trick or
Treaters" coming to our home. | |
NOT THE “BEVERLY HILLBILLIES”…  Even though it may bring them to mind! Here are the “Burundi Johnsons” with the first load of household furnishings donated by friends at Light & Life Park for their rental house just two blocks from Padgett Elementary School where Cindy, James, Daniel & Samuel attend. Lizzie will walk Christopher about 3 blocks to Lake Gibson Church of the Nazarene Pre-school on the way to her middle school just across the street from the church. How about that for God’s Global Positioning System! Cindy’s arm is in a brace and sling as a result of a tumble off her bicycle—just a simple fracture that is healing nicely. Thank you for your continuing prayers! | |
| No Horsing Around at School for James This Year | |
Melli
mentioned his remarkable change of attitude, but it took the carefully
printed note written to me on the day of “Open House” to clinch it and
melt my heart: “DEAR GRANDPA, THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OPEN HOUSE! MY FAVORITE THING ABOUT 2ND GRADE IS GRAET (GREAT). I LOVE IT WHEN WE GO TO BOOK FAIRE. I HOPE YOU LIKE SITTING AT MY DESK. I CLEANED IT OUT JUST FOR YOU! I LOVE YOU! --LOVE FROM JAMES” (The photo on the merry-go-round was taken while visiting Aunt Carol and Uncle David Johnson this summer in Maryland.) | |
| The Johnson Family Parade | |
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| BELIEVE IT OR NOT—TWO ARE MISSING. . . This
photo of the “Johnson Family Parade” was taken without Lizzie (who is
joining the family in July at the end of her school term) and Sarah,
who was in town with a friend at deadline. It’s still quite a
“line-up”—and Hannah was taking the picture! In addition to bike
riding, there is swimming, miniature golf and tennis—plus the
oft-repeated question, “Grandpa, can I drive your golf cart?” And
they keep wondering when they will see an alligator! Oh, to have some of their seemingly boundless energy! | |
| WAITING FOR THE MILK… | |
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The Rainbow Centre and the Kigobe Mission are the only two places we know of that regularly distribute milk in Burundi. The Twizere program at the Rainbow Centre feeds 136 babies per month and the milk project at Kigobe Mission now feeds 140 babies per month. Yesterday I saw two tiny babies with malformation of the esophagus which hinders them from growing. I struggled with tears wondering if they would survive, and after that all my photos were blurry —I couldn’t focus my eyes or the camera. But as I was leaving, I took one last photo of a big sister waiting patiently for the milk distribution with her baby sister on her back. I’m so glad it turned out! --Melli | |
| HIP, HIP HOORAY FOR CARLY MAE! | |
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Here is Carly on her 13th birthday (May 1st), celebrating with girlfriends and her chocolate cake! Her Kirundi name, Ingabire (Inga-beer-ee), means "gift"! I remember as a young girl in South Dakota that kids made May Day baskets filled with candy and flowers. I'd take them around to my friends' houses, place the basket on the step, ring the doorbell and then run and hide. When my friend opened the door she'd look around, see me hiding and give chase. It was a fun tradition, but does anyone do this anymore? It seemed right to name our third baby girl "Carly Mae" and give her the birth date of May Day, since she was a newborn found naked, crying, and alone on the forest floor—waiting to be loved and cherished. Carly is a dear gift, and is a strong and loyal friend. | |
FIELD TRIP IN KENYA…   Not many seventh graders get to be “up close and personal” with giraffes, orphaned elephants and premature baby rhinos while on a “field trip” with their mother during midterm break. Of course, (unless you’re a “missionary kid”) not many attend boarding school fifteen hundred miles from home! Sarah and Carly have been home schooling diligently with their volunteer teacher, Christy Jones, and are excited about rejoining their classmates at RVA this fall. Not sure yet whether Cindy will be accepted, but she’s hoping! Thank you for keeping Ken, Melli and each of the children in your prayers! | |
DEDICATED YOUNG VOLUNTEERS…   Meet Wicke (Vicka) WoBner from Germany as she works in the classroom with Samuel, and Johan Andersson from Sweden who is back-packing” with Christopher. Vicka spent a year working in a girls’ school in Perth, Australia, but this is her first assignment in Africa. Johan loves Africa (his fourth time of volunteer service), enjoys learning different languages and came “hoping there is lots to do in Ken’s shop that I can help with! ”Melli’s comment, “Both of them fit into our family hullabaloo’ and are helping so much! We just love them!” | |
2008 Family Photo Left to right in family photo on other side (front row): Cindy, Sarah, Melli (with Angel), Ken (with Andy); back row): Lizzie, Carly, James, Daniel, Samuel, Christopher | |
Angel Takes The Cake on Her 1st Birthday Remember this note Melli wrote last January… “We are giving extra cuddling and care to another baby at our house...we call her “Angel”—she is like a little Christmas angel! Born premature in September, weighing 1 pound 14 oz., she spent two months in an incubator in a government hospital before coming to the RainbowCentre. Her survival is a miracle here in Burundi... It's awesome the medical equipment that can help tiny babies—but love, hope, prayer and determination make a difference too!” Look at her now as she “feeds her face” with her first birthday cake! |
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Praising God for Answered Prayer!  There she is—Christy Jones, smiling between Carly on the left and Sarah on the right—the answer to our prayers for a teacher to home school the girls in Burundi. They will continue in the ACE study program which was so helpful last year as they studied here in the USA. The girls should do even better this year without the strain of being so far from family and home. Rejoice with us, and keep Christy and the girls in your prayers. |
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Summer Volunteer Teachers Sarah Funk and Carrie Steere Sewing Class at New Hope Homemakers' Class  |
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New Hope Homemakers Class at "Beach Classroom"
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We know that some of the girls have histories of suffering and abuse but their hearts are finding courage, love and hope in Jesus at the Rainbow Centre. In our April newsletter we wrote, "We are starting an exciting project for older girls, ages 18-20, who didn't have the chance during the 12-year war to finish primary school. Please join us in anticipation as we begin April 7th at the Rainbow Centre with 10 eager young ladies to learn basic R's and sewing. We are also adding Bible, French and English, nutritional cooking, baby care, first aid and CPR. These girls will learn skills that will help them earn a living and be confident homemakers." As you see, the class numbers 14 rather than 10. Aren't they beautiful! |
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| Miscellaneous Pictures June 08 | |
 Ken and his rickshaw-tricycle-pick-up-truck.  Sarah and Carly Sammy with Grandpa Andrews |
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| Angel & Andy ... Needing/Receiving Extra Loving Care - Feb. 08 | |
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Last month Melli wrote about Angel (the one on the right in the photo): “We are giving extra-cuddling care at our house to another baby, born premature 5 months ago weighing only 1 lb. 14oz. Her survival is a miracle here in Burundi.” BUT LOOK AT ANGEL NOW! ANDY (in the photo on the left), born and abandoned on New Year’s Day, is also getting “extra-cuddling care” with the Johnson family. He is thriving on “extra loving care”, too! Luke 18: 15: People were bringing babies to Jesus to have him touch them… |
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| The Johnson's Family Photo - 2007 (see names and birthdays below) |
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 Left to right in family photo (front row): Daniel, Carly, James, Samuel, Cindy (Back row): Sarah, Ken, Melli, Christopher, Elizabeth (Lizzie) |
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| Sarah and Carly in Their New Home School in Missouri | |
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Sarah
and Carly with Melli's sisiter MaryLu |
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| Mugisha Update | |
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this year we had a photo of baby Mugisha as she lay in the intensive
care (see below or click here for last photo) August 27, 2007 Here is an update photo of Mugisha… she is beautiful, dimpled, healthy — a miracle baby! |
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| Bethany Andrews and Joanna Johnson End of Summer 2007 Volunteers |
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YOU PRAYED…GOD CALLED…THEY MINISTERED Here they are—Bethany Andrews and Joanna Johnson, volunteers from Reidsville North Carolina, who spent June and July ministering in Bujumbura, Burundi at the Rainbow Centre and Kigobe Mission. They are pictured with Cindy and Samuel (left photo) while on the right, Joanna is working with Samuel in a speech therapy session.
You’ve read Melli’s enthusiastic appreciation for their service to Christ through the many ways their lives touched people every day. While Joanna was involved extensively with Samuel in speech therapy, Bethany was working with babies and children, teaching CPR and Sunday School classes for adults, plus both of them “fitting in” wherever they were needed. Thank you for faithfully undergirding both of them in your prayers—along with the Ken & Melli Johnson family.
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| Bethany Andrews and Joanna Johnson Beginning of Summer 2007 Volunteers |
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| Bethany
(left) is gifted with babies and children, and Joanna has
just finished her master’s degree in Speech Language
Pathology. Bethany Andrews and Joanna Johnson
long time friends from the same church and hometown, are serving in
Burundi June 3-July 24 at the Rainbow Centre.
Rejoice with us in the ways God has
answered prayer: |
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| Please Pray for Mugisha - March 2007 | |
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10, 2007 - This is Mugisha laying in the baby intensive care at the
Univeristy Hospital. There is a volunteer caring for her all the time
and we pray she pulls through. She is less that 2 kilos and getting
antibiotics IV. The medical team seems very caring. Please pray with us
that she will start gaining weight and be able to be cared for here
with us. |
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| The Johnson's Family Photo - 2006 (see names and birthdays below) |
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| Jeanine and Nikki June 2006 |
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| Jeanine, Nikki and Dr. Raafat Morgan June 2006 |
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| Christopher - May 2006 | |
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| Ken's "Bad" Eye May 2006 |
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Jeremiah - March 2006 |
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The Johnson's Family Photo - 2005 |
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Another Johnson Family Photo - 2005 |
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The Johnson's Mode of Transportation |
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Inside the Traveling Toyota (Summer 2005) |
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Ken and Melli Johnson family (2004) |
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Front
Row (L-R) Danny, James, Samuel ;Back Row Sarah, Cindy, Carly, Lizzie |
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Ken and Melli Johnson family (2004) |
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Health Day at the Rainbow Center - January 2004 |
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Ken and Melli Johnson family (2002/2003) |
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The Calendar Featuring the President’s Wife with the Rainbow Centre Arms of Love Babies |
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In the picture Cindy is sitting next to the First Lady and is holding baby Angel. The calendar headlines proclaim in Kirundi, "TAKE CARE OF ORPHANS. PROTECT THEM FROM AIDS" |
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