Michael Kimpur coming to MN in October!

We are so pleased that Michael is able to come to encourage and thank all of the amazing Daylight partners in Minnesota! Michael Kimpur will be speaking around Minneapolis-St. Paul from October 5th–21st.

We hope you will take advantage of his visit by coming to hear him at one of his many speaking engagements. We also want to offer you to opportunity to meet Michael for lunch or coffee. He is only available to meet during the day (10am–5pm).

If you would like to set up a time to meet with Michael, please email Daylight Board Member Steve Spark at kraps1127@gmail.com. Michael’s schedule will fill up fast, so the sooner you get something on the calendar, the better.

Michael’s Speaking Schedule
Sunday October 5th, 5:00pm – Preaching at House of Mercy in St. Paul, MN
1514 Englewood Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Sunday October 12th, 9:30am – Preaching at Stillwater Presbyterian Church
6201 Osgood Ave. N., Stillwater, MN 55082

Sunday October 19th, 10:00am – Preaching at Lynnhurst Congregational Church
4501 Colfax Ave S, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Sunday October 19th, 4:00pm – Interview with Nathan and Michael by Doug Pagitt at Solomon’s Porch
100 W 46th St, Minneapolis, MN 55419

Special Thanks to Senator Al Franken and Dr. Lenny Snellman for helping Michael secure a travel visa to Minnesota.

Nathan Roberts
Founder and Director

 

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“That could have been me” – A Reflection on tragedy

*WARNING: This update contains a graphic reflection from Kenya Director Michael Kimpur on the murder of a young Pokot herds boy. 

Last week we wrote on how Daylight’s vehicle is often called upon as an ambulance.

But this week we were too late to save one young boy’s life. I received a call from a very remote village that is located along the border between the Pokot Tribe and Turkana Tribe. These villages along the border between tribes are often places of heavy fighting. Where cows are most often stolen back and forth by Pokot and Turkana raiding parties. Often with tragic consequences.

We were told a young boy (maybe 10 years old) had been out herding 80 of his family’s cows. And that a group of Turkana men had found him, killed him, and the cows were stolen. And the villagers wanted the Daylight staff to come and file an official report (as we are able to read and write and deliver the report to the government authorities outside the desert).

We drove hours into the desert to a very remote village. We have seen this tragedy befall so many kids before, but when we showed up we saw the situation was far more horrifying. The Turkana raiders had beheaded the boy and placed the knife on his head. It was a clear message that was meant to send terror into the hearts of all the herds boys.

His father and mother were so traumatized to see such an act of terror and horror upon their child.

I tell you we cried for that boy. And I believe even the angels in heaven were weeping with us.

I cried because I grew up like that boy. “That could have been me” I told our US Director Nathan Roberts over the phone. “But I was spared because I got a chance to go to school. I got an opportunity to study in safety. I didn’t have to live in fear, herding cows day after day. That’s why we do this work. That’s why we started Daylight. To save kids. I only wish we could have saved this boy. I wish he could have gone to school.”

It is with a heavy heart that we deliever this reflection. But we wanted to tell you this boy’s story so that his death can serve as a reminder of the important work we do. Daylight has given life and opportunity to 330 students and this last week we were reminded how important our work is.

Thank you for supporting Daylight and pray for comfort for the family of the boy who died and an end to the violence.

Michael Kimpur
Founder and Kenya Director 

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Daylight “Ambulance” Saves Lives

In the last month many people have been asking us if the children at Daylight or the country of Kenya at large has been affected by the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa. So we wanted to take a moment to thank you for your concern and clarify the situation.

1. Kenya is in East Africa and the Ebola outbreak is in West Africa. Kenya has already stopped all flight travel to and from Ebola infected countries. The distance across the continent is very large (more than the distance between Alaska and Florida) and Africans do not travel like Americans so it is very unlikely that the disease would spread to Kenya.

2. While Ebola is not a factor, rural Kenyans still lack access to health care. Part of the reason why so many people have died in East Africa is because many rural African families lack access to quality healthcare.

Since Daylight started in 2008, Michael has received hundreds of late night calls to pick up sick or pregnant neighbors in the middle of the night and rush them to the hospital. Michael has already helped deliver two babies and has saved hundreds of lives!

This is because there are no ambulances in Kapenguria. Kapenguria (where Daylight is located) does have a hospital, but it is not furnished with the type of equipment you would expect to find at a hospital in the US (X-ray & MRI machines, surgery theater, blood processing equipment). It feels more like a minute-clinic you might find in a strip-mall storefront. The nearest American style hospital is a 40-minute drive.

Access to healthcare is a problem for many folks who don’t own cars in rural Kenya. It can be the difference between life and death for those who rely on public transportation and need medical care in the middle of the night. I have been with Michael on these emergency calls and can tell you: Daylight saves lives!

Thank you for supporting Daylight. About 12% of donations go toward community outreach, such as the cost for fuel to gas up Daylight’s SUV for emergency trips to the hospital.

Nathan Roberts and Michael Kimpur
Co-founders and Directors
Daylight Center and School

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