The Lionrider

             John's Juice Shop

John is a one man charitable organization—a dynamo with an electric smile and huge heart. He is tall, lean, handsome with a wicked smile and sense of humor.  He and several siblings had to leave home when he was 14 after his father was disabled—his father could no longer work and there wasn’t enough money to support the entire family. He lucked out and didn’t end up on the street but all formal education stopped.   His 8th grade national exam score of 486 out of a possible 600 would typically have guaranteed him placement in a boarding secondary school.  His family residing in the Kenyan bush outside of Thika did not know that they needed to fight for his opportunity for further education.  

Education is free in Kenya . . . the cost is in the details. School uniforms, supplies and “desk” space all add up to fees many have trouble meeting—especially for large families. Eventually, John ended up working in Kijabe and met a Missionary couple who supported him through Mechanics school. He may have stopped sitting at a school desk but this young man is scary smart. His English is impeccable; his knowledge about computers, mechanics, farming, construction . . . and human nature is boundless. 

He has two children a 7 year old, disabled daughter and a 18 month old daughter, and has opened his home to 7 street boys from Mai Mahiu.  He also helps support his deceased sister’s six children.  He has decided his life is blessed and that his role should be to give back to his people. He works several part-time jobs and owns a juice shop while managing “Flow of Hope”, a nondenominational, one-man charity. It’s taken Nations years to discover that the best “loans” are on a small business level.  John provides training and education opportunities for his fellow Kenyans to better their lives and afford each family a stable breadwinner.  

John in concert with a local Missionary provides seeds and food for about a dozen widows (grandmothers) desperately trying to support their hordes of orphaned grandchildren.  The grandmothers are struggling with 6 to 8 grandchildren because their own children . . . the mothers and fathers . . . are dead (lots of diseases--predominately AIDs).

With contributions from Flow of Hope, USA and Ray Vos, a generous Canadian, he provides an educational opportunity, room and board to the street boys.  With other contributions he started "Thread of Hope" a sewing school for orphan girls and disadvantaged women looking to improve their futures with a trade.

Some may consider John's personal life history reason for self pity with the certainty of personal opportunities lost.  He doesn't...his life revolves well outside himself.  He doesn't lament his fate he accepts it.  He would love to have been a doctor but in reviewing that possible path his regret is that he would never have met his current international contingency of generosity, ourselves included and who then would be helping his people?  Our lives are enriched by his presence.  Asante sana John.