The Needs Are Great

Saturday, April 4, 2009

Today we did some exploring of Mt Elgon. The sky is blue and clear today. It gives us a tremendous view of the mountain top. It is a massive mountain. We travel the dusty roads up one slope only to see another before us. There is so much to see and learn. There are several tribes in the area and each tribe has a different life style. We travel into the forest and learn that the needs are greater the further in we go. There have been many tribal clashes over land and cattle. It was so severe that the military was called in some time ago to bring peace to the area. Even now the military is still stationed in some parts of the mountain. We have seen many soldiers here. Many men have lost their lives. The women remain to care for their children without homes and without land to have a garden. The nights are cold and the food is scarce. 

At the end of the day we met with Joanne. She has been working with over 600 women who come down from the mountain to Kitale for help.  She also works with many of the orphans that have left the mountain slopes.  They are now the street children of Kitale.  There is much to do here and the needs are great.