Going To Bed Hungry

May 2, 2014 (Friday) School will start soon and it’s important that the church is fenced and gated before they return. The fencing is done and the thorn bush seedlings planted around the edge of the fence. These bushes will be a nice full border and added protection in just a short time.  

The poverty level is extreme in the villages and people go without work. They live from day to day not knowing how they will feed themselves and their children. Going to bed hungry is not foreign to any child in this area. If you ask them if they ever go to bed hungry the answer is always “yes.”  They tell me they cry themselves to sleep sometimes because there isn’t anything to eat and their stomach hurts. The school children were sent home for the month of April because it was time for break. We found that they lingered and didn't want to leave because at school they have food to eat.

People living in such poverty often do things they wouldn’t ordinarily do.  If we don’t protect and care for the things the Lord has blessed us with ……they could vanish.

The gate opens wide enough for a vehicle to enter and in one side of the gate there is a small door for people to come and go through.  A gate of this quality is not seen too much in the farmland and it draws a lot of attention.   News spread that something was happening at the Taito church and many came to watch the men work throughout the day. 

May 3, 2014 (Saturday) It’s up with the sun and taking care of the last minute things. It’s checking under the bed and making sure I have everything.  It’s looking around the room that has been my home for one last time. It is saying goodbye to friends.

My bags have been sent ahead and will meet me in Nairobi as the plane is very compact.  The airstrip is small and maize fields surround the outer edges. The guards at the entrance to the airport raise their guns and stand at attention. Our car is searched and then we are permitted to enter.  Security measures have increased in all of Kenya because of the terrorist attacks.   

The sky was clear and the views were beautiful.  Mountain ranges filled the land. They were rugged, strong and showed forth God’s might hand.  We looked down on a vast crater and lakes of glass.  Flocks of pink flamingos filled the sky with color before resting in the lake below.

I’ve left western Kenya, the villages, the peaceful life and entered streets that burst with people. It is bumper to bumper traffic and breathing the heavily polluted air.  There are many reasons why I don’t care to spend time in Nairobi but one thing for sure; I’m looking forward to washing my clothes in a washing machine!  

Isaiah 54:10 Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed," says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

A Medical Clinic In Taito

April 28, 2014 (Monday) Boxes of medical supplies were loaded into the vehicle and we would soon be on our way.  We just needed to make one quick stop for some sweets to calm any tears we might see throughout the day.

The rains have continued to avoid us another day and the people are praying for God’s blessing to fall upon them.  Rain brings life to the land and food to hungry stomachs.  The sun shining bright as the earth continues to cry out for rain. The dust rolls around us as we travel into the village of Taito.

The word has spread and three villages have been made aware that something wonderful is happening in their area today.  Here in the villages people suffer with pain and sickness because they cannot afford to go for help. Today the clinic travels into their area and it is free!

Francine, who is associated with Doctors Without Borders, her health care givers and team of doctors volunteer their time to help those that are need.

We arrived early to set up and people were already outside waiting. The big red doors of the church were opened and everyone was invited to come in out of the hot sun.  We used the school tables for the array of medicines and the moveable blackboards were position to provide privacy.  We were ready!

It was a quiet and peaceful group and all ages were represented.  No one complained and no one offered to leave they were willing wait patiently for their turn. 

 

We served the people into the early afternoon and it was now one o’clock.  It was time to close up and leave but there seemed to be more people waiting for us than when we started.  

 It appeared that three new people replaced one that had been seen.  We continued on without stopping in order to help as many hurting people as possible.  We had a wide range of ailments from the everyday common things to very severe cases were presented before us.

 

One young girl was carried in by two men with burns on both legs from the knee cap down. She had bumped into someone carrying a hot pot of porridge.  Another man could not speak or swallow. He held a cloth in his hand that he spit salvia into. His son spoke for him and shared the story.  He was drinking chai and an insect or spider must have dropped in his cup. When he drank his chai something bite him or stung him on his tongue.  His tongue was swollen, deformed, bruised and full of infection.

The sun was getting lower in the sky and we were running low on medicine and energy!  It was 5:30 and we had seen over 90 people from the villages of Taito, Makoi and Emoru.  It was time to close the doors for the day and start to travel back before darkness entered the land.

There were many that had never entered the church before until today. They had stood off in the distance wondering and watching with a critical eye.  They quietly listened with a careful ear.  Fear and distrust entered the land as a newcomer had entered their turf.  Today these same people came and were helped and they left saying, “Now we know you have come to do good.”

Mark 2:17 When Jesus heard this, he told them, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.  I have come to call not those who think they righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”

They Didn't Give Up!

April 27, 2014 (Sunday) Out in the village of Rafiki sits a new church with a beautiful cross on the top. The two wooden windows open and the light of day floods in. Over the pulpit area there are two transparent pieces of roofing that allows light to fall in on the front area of the church.  The church is perched on a little knoll and the view of rolling land and banana trees swaying in the gentle breeze is a peaceful reminder of how great our God is.  

He has seen the people of Rafiki through tragedy and he has delivered them to into a place of victory.  We are ready to rejoice and give thanks to the Lord as we meet inside the new church for the very time. Last night the pastor told me he “shut and locked” the door of the church.  He was rejoicing that he had a door to lock!  One of the men working at the church told me that the pastor came during the day and he walked around and around the church.  His head was down and he never said a word; he just kept walking around and around. The worker was concerned and asked him if he was ok.  The pastor said, "for years I’ve preached with rain falling in on my head and the people would get wet…..I’ve never had such a nice church!"  It was hard for him to believe that all of this has transpired in such a short time.  It is a miracle in Rafiki!

The church doors were opened and the people came. One by one they stood and thanked the Lord. Life is hard here and they didn’t have the means to rebuild but the Lord has blessed them in such a grand way. 

It was a dedication service of a new church with plans to keep the doors open during the week so that it could be used as class rooms for the children. It will be a busy place and a blessing to many. There's lots of rejoicing in Rafiki.

We came to the dedication service with a few new chairs to make it more comfortable for the older ones but the little ones tried them out first :)

Eyes in Rafiki are looking up and so are the hearts of the people. Behind the church the 30’ well has been covered and sealed. This will stop the dirty buckets from being dropped inside and hopefully the cases of typhoid will drop.  We installed a large water tank that sits high in the sky. A faucet close to the ground will give everyone the daily water that is needed.  

A few roles of fencing were placed near the very active pathway that borders the church land.  It is a start, a new beginning and their hearts are full of thanksgiving.

Rafiki means "Friend." We come from different parts of the world. We look different. We speak different languages but....we are friends.  

Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

A New Home, A Safe Home

April 22, 2014 (Tuesday) In January we walked into a compound where a mother had just passed away.  She had been killed by a man who beat her to death with an iron pipe. She left eight children ages sixteen to seven months.  People had already started to gather outside of her home made of mud.  A woman was on her knees crying out “Remember me, God remember me.”  She cried this prayer of agony over and over again.  This Turkana woman who wore the facial lines of a life that had been very hard was mourning the death of another child.  She saw the faces of the eight children and knew she didn’t have the means to care for them.  She cried out to God for help. The village erupted in discord after the death of Esther and the grandmother left the area out of fear of another family member being hurt.

We sent out scouts to look for her and the children and she was found in another village further away. The children were suffering and going without. When we arrived she was picking through a few beans that were at her feet. She hadn't anything else to give them. We have traveled the distance and weathered the potholes, both natural and spiritual; we have continued to reach out to them caring for the hunger they face and their medical needs.

During our visits we heard of an uncle that makes the decisions for the family.  In most cases when the father dies the oldest boy becomes the head of the family and makes all of the decisions.

As we sit together for the first time we see kindness and concern from this young man’s heart. He has a family of his own and the responsibility placed upon him is great.  The Children’s Officer for the Trans Nzoia district sits with us as well. We want to make sure that everything is done is order so that we don’t open the door to trouble in the future.  Our hearts are rejoicing as we see that very soon the children will be released to join their new family.

April 24, 2014 (Thursday) In the village of Wamuini the women are putting some finishing touches on the building that will soon be the bedrooms for the children.   

The mud is red and cool to their feet. They smooth the last coat of mud onto the outside walls until it takes on its own finished look.  It is a slow process but in the end it will shine of quality

workmanship.  The inside floors are cement as breathing the dust of the floors can bring some health issues to the children.  We have glass in the windows to protect the children from the cool night air and the dampness that rainy season brings.  Electricity has been brought into their bedrooms from the main house to eliminate the possibility of fires from the use of candles so close to their bedding.  We have worked hard to give them a safe home!  

The beds have been made from very hard wood, blue gum, and are very strong. He have an attached box at the end of each bed for their belongings.  Yesterday we walked the streets of Kitale looking for bedding of good quality that will hold up to the harsh soap and the many washings they will receive.   Not only were we interested in quality but also the best price. Prices vary from shop to shop and it's necessary to be alert and to know the average price range. It's even good to send a native, someone you trust, ahead of you as the prices tend to jump when they see white skin.

Everything is coming together and it is a work day here in Wamuini.  The Lord loves children and his eye has been ever watchful over these precious ones. He has blessed them and continues to bless them. We are so thankful for the prayers and support that you have sent to help this family.

April 26, 2014 (Saturday) Today we are starting something new for the children at Peniel Prayer Center.  There are many children that come every Saturday with their mama’s. They stay for hours not really learning or even understanding as the day is gauged for adults.  We have a two hour session planed for them and the teachers that will take over after I leave are coming as well.  We have a day planned with activities, games and crafts that are all centered on a Bible story. 

My bag was full of props, pictures to color, colored pencils, clay, a couple balls and even some cookies!  My mind was completely engaged in making sure this was a good day, a fun day of learning for them when my phone rang.

This was the day!! The children were being released to their new home in Wamuini.  I was happy, I felt like crying but part of me was on guard because we’ve had so many false starts along the way.  Could this really be happening?   We set the time for the afternoon as my morning was spoken for and I left for the prayer center with a very light and happy heart. It felt like spring was in the air.

The children with all of their energy and excitement filled the chairs while the teachers that will replace me observed from the side.  Over fifty children looked my way and they were very ready to have fun!

We sang a few songs and then had our Bible story. We then turned it into a play and finding volunteers for the actors was not a hard thing to do :)  Their chairs became a desk while they knelt on the floor to color their Bible story picture.  We even went outside for a game of “hot potato” which helped us learn the memory verse.  It was a fantastic beginning and as the roots are watered it will grow even bigger.  

It was then off to the village of Wamuini to get the rooms in order. The pastor’s children were excited and helped in every way they could.  The children had already been claimed by the pastor's whole family and I was hearing comments about their “new sisters and their new brothers.”

The children were waiting for us outside. They were all sitting around their grandmother in their Sunday best. They smelled of soap and it was obvious they had prepared themselves for leaving.  We greeted one another and I sat on the ground with the children. The grandmother with the stern look of a Turkana woman held the baby tightly to her. 

We were welcomed inside and again faced more challenges as the aunt only wanted us to take the older three. There was a concern; “Who would carry the firewood?”  It was important that we left in peace and that we kept the children together as that was the grandmother’s wishes. It was necessary to have everyone in agreement or walk away.  The uncle in charge once again had to be notified and there were many phone calls back and forth.  

It came time for the final instructions and Pauline, the grandmother, sat close beside me while someone interpreted what she had to say.  She spoke from a heart of love and concern for her grandchildren.  'If she hears of anyone beating the children they will forever be her enemy. If she hears that they are loved and treated well they will forever be her friend.'  Her requests and concerns went on and they showed me a heart that wanted the best for children.

It was late, the sun had set, as we stood together for prayer within this humble home.  Pauline, the grandmother, prayed first.  She prayed over the children as she released them into God’s protection and care. She blessed the children and those that she was giving them to. She blessed the white woman for not giving up.  She stood firm and strong as her voice rolled into the heavens.

The children walked to the van without a look back.  There were no goodbyes, no hugs, no “I love you” said, not one tear was shed. The van was full of little faces and as I turned to observe how they were doing I saw nothing but smiles looking my way.  

We had one more stop in another village before returning.  Peter the oldest boy had remained in his mother’s village. He had been offered a job which would pay him 1000 KES a month or about 58 cents a day.  Peter knew that we were working on his behalf but he didn’t know when things would come together and he had no idea that we were coming for him today.  He approached the van and we told him he was leaving now for his new home.  The smile that covered his face was wonderful.  It was priceless! It was a joyful time of reunion as he entered the van and joined his siblings.  Happy chatter went into my ears and touched my heart.  That moment of seeing them reunite made all of the struggles that we had faced worth it.  They were once again together as a family; one that understood each other and all that they had gone through.  They understood each other’s pain and loss. Siblings that had gone through such horrific tragedy and seen things that no eye should have to look on had been brought back together for a new day, a new journey, a new home…..a safe home!

It was dark when we entered through the barbed wire gate of their new home and our head lights pierced through the darkness and stopped.  The pastor’s wife and his children were waiting outside in the dark with warm welcomes and open hearts.

James 1:27  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.