Latest from Nakuru
Sent Friday, March 7th, from Ted Grant and Karen & Greg McKenna.
Hello from Karen, Greg and Ted
Wow it’s already Friday. Yesterday we all spent the day once again at the camp. With the supplies we brought there were kits made up which is distributed to the tents who needs them the most. The kits consist of wash basin, soap, face cloth, baby outfit, and a few other basic necessities. We see so many babies, a lot of whom are newborn, one really appreciates how much these mothers appreciate these items. There are so many young mothers walking around with their babies strapped to their backs and when they are asked their age it is usually 13-14 yrs old. Every day we are in the camp each of us are approached at one point by people with their own terrible story of why they had to flee to the camp and also asking for help or for information as to where they can get certain items. The effect that this exposure has on each of us is strengthened each time we enter the camp. It is such a strong feeling of helplessness and at the same time a feeling of being very privileged to be able to be here to help even just a few.
The group that we are working with are terrific. Ray from a Better world is very organized .The 2 ladies, Merle and Kim from Alberta are just great and very friendly and the group from Mikinduri are wonderful. They all are working in the medical clinic and doing a great job We also have 2 young fellows from Alberta who had been travelling Egypt and other places and happened to read about “A Better World†being here so, they got their number and came here just to volunteer for a while.
We set up for a vision clinic today for the first time. It was quite a procedure to get permission from the powers at be to do it. We were told by one of the persons in charge who happens to be an half assed optometrist that he will observe for the first to see if he approves and if he didn’t approve he was shutting it down. He liked something about it as he worked for the entire day with us and wants to cooperate with any further clinics. Every day at the camp we see thousands of people young and old line up for hours and hours for simple essentials such as cooking utensils, mattresses, flour, etc. It’s certainly heart wrenching. Ted & Greg spent all day yesterday trying to get prices for bricks for the building of the stoves and lumber for benches to be used in the few tents they have set up as classrooms. They finally got the prices today but hey, TIA (this is Africa).
We are spending long days beginning at 7: 30 for breakfast and getting everyone organized and then off to the camp. Our hotel is very clean and comfortable and for you who care we have toilets, no long drops! Well it’s getting late and we have a big day tomorrow visiting orphanages of children whose parents have been displaced during this uprising. We wanted to let all our friends and loved ones at home know that we are thinking of you as much as you are thinking of us.
There is such a thing as donor fatique, and we have been advised by a few of our supporters that we need to be concerned about the effect that being involved in this project might have on our ability to raise funds for our very important projects in Mikinduri. All I can say, after having been here for only three days, is that I (Ted) have to risk asking for generosity from our supporters. My confidence id buoyed up by exposure to some very pathetic cases. I hope you don’t perceive these examples as being melodramatic, because they are absolute fact and our real life experience everyday here. All I can do is trust in your acceptance and typical generous response to my appeals for your assistance. We met a young mother, age 21, who watched along with her 12 month old baby, as her enemies ( formererally neighbours) chopped off her husbands head with an axe, and threathened to do the same to her. We have a 17 yr old kid( a sweetheart of a kid, who volunteers at our clinics, who had to leave his family behind. He sleeps wherever he can find a safe space. He is the most pleasant, and positive person you would ever want to meet. Yet he is completely submissive to his environment.
There are so many needs here, that it is impossible to verbalize. Please trust me when I say that any assistance you can offer will make a major difference in the lives of these absolutely helpless people. Let me try to put in prospective. There is a camp of literally thousands of tents. Some of these tents literally have their entire belongings piled up under the front flap on their tent. Things like old sofa’s, easy chairs, commodes, basins brooms etc.
Your heart absolutely pours out to them especially when you realize you don’t have the capacity to help them all. Have you ever been thanked very sincerely by someone who has received a simple pair of glasses that cost us a max of 55 cents, as if you have made a significant diff in their lives. It is impossible to explain, so all I ask is for generosity and kindness as though you were here with us.
Please know that we are all safe and in a different sort of way really enjoying our experience. It is an absolute previledge to be here. Saying good-bye for now with our love and thoughts.
God bless to all.
Ted, Greg, Karen