Nakuru Update #5
Sent from Ted Grant and Karen & Greg McKenna, who are doing relief work at a refugee camp in the village of Nakuru, Kenya.
March 13th update from Nakuru
My dear friends Karen and Greg had to leave today, but I can tell you that they left with heavy hearts. They are such a committed couple and have done so much good work for the lowest of His people. There is no limit to their spirit of generosity and giving. They were very torn about leaving but knew it was the very best thing to do. I shall miss them very much.
Every day is a very busy day and today was not exception. We wazungas (white people) are constantly approached by people who always have a sad story. I was approached today by a 30 yr old father begging me to give him a day’s work. His wife had been killed and he has two young children, whom he is trying to care for. I have been asked by at least 100 people for a job. They think if you are white you can solve all their problems. All you can do is try to be as empathic as possible and tell them you can’t help them. It’s very hard to say no to a decent human being, who is simply trying to provide the very most basic of things like soap and toilet paper. How discouraged they must feel.
Our vision clinics have been going well. Karen and the student from Mik, Lona, have been concentrating on that, while Greg and I concentrate on more physical stuff.
I may have mentioned that a couple of days ago, the camp dir Jesse asked me to take on responsibility for forming an apprenticeship (polytechnique) program for some IDP young adults. There was a committee formed of some local bus people and some IDP’s. So we had some meetings and we have already started the carpentry and masonry program. The masonry people are building Jekos (fuel eff stoves). At this stage we have built 8 and are planning on 4 more tomorrow. One might be tempted to wonder why we would dedicate our time, effort, and funds towards building stoves. Actually it is very important work for two reasons. Firstly, there is a dire shortage of any kind of fuel to cook with. A common sight every afternoon is youths and women carrying home bundles of old dried cornstalks on their heads. There isn’t much wood at all. Secondly the rainy season is about to arrive which means they can’t cook in their tents and their 3 stone fires will obviously not work in the rain. Our jekos will be very helpful because they are very fuel eff and their will be metal roofs above them, so people then can cook in the rain.
The carpentry program is also underway. We purchased $2100.00 worth of wood today to start building school desks. This will be the genesis of our new carpentry program. We have 10 new students, who will receive certificates when they are done. It is a Min of education sponsored program.
Many of you will know of our connection with the Threads of Hope , an NGO based in Fla. A few days ago in a committee meeting with the camp director, Jesse, and others, they expressed a desire to try to help some of the young mothers in the camp. I suggested I would contact Al Barrett of TOH in Fla, because I knew that they had a training centre in Nakuru. Al responded with the name of a local church leader, who heads up the program, Bishop Apicho. I contacted him, we met for coffee yesterday and worked a plan. Today he showed up with a qualified instructor, whose name happens to be Eunice. This is very ironic because only a few weeks ago my Aunt Eunice died, and her and her husband Joe Brine sponsored the sewing centre in Mikinduri. Another Ngo sponsored the 10 sewing machines, and another the materials.
Tomorrow morning (fri) at 7.00 we start to build the sewing tables because 18 students are showing up at 10,00.
Also tomorrow morning I am taking 3 masons from our Kikuya camp over to another camp of Luo tribe refugees. These people were at war only a few weeks ago. The Luo leaders had heard about our vision clinics and jekos and came over to the Kikuya camp to ask for some help to start the same program. So tomorrow is one tiny step towards solving some of the differences.
There is no reason to be concerned. I have taken all precautions as regards security. We will be welcomed by the camp leaders.
Our days are running short and there is so much work to do. There are so many helpless people especially young mothers. This morning I was approached by a 20 yr old mother with a sick child, begging for milk for her baby. You should see the face of gratitude on a young mothers face, who is completely devoid of options. For $1.00 we have the opportunity to change a mother’s heart from fear to gratitude and temporary relief. It is so humbling. And we Canadians are so absolutely rich, even the poorest among us.
I must go I am very tired this evening after being up thru the night for the phone call to the concert, then I couldn’t go to sleep. On behalf of the destitute, I thank all those who organized the concert, the orchestra, and all those who attended.
I would humbly like to appeal to everyone to think about making a donation. Every day I have to make decisions about funding various initiatives, all of them good and all of them life giving. Let me give some examples. Today I was approached by an old man who had severe arthritis. He wanted a mattress to sleep on. For $14,00, I have the ability to relieve some of his misery, and improve his like just a little. If you were here with me would you have gotten your wallet out and passed him a $20.00 bill to pay for the mattress and a blanket. I think most if not all of you would have.
Another young mother came up and begged for a wash basin to wash her baby in. For $1.00 we can restore some small amount of her dignity and cast the spirit of His generosity over her meagre world. It may seem very simple to solve the problem. Why not just pull out some loose change and give it to them. Well it isn’t that simple, because when you do it for one, the word gets around and soon there are 10 or 20 mothers asking for help. Anyway tomorrow we are going to buy 100 basins and another 50 mattresses and blankets, until our funds expire.
I’m humbly ask that you consider making a donation to help us solve these small, but life altering situations. Only money, volunteers and constant prayers will truly change their lot in life.
If you were here, I know that not a single one of you would think twice.
Thank you in advance for your generosity.
God Bless to all from the IDP camp in Nkauru
Ted