Live from Kenya: Blogs from the Field: Team Kenya 2009/2010

This just in! Team Kenya was somehow able to get internet access and sent along a few blog posts for us to have a look into what the trip has been like for them so far. Take a look at their stories and stay tuned as we hope to have even more to share later in the week!

December 28: Team is on its way to Kenya.
By Phil

Nine members of David’s Hope are en route to continue the service to the people of Eburru Kenya. As we write we are in the Paris airport resting from a long flight in from Dulles and resting up for 2 weeks of loving kids. We have taken over a small section of gate F55 with bags strewn on the seats and sound asleep bodies covering the floor. Monty has been traveling the longest, her journey began early Sunday morning as she flew from her home in Augusta, GA to Atlanta to DC and then met up with the rest of the team for our 7 hour flight to Paris. In a few hours Monty will get on another plane headed to Nairobi, Kenya. Angela has already been putting her photography skills and brand new camera to good use snapping pics of John as he sleeps seemingly lifeless on the floor. Fortunately John, one of our co-leaders did awake and is currently doing some pre-trip bible study. Brother and sister Nathan and Becca are sitting side by side trying to stay warm and hydrated, not a cheap task given that bottles of water cost $7.50. Always organized and encouraging Jillian has passed out little bags of goodies to everyone, which people pull out from time to time to much on. Denise made our trip through security more fun by quoting verses from James with a hilarious accent. Francis, no stranger to travel, growing up in Brazil, Canada and the U.S., now working for the World Bank, found a delicious pastry shop here in the airport with delightful ham and cheese sandwiches. Phil, who cannot figure out why he is not tired, has been spending some time coming up with activities for the business seminar.

December 29: We’re Here!
By Denise

Wow! We are only a few days into the trip, but yet there is already so much to share. First off, our journey to Eburru has been long and quite eventful. Three days after we stepped foot in Dulles Airport, we are finally settled in our cozy mud huts in the beautiful, green land and spotting zebras, baboons, and screeching large birds overhead. What an answer to prayer to see a green Kenya! After 10 months of drought, Kenya has been blessed with a few months of rain. Things that I will remember from the last few days include: walking through the slums of Kibera and seeing the most beautiful children living in absolute filth, meeting a dentist from NC who has lived 23 years of his adult life in Kenya and considering it “without sacrifice”, singing songs in Swahili with children, and sleeping in every airport and van ride that I could. It’s been full. It’s been blessed. And I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.

December 30: No Regrets
By Francis

Today we visited the hospital in Kijabe founded by Africa Inland Missions. It was quite an amazing experience to be stepping into one of the mission agencies that I studied in Perspectives class. While in that hospital, we met a missionary dentist. Dr Richard shared with us his story of how he came to Kenya with his family. I was strongly touched by something by his words: “I have no regrets”. I could see his conviction of his words in his eyes. This man came to serve in Kenya and lived a life with no regrets. How can you live such a life without regrets yourself?

David’s Hope Prayer List-November 17 th 2009

David’s Hope Prayer List-November 17 th 2009

Thank you for being committed to praying for God’s work in Kenya through David’s Hope International. Here are some specific prayer points that you can lift up to the Lord on behalf of DHI.

God’s wisdom as to His priorities for Eburru
Food, health, clothing, water, spiritual growth and education for the children of Eburru and Kenya as a whole country
Successful ways to fund the projects-letters, fundraisers, donations etc.
Needs in Eburru be seen and dealt with on a timely basis, for people to communicate when they are in need before it’s too late
Future sustainable resources so the people can live independent of outside help
For money to continually and successfully be transferred to Eburru
Mary and Pastor Steve to get vistas Dec. 8th interview goes well. and they can come to the US for both sharing their work, vision and to get some rest
Wisdom about Morgan house and its future uses

Praises

• Over $24,000 that has been raised
• For the ministry of Pastor Steve, Mary and Jonathan his brother and o
• For all the willing workers and volunteers in the U.S. and Eburru
• For our web site that shares the dream and heartaches-check out the videos by pressing on vimeo section on the present video

FROM PASTOR STEVE IN EBURRU

1       Rains have come to our country and Eburru. Although it will take time before any harvest is realized, we thank God that green has started to show up once again after a long time of drought.

2.       We have been able to complete the building of the 2 classroom and they are remaining to be furnished with desks and chairs  so they can await to be commissioned for use.

3.       Kids in the camp Brethren mission school has been improving in their lessons, health and behavior change. The feeding program has been a key blessing to them.

4.       Feeding centre remodeling is ongoing and 2 (10,000 liters) water tanks have been ordered for the centre. They will be arriving soon.

Prayer requests

1.       Continuing construction for the feeding and community center.

15 Dollars Goes a Long Way in Eburru

Now that Jeff is back from Kenya, with new videos and photos from Eburru.

This video shows, at a very high level excatly whats going on in Eburru, a few interviews with the in country ministry directors, Pastor Steve and his brother Jonathan, as well as some clips of the property we are attempting to finance that will be converted into a community care center, with the long term vision of having schools, dorms, medical facilities and more all on 10 acres of land 8000 feet above the Great Rift Valley.  The property needs a ton of work, and this video shows a little of that.  But the best part of the video is the closing shot of about 17 children who David’s Hope International sponsored this past week.  For only 15 dollars these kids have school paid for this year, guarenteeing them clothing, food, and education… for only $15 bucks! Not only that, by being in school these kids are being saved from entering a litnany of horrible situations including a life or prostitution for the girls and being recruited as child soldiers for the boys.

Jeff says that he saw the real Eburru on this trip.  Now its time for David’s Hope International to get to work and do our part to help!

A little goes a long way in Eburru.

The Beginnings of Hope House, David’s Hope International from AnnieLaurie Walters on Vimeo.

“Faces of Famine”, Live from Kenya, Part VII

Towering above the Great Rift Valley at an elevation of 8,000 feet, the balcony view from the Morgan House is stunning. You can see for miles past volcanic rock formations, lakes and mountain passes.

Today I was excited because for the first time after two trips to Eburru, I was to travel down into this panoramic setting with Pastor Steve, Mary and a few others. The land was owned (pre-colonial) by a mean British aristocrat named Morgan, hence the name for the area, Morgan. Our purpose for the trip was to deliver several boxes of donated female hygiene products at the Thome primary school. Naturally, I stayed outside. Mary handled the delivery and education.

After a five minute drop-off turned into a 30 minute educational session inside the mud-walled school, Mary brought the 15 or 20 girls to the truck and started filling their backpacks, bandannas and plastic bags with maize. The scene was shocking and subdued. Many of the girls where taller than me yet had to be half my weight. How to describe? Dangerously thin, yes, malnutrition, not really, because that word implies the human is eating enough food - however unbalanced - to have a bloated stomach. Not a single kernel of corn was left in our bags. Anything that fell to the ground was quickly snapped up.

I had asked to see the “real Eburru” and this was it. Teenage girls teetering on the edge of starvation. I could not help but think they were vulnerable because of the drought, yet wondering if in part the problem was being born into an uneducated culture that does not plan or adapt very well. “These girls may eat one meal per day. If not, they can only hope for a better tomorrow,” Pastor Steve said, face ashen. Several hours later silence dominated the dinner conversation. No one felt much like eating.

All my talk of drought and famine and finding sustainable ways to fight starvation begs a few questions. “How often does drought strike Eburru? For every drought is there famine and death?

The short answers are very often, no and no. But understanding these answers requires more context:

–Geographical breakdown: Eburru is broken into six areas: the Eburru Town Square (the center of the community); Ex-lewis (back side of the mountain where the Ol Doinyo Eburru volcanic craters are located); Songoloi (where Mary often times takes her traveling medical clinic); Ex-major; Ex-peter; and Thome (the Morgan land viewed down the valley on the back side of the orphanage grounds).

–Location matters: The higher up the mountain you live, the greater your annual rainfall, moisture in the ground and crop yield. Land around the Ex-lewis craters and parts of the town square area are relatively green and healthy, while farmers living at the bottom of the mountain in Morgan are forced to farm in a dust bowl. How bad is it in Morgan? Well, from 2006 through 2009, drought has caused complete crop failure, forcing the people to work the fields up the mountain in exchange for just enough food to survive. A child going to sleep hungry in Morgan is about as common as one going to bed on a full stomach in America.

Catastrophe struck this year when the rains during the rainy season didn’t come. From January through May water fell from the sky twice. All Eburru was dry. All the crops failed. Now, everyone is scrambling for food and those living at the bottom of the food chain are starving.

Think of it this way: If Morgan is dependent on Ex-lewis crops, what happens if Ex-lewis crops fail and they have no food? Strike one is the dry volcanic soil. Strike two is the annual lack of rainfall. Strike three is not having a back up plan drought strikes everyone.

One of the most exciting aspects of Pastor Steve’s plan for the orphanage property is its proximity to Eburru’s poorest in Morgan and ability to make an immediate impact. God has given his ministry this incredibly beautiful property within eyesight of unimaginable human suffering - and a mandate to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the people. Where does David’s Hope fit? I believe it is right at the center alongside Pastor Steve and Mary, being their advocate back home, raising awareness and support from the body of Christ in places of the world where the Body can meet the needs of the weaker brothers and sister in this dry and weary land. But in saying that, let me emphasize with strong conviction, that when I refer to the part of the Body of Christ in Eburru as weak, I am referring only to the physical needs as I’ve described throughout my time here. The longer I work and live side-by-side with these men and women of God I am realizing more and more that, while these are a weak people from a physical perspective, they are stronger in the Faith, Hope and Love that comes only from a relationship with Jesus Christ than anyone I have ever met. Their sense of mission, purpose and calling is inspiring and I continue to be in awe of how God, in his most perfect timing, answered Steve and Mary’s prayers by sending our small team of 15 who would subsequently enter into a long term partnership with this ministry. Yes, if the Body of Christ truly spans the Globe, the brothers and sisters of Eburru must be extremely close, if not dead center, in the heart of the Body of Christ.

Live From Kenya Part 5 - Solvable Problems

Friends of David’s Hope,

As I try to sum up what I’ve seen, smelled, tasted and touched in the past two weeks here in Eburru, words fall short of describing the desperation of the situation here. The livelihoods of all living in this town and surrounding area are perilous, and if conditions do not improve, death is certain for many. The culprits? Drought, Isolation and Famine.

Those who have read my previous posts know drought and famine are ravaging Eburru, Kenya. It has rained twice here between January and May, a time frame known as the ‘rainy season’, yet yielding little to no rain at all this season. This unusual and unseasonal lack of rain is causing crops to fail - a death wish for a town dependent on agricultural production for life. While the rains have teased us occasionally this month, and the color green has started to crop up in the fields, looks are deceiving. Eburru is just about to enter a harsh three or four month period of no consumable or sellable food while the corn, potato and wheat fields move through their growth cycles, assuming the rains continue. Let pray together that God will bring the rain to Eburru, a dry and weary land where there is no water.

ECOLOGICAL ROOTS OF FAMINE IN EBURRU
It’s no question that the entire world is experiencing the impact of the current global economic crisis, particularly as it related to the cost of food. For Eburru, the current circumstances go much deeper then the global economic crisis, spike in food prices and civil unrest after Kenya’s most recent elections. The complications in Eburru are rooted in its own climate and unique ecological conditions.

You see, Eburru is located near the equator on a dormant volcano, where temperatures regularly climb into triple digits and steam is naturally released up from the ground. Crops need extra water as the sun bakes from above and the steam dries from below, sucking the soil dry and making the crops much more susceptible to drought and failure. You can see how important the rainy season is and how drought can have double the negative impact in conditions like these.

In a typical year with a rainy season, the months of July through September are the driest and food the most scarce. This year as Eburru moves into the dry season, there was no rainy season to build up reservoirs of water. When combined with skyrocketing food prices, the people are entering a catastrophic situation. Not only can they not feed themselves, they have no crops to sell, meaning no income for these agriculturally based families who already live on less than $2.00US a day.

In a town like Eburru, where survival is the goal, when money is scarce priorities change.

To illustrate, I ran into a pack of kids on Friday who were playing outside. I asked why they were not in school and they said Friday was exam day, which means a supplementary fee to pay for the paper exam. Cost: 30 Shillings or about $0.25 US. Well, they didn’t have the money so school wasn’t an option that day. And these are the children actually in school. But when forced to choose between an education and food, you can guess which option the parents choose.

ISOLATION BREEDS DESPERATION
To make matters worse, Eburru is relatively isolated and very difficult to get to. Located high in the mountains at 8,000 feet above sea level, Eburru is accessible only by dirt roads so filled with potholes, dips and dives, that every time Pastor Steve drives to Eburru he has to get his vehicle serviced. “On the road to Eburru, you don’t drive on the right or left side. You drive where there are no potholes,” he says. Obviously, this remote village is not a preferred destination for educated professionals, entrepreneurs, or general service providers. There is no running water, no plumbing, no electricity, no trash removal, and you get the idea. Schools are overcrowded, health care is practically non-existent and civil organization is challenged regularly because teachers, doctors and lawyers just don’t come to this mountainous dust bowl deep in the African bush.

Eburru’s challenges don’t end with location. The town is sandwiched between Masai tribal lands southeast stretching down to the Masai Mara safari game parks and huge East African flower plantations roughly to the north. The colorful Masai warriors are one of Kenya’s most enduring tourist symbols and thus protected when the going gets tough. The flower farms around Lake Naivasha, while hardly paying a large wage to its workers; do employ tens of thousands of people, powering a decent economy. Eburru, stuck in the middle, might as well be located on Mars. No one knows, recognizes or cares about the situation unfolding in Eburru. The town is abandoned, as are its inhabitants, left with little hope for survival. If something doesn’t change in Eburru over the next few months, men, women and children will die. Not sure I can say this any clearer.

DEATH BY MALNUTRITION AND FAMINE

Seeing this situation unfold before my eyes is indescribable. Children are stick thin, bloated with malnutrition, and their brains are deteriorating. And “these are the ones you can actually see because they can still move around,” said Pastor Steve’s wife, Mary, a medical professional. Ironically, one of the final stages of death by malnutrition is loss of appetite. I’m told you just stop functioning and give up, lying on the ground, blank stare, until death and burial.

Making the situation even more real, I found out the other day David’s (of David’s Hope) 8-year old sister died in 2004 of severe malnutrition. When Pastor Steve and Mary learned of the situation, they rushed the young girl to the hospital in Kijabe, but it was too late. The other day I walked by her gravestone next to the family mud hut, phew. Remember my blog post about David a few days ago? I believe he was not far from the withdrawal stage of malnutrition when we fed him last week. David and his 12-year old cousin, Mary, are now set up for a daily meal at Pastor Steve’s preschool facility and medical clinic.

CREATING A SELF-SUSTAINABLE MINISTRY
As I try to process all that’s happening around me I can’t help but ask God: “So what next?” Go home back and cry? Not an option. Live full-time in Kenya? Nope, they don’t need me here. They need prayer, resources and sharp business assistance.

The next step for David’s Hope is clear. After spending the last two weeks with Pastor Steve and his colleagues, we know exactly what’s needed to turn things around in Eburru and its time to mobilize the troops. With your help, we will power the growth of Pastor Steve’s ministry in a self-sustainable way.

Pastor Steve has a big (yet realistic) vision to create an economic engine that finances a drastic expansion of his ministry serving the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of orphaned and destitute children. The plan will build upon his current ministry, which includes two churches, medical clinic, maternity ward, preschool, pastoral training program and feeding program.

The epicenter of his plan is the 10-acre Morgan House property. After two years of uncertainty, the title of this abandoned British farm house was officially transferred to his Pastor Steve’s name in May. Now his vision calls for a business, orphanage, preschool, school (K-8), vocational training and feeding program on the grounds of Morgan House. Pastor Steve’s plan has been in motion (and obviously blessed) for about six years now. It just needs a big boost. The timing could not be more right as Eburru fights for survival.

I’ll be writing a lot more about the business side of Pastor Steve’s ministry this week. Really exciting stuff. Stay tuned.

Thanks for reading.

Live from Kenya Part 3, Finding David

Many of you know the story behind the naming of David’s Hope International. David was the boy Pastor Steve used as a physical example to describe to our team the need for an orphanage in Eburru.

In excruciating detail, he pointed out David’s skin-and-bones frame,spotty scalp and skin, and sunken eyes. In these moments, we decided to raise financing for the conversion of a picturesque 1937 British colonial farmhouse into a home for homeless and destitute children.

As you might expect, David has been on my mind since arriving in Kenya. After a few days in Eburru and no sign of the little guy, I was beginning to wonder. Things started to move from curiosity to concern when yesterday David was no where to be seen at church. I spotted his uncle and asked about David’s whereabouts. Apparently, he was at his house, told it was best if he did not come, reason not really explained. I asked to see David and he showed up after the service looking pretty happy.

Unfortunately, David’s physical appearance was terrible. Absolute skin and bones - even worse than when Pastor Steve used him as an example in front of the farmhouse. Sunken face, dry rough skin, shoulder blades and ribs sticking out. No meat on the bones, and his demeanor wasn’t right.

A short time later at Mary’s cafe in the town square, David’s actions went something like this: wolfed down 2.5 plates of potatoes, cabbage and bread; sprinted outside for a number two bathroom break; slurped down a mug of portage; ate a sweet; hung out with our group of kids near the steam plant; started walking with us toward his house; complained about a stomach ache; rested on the side of the road; and fell over after standing up due to a cramp in his atrophied legs. Sad, but not the end of the story.

Several weeks ago, one of our team translators in December, Elijah, had called saying David needed money. I never really understood why and pretty much ignored the request, feeling a little skeptical and thinking I’d see them in about a month anyway. Well, yesterday Elijah said the reason for his call was David’s lack of winter cloths. He was shivering at school and who knows how much he was suffering at night.

Back to the town square it was time to buy David a hooded coat and two pairs of trousers.

Once David had food in his belly, he had started talking, Elijah translating. Turns out there was a reason he was not at church and no one on the current mission trip team to Eburru knew him. Several months back, Pastor Steve’s night watchman had told David to stay away from the camp (not sure why), which to a shy boy in his condition meant “fear the watchman” and stay away. He did both. You should have seen his face while talking. He was petrified of the watchman.

For a cost of $7.00 US (food and clothing), a few hours of time and a conversation to help clear the air at the camp, David should be in a better spot for the future.

Please keep David and all the children in your thoughts and prayers.

Thanks,

Jeff

Live from Kenya Part 2, from Jeff

Team,

Where on earth to start? How about in the mountains looking up at the brightest stars since, well, Team Kenya ‘08 sat in the same spot between the huts six months ago. One look at this sky and it is difficult to not stand in awe. While this broadband wireless modem is pretty sweet connecting me to the western world, it does not come even close to the majesty and natural beauty of Eburru, Kenya.

So many highs (and a few lows) from today:

Pastor Steve’s Clone: No, not Shaquille O’Neal. Jonathon Nenja, Pastor Steve’s older brother. Think how much God is working through Steve on the pastoral, management and business fronts. Duplicate it with kids, playfulness and hyper extroversion. Jonathan is talker coupled with the same huge heart for service - his calling is removing children from impossible life situations. Jonathan runs two orphanages in Nairobi. He is the brain behind the tedious process of identifying what children are truly the poorest of the poor, as working through that process with the Kenyan government is a walk in the park. Can’t tell you how much of a blessing Jonathan is to Pastor Steve, despite being opposite personalities, me and everyone else. He is one of the people who walk in a room and lights it up with his infectious smile, laugh and genuine servant’s heart. I just can’t believe how much is being done through these two, along with Mary and the Pastor Steve’s entire brain trust. These are some sharp, savvy people with a plan. I even get to meet their parents before leaving Kenya.

“Wassssup” - Julius, circa 12/31/08: Since I know some of you are sick with worry about Rose, John and Julius, I had Jonathan do an assessment of each one. Each is far from in a healthy spot, but they are not considered “destitute” or “orphaned”. Rose was cute as ever, same runny nose, maybe a little more slight. John is the same height, a little skinner and looks to be scrapping by. To me, Julius looked to be in the worst shape. He has a wicked cough, looks skinner and nose ran pretty steady. Darn chilly here at night. Jonathan examined Jules and said he probably suffers from infectious worms which continues to make his head patchy and the standard malnutrition. They have a roof over their head, a parent (took a photo of Rose with her mom) and more food and care than many others nearby. All this means they are not candidates for the orphanage, but possibly for Pastor Steve’s “in-home” program. The genius idea here is take action lifting up the parents (and kids) so mom (and sometimes dad) can better care for and support the children. I took a bunch of photos today of Rose, John and Julius and a video clip that is going to make you laugh and cry….

Seriously, Who Are The Orphans? Hearts were ripped apart today as Jonathan and I went searching for children that fit the profile of orphan or destitute child. Good night… By orphan, it means boy or girl does not have a home. By destitute, it means he or she may have a place to put down their head, but it is a wicked situation of zero supervision, fending for food on their own and/or abuse. Often times, destitutes live with an elderly grandmother who is incapable of caring for herself, much less a young child or group of children. I took photos and video of Jonathan’s work, asking him to walk us through the questioning process and examination with several lives cases. I’ll warn you now. The images are not for the faint of heart.

Teen Talk On HIV/AIDS: Pastor Steve and I are pretty much hanging with the current AIM team in Eburru until they leave next week. While young, they are a solid group who did an excellent job today with the church teens and young adults at a camp retreat - location: overlooking Lake Naivaisha (we saw hippos, giraffes, monkeys, baboons, buffalo and other wild - all on the way or on the camp grounds). After several hours of social time (over lunch - all were able to eat something), singing started the programming before several testimonies and an interactive talk in smaller groups about purity - i.e. biblical approach to sex, HIV/AIDS, etc. Three team member had relevant life stories that opened everyone up and some really good back and forth discussion was had. Several of the boys said they learned a lot and appreciated the transparency, information, encouragement and practical tips.Good things happened…

OK, I’ll stop there and save exciting updates about Morgan House planning and strategizing until another time. I’m fighting a losing battle with downloading photos and video. We’ll see how that goes in the next few days…

Blessings,
Jeff

Morgan House

Jesus said, “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you” (John 14:18). Pastor Steve Ngenga’s vision for Morgan House is to create a safe living condition for orphans and neglected children while simultaneously providing opportunities for health care, education and the chance for these children’s basic needs to be addressed. The orphanage will provide holistic care for the children, meeting their physical, educational, emotional, and spiritual needs.

The Morgan House is an old British farmhouse on a mountainside in Northern Kenya. A British settler left behind the estate when the Republic of Kenya gained its independence from the United Kingdom in 1963. For over forty years the house, in an area where many don’t have shelter, stood boarded up and deserted—until recently.

The story of the Morgan House is truly a story of God’s blessing. An individual from North Carolina several years ago participated in a short-term mission trip to Eburru, Kenya where he met Pastor Steve and witnessed both the need of the village and how God was working through some extraordinary people in Eburru. He was so inspired by what he saw in Eburru that he convinced a family member to donate $20,000 towards Pastor Steve’s vision to turn the abandoned British farmhouse into an orphanage.

In addition, a small church in North Carolina where the first donor attends connected to Pastor Steve through several members flew Pastor Steve to the United States to preach and talk about the Morgan House and orphanage – in response, the church collected enough money from its small congregation to provide a one-time donation of $10,000. An individual in the audience was inspired by the Morgan House vision and donated $20,000. Over the past 18 months, a total of $50,000 has been raised to purchase the Morgan House—a true story of God’s faithfulness.

David’s Hope International is committed to take the next step and turn the Morgan House property into a working and sustainable orphanage—enabling the children in Eburru who have no home, to thrive with food and an education and not just survive on the streets without hope for the future. David’s Hope International has joined where God has obviously been working; the circumstances surrounding the Morgan House is a complete God ordained miracle. It is our hope and prayer that God’s glory will be seen as we focus on the children of Eburru, and therefore impact the entire community.