Dear Friends and Family,

Max Lucado penned, "If you're facing a problem, perhaps what you need to do is just simply calm down, settle down, and start thinking.  Don't try to douse it, don't try to rationalize it,  Don't try to escape it.  Just think it through, with God's help."  This sound advise has spoken volumes to me recently. 
A couple of weeks ago, I visited an inclusive school in Isiolo.  This is a small town in northern Kenya and The Salvation Army is just starting to expand its work in that area.  The children at Olympic Inclusive School (some have mental disability) are in desperate need, and the brave director of the school has contributed blood, sweat and tears, as well as personal financial sacrifice, to care for the 58 children that attend.  Through the child sponsorship programme, we were able to give some support to the school.  The director asked if The Salvation Army would be willing to be the educational sponsor of the school, meaning that we would take an active part in the pastoral and managerial roles of the centre.  At first, I closed my mind to the idea.  I felt it was too much to take on another school, and of course they would expect consistent financial support which we could not possibly give!  Well, after sitting down and discussing the matter and thinking about it rationally, I agreed to ask THQ if we could be the sponsor.  It is the right thing to do and it will show the expansion of The Salvation Army's ministry into that dry, neglected place. 

I also recently visited our nursery school in Kibera again.  As you know, it is one of my favorite places to be.  I picked up one little girl that I am close to (and cuddle every time I go) and noticed that she was especially light and terribly thin.  I asked the teacher about it, worrying that she might be HIV positive.  The teacher told me, "Well, she just got back from the school break.  She probably didn't eat much in the month that she was home with her family".   I was blown away, because we almost lost our funding for the feeding programme there this year.  We had a plan to cut out "luxuries" like fresh fruit and meat in the menu.  Fortunately, we all put our heads together and put out a plea for help.  Thank God we received a grant to cover the cost of food for the whole year!  I never considered that these kids may be kept healthy ONLY because they eat well when we are caring for them.  After that conversation, the teacher pointed out two other little ones that are HIV positive.  I picked them both up for a hug and a kiss.  I am so glad that they have somewhere safe where they are loved to go every day.  That is our ministry.  That makes the hard times worth it.

 

You have heard a lot about Karibu Centre in my latest letters.  The administrators just started a day programme on Fridays for 3-5 years olds from the local slums.  There have been so many problems and obstacles as we prepared to open this centre, and I never thought I would see the day when children would be served there.  On the first day, 35 children came.  In their torn and dirty clothes, they played games, ate a healthy lunch, and heard a story from the Bible.  Most didn't want to leave with the programme was over! 

Through all of this and all that will come, I am taking Lucado's advise.  I cannot rationalize, evade or douse the problems that come with my job.  I must sit and think, with God's help.  There is usually a solution.  There is usually an action plan.  Even when there is not, God is there, so I don' t need to try to be in control of it.

Lots of love,
Armida

Armida LaMarr
Captain
Social/Education Secretary
Kenya East Territory