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Updates
From the Field: Kenya # 40: March 30, 2009 |
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| Hello Everybody: Mother Teresa said, "I never look at the masses as my responsibility. I look at the individual. I can love only one person at a time. I can feed only one person at a time. Just one, one, one. . . . The whole work is only a drop in the ocean. But, if I didn't put the drop in, the ocean would be one drop less. " The poverty and need in Kenya are too immense to take in at times. I look at the "big picture" and feel like one tiny, insignificant pixel. All the right responses have been drilled in my brain over the years. I know that what I do for the least of these I do for Jesus. I know that the difference God helps me to make in one life can cause a chain reaction that affects many. However, there is often an expansive chasm between what I know and what I feel. Last week, I visited schools in Yatta. This is a semi-arid area that is about two - three hours from where I live. All of the schools had their lists of needs ready to present to me, and I put up my usual shield of defense, making no promises of assistance. It is easier for me when the schools ask for new classrooms, laboratories, latrines or equipment. However, at each of these schools, their number one request was for food. There is a drought in that area and most of the community relies on farming for survival. The children aren't eating enough; some aren't eating at all. Therefore, absenteeism is rising and those in the classrooms are having trouble staying alert and focused. This is not a problem that I can solve, and I feel helpless. Even if we had money to buy food, it would only Band-Aid the issue. The rise in food costs is not helping the situation. What I can do is pray for rain. A friend of mine from Norway gave me a donation to use in Kenya as I saw fit. With that, I was able to give a small donation to each school. It won't solve anything, but I'm hoping that it showed a little bit care from The Salvation Army. Just one, one, one. I met an amazing little girl the other day. Her name is Josephine, and she is about 11 years old. She comes every week to help at one of our programmes for preschool aged children from the slums. Though she should be in school, she stays home to take care of the little children in her family as well as small children from neighboring families. This allows the mothers to go look for some work; to get some money or food for survival. She is an extremely helpful and bright little girl, and I was touched by her. She was dressed in nothing more than rags, so I bought her a new outfit in honor of my niece's 9th birthday. My sweet niece was gracious about giving up a present so this little girl could have something new. I hope it makes her feel worthy and cared for. I hope she remembers the love behind the gift for a long time. Just one, one, one. Someone just came to my office as I was typing this, and the story she told me is nothing less than one of God's miracles. I have no doubt that I am supposed to share it with you in relation to this topic. I am a clothes horse. I have more clothes than anyone should have, and I'm always willing to buy more. When I returned in January, I decided it was time to clean out my closet and give away some of the excess. I usually give this to our caring ministries officer to distribute at the prison. However, I felt lead to share these clothes with someone from our office. She is not particularly poor or needy, but it just felt like the right thing to do. So, I went to her one day and asked if she would like some of my clothes. She agreed, but didn't say much more. When she came to my office right now, she told me that my gift made her weep to God in gratitude, though I didn't know it. In December, she felt God was telling her to give away her clothes to the widows in one of the small villages she knows. She was worried, knowing that all her salary pays for food and taking care of her sick husband. She said to God, "If I give away my clothes, what will I do? I have no money to buy more." The urging wouldn't go away. She finally packed up two suitcases of her clothes and brought it to her sister-in-laws house, who is also a widow. The sister-in-law refused to give the clothes away to other widows, saying no one would understand and they would be offended. My friend left the bags there anyway. The next day, widows called in at the sister-in-laws house one by one to greet her. Each time, she remembered the clothes and gave them away. All in all, eleven women received new clothes from my friend. One woman was so grateful, she gave the only thing she could as a thank you in return - a bag of sweet potatoes from her garden. It was just a few weeks after that I offered my clothes to my friend. God allowed me to be part of something so much bigger, and I didn't know it. Just one, one, one. So, I find myself finishing this letter a little differently than I started. God has just used someone to show me in a real life situation all that I "know". The ocean of despair, hunger, hurt and need is wide and deep. But God can use my "one drop" to make a difference. The verse of the week is:
"God has chosen you and made you his holy people. He loves you. So always do these things: Show mercy to others, be kind, humble, gentle and patient . . . Do all these things; but most important, love each other". ~ Colossians 3:12, 14 Armida LaMarr |
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