Reflecting on the mission part of our trip to Kenya, I think the least common denominator is food insecurity.
Imagine living in a hovel made of tin sheet roofing. No lighting. One room 10x10 with no windows. No bathrooms. And sharing that space with 6 others. It would be hard. Add to that no food for days. No job. Crime. How enticing it would be to steal; maybe just some fruit from a stand,or something to get around with like a bicycle.
We heard stories from the boys that ran away from home and are now living at Kweto Home of Peace. They are fed each morning, they get a tea break midday and a nourishing lunch. They were so excited to give us a tour and show us they have an actual bed (no pillow) that they must make each morning. They learn to wash their own clothes and have a shower (a stall with a bucket for water) and what I call squatty potties. They are in school learning.
If you are hungry, how can you focus on studying at school? Lunch time comes and you are still hungry. You go home and still there is nothing to eat. Your parents are hungry too. Hangry is a word I use when I’m both hungry and anger bursts out. When people are hangry they lash out at those they love.
Parents have problems too. There are no jobs so how can they provide? Men may find day labor but there is no guarantee that tomorrow they will work. Women may have a little business selling beans or making chapati but who has money to buy it?
The neighbors are all in the same predicament. Besides they have to walk for and buy water, care for the babies and pray for a little corn meal to make into a porridge. Mothers worry about, “What are my teenage sons doing?” Are they up to no good? Will they be able to escape the poverty?” What happens when the rains come? The roofs leak and the paths between the shacks flood. The sewage backs up. It smells nasty.
The fathers often try to escape from the problems by drinking alcohol (bad moonshine) or experimenting with products that cause a high like shoe polish.
In my experience life is difficult and everyone has problems. For the street boys, the babies at Happy Life, the children living in Mathare Valley their hope comes from achieving one of life’s most basic needs. Food.
All 3 of the missions we visited put a primary focus on feeding people. If the kids are fed they are healthier and happier. If they have even a basic meal of rice and beans they are more likely to improve their education and possibly, yes possibly achieve their dreams.
When the street boys introduced themselves they shared with us what they hoped to be when they grew up. We heard, “doctor, engineer, accountant, pilot, president, farmer”. They have dreams of becoming upstanding citizens with careers. They have dreams of a better future.
-Joyce
Comments
Post a Comment