Old Kijabe Town is lies at the bottom of the Rift and is on the railroad line that was built many years ago. The railroad still passes that way, but as the hospital and school grew up on the Rift the town shrank. “Main Street” is now comprised of a few “dukas” (small stores) and a few people who maintain the railroad track. However there are many people who have small sambas or farms and live in the surrounding countryside. Amidst those sambas are also many widows and orphans who are living day to day, often in squatters quarters or mud hut rentals. I was blessed to visit some of those saints today. Let me try and put into words who they are and what their needs are so that you can remember them in your prayers.
Our mission was to bring food to about 10 widows or to women who have been deserted by their husbands. John, our young Kenyan friend who has such a heart for the needs in this area, shopped for the food and took us three “mizungas” (white) women with him. He visits these women about once a month and brings hope as well as food. He also brings seed so that they are able to plant their gardens to feed their families and if the rains come, and if there is any extra they can sell some corn and earn a bit of income. It is always a goal to not make the women dependent, but to encourage them to be productive and try to meet their own needs against unbelievable circumstances. The first lady we met joked with me that we were both getting old and had gray hair! Funny, how you can converse by sign language. She is raising grandchildren and lives in a rental mud hut. Her concern today was that hyenas had been trying to get at her goats. Next we visited Ann and Naomi, a mother and daughter who are raising many children together. Ann was so proud to show us how she had cleared the small tract of land that she has and readied it for planting in February. No tractors or even a donkey here.....the land was “plowed” by hand. Ann asked us to pray that a way is provided for her daughter to attend secondary school. She has received a very good score, but they do not have the money to send her. It would cost about $250.00 to send her for the three terms per year.
Next we were blessed to visit Margaret, an elderly lady whose husband was a good provider, but was killed in a trucking accident. She had the most beautiful, gracious smile! She, too, is raising grandchildren who are doing well in school thus far. She is scheduled to have cataract surgery soon and we prayed with her that it will be successful.
Sweet Mary was next on our list! What a wonderful wrinkled face she had! Again, she is helping to raise grandchildren as her son who does have a job has not been coming around of late to support his family. She is trying to learn to read so that she can read the Bible on her own. She asked us to pray for her family, that her son would be more responsible and support his family.
Mary took us to the home of Ann and her six children. Ann’s husband left her to marry another woman. As if that wasn’t bad enough, his parents, her in-laws, came and tore down her house and took everything that was in it. Don’t ask me to explain why. Apparently, this happens when a man dies or deserts his family. How could grandparents do this to their own grandchildren? So far the only answer I have heard is that it is the custom. Just remember that we, too, have some strange customs! Ann is terribly depressed and has no money to return to her homeland where she has family.
Tabitha was our last stop...again, an elderly lady raising grandchildren and great grandchildren. There is some hope here since her daughter has gotten a job in another town and is saving money to bring her mother and her children where she is. A grandchild named Tabitha, who has cerebral palsy and uses a walker, was also living there with her infant son, the product of being raped by her father.
Does there seem to be a pattern here? Yes. God made African women very strong; physically, spiritually and emotionally. Cultural mores are difficult to break and are not something that we can dictate. This is not our country; we are visitors here. But we can be in relationship with our sisters and we can support young Kenyans like John who understand how to support these women without making them dependent. Christianity has given these women hope for their future and also for their day to day living in that they have a heavenly father who cares for them when their earthly fathers and husbands do not.
This is the real Kenya. This is the developing world. My heart is heavy tonight when I think of the trials these saints are enduring. They are loved by God as much as He loves you and me. God must weep when He sees their suffering. Pray with me that somehow, someway their lives on earth may improve. Pray that the missionaries here will know the right way to help these women. Thank God that they have hope as Christians!
Lots of love,
Mom and Dad, Nana and Poppy, Miriam and Marv
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