Monday, March 16, 2015

March Update on Outreach in Kenya

I've been struggling with very low energy levels since just before Christmas and  even the barest minimum of  'to dos' has seemed so much at times.  This has caused me to get very behind in a lot of things.

Now I am feeling a little better.  My energy seems to be increasing.  Warmer temperatures and more frequent days of sunlight help. I started taking Vitamin D awhile back but haven't been too consistent about taking it  for the short time I did take it it seemed to help.

There are a few things I continue to do even when the energy levels are low.

One thing that I never really stop doing is blogging, sometimes tweeting. Here is a cute little carton I came across on line about the priority social media has become in our lives.


I am not on Instagram, Facebook or Tumbler but in addition to posting on my blog I also post to Google + on occasion.  I can't imagine how people find the time to be on all the different social media as well as keep up with other things in their lives. Keeping up with our own blogs daily or even every few days, takes a fair bit of time.  We have to find time to take the photos, select and edit them, upload them, then visit and comment on other blogs. I'm always amazed at people who get hundreds of visitors and comments yet manage to visit other blogs on a fairly regular basis.  Then of course there are those that have hundreds of visitors to their blog complete with comments who never seem to visit anyone else's blogs or if they do, they never comment. 

I am not exactly sure why I was so extra low on energy for so long.  Now am in a bit of whirl of activity to "catch up".  With Spring having arrived I am also thinking about what needs to be done in the garden.  There is always the Fall and Winter debris to clean. I don't do this in the Fall due to all the rain and cold.  In Spring I am often late to the garden and never seemed to find the rhythm. Perhaps that will change some day but for right now I just manage as best I can.  I'm also planning on a visit to see my mom and so I'm putting a care package together. That always involves some planning and preparation and this month is no exception.

Despite lower energy levels, I also never fail to keep up with the  missions in Kenya.  The people's needs there are so great and needs don't take a rest.  I do my best to try to help the people and bring awareness to others in hopes they may also want to help.  In all the years I've been doing this, it hasn't been easy getting others involved but I keep trying.  I truly greatly appreciate those of you  who do stop and lend a hand. The little we can do means so much to another who is burdened by their load.

Several weeks ago I wrote about a young mom who had to be rushed to hospital and ended up losing her baby before it had come to full term. That was a very sad situation especially since the young mom not only lost her baby but she had to remain in hospital for weeks after because she didn't have the funds to pay the medical bills.

I am happy to report that she is now home with her family and can now start her real journey of grieving and healing. Yes, that means while she was in hospital her unborn child was buried.  One can only imagine how difficult this was to deal with on so many levels.  It also meant her other young child and her husband were without her presence in the home for weeks on end as they struggled to cover the medical bills.  They were feeling very low in spirit during this time.

My blogging friends Joy and John, Jan and Regina, and other friends in Kenya who organized several fund-raisers  helped to get her home.  I especially want to thank Joy who I met through blogging through our shared love of crochet.  It was through her very kind efforts to raise awareness of this desperate situation that really helped.

Kindness is so refreshing in this very busy world where people often turn the other way after hearing about someone needs; someone they don't know and who lives so very far away.  Sometimes we become immune to someone's desperate needs when we are bombarded daily through television, internet, social media and newspaper.

I realize too that there are many competing good causes.  Sometimes people have limited means and their our own needs have to take priority. It takes intention and work not to become cold to the desperate situations around the world.

So again a sincere thanks goes out to Joy, John, Jan and Regina for their kindness.  I pray that the goodness you have put out there for this mom will be returned to you in good measure soon.


Kenyan flower ~ Sending you all a little green in honour of Saint Patrick

In February I wrote about another humanitarian food aid mission to the Pokot people in northern Kenya.  You can read more about that mission here.  Then last week some of my Kenyan friends went on yet another humanitarian mission to the Pokot people in the northern part of Kenya.  This time they went to an entirely different region which was even more isolated than where they usually minister to the Pokot people.  On the team's return journey the terrible terrain was too much for the SUV they had borrowed from their church and they were stranded far from home where things were very expensive.

When my friends go on voluntary missions they basically have to raise the food donations and fund their own journey.  The team leader has to sign a form to acknowledge responsibility for the vehicle when they go on food aid missions and that means there is no help from the church when things go wrong.  In any case, the churches my friends attend are not like the big, prosperous churches in America.  Their congregations are made  up of hard working humble people who are mostly eking out a living through small scale farming.  They grow their own corn and vegetables and if they are fortunate they have a few chickens, goats or possibly a cow or two for milk.  They have very little in the way of extras and cold, hard cash.
 
The mission was to an area of Kenya that is very hot and dry and you cannot grow anything (sorry though the  precise name escapes me it is north of a place called Chemolingot). The locals raise goats and camels as their means of sustenance.  In places like, as in most other difficult to access communities in other countries, food and necessities are incredibly expensive because of the cost and time involved in importing the food.  Fixing the car was also very expensive and  not very straightforward.

Photo Credit:  Jonah, Missions of Hope


Mechanic help had to be summoned from about 6 hours away. The insides of the care were taken apart and the mechanic returned to Eldoret with some of the parts.  The team members had to wait until the next day for the mechanic to return with the car parts.  The team members had a real awakening of just how hard it is for the people in the area as they said they have never seen such high costs in all the places they have travelled.

Thankfully the car worked after the mechanic brought the car parts back and attended to the vehicle.  The cost of repairs was great and it was urgent.  The team had a very long journey home and arrived home at 5 a.m. on Sunday morning.

 These are a few photos of the hungry children that were fed on this mission.


The children are enjoying bread and liquid refreshment in these photos.

Photo Credit:  Jonah, Missions of Hope

Photo Credit:  Jonah, Missions of Hope


The team members also left behind food items and clothing for the people.

Friends, these needs are very real and the hunger is very difficult to experience or to see.

It is what drives my friends to help and what drives me to assist them.

Photo Credit:  Jonah, Missions of Hope


You see the people in these isolated areas of Kenya are literally starving.  

When drought comes they are hardest hit and commodities are out of their financial means. 

My friends are not well to do.

They too  live close to the edge economically.

But they know that the people they are helping live even closer to the edge.


Kenyan cactus plant.

I want to welcome all of my new followers.

If any of you have an interest in Africa and Kenya and you want to find out how to help with the missions needs, please get in touch (email on profile page). I mostly help in Kenya where we try to feed the hungry or look after their medical needs.

Also, if you are travelling to Kenya soon and want to take a missions team with food aid or medical helps,
let me know.  I can put you in touch with people who could use your help.  If you are going alone or with a friend, and you have enough funds to pool, even that would be a great help.

Linking with Our World Tuesday

Have a great week.
Happy St. Patrick's Day to those of you who celebrate.

24 comments:

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

It is so sad to see children in need of nourishing food. God bless you and you friends who help in any way they can.
I am glad to hear you are feeling better, and I hope that as the days continue to get longer and warmer you will feel even more energy!

Jo said...

Dear Penny I'm so glad you have a surge of energy. You do so much for others and I bless you for that. I hope to be back into donating towards your cause in Kenya as before; as soon as the Lord sends us a contract in Africa again, I will! Meanwhile I pray for those people in need but especially for those who help you. Blessings Jo

John's Island said...

Hi Joyful, My comment here will not do justice to your wonderful post. Thank you so much for your kind words mentioning me. It has been a blessing to me to help the people in Kenya. Many thanks to you for arranging for the help to go to those people. Today is my day to rock babies and I have limited time, but must commend you on your photos today, as always, they are excellent. I am so glad to hear your energy is returning! I am slowly but surely getting back to normal here after my move and will soon have more time for blogging and correspondence. God bless you and thank you for sharing. Have a good day up in beautiful Vancouver. John

Joyful said...

Hi dear Jo, it is a delight to have you visit and say such kind things. I know you have a giving heart and will do what you can, when you can. I sure do thank you for the prayers! Blessings and hugs. xx

Joyful said...

John, you are very kind in so many ways. Those little babies are very lucky to have you there to rock them to sleep. I pray you had a great time with them. You are still in my thoughts concerning the move and your energy levels for unpacking. Take time. It will all be done sooner than you think. Even if there is a box or two left after it all, that is normal, lol. It is a beautiful day here after I was expecting rain. I hope it is equally nice in Seattle. Joyful

Sallie (FullTime-Life) said...

It is wonderful that you can keep this good work going even when not feeling at your best. As a winter escapee from the Pacific Northwest, I can well remember the gray-winter low energy blahs. I wonder if one of those lights would help you. I know people who believe in them...

psychelyn said...

Once in a while we feel down and allow ourselves to be. I guess there is nithing wrong with that. I have been in low energy lately too.

About the outreach, I would like to express once more my gratitude for people like you and your friends. Due to my limitations, I can only at least inform some people I know about the possibility to help. I will also encourage them to spread the word hoping that more people are aware of such mission, more possibility of getting help. I pray for those who are suffering.

jabbott said...

Thank you Penny, its been a very busy few weeks but so happy I helped. Thank you to everyone who also helped. I lastly will continue to help. I feel I have need to do my upmost to help others too x

Joyful said...

Hi Sallie, thank you for dropping by. Yes, I wonder if the lights would help too. I've thought about buying them from time to time but this year I'm pretty sure the issue wasn't lack of sunlight. I do have some health challenges. Thankfully am feeling better now and the sunlight just adds to the feelings of well-being and joy of feeling better each week.

Joyful said...

Yes, indeed Psychelyn. It is important not to get down on oneself and to just realize that sometimes we need to heal. It can be difficult though when the period of being low lasts a long time. Anyway I am glad it is mostly over for now and until next time. I understand about your limitations and I am very happy you will be able to encourage others to learn more. I appreciate your prayers too. You are so kind. I have been thinking about your needs too and hoping and praying everything will work out the way you and your husband would like. Blessings. xx

Joyful said...

Thank you for visiting Joy Yes, it certainly has been a busy time for us both and helping abroad keeps one even busier. I'm so glad that you will continue to help out in Kenya. Big hugs. xx talk soon.

Joyful said...

Pat, I appreciate your kind thoughts. x

Mereknits said...

I have learned so much about Kenya from your posts my friend. I applaud you for your amazing efforts to help those in need.
Sorry your energy has been low, mine has too and now I am reminded I need to start taking that Vit D again.
Hugs to you,
Meredith

Jenn Jilks said...

I'm sorry you're not feeling energetic! I'm hoping the spring will help.
I agree, I don't know how people keep up posting, replying, etc. when they get 100s of comments. I just slow down when I need to. Right now I volunteer for respite care twice a week afternoons. There are many good causes, and this is a small thing I can do for two families with failing seniors.

Cynthia said...

I think winter gets to us all as we get older. I hope you will get your normal energy back soon now that spring is on its way. It's still quite cold here but the snow has gone (until tomorrow anyway) and I'm getting excited at the small signs. It's wonderful that you and your friends are able to help the people of Kenya in such tangible ways. I'm sure it is much appreciated by those who receive the aid.

Laura said...

How wonderful that you and your friends are doing such important work to help these children… wishing you every blessing.

Joyful said...

Thank you my friend. Here's to Vit. D!

Joyful said...

Thank you for your visit Jennifer. I agree it is good to slow down when one needs too. It is wonderful you provide respite care for someone else. That is a really important job for caregiving families.

Joyful said...

I'm so glad you are getting excited about the coming Spring. Thanks for your kind words.

Joyful said...

You are welcome Namaki. Thank you for visiting!

Joyful said...

Thank you Laura. That is very kind of you. xx

Jan said...

Penny I popped I to say I'm glad you are feeling a little better and have more energy. Thank you for your words, life has been very good to me and I am glad to help where I can. I only need to remember this more.

EricaSta said...

That's a so wonderful work you Do there .... And I think it's very, very important to show more of this captures of hungry children. I know we have here to much and I know too, many people are not thankful for this rich life we have.

Thank you for the nice comment to my post about the visit in Munich.... It's my hometown, which I love. But my husband and myself, we life in Augsburg.

Cheers, Heidrun

NatureFootstep said...

a nice post sharing the Kenyan kids :)

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