On Christmas Eve day, my Kenyan friend Jonah went shopping for food at the local Gilani's Supermarket in Nakuru town. He hired a truck and got together some volunteers. (Click all collages for a large view).
Their mission was to visit and encourage some people living in a camp for Internally Displaced Persons outside of Nakuru. These people live in deep poverty. That means they do not have proper housing, jobs or food or clothes. They live in ragged tents and ramshackle buildings constructed with scraps they have been able to find. They live without water, electricity or basic toilets. It is a miserable and hard life.
Now and then if they are lucky they might get a glimmer of hope through the gifts of strangers like Jonah and those that help him in the missions.
Here are a few photos of the children and the people of the camp.
Children love to be remembered. These small gifts of snacks made them happy at this time of year.
The grownups also love to be encouraged and remembered. Many of the people in IDP camps once had land, homes, jobs. Now they live like beggars not knowing what will happen to them tomorrow. They are trying very hard to get some kind of compensation and a new start from the governing powers.
They were very happy to receive the gifts.
This is what the spirit of the Christmas season is about.
Bringing joy to others.
Blessings of the season to you.
