Land of Eldoret
I went for a visit to the Kibera Slums in Nairobi and Eldoret in June with Nick and Dr Oronje--other Lahash partners--to visit their work/projects and fellowship together. Here are some pictures and explanations of that trip-the Eldoret part:
Eldoret is a remarkably green and lush area, with its stark red earth. Nick and I drove out to a cemetary where Nick has seen many people laid to rest there from HIV/AIDS.
Kids waited to greet us any time we got out of the "Msaani"--king of the roads in Eldoret--and the white little ambulance of the Silas Slums.
I stayed with Nick's family. Pamela was my loved roomate for a few days. I got to have chai with Nick's dad every morning.
Nick and a new friend. We walked to visit a patient who had serious burns. I watched Dr Donald Oronje carefully remove the skin of somebody's leg. I think I would have passed out if it was me. His son accompanied us on the journey back to their home. Nick is like a big brother to so many kids.
Holding the baby of one of the clients of Dr D in the clinic.
Sunset on the road from Silas to town.
Dr Donald and his little daughter Laura. We went to visit Laura in the hospital who had been very sick. When I returned to Dodoma a week later, Nick called to tell me Laura had just died. It breaks my heart. Please pray or continue to pray for Dr D and his wife especially. Laura was only six months old, and a lovely, beautiful baby. It is a very painful loss for their family.
While we were visiting Laura, Nick and I found out that another baby had just been brought to the hospital. She had been dumped in the market because she was sick/had a skin rash. Her mother had just abandoned her. Every day and week children are abandoned or orphaned because of HIV/AIDS issues, stigma and death.
We visited Mary, on of the ladies from the Renew Program (Lahash) in town who is selling clothes. The eventual plan is to buy the business and have all the ladies be working at the store to generate income, and giving them a better future and hope. It's a wonderful, self-sustainable idea! If interested in helping to sponor this business and in so doing, about 7 ladies, visit lahash.net to find out more.
Dr D and Esther, who is now assisting in helping patients and running the clinic have a laugh together in the proposed clothes business site.
I was able to meet Jennifer who lives by herself in a little house outside the large house of her nephew. Jennifer found out she was HIV positive last year and has now lost her sight. When her family found out she was positive, many refused to visit or assist her (her nephew even kicked her out of the house and built this smaller shelter in the back for her to stay). Jennifer cannot see at all, but she has set her whole house in order so that she remembers where everything is and her memory is so well-programmed she can cook and do whatever she needs to do. (So no messing with her stuff Nick to confuse her!) One of the other hardships she faces is getting enough food. Jennifer had a wonderful gentle voice and graceful spirit. Although she has constant personal difficulties, her greatest expressed worry/concern is to help her son go to university. One of her boys just finished secondary school but has no support for university. This of course is constantly on Jennifer's mind because she wants to help her son so badly but can't at this point.
Jennifer's beautiful smile and charming spirit was so refreshing and inspiring as she talked about God walking with her through her sufferings. Her resilience and courage is remarkable. Her powerful story and expression of both joy and pain in her life remains with me as I remember her words and voice.
Dan, this is for you. We entitle it. "A plea for more gas from the middle east." Msaani is thirsty and doesn't have enough to drink. nudge nudge wink wink say no more say no more. We ran out of that Msaani's power ade al little too often.
Saint Nick at lantern light, the night before England played Sweden (Kombe ya Dunia, World Cup, baby.)
Two lovely girls stand at the door of Kitonga's home.
One of Kitonga's daughters and his youngest child wait well Kitonga arrives home after trying to find some work all day.
Dr D and young girl, stand outside Kitonga's house.
Kitonga sits with his youngest child. Kitonga lost his wife to AIDS last year, and he is now currently living with HIV. Dr D often tries to counsel him because things are very difficult. With little work and capital, Kitonga is not able to make things meet very well. He struggles to pay for rent (His landlord is threatening to evict him because they have not been able to pay rent for two months), food, and school fees for the four children that are staying with him. He would like to start some kind of small business, like a shop where he can fix radios, so that he can have some sustainable work to keep going, and provide for his children. Their one room house is also inadequate during rainy season, as the room often floods. Despite it all, Kitonga welcomes us into his home and talks about his hopes and fears.
Dr D and Nick often visit Kitonga to offer counseling and emotional/psychosocial support.
Another beautiful child of Kitonga.
Nick's family: brothers, sisters, and mum.
Eldoret is a remarkably green and lush area, with its stark red earth. Nick and I drove out to a cemetary where Nick has seen many people laid to rest there from HIV/AIDS.
Kids waited to greet us any time we got out of the "Msaani"--king of the roads in Eldoret--and the white little ambulance of the Silas Slums.
I stayed with Nick's family. Pamela was my loved roomate for a few days. I got to have chai with Nick's dad every morning.
Nick and a new friend. We walked to visit a patient who had serious burns. I watched Dr Donald Oronje carefully remove the skin of somebody's leg. I think I would have passed out if it was me. His son accompanied us on the journey back to their home. Nick is like a big brother to so many kids.
Holding the baby of one of the clients of Dr D in the clinic.
Sunset on the road from Silas to town.
Dr Donald and his little daughter Laura. We went to visit Laura in the hospital who had been very sick. When I returned to Dodoma a week later, Nick called to tell me Laura had just died. It breaks my heart. Please pray or continue to pray for Dr D and his wife especially. Laura was only six months old, and a lovely, beautiful baby. It is a very painful loss for their family.
While we were visiting Laura, Nick and I found out that another baby had just been brought to the hospital. She had been dumped in the market because she was sick/had a skin rash. Her mother had just abandoned her. Every day and week children are abandoned or orphaned because of HIV/AIDS issues, stigma and death.
We visited Mary, on of the ladies from the Renew Program (Lahash) in town who is selling clothes. The eventual plan is to buy the business and have all the ladies be working at the store to generate income, and giving them a better future and hope. It's a wonderful, self-sustainable idea! If interested in helping to sponor this business and in so doing, about 7 ladies, visit lahash.net to find out more.
Dr D and Esther, who is now assisting in helping patients and running the clinic have a laugh together in the proposed clothes business site.
I was able to meet Jennifer who lives by herself in a little house outside the large house of her nephew. Jennifer found out she was HIV positive last year and has now lost her sight. When her family found out she was positive, many refused to visit or assist her (her nephew even kicked her out of the house and built this smaller shelter in the back for her to stay). Jennifer cannot see at all, but she has set her whole house in order so that she remembers where everything is and her memory is so well-programmed she can cook and do whatever she needs to do. (So no messing with her stuff Nick to confuse her!) One of the other hardships she faces is getting enough food. Jennifer had a wonderful gentle voice and graceful spirit. Although she has constant personal difficulties, her greatest expressed worry/concern is to help her son go to university. One of her boys just finished secondary school but has no support for university. This of course is constantly on Jennifer's mind because she wants to help her son so badly but can't at this point.
Jennifer's beautiful smile and charming spirit was so refreshing and inspiring as she talked about God walking with her through her sufferings. Her resilience and courage is remarkable. Her powerful story and expression of both joy and pain in her life remains with me as I remember her words and voice.
Dan, this is for you. We entitle it. "A plea for more gas from the middle east." Msaani is thirsty and doesn't have enough to drink. nudge nudge wink wink say no more say no more. We ran out of that Msaani's power ade al little too often.
Saint Nick at lantern light, the night before England played Sweden (Kombe ya Dunia, World Cup, baby.)
Two lovely girls stand at the door of Kitonga's home.
One of Kitonga's daughters and his youngest child wait well Kitonga arrives home after trying to find some work all day.
Dr D and young girl, stand outside Kitonga's house.
Kitonga sits with his youngest child. Kitonga lost his wife to AIDS last year, and he is now currently living with HIV. Dr D often tries to counsel him because things are very difficult. With little work and capital, Kitonga is not able to make things meet very well. He struggles to pay for rent (His landlord is threatening to evict him because they have not been able to pay rent for two months), food, and school fees for the four children that are staying with him. He would like to start some kind of small business, like a shop where he can fix radios, so that he can have some sustainable work to keep going, and provide for his children. Their one room house is also inadequate during rainy season, as the room often floods. Despite it all, Kitonga welcomes us into his home and talks about his hopes and fears.
Dr D and Nick often visit Kitonga to offer counseling and emotional/psychosocial support.
Another beautiful child of Kitonga.
Nick's family: brothers, sisters, and mum.
posted by Jo at 10:01 AM
2 Comments:
Very beautiful photos Jo. Thanks for sharing these words and images of the team there!
HI Jo Thank you for making a difference can you tell me more about Kitonga i would like to help him and his children
Post a Comment
<< Home