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| Once again,
my mind wanders as I ponder what to tell each of you about the last month. A million
things come to mind. I feel like each month is a year. Well, I will first continue last month's story, as many of you have emailed me asking me about what happened to the family that was in the fire. This story exemplifies the corruption in this country... something that I daily face and daily frustrates me. After giving the family a mere $125 to rebuild their house I was abruptly faced with the dominance of the Kenyan authorities. The chief of our region visited the family's new home and demanded $70 as a payment (a bribe) for building without permission. Of course the family didn't have the money to pay this so the structure was immediately torn down by the chief. I was made aware of this situation after the fact... so little could be done. The family renegotiated the bribe with the chief down to $25 and they were able to scrounge up the money through relatives... so the structure is up again. Unfortunately, the family misused the building supplies I bought for them... and decided to take the new iron sheeting upcountry to their family's place and found old, rusted iron sheets to build their house. But, a gift is a gift... and this family was definitely in need. My home church on Whidbey Island graciously made an emergency donation of $300 for this family, however this money has created a new challenge for me (in a positive way) as I know that just handing them $300 will not solve their problem, or even help them as it will create more dependency and expectations for spoon-fed gifts. This dilemma has forced me to seek counsel from locals... of whom have advised that I hire the man of the family, Martin, to work and then pay him from his services. This will give Martin a sense of worth as he will actually be earning the money instead of getting another hand out, and will also impact Homeless because the job that we have for him is to dig a large hole for our pit latrine at Woodley school... there are currently no facilities. I never knew how hard it would be to give in a way that helps a family rather than hinders them. Giving: How do you give in a way that does not perpetuate homelessness amongst street kids? This has been a major question of mine the last month. Everyday I walk by a place called Adam's Arcade... contrary to the name, there are no video games, it's just a shopping center. I've probably walked past the place a few hundred times between 1998 and now. I don't recall seeing street boys there when I was here in '98, but this year, they are everywhere. In June, I was fearful of them and shrugged them off as they clung to my leg begging me for "one shilling, madam." Although these are the kids that I'm here to help... I couldn't face them. I rushed off to my school to be with my kids, the clean, post-street kids... neglecting the boys at Adam's. Like fireworks, God revealed to me one day in July of the similarity of these boys to my kids in our program. Most of the kids in our program were dirty street kids... begging for "one shilling madam" from passers-by prior to being rescued by Homeless. Once again, I knew that giving the boys one shilling would not help their lives... so I sought counsel once again, this time from those who know what really helps: my kids. They told me that when they were on the streets, the thing that impacted them most were the gifts that were hand shakes, hellos, "what is your name, my name is Sarah", and food. God covered my spirit of fear with His love and I now know each of these boys by name. Everyday when I pass, I long to see them... to continue building a relationship of love with them. I don't want to perpetuate their problem by keeping them fed on the streets because they have homes and I would rather they are at home... but these kids are hungry and I can't turn my head anymore and let them starve. Unfortunately these boys are addicted to glue, which is the drug of choice amongst street kids here because it is so cheap and it makes them high enough that they don't comprehend the reality of their lives. Yesterday, I was at Adam's with two of my friends who are visiting, Cassie and Mike... I introduced them to my boys and I noticed that one of the boys that I'm closest to was missing. I asked George, another boy, where Omondi was... he replied, "in town, finding glue for us." It really tears me apart to know that boys as young as 5 spend their days on the streets, peeling pea pods for 30 cents a day, high on glue, begging for money and bread... wasting their lives, without a clue about Jesus' love for them. My prayer is that in the next two months, God would give me an opportunity to share Jesus with these boys, that He would conquer any language barrier that exists (my Swahili is still rough). As you will see, our program is currently reached its maximum capacity and the growth that has occurred in the last two years caused us to halt admitting new kids until we are able to organize our program in a way that increases the quality of care for our 165 kids. Busy doesn't even describe my life here. It feels like I just got here yesterday, yet I've been here for almost 3 1/2 months. This month was focused on organizing an efficient system that will enable me to get 165 sponsor packets out on a quarterly basis. Sponsor packets include the child's picture, grade report, newsletter (you will all get a copy of the newsletter in the mail in the next few weeks), payment coupons, etc. Although the pace of life here is more laid back than in Seattle, I still feel the need to keep the Seattle work pace because there is no way that I can otherwise finish my work in a timely manner. God has been so good and I have been blessed with incredible help this month. Not only did I get an assistant, Doris, to be my right-hand woman, but Cassie Covelli came just in time to work 50 hours+ last week. My boss, John High, left for the US on Sunday night, so that was my deadline to get all the post out with him. Doris helps me run errands... buying the kids clothes, school supplies, taking kids to the doctor, etc. I've appreciated her help immensely. My roommate from Sweden, Susanne, has been an answer to prayer--we talk about anything and everything. My job continues to bless me... all the kids continue to ask me a million questions about their sponsors. Since I do know many sponsors, (because many of you are sponsors), they think I know EVERY sponsor. A frequent comment is "Sarah I want to know what my sponsor looks like." I reply, "So do I." We both laugh... I think they're realizing that I don't know everything. Literally 10+ kids ask me something about their sponsor everyday. Often, when the kids finish class in the afternoon, they come to me asking for paper in order to write their sponsor yet another letter. So many of them are excited about their new sponsors... more than 25 kids have received sponsors in the last few months. It's such a privilege for me to see this side of a sponsorship relationship. Prior to having this position, I only saw the 'sending in the money' side of things... not the relationship and feelings of love that results from that commitment. I hope that those of you who are sponsors, are encouraged... you are truly making a difference in kids lives. To those of you who are my sponsors... you are also making a huge difference in my life and in kids lives as well. I think of my work as not just my work, but our work. You have enabled me to be here, to work for Homeless Children International - Kenya, to share the love that so many of you have shown me... and to ultimately share the love of Jesus that so many of you encouraged me to seek throughout my life. I have to be honest... it is not easy here. The drought continues to plague our life here. Most of the month our household has been without water. I think we've had running water for a portion of 5 days this month. Bathing is challenging to say the least, and even drinking water is not something taken for granted. The water is not the only thing rationed... so is power. In fact it will be going out in a few hours. It's out everyday for about 6-8 hours and more if the power controllers forget to turn it back on. So, physically, the comforts of life are not alive and well in Kenya. But to top it off, emotionally it's also very difficult for me here. From living amidst so much oppression and corruption to being away from all of you... this month was the first time I was truly homesick and ready to throw in the towel. But once again, God pumped me up... and I'm ready to keep fighting. "I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!!!" In order to create a better sponsorship program for now and the future, I am going home to Seattle earlier than I had planned. I will be arriving at Sea-Tac Airport on November 18th. This time will allow me to refine a database system that will generate comprehensive quarterly reports, as well as work with Doug Coulbert, one of Homeless' volunteers (and Board Members) that works diligently out of his Seattle home. Together we will refine the HCI-Kenya web page. I will also be creating a "Sponsorship Handbook" which will hopefully set up the next Sponsorship Coordinator for many years to come after I leave late next spring. I am looking forward to working in a more technologically reliable environment. I am also looking forward to seeing all of you again--and spending Thanksgiving and Christmas with my family (and Mark's family). My mom was so generous and bought my plane ticket home because it's been really hard for her to have me gone for so long in such a "scary place." I will head back to Kenya on January 5th. This month, please continue praying for:
Thank you all. I can't say thank you enough. There's no way for me to show my appreciation to all of you for your prayers, letters, encouragement and love. Everyday, I am reminded of the gift that God has given me in all of you. I don't take it for granted...your support has been confirmation that I am in the right place. I know that some of you have started school and new jobs, and I know that I'm much slower at returning email now than I used to be, but please don't hesitate to email or write me :-) The JOY of the Lord is my STRENGTH! SO much love from Africa, Sarah Jamieson |
The
drought... that the rain would come, that people's spirits would be lifted despite the
circumstances.