New life in Kenya : May 2020

When I was a Divisional Youth Secretary some years ago, one of my staff members asked me a question one day that went something like this: ‘if we are meant to be prayerful and reflective as Christians, isn’t it better for us all to become monks instead of living in the hustle and bustle of each other’s lives?’ I don’t remember all of my responses to him, but it was something like this. I believe God created us to live interdependently. While solitude and prayer is so important for us, it does not take the place of connecting with others. God designed us to be in community where we draw strength from each other and be ‘each other’s keeper’ to the extent we can. God didn’t intend for us to live as an island onto ourselves but to be helpful and supportive - within our families, to our neighbours, and even or perhaps especially to the stranger.

I have seen the value of interconnectedness and partnerships so often since serving in Kenya. Our territory is the recipient of many resources through various projects and donations. So much is accomplished when we work together. Over the past three and a half years, many people (some of you on this mailing list) have shared your resources so that others could benefit. Some of my blogs have captured what your generosity has accomplished. Since the beginning of 2020, the kind donations we received have helped people pay hospital bills, re-build a home that was demolished, buy furniture for an officer’s quarters, and now recently support our church leaders who are struggling to get their salaries since worship services are not permitted. We have also used your kind support to buy masks and our walking group distributed them throughout our neighbourhood. This week, you will help us buy food for a children’s orphanage. Sharing what we have with each other is not just a nice thing our mothers taught us to do, it ought to be a lifelong natural instinct for all of us.

Morris and I have been inspired many times with the resilience and hard work of Kenyan people and with a little extra help, many good things happen! A year ago, during one of our visits to Turkana (the hottest and most desert-like area in our territory), we were quite impressed by an officer couple – Lieutenants Benson and Pauline Mamisu. They were appointed to Kanan corps in December 2017 to find very little there. A one-room rented living space was their quarters and no church building due to a land dispute which had chased many people away. (Some of you may remember me writing about this before). What captivated us was the commitment of this young couple to remain in the area and slowly they have begun to rebuild the corps – both relationally with the people and structurally. With the support of the locals, they have constructed a small church building with iron sheets. One of their dreams, when we were there, was to construct a concrete floor to replace the dirt floor. Over the past year, the locals have tried their best to secure the materials needed to complete the project. It has been a tiring process and they have become discouraged because they just did not have enough money or resources. The few members gave what they could but it fell short of what was needed. Recently Morris and I found some money that could assist them. We didn’t think the extra funds were enough but when we transferred the money, within two weeks the people finished their floor project! They were so thrilled! When the pandemic restrictions are lifted they have a better place to invite people to come and worship. Interconnected, partnerships, better together!

I recently posted on my Facebook page a great story about a water tank. When Morris and I were in Newfoundland last year for Christmas, the Triton/Brighton Corps did a free-will offering at a Christmas music program to support the work of The Salvation Army where we are serving. When we received the money, we gave it to the Kisombe corps to buy a water tank, which they did. This is another very remote area that is poor and dry. It was quite exciting to feel their enthusiasm while we were in the process of transferring the funds. As soon as they heard about the gift, the corps members immediately started to do their part in preparing the ground and building the base for the water tank. This reservoir would not only support the church members, but many people in the community would now access clean water much easier. Prior to having the tank, so many of them would have to walk for miles during the dry season to get water. The result of this small project, plus the fervour of the people getting involved and the gratitude the Salvationists expressed, confirmed for me the value of how sharing resources and helping one another reflects God’s design for us so well. It’s really just a great way to live!

The account of this water tank is even more profound during the Covid-19 outbreak. Over and over, the message of how critical handwashing is to curb this pandemic has gone viral. Handwashing has become the latest education urgency and PR priority. For people who have regular access to clean water, this should not be an issue, but what about the millions in the world who do not. The community of Kisombe is just one example of places where people may not have clean water readily available to them. This leaves them compromised in trying to attack something like coronavirus.

This week’s communication from the International Social Justice Commission is aligning The Salvation Army’s call to prayer (“cryforjustice”) with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #6 – Clean Water and Sanitation. I was reminded again how the lack of access to clean water and sanitation has far-reaching health consequences. And of course, the places where this happens are severely affected in so many other ways by poverty. Millions rely on compromised sources of water such as unprotected wells and springs. Climate change and pollution have placed major stress on water sources, leaving so many without access to this basic human need.

As we continue to pray for justice for women and girls this year, the issue of water plays a prominent role in the injustice so many females battle. Lack of water adversely affects many of their lives. In most places around the world where households do not have easy access to water, it will be the women and girls who walk long distances for water collection. I have seen it here in Kenya many times. In doing so, they can put themselves at risk of violence and girls end up losing time from school. When family members get sick because of contaminated water, it is the women who bear the burden of health care. And during childbirth, a lack of clean water and sanitation can be the difference between the life and death of both the mother and the baby. (Thank you to the ISJC for drawing this to our attention so that we might continue to pray over this and find more ways to ‘act justly’ wherever possible). Water is critical to our survival and it has so many ripple effects – no pun intended. No wonder Jesus said that being his follower includes offering even a cup of cold water in His name.

Let me conclude by saying THANK YOU to all who are “partners in mission” in small ways and big ways. Always keep yourself alert to the opportunities you have to share, connect, and engage with others – those close and far away. Let’s continue to make this world the place God intended it to be. We are better together!