Famine Feeding in Mirowa

Saturday we left for Mirowa just as the sun was coming up.  With our backpacks in hand we loaded the land cruiser on a mission to assist the Church Planters in Maasai Land by handing out grain.  It is very dry and many are hungry.  This venture always is filled with mixed emotion as one attempts to prepare your mind and heart with what you will see.  However, I was very excited to see my friends in the bush again.

Our journey began with many great animal sitings.  The giraffe family that always likes to welcome us to Maasai Land.  The site of these animals never gets old my friends.  Along with the giraffes there were ostrich and many of the antelope family.  However, these "deer like creatures" are very difficult to tell a part.  Impala, Dik-Dik, Waterbuck, Eland, and Hartebeest are somewhat common sitings outside of town.  But, I saw a Kudu for the first time.  This is a deer like creature brown with white strips that go around the lower end of its body almost like a zebra.  They are narrow strips but along with the horns on its front end make up a magnificent animal.  Another reminder just how creative our Creator God is!

As we pulled into Mirowa people had already begun to gather.  The food had been purchased and was stored in a cement block room.  I remember the first day that I ventured out here in the bush.  I recall being slightly over-whelmed by the sea of black faces.  Being a lover of people I knew they all were individual people but at that time they seemed as one.  Not being able to put a face with a name and at first it can be difficult to tell one a part from the other.  I say that to try to compare the difference I felt when I pulled up and saw this sea of faces this time.  I saw my friends, students, and brothers and sisters in Christ.  I recognized church planters, church members, and young precious faces who would gather when I taught.  No more a sea of faces but a reuniting with friends.  Among the sea of faces was one that I recognized right away.  I shared with many of you the little orphan girl that they introduced me to when we were working on initial ideas for the project in how to help these ones of great need.  She also was with me the last weekend before my furlough when I taught the youth.  I blogged about her as well and the difficulty leaving her behind that day.  But, I am happy to say that she was one of those faces I spotted getting out of the truck.  I was so very happy to see her!  She had tears in her eyes and I quickly made my way to her.  Joseph said that she kept asking about me while I was gone.  I told her that despite the fact that she may not have biological family her family is quite big in Christ.  As I explained to her (with Joseph's help) how she was a part of the story that I told of what God was doing here in Tanzania.  I shared with her how there were lots of people who loved her and I.  And how you  pray for us.  I decided that she was such an important connection of the ministry that I would personally see to it that she would be able to get through school.  Joseph calls Naserian my "Maasai Daughter."  Naserian now knows of the hope found in Christ but she no longer feels alone and unwanted by the world.  She was afraid for me to see her tears.  But, she quietly spoke to say she was not used to someone caring so much.  Joseph said that she was afraid her tears were weakness but as the tears strolled down my checks I had her look at me.  I told her it was not a sign of weakness but a connection of the heart.  Reuniting with Naserian was such a gift!  She was connected to me at the rest of the day.  This child worked so hard along side of me as we disrupted items.

It was also so good to see all the church planters in this area.  They were very well organized!  By villages each on the list would receive and then place their ink thumb print by their name.  The men unloaded the bags of beans and corn along with boxes of oil.  There were I think about eight village groups.  Each church planter was in charge of a group we divided up to help hand out items.  I must also say that the funds for this project and several others was because of IDES!  We are grateful for their ministry and help to give relief in this way.  20 kilos of Corn, 2 kilos of Beans, and a thing of oil were given to over 800 families throughout the morning.  Depending on the size of the family this will help feed for about 2 -3 weeks.  The distribution began with prayer, worship, and words from scripture.

My job was to give the thing of oil.  Naserian stood by my side and gave out oil.  Some of the other kids went back and forth from playing to helping.  But Naserian handed out and helped all morning long.  Several times I was moved as I watched this young skinny girl hand out food to so many people in need when she herself had nothing.  I am amazed constantly of the valuable lessons I learn here of loving one another.  The young children who are in school will also receive food from this funding and project for the next several months while they are in class.  The ugi mixture is a CHE project lead by one of our CHE workers Elinipa!  These ladies up the mountain from us have taken a big step of faith to began this CHE project.  This ugi mixture has good nutrients and protein in it.  So we were able to purchase from these ladies to assist in the feeding of the kids in the Bush!  

We watched as the people loaded their items for the walk home.  Some loaded the massive bags on donkeys, some on their heads, and others carried it on their backs.  This is also quite moving as you watch them help each other load their heavy items.  Knowing they have so very far to walk!  Despite the walk with heavy items I think they were relieved to be caring anything at all.

We celebrated with the church planters and enjoyed being with each other.  We were able to see the new site that was given for the Widow and Orphan Project.  It is a beautiful piece of land that hopefully soon will be a great site of hope for the hopeless.

My heart and mind are very tired today. But,  Bwana SiFi We ~ Praise The Lord for He is good.  How amazing to get to be a part of helping to bring Hope!  Don't forget you are a part as well.  Your support and prayers are vital to the work.  I still can't believe we get to be a part but that was God's design and I am grateful!


Click to see my team at work!



Prayer Points~

• These families who were given corn and beans may they be blessed physically and spiritually.  
• Continue to Pray for Rain!  
• blessing on the CHE Ugi project lead by the ladies up the hill and Elinipa
• for the Church Planters in Maasai Land
• Naserian ~ my "Maasai Daughter"
• Blessing for the land and development of it for the widow and orphan project
• Thankful for the kindness of IDES and their relief help