Actually this should read “all days” because every day I am hit with frustration of how this country is run and wonder to what extent it can get, until the next day when I hear another story. We struggle daily knowing we do not have the funds to help everyone and discerning where we are to use the funds you donate. Our prayer is to be in the Lord’s will and for that will to be made clear to us as we move through each day.
Now…..
Today in the Daily Nation government officials are arguing they should have guns and bodyguards. I’m not going to get into the gun issue, that’s not the reason for this post, but while these people argue over wanting more for themselves here are a couple of situations we heard about from a friend today:
“i met a woman who was being kept at the hospital with her little daughter because at the time of discharge they could not pay $40 hospital bill. The little girl was not sick, but while playing another child inserted a bead into her ears and after ther mother unsuccessfully trying to remove it, she brought her to the hospital. On that day there was no doctor around and the nurse on duty admitted (into the hospital) mother and daughter. She says her husband abandoned them when the baby was one week old, and that she has another child left alone at their house in a village near Nakuru. She told me that it will take forever for her to pay the bill that keep on increasing daily. I did not promise her anything, but said a prayer with them and left. The bill by now is around $100.“
And this:
“The other day i talked about a man who had been attacked by thugs who broke his leg and robbed him of his money and documents. His name is Dickson, and today was the day set for the broken leg to be fixed. Yesterday, we went to book him to be among those who will be taken to the theatre (operating room) today and we committed ourselves to pay the KES 26,400 deposit money needed by this morning only to be told that we needed to buy the metal plates, rods, screws and pins. Now we are at a crossroad and we don’t know what to do next. The mans leg is swollen and rotting, but the items we were sent to buy, which are only found in Nairobi costs KES 40,000 (Approximately $500).“
Sorry if I get a little testy but sometimes when I relay a corruption story or greed story from Kenya I’ll get a comment from someone in the US saying “sounds like the US.” Really? Have you had to go out and buy your own metal rods and pins which would be inserted into your broken leg? Have you been held hostage at the hospital because you couldn’t pay? Have you been asked by police to give them gas money so they could come out and investigate the murder of a friend? Have you had to pull your dead friends body out of the river because police refused to?
I’m on a roll now:
Have you had to pay for “free” primary education, and if you don’t pay the school will simply send your child home until you do pay? Have you been told by your child’s high school to pay for teachers housing, and again if you don’t pay the school simply sends your child home? Have you had to fetch your daily water needs from an unclean source? Have you had to make the decision to either pay for your child’s “free” education or food for your family?
I understand things in the US are far from perfect, all I ask is for open mindedness to realize situations are different all over the world…and even with the desperate situations we see here in Kenya there is always someone in a worse predicament. I also know some of you have dealt with similar issues as mentioned and to you who are on the battlefield I say Amen and may the Lord continue to give you strength. It’s just some (most) days it really gets my blood boiling.
One of my favorite songs is by Third Day, “Tunnel”
Yes, I know Jesus is the light at the end of the tunnel but when faced with such despair I also have to remember that WE are the ones to point others to that light by going and doing likewise,
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (Parable of the Good Samaritan, Luke 10:25-37)
This post seems a little disjointed but I guess that’s where my head is today and honestly I’m about ready to cry from it all but will give those tears to God. And that reminds me of another favorite Third Day song “Cry Out to Jesus”
If anyone would like to assist with any of these situations or simply be a part of helping on a general level with C4KK Benevolence please visit our secure, online donation site to begin your support. Thank you for your prayerful consideration.
Please forgive me if I have offended you, that was not my intent. My frustration just seems so raw today…I know there is light at the end of this tunnel and I’ll cry out to Jesus for His help.