Maasai Development Project

The Maasai Development Project Blog will be used by members to post updates particularly while on trips to Kenya. Here you can view these posts and make comments.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Samwel Falls into the Fire

Sunday morning when I arrived in Kajiado to meet with the Division for the food distribution in KMQ, I was met by MDP Lay Pastor, Daniel Sinti. Daniel and his wife, Florence are foster parents for baby Samwel. whom MDP is sponsoring. Samwel's mother was a class 8 student at the Kajiado Rescue Center when she became pregnant. The baby was placed into the Sinti's home so that Samwel's mother could continue her education.

Daniel told me that Samwel had just fallen into the cooking fire and had burned his arm badly. Transport was arranged to carry baby and mother to the hospital. That evening, arriving back from the food distribution in KMQ, I went to the hospital to visit Samwel where he had been admitted. As I walked into the room, there was also another baby girl about the same age who that morning had fallen into a cooking fire. My heart broke as I saw the pain in the mother's eyes and the children. Florence was instructed to hold Samwel's arm away from his side and straight for 48 hours. What can be more painful than to see your child in pain and know you can't take it away? I spent some time with the two mothers and prayed with them before saying goodbye. I want to express my appreciation to those who contribute into the medical fund for such emergencies as this.

On Thursday, I am happy to say, Samwel was released from hospital. He is still on medication and must be very careful while continuing treatment but other than the scarred arm should have full recovery.


Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org
Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.
Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage. When you save a child, you save a village.


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Maasai Baptism

This last week seemed to be on fast forward, so am taking a day off today to rest before finishing up in the office tomorrow and flying out tomorrow night.

Last weekend was very eventful and a highlight for me on this trip. Sabbath, 28 Maasai men and women were baptized from the KMQ area at the Kajiado main church. There were supposed to be 30 but two of them missed the transport vehicle. We sent Ogecha back to get them but by then they had already walked home. Word came to us later, that they were so disappointed that they missed the baptism. I guess the lorry we hired to bring them wanted to go somewhere after dropping them so did not want to wait for them. The candidates were well received by the church who provided food for them. This was especially appreciated because most people came with hungry stomachs due to the continued drought in their area. After the baptism we presented each candidate with a Ki-Maasai Bible.

As we were sitting in church that morning, to our surprise, MDP Lay Pastor, Joseph Sampao was called to the front for ordination as church elder. Our workers had kept this as a surprise. What a privilege to witness this event. It was a long day, but one that I would not have missed for anything.

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org
Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.
Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage. When you save a child, you save a village.

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Thursday, May 21, 2009

Hunger

Yesterday I spent some time reading through monthly reports of our MDP Lay Pastors and Literacy Teachers. Each one from a particular area had the same message. Please pray that this drought will be over. In most of Kenya, the rains have come and yet there are still areas where drought is causing havoc. Let me share with you a few of our reports.

"....Nearly 3/4 of the people have migrated to the neighbouring country of Tanzania while others have gone to Kajiado South district. For those who were left back we are praying for all those who have lost their animals" Literacy Teacher, Christine

"I experienced that anything can affect peoples life, even drought. In our area there was a rich man having four hundred cows and then drought became higher and happens that his cows are dying all the time.

One morning the man met 20 cows dead, he wondered so much with many questions on his head and so surprised about it, that he thought the end of the world had come. The man fainted and was admitted for three days in the hospital without eating or drinking.

It was a lesson to me that we need a lot of prayer and to read the Word of God every day. To have strong faith in God and believe God and not our cattle." Literacy Teacher, Jacklyn

"Due to this drought it is affecting our adult classes. People are busy struggling for their animals and also food to eat because now days in most cases many people are fainting because they are too hungry"

"The situation is very difficult according to this month concerning the drought and famine that is affecting our people and animals. In fact most of the people were loosing hope because of this drought and it is becoming a national disaster.....Those who have not moved, it is very difficult to meet them because they are struggling for their food. In fact we are praying a lot so that our Lord may remember us." Lay Pastor Julius Mooke

"Natural calamity is a major problem at my place. Cattle are dead and people are going up and down looking for pasture and water. Most people are hungry" Lay Pastor, Justus Korinan

While the rain fail has delayed,, so many people lost hope and their trust to God. Therefore they began to offer sacrifices to God so that they will receive rain. If at all you tell them that they put their trust in God and not in sacrifices and they will still receive rain, they say, "Us Maasai are loosing some of these things just because we have left our culture and what we were doing before." I looked at them and wondered, where are we heading too?" Literacy Teacher, Nancy

I slept very little last night, I could not stop thinking about these people. We want to teach them about God, teach them to read and receive education. What do they learn from an empty stomach? Is the God we are teaching in theory only or is He a God of action? Did not Jesus first feed the hungry and heal the sick and then touch their hearts with his message of love? When Jesus was asked, "who is my neighbor", what did he say? Whoever is hungry, whoever is homeless, whoever is needy, these are your neighbors.

With this in mind, I am pledging to use the money I brought over to fix the shower in my bedroom and I will use it to feed my hungry brothers and sisters. I would like to challenge each of you to ask God what He wants you to do to help. One person alone cannot do very much but together we can change a community. Please send your tax deductible donation for "Feeding the Hungry", to Maasai Development Project, PO Box 394, Harvey, ND 58341 or make an online payment through this web site. Please pray for me and those who are in the field working to touch lives for Jesus.


Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time
.
Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage. When you save a child, you save a village.


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Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Hungry People

Yesterday, we were scheduled to visit Masharu to check on a place for the mission trip clinics coming up in July. Also to work on getting custody of little Gracie for MDP lay pastor, Julius Mooke, who has been caring for her.

As we were nearing Mashuru, we found Julius walking along the road, he was out on visitation. He joined us in the vehicle and all was fine until we came to the riverbed that is dried up about 50 yards wide and now just a sand bed. As we ventured out, we got stuck, not just a little stuck, but STUCK. Soon we had about 10+ Maasai men who showed up to help, plus about 4 women. We collected tree branches to put under the tires as they dug the sand away from them. I'm trying to think how to give a word picture, but can't come up with one, you would just have to be there to see it. About 45 minutes later, the vehicle was free and we were on our way again.

One of the men that had come to help was introduced to me as Gracie's father. When she was first rescued 5 years ago, she had been sitting along side the road, starving. Her feet were badly burned and infected from having walked across hot coals. At that time, her grandmother who later died, had full care of Gracie because her parents had deserted her. Imagine my surprise when introduced to her her father,on the day I was there to get legal custody for her.

Even though the family has returned,Gracie is still living and being cared for by the Mooke family. I asked the father what he was wanting to do about Gracie. He said that he was willing to give up all rights to her, the Pastor could keep her. So I wrote up a paper saying such and he signed it, along with Julius Mooke and two witnesses.

We added the father to our bulging vehicle and went to the nursery school where Gracie is now attending. She is a happy little girl in school. After taking pictures of her with her classmates, we left to do other errands in the area. When we were finished the father asked us to please visit his home and have a cup of milk. When we arrived at his home, we met his wife and three more children. The youngest, a four month baby is so malnourished that he looks like a living skeleton. The mother is not mentally stable and unable to care properly for her children. It was difficult to leave them knowing that the baby could possibly die in a short amount of time.

Upon our return to Kajiado, we visited the Child Services Department in regards to Gracie's situation. Next week, they will officially grant 3 years custody to the Mooke family.

Starving People

While the rains have fallen in many areas of Kenya now, there are still areas where the drought continues and people are starving. A few of our stations in the interior area past Kajiado, are included. The cattle and goats have died and people are starving. MDP coordinator, Patrick Muyia, reported that one church family was especially having a difficult time with no food. I went to a shop and purchased a week or two worth of food to send down to this family, a bit frustrated knowing this is just a temporary fix. Such a small drop in such a vast ocean. It was a feeling of almost hopelessness.

As I was finishing my purchases, another lay pastor walked up. I asked him where he was coming from. He informed me that the East Central Division had set up a feeding program and he was just returning after pleading for food distribution in his station area. They asked him to bring a list of starving people from the area with the number of people in each family. They would then see about getting some food to them. We are praying that food will get to this area soon.

My mind is reeling, what can we do? How can we do it? I feel guilty eating a meal, knowing that two hours away, people are starving. Yesterday, the man I bought food for had sent a message to me, "please don't you have any work that I can do for you"?

Often times after years, a person can become a bit hardened to certain situations. On this trip I asked God to let me see through His eyes with a broken heart the adversities that I may have become so used to that I no longer was affected. He has done just that. These are not people somewhere that I hear about on TV, these are my neighbors. I pray that God will help me find a way to add drops of water into the vast ocean, drop by drop by drop until it is full.


Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage. When you save a child, you save a village.


____________________________________________________________
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Monday, May 18, 2009

Thought for the Day

MDP has a "Goat Bank" project in which a she goat is bought for a widow lady. The first offspring of the goat is given back to MDP to pass on to another widow, there after, the widow is able to build up a herd. This enables the widow to provide milk for her children and eventually provide a small income for her as well.

A year ago, a decease went through called Rift Valley Fever, killing many of the livestock and goats. As I visited with the participants of the program many of them had already lost their goat. A plan was made for the remaining goats to receive vaccinations to hopefully save those that were left and not yet affected by the decease.

That day, I went to visit a crippled grandmother, a participant of the goat bank project. At the same boma was another widow with three children, who was also a participant. Upon inquiry, the younger widow told me that her goat had already died and that the goat of the grandmother was affected. The goat was losing function of it's legs and unable to stand. She showed me the goat and indeed it kept falling down, trying to stand up but continually falling. I asked the grandmother if she would like me to pray for her goat, to which she readily agreed. I prayed for the grandmother and that God would save the life of her goat by healing it. After visiting a bit longer, I left.

Last week while in Siana, I asked about the grandmother's goat. I was told that the goat was healed and healthy. Some say that we should not bother God with little things, that He was bigger things to worry about, but God has shown me over and over that nothing is too small for His love and care. Often times He is just waiting for us to ask. There is nothing to small or to big for Him, if anything affects you, it affects Him, so seek, ask and praise Him today.

Have a blessed day!

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage. When you save a child, you save a village.


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Nyanchwa and Kamagambo

After spending a short time with our workers in Lamek, we continued on our journey to Kisii to visit some of our sponsored secondary students there.  We were soon met with torrential rains, small rivers running along the road. It was about a three hour journey from Lamek to Kisii.  We planned to visit Sylvia and Christine in Nyanchwa, Sabbath evening and then after a nights rest continue to Kamagambo to visit Martha before starting our 6 hour trip back to Nairobi.  Because of the rains we weren't sure we we could even make it to the school.  However, we made it and had a good visit with the girls.

Sylvia has only been at Nyanchwa for about two weeks.  In February when in Siana, the chief had come to us and asked that we assist him in rescuing Sylvia from a forced marriage.  Having completed grade 8 in November, her brother informed her that she must now be married and had even accepted dowry for her.  Long story short, one of our lay workers accompanied the chief with our driver to her home and picked her up and put her in a protected home as her brother was very angry that he might lose the dowry.  Because first term was ending in three weeks and not starting again until May, arrangements were made with one of our lay workers, Wilson Kinyeke to tutor Sylvia everyday to prepare her to start grade 9 second term. 

The girls were excited to meet see us and we had a wonderful visit with them.  Christine already being at Nyanchwa a full term, starting her second was right at home and so happy to be there.  She was taking Sylvia under her wing, helping her to adjust.  It has been a bit of a hardship financially transferring these girls to a private boarding school for secondary, but as they shared with us with excitement we knew that no sacrifice is to great.  They are living with hope!  

Thank you to the sponsor of Christine, you are making a difference in her life now and for eternity. 

We will be having to raise the sponsorship fees for the secondary students as it costs approximately $1,050 per year for school fees, books, uniforms, school and personal supplies for the year.

Sylvia is still needing a sponsor.  If you are willing to help Sylvia, or partially sponsor her, you can find her picture and short bio on the sponsorship web page.  Please contact us at 701-324-2699 for more information.

Sunday morning we were in the vehicle once again, heading this time to to Kamagambo to visit Martha Ngoshosh.  Martha scored very high in her government exam last year as she completed her 8th grade year.  Already at Kamagambo she is number one in her class.  Her goal is to be a Doctor.  We told her when she finishes we would like to see her open a clinic in Siana.  She smiled, her eyes lit up as she said  that she would love to do just that.  She had fun showing us her dorm room.  She is in a newly built dormitory with only 4 girls to a room.  Arrangements had been made for one of the girls to move to  another room so that when Florence arrived today actually, that she would room with Martha.  Martha shared how excited she was to have Florence come, now they would be two Maasai girls and she wouldn't feel so alone and homesick for her "MDP family" in Siana.

Remember these girls in your prayers.  They face many challenges but are enthusiastic and grateful for the opportunities that you sponsors have given them in life.

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project -
www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage.  When you save a child, you save a village.

 

Lamek

Early Saturday morning after visiting with Florence at her home, we headed for Lamek a new station that has recently been established.  We were told that three of our MDP lay pastors were going to start a series of evangelistic meetings that night.  We wanted to spend time with their small group, worshiping, encouraging and praying for God's Holy Spirit to enable them for the challenges ahead of them and also for the hearts of those attending the meetings.  We had not realized just how far and interior Lamek was and appreciated even more the efforts of our Lay Pastors. 

David Kirampa, stationed at Lamek, shared a heart breaking story with us.  There is a young Maasai man that has given his heart to God.  He was waiting with anticipation for the meetings because he wanted to show publicly his decision by baptism.  However, his father became enraged at him to such an extend that the boy had to run away for protection.  He went to Narok town, about a three hour drive away to hide from his father, but sent a message that he would return for the baptism.  However, his father found out where he was and had the police arrest him and throw him in jail.  Somehow, he was able to get someone to pay his bail and he is out yet still in hiding.  Can you imagine being threatened and beaten by your father and having to run for your life in order to serve God?  Please pray for this young man as he continues to courageously step out in faith to follow God.

I wanted to visit with him yesterday on our way back through Narok, but as he is in hiding, James did not know where he was.  However, he is going to arrange for us to meet at workers meeting a week from next Friday.  I look forward to meeting this young man, listening to his story, encouraging and praying with him. 

David Kirampa is one of our new MDP lay pastors and is needing a sponsor.  Sponsorship is $120 per month. 

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project -
www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage.  When you save a child, you save a village.

 

The Siana Rescue & Education Center

In February/March of this year, I shared how the community had revoked the land originally given out to Maasai Development Project for the purpose of building a Rescue Hostel and other income generating projects.  (See previous blog entry)  When the new plot was allocated, the first impression was a bit disappointing.  However, I had a peace about the plot knowing that God would not take something away without a purpose and plan, which He made clear on this trip.  Last Tuesday, I received a phone call from the head teacher at Siana Primary School.  He said that he had good news and that the surveyors were to come that day so that by the time we arrived at Siana on Thursday, the land would already be demarcated.  I was excited, knowing that one of the biggest hurtles had just been met.  A meeting was set up with the MDP Director and Administrator, the community and the builder, Josh Knowles for Friday morning. 

When everyone was together, the community committee walked the property lines,discussing how the land would be developed.  Originally the plan was to build the hostel, learning center, bakery, posho mill, and church.  When the plans were presented to the community in February, they were excited about the posho mill, leaving the impression that we would have the only posho mill in the area.  However, on this trip we were informed that there was already a posho mill but they wanted MDP to build one to shut down the one already established shop.  As you can imagine, we were disappointed in the news, we certainly were not going to build something that would cause someone else to lose their business.  Thus while walking the property we discussed the best way to develop the land and provide an income generating activity for the hostel.  It was suggested that we do gardening, one, we could use it for feeding our children and two the surrounding community, tent camps and lodges depended on vegetables coming from either Narok or Nairobi and would benefit from a local fresh produce source.  The market would be much more lucrative than if we were to have a posho mill. 

First we had to find out where the water source was going to come from and how much there would be.  After walking the 15 acre property line, the committee took us on a hike to the surrounding hills to find the water source.  Long story short, you can imagine our excitement when we realized that water was already being piped in not far from us so that we could pipe into the already existing water line.  The only thing we would have to do is get permission from the community which the committee assured us they could have within the week.  In the previous plot, it would have been much more difficult to get water much less have enough for gardening.

Time was spent again with the community people that had come explaining the objectives of Maasai Development Project, the development plans and how the community would be involved.  Previously I had requested that the community be responsible for 25% of the project, so reminded them of their commitment to the project as well.  Josh then met with the people to share with them how they could contribute to the building project.  It is with enthusiasm that we are anticipating the beginning of the long awaited project. 

After the meeting we went back to the room where the children stay during holiday.  It is too small for the group that we now have.  We will be sitting down and determining the most critical cases of those most at risk if some can go home or to extended family members during school holidays, (One month holidays, three times a year).  Some of the children will have to find other places to stay until the hostel is finished.  When we told the some of the children that we are just about ready to start the building, they became so excited, their faces visibly lit up at the news. 

We will be meeting with Josh next week in Nairobi, who is putting together a master plan of the 15 acre development.  The plan will be posted on our web site when it is complete.  Already you can find the plans for the hostel on the home page of the web site with the cost estimates.  We are needing $20,000 to complete the hostel. 



 

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project -
www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage.  When you save a child, you save a village.

 

Tithing Cows

When we arrived at Siana Thursday evening, James Nanka told us about a Maasai man who after study of the Bible was convicted that he should tithe his cows.  We were invited to his home to witness the counting of his cows and the setting apart for tithing.  This experience is a first for me in Maasailand and I was most anxious to meet this man and his family.  We arrived early in the morning before the cows were taken out for pasture.  In the homestead there were four families living together.  Normally all the cows from the four families are pastured together, but they were waiting for this young man (Amos) to count his cattle.  Besides Amos and his wife, Sophie, there were 3 herdsmen to help with the process.  First they had to separate out their cows from the combined herd and put them in a corral.  Standing in the middle of the herd, we witnessed first hand what a challenge this alone was.  Once the cows had been put in the corral, the counting began.  The cows were let back out of the corral.  They posted our MDP lay pastor, James Nanka at the entrance with a long stick and as they went through the gate he counted 1 - 10, the 10th marked for tithing.  There were a total of 37 cows in Amos's herd. 

God did a really awesome thing during this process which did not miss the attention of one person from that family.  In the counting there was one calf that came through first, 10 cows later was a female cow, 10 cows after that was a bull.  What is the odds of the mother and her calf being two of the three chosen from the herd?  That is exactly what happened.  Remember that James had no idea which calf belonged to which mother, he was only counting and marking every 10th cow.  The family was amazed by this, saying that if the mother and calf had to be separated at that time, it would have been very difficult, but with them being together, it would be much easier to sell them without separation. 

Amos then gave his testimony.  He had become a Christian and had been studying his Bible.  He was convicted that God wanted him to tithe.  However, in the Maasai culture, you don't sell your cows, above all you don't give them away.  Cows are your wealth and even in times of drought the cows will not be sold, the owner will stay with his cattle even until the last one dies. It is not unheard of to hear that a man has committed suicide after his last cow dies during a drought.  Amos said he struggled in his mind over this issue for a long time and resisted the conviction in his heart.  However, over the last several months, he lost one cow to a wild animal and another one hurt it's leg and died.  Again, Amos struggled with his conviction and told his wife that he felt God could not bless his cows unless he was willing to tithe them.  Thus, he called James Nanka and asked him to please help him tithe his cows.  His story touched me and I asked if I might pray with and for his wife and family.  Many people think Amos is crazy, but I can tell you that he is crazy about his God.  I believe that God is going to bless Amos and Sophie for their act of faith as a witness to the surrounding villages.  This story is not over, I believe it is going to continue for years to come.

While at Amos's homestead, I noticed a lady sitting by the side of her hut, I asked Sophie who she was.  She said it was a widow with four children that her father in-law had taken into his home and was caring for.  In fact one of the herdsmen was her son and had recently married a 14 year old girl.  The lady had cut her knee with a machete and unable to do anything.  She had received medical treatment and the leg was healing.  However, this gave us another opportunity to pray with her for healing.  What impressed me so that day was how many opportunities there were for us to pray with individuals and point them to Jesus. 

RESCUED GIRL

While talking to Sophie, she shared with me that the widow's son who had just married the 14 year old standing not far from us and had made an agreement with his wife's father that instead of paying dowry with cows, he would pay dowry with his 12 year old sister (daughter to the widow) as another wife for someone in that family.  The agreement was made, with soon coming plans for the circumcision (female genital mutilation) of the girl and then the marriage.  I had been interacting with the children and taking pictures, but as I was told this story I looked again at this young girl, it struck me just what a child she was.  I was sickened.  Turning to Sophie I asked her, "how do you feel about this"?  She said, "Come with me".  When we had some privacy, she said this is bad and we don't want it to happen, but my husband cannot go against his father.  We agreed that when the date of the circumcision was set that she would send a message to James Nanka who in turn would inform the Child Services Department.  They would then come and rescue the girl and MDP would find a sponsor for her.  I pray that this young girl child will be rescued in time.

At this same Boma was a 9 year old girl, she was very vivacious.  I asked her why she wasn't in school, I was told because she didn't have a uniform.  She could go for free to the government school but there was no money for the uniform.  The uniform was KSH 350/= or approximately $4.50.  Our next stop was the nearby shopping center and the tailor to have a uniform made for her.  This week she should be in school. 

These were two children out of hundreds who will never receive an education unless they are helped.  They will be forced to under go FGM and be married at young ages, as early as 12 years old.  We may not be able to help every child, but one by one, one at a time, you and Maasai Development Project will make a difference for these precious children.  Won't you "Partner" with us to save a child?

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project -
www.4mdp.org

Help Give: Hope for Life - Hope in Life, one girl, one woman at a time.

Your support helps save young girls from under going the horrific FGM and forced early marriage.  When you save a child, you save a village.

 

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Mara Trip

It's been awhile since I've blogged, but last Sunday - Wednesday was office work and nothing really to report.  Finished up the Quarterly Reports and Summaries. 

On Tuesday, Liz Stapf, a volunteer from Portland, OR, came to help set up procedures in preparation for registering the Rescue Hostel in Siana, setting up files, making and printing forms, etc.  Let me introduce you to Liz, she is a tiny petite but mighty young lady.  She had been managing an orphanage in Zimbabwe, a job in a collapsed economy and country filled with violence, inflation and many other trials.  Listening to her stories, it is evident that she has left her heart there with plans to return and start her own orphanage in the near future.  To see a video that she has put together, go to www.waytocare.org .  Although selfishly, I keep hoping she will also lose her heart to Kenya, to help with the management of the Rescue Hostel when it is finished.

Early,Thursday, Liz, myself, Ogoti and Ogecha left for Narok.  Upon arrival, we met with James Nanka, Narok District Coordinator for breakfast and to discuss business.  After our meeting, we went to the police station to register James with a Certificate of Conduct, qualifying him to take care of the rescued children.  Then a trip to the Child Services Department to get advice on registering, and the steps we need to follow in building the Rescue Hostel.  With other errands in between, we finished our business with shopping for one of our girls that we are transferring to Kamagambo SDA Boarding school in Kisii. It was late in the afternoon by the time we were ready to leave Narok town to travel another 2 1/2 hours to Siana.  On arrival Liz and I were too tired to eat dinner but when straight to our room and collapsed into bed. 

Two of our girls had been attending a government school in Narok town.  Some unfortunate issues arose involving a man inciting the girls while attending the school, escalating during the holiday break,inciting the other children in MDP care.  The two girls attending the government school, through their actions and choices forced us to release them from the care of MDP.  Florence, one of the girls was devastated at the consequences and realized that suddenly her "friends" that were encouraging the inciting were no longer there for her.  Her parents decided to marry her off if she wasn't going to attend school.  Florence went into a depression, refusing to eat.  She went to lay pastor, James Nanka's house begging him to forgive her and take her back under the protection and sponsorship of MDP.  Assuring her that she was forgiven but explaining how her choices had forced the decision that had been made, she went home in tears.  Nanka's heart was breaking, he went inside his house and began praying.  Not long after, Florence's brother came to Nanka, telling him to please reconsider, that he was worried about Florence that she might try to commit suicide. 

James Nanka, went immediately to visit Florence to talk and pray with her.  She told him unless she knew she was forgiven she would not eat.  She wrote a letter asking for forgiveness, when I read the letter on Thursday, tears came to my eyes as in the end, she wrote, "I am signing this letter with my tears".  James called her and told her we had purchased her books and she should be ready to leave for school Monday morning.  At the news, she shouted, "I've been saved!".  This last Sabbath morning we went to visit Florence in her home.  On our arrival, she ran out gave me a hug, pulled me aside, asking me to please forgive her.  I told her forgiveness was never in question, that we loved her. Today, she will once again be in school continuing her education. 

I wish that the outcome for Mary had been the same, but she has decided another road to travel, which breaks my heart, but I will continue praying for her, that God will intervene on her behalf.




 

Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project -
www.4mdp.org

Help Give, Hope for Life - Hope in Life

Sunday, May 10, 2009

May 9, 2009

We were scheduled to visit Kora Station, one that I have not been to as of yet, for Sabbath services. After picking up Patrick, MDP Kajiado Coordinator, Ogoti, Ogecha and I headed down into the heat of the Rift Valley towards Magadi. Unfortunately, Patrick was used to traveling to the Kora station via another route. Thus we became lost in the bush with no road. We made a quick decision that since we were so close to Oldonoyoki station that we retrace our tracks and worship with our workers at that station.

Much to my surprise, the lay pastor and literacy teacher for this area had persevered and mobilized the community to built a tin structure for the church. It is not complete, it is dust and dirt floor, no windows and no doors, but it was shade from the sun. The no windows provided a breeze that swept through that was refreshing.

I took a picture of the grass structure they had been meeting in because there is no way I could describe it adequately. I will try to get a picture posted soon. It was so small that lay pastor, Joseph Risianoi had to bend over to stand up in it. They were surprised to see us and we were happy to see the evidence of their hard work. As we drove up literacy teacher Daniel Nkatito was teaching a class for the children and youth inside the grass structure. Inside the church structure, was lay pastor, Joseph Risianoi teaching a class for adults. It was our privilege to present Bibles in Ki-Maasai to those who had been recently baptized and also to those present who were in the current literacy program. Bibles were left for those that were not attending the church services.

The MDP workers with mischievous smiles on their faces,surprised Ogoti Kenani, MDP Administrator, announcing that he would sing a special song. Ogoti,was totally taken by surprise, but being a good sport, got up choosing a song in Ki-Kisii and had the MDP workers sing it along with him in Ki-Maasai. The people loved it.

Someone in the area had just lost a child, so they were mobilizing the people to go visit the family and take up a collection to buy some food for the family. This area has been heavily hit by drought and food and water is scarce in this remote area. My heart went out to each person there sacrificing for their neighbors. It is always encouraging to make surprise visits to MDP stations and see the fruits of the MDP workers. These young men are making a difference in their community.

I would like to encourage you to partner with us in a wonderful opportunity to support MDP workers. Workers that as yet do not have sponsors are shown on our web site. If you cannot fully sponsor a lay worker, you are welcome to partially sponsor what you are able. By sponsoring one of these workers, you will be making a difference not only for individuals but whole communities.


Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org
Help Give, Hope for Life - Hope in Life

Saturday, May 9, 2009

May 6 -8

Wednesday was scheduled for sleeping, unpacking and settling in. However, a wonderful feeling came over me as I woke up at 8:15 am and realized that I had slept all night and not lay awake from 3 am to 6 am as expected. By mid afternoon I was ready to hit the office and start scheduling the rest of the week.

Thursday morning I met with with our MDP Administrator and scheduled appointments for the next three weeks. The rest of the day was back to bookwork in the office.

Friday morning I left for Kajiado to meet with Jacinta Loki, Director of the Rescue Center where MDP sponsors over 40 children. I also met Liz Stumpf, a volunteer who will be helping us at MDP while also volunteering at the Rescue Center to learn more about the Maasai culture and plight of the girl child. By the time our meeting was over, my head was swimming with information. MDP is preparing to build our first MDP Rescue Hostel, and Jacinta was sharing with me all that we would have to do to be compliant with the government. With compliance books in hand with the realization of the work ahead of me on this trip, I was ready for a change of pace.

We got in the vehicle and headed to Bissel. There is a young lady that MDP has been sponsoring for 9 years. She was in Form 1 (9th grade), when she found herself pregnant. Of course she was forced to drop out of school. She was 16 years old and the young man was 21. Jacinta who is a mighty force when it comes to protecting "her" girls wanted to see that the young man was arrested for being with a minor, but first she had to wait until the girl and baby was taken care of. The baby is now 3 months old and if we could find a safe home for the baby, Jacinta felt it was time to send the young girl back to school. We stopped briefly to pick up the chief, who to my great surprise was a former employee of MDP. We had a wonderful time catching up while proceeding to the home where the young girl was staying with her father and grandmother, both of them drunkards. I wanted to cry when I saw how she had been living. This area is known for making home brew and all but one or two people that came around while we were there were drunk or had been drinking. This was not a healthy environment for mother or baby.

We wanted to send the girl back to school, but looking around we wondered what we could do for the baby. We discussed several different options when we were introduced to the girls step grandmother, who does not drink and showed a genuine concern for the girl and baby. The others were encouraging us to just take the baby, but we know that the best thing for the baby if possible is to remain with family if possible. It came out that the son of the step grandmother had offered to supply the grandmother with formula and food for the baby, if the girl could go back to school.

I asked the young girl, "Do you want to go back to school"? "Yes, very much", she said. "How much"? I asked her. "Hundred percent", she replied. "And what about the boys that see what a beautiful young lady you are"? "I will tell them, NO". She said firmly.

The chief called the family together and gave a talk, then Jacinta talked very frankly with the family and with the girl that she is being given a second chance, but should she mess up again, that will be the end of her education. Plans were made to purchase some formula for the baby so within a week the baby can be weaned from his mother and she back to school. My heart broke as I witnessed the love of this young lady for her baby and yet the determination to go back to school and continue her education. Before leaving I prayed for the young girl, the baby and grandmother, that God's Spirit would be upon them. With hugs and good-bys, we left.

Jacinta let the chief know that as soon as the young girl is back to school she expects for the young man to be arrested. The chief has assured us that when the young man shows back up (he ran away when he heard we were there)he will pay the consequences for his actions. Jacinta wants to get a message out to young men forcing themselves on younger girls that they will be prosecuted.

Our dream is to someday set up an alternative school whereby unwed mothers can stay with their children while continuing their education. We have the property, we just need the support and backing to make that dream a reality. This is not an isolated case, but rather one of too many.


Jan Meharry
Founder/Executive Director
Maasai Development Project - www.4mdp.org
Help Give, Hope for Life - Hope in Life