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

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