IRMing in Kenya

Being past the midway point in our time as International Relief Managers in Kenya, perhaps it is a good time to write some thoughts about this opportunity.

We truly marvel at this chance to serve and to rub shoulders with so many amazing people both within CRWC, at the guest house where we stay and in the communities where we have worked and visited.

Add to that the absolute madness of killings, burning of homes and schools & lootings and then factor in 155,000 victims of the same.. so … put it together and what have you got?? Well you have a beautiful country full of resourceful people whose leaders could well model dishonesty and corruption and yet still you meet the most wonderful people… I can’t imagine anyone not learning to love these people …

Politics are brutal here to say the least and we in Canada do not always acknowledge just how blessed we are… the Kenyan people need to be empowered to manage their villages and regions, they are intelligent and capable … Unfortunately Aids and other diseases take a terrible toll and medical treatment is often not a option… it is a heartbreak to hear from a mom with a six month old hydrocephalic child or a mom whose baby is having trouble breathing…an old woman in pain …to see the extreme poverty of many , the traumatized, the fearful, ----- the problems are many but we have come to bring one thing – food!! …. And that matters very much. The 6000 households who receive the food are very grateful and it is the lifeline that many need to survive this time in history. We focus on the goal

Our distributions are well managed and people are treated with dignity – if you are on the list you get the food whether you are number 1 or number 800. The food comes monthly and reliably – we take no credit for this but have been blessed b the work hat was done before us through our competent team and the previous IRMs.

It is interesting to meet people who just want and need to be heard – sad to meet people who are afraid to talk (‘I might get shot’) – delightful to see the joy on the faces of people the fist time they get food – humbling to be welcomed into a simple home as an honored guest.

We hope this will not be our last opportunity to serve as IRM’s - working here with our excellent National Relief Manager, we have been mainly responsible for monitoring and evaluation of the project, finances and reporting back to the home office n Burlington and to the regional coordinator who is based in Uganda. There are other things to work on as well and one never knows what the day will bring. NEVER!

We have certainly grown closer to God through all of this and give thanks for His hand of grace and protection upon us… we will not forget our colleagues, our fabulous coordinators and facilitators, some dedicated pastors whose deep love for Jesus is so evident, the green hills and valleys of western Kenya, the crazy walks through the markets, drinking Stoney (a very gingery ginger ale), and the roads – the crazy roads!!!

But there is still time to enjoy all these things and more and there is still time to make sure that 600 households get food I December… focus on the goal!! God has written much about such things - and we are encouraged. God is good!!!