A Forgotten Place

I've spent some time in several different communities in the Lakipia District over the past few years. I remember my first visit in November of 2007 like it was yesterday. I was not prepared for what I found when I arrived. While I'd served in other rural areas of Kenya, as well as in other developing countries in the world, I had not seen the level of need and suffering that existed here. It is this area that God used to burden my soul so deeply that I knew He was preparing me for something..... I just didn't know it was Project 82.

A few weeks ago, Josphine Kendi (Community and Projects Coordinator on the ground in Kenya), visited a village that Project 82 was invited to consider working in. Josphine is quite familiar with parts of the Lakipia District having lived there for several years and ministering to the elderly when she could. Still, this village was different...... this is an excerpt from the report I received from Josphine after visiting Lekiji that day.

"I don't know where to start or end. I went to lekiji today and am without words. First, we ride a rough road for about one hour and what I see are elephants, giraffes, baboons....and a few people walking. I almost thought no one really lived here but wait untill we get to the village.

We are met by the chief and a few people and hungry children. The look in their faces show no hope. Everyone was eager to hear what we had to say and so we told them why we had come and immediately one of the villagers volunteers to show us around the village and he went into every detail. He took us to several houses (some of them almost falling in). All these houses are where most of the orphans live. One house had 9 kids and the eldest brother is the one who takes care of them. You will not believe the small house they all live in. Most of the people there die of AIDS. One of the old women there was complaining and she did not want to talk to me because she says so many people have come, taken pictures but done nothing about her problems. I did not promise anything though. It has taken my heart and I hurt for these people. I asked them to pray so that God will open doors for them.

Oh, on my way back I saw a truck fom the city council distributing clean drinking water to the communities and I asked them if they would get to Lekiji but they said no. So you can tell no one really thinks of this community. Also, in the matatu I was riding in there was one woman being taken to hospital for delivery, she did not make it so we stopped and I helped the other lady who was taking her to hospital. She gave birth to a dead baby. This really broke my heart. Pray for this very young lady."

I travel to Kenya on Friday the 28th and Josphine and I will be going back to Lekiji. We are praying for God to make His vision clear for Project 82. Please pray for these people and that God will make clear the path to helping them.