I’ve been coming to Kenya for the last three years and it seems with each trip God reveals something new that I have not yet seen or experienced here. The purpose of this particular trip is to be introduced to several orphan communities who have invited Project 82 to see what they are doing to care for the orphans in their community and prayerfully consider joining them in their efforts.
Josphine and I spent the first 3 days visiting 5 different communities in the Nyanza Province which is in the western part of Kenya surrounding Lake Victoria. I have never seen the catastrophic and devastating effects of HIV AIDS like we witnessed in this area known for having the highest infection rate in the country. We visited communities where entire generations had been wiped out from this disease leaving only children and the elderly. We met a widow who lost all eight of her children to AIDS and another who had buried 4 of her nine children and had two sons living with her that were also dying. Sadly, their stories were not unique in their communities. We met so many widows with similar stories and all were left struggling to care for their orphan grandchildren who had been left behind.
Many of these women are solely responsible for meeting every need for their grandchildren and they struggle to provide even one meal a day and buy school uniforms so the children can attend school. They farm when the rains come, make pottery or baskets to sell at the market, walk long distances to collect water and firewood, cook, clean..... it is a never ending struggle. As I watched these women interact with their grandchildren and listened to their stories, I was deeply moved by the incredible sacrifice they are making for these children. Its the kind of sacrifice that can only be found where pure love is the solitary motivation. These widows have laid everything down to provide hope and a future for their grandchildren. Today, I am thanking God for the LOVE that motivates them to carry this burden and am praying for the wisdom to understand how Project 82 can also help to provide hope and a future for the orphans.
