Currently, three First Church members are in Kenya as missioners with Zoe Ministry. Internet has allowed some of us to feel a special connection with them as they have this extraordinary experience. I share some of their thoughts and encourage you to keep them in your prayers as they continue sharing God’s love in Africa.
Some reports from Jean Clemmons:
"…We visited the Maua Methodist Hospital today. The most depressing thing I have ever seen...though they are so proud to have the hospital. The nursery for the premature babies was just deplorable. Had homemade incubators that looked like what mamma and daddy used to hatch biddys. A box with a glass in door and an electric light underneath the the base to give warmth. I talked to a girl (I don't believe she was over 13) who just gave birth to a baby girl ...she was outside with blood on her clothes looking into the window of the nursery.We also toured the lab and patient areas. Had an area especially for treatment for HIV/Aids patients of which they have many. The conditions here are worse than I had ever imagined."
"…This morning we all had a mountain top experience with "Moses". He is a young boy (20 years of age) in the ZOE Ministry who has been in the program 1 year. He touched us all with him ambition and hard work. With the help of ZOE training getting him started with farming, he has a beautiful crop of kale, maize, 2,000 tomato plants, coffee bean trees, and a tea plantation. He sells his crops and re-invest into his farm to increase productivity. He supports and sends 2 siblings to school, and also shares his produce with neighbors who have less."
"…We built a house yesterday and today for an orphan with 5 siblings. She presently is living in a 8x6 hut built with branches and cardboard. One sibling sleeps with her. The others go to different neighbors houses to sleep. I get emotional everytime I look at what sweet little "Faith" (the 17 year old) is presently living in. It is horrible. We will have the dedication for the two houses ( 24ft. x 24ft. 2 bedroom) our team has built on Friday. When we arrived at the site this morning...Faith had done some landscaping after we left yesterday using rocks for borders."
Shannon Hussey says: "...This has been the most wonderful blessing God has given me. I don't plan to simply make a scrapbook of "my tour of misery." See you soon!"
Our friends are part of a larger mission team and one of its members has created a blog to record some of their experiences and reflections. This is well worth reading.
All of this, plus a long-standing interest in Africa and a challenge from Shannon, has left me wondering about what it is that I need to be doing to reach out to my brothers and sisters in this part of the world. In God's time, I will know.
3 comments:
How wonderful! We were touched by a presentation 2 years ago at a NCC youth event and my dad decided to send a donation to ZOE to construct another house. How did they get involved as on sight missionaries? That sounds like a great opportunity. I'd love to hear more.
Susan Graebe, Associate Director, spoke briefly and effectively during a worship service last year and plans for participation soon followed. Contact staff thru their website for more info.
If you go next year, I'll go with you!
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