The other day, a woman named Joyce came to our door. She related to us that 10 years ago she lost her husband and had been a widow since then. The death of her husband had been a big loss. She had become a single parent and had started selling vegetables to make a living.
With tears in her eyes she continued that her daughter had died from aids a year ago. She was survived by three small children age 7, 5, and 1½ years. The daughter had not been a Christian and her lifestyle had brought great concern to her mother. All the children had different fathers, which indicate the lifestyle she had had. The children have been checked for aids at the hospital and fortunately they are all healthy.
This grandmother is only 52 years old, but she is in a very stressful financial situation and is struggling to provide for her three small grandchildren. As she said, “I have a job, but I cannot go to work because I have to stay home to look after the children. And not working means no food.”
Due to an unhealthy economy she had no other choice than to move into the slum, where the rent is much cheaper. But the environment is a strain on her, and the children, not the least.
We took with her to the slum to see for ourselves – and were shocked to see her living conditions. All she had was one tiny room with a double bed, where all four of them slept. All of her belongings is the bed and a cupboard for cups, plates, and some utensils. Clothes were in bags and boxes or hanging on a string. There were no chairs, so we sat on the bed, and she was sitting on a bucket.
Her only wish is to help her grandchildren, especially the two eldest, that they might attend school and get an education.
We have been thinking about this family a lot and would love to be able to send them to John and Rosabella’s at the “Love Home”, where they could attend our new school. We are convinced that the children would thrive being there. And that would enable grandma to sell vegetables again and to make a living. The children could come home on vacation and stay in touch with their grandmother.
If any one would like to help this poor lady, please get in touch with us. It would be such a blessing. Then the children could start school. We would all be very happy.
Love from
Tabitha and Torkild
The father disappeared and they have had no contact with him for several years. Ruth is a bright girl in school. Her school decided to sponsor her schooling because they are really poor. For various reasons the school recently shut down and Ruth had to find another school.
The mother cannot afford to send Ruth to another school. Ruth’s grandfather is a Maasai and he wants to have her back in Maasai land. He does not want a girl to get eductaed, but instead follow the Maasai traditions for girls: to be married. Maasais think that only boys should get educated.
Ruth’s mother told me that Ruth’s grandfather had received an offer from an elderly, wealthy Maasai who wanted to pay a very large dowry in the form of many cows in order to marry Ruth. Ruth had been desperate because she wanted to stay in school, get her education and choose her husband when the time was ripe. For this reason the mother and Ruth came to our office asking for help.
We trusted God and sent Ruth to a good, Christian school where she is thriving.
We received a sponsor who will support her until Form 4 is completed. But Ruth wishes to continue for another two years and graduate from High School. If any of you would like to support Ruth for a few more years please write us or send a gift to our missions account. Please earmark it “Ruth”.
