Honorable Desperation

Our trip is coming to an end. What an amazing experience. We have been touched in so many ways, by so many people. So many wonderful, loving, generous, embracing people. Did we accomplish all the goals we set leading up to this journey? No, not hardly. To do so, we would have needed much more time. And money. Honestly, I don’t think we really had a clue what was needed here, what their life was really like, the extent of their daily struggle……. our goals were naive. Our perception of the large scale striving simply to survive was certainly understated. Equally overstated though, was their perception (and hope probably) of the ability of these two visiting Americans to help them overcome their numerous, daunting challenges.

What do you say to a person who is respectfully, dignifiably begging for help? A person who you know is doing everything they can to make ends meet, doing all they can to support not only their own immediate family but also the families of their siblings since the vast majority are not working and have no income. How does one say “sorry, I just don’t have the means”, when clearly skipping one “night on the town” would make available enough to actually change, in a very significant way, the lives of many for months. Constantly our minds were filled with thoughts of “we know we can’t help them all, but we can help some”. I don’t feel guilty for my many blessings in my life, but I know I need to share them. Its easy to find the desire to help such a people who have nothing but hope. And hope they do have. And faith. One of the few things they can afford.

When I think back over the last weeks, certain images float through my mind.

• Cars that barely climb the hills, and smoke so much trying to do so.
• Far greater numbers walking as most don’t even have smoking, dilapidated cars.
• Bicycles used for transport, carrying much more than I can get in the boot of my “Z”.
• Barefoot people. So many barefoot people. Regardless of rain or shine, young or old.
• Mud everywhere.
• The most “spoken” word we heard was “Karibu” (welcome).
• The most unspoken was “help me please”.
• Such generous people, willing to give so much when they have so little.
• Amazing animals.
• Beautiful children. Always smiling. Always waving.
• Bongos and singing. And dancing. Loving life easily. Still don’t know how they do it.
• Boiled tea with boiled milk and sweetened with something. Extended to us in every home we visited. I know most couldn’t afford it. But they couldn’t imagine us leaving with sharing a cup.
• The sorriest excuses for “homes”, defying gravity somehow to remain upright, and the occupants feeling blessed because at least they have some sort of roof over their heads.
• Children thrilled to be in school, embracing an opportunity to learn. Their parents never had such a chance.
• Talented, driven, dedicated teachers at Little Flower Institute, truly having the students’ best interests, and often at significant personal sacrifice to do so.
• Poverty.
• More poverty.
• A hospital creating miracles everyday.
• An ugly disease called AIDS, residing in the most beautiful, undeserving children.
• Annual incomes, monthly incomes, daily incomes…. so small…..needed to provide so much.
• The purity of the simple joy of just being happy to be alive another day.
• The never-ending reminder how lucky we are.
• Embracing that reminder.
• Still embracing it.

This trip may be coming to an end, but we won’t ever forget our new friends. The goals we started out with may not have been satisfied, but we have new ones, ones we will continue to try to successfully complete. Eventually. God willing.

We can’t do it alone though. So little really can help so many people. I know so many generous people back home, in the greatest country on earth, just looking for a way to help if they only knew how. Or who. Or where. We can help with that. There is a little red tape, but we are working through it. There is no administrative overhead needing to be covered before “donations” make their way to the end user…… 100% of any contribution will reach the intended destination. We have the Arch Bishop’s word on that. He is a good man, we trust him.

The list of needs is endless. Dr. Miena, resident miracle worker at the hospital needs a lap top. The third hand one he has now doesn’t even have the capacity to play “pong” and is better used as a door stop for the swinging doors of the operating room that no longer swing. (For most of you younger than me, “pong” is a game from a time long ago, needing almost no memory to run.) The Little Flower Institute needs three or 4 laptops. If these students are ever going to compete, they need access to the internet. “Dell’s” lowest end laptop, running about $500 or less if on special, would be more than adequate for Dr Miena and Little Flower. A cost achievable only in their dreams, but maybe not for some of us.

The teachers at Little Flower make $100 a month, if they get paid that month. This has to support so many in most cases. Its a wonder these talented educators haven’t moved on to more consistent, substantial employment opportunities. Their predecessors did. Any financial supplement to this meager salary would be a blessing. There are seven of them. There should be more, but there simply is not the funding available. They are willing to shoulder the burden, and they do a good job, but it has to get heavy when they do it for virtually nothing and their personal family demands are so great. We need to help them.

Fortunately primary education is now available to all for free. But this only goes through the equivalent of what we think of as high school. The Little Flower Institute is doing a magnificent job of providing a skill set which will enable their students to hopefully find a way to stay off the streets and actually have a “career”. Unfortunately, this education isn’t free. Each school year consists of three terms, and room, board, books, tuition is about $500 per student for the entire year. Unfortunately, an increasing number of kids are finding their parent(s) simply don’t have the ability to pay. The school tries to let them stay anyway as long as possible, but this places such a burden of the meager resources already expected to go so far. They have a “sunshine fund” which was originally set up to help cover these “emergency” needs, although it is empty most of the time. Replenishing it would help so many.

These needs are not “one time” by any stretch. They will be ongoing. But helping them even one time is one time more than they have experienced so far. I wish you could have been there with us. There is no way to share with you what we felt with words alone. To feel their “pain” but at the same time to be in awe daily of their positive approach to finding a way to “get through another day” and always with a smile. You would love them. We did. Do. The needs of this little community in Nyeri are certainly not unique. There are many places in this world in similar need, and all very deserving. We really are blessed to be born here. Help someone, somewhere.

If you think our friends in Nyeri might be some you want to help, they would be grateful. If you have a thought how you might want to help, please let us know. No effort is too small. You can either reply to this website or email us directly at kkearns@ebay.com to talk about it.

Soon we will have a link where you can go to see all our photos. As soon as we do, we will let you know. We will keep updating this blog, there is still a message to share. Better if we do that from home though. We are so thankful for the chance to come to Nyeri and meet the most amazing people. We are also equally thankful we live in America. Thanks to all who have supported us during this journey with prayer, kind thoughts and words. Very much appreciated. See you soon.