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The Other Side of the World

Cowpuncher

Well-known member
Our daughter is on a two week to Kenya in Africa with an organization trying to help with the AIDS epidemic (and a host of other problems) there. The following is an email telling of her experience so far.

> Dear All - Jambo!!!
> When I say it is our first chance to breathe - it means so many things...
> We left Taveta Village yesterday noon after being with the villagers for 4
> days. My host family shared with me that "history had been made in the
> village" - never before had white people stayed in the village - never
> before had white people entered thier homes and never before had they been
> told about 'why they are dying'. So many of the villagers thanked us - we
> taught on Malaria, Typhoid, TB, Hepatitis and of course HIV/AIDS. The
> village of Taveta sits on the border of Kenya and Tanzania - it took us
> over 10 long dusty hours to reach last week - we were covered in dirt and
> dust most of our time in the village - but while we were maybe a bit
> stretched and out of our comfort zone on the outside...we were stretched
> more on the inside. One beautiful young woman - who had her baby girl in a
> sling spent the entire weekend at our seminars - we learned that when she
> found out she was HIV positive - her husband rejected her - and shortly
> after - her house burned down, now she and baby Violet are living on the
> street...she begged one of our team members to take her baby home with us.
> A moment that hurts the heart more than you can imagine. We literally took
> the clothes off our backs to leave with her. The villagers asked us to
> preach in their churches...again - between, dust, tears and stage fright -
> breathing became something we had to tell ourselves to do!! Hundreds of
> people attended the seminar and between meeting with the village pastors,
> a group of widows and washing over 300 hands...I think Taveta may never be
> the same - I know none of us will. We are at a stopping point between
> Taveta and Nairobi - we will head back to Nairobi tomorrow after resting -
> showering for the first time in four days ( a few of us had dreadlocks
> going we were so dirty!!!) Right now - the fog is lifting and a herd of
> Zebras is at the watering hole maybe 100 feet away - I can see gazelles,
> impalas, the most amazing birds I have ever seen and hear the sound of
> bats, birds and beauty. Yes, I took my first deep breath this morning and
> thanked God for all of you, your support, and your love. Your funds bought
> medicine for women with AIDS, bought food literally for a village - we fed
> the hundreds who attended the seminars - it is buying the land to build a
> WEEP center where widows can sew bed nets to sell so that they may
> survive. This week we will visit a rescue center - the same on you all
> bought matresses for last year, we will help repair and paint an area at a
> local school, we will visit a man who has started an orphange in his home
> and spend time with orphans and widows throughout rural Kenya. This team
> of people I have with me are maybe the most extraordinary group I could
> have ever asked for - as they slept on benches - ate food they couldn't
> pronounce and held babies they knew were dying - never once was there a
> complaint or even a sigh - just love pouring out until I think as we
> pulled out of the village - they left the last drop they had. Please pray
> for a renewed energy as we continue our work. We have another week - and I
> promise - we may be on the otherside of the world - but we are right
> here - and we can feel your love and support. Have a day filled with
> wonder - Love, jen
>


This is her second trip there.
 

Clarence

Well-known member
Thanks for posting that cowpuncher. Something we all should think about. Not just on the other side of the world, but here at home as well. Most of us look from the outside in, and there is so much we can't see. Let us all pray for the people care to work on the inside.
 

Maple Leaf Angus

Well-known member
What a tremendous story, Cowpuncher. Your daughter will never be the same after her trip(s). Our daughter spent three weeks in Malawi 2 years ago. It had a huge impact on her. Before she left, I was afraid that when she came back, she would not be the same girl as left for Africa. My fears were confirmed. She left as my little girl and came back as a young woman.

I will remember your daughter as she works over there.
 

ranchwife

Well-known member
prayers to your daughter and her group with their amazing efforts, cowpuncher!!! I can only imagine the stories she will have when she returns home.....PLEASE make sure she puts them to paper!!
 

Hanta Yo

Well-known member
Thanks, Cowpuncher, I sometimes get into my small little world and forget what is going on (other than the war). I always wondered how those tribes accepted the people going in and teaching them about AIDS, SIDS, etc etc. It sounds as if they are receptive and for that I am grateful and our tax money sent over there for that very reason is money well spent :!: :!: :!: :!: :!:
 

Faster horses

Well-known member
Wow, cowpuncher, she is one to be very proud of. Thanks for posting her email. She is a very talented writer too. I hope, as ranchwife mentioned, that she puts her adventures on paper to share with the world.

Very thought-provoking, indeed. Quite a message there and a glimpse into something that I never think about. But I sure am now...
 

Broke Cowboy

Well-known member
Cowpuncher said:
Our daughter is on a two week to Kenya in Africa with an organization trying to help with the AIDS epidemic (and a host of other problems) there. The following is an email telling of her experience so far.

> Dear All - Jambo!!!
> When I say it is our first chance to breathe - it means so many things...
> We left Taveta Village yesterday noon after being with the villagers for 4
> days. My host family shared with me that "history had been made in the
> village" - never before had white people stayed in the village - never
> before had white people entered thier homes and never before had they been
> told about 'why they are dying'. So many of the villagers thanked us - we
> taught on Malaria, Typhoid, TB, Hepatitis and of course HIV/AIDS. The
> village of Taveta sits on the border of Kenya and Tanzania - it took us
> over 10 long dusty hours to reach last week - we were covered in dirt and
> dust most of our time in the village - but while we were maybe a bit
> stretched and out of our comfort zone on the outside...we were stretched
> more on the inside. One beautiful young woman - who had her baby girl in a
> sling spent the entire weekend at our seminars - we learned that when she
> found out she was HIV positive - her husband rejected her - and shortly
> after - her house burned down, now she and baby Violet are living on the
> street...she begged one of our team members to take her baby home with us.
> A moment that hurts the heart more than you can imagine. We literally took
> the clothes off our backs to leave with her. The villagers asked us to
> preach in their churches...again - between, dust, tears and stage fright -
> breathing became something we had to tell ourselves to do!! Hundreds of
> people attended the seminar and between meeting with the village pastors,
> a group of widows and washing over 300 hands...I think Taveta may never be
> the same - I know none of us will. We are at a stopping point between
> Taveta and Nairobi - we will head back to Nairobi tomorrow after resting -
> showering for the first time in four days ( a few of us had dreadlocks
> going we were so dirty!!!) Right now - the fog is lifting and a herd of
> Zebras is at the watering hole maybe 100 feet away - I can see gazelles,
> impalas, the most amazing birds I have ever seen and hear the sound of
> bats, birds and beauty. Yes, I took my first deep breath this morning and
> thanked God for all of you, your support, and your love. Your funds bought
> medicine for women with AIDS, bought food literally for a village - we fed
> the hundreds who attended the seminars - it is buying the land to build a
> WEEP center where widows can sew bed nets to sell so that they may
> survive. This week we will visit a rescue center - the same on you all
> bought matresses for last year, we will help repair and paint an area at a
> local school, we will visit a man who has started an orphange in his home
> and spend time with orphans and widows throughout rural Kenya. This team
> of people I have with me are maybe the most extraordinary group I could
> have ever asked for - as they slept on benches - ate food they couldn't
> pronounce and held babies they knew were dying - never once was there a
> complaint or even a sigh - just love pouring out until I think as we
> pulled out of the village - they left the last drop they had. Please pray
> for a renewed energy as we continue our work. We have another week - and I
> promise - we may be on the otherside of the world - but we are right
> here - and we can feel your love and support. Have a day filled with
> wonder - Love, jen
>


This is her second trip there.

I hope they have decent security - not all places in that neck of the woods are "friendly".

B.C.
 

Cowpuncher

Well-known member
Following is an e-mail just received from our do-gooder daughter.

Good Morning from Kenya ~
Today will be a day filled with visiting widows who have AIDS, seeing where
they work to sew bed nets - a project started, supported and funded by HEART
and supporters like you. We will head to the Kabira slums - (if any of you
saw Constant Gardener - they are the slums seen in the film - second largest
slum area in the world). There - our hope is to take sewing machines to a
few ladies who are helping to support many, many of the women who are
themselves too sick to work - we are hoping to help them start a project
sewing school uniforms. The primary education in this country is free - but
you must have a uniform to attend. How unfortunate it is when you know a
child could grow and survive and even excel if they had only had a
uniform.at the cost of $30 American dollars - a life can literally be
changed.forever. Yesterday - we were able to see some of the lives of
children who have been given a chance. We spent the afternoon at the Brydges
Rescue Center. If your heart brings any of you to Kenya - you must visit
this orphanage. Brydges has 56 children - all rescued from the streets.and
they sang and danced and put on a play for us - it was magical. The told us
a story - through using a skit - about a young girl who had lost both
parents to AIDS - she was sent to live with an Aunt and Uncle - she was
abused, raped and then she ran. After living on the streets, being robbed,
beaten and urinated on - she came to the Brydges Center - she now is
thriving, learning, sharing and I believe she has a tomorrow. I am wishing
I could attach the sounds of their voices with this letter.I believe it was
the sound of hope. I was also able to hold, kiss and love on a little two
year old boy I met last year - I was sure he would not make it through the
year - but he is laughing, clapping and he too has a tomorrow. Last year he
was suffering terribly from malnutrition, he had rickets, was not able to
walk, speak or be held without crying. Now - because of funds provided by
all of you and many others - he is growing stronger by the day. Oh the joy
in being able to take the money you all sent, walk in the prayers you are
sending up, and know that you are all in this with me - I can do this.I must
admit - I almost broke last weekend - I sat on the floor of my room and I
wept until I couldn't breathe anymore - my sweet friend just held me and
rocked me. I told God "I don't think I'm strong enough to do this anymore" -
and then, I must confess - I got mad at God - and told him "I'm not
ready.this is too hard, just let me go home.I miss my boys and this hurts
too much".in the morning I felt better - but just know - many of you have
said that you don't think you could ever do this, well - sometimes I can't
either.it's YOUR love, YOUR prayers, YOUR support that makes this possible
- never think for a moment that I am anything besides grateful beyond
measure.Asante Sana (thank you in Swahili), Mungu Aku Bariki (God Bless you
in Swahili) and tomorrow I will write with more should the electricity
allow.jen


I guess I am not tough enough to do that sort of thing, CP
 
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