S-T-R-E-T-C-H-E-D and Exhilarated

Lynne’s time in Webuye

WOW. What an incredible 5 days it has been in Webuye, observing and participating in the work of AOET Kenya. I now have such a great understanding of every blog entry my daughter and son-in-law have made (www.dowellhome.com). And as Andrea expected, I have fallen in love with Kenya and it’s gracious people.

The work AOET is doing is so huge. They stand in the gap for orphans and vulnerable children in a most unique way. For those who have read the book, “When Helping Hurts,” about poverty alleviation efforts, they are all about rehabilitation and development. It is amazing the difference sponsorship of one child can make to an entire family. More about that later.

We spent this week going to various homes and schools, driving for hours on roads that to the untrained eye look unpassable. But not to the Pajero! It is by the grace of God alone that my neck and back only need a couple hours rest and we’re back in working order after an 8 to 10 hour day on the road. We drive as far as we can into the interior and then walk from there. Every square inch of land is used to the max – small 8 X 12 mud houses and then corn and beans and other crops planted on their acre. This is a most desperate time for them as the drought has just ended and the new crops have not yet been harvested.

I could tell you SOOO many stories, but let me just tell you what God did today. We went to the school of Lydia, a beautiful young woman that Tom and I sponsor, paid her school fees and then found that she had been sent home because she could no longer see the board or textbooks at all, even though she is a top student. So we picked up her sister Faith and drove out to their mud hut (by the way, the children walk the 2 miles to school, home for lunch, and back to school and back home every day – shoes are rather important!). The poverty was staggering. Mama has 6 children, 1 who is severely mentally and physically impaired yet deeply loved and cared for, all who live in a tiny mud hut that was falling down. One room. So little to eat. Heartbreaking, but yet their joy and trust is God is so moving.

We looked at the paper from the doctor saying Lydia’s sight was 3000/200 – hokey smoke! And then we found out what the combination cost was for her schooling (so vital to have any hope of an improved life) AND her glasses – can anyone guess? Yep, exactly the amount we had sent for her for this term! So we got to load up mama and Lydia and drive them into town to get her glasses!

As I was rejoicing in that and hugging mama, she said something in Kiswahili and the children started scurrying. Out of their abject poverty, they gave us 2 chickens! She was so grateful (and as I have learned, they TRULY and COMPLETELY believe that as they are obedient in giving, God will care for them). Andrea has told so many stories of having live chickens thrust into her arms, and now I have my own story! As they sit in the back deck squawking, I am again humbled and challenged by the faith of these precious Kenyan brothers and sisters.

Next week, Andrea is researching 2 boarding schools for mentally and physically challenged children nearby. Mama’s son mentioned above, Levi, would so benefit by something like this school. Anyone want to sponsor Levi? Or Lydia’s sister Faith, PRECIOUS girl. Or so, so many others. Being here makes me want to get on my hobby horse and URGE you to consider this, but we’ll trust God to move in the hearts he wants moved! If you are curious, check out www.aoetusa.com.

I’m not sure what has been my highlight here: hearing my son-in-law preach, hearing my daughter teach an awesome message from the Word, or seeing all these precious faces and all the good being done in Jesus’ name. But I am leaving here in the morning changed and challenged, stretched and exhilarated. Thank you, Abba Father! And pour your BLESSING on this group and on my children and on “the least of these.”