Kerrie Koon – Intern Coordinator
Last Wednesday through Friday we went upcountry to Meru. The situation there is worse than we'd originally thought. We had been told children were unable to attend school because of the drought and thus, starvation; but what we found out on our trip is people are dying because of the drought. It's now that bad. On our way home today we saw a dead donkey and a dead horse on the side of the road. The good news is we were able to take food to the children in our Kids For School program and their families; about 135 out of a village of 60,000. They were SO grateful!
Wednesday was a travel day and we arrived in the evening at Pastor Joshua’s and his wife Eunice. It was encouraging to see his smiling face despite the desperate situation there.
Thursday morning we headed to site where the food would be distributed. As they were preparing, our team headed to a school that is suffering so much. Their school is normally about 670, students but because of the drought it is down to about 60, in the afternoon because the children have nothing to eat. They are eating a small fruit that grows on trees in that area called, “White fruit” and blades of grass.
Their head teacher although still fairly new, showed us their efforts at planting a garden but due to the drought it was wilted stalks of maize in the dust; quite sad.
We returned to the food distribution site and helped to give out maize and beans. The people were so grateful and we were grateful to be able to help them in this way for the short term.
After the food distribution we headed to a second school in the afternoon. We were privileged to be accompanied by the Assistant Chief to the second school where we had the opportunity to address a group of Standard 8 students. It was neat to be able to encourage the students to follow their dreams as we had all three of the HEART interns there: Ashley who’s finishing up Medical School, Katie who planning to attend Law School next year and Tina who graduated with her degree in International Business.
The following day we were able to visit Joy who was recovering in the hospital after being severely burned.
One of the things I’m always amazed at is the capable leadership of Isaac. He coordinated the trip so well and was so personable to all he encountered.
It was truly an amazing experience and I’m so grateful I was able to be part of it.
Ashley Pavlic
As we got closer to Meru, the bushes began to turn a shade of reddish brown. The dust was so thick it covered the leaves. Dry. The crops, mostly corn and a cash crop called “mirah,” were wilty, if they had sprouted at all.
While we were waiting for the food to be distributed, we visited two schools. To get to the first, we followed a road along a mountain, affording views of vast dusty fields with sporadic green shoots. The children, in their bright blue uniforms, all yelled and ran to their doorways as we approached. Doorways without doors, because funding had run out. We met with the head teacher in the “staff room” and he told us that the school should have 670 pupils, but most days, because of the drought, only 200 can make it. Some of the others, he passes on the road on his way to school. They are hauling grass and sticks and empty water jugs, to try to sell the sticks in the neighboring town and return with some water to drink. At lunchtime, the children go home, and in the afternoons, of the 200, only about a fourth return. The rest have gone home to find there is no food in the house and their parents are away searching for work, and they cannot work up the energy to make the walk back to school.
The head teacher showed us the “fruits” the children are eating now, to quell the hunger pains. Hard, dried little berries. Nothing fruit-like about them. This is all that some of the children have to eat? We discussed sustainability with the head teacher, and he said that they had divided up their land to allow each child to plant some maize and beans. But, because of the drought, nothing was happening. They thought some seeds and fertilizer would help, but only if there was at least a little bit of rain.
We were welcomed into the first grade classroom, and the children sang for us so joyfully and exuberantly that perhaps one could have thought they were on a sugar high. But one only needed to look into their eyes to see their hunger. I’ve never felt it so tangibly. Their uniforms draped on their frames, and their little shoes seemed awkward at the end of their thin little legs. Isaac talked with the director about doing some sustainable gardening. The director said they already have divided up plots of land for the children, but without rain, there is not much they can do. Seed and fertilizer would reduce the amount of rain necessary, but some would still be needed.
We then went to the food distribution. All of the KFS kids and their grandmothers assembled in front of us, and two girls got up to recite a poem. The poem was quite hard to hear – about how they had been abandoned by their teachers, parents, and many others. Who would help them? Then several of the grandmothers got up and danced and sang for us. Pastor Joshua said, “They are rejoicing because they have prayed to God. And He has answered their prayers.” Wow. A few dollars answered their prayers. I’m not an emotional person, but I teared up at that.
We spent the next few hours scooping out 5 kg bowls of corn kernels from burlap sacs. The corn was mixed with rocks and white dust puffed up at us with each vigorous scoop. The children and grandmothers were quiet as we scooped for them. Some of them were looking in awe. Perhaps this is the most food they have ever seen in one place in quite a while. Some had hardened faces. How many nights had they gone hungry before this? And how long would this last?
We did what we could. We had enough food to give a two week supply for each of the children in the Kids for School program, as well as their family members living in the same home. We stayed overnight, and when I awoke the next morning, I swore I heard raindrops. I dismissed it, thinking it must be the wind because it had not rained there in months. But, sure enough, as we drove away, we saw that the roads were damp. It was not much of a rain, and would not make crops spring up suddenly. But I couldn’t help thinking that there was something miraculous about it, that there might be something greater going on that we were a part of. I’ll keep those in Meru in my prayers. They need them.
Katie Bowman
The other interns, the intern coordinator, and I recently returned from a trip to Meru. This was my first time staying upcountry and it was definitely very memorable. Tragic is the word that comes to mind when thinking about what we saw. The drought has caused such severe hardship and famine that many are not merely struggling, but dying. A long-term solution is needed, but we took the trip to do what we can to help in the short-term. We conducted a food distribution to provide two weeks of food for over 130 families with kids who are part of our Kids for School Program. Without food, the children cannot continue attending school. At one of the schools we visited, their total enrollment is 670 kids, and while sometimes 200 come in the mornings, only about 50 return in the afternoons. These children go home at lunchtime and, having no food to eat, are unable to return to school in the afternoon. Some schools have even had to shut down because of starvation, which truly breaks my heart.
One of the saddest parts of Meru’s story involves its main cash crop—miraa. This euphoria-inducing amphetamine is the only crop that has been truly resilient to the severe dry spell. While driving through the village, we could not ignore the glazed-over faces of boys as young as 10 years old chewing this drug. When faced with no food, no school, and no job, they find miraa is the only way to cope. We at HEART would like to work with the leaders in Meru to figure out a solution whereby less miraa and more food is harvested, so the children can continue with their education. As Isaac Mzee, HEART Field Coordinator, told the children at a school we visited, “You must stop chewing miraa and keep studying because your education is your only true ticket out of poverty.”
I really enjoyed getting to speak to the kids because we were able to tell them how important our education has been to us. I let them know that while I have one more year left to complete my undergraduate degree, I love school so much that I plan to continue for three more years at law school! Each one of us interns either plans to enroll in or is already enrolled in graduate school. I think it is really amazing for the children to see that type of ambition and dedication because following in those steps will transform their lives. I have great hope that change can and will happen, especially because the head of the school is so personally invested in his pupils.
I also have hope for Meru because of the dedication of Pastor Joshua, whom we stayed with. He is such a great man with an immense passion for loving and serving others. As we walked along windy mountain paths, we came across countless friends and acquaintances of Joshua and I can see how much they look up to him. With the Lord’s help, HEART can continue to partner with Pastor Joshua and the local school leaders to form a long-term and sustainable solution to the drought crisis. If nothing else, we left Meru with the satisfaction that our Kids for School children would not go to bed hungry the next couple of weeks; it is in those moments that we find our greatest hope.
Tina Dreier
With our departures back to the Western Hemisphere approaching way too quickly, we were extremely fortunate to go on a last road trip experiencing the rural life up country.
Spirits were high when we packed a couple of blankest, sheets, wipes (lots of them) and some good music in preparation for our short Meru trip. We left Wednesday morning to depart to the Northern Part of Kenya for an immediate food relief distribution benefiting almost 150 children from out KFS program.
Driving through a variety of landscape offered lots of time to reflect on all the great impressions we have gained throughout the last five weeks. I truly enjoyed the conversation with Jackson and Isaac as we discovered more about the Kenyan culture and its people. Six hours went buy so quickly as we laughed so hard while jamming to some great beats and asking the guys millions of questions. The number of women clearly outnumbered our male companions which were yet very excited to have us around. It was a great cultural experience and as Isaac mentioned, ”We are all just the same, regardless of culture, race or age. More Muzungus should come out here so that the locals will realiz that we are all the same”.
Kenya truly is a country full of contrast. After driving through some of the most fertile but also driest parts of the country we eventually arrived at Pastor Josh’s house after six hours. His welcome was warming and his house symbolized nothing I had imagined. We have seen lots of urban poverty within the slums of Nairobi, yet never experienced rural poverty as in Meru.
Pastor Josh took us for a short walk up the mountain to gain first experiences. I was quite disturbed to observe how many people (young boys in particular) were chewing Mirah. Little did I understand that Mirah was not only sold as a cash crop but also used to overcome the struggles of the high poverty levels. We sung and interacted with to the local children on the way back to the house, giving out stickers, teaching them “Baby Shark Song” and handing out high fives. It was so great to lift up their spirits by us simply interacting with them.
Pastor Josh challenged us with a number of “tricky” questions over a great dinner. I was very impressed by his curiosity for knowledge and we were quite happy to educate him. Nevertheless, we learned so much more from him than he did from us. The night was very cold and I cannot imagine how the locals sleep without blankets and proper nutrition.
We went to Pastor Josh’s church the next morning in order to help out at the food distribution. Because not all the food was delivered on time, our team decided to visit two local schools which have children of the KFS program enrolled. Attendance in both schools was shockingly reduced due to the hunger. Only 60 out of 650 children were attending classes at the first school we visited. We were introduced to the teacher and talked about possible long term solutions in order to tackle the hunger problem. After walking through the school’s “Shamba” which was too dry to grow any crops, we were allowed to speak to a lower primary class… Teaching “Baby Shark” definitely made an impact on the students as their faces were filled with enormous smiles and laughter. Everyone was so eager to simply shake our hands and as stated earlier, we can make such a tremendous impact on these children by simply engaging in singing and dancing.
About 150 KFS children and their guardians awaited our return back at the church. A little program was performed to our thanks but words cannot describe the gratefulness of the locals for us bringing emergency food.
The entire team helped distribute beans and maize to the locals. I was touched to tears as I completed filling up a bag of maize for a very elderly woman. Filled up to its upper ends, the bag could not be tied. I tried carrying the bag to the lady but it was too heavy. Nobody assisted her in carrying the bag and she eventually strapped it on her back and took off. I felt quite overwhelmed and helpless- a feeling I have experienced quite a lot throughout the last five weeks. The cry for help is enormous and the amount of needy people always exceeds the amount of assistance that is available. I left with a broken heart and will continue to pray for the people of Meru.
We visited another school in the afternoon to see how much its students were affected by the drought. Only about 2/3 of the pupils showed up for classes because parents abandoned their children in order to look for food in very far areas. My heart got broken once again as we had an opportunity to speak to an upper class. Over 60 students (normally over 100!) were crammed into a tiny classroom to take their end of term exams. I am so thankful that we got to speak to these pupils about the values of education, abstinence and staying away from drugs. It was so important for them to see that we are humans just like them, studying hard in school to eventually become successful in life. Our Team consisted of four young, motivated women- a (to be) lawyer and doctor, a pastor and business lady. What a great way to show these students that the only way to overcome poverty is to excel in school! The highlight of the day was another performance of “Baby Shark” to the rest of the student of the entire school. Even Isaac, Jackson, the Pastor and the Headmaster joined us in our efforts.
A wave of applause marked our return to pastor Josh’s house yet I was not ready to leave the children behind. I just wanted to continue performing the song over and over again because there is nothing more precious than seeing a child smile.
Meru was definitely one of the greatest experiences in my internship. We returned with broken hearts yet uplifted spirits. Everyone was mingling with one another and we bonded with the Staff at a level I never imagined. I could have not thought of greater team members for this trip. And just as the Lord answered our answers for food, it did begin to rain as we were departing for Nairobi.
I left with some disturbing impressions of the extreme poverty but feel very inspired and up-lifted as well. It is a true hardship to live in this area struck by hunger, disease and extreme poverty. I barely engaged in any conversation on the way back home as I was reflecting on everything I had experienced the previous days.
It was amazing to see how much Isaac and Jackson are involved in the projects rather than just doing their job. The level of personal involvement and care is extraordinary and I hope that HEART will be able to touch many more lives through their amazing stuff. Never will I forget how the elderly women struggled to strap the bag of maize onto her broken back. I have learned so much from the people of Meru and hope to apply the little lessons of life in my future. Hopefully I will be able to return soon with my newly adapted African dad “Son of Jack”, “Princess of Pea”, “Lee of Ash”, “Nafula” and of course the “Son of I”.
Thank you so much for taking us on this great trip.
