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Short Synopsis of My Experiences Traveling With By Annette Milne
Yes, I have travelled a lot and I will travel again. I went to Kenya to help on a building project, (to cook Canadian meals for the Australian and Canadian workers) but that was not to be. I prepared ahead a Sunday school class which Caroline and I presented. I talked to sisters through an interpreter. I played and taught new games to the young people. I sang songs and I helped in the school with beginners, ages 5-8, who had never been to school before and they were really enjoying the new experience of education. I got the cup full of water to wash hands before a meal, a habit they had developed. I helped with dishwashing, I served meals, what sort of meals? I served something in a cup like thin gruel and white. I helped cook rice, sometimes a few beans or lentils for over a hundred children. I helped make a stew from one small goat for the whole bunch. I also cooked porridge, all cooking was done on a big open fire in large saucepans. Each item was the meal of the day (maybe and maybe not). I turned the flax skipping rope with one enterprising eight year old for the other kids to skip, it broke often but he would tie the pieces together again and again. I sorted dry rice from big sacks from the stones, husks, and whatever was in the sack with the other mothers helping there. We talked, well sort of, not much English with some of the adults. We laughed lots too.
I made friends with the people at Sammy’s house and the school. Why did my attitude and feelings change about life? We in North America have an abundance of everything. We waste much. The simple everyday things we take for granted, water, fruit, vegetables, meat, cheese, potatoes, eggs, bread, milk and our health care. The people in Kenya, where I was, have none of this stuff. Our kids have socks, shoes, underwear, soap, toothbrushes, variety and things to look forward to. But, where I was in Kenya, the big brown eyes, the ragged clothes, the shoeless feet of the unsponsored child will stay in my heart forever.
Truth, have the advantage of knowing God and that He will be on their side. If Agape In Action wins the day, a real meal every day could be the answer for many hopeless families. Will we help NOW. Our ecclesias, churches, individuals, families, can sponsor children. We can sponsor education, activities, good nutrition. Let us spend our money on really necessary things for them. Let us do without our cookies, pop, wine, and over indulgence in so many things. Send the money you might save to AGAPE IN ACTION. Every penny goes right to the cause where you want. These people need example, direction, every day stuff. No water
means no crops, no growing food to become independent and self sufficient. We cannot all rush over there. But we can provide The Hope, The Education, The Opportunity, the every day health giving food. They need
seeds to grow crops. I did not say want, I said “NEED”. Do not bicker over What, When, How much and How! Sit down together, Make a Plan, so that poor health, lack of education, lack of clean running water, lack of opportunity does not succeed and win the day.
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Some
time ago I visited Kenya. It changed my attitude to life forever.
A
really great experience, I visited with my sponsor girl. She came
down to where I was staying at Sammy’s for a few days. She
came with her grandmother and aunt, her only family, her mother
and father are dead, but they were Christadelphians. I took pictures,
we talked, I gave her a small towel and knitted handbag, very plain
and simple. She was thrilled, she wore the towel as a skirt the
day we left.
We
need to change the situation of these people. There are dozens and
dozens and dozens of these children. They do not moan or cry about
their situation. They do no complain or beg, but I am begging now
for help, your help. A dollar a day will help a whole family to
eat, go to school, get some clothes. They will learn and live the
