I’m back from the coast of Malindi, relaxed and refreshed. I suppose I should be telling you all about the adventures and funny moments and conversations and activities that Melise, Annie and I shared, but at the moment, none of that seems important.
You see, my inside worker, Emily Maingi, is in dire need of our help. Emily is a single mother who has two small elementary-aged girls, Rose and Mary (pictured).
With the drought here in Kijabe, life has been harder than usual as of late. The crops were bad, and so the food that they usually depend on is scarce. To make matters worse, Emily had some important possessions stolen from her home last week. These kitchen items and elements (wood, metal tools, etc.) were a part of her livelihood and growing pizza business that she and her sister started. As her two daughters are growing like weeds, and desperately need money for their school uniforms, food, and textbooks, this loss of property is simply devastating. Just this afternoon, she asked to share her heart with me, and broke down crying because she was so discouraged about having to take “steps back.†Despite her tears, Emily was filled with faith and kept saying, “But I know God is in control.†To say the least, it was a humbling, holy moment for me. How can I stand by and watch? How can I simply comfort her and tell her I’ll be praying? I can’t. No…in these moments, I am seeing just how spiritual and beautiful and divine the “practical†and “hands-on help†and “tangible†really is.
So, I am here blogging on this unusually quiet afternoon to ask for YOUR help. Can we partner together to help ease the pain and hardship of Emily’s burdens? Can we sacrifice just a small portion of our own funds and income to give Rose and Emily a happier, more hope-filled future? At the least, can we pull together enough funds to help keep them well fed and healthy for the rest of this school year?
You’d be surprised at how FAR just a little can go…15,000 Kenyan shillings each month (approx. $200.00 USD) would sufficiently provide for their needs. In total, it would cost $2,384 USD yearly.
As my heart broke for Emily this afternoon, I was reminded of the parable in the Bible that Jesus tells about the man who closes his door to the one knocking…unwilling to help, cold-hearted, and lacking compassion. I shuddered at this thought…what a horrible existence—to have the freeing and glorious power to act, and instead to shrink in the powerless state of selfishness and greed.
Oh, Lord! May my heart never come to such a hardness…may you soften it and make me be the hands and feet of Christ himself! I don’t want to get to heaven someday and have to swallow a lumpy, tough piece of regret of having chosen to NOT help someone because I want to stay seated on the savvy cushion of ease and wealth. THIS is where the rubber meets the road for me, Lord. This is where I learn to walk your road…
If you are interested in making a donation for Emily, Rose and Mary, please contact me at emilyjjansen@gmail.com.
Thank you!