Hope for Children Center – Oyugis, Kenya
By Dee Stringfellow
“I do not know what dog food is.” This is what Julia told
us in an email recently received. She goes on to tell us, “In
the Daily Nation newspaper of yesterday, 31st Jan 2006,
there was written in the very first page just next to the head-
ing, about a lady from New Zealand who has offered to give
dog food to the starving children in Kenya. Even today, one
cabinet minister was quoted in the same newspaper saying
that the offer is an insult to us.” I’m afraid I would have to
agree with the cabinet minister. These people, young and
old, are our brothers and sisters, part of our human family,
and certainly deserve better than that. Julia continues, “Is it a
name for some kind of food or is it food meant for dogs? In
Africa, we don’t have special food for dogs. Our dogs feed
on just the leftovers of our food. If this is food meant for
dogs, is it really fit for human consumption?
“People are really dying and I feel that if there is a way
you could send even food meant for dogs, it will help.
Mostly, children are dying at an alarming rate. Animals are
dying too, due to drought. There is just to-
tally no grass.
“The well is helping so many people
even in the neighbourhood. We thank you so
much for it. Water would have been a real
problem with so many children, but we are
happy that we have the well in good time.
“There is still much starvation and we
thank you for the assistance you have given
to the starving.
“Just tell me what dog food is. I don’t
think eating it will make us feel that we are
valued the same as dogs by the people who send it. We just
need to save the lives of our children.” Can you hear and feel
the desperation in her words?
We did answer her email to tell her just what dog food is
and that it is not meant for humans.
Here in this land of plenty we don’t think twice about
buying the best for our dear little furry friends. I’m as guilty
as anyone for doing just that. I’ve had my little Muffin for
sixteen years.
If we can send dog food, can’t we send food meant for
the very people that God created in His image? We are
thankful that God is touching the hearts of his people to send
funds to help in this emergency. Your outpouring of love is
wonderful. Surely Julia and the others will understand that
they are of more value to us than dogs.
I just checked the website with the news on Africa and
found the government had raised the price of maize another
two percent. What a tragedy!
When there is tragedy and disappointment the Lord al-
ways gives us blessings in the midst of it. This is a part of an
email received from Patrick Simon Marwa. Actually I’m
very proud of him as he is my sponsored child. (I can brag a
little, can’t I?) “I appreciate your efforts since I joined Hope
Centre. You are very loving and caring. You have a heart of
assisting. Thank you forthat and may you continue with that.
I could not have dreamt of finishing my high school educa-
tion. But now I have finished even though the results are not
yet out. But I hope and believe that my results will be good.
We are still well in the Centre and I personally like it and I
love all the children plus the staff. They are good. It is this or-
phanage that has made us people. Otherwise we could have
been useless in life until the end. But I thank God for this op-
portunity. He’s so great.
“I thank God for having give us good guardians that is
Pastor Maurice and his family. They are very loving and car-
ing. Pastor is treating us well and I pray God to protect him
all the time. I have decided to live a good life in future, assist-
ing others and ministering the Word of God. I thank you also
for your cooperation to ensure that we have a donor who will
take us through college courses. Thank you so much.” One
thing I have always been amazed at is how
well Patrick writes English. Many of the
children are very good at that also. It is hard
for me to image me speaking another lan-
guage, let alone writing it. These are intelli-
gent children that just needed the
opportunity to learn.
Pastor Maurice tells us that it is time once
again for all the children to have malaria injec-
tions. It is a requirement and the health officers
have already been around checking. There are
226 children to be vaccinated but our Sally
Specht who takes care of all the finances for Hope Center, has
looked ahead and has the funds available. Thanks, Sally!
Edith, Pastor Maurice’s wife, recently let us know that
with one donation that was sent they had purchased items for
the playground. They bought three balls, one for the boys,
one for the girls and one for the younger children. They
bought a swing and nets for goals and hope to be able to buy
the goal posts soon. The children like football (soccer), even
most girls prefer football to net ball. They bought a ball spe-
cifically forvolleyball. I guess to have a ball that was specifi-
cally for volleyball was amazing to them, as these children
hardly knew what being able to play meant.
Recently on one of Pastor Maurice’s trips to the market
to buy food for the children, and also many of the starving
they feed, he had a flat tire. He says that there are several re-
pairs that the van needs. If the shock absorbers, brake pads,
brake fluid and boot-rubbers (whatever that is) and the tires
are bad, I believe that it is falling apart. Esther has told me
that it is a wonder anything holds together on the terrible
roads they have to travel on.
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