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It is very, very dry in and around Meru where we are living. There has not been enough rain for 3 seasons (18 months) for people to grow food - and there are many hungry people.
Marilyn took photos of 131 orphans and vulnerable children who were given maize by Ripples Intl which was supplied by USAID. The Catholic Diocese of Meru is also distributing maize from their storehouse, which is next door to our home. And the Kenya Red Cross and the UN World Food Program are at work here as well.
We have not been to a National Park yet this year to see all the animals that tourists come to Kenya to see - but we’ve seen elephants. Lack of food and water on Mt. Kenya is forcing them to come closer to town. This was one of several that we saw in a water hole right next to a main road near Meru. .
Marilyn also took photos of all 30 of the babies and children in Ripples’ New Start Centre. Seven of them are in nursery school and 21 are under one year old. The newest ones are twin girls – just three months old. All these children are lovingly cared for by their six nannies. And all of them would love to be adopted.
Chemi Chemi is Ripples newest program. Individual sponsors are being sought to help needy children to go to school by contributing toward the cost of their school uniforms, food supplements and access to medical care. You too can help – just say yes. To find out how, go to www.ripplesintl.or.ke or send a message to childsponsorship@ripplesintl.or.ke
There were three big events in Meru that caused major traffic jams for hours – the KCB (Kenya Commerical Bank) Sports Car Rally, the KEMU (Kenya Methodist University) graduation and the Secondary School Soccer Tournament. Fortunately, they were not all scheduled on the same day.
It’s hard to understand why
there is so much suffering.
Hunger, illness, disaster, war.
Where is the justice, the mercy?
Then we turn our eyes toward Jesus, and
remember that we were saved by His
suffering on the cross.
We pray for the strength to ease the
anguish of those around us and to
accept what cannot be changed.
Walk with us, God, and teach us to use
our pain as a pathway to peace.
~ Mary DeTurris/ Maryknoll
Gathered for Maize Distribution
Twin Girls At New Start
Mercy and Her Classmates
Elephant By The Roadside