My cousin, Amy, and her family are missionaries in Kitale, Kenya. Her posts have just been heart wrenching. I want to pack up a million shoes, and hand deliver them today! The conditions that are normal to them would be a nightmare to us. It's hard to even fathom what these families, children and elderly go through each day just to live.
Not only are they lacking in shoes, they are lacking God's love. There is a girl we've been following through the updates in her blog. I cannot image a girl her age experiencing the streets like she has at age 14. Beaten, taken brutal advantage of, rejected.. BUT GOD sent people to be his hands and feet! They listened to his call, packed up their children, sold their house, and said "Yes, Lord!"
I want to share a bit of what God is doing through them, and the people they are working with. Here is a bit.. with the link to her blog.
We were there to assist in any way possible, but most of the problems were jiggers. Jiggers are sand fleas that get into open wounds, mostly on the feet, and are usually a result of unclean conditions and no shoes. We took a lot of pictures during the day, mostly hoping to send them to the right people and get the attention of Toms Shoes. Their organization is in Africa, but not Kenya. Already God has opened the doors to get that ball rolling.
Most of our "patients" were children, which was very hard. It's so hard to listen to a child scream in pain while you try to do something that will ultimately help them. It's painful to have them removed, but worse if they stay in the foot.
Wanted to share a few pictures, but please be warned, they're not pretty. This is a picture of Jenny removing jiggers from a young man's foot, and what it looked like close up. Don't scroll down if you have a weak stomach. This was our medical clinic: in the dirt. Clean needles, but everything else was a bit dirty.....
Here is a video of them removing the jiggers. It's a bit graphic, but this is their life. It's real.
What can we do now?
Please pray that God would use those who can realistically help those get the proper help. Shoes, workers, prayer warriors, those who can help in any way..here is a link to Shoes for Souls. When asked how to actually send the shoes, right now they are taking donations, and buying them there in Kenya. It is more effective this way as the mail is unreliable, and takes a long time.
A pair of flip flops is only about $1, or they can buy close-toed shoes for more extreme cases for only about $2. People can donate by PayPal on their blog, www.safariofsix.blogspot.com.
Please also pray for open doors, and for open hearts to hear about God's love, for Amy and her team of selfless workers, and for health and safety.
Thank you!
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