Contributed by Staci Buck in Stories from the Field At our recent Child Ambassador Conference in Seattle, we heard from the Kenya Vision Trip Team who shared their experience in a region hard hit by hunger. Follow along on the blog as CA Staci Buck casts a vision for transformation in Kenya and learn how you can get involved! After visiting several villages where World Vision has worked for 10 years, we traded lush mountains for dry Turkana county. We are the first World Vision team to visit this brand new area development project (ADP), named "Kalapata". All villages there welcomed us with joy as seeing Americans signified that work is truly beginning. It made it real. Joseph, the head of the new ADP, is a big guy. He has a broad, bright smile, and an authoritative presence. The children flock to him and he dances with the men and bends to whisper to the young, cradling their heads in his huge hands. I asked him where he was from, "Turkana," he said. He pointed out the window, "In fact, this was my route to school. Every day I would get up at 5 AM and run when it was cooler and I could move faster. School was 20 km (12.43 miles) away and then 20 km (12.43 miles) back home. I would stop at a relative's hut to rest and pray and cry and..." He sat frozen midsentence, tearing up. We all held our breath feeling the heaviness of the moment. "I'm sorry. Remembering this has made me emotional. We sold a cow for my school fees, yet it wasn't enough and the headmaster would catch me and throw me out. My sisters never went and now we support their eight children." And just like that our hearts were all in with this new staff in Turkana. This is why they are here. They have all lived it. That night Joseph prayed, "Father, as this team steps their feet onto the land of Kalapata, let the land arise." Powerful. I imagined a black and white photo bursting into color. Green trees leafing out, pasture returning, water flowing, hunger receding, and community flourishing. God, let it be so. After spending days with the Turkana people, it is our greatest desire to see this happen. They are experiencing famine and severe drought. Their government is helping and they have chosen World Vision as a primary NGO there. They are hungry, thirsty and sick and in dire need of our support to change the landscape. Malnutrition levels are at 30 percent, their beaded children are marked for early marriage and will not attend school. But World Vision is there teaching about getting the kids into schools instead. They have water projects planned which will change everything. Water is everything. I have thought so much about his prayer. He connected our feet hitting the earth to change. A calling forth of what was dead to life. Isn't that the power of God that we carry within us? Isn't that our responsibility to see life where others see hopelessness and to take steps to ensure it comes to fruition? YES I know I will go back there. We joked about a 10 year reunion, but I'm not joking. I can't wait to see that prayer, that vision come to life. Would you like to learn more about Kalapata ADP and the hunger crisis that ravaged Kenya? Read this powerful story by World Vision storyteller, Kari Costanza.
Then order picture folders from Kenya or share your personalized link (found on volunteers.worldvision.org). Invite others to be part of the life-changing work God does through sponsorship! |
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