Dear friends of The Salvation Army Canada and Bermuda Territory,

As Christmas day approaches, I once again reflect with gratitude for those of you who have so generously given, through the social sponsorship department of the Kenya West Territory, to those who are most in need and suffer hardship that is at times, hard to imagine or endure unless you see it first-hand.

Hardship such as being shunned by your family or stigmatized by your community because you have a disability or a family member suffering from HIV/AIDS. Hardship that forces a women to sell her body, having to endure all sorts of risks, and sordid perverted humiliation to provide a roof over her head, little food, medication or to send a child to school so that they can get an education and have a better life than hers. Hardship of having to walk miles and miles in the baking hot sun to look for a drop of water. Hardship of being an orphan, being abused daily, physically, sexually, being stigmatized daily because of the way you look, the way you smell, you speak, forced to live on the streets, sleeping if you're lucky in a potato sack so that the jiggers don't burry into and eat your flesh. Hardship that makes you easy prey for traffickers who offer a promise of a better life or at the age of 13 years forced into marriage to a much older man or forced into ritual circumcision in order that your parent/guardian can be given a dowry which helps them survive. Hardship of being born too soon in the bush to an underage mother (so already your odds of survival  are limited) who was raped on her way to school and now is shunned by her community, expelled from school and branded a whore.   I could go on…

 

Women who attend The Salvation Army Prostitute Survivor Program in Kenya West cuts hair during a program that helps street boys learn about personal hygiene. Women in the program build self-esteem and learn other ways to build income. Most women were forced to the streets in order to feed, clothe and school their children.

 

Yet I am humbled when I see those who seem to have so little and who literally survive on a day to day basis yet feel so blessed, blessed that God has granted them a new day and a new hope for that day despite their hardship, they are grateful, grateful that they have come across The Salvation Army who through your efforts are able to offer some assistance to them.

What you send to us in Kenya West is much more than just your money for our programs such as Mother & Child, Education, Health Care, Sanitation, Self-sustaining, Community Outreach Support, Food & Nutrition, Clothing, Shelter, Clean Water etc., etc. What you send gives hope and brings joy, hope that they do not face hardship alone, hope that someone hears their voice, a hope for today and hope for a better tomorrow, hope that God has not forsaken them but does indeed love and care about them.

Boys from The Salvation Army street outreach program enjoy a nourishing meal provided by the program.

As Social/Sponsorship section it is my privilege to be the one to facilitate and distribute on your behalf.  It is I who gets to see first-hand just what your donation is doing, to see the gratitude and joy on the faces and in the hearts. Some make a high pitch noise that would deafen you while jumping straight up and down, others sing songs of praise of you and God, some dance for joy, and others just sit on a rock in the middle of a slum surrounded by rubbish and sewage and cry tears of thankfulness.  And it's because of you I too feel blessed and grateful.  I am blessed when I think that, when the needs are too overwhelming; you come through with your donation and I am blessed to be able to share the joy, peace and love of God not just at Christmas time, but throughout the year.

In Luke 6:30 scripture says “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (NIV)

So feel God's blessings, please allow me to conclude by saying a very big sincere thank you for what you have given to Kenya West Territory and to pray God's peace, joy, love and continuing blessing be yours now and forever. Have a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to sharing with you all in the New Year!!