(Above) Lt-Col Wanda Vincent, TSWM, Kenya West Tty, with children from a Salvation Army school in Kakamega Div, Kenya West Tty (Photos: Joel Johnson)
The name Kenya evokes dreams of adventure—touring the wild grasslands of the Maasai Mara National Reserve; weaving through herds of elephants, giraffes and zebras; watching animals come to drink at a watering hole, acacia trees framed in the setting sun.
For many of us, these experiences would be a dream come true. And rightly so—they are truly magical. For many in Kenya, their dreams are smaller. The Salvation Army’s work there happens in the background, as it does in so many places around the world—meeting the needs of the disadvantaged, the disabled, the poor and the forgotten. Choosing what to highlight is to inevitably leave so many things out. Love and hope abound—from Mombasa on the east coast to the streets of Nairobi; from the lush hills fed by the tributaries of Lake Victoria in the west to the arid, desolate Turkana region in the north. The work is not easy there; it is trying and, at times, dangerous.
As a photographer travelling with the world missions department, it’s easy to document poverty and hardship. But what has always affected me most is the dedication and determination that grows from hope. It is amazing what people can achieve when given opportunities. With the support of the Canada and Bermuda Territory, a great number of people now have access to education, employment and health care. I hope that as you look at these photos, you will focus not on how much still needs to be done, but on how much has already been accomplished.
The Salvation Army in Orillia, Ont., has been running a weekly street ministry since 2016, providing essential help to vulnerable people. They help an average of 200 people each Friday. In 2023, they served more than 9,000 meals. While hot meals are the focus of the program, there is also an emphasis on additional support, such as providing thrift store vouchers, toiletries and sleeping bags.
I believe God gave us music as a tool of worship, but also as a tool to help us understand our world through emotional expression and practical application.
While there are various organizations helping people who are experiencing homelessness, The Salvation Army’s Halifax West Community Church has made it its mission to provide hot meals through a street ministry in areas that don’t receive much attention.
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