nelly's story
I first saw Nelly when I visited her home in rural Sakwa,
Kenya in July, 2007. She was a slim, shy little girl, looking
more like a five-year-old than her eight years. She was
dressed in a well-worn, visibly large-for-her-small-frame, faded, white dress and she had bare feet. She lived in a small mud, wood and tin building with her mother and six siblings. Her mother was widowed two years earlier when her husband died after suffering the effects of full-blown AIDS and exhibiting the signs of a mental breakdown. While in this state, he torched the family home and reduced it to rubble. All of the family possessions were lost and soon, so was this father, who lost his life from the torment he suffered from his AIDS infected body. The family was left in abject poverty as their resources, including cattle, were gone in payment for medical treatment tried in vain to save the life of the family father and breadwinner. As a result, Nelly’s mother had to provide for the family by doing casual work in the nearby villages to not only supply the funds for food for her family, but also for the minor school fees. It was a difficult and not always successful task.
Kenya in July, 2007. She was a slim, shy little girl, looking
more like a five-year-old than her eight years. She was
dressed in a well-worn, visibly large-for-her-small-frame, faded, white dress and she had bare feet. She lived in a small mud, wood and tin building with her mother and six siblings. Her mother was widowed two years earlier when her husband died after suffering the effects of full-blown AIDS and exhibiting the signs of a mental breakdown. While in this state, he torched the family home and reduced it to rubble. All of the family possessions were lost and soon, so was this father, who lost his life from the torment he suffered from his AIDS infected body. The family was left in abject poverty as their resources, including cattle, were gone in payment for medical treatment tried in vain to save the life of the family father and breadwinner. As a result, Nelly’s mother had to provide for the family by doing casual work in the nearby villages to not only supply the funds for food for her family, but also for the minor school fees. It was a difficult and not always successful task.
When Pastor Robert opened Hope Educational Centre in February, 2007, it was a blessing for this family, because it was nearby and the fees were minimal. Now it was not such a great burden for Nelly’s mom to pay school fees and her children would be able to walk the short distance to school. Nelly and two of her siblings got up early to prepare for school and typically walked to school on empty stomachs. Most times the only meal Nelly and many others had each day was the bowl of porridge. Nevertheless, Nelly showed a hunger and thirst for knowledge, as she was ranked seventh out of 53 in her class and was often found reading by herself or writing in her exercise book. Recently I heard from Pastor Robert that one of Nelly’s siblings dropped out of school because her mom could not pay the school fees and Nelly has missed a lot of school due to ill health from malnutrition.
I am very concerned about Nelly and the many other children like her in this area. At Hope Educational Centre, there are around 50 children who have been orphaned by AIDS or other reasons and have been taken in by family or the community. Every day is a struggle for these families as they--if they are fortunate to own a piece of land--are able to grow fruits and vegetables and possibly have a cow and some chickens. Living off the land is a way-the only way of life--for many people in Sakwa. This is why I will be returning to Kenya this summer to go to Sakwa and assist them with the school program. I will also be networking with other agencies to bring HIV/AIDS education to these people to try to stop the spread of that disease in this area. I believe God has put this place and these people in my heart to do his will and good works.
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
-- Ephesians 2:10
Mungu akubariki/
God bless you,
Roberta Peterson
-- Ephesians 2:10
Mungu akubariki/
God bless you,
Roberta Peterson
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HOPE AFRICA MINISTRIES INC.
Providing help and hope through missions and ministry
