KISII REPORT - THE DOUBLE THREAT

Before the coronavirus struck East Africa, the primary concern there was with the historically severe locust invasion.

In an area of our world where food security is merely just a phrase one hears, but which is a reality to only a tiny percentage of the population, the desert locust plague became a severe threat to already meagre food supplies.

The Kenyan government, although not flush with a lot of funding, was putting substantial efforts into fighting the locusts. The UN and a few NGO’s also recognized this dangerous threat to the area and were also lending a hand.

Then came the coronavirus.

The fight against the desert locusts did not cease, but covid-19 now became the major focus of concern. Resources that would have otherwise have gone toward combating the locusts now went to face masks and other PPE (We all know now what those letters stand for).

 

It went toward trying to equip an already inadequate medical

system. It went toward converting buildings that were used for other things before the social distancing regulations, but now are needed for the coronavirus effort. It went to refitting these into makeshift hospital wards.

Concerning the locusts, the farmers of course did not let up in their

own fight against the invaders. These men and women continued to protect their crops and even increased their own battle. Theirs is mostly a medieval type of warfare against the locusts. It primarily involves running through their crops yelling and beating on pieces of metal to scare the locusts onto someone else’s field.

Meanwhile of course, the Covid threat continues. It actually had come to east Africa later than many parts of the world, so it has not been diminishing there yet. It is not yet known how “the curve” will be (another term we have learned).

But it is known what is happening with the desert locust. The climate in parts of Kenya and Ethiopia has been very conducive for the escalation of the populations of locust, and these crop-eaters have responded. Their numbers have grown exponentially. It is feared what damage will be done to the already compromised cropland.

Kenya (and other East African nations) are faced with fighting for the well-being of their citizens on two fronts which, prior to this year, they have not before faced. Certainly the locusts come other years, but not like this—not in our lifetime. Also there are health threats every year, but the covid-19 coronavirus is a pandemic that here-to-fore has not been known.

This is the situation. I could site numbers and calculations to

support what I have said, but this is not a government report, it is a Kisii (Orphanage) Report. It is a report not about numbers, it is a report about our boys and girls and the staff at the orphanage. It is about people.

Every week for the past few months there are days when the kids go without food. Some weeks it is one day only, some weeks two days. Last week it was more than three days—and that was three consecutive days, which is of course more difficult.

The orphanage is actually out of food at this moment—on our Friday evening. There was something for them to eat yesterday, and I have been given some money that I will be able to send in the morning tomorrow, so they will again have food for a few days. I am thankful for that.

I have mentioned this before, but in this experience that I have had with the orphanage, I have learned more than ever the phrase in the Lord’s Prayer, “Give us this day our daily bread.” It is not “provide for this year,” and it is not “protect my retirement fund.” It is “on this day I need your bread.”

Joel wrote to me this morning to tell me of the situation in the area of the orphanage. “The people of the church are not able to help,” he told me. He knows of some people who have gone six days without food.

This is a state of hunger that I have never known, and I seriously

doubt that any who are reading these words have known. For several months I have fasted one day in every week out of solidarity with the children of our orphanage. It is actually more than a 24-hour period that I go without eating, since I do not eat from the time I go to bed on the evening that I begin, all through the next day, and also that night. It is probably 32 hours or so.

But when I go to bed on the night when I had fasted all day, I find myself always thinking about what I will eat when I wake up the next day. I cannot imagine how disheartening that it must be to have to go to bed and think that the next day will be another without food—not by choice, but just because there is no food.

Please understand that I am not trying to guilt you into anything, but this is all a part of our lives right now. If in fact you do want to help, the information is below, but please know that I am not trying to work on your emotions. Like I said before, it is my intentions in these posts just to report the situation. It is not a “read between the lines” type of appeal.

But please do pray. This double threat of locusts and covid-19 is crippling the country, impoverishing the people, and as far as my personal involvement is concerned, causing suffering for our children in the orphanage

 

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If you would like to help the children of the Log Church Orphanage of Kisii, Kenya, you may make your check out to “The Log Church” and write “Orphans” on the memo line.

 

Send it to:

The Log Church

PO Box 68

Tripoli, Wisconsin 54564

 

Every nickel given in this way will be used for only aid for the orphans. It will be used for purchasing food, clothing, schooling, and other necessities of living. Nothing is held back or diverted for any other purpose