A boy helps carry rice to the distribution station.
For most of us, Monday is not a day we look forward to. In America, Monday has a reputation of being gloomy, and exhausting, an unwavering reminder that the weekend is gone. But for those involved in our Feeding Africa program, Monday means something much different. Monday rolls around bringing a sense of relief and thankfulness. Mothers and children come with hearts full of hope to receive parcels of food that will provide nourishment for their families for the coming week.
We are so incredibly thankful that for the last 14 weeks we have been able to provide food for these families during a time of crisis. We began with the little we had, feeding just a handful of families and with the generosity of others have moved to providing meals for about 1000 people each week! We have been able to provide our beautiful brothers and sisters with food bundles to feed their families 2 meals each day for a total of approximately 134,960 meals in just three months. We are seriously blown away!
Beth with one of the boys who receives food through Feeding Africa.
Margaret and Nifah who run the distribution sites have been constantly telling us of the impact Feeding Africa has had on those receiving food bundles. Stories of the relief of heartbroken mothers who previously feared they would have to watch their children starve, mothers who with tears in their eyes, express that this food has saved the lives of their children, stories of people finding hope where there seemed to be none, and stories of children transformed from sadness to joy. Beth, who helps her mother Margaret with the food distribution, has said of those who have donated, “You guys are amazing, I wish you could see the change. These kids used to be so dull, now it’s all fun and games. No offense, but they used to smell like goats but now they are clean and tidy. God is using you to change their lives.” Soon we hope to be able to share some of these stories with you, we want you to know that your kindness and generosity is having such an impact on those receiving food. Not only have their bellies been filled with food but their hearts restored with hope.
Beth poses with some of the children at the Kijabi location as they pick up food bundles for their families.
The rainbow, a symbol of hope fills the sky over Kairobangi slum.
We would love to be able to continue providing food for these families, but as the program has grown so have expenses. It currently costs around $1500 each week to feed the 1000 people who are part of the program. We want to be honest and up front with you our donors that funds for feeding Africa are running low. We had told those in charge of the distribution that we would continue with Feeding Africa as long as there was a need and as long as God continued to provide the funds. When we told Nifah that funds were low and we may have to shut down the food distribution soon she sent us this heartfelt reply, “Today was very emotional for me and my friends, to the mums, we were here shining their hope. It is very hard to let them know that this feeding program might come to an end soon. I told my friends and we all prayed together that God will continue to touch more hearts there to keep giving. I was personally traumatized since I heard from you [about ending the program], every time I think about it I just whisper a prayer that things will not get worse...as you pray for this situation, pray for me.”
We would ask that you would keep Nifah, Margaret, Beth and the many others involved in Feeding Africa in your prayers. We would also ask that you would consider donating to Feeding Africa to keep the food program running. Whether you are able to give little or much, a single donation or a monthly commitment, we know God can use what we have to change lives. Thank you to all of you who are on this journey with us. May God bless you.