A river of generosity poured in after we broke the devastating news to you about the floods in Kenya. Your kindness and quick response allowed us to react rapidly and send $20,000 to Kenya to aid the community of Matoso in their recovery.
Caroline Awino Okoth, pictured above and below, is delighted with her new home. She is one of those unfortunate people whose house was destroyed by the flooding, yet she and her children continued to live in their ruined home until help arrived.
Marico Owino, Lalmba Kenya project director, says:
“Your decision to urgently send funds to support food relief, housing assistance, mask making and distribution, and microloans to small businesses truly came at the right time. People were really suffering from the flooding, while already feeling great anxiety about the Covid19 pandemic. Many people lost their farms, residential houses, and places of business. Small-scale day labor jobs disappeared overnight, which made putting a meal on the table impossible for many people. People are very grateful for your support. I wish you were here to witness how joyful they were, and the smiles on their faces when they received assistance. We managed to feed 1,135 households with maize, supplied 1000 masks to the community and have so far built 1 complete house (more home repairs are in progress). Microloans are being distributed. The business owners who receive a loan will be given a 3 year, 0% interest repayment schedule. Our community will rebuild and rebound. Thank you!”
As we walk through our current lives, trying to navigate a new and unexpected reality, one where smiles are only revealed by the crinkling of the eyes, and greetings are awkwardly expressed by subtle head nods from 6 feet away (or if you’re feeling in need of some intimacy, with a fist or elbow bump), it’s hard to fathom life returning to normal. It’s difficult to see goodness or justice through the smoldering debris of America’s once most beautiful cities. It’s politics and pandemic all the time, everywhere. These sad new realities are taking their toll on us, and keeping us from seeing and planning beyond the next few months. But, dagnabbit, I refuse to be so shortsighted!
My eyes are set and my soul is solidified to plow through the mire of today, and set foot once again on the breathtakingly beautiful ground of the Great Rift Valley in Kenya. God willing, on 6 August 2021, we will take our first steps on Lalmba’s 4th semiannual, 10-day charity walk, crossing valleys and rivers and through vibrant communities where children squeal with delight when they see us, all the way to Lalmba’s project in Matoso.
Tembea Na Mimi is Lalmba’s largest fundraiser. Each time we’ve done it, we have collectively raised more than $100,000 to support our lifesaving work in Kenya and Ethiopia. The money raised supports the operations of 4 clinics, where more than 36,000 people were treated last year. We also provide education, health care, and nutritional support for more than 1,100 AIDS orphans, instilling them with a sense of hope for their futures … something that seems to be in short supply these days.
Do me a favor, look to the future with me, pray with me that hope and prosperity return to this great country of ours, and that this special Lalmba event becomes a reality. For as you can see, the needs of these impoverished communities we support have grown even greater. Or even better, sign up and walk with me!
The post Lalmba News Vol. 57, No. 5 appeared first on Lalmba Association.