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ImageBefore we left the items were packed into 100 plastic sacks to make for easy distribution once we arrived at out destination.  You can see them in the photos.  We planned to distribute the food on Friday the 30th October.  So on Thursday 29th the lorry carrying the sacks of food left Nakuru at 7.00am.  The road is tarmac most of the way until a small town called Marigat, where it becomes a dirt road. After a while of course it simply becomes a very rough track full of holes, ruts and stones.  The lorry almost reached its destination!  Just before the last five or so kilometres they could not go any further.  The last section of the bridge that spans the river they had to cross was destroyed and so a vehicle cannot cross and while the usual route is to pass through the normally dry river bed this proved to be impossible as it had rained and the water was too deep for the lorry to pass.  So Father Mutua was called and he came with two pickups and the contents of the lorry were unloaded by some men who carried the sacks across the river to the waiting pickups. 

ImageYou can imagine how we felt when we left Nakuru at 6.00 am on the morning of the 30th, wondering if the river level would be down so that we could pass through the river bed.  As we were driving along I thought I had never seen such a barren land.  There was not a blade of grass to be seen despite the last few days of rain.  The soil is so unfertile that nothing can grow.  The only vegetation we saw were the dry scrub bushes which are usually a sign of drought and plenty of cacti which cannot be used for anything though I am told in desperate times some of the people eat it.  There were no trees to be seen. The only things that were in abundant evidence were huge rocks and stones so much so that you could almost be forgiven for thinking that they had been dumped here from every other part of Kenya or that the only thing that has been planted is rocks!. The only animals visible were goats that seem to be the ultimate survivors as they can stand on their hind legs and reach some of the short bushes.  Four hours later after many a jolt and a bounce we arrived at the river bed to find our prayers were answered!  The level was such that we could pass by quite easily.  Also of course it helped that we had a four-wheel vehicle otherwise we would not have managed.  I had put on shoes in case we had to walk through muddy water but again that did not happen!

In order to expedite matters Father and his workers had arranged that the beneficiaries would gather at the out stations as they are convenient landmarks where the people could gather.  You can see the brick building in the background.  I was not sure what to expect but when I saw the women and children gathered together I realised how poor they were and that they were indeed suffering from famine.  As you can see from the photos many are dressed in the traditional dress of Pokot women with the large necklaces and earrings.  The women, children and few men were so grateful for the gift.  We had to Imagehave a translator as even Mary and Samuel did not speak their language.  All we could do was smile and shake hands and use the few words of Kiswahili that we knew.  The women’s hands were rough with all the hard work they had to do, trying to find food in a place where there was very little to be found. I think my soft hands were a source of great amusement to them! When each one came forward to receive her sack her face lit up with joy and each said the word for thank you in their language.  As I looked at their happy faces and their joy over receiving some food and thought of all the things that they have to do without and which we take for granted: water, electricity, TV, mobile phones and of course food, I was humbled.  That night I thought of them as I went to sleep in my comfortable bed with the electric light shining. 

We went to four places altogether and in one of the places we went to there was a health clinic taking place under a tree. There was a group of nursing mothers patiently waiting to be attended to, one with twin girls.  The nursery school consisted of a piece of earth enclosed by a round circle of bushes Imagemarking the enclosure with no roof.  The teacher is given food as payment for his work with the almost fifty children who were playing in the ‘school’. When I was invited to walk through the opening into it I found a few low pieces of wood for the children to sit on and nothing that could be called a visual aid. The children were excited and a bit apprehensive to see strangers especially one who was a different colour and did not speak their language! 

God blessed our journey and we went to and from Kositei without any problems. It was an eventful day and I can still the faces of those people as I write this.  While it was difficult to communicate in words we did ask the people to pray for you and your families.  To be honest I am not sure that all of them were Christian but I can assure you that their faces and hearts were full of gratitude and that I am sure God heard them.  We also remember you and your families and hope you will remember to pray for us.  Thank you once again for your generosity to these needy people.

Sr. Ann McAllister FMSA