We have been making an effort to simplify our eating and rely on what’s coming out of our garden or what we have in storage (I’ll be posting more on that later). As a result, we had a very hearty garden vegetable soup with some Indian fry bread for supper last night. Knowing how much my husband likes spice, I had put about a cup of salsa into the huge pot of soup, trying to strike a balance between Marc’s tastes and the children’s (who prefer things a little milder). Though it tasted fine at first, by the time it simmered and got put on the table, I suspected that it would be a bit spicy for the kids. I was right. So for supper, they had Indian fry bread and complained through a few bites of soup. Only the boys and I finished our whole bowls full.

This morning, Marc awoke to emails from our partners in Kenya.We’ve already been hearing about the many refugees who are fleeing the drought in Somalia to find relief in Kenya. Now, Patrick tells him that food prices in Kenya have tripled, as the drought is affecting crops there as well and the influx of people is driving demand higher.

Patrick had already planned a Kingdom-Expansion training meeting for this coming week in Kajiado. Kingdom-Driven Ministries had sent him a small amount of money to fund the transportation, accommodations, and food for the approximately 45 people who will attend. Today, Patrick asked if he might have more money, to bring needed food to the locals–to put the Gospel of Jesus into practice. He said,

“We have to purchase and carry food from Nairobi as Kajiado is currently under severe drought. If we had relief food even for $100 we could get 5 bundles of maize flour: 60 packets of 2kg; we could reach 60 houses with 2kg packet each. Faith without works is dead in itself.”

With all this in mind, I sat down for morning devotions with the children. As we talked and prayed, I was nursing 6 week-old Enoch. I told the children that the mothers in drought-affected areas would not be able to produce milk for their babies if they did not get water and adequate nutrition for themselves. Our baby is colicky and everyone hates those times when Enoch cries and refuses to be comforted; tears came to my eyes as I told the children that these mothers listen to their hungry babies cry in just the same way…until they get too weakened to cry any more…and then, they die.

And I thought about our meal the night before, the soup that many of the children barely touched. Maybe you grew up hearing about “the starving children Africa” and how much they would have appreciated the food you complained about. Well, I told my children the same thing this morning–and I was dead serious. We know people there who are affected by the current drought, and others who are trying to do something about it. In fact, we’ll be living in that area in February of next year! It is real. The only thing I could say to the children after sharing my heart was to tell them the words of Jesus:

“Woe to you who are well-fed now, for you shall be hungry…” (Luke 6:25)

“Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink?… The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’” (Matthew 25:37, 40)

Needless to say, we will be doing all we can to help in this situation. If the Lord prompts you to give to the physical needs of the people of East Africa, so that our partners there may also minister the Gospel to them, please visit Kingdom-Driven ministries and contribute. Donations of any amount are greatly appreciated and we trust that the Lord will bless your giving.