The Living Waters feeding program is going on so well. The children are well fed and always very happy and healthy. As I write, Kenyan life is very difficult due to our poor economic conditions. Prices of cereals/commodities have tremendously shot up and everyone struggles. Here at the far end of the country, on Rusinga Island, life is very expensive. Thanks to the Lord for LWI through its donors who have been saving the lives of His many innocent children living within this community. Apart from breakfast and lunch meals, LWI also provides the children with new school uniforms, school shoes and medical treatment at a nearby local Level 4 government hospital.
The provision of the morning breakfast has been highly welcomed by the children at the feeding center, their parents and guardians and entire community. The porridge is a mixture of cassava, finger millet and a little sugar and is rich in calcium and very healthy for human body. Even the children whose homes are farther away from the FC are coming for the porridge first before heading to school. When interviewed, they say that they seldom receive food at home. So they are now very grateful for the introduction of the morning breakfast as they are now sure of two meals a day (breakfast and lunch). The number of children reporting for the morning breakfast is 100. A morning doesn’t go by without receiving hungry children from the community who come for the porridge and are served immediately once we have served the Living Waters’ children.
The feeding center farm is filling a great role in the feeding program as it provides fresh vegetables and tomatoes for the children. The only challenge we have faced for the past two months is the scarcity of seeds for the kales and tomatoes in the local market. I had to place an order with an Agrovet Shop in Homa Bay and waited for them to come in. Now they are in the nursery and by mid November we will again be harvesting our own kales and tomatoes.
Due to the hard economic challenges we are facing in Kenya and the scarcity of fish in the lake, many people in Rusinga Island are finding it difficult to put food on the table and some people have opted to steal in order to feed themselves/their families. This has caused insecurity to be a major problem within the Island. To add to this, the Rusinga ring road has recently been paved making it much easier for the thieves to transport the stolen items to far away destinations. They steal from schools, shops, churches, NGO projects, and take animals etc. The area Chief has called several meetings to address the problem with very strong warnings to the thieves, but in vain. So it is upon every family, school, shop keeper, institution … to tighten its own security detail and making sure that all is in good place during night hours. At the Living Waters compound we are being vigilant and taking every precaution and have so far been spared from a break-in and we thank God for this.
Many thanks to the Living Waters Intl family for their support of His children!
New uniforms and
morning porridge
Anti-Viral Medication Update
In our last newsletter we asked for urgent prayer for the discontinued aid that provided anti-viral medications for approximately 20 of our children born to HIV. By Gods grace the Kenyan government has for a time stepped in to supply this need. We have a contingency fund in place should the need arise if Kenya is no longer in a position to provide these medications.
Disaster Response
Living Waters recently responded to the devastating floods in Globe, AZ where Daryl and his equipment moved approximately 100 tons of sand and debris.
Maintenance Repairs
Needed repairs were recently made on the entrance security gate, concrete work for the outdoor cooker and other maintenance projects.
Sincerely, Daryl and Mary Jo
A WORD ABOUT FUNDING: Living Waters Intl does not solicit or receive funds from the US government. We have always depended on private donations to sustain our work. Let us know how you would like to help.
We are currently caring for 150 children every day. It costs $40.00+ a month to provide meals, school uniforms, and medical care for each child. We believe every child deserves to eat.
Please remember Living Waters Intl in your giving plan. Thank you for helping us help them!
3 ways to DONATE:
Online: https://livingwatersintl.org/donate-online/
Mail a check to:
Living Waters Intl
PO Box 502
Tonto Basin, AZ 85553
Or CALL +1 928-978-4663 to make a donation by phone