An Open Letter to the Brethren in All Branches of the Church of God
November 2012
Did you ever get a little short of patience because traffic was heavy and made you late for work? Perhaps you have your car in the shop and were supposed to get it back in two days, but just received a call that it will not be ready for a week. Maybe even your AC goes out for a few days in the middle of July and you live in one of the warmer southernmost states. Then what if you find your account short at the end of the month and you find you have to quit eating out for six to eight months to catch up? Do you complain?
This is not a lecture on controlling your temper, nor a dissertation on not complaining.
This is a plea for help for our brethren, YES – Our Brethren. I just returned from a trip to Kenya where we have brothers and sisters who are hungry. They live in abject poverty. I have met very few, if any in my life, who, like these, work from 4 AM until late at night and always have a genuine smile on their face. I have yet to meet any so pleasant to be around and hospitable. From very small children to the extreme elders, they wanted to serve us. They gave us their best.
They were so happy to be able to keep the Feast, and so appreciative that we came all the way from America to keep it with them. One young man who was always smiling was asked by someone, “What are you so happy about?” The young man replied, “It is the Millennium, we are celebrating the Millennium.” One precious couple gave us their house to stay in; I think they slept in the chicken house. Yet they always looked clean and dressed for services. They prepared meals (all on a wood fire they built outside), washed our clothes (by hand, in a big pan of water) and even polished our shoes.
Just from being in the church for so many years, I know many think that two services a day is too many. These people, after two services a day (sometimes lasting three to four hours each), wanted Bible study at night, rather than entertainment. They are so full of faith – so full of zeal!
These people live in mud huts with dirt floors. Their bathrooms are outhouses or mud holes; their showers (if they have one) are outhouses with no hot water, since there is no electricity in their area. Some just bathe in a river. They read the Bible (if they have one) by a lantern at night.
I have heard from some Americans that these Africans do not work, so they should not eat. This is ABSOLUTELY NOT true! These are hard-working faithful people. I have seen them, met them, and lived with them. If you are up at 4:30 or 5:00 AM, you will see many of them, even children, walking down a big hill with empty water jugs, and some coming up the hill carrying jugs full of water. They carry them on their head, making several trips, collecting water for the day from water holes. I would call them mud holes since one cannot see through the water. They use some for the latrine, some water to drink and some to cook and wash dishes with. Some places, the outhouses have nothing but a mud hole.
Brethren, there is no way to describe their poverty. A warm shower or a cold drink of water is unheard of in these areas with no electricity. Most depend on what they can grow for their substance. So when there is rain, they have food. When there is drought, they go hungry.
We are trying to get Bibles for them, but some still do not have them. Brethren, imagine learning the truth, and being excited about it and not even having a Bible to read. Some do not have mosquito nets – a real priority since there is hardly a family who has not lost a family member to malaria, which the mosquitoes carry.
This was one of the most spiritual Feasts I have ever attended. This is not only because of the wonderful sermons, straight from the Bible, but also the people. I never saw so many people delighted over a bowl of rice and beans, or corn and beans. I’ve never seen so many so appreciative that we came all the way from America to keep the Feast with them. I’ve never seen a group so helpful and non-judgmental. We could all take a lesson in Agape love from these poverty stricken people.
One young man there, Richard, who recently lost his mother (she was 51) has started an orphanage because there are so many little children whose parents have died. He cannot feed them lavishly, but he can feed them by rationing food. One terribly sad thing that broke my heart was a precious little girl about two years old. About a year and a half ago, Richard was taking his cows to the river to water and he heard crying. After following the sounds, he found this little baby girl, approximately six months old. Her little clothes or blanket was caught on some roots of a tree going out into the water, keeping her from drowning. Richard rescued her and brought her into the orphanage. Richard’s sisters named her “Angel” saying they thought an angel sent her. I don’t know about that – it appears her mother tossed her away – but an angel must have protected her precious little life. I so wanted to take her, clean her all up, bring her home with me and buy her some pretty little dresses.
Another sad thing was an elderly man, who had read in the Bible that he should attend the Feast of Tabernacles, and he was determined to go. His wife was sick and had been bedridden for some time. He took full care of her. He said he had trouble finding someone to stay with her. We asked if he had any children or grandchildren who could have stayed with his wife. He said they had borne nine kids but they had all died before leaving any grandchildren. Any of you who have ever lost a child know the hurt and pain you felt. Imagine having to bury nine children and none of them leaving any progeny.
One more of the many sad things we saw here in Siaya was a young girl of 17 who had lost her parents and both hands in a fire.
Brethren, these are not just stories. They are true. I know these people. They never complain. You never hear them whine “It’s hot”, “It’s cold”, “I’m hungry”, “I’m thirsty”, “I’m tired”. That is simply the way it is.
When the Feast was over, many had to return to abject poverty. We sent what we could home with those who had much drought in their area. We sent home 20 K/G with one young lady for her and her mother, to last ten days to two weeks. It takes 1.7 K/G per day to sustain life and when there is so little, they ration their food.
After the Feast, we visited others in different areas. The last place we visited, it had rained three nights straight before we left, and no mode of transportation could get to us. We had to walk uphill in mud to the next village. There were 26 people (men, women, and children) who not only walked with us to say “good-bye”, but two teenage boys carried our heaviest suitcases on their head. This was all uphill in mud because they wanted to see us off, and they had to walk back. Now that is love!
Brethren, please, I beg of you to help our brothers and sisters who are in need.
Proverbs 21:13 says, “Whose stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard.”
1 John 3:17 – “But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?”
Thank you in advance for anything you can give to help. A little can go a long way, and I can guarantee you that 100% of what you give will go directly to help these people. Although we have servants who have made trips to visit these people, not a penny of your money goes for trips. All who go use their own money for such visits.
If you find it in your heart to share, the Eternal will bless you, and you will be showing Agape love for your poverty stricken brothers and sisters.
Proverbs 19:17 says “He that hath pity on the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given He will pay him again.”
Proverbs 22:9 – “He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed; for he giveth his bread to the poor.”
Proverbs 28:27 – “He that giveth unto the poor shall not lack: but he that hideth his eyes shall have many a curse.”
The fund that is set up for this is:
Kenya Hands of Hope
5525 Springs Avenue
Myrtle Beach, SC 29577
Thank you all from the depth of my heart.
Bonnie Bell (Texas)