Welcome Home?

People are finally able to return home after Hurricane Ike. But what are they returning to? Destroyed houses, unsanitary living conditions, and swarms of mosquitoes. No safe drinking water, reliable electricity, medical care or sewer service. They are being told to watch out for rats and snakes, and to get a tetanus shot. Nice homecoming. To those of us who weren’t affected, Hurricane Ike may feel like a distant memory. Especially now that the media has turned its focus to the crumbling economy and upcoming elections. But that doesn’t change the fact that this hurricane clobbered a 500-mile stretch of Texas and Louisiana coastline, devastated the barrier island of Galveston, and caused power outages for millions. And to make matters worse, these troubling economic times are taking their toll on Feed The Children and other aid organizations. Donations are down when the need is up. Still, we responded as quickly as possible to this disaster and have to replenish for others coming our way. I sent trucks with water, food and other supplies, and I plan to keep helping as they begin to rebuild. I just pray that the world has not forgotten about these people.

When Crops Fail and Livestock Starve …

I wonder how Ricovia is doing. He’s a little boy I met out in the “bush” as they call it, during my last trip to Kenya. These rural areas, where crops have failed and livestock are starving to death, are probably the hardest hit by the famine that is now gripping this nation. As we were packing up to leave after distributing emergency food and supplies to his village, Ricovia’s grandmother walked up to our truck and placed her grandson in the back. “You must take him,” she told me through her tears. “He will die if he stays here.” Ricovia is 10 years old, but looked to me to be about the size of a 5-year-old. Chronic malnourishment had left him bone thin and stunted his growth. My heart went out to this child and his desperate grandmother. So, we agreed to take Ricovia back to one of our children’s centers near Nairobi.

We left Ricovia in the care of our wonderful staff. Now, for the first time in his life, Ricovia has eaten his fill, played with a toy and slept in a warm bed all with the comfort of knowing he’ll wake up to a brighter tomorrow.
I’m so glad we were able to help this little boy. I pray that he will grow up strong and healthy, and will never again have to feel the stinging pangs of hunger.