Mount Elgon actually looks gloomy during the heavy rains of the cold season. Usually, it is raining for almost 6 months, day and night. At night, the temperature drops to 42 F , dampness and cold all around. People live in clay houses, which begin to fall apart from dampness. Due to the lack of earnings, income, not all people can even buy a blanket or warm clothes. Women and children freeze and get sick.
We have announced a fundraiser for the purchase of warm blankets. The women’s team with Tanya Pekun from Sacramento California, responded and fully supported this project. We could purchase 295 sets of blankets. Each of them included a blanket for mom and baby. The price of this kit was $ 7.45. For almost two weeks we collected pregnant women and young mothers, and in four villages each of them received their gift.
After 6 months, when we returned back to these villages, the elders and mothers told us that not one child died of hypothermia during the cold season. Thanks to those who supported us financially in this project.
In connection with the pandemic: the closure of cities, the cessation of transport links for the delivery of food, famine began in the Turkana desert. In one of the pastor families, two children died of hunger, and among Christians, seven pastors died. Unfortunately, we learned about this late. Together with our partners in America and our team in Kenya, we were able to send two trucks of food to Turkana to somehow support our brothers in Christ. Of course, many thanks to partners and sponsors. Thanks to our translator William for the high-quality and mobile organization of people on site in Kenya.
Сovid intervened in our plans, but despite all the difficulties, rising prices and the closure of cities, we are starting a new, important, bold project in the Turkana Desert — to train pastors to READ and WRITE. In main time we know about 150 pastors from different parts of the desert and part of the Pokot tribe who cannot read, write; none of them even know the alphabet, they do not have the Bible, but they lead the church.
Each course is a 30 days intensive training. The classrooms are ready, the building is equipped, the desks are ready, the teacher is there.
You can see more detailed information and updates on the project on our website GoWithChrist.org or via Facebook Instagram #GoWithChrist #GoWithMission
At the turn of 2019 — 2020, we opened the first school on Mount Elgon. In the village of Nakhosi, a mud hut was converted into a school. Windows and doors were installed, walls were reinforced, due to absence of electricity the roof was redesigned to allow natural light. A blackboard was hung on the wall and desks were brought in. By the beginning of the 2020 school year, in the first week of January, everything was ready.
Currently, the school can accommodate 58 children. Experience has shown that the first academic year was successful. Thanks to our teachers, the first students learned how to read and write in just four months.
Parents are asking to expand the school and recruit more students. Everyone was impressed by the result of the past year.
Every year, for three years in a row, thanks to our sponsors, we can help a large number of children in the mountains and villages.
In this way, we were able to distribute over 2000 pairs of shoes and a large quantity of clothing for the smallest inhabitants of Mount Elgon. We mainly do this in our medical clinics. Many children are exposed to the sand flea that lives in the soil. The problem of lack of shoes is one of the big needs, as well as one of the reasons why children have problems with parasites under the skin. We met children aged 12-14 who did not know how to wear shoes. They never had it.
In 2020, we brought a large amount of warm clothes to the village of Ite on Mount Elgon. The rainy season is very cold. Temperatures can drop to 42F (4-5C) at night. Many children get sick, so warm clothes are definitely a blessing for them.
For two years now, thanks to our regular partners, we have been able to feed children on Mount Elgon. Every week in four villages we eat up to 1200 children. The way it all began was the result of the prayer of our son Samuel. He often prayed during his evening prayer that we could feed the children on Elgon. God answered. A young woman wrote to us and offered to start feeding the children. She expressed a desire to cover all feeding costs in three villages and then another sponsor was added to a fourth village. The diet here is rather poor, so we feed the kids a good portion of protein and vitamins.
In January 2020, we ran a three-day apparel design test-class. The class was attended by 2 women who had already been trained in local courses. We studied sewing several types of clothing.
By the end of the session, the participants had made the perfect base for a pleated skirt. At the initial test course, it was revealed that the tailors did not have a basic knowledge for designing and sewing clothes. I would like to continue and give a more advanced course on the basics of European sewing, so that the craftswomen can raise their level of tailoring and become the best in their area. The basic knowledge of many generations of European tailors will help them sew efficiently, quickly and economically.
“I went to Africa to teach children to draw, to introduce them to art. Why, you ask? My answer is: I think feeding and dressing is great, but it’s a one-time help. You came, fed him, and after a couple of days the child was hungry again. You bought him shoes, and after a while the shoes will have holes. But, if a child is taught to do something, it will stay with him forever. If he is educated, he can feed himself and buy himself clothes. In addition, he will have a meaning in life that he will definitely want to communicate to others. Gradually, this knowledge will spread and motivate more people to live. I went to teach children to draw and introduce them to art because I believe it will help them. It will enrich their soul, awaken their imagination, and help them live better. «
Dasha Chernousik
