Days of Hunger Ahead...

In a time when the crops should be flourishing and lush, the sight of the fields is bare and hardly what it should be. In a time when you shouldn’t be able to see your neighbor’s rooftop because the corn is so tall, you can practically see your neighbors doorstep. In a time where you can hear the stalks of corn gently move in the breeze, you hear a constant rustling of dry leaves brushing against each other. Kenya is in a stage of drought.

The food Kenyans rely on the most, is maze. It’s a type of corn, and they practically live on it. It can be cooked on a basic grill made from a bit of wire. It can be ground and used for corn meal. There are many ways to use it for food, and it is what the country depends on to survive. This year, due to the lack of rain, it just isn’t there.

Kenyans are preparing for the impending famine that will be coming soon. With the lack of maze, people will starve. When your child needs food and is so very hungry, what do you feed them? When water is scarce, and the food just isn’t there, what do you do? Many Kenyans are turning to prayer for their hope in a miracle.

While traveling in Kenya this July, I was shocked. The corn fields that are normally bright green and healthy were brown and dead. The corn stalks were so short, and almost brought tears to my eyes as I gazed out to the fields that surrounded my truck window. What will these people eat? They have to have food. The Kenyans are preparing for hard times ahead. “People will starve to death this year, it’s going to happen with the crops the way they are. Things will be very tough in the days ahead,” they say.

Yes, I am one of the first in a crowd to start a discussion about our health care debates going on right now. We are so blessed to not be debating about topics such as “What will we all eat in the coming months.” What will the Kenyans do? What will they eat? How many will die as a result of the recent droughts and lack of corn? It’s a sad reality they just aren’t ready to deal with. Neither am I. Our kids live there. Our sisters and brothers live there, and in Matthew 25 verses 35-40 Jesus tells us it is He will be there living it as well.

Please pray for all those searching for food, ways to survive, and faith to get through the days ahead. Please pray for ways you can be a part of the answer.