GOH Kangema

Kangema, Kenya

Earlier this week, we travelled into the Aberdare Mountains to visit one of the more remote Guardians of Hope projects with the Africa Christian Church & Schools. It was a beautiful drive up the steep tea hills and through dramatic valleys.

Small hold tea farms are the main source of income in this region of Kenya. Most farms have one or two acres of tea bush that the family will pick and maintain. Tea cooperatives purchase the tea directly from the growers and will prepare it for auction where major tea buyers will purchase Kenyan black tea for some of the world's most popular blends.

Our colleague Henry Mwangi told us that as a child his mother would take him tea picking, but as the slopes were steep it was too dangerous to let a small child wander. So, Henry's mom would simply dig a hole and leave the baby and toddlers in it while she picked. According to Henry, it was the best way she had to keep him safe.

Jacinta Kuria

The purpose of our trip was to visit with the committee members of the ACC&S Guardians of Hope in Ichichi and to interview Jacinta Kuria, a Guardians beneficiary. After sharing part of Jacinta's story, in our September update letter, Canadian Baptist Ministries asked us if we would return to Kangema to film a video interview with Jacinta for World AIDS Day. Jacinta was very gracious with hosting us at her home and sharing how God has used the Guardians of Hope to help her and her children after the death of her husband from an AIDS related illness and the her subsequent diagnosis. Jacinta is now living positively and with the help of the GOH, she is staying faithful to her medications and providing for her family. Jacinta has also become a spokesperson for other people within her community and church. She believes that God has blessed her so that she can help others affected by this disease.

Erica interviewing Jacinta with Patrick Miana,

our GOH colleague working with ACC&S

Jacinta showing us her two acres of tea bush

Aaron with our ACC&S colleagues, Patrick and Henry, and members of the ACC&S Guardians of Hope committee in Kangema at Jacinta's home.

Looking across the neighbouring tea field with Jacinta's tea picking basket on the ground

Beth, Erica, D and Jacinta in her kitchen garden

Our friends daughter, D, joined us on this trip as she was interested in learning more about the Guardians of Hope for an HIV and AIDS project that she is doing for her eleventh grade English class. It was a pleasure to have D with us and for her to have a chance to interview other GOH participants.

While we are sending the footage from our video interview to CBM, we will be posting an audio podcast of Erica's interview with Jacinta next week. It will be available on our podcast website and on iTunes.