A Call to Battle
Steve Peifer, founder of Kenya Kids Can, recently visited Kenya for the first time since 2013. He shares this account of his time here.
It had been six years since we had left Kenya, and the twins were about to graduate from high school. Their high school was taking a senior trip to Iceland, and it prompted a conversation with my youngest son:
Ben: Our senior trip is to Iceland.
Me: Nice!
Ben: Dad, black people don’t go to Iceland.
Me: I didn’t know that! Where do they go?
Ben: Back to Kenya?
So we got permission from the school and headed off to Kenya for two weeks. I had the opportunity to visit several of the schools that Kenya Kids Can works with, and I had several random observations:
- It was sobering to realize that I’m not physically capable of doing the job anymore. I came to Kenya in my 40s and I’m now in my 60s. Prostate cancer and age made the trips on non-existent roads pretty painful; I’m grateful that someone else is doing the job.
- I’m grateful that God gave us the opportunity to found KKC, but I’m more grateful that Mark has taken over. He has made it a much more organized and efficient organization. It functions at a much higher level now, and it is due to his leadership and vision.
- When I first started going to schools, I was often the first white person the children had ever seen, and many of them were afraid of me. It seemed important to make them laugh, and I was pretty good at that. In its time, it was appropriate. But Mark and I were visiting a school, and I realized that the children were no longer afraid. Fifteen years of regular visits had taken the fear away. I was jumping with some kids, and I noticed that Mark was quietly sitting and engaging with students, and my immediate thought was “That is so much better.”
- The power of regular lunches for 15 years has transformed the schools. Being hungry isn’t always the worst thing; the worst thing is having been hungry and being afraid you will be hungry again. That causes you to leave school midday and beg for food. When you aren’t afraid of being hungry, you can focus on learning. We were so impressed with the engaged teaching and responsive students; it didn’t exist at this level when we left.
- I remember how terrified children were of touching computers, and now these students act like the most natural thing in the world is to take a computer class. It was so beautiful to see, and the new initiatives that Mark and Lucy have created are thrilling.
- My mantra for years has been “Don’t make peace with the idea of hungry children.” I felt like what I witnessed was what happens when you wage war against hunger: a generation of students who are healthier, graduating from high school and learning computers, and know it has occurred because God loves them.
I’m so grateful for what Mark has accomplished. Kenya Kids Can continues to be about feeding and equipping kids, and we could really use your help. Don’t sit this one out; the children really need you.
Your pal,
Steve
I am so pleased to see Steve back in Kenya for a visit and to read his report on the changes there. Thrilling to hear about the improvements since he began the school lunch and computer ministries. During his years of ministry there, I always looked forward to his excellent email updates and accompanying photos, which told the story of the tremendous poverty and need there. I have a notebook full of those email updates and am easily reminded of some of the most poignant pictures. I know Steve because he lived a few doors down from me in the Chicago suburbs and went to my high school (along with his wife Nancy). They did amazing things while in Kenya, a journey that resulted from the loss of their infant son, that continue to impact many thousands of lives. I have both of Steve’s terrific books — Your Pal Steve and A Dream So Big — and I encourage everyone to read them and pass them along. Both are so inspiring, encouraging, and with his on-target insights and some humor that made me laugh out loud (see the part about him teaching kids at Rift Valley Academy how to drive). I still tell Steve and Nancy’s story to people as the opportunity arises to present it as one of courage and faith through tremendous grief at the loss of their son and how they persevered and stepped into totally foreign places and circumstances, moving forward in spite of many challenges, and how God showed up in their lives time and again to see them through and with many unexpected blessings. I’m so glad Steve and his son could return to Kenya and got to see first hand that it’s going well. I’m very happy to continue to support this important ministry and so thankful for Steve and Nancy. Thankful for them, their kids, and their story that will continue to minister to others. And very thankful that the ministry is continuing, growing under the direction of Mark. Who knows what tendrils of hope, change, impact throughout the world it will have in the future.
Thank you for taking the time to share this, Linda. We appreciate your love and support of the children here in the rift valley.
I believe your work is important and would like to help. Please email me
Andrew – I just sent an email. Thanks for reaching out.
Dear mark just read the update of Steve’s visit. After reading Steve’s book A Dream so big. It touched my heart so I brought it before my Sunday school class and ask them to pray about taking this cause on as a class we have been doing this for 4 yrs. now this year our best. $by$ we pray this helps a hungry child not cry that day from hunger. Our church Faith Bible Church Vineland N J 08360 Overcomers classroom would like an update if you have the time to respond. We appreciate all the work and love you supply these dear children of Our Lord and Savior May God Bless this ministry mightily His Servant Terry Lynch
Oh, my! This comment came in while I was traveling over Christmas and I see now I never got back to you, Terry. My apologies.
I would be delighted to provide an update. In fact, I could even Skype with the Sunday school class so they would be able to ask questions. We should connect by email to see the best way to do this.
Thanks for your ongoing support of the children here in Kenya.