Stories About Sticks
An early start
We rose before the hot African sun, gathered our gear and lunches and climbed into the old rugged 4X4. Our destination was a school in Maasai land far off the GPS grid. But we had Mark Daubenmier’s memory to guide us.
Our journey began on a paved road in the center of this farming and commercial area of Kenya’s vast Rift Valley. More than an hour later we left pavement for bumpity-bump, dirt roads into the area where the Maasai keep their herds.
The first landmark was to pass under the giant elevated railroad the Chinese are building across Kenya. Then it was one turn after another that Mark somehow remembered. As we bounced along, he pointed out other trails that he had taken on his motorcycle. Those trails were a more direct route, but we were already off-roading it enough.
Is it true?
Somewhere in the middle of this dry and thirsty land we passed through a village with buildings. You wonder how all these people got here. You wonder if there really is a school out here.
Another turn down another dirt road finally revealed a school. It wasn’t quite 7 a.m. Why so early? We had come to see if the stories about sticks were true.
We pulled up to the gate, but before one of us could climb out to open it, two boys appeared next to our vehicle. They were carrying several long sticks. They smiled, and Mark spoke with them while I got out to open the gate. We pulled into the school yard and watched for the next hour as children in maroon school uniforms approached from every direction.
An unusual assignment
The students approached in pairs and groups of four or five. They talked and laughed. They carried sticks.
Yes, sticks. Sticks to fuel the fire that cooks the lunch that helps fuel their life.
Every school day these Maasai children eat a bowl of boiled maize and beans called githeri. This is the food that Kenya Kids Can provides to this school and 31 others like it.
But this school is unique. Bringing sticks is a daily assignment. The children take the sticks into the classrooms. After the teacher verifies that the students have brought their sticks, they take them to the pile outside the kitchen.
Lunch time is a beautiful sight
The kitchen is a small building made of wood and corrugated metal. Inside a huge pot – it’s three to four feet in diameter and just as tall – of githeri simmers all morning in the haze created by the mixture of smoke from the fire and steam from the pot.
Lunch time at this school and all the schools we visit is organized. Cooks and teachers serve the children, who line up from youngest to oldest. Children hold out their colorful plastic bowls while the servers give them generous helpings of githeri.
The children spread around the school yards and sit and talk and eat with their friends. Some of their clothes might be torn. They have only the dusty ground to sit on. The sun is hot. But they are happy.
Lunch time is a beautiful sight.
The githeri, as many children tell us, gives them energy for afternoon classes. Githeri has increased enrollment in every Kenya Kids Can school. Knowing that people from around the world have sent them this food gives them hope.
So they keep bringing the sticks.
Jeff Gilbert is a guest writer and has visited numerous Kenya Kids Can schools. He teaches journalism at Cedarville University.
Very interesting. We enjoyed a trip to some of the schools several years ago.
It was great that you guys were able to come to Kenya to see the schools first hand. I am glad the trip worked out.
Thank you for the pictures and video of the children with their sticks. It brought tears to my eyes to see them and know that I had a small part in helping them to eat and learn. God bless you for all you do in Jesus Name!
Thank you for your support of the children here in Kenya. By working together we can accomplish something that none of us could do apart. Thanks again.
What a ministry and thank you so much for being such a faithful tool from the Lord! Our heart was moved when we visited two of the schools a few years ago and naturally we think the pics are great too! Caleb Hanson
So glad you got to visit and we look forward to having you stop by again the next time you pass through Kenya. We are grateful that Caleb was willing to put his photography skills to use to help us tell stories about the lives of the children here.
Thank you so much for all you do and for sharing this!
Thanks for reading along, Karen. I am glad you guys were able to see the program when you visited Kenya. Hope all is well for you and your family.
It’s really amazing for what you really do for our brothers and sisters, what you do,its only God who can pay you and may He abundantly and increasingly see you through in all that you do.Shalom
I just re-read this story. It is just as amazing the second time around and I ask that God will bless your ministry in every way. The Daubenmier’s are such a blessing and servants of the Lord!
Thanks for the comment, Brian. Thanks even more for the introductions that led to having the Cedarville team come to Kenya to help us tell the world what life is like here for our students.
I have been supporting and loving the Kenya Kids for several years. I am getting pretty old now, but I want to take this time to tell the Kids that I pray for them. I appreciate every worker that has a part in getting the food to the Kids. Tell them to always do their best to please our Lord Jesus for He loves them so very much. I hope you are hearing the Gospel of Jesus Christ right along with the food. Love, Mrs. Redman.
We can’t thank you enough, Wilma, for years of support for our students. Thank you for praying for them and loving them so well. We appreciate you.