Humanitarian work in Mombasa schools: How to Help People to Help Themselves

LeRon and I loved our visit to some schools in Mombasa that our church is assisting with the help of Elder & Sister Jensen.  We took photos of these beautiful children and their teachers and the photos follow my rather lengthier-than-usual post.  Please bear with the following before you look at the pictures because it's very important to understand the church's philosophy on helping others.

Our Church believes strongly in the principle of self-reliance.  We are taught to be self-reliant and then to reach out and help others as we are able.  But how to help in the right way is sometimes hard to figure out.  Elder Wirthlin, one of the 12 Apostles of our church when he was alive, said that

"when we do for others what they can and ought to do for themselves, 

we harm them more than we help them."  

On the other hand, our prophet, President Monson, has often quoted the following poem:

I have wept in the night 

At my shortness of sight

That to others' needs made me blind,

But I never have yet

Had a twinge of regret

For being a little too kind.

These two principles come together very neatly in the teachings and policies of our church.  LDS Charities began operating in 1985 when the famine in Ethiopia became severe.  Since then, LDS Charities has been helping people and countries around the world, regardless of race or religion, in remarkable ways.  For more information, see https://www.ldscharities.org .

Church members and others (but not governments) donate to the church's Humanitarian Fund.  All donations are used for humanitarian purposes with absolutely nothing going to administration.  LDS senior missionaries (who are volunteers and pay their own way) assess needs and then partner with those in need to develop and carry out a plan.  Those receiving help commit to fund a certain percentage of the project and they also do much or most of the work.  That way, they are not getting something for nothing.  They have ownership in the project.

Church humanitarian efforts are never linked to proselyting.  LDS Charities is strictly to help relieve suffering, not to proselyte converts.  LDS Charities missionaries never give out Books of Mormon, nor even wear name tags with the church's name on it.  They never want to give the impression that there are strings attached to the humanitarian aid because there are not.  It is simply to relieve suffering, period.  LDS Charities here in Kenya works with both hospitals and schools.

Now to the pictures.  The children were so happy and anxious to have their pictures taken that I took too many and have had a hard time culling them down.  So this post will be the longest ever.  The children are beautiful and their teachers committed to helping them in the best way possible. 

Here's Sister Jensen with the principal of one of the schools.  Sister Jensen's name tag, as I explained above, says "LDS Charities".  It does not say "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" as do the tags that LeRon and I wear.  We are not Charities missionaries, we are regular proselyting missionaries.  The school classrooms are in the background. 

Elder Torrie loves to talk with people and they love to talk with him.

The children were excited that I would take their pictures.

Each class welcomed us with smiles and laughter.

The desks are built with whatever is available.  Nice to see them doing the best that they can.

Classrooms are made with tin and the open roof allows a breeze to blow through.  Days are very hot here.  No indoor plumbing.  Latrines in tin surroundings.

Elder Torrie and Elder Jensen

Note the times available for parents to meet with teachers.  As my sister Myrna pointed out in her comment, it makes for a very long day for the teachers.  But because parents work, it's probably the best time to meet with teachers.  Also notice the "polite notice".  We see these signs everywhere.  So interesting.  The people here really are very polite.

Not everyone wanted their picture taken and that's okay.

The teachers are trained with post-secondary education and do their best with limited supplies.

I asked who wanted to go to Canada with me and almost all did!

I couldn't neglect the other side of the classroom when I asked who wanted to go to Canada.  I told them that they have a lovely country right here in Kenya.

Supplies are minimal but students are happy to have them.

This classroom was jam-packed with tiny children, I think about age 3.  It's better for them to be here in school than at home with no parents to care for them.  Some are orphans and those with parents are still alone because most parents both work.

Cute little Muslim girl.  Their faces are beautiful, don't you think?

And their eyes are beautiful too.

This is a class of Muslim students.  The principal told me I could take pictures but I was concerned to be taking pictures of a Muslim teacher.  She said it would be okay if she shrouded herself, which she did.  When she taught, her head was uncovered.  Interesting to read her lesson on the blackboard:  "Allah created all humans."  Yes, Allah, or God, did indeed create all humans and he is our father and we are all brothers and sisters.

Every day, the Christian students have a religious class for them and the Muslim students have a religious class also.  Nice to see religion in the school.

Ouch.  Beauty pinches as my mom always said.  Takes a long time to braid hair too.  Several little girls have told me how much it hurts.  I don't think I would have stood it as a very young girl.

This teacher was teaching the students about the different tribes in Kenya.  Notice her teaching stick.

She would point the stick at the student she wanted to answer the questions.  The students were eager to participate.

This school has a project to raise chickens and they are also going to grow a small garden.  Right now everything is sopping because they had a bit of rain, which is very needed in Kenya right now.  The long rains should be starting soon.  Makes for a lot of mud but is critical for food supply and drinking water.

Mombasa is More than Heat

Mombasa is more than heat and white sands.  Elder & Sister Jensen took us out "into the bush" to see how many people live.  Then we visited a wildlife park, The Shimba Hills National Reserve.  Beautiful country!  The animals were mostly sleeping but it was a beautiful drive.

Elder & Sister Jensen learned very quickly how to take a ferry across this small arm of the Indian Ocean.  They take the ferry every Sunday to church.  Sister Jensen said it was interesting "the first couple of times."  The trip only takes about 5 or 10 minutes but sometimes the line-up is longer.  I thought this body of water was a river, but it's not, it's the ocean.  Cars are often joined by big semis and you can feel claustrophobic.

And there are always lots of foot passengers.  Here they're waiting to board.  Foot passengers are free as it's the only way they can go between their work and their homes.  Cars and other vehicles of course have to pay.  LeRon and I have crossed the English Channel (or La Manche as the French call it) on a ferry from Calais, France to Dover in England and back again a couple of times.  We were foot passengers too.

And these passengers have just crossed the ferry and are on their way to work.  Strong men to push and pull those heavily loaded handcarts.  A fuzzy picture that I took out of the window.

We drove "out into the bush".  Very different from Nairobi!  The homes are made of mud and sticks.  Sister Jensen has lots of good photos that I'll have to get.  Life here is back to the basics.  Just working each day to put food in their mouths.  Water needs to be carried in.  See those yellow barrels.

There is a huge Muslim population here.  School children look cute in their pink and blue uniforms and their white head scarves.

It had rained a lot and this road near the park was very muddy.  Coming toward us were these women with heavy loads of green wood on their heads.  We turned around and went back and asked to take their pictures.  They never missed a footstep as they said no, not very politely.  I wish you could see their faces.  They looked weary and wet.  So we didn't take their picture at that time, but turned back and took a picture of their backs.  I felt angry that the men made them carry such heavy loads and on such a wet, dirty day.  Or maybe they were single moms trying to build homes.

I cropped the photo so hopefully you can see it more clearly.  The women are barefooted.  I had another thought about the green wood.  I know that it's illegal to cut down a live tree, at least in a park (or reserve).  Maybe they didn't want their picture taken because it was illegal.  I don't know if that was so.  But probably they just didn't want to be photographed when they were wet and exhausted.  Plus, many Muslim women refuse to have their photos taken.

Beautiful view of the Indian Ocean.

Every country has beauty and Kenya certainly has its share.  Breathtakingly beautiful.

From the "Elephant Lookout" point we could see out of the park into the rolling hills of the countryside.  A little "church in the vale" and the Indian Ocean.

It's a hot, windy day.  So glad we got to see this part of the Lord's vineyard.  No elephants seen at Elephant Lookout.  Too hot for elephants I guess.  They're probably sleeping.

We had such a great time with Elder & Sister Jensen.  As LeRon likes to say, they are "kindred spirits."  Nice to be associated with farmers!  Nice to be associated with all the senior couples.

This may be a little store.  People use whatever is available with which to build.

Our last walk on the beach.  A big ship on the horizon (you may be able to see it if you click to enlarge), a small fishing boat, and a bird on the beach.  Beautiful sunset.

I wanted to walk in the ocean (without getting my shoes too wet).

Every time Elder Jensen clicked, the wave went out.  But we really were in the Indian Ocean.  It was very warm.  If I were a swimmer, it would have made for a lovely swim.  And by the way, even though junior missionaries are not allowed to swim, senior missionaries are.  I didn't know that and so never packed a swimming suit.

Early in the morning and late at night, people are on the beach, sometimes having a game of volleyball.

These young men are doing volleyball training on the beach.  It's very hard to walk in this sand.  But down close to the water, the sand is hard and easy to walk on.  Nice that Elder & Sister Jensen can walk here every day.

Africa is HUGE!!!

Africa is HUGE!!!  Check out this map . . .  Westerners have no concept of the size of this continent.  When I was a kid, we didn't learn much about Africa in school.  But I do remember that Tanzania was once Tanganyika and Zimbabwe was Rhodesia and South Africa was divided by apartheid and that the British ruled much of the continent, along with Portugal, France, Italy and Germany.  We also knew about the slave trade and other nefarious doings.  So I guess we knew more than I thought.  But there is still much to learn.  Africa is a gorgeous, diverse, interesting continent with intelligent, beautiful people who love their families just as we do.  The West doesn't have a corner on life.

Another thing we don't realize is that Africa is a continent.  It's not a country with states, such as the US with its states or Canada with its provinces.  It's more like the EU with its countries.  Kenyans are Kenyans; they tell me they are not Africans!  (Just like I tell people, no, we are not Americans -- we are Canadians).

A Temple for Nairobi!!!!!

Wow!!!  We were sitting here at 7 p.m. watching the Sunday morning session of General Conference.  President Monson announced 5 new temples.  When they announced Nairobi, Kenya, we started screaming.  We've been on the phone for the past hour and a half.  So excited!!  What a blessing for the people of Kenya and Tanzania!!!

Elder Thomas is with us for a couple of days.  Look at his excitement!!!  A temple was also announced for Saratoga Springs Utah, which is close to where he lives in Utah.

Elder Thomas and Elder Torrie on the phone.  Elder Torrie called President Msane very first.  He told the President that it is NOT an April Fool's joke!!  And don't worry.  Elder Thomas was not breaking mission rules.  He only called other missionaries, not his family.  (Missionaries are only allowed to call home on Mother's Day and on Christmas Day.  Calling home can make them more homesick and detract from their focus on missionary work, hence the rule).

Here is the proof.  It's real.  President Monson announced it!

Elder & Sister Torrie excited about the temple announcement.

We turned Conference back on but we couldn't concentrate so . . . back on the phone again.