Jesus said the second greatest commandment is to love our neighbor as ourselves. That's the work he's given me to do in Kenya, East Africa for the past 10 years.
I’d like to introduce you to my friend, Agnes. We met in August 2004 when she and her family moved in next door to my mud hut in a rural village in Kenya. They literally became my neighbors.
My family has a special connection with Agnes' family. Her two youngest sons are named Duane (after my Dad) and Caleb Zachary (after my two sons). They're the two boys on the left of the photo at the top of this website.
Our friendship has developed over the years and I'm learning to love Agnes the way Jesus taught. In doing so, I have come to understand a lot about poverty. It's become very real to me as I look into Agnes’ eyes, observe her weary body, and get a glimpse into her heart and struggles.
Please watch this video and hear the story from Agnes herself, with a few comments from me at the beginning and end.
As I mentioned in the video, my dream is to raise $12,000 to help change Agnes' life. It would:
- buy 2 acres of farm land
- build a simple mud hut and separate kitchen
- dig a pit latrine, with an adjoining washroom (for bathing)
- and possibly be enough to dig a well so that she and the boys can have clean drinking water
3/4 of the 2-acre plot can be planted in cash crops and used to pay the school fees for the children.
1/4 of the plot can be planted in vegetables to feed the family.
Having her own land and house would allow Agnes to have the freedom of not paying rent. With the income from the cash crops and the daily supply of garden vegetables for their own table, she would be able to concentrate more of her energy on her sewing business, which may then allow her two youngest boys to attend school.
Because Charles (Agnes' husband) abandoned the family two years ago, and she doesn't know when or if he'll return, her shoulders carry 100% of the burden of raising, feeding, and educating her sons.
With your one-time donation, the difference YOU can make in this family's life (and others around them) includes:
- provide clean and freely accessible water, not only for Agnes and her boys, but for the larger community as well, as wells are typically shared by many neighbors
- possibly provide jobs for some of the community, as Agnes could hire farm help as her crops flourish
- break the cycle of poverty in this family and with these boys
By the way, I got some of the pricing details and other ideas for this project from Emily, a friend of mine in Nairobi. She works for Turning Point, an NGO that works in one of the largest slums in Kenya. They have successfully done a similar project for women, as you can see by clicking on this page of their website.
YOU have the opportunity to join with me in doing something tangible to change Agnes' life!
Here are three options:
1. PAYPAL. Click on this "Donate" button. Indicate the amount you would like to contribute to the "Acres for Agnes" fund. All of your donation will go to this project, with the exception of the small fee charged by PayPal.
2. SNAIL MAIL. If you live in the United States and would like to send a check, please make it out to Deb Smith. On the memo line, write "Acres for Agnes". 100% of your donation goes to this project!
Mail it to -
Deb SmithPO Box 34083Omaha, NE 68134
3. TAX-DEDUCTIBLE DONATION. If you would like to use your contribution for income tax purposes, you have two options by donating through my sending agency. Just click here to go to the "donations" page on the Ripe for Harvest website.
If you use the option of mailing them a check, please write "Deb Smith / #98B / Acres for Agnes" on the memo line. If you use the option of using your credit card with them, scroll down and find her name on the list. Please write "#98B / Acres for Agnes" in the comment box.
[Note: "Acres for Agnes" will only receive 88% of contributions made through Ripe for Harvest (and only 85% if they're made with a credit card). Please consider increasing your contribution to cover this percentage.]
Please be as generous as you can in selecting the amount you would like to give. Any amount is welcome and appreciated.
In conclusion, please enjoy this musical slide show with photos of Agnes and her boys.
Thank you so much for partnering with me to help change Agnes' life. Let's all learn new ways to love our neighbors as we love ourselves!
. -deb
P.S. Please feel free to spread the word about "Acres for Agnes" by using the "share buttons" on the right.
"There are always going to be poor and needy people among you. So I command you: Always be generous, open purse and hands, give to your neighbors in trouble, your poor and hurting neighbors." Deuteronomy 15:11
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