One Village at a time! (Kamera)
Second on our ‘One Village at a time!’ series is Kamera village in Moroto District, Karamoja. Karamoja is a historically marginalized, isolated and underdeveloped region hence it has been dubbed ‘the forgotten corridor of Africa’ by many researchers, journalists and humanitarian organizations. It is known for its semi arid climate, rolling savannah, mountainous terrain, rich cultural heritage, communal living and nomadic pastoralism. The people of Karamoja live in Manyattas (a beautiful cluster of wood and grass thatched huts) which make up villages; one of the five villages we have been journeying with in Karamoja is Kamera Village. Due to the recent floods which were preceded by droughts, we recently sent out an urgent appeal for funds to purchase blankets, clothes and food mostly featuring this village. We are very grateful for your wholehearted support through prayer and your generous contributions. And as seen in the video below, the people of Kamera village are even more grateful (‘Alakara’- thank you)
You might hear in the video a mention of the names 'Apollo Quan' and 'Nakiru'. These are the names given to our founders Franc and Sue Robb by the communities. They mean 'Father of the great white bull' and 'Bringer of rain' respectively.
They say, “thank you for the food”. Among the acts of service categorized as true fasting in Isaiah 58.5-7, sharing our food with the hungry is one of them. Besides, Jesus later in Matt 25:35-40 said that whenever we feed the least of these when hungry, we essentially feed Him when he is hungry. “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and He will reward them for what they have done.” (Proverbs 19:17).
They say, “thank you for the clothes”. The bible speaks a lot about clothing the needy as an act or evidence of true fasting, faith and righteousness
“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?”
“I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”
“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen…... .when you see the naked, to clothe them.”
“John answered, ‘Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.’”
They say, “thank you for the blankets”. As described in our appeal, the people sleep on makeshift beds made of animal skins and hides which offer little protection from the rain. The loss of body heat mainly through conduction to cold surfaces therefore exposes them to the risk of hypothermia which is a life threatening condition for starving people who lack the calories to maintain their body temperature. The young ones and grandmothers were the most vulnerable and as you can see in the video, this was such a huge blessing to them and they can’t wait to express their heartfelt gratitude. They say, “thank you for giving us life” and “they are now safe.” Thank you for being God’s vessel of God’s peace and safety to Kamera Village!
“The poor and needy search for water, but there is none; their tongues are parched with thirst. But I the Lord will answer them; I, the God of Israel, will not forsake them. I will make rivers flow on barren heights, and springs within the valleys. I will turn the desert into pools of water, and the parched ground into springs. I will put in the desert the cedar and the acacia, the myrtle and the olive. I will set junipers in the wasteland, the fir and the cypress together”
_ by Gloria Nderitu