You Say Potato

The word for potato in swahili is kiazi (kee-ah-zee). After corn, the potato is the most important food crop in Kenya. When I visited in December, the potato was a part of almost every meal. It is used in various recipes including mokimo, which I learned how to make from one of our clients. The cooking process took the better part of the afternoon over a fire pit, with 3-4 of us helping cut and stir to make the meal, our arms tiring from the constant stirring needed. When we sat down to eat, it was truly a community meal.

Living in a country  like the United States where food, particularly processed food, is readily available from restaurants and grocery stores and where kitchens are a norm makes it difficult to comprehend what a daily investment food preparation can be. There are places in the United States that healthy food is scarce, especially for families living in under resourced areas, but, in Kenya, most people rely on local food markets or growing their own crops to put meals on the table.

This is very different than my experience growing up, which is also probably the case for many of you. Can you imagine what it would look like to live in a culture where food takes a lot of time and energy? For our clients, this is a huge concern in providing for themselves and their families.

Food production is changing in Kenya through the programs of USAID and others and will continue to emerge and transform like in the United States during the Agricultural Revolution. This will take time and investment in local business, something that CARE for AIDS is passionate about supporting. Our centers host two seminars a month that train clients in entrepreneurial skills and organized lending groups. We hope that this education and training will prepare our clients to be a part of this growing economy.

Regardless of how you pronounce it, potato or kiazi, hope feels the same in any language.

That’s a Wrap

It’s hard to believe it’s that time of year already, but last week college students all over the United States are finishing up exams and heading all over the world to spend time abroad, at an internship, or a lazy Summer at home. With the change of seasons comes a big milestone for CARE for AIDS. Summer means that CFAU, our new collegiate fundraising initiative, can celebrate its one year mark.

Over the past year students at Vanderbilt, Furman, and Truman State have worked hard to raise money and awareness on their campuses. It has been a year of trials and growth opportunities, but also a year of success! Collectively our chapters raised close to $75,000 through personal and campus wide fundraising initiatives and packed almost 230,000 meals to be sent directly to our clients in Kenya. We are looking forward to what the future holds for CFAU.

We are excited to be returning to each of the campuses that have kicked off CFAU for us this past year, but we are also ready to expand and see how college students all over the U.S. come together to make a difference in the lives of our current and future Kenyan clients.

If you’d like to join the CARE for AIDS CFAU team, we’re currently looking for highly motivated college students that are passionate about impacting their campus and the world. CFAU is the perfect opportunity to learn what it looks like to advocate, fundraise, and connect internationally. Look for the new updated CFAU page this summer with information on how you can get involved or contact our team at team@careforaids.org.

Nominate the Unsung Heroes in Your Life

About 18 months ago, CARE for AIDS was honored with the People’s Choice Award at the 2011 Epoch Missions Gala. Epoch is a black tie affair to celebrate the work of “unsung heroes” serving across the street and around the world. These are people sharing the transformative message of the Gospel by addressing issues of poverty, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, and countless other social injustices. To read more about that night in 2011, please read my earlier blog here.

In the ministry world, it feels awkward to give or receive praise and recognition, because we all know that God is the provider and sustainer of our work. We are simply stewards of what He has entrusted to us. Honor for a leader or an organization seems misplaced. That being said, our ministry leaders and missionaries need that encouragement and support more than anyone. They live, sleep, and eat the work they have been called to, and they suffer rejection and failure along the way. We need them to be focused and inspired because the work they are doing has eternal consequence. The best gift you can offer to a ministry you support right now is to nominate its leader for an Epoch Award. It could result in greater funding for the ministry, new connections to potential partners, but most importantly, it will energize and encourage all involved in that great work. All of the above were true for CARE for AIDS.

Take a look at this short promotional video that Epoch produced of me telling about CARE for AIDS and my experience at Epoch. With only two weeks until nominations close, please take a few minutes to nominate one ministry that you believe best embodies the values of Epoch.