Habari #15

Cursed
Once a week, I go to the Madukani, our market square, to buy fruit and vegetables. The village community likes to gather there and chat. I enjoy going because I learn more about my neighbors. This time, I'm driving there with Josefine, a Kenyan friend. Suddenly, I have to brake hard because a woman with an enormous hunchback is crossing the road in front of me. At first, I think she's an old shosho (grandmother) who's carried too much firewood in her life, but then Josefine explains: "This woman is in her thirties. She's cursed because she was disrespectful to her mother as a child. Now she's an outcast and lives alone." The woman hasn't been able to walk upright since then; her chin almost reaches her knees.

I am both astonished and bewildered. It's not the first time I've heard stories of curses. In the healing group (trauma processing group) I started with eight women from the neighborhood, I repeatedly hear about the profound fear of being cursed and then severely ostracized. Cursed people lose all hope and often end up in alcoholism or other unhealthy coping mechanisms. Loneliness and hopelessness are perhaps even worse "epidemics" here than COVID. In a culture of fear and shame like the one prevalent in Kenya, invisible powers are a reality. People often submit out of fear to these unseen forces, trying to appease them and win them over. At this moment, I think of the biblical words in Galatians: „"Jesus set you free so that you could be free."“ (Galatians 5:1) How many people are still walking around in our neighborhood, burdened with oaths from which they could be free?

Stories like these motivate me for my work here. I want to make the healing groups accessible to all women in need and create a safe space within the groups where they can share their stories without fear of being labeled as weak. In these groups, the women can learn to understand what their souls need to heal. Such experiences can, in some cases, save lives.
A few weeks ago, my housekeeper Mumbi, a friend, and I started a new healing group in the next town. If you want to know how it came about, click here. here for the full contribution.

A look into the future
Next month we'll be concluding our first three-year term. Many of you have faithfully supported us over these three years, encouraging us and providing financial assistance. That our finances have been sufficient every month is one of the great miracles we've experienced. A huge thank you to the more than 100 people who have made this possible! We feel that our time here isn't quite over yet, and so we'll be starting the next term in the fall.
Since this is no longer a short-term assignment, we had to include long-term expenses such as retirement savings in our financial plan. This, along with a few other changes, increases our monthly budget for the next term.
You might remember our lion; he needs a fresh coat of paint 😊. Starting in September, we'll need an additional €700 per month. If you'd like to become a "maker," we'd be delighted to receive your contribution. 

Greetings from Kenya, we are really looking forward to spending time with you!
Be blessed,
The Miners