I wish I could say the story I am about to share doesn't happen often, but I won't lie— it happens all too often, especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. I know because I have seen it with my own eyes and I have heard the stories from people on the front lines. Make no mistake, there is a battle raging and we are losing. Truthfully, most are aware of the problem but many simply don't give it much thought. After all, we are all very busy with our own daily lives and like many problems, it is out of sight and therefore out of mind. Well, I have long since lost that luxury. I have seen the faces of countless starving and malnourished children. That is why I must tell this story, Edwin's story.
Edwin was an 8-year-old boy living in rural Kenya. He was one of six children being raised by his grandmother. He was a two-parent orphan, meaning that both his parents are deceased or have abandoned him and his siblings. This is an all too common occurrence in sub-Saharan Africa. Children may be orphaned due to their parents dying from AIDS or Tuberculosis. They may be orphaned by parents who leave them with family or friends because they simply cannot provide for them. Regardless of the reason, orphans are very common in much of Sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that there are 13.7 million AIDS orphans living in sub-Saharan Africa. With no formal foster care system in place, the care of these children falls on the shoulders of family, friends, and charitable organizations.
For some time, Edwin's grandmother was doing the best she could do to feed 6 additional mouths in a country and continent plagued with poverty, malnutrition, and high infant and child mortality. Edwin and his siblings were surviving on limited food consisting of mostly rice, beans, and ugali. Ugali is a common food staple in Africa and is made from white corn. I have had Ugali, once and I hope to never eat it again. It has the consistency of Play-Doh but doesn't taste nearly as good. It is very filling but lacks much in the way of nutrition. Despite her best efforts, the health of Edwin and his siblings was failing due to constant hunger and malnutrition. I can only imagine the pain that comes with watching six of your grandchildren slowly starve to death, knowing you are powerless to stop it. It is also heartbreaking to imagine the constant gnawing pain of hunger in Edwin's stomach and the hopelessness he must feel not knowing when his next meal may come. Unfortunately, this is an all too common occurrence in much of Africa. The absurdity of this catastrophe is that most of the hunger and extreme poverty in the world is preventable.
Despite her best efforts, the health of Edwin and his siblings was failing due to constant hunger and malnutrition. I can only imagine the pain that comes with watching six of your grandchildren slowly starve to death, knowing you are powerless to stop it.
It was in this desperate situation that Edwin's grandmother had lost all hope. She vowed it would be better to kill the children than to watch them starve to death over weeks or months. It was this desperation that brought her to the steps of Home for Hope Children's Home in Webuye, Kenya. It was at the gates of this orphanage that she was pleading for help. Pastor Tonny Waskie was very reluctant to take more children under his care because he and his wife Daisy, already care for 54 children. He was concerned that he didn't have the money to feed, clothe, and house six more children. However, he didn't have a choice. In her desperation, Edwin's grandmother relayed her plans to kill the children instead of watching them starve. Not wanting her to harm the children, he agreed to take all six children into the Home for Hope.
Unfortunately, it would be too late for Edwin. Shortly after entering the Home for Hope, he became very ill. His body had been weakened by chronic malnutrition and his immune system was unable to fight off a simple childhood illness. At the age of 8 years old, Edwin breathed his last breath and was gone. Another child lost to the ravages of poverty and malnutrition. Again, this death and many like it are preventable.
That is why I founded Peanut Better. I could no longer sit on the sidelines and watch children dying. That is also why we are a 100% volunteer organization. Nobody, including myself, receives any financial compensation for their work at Peanut Better. We want every donated dollar to go to our mission of feeding children and sharing the gospel.
Why Should We Care About Edwin and Other Children Like Him?
Every human is an image bearer of God. Therefore, every person has value regardless of race, origin, age, or socioeconomic status. God does not create insignificant people, so these children are not insignificant. “So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them, male and female he created them.” Gen 1:27
Giving to the poor is giving to God. “Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord, and he will reward them for what they have done.” Prov 19:17
God calls us to give to those in need. John answered, “Anyone who has two shirts should share with the one who has none, and anyone who has food should do the same.” Luke 3:11 “And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.” Heb. 13:16
God calls us to defend the weak. “Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Prov. 31:8-9
We are to store up our treasures in heaven. “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21.
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