This week we went into a slum called Kipsongo. It is the area in town where the Turkana people live together in Kitale. It is one of the most impoverished slums in town. People live in huts made of trash, clothing or whatever materials they can find and can’t afford to feed or care for themselves or their families. 

Alex and Stacy who both live at the baby home are from Kipsongo. We tried  to find Alex’s mother and see how she was doing. She was nowhere to be found, her phone has been off for about a week and their hut is completely gone. She is HIV+ and had been telling us that she was getting sicker and asking us to take Alex’s little sister. We told some people to tell her to give us a call so hopefully we will hear from her soon. Stacy’s home was locked and the neighbors said that her parents were in town so we didn’t get to talk to them either. Praise God that they were able to get out of Kipsongo and into a home where they can be safe, healthy and well taken care of. 

Stacy

Stacy's old house

Alex

While we were passing through we ran into several people who told us about a girl that was sick. We got to the house and found her brother sitting outside. He told us that her name was Grace and she is eighteen years old. She is HIV+ and has been so sick with TB that she can no longer walk. She is taken monthly to the district hospital to get ARV’s, but since she has no food they only make her feel sicker. The minute we saw her, our hearts broke. She reminded us of Salome, Emily’s mother, who passed away a few months ago. We are praying that God opens doors and provides ways for us to help her improve her situation. 

Grace

The devastation in Kipsongo is heartbreaking. Here are some other pictures we took on our short little visit there.