It was two days before Christmas and thousands of people in the Ndalani area surrounding Mully Childrens Family Home did not know where they would get food that day, talk less of a Christmas meal. For them, it is about eating day to day, feeding families and not necessarily celebrating in a loud way, or spending money they did not have in the first place.
Josephine Mwikali sat on the grass with her nursing child and told how she had heard from her area chief that there would be food at MCF on December 23rd. at 5am, she began the long, painstaking journey to MCF Ndalani where she would meet thousands of other people hoping they would get something that day. She had to walk because the last coins she had needed to be saved for a day when they were more needed. She walked for almost 5 hours and finally arrived at the entrance of MCF at a few minutes after ten. Having had no breakfast that day, or anything else, she only stopped to nurse her son and continued the journey to get some food. She had heard of this distribution done by MCF many times before, and only this time was she able to make the journey.
As she came in, she was greeted by thousands of people, some of whom had been there since daylight, waiting for food that would carry them the next few days until they found the next meal.
All over, there were old men and women, teenagers, pregnant women, young children, the lame, the sick – all these people gathered to get what MCF could give from what God had provided. They came from Kisiiki, Matuu, Sofia, Kenyatta and right there in Ndalani.
They told stories of how they had travelled, some as far away as 30 kilometers to get some food and the journey back didn’t matter because they would have some food for some time and they wouldn’t have to pay for it. Many who came that day were previous recipients of the generous MCF food distribution which consisted of maize flour, dried beans and maize, French beans and cooking fat and they couldn’t help but come again.
The rain had been a long time coming in this area and though it began to rain, it would be a long time before the people of this area could harvest. We thank God for the rain, but MCF stepped in to try and bridge the gap before the first rains and the time they could harvest.
So as is the habit, MCF came in to try and make things better.
They day began very early, and as people lined up, MCF staff, beneficiaries and workers prepared the items that would be given to those who were waiting and needed it so badly. It was an opportunity to share the good news of Jesus Christ with the people who were there, and as people waited expectantly to receive food, it was an opportunity for Charles Mulli to share the food of the gospel with the people and their hearts were accepting.
Soon after, people were able to receive food and it was touching to see from the looks on their faces and the words they expressed how grateful they were that in these harsh times, someone was willing to share with them. It wasn’t just Josephine who was touched but thousands and the words are still on their lips. Christmas, which would have passed as a day like no other, will remain a good memory for them because they heard the good news of Jesus and they received food to carry them through.
It was a great opportunity for MCF to share again and make it all the more special at this time of Christmas!