BRIDGING THE GAP
PROJECTS
She watched the babies die. The lives of the San Bushman people of the Kalahari are never easy. When food becomes scarce, the milk of the mothers dries up and the babies die.
She heard God tell her to do something. With her own money she rented a building and brought the mothers in with their babies and their children. She fed them, she nursed them and she gave them what medical care she could.
She prayed for help...
This is Kaycee, the little boy who inspired Elaine. Unfortunately, he didn't survive, but his sister did. The project is named in his honor.
KAYCEE'S HOUSE OF HOPE
TSUMKWE, NAMIBIA
So in 2013 in a tiny town in the middle of an enourmous desert, a lady named Elaine is out of money and is praying for help. Out of nowhere, unannounced, on a Friday afternoon, in Tsumkwe, Namibia of all places, in march us eight Yankees, announcing, "Hi there. So nice to meet you. We're here to help you!" Well your imagination will paint a better picture of her reaction than my words can describe, but we left her everything we had and promised to return in 2014.
A mother and baby at Elaine's original location.
Elaine with Kaycee's sister.
2014
As promised, we returned toTsumkwe in 2014. Elaine had received notice from the welfare agency that "the situation with the babies is critical now". We brainstormed, we visited a school in a tent, we met with a village chief and we came up with a plan. We would help Elaine get back up and running. We would send her money for a stove, refrigerator, washing machine and monthly supplies. We would also pay for a couple ladies to help Elaine run the center as she has a full time job and can't be in two places at once, no matter how badly she wanted to be. In our brainstorming session, we decided that "one day" we'd like to build a building. That would be a few years down the road, however.
2015
At the end of 2014, a very generous couple who refuse to be named, donated a very large amount of money to pay for a building and run the center for a year! So of course we built a building in Tsemkwe, Namibia. What could possibly go wrong? We were in Wisconsin and Lorens, who was in charge of getting this done, only lives 12 hours from Tsemkwe. Well, it seems some paperwork that needed to be taken care of never arrived, so we put up the building without it. The local government wasn't all that happy about a building springing up with no permits or paperwork. So Jon sent me to the store to buy new clothes and shoes (a jackal had tried to eat my shoes, but that's another story) and I met with the people from the Ministry of Health. Things went better than expected, and now Kacee's House of Hope is going strong!
How Does Kaycee's House of Hope Help?
As Elaine has seen for years, the fundamental problem faced by San babies is a cycle of poor nutrition conbining with the tough Kalahari winter, causing the mother to lose her breast milk, and the baby gets sick and dies. Often the answer is as simple as getting mom extra nutrition and baby extra support. Of course getting these to the San Bushman people in the Kalahari is not all that simple, but on the other hand a little money goes a long way here. At Kaycee, full meals - including the luxuries of fresh meat and fresh fruit - are served 2 or 3 times per day. Formula is provided to babies when needed. Currently several babies are on the formula program as their mom's breastmilk is gone.
We go beyond the usual Vitamin A recommendation and give Infant Vitamin Drops to the babies. We also give parasite treatment every 3 months and provide emergency medical kits with antibiotics and other important medications. And the scruffy and ruffian teenagers (actually they are quite neat and clean - much more so than this guy) along with helping with the logistics of running the medical program, bring the fun and games and sports and gifts - really one of the Biggest Blessings of All!
Kaycee’s Klub
Named for a little boy who died of malnutrition and exposure, Kaycee House of Hope brings nutrition and medicine to the San (Bushman) people in the Kalahari Desert . The San face many challenges as their way of life is uprooted by the realities of the modern world. Nutrition is scant and infant mortality high- a tragedy- but one that is easy to change.
THE BOTTOM LINE
$25 pays for a month of care for a baby in our Infant Nutrition Program. Since Kaycee opened last year we have had to turn some mothers and babies away. We do the best triage we can and try to make sure the most vulnerable get the help they need, but we are hoping to do better- thus:
Kaycee’s Klub
What you give:
We need 50 people who will give $25 a month for 2 years (of course you can stop any time if your circumstances change). This will cover our current costs and allow us to expand as needed. Each year new members will be added, freeing others to stop as they please, knowing that funding will continue on.
What you get:
For your help we will bring you back a couple of pretty cool gifts, thanks from the very people you are helping:
Year 1: A decorated ostrich egg- a personal work of art
Year 2: An authentic Bushman bow, with arrows and quiver
Everyone from Bridging the Gap International so appreciates your generosity, and we are excited to bring you back what we think are a couple of pretty special gifts!
Thank you and stay blessed!
Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered.
Proverbs 11:25