Psalm 139:12-14 Even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.
IT HAS BEEN SIX MONTHS since my last visit to at the SHERP (Samburu Handicapped Education and Rehabilitation Programme) in Northern Kenya, home to 125 Samburu disabled children. The expressive art therapy workshop I taught the staff is being put to good use to help these severely traumatized children. As in many African tribes, the Samburu consider disability is a curse, caused by wrongdoing, a punishment from God. A disabled child can be feared like an evil spirit, hidden away, isolated, and abused. Among nomadic tribes the child is often left behind, given posion leaves to eat which insure certain death. Thanks God for SHERP and their work with the disabled child.
ONE SHERP CHILD'S STORY
Lengees' father instructed his mother to kill him before they moved their cattle but instead a family friend brought him to SHERP. Initially he could not move his legs. He has not had formal physical therapy but the staff encourages him get around by pushing himself along the ground. His legs are getting stronger and with proper physical therapy treatment he would probably be able to walk. The first time I visited SHERP and met Lengees and his friend they were fascinated by my hiking stick. As you can see by the photo his friend was born without a hand-a reason to be thrown away.
Lengees is seen in the first part of the video scooting up the hill to see me and also drawing on the floor during art. He wanted to draw like the other children so I tapped paper to the floor and showed him how to hold and move a crayon. He proceeded to draw his first picture : -)Lengees' father instructed his mother to kill him before they moved their cattle but instead a family friend brought him to SHERP. Initially he could not move his legs. He has not had formal physical therapy but the staff encourages him get around by pushing himself along the ground. His legs are getting stronger and with proper physical therapy treatment he would probably be able to walk. The first time I visited SHERP and met Lengees and his friend they were fascinated by my hiking stick. As you can see by the photo his friend was born without a hand-a reason to be thrown away.
