Letter from Kenya
Last year's mission project leads to new friendship
By Holly Craft
ROAN MOUNTAIN, Tenn. – Sometimes a small gesture can go a long way.
When Debbie Morrison and her daughter Meghan packed school supplies for Kenya last year, they wrote their names, address and a brief note in an enclosed pocket dictionary.
"I prayed that the person that got the supplies would respond," Debbie Morrison said.
Several months passed before the Morrisons received a letter from Elizabeth Makandi Mwela, a friendly 14- year-old from Meru, Kenya.
"We were thrilled,"said Morrison. "We were just about to give up hope."
Mwela's letter expressed appreciation for the supplies that she and her classmates received. She also stated her interest in keeping in contact with the Morrisons "We were deeply touched by the letter, the sincerity and gratitude from Elizabeth," said Morrison. "We were also impressed with her spiritual understanding at such a young age."
The Morrisons attend Roan Mountain United Methodist Church, where Debbie's husband, the Rev. Stephen Morrison, is pastor. Every year, each district in Holston Conference is assigned a "hands-on" mission kit to send to a faraway country. Last year, Roan Mountain UMC joined other Johnson City District churches in assembling school kits for needy people in Kenya. The kits included paper, construction paper, pencils, pens, crayons, a writing tablet, a pocket dictionary and a backpack.
This year, Holston Conference will gather supply kits to send to missions in Liberia and Zimbabwe.
The Morrisons and others in the Johnson City District are collecting health kits for Ganta Hospital in Liberia. The kits will include: a bath towel, washcloth, toothbrushes, shampoo, soap, toothpaste, deodorant, Tylenol or Aleve, lotion and perfumed spray.
"I know each year we collect items and send them year after year, not knowing how they touch someone's life," Morrison said. "It was such a joy to hear from someone personally, realizing that the little things we do can make a difference in someone's life around the world."
The pastor's family has stayed in contact with its new friend, sending sneakers, flip flops, art supplies and bubble-blowing soap in recent packages to Kenya. They recently received a second mailing that included letters for both Debbie and Meghan, age 16. The girl also sent pictures of her church.
In Meghan's letter, Mwela was excited about the fact that she and her American pen pal have similar interests, including art and drawing.
The Morrisons have shown the letters to members of their church and Debbie believes that it has been inspiring. "They just teared up," she said. "They were very encouraged, very touched."
She hopes that telling about her letters from Kenya will inspire other Holston churches to participate in this year's conference-wide missions project.
Helping others is something that Debbie and her family feel strongly about.
"I think it makes a connection between Christians around the world."
Holly Craft is a free-lance writer living in Maryville, Tenn.
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