The Hope of Africa: Harris Foundation Visits the Kids of Challenge Farm
</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Africa, the cradle of civilization. A place of profound beauty, stunning wild life--- and deplorable poverty. "No matter where our travels may take us with the ministry of the Foundation, there is one common denominator --- in the eyes of God, we are all the same." says Harris Family Christian Foundation founder, Kurt Harris. "More often than not, (foundation board member and Du Quoin photographer ) Jason Hill's lens captures the essence of the trip, the people we encounter and the joy the Lord brings to both them and the team by allowing us to be a part of His work in their lives."
The ministry of the HFCF has many layers both locally and abroad, but at the center of this organization is a desire to knit hearts together through the love of God. According Hill "Perhaps the best way to do this is in the lives of the world's children." For many years the HFCF has sponsored free shows, sponsored Christian camps and events, given academic scholarships, funded youth mission trips and awarded community improvement grants to benefit the community of Du Quoin. Last year the foundation teamed up with the Du Quoin Middle School "Builder's Club" and donated books to start a library in Uganda with Peace Corps volunteer, Bailey Shook--- another Du Quoin native.
The foundation's mission team consisted of Jason Hill, Kurt and his son Blayne Harris, Jennifer Hill (frequent mission team member) and Nancy Ngethe --- an SIU Nursing Student from Kenya of whom the foundation scholarshipped to go with them.
After a full day of flight and numerous time zones, the group traveled by vehicle through the beautiful Rift Valley, experiencing the vast tea and coffee farms that employed many of the indigenous peoples. Along the way they drove through Lake Nukuro game park where zebras, gazelles and water buffalo played at its edges and hippos lounged in the shallows. Rhinos and warthogs waded through the tall grasses, where predators lay in oblivion. Ubiquitous baboons readied at the opportunity to nab any wayward item that was left unattended--- all a reminder of the beauty and desperation for survival that this land posed for all of its inhabitants.
Their final destination was the city of Kitale Kenya, home of the Kipsongo slum an hour or so away from the Uganda boarder. Kitale is a bustling town with a multitude of open air markets and store fronts where any item in the U.S. could also be found. Despite the multitude of stores, there are very little jobs available due to the dense population. Children and teenagers, orphans with little to no hope, roam the streets in desperation often the victims or perpetrators of violent crimes. Many of the teenage boys spend their days sniffing glue or kerosene --- a tragic method of escapism from their environment.
A few minutes away is a place known as the Kipsongo Slum, the birth place of many of the street children of Kitalie. The people of Kipsongo live in tiny igloo-like structures made from sticks, discarded plastic and other trash items --- anything that will repel the inclemate weather.
Despite the deplorable conditions of these young people, there is hope for them. A hope brought by the vision of Christian missionaries, Dr. Richard Thompson and his wife Cheri Thompson who started the Challenge Farm in 1992. "I have met, ate, worshiped and played with each of these 120 plus kids and the staff of 36 people," says Blayne Harris. The Challenge Farm is not only a refuge, church and school for these children --- it is a home, a family."
"Being with the Kenyan people, and particularly the children, was completely humbling. The joy in their eyes, their smiles, and their voices in light of the poverty and suffering makes you feel incredibly small. That's what foreign mission trips do; they can show you how small you really are, and how big your God really is. For me, being there was like being home and falling in love at the same time. I feel like I've left part of my heart there" added Jennifer Hill.
"I couldn't be more impressed with what we saw when we arrived at the Challenge Farm. The staff took an interest in the lives of these kids. We have been eyeball to eyeball with these children and saw first hand how the staff not only met their physical and educational needs, but also the emotional and spiritual aspects of the children's lives. The Challenge Farm is a very worthwhile Christian organization who are exceptionally good stewards of the finances that God has entrusted them with for the benefit of these children " says Jason Hill.
"It is our hope that Jason's pictures will provided an inside look to the conditions of the world outside the United States," says Kurt Harris. "We have so much opportunity here, so many blessings. We live in the greatest country on the planet and I believe that Jesus would want each of us to not only appreciate these blessings, but help others with what we have been given. There are many opportunities to help locally as well, the Du Quoin Food Pantry, the Weekend Warrior program, Big Brothers Big Sisters, the FCA, the DQ Youth Club, DQ Pony League Baseball, Carmi Children's Home and the DQ Pool program are all great local organizations that we are proud to be associated with and support."