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You can only go to the hard places
by building bridges of hope. Sam and Melody Harrell
are building bridges of hope in the hard places of Kenya.
They minister to street kids, orphans, refugees and
in distant villages to allow people to cross bridges
of transformation literally and spiritually.
Sam Harrell, Steve Hadden and I
are going to see a bridge that Sam has built with a
local community. We pack into the Toyota 4 WD and head
toward the village bridge project. A storm brews to
the north. The rain falls where we are going. We travel
roads of 2 ruts in the grass. Zebra graze nearby as
we pass children playing near their huts, men working
along the road, and ladies digging in their gardens.
We make our way up the mountain. The road is so bumpy
that Steve is being pummeled on both sides by Sam and
me as the truck rolls back and forth. The mud and rock
road becomes solid rock filled with potholes and fallen
stone.
We are now well up the mountain.
The hills are lush green and where the vegetation stops,
sheer rock faces shoot up to the top of the ridge. We
are close.
A river runs through the valley
between the rock cliffs. We stop and see the suspended
bridge in the valley below. Gardens climb the slopes
along the river. The rain stops. We get out and slip
our way down to the bridge. The bridge connects the
school side of the river with the road side. The school
sits high on the side of the mountain and the children
must descend to the bridge, cross the bridge, and then
climb their way up to the school. Children walk for
miles to go to this school. The government pays the
teacher but the community has had to provide the building.
The children previously had to cross a flimsy rope bridge.
Two children fell into the river and drowned. The community
invited Sam to build the new bridge.
Sam’s bridges are suspended
bridges. Two large anchor posts are encased in concrete
on each side of the river. Two more posts are then set
on both sides to thread the cables. Once the concrete
has cured, the cables are sent across to the other bank.
Then the planks are set in place until a single-wide
bridge is constructed.
The community provides 7 tons of
dirt and 7 tons of gravel before Sam will start the
project. Local laborers help Sam build the bridge. Sam
provides the expertise and materials. Everyone has an
investment in the bridge.
These bridges save hours of travel
time for the locals and they save lives too. Children
can walk safely to school and once divided communities
can now interact. A community unites behind a common
goal. At the grand opening of the bridge,
Sam tells the people that God has also made a bridge
between Himself and mankind. Jesus is the bridge to
reconciliation and friendship with God. He invites them
to cross this bridge to God as well as the new bridge
in the community.
Bridges can unite, save lives, build
community and lead to hope. Pray for Sam and Melody
Harrell as they build bridges of hope in Jesus’
name in Kenya.
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