event I have been to here that started on time, which was told it would. There when it started, the church was only a quarter full. The entire ceremony ended around 12:30. Cars and vans full of people were arriving throughout, with people walking in as the procession out was occurring. By the end the church was standing room only. The cars of people coming in were decorated with flower branches. Vendors were walking around with snacks and drinks to sell afterwards. There were also people selling congratulation medallions made of ribbon and Christmas garland. Family members would walk up front and place these on people throughout the ceremony. The other photographers there were bolder than me, even walking up onto the stage to get pictures. After the ceremony families would just picnic where ever there was a clearing in the church yard. I also walked around with Ms. Barb to take group photos and photos of her with each of the graduates. It was a fun and interesting day.
Last Sunday a new member of the Tenwek family was born. Our neighbors, the Alterman’s, had a baby girl born by repeat c-section. Everyone is doing well. The pediatrician and his wife were with Heidi at the delivery, so Sarah got up early to watch their kids. Sarah also got to check Heidi’s private room on the OB ward, which was nice. It had us thinking about making plans for our delivery. (The halfway point is tomorrow- 20 weeks- praise the Lord!)
Last Sunday was also the first time in weeks that we got to take a quiet walk as a family. It was very nice and a chance to discuss several different things. One of the main things we are were discussing is our reason for being here, especially in regards to ministry outside of the hospital itself. We really desire to get involved with at least one of the 5 orphanages in the area, but every time we try to go something happens so we wonder if that is what we are to do or not. Operation Christmas Child is also a young ministry and it would thrill us tremendously to help coordinate that ministry in this area. We currently trying to talk with leadership in Nairobi about this. We also know that VBS used to be a big ministry here and we’d even like to do that or help bring teams over that would like to do this. There is a prison in Bomet and we’ve even talked about doing some ministry there. God has been faithful to us and we know that he’ll show us what to do, but pray for us to be patient and be shown what it is that we are supposed to do. We are slowing continuing to learn about things, people, places, and the ropes one has to go through to make things happen here.
My schedule has been a little busier lately. There are no medicine volunteers this month and as our internist is the medical superintendent I have been trying to help to rounds and work in the outpatient clinic. I had the opportunity to speak with the med supp, Dr. John Spriegel, for quite a while the other week. We were discussing some medical things, but also long term plans for the hospital, which include another large addition within the next 5 years and even possibly dialysis (we see so many patients that need this, including a 23 year old who died of renal failure this week. The sad thing is he came here, when his home town was actually closer to a hospital that offered dialysis). But with such thing, there will also be the need of more equipment and more doctors. He said there are so many needs and volunteers come and say they want to help, but get home and forget about things here. Therefore keep your eyes out for a email coming soon that will include a Christmas wish list for us involving much of the ministry here.
Another thing that has made things busier is related to politics. The Ministry of Health in Kenya can place workers (i.e. doctors) anywhere they wish. This past week one of our residents had an accident where his infant son was burned in kitchen. His wife is going to stay at home with the child, but she is the only doctor at the nearby government hospital. The MOH felt that we should provide someone to take her place. We technically did not have to do this, but the MOH could take any our Kenyan doctors and move their full time if they wished. We felt it in our best interest, and as a ministry opportunity, to help them with this request, which has made thing a littly busier for the rest of us.
This past Monday was a very “God” day. We try to tell own interns and students that they can talk with patients about spiritual things and do not have to wait for a chaplain to come by. After talking about this we had a young lady on the floor who had tried to kill herself for several reasons, mostly family related. We told her we loved her and asked her about Jesus, who she new nothing about. We shared the gospel with her and she accepted right there. We noticed for the rest of the week she had a much more pleasant expression on her face. This was the second suicide attempt we’ve had to accept Christ during rounds in the last several days. The same afternoon that this young girl came to Christ I had another interesting experience in clinic. Upon finishing up a patient visit I asked a lady if she had any prayer requests. One that the mentioned was that she wanted to “get saved”. I asked her she meant and she said she new it was a good thing to do. We shared the gospel message with her and explained what “being saved” meant. She prayed then to receive Christ! A reminder that we never know how or when the Spirit is moving!
A funny moment occurred this week in clinic. I noticed one of the nurses hanging a 2008 poster-style calendar. The post was promoting a political party. The bad thing is the national elections, including for president, will occur on Dec 27th. The date of the election was only decided on about 1-2 weeks ago. I told the nurse she’d be fired back in the states for doing that, but she said that people liked that party here and things would be okay. But I also learned not to wear orange into Nairobi because it was the color for that party (which is another long story which if you’d like to ask me about I’ll tell you later!)
One of our missionary friends who was a nurse in the states finally got her Kenyan RN this past week- after 15 months of paper work and orientation. A surprise party was held for her. At the party we met a visit orthopedist who is from North Carolina and actually did training with some orthopedists we knew in Greenwood, one of which goes to our home church. Another small world moment.
We had our first official dinner with visiting guests this week. It was fun to finally do that. One of our guests was a visiting surgeon from Samaritan’s Purse who we met earlier in Boone. The funny thing was that the next night we all decided to get together again at someone else’s house.
Today we did get our first trip to an orphanage. We were so excited to go! We went with another missionary family from here, the Bemm’s, who is in charge of the orphanage ministry. On the way we stopped in Bomet to buy 2 oranges for each of the kids. The drive was to the town of Sotik and was only about 30 minutes away. When we arrived the kids were
eating sugar cane, a Saturday treat. There were 60 boys and girls there from preschool age to teenagers. We were concerned how Maggie would do, but she liked the kids and they liked her. Sarah led a few games with the younger kids, but had a hard time with communication. Maggie liked playing bean bag toss. I helped to organize a soccer game with some of the older kids. It was very humbling. We did all this out in a big field with uneven terrain, bushes, thorns and holes, but it
didn’t slow them down. After about an hour or so of play, we brought everyone up for a devotional and then gave them oranges. The kids were well mannered and appreciative. The orphanage leader fixed us chai and mendazi as a treat (they usually fix lunch, but we informed them earlier that we would not be able to stay long). We then came back through Bomet for a few more things and headed home.
One of those “God things” happened there as well. We mentioned at a meeting a few weeks back about doing a prison Christmas ministry, but nothing more was said. I was thinking about it the other day and coming through Bomet Chuck Bemm mentioned it as well. Then when we arrived at the orphanage the leader there, Elijah, told us he and some of the “mommas” there wanted to a meal and gifts for the prisoners! It seems as though God is orchestrating something. Pray for us in wisdom in what to do and as I try to speak with the pastor here this week about organizing something.
The rest of Saturday afternoon was relaxing. After lunch with the Bemms we took Maggie down to the trampoline. She showed us how she can flip, but is still learning to jump. One of the head surgeons, Russ White, walked by and we talked for a little while. He asked me if it was okay if he placed in the CMDA (Christian Medical and Dental Association) journal our need for more FP doctors. I said please. We then discussed the overwhelming need for more doctors because as of May to June most will be on furlough and I will be the only staff doctor for the outpatient department and for the medical and pediatric wards. Plus we will have lost our intern coordinator, schedule makes, and medical superintendent. We know God will provide, but please help us in praying that these gaps are filled.
A few other fun things. Sarah and Maggie made play-dough this week. Maggie loves playing with it. She also is quite
the dancer now. It is rather entertaining to put some music on and watch her go. She also can now say “Barb”, the name of our neighbor and will yell it at her even from across campus if she sees her.
The other day Sarah heard a faucet running in the house and didn’t know where it was from. It was our ceiling! Apparently some of the gutters were clogged on our roof and during a heavy rain water came through an about 3 foot piece of wall in our bedroom. Fortunately nothing was damaged. The industrial dept cleared the gutters and said it would help with this problem. They will work on the roof and ceiling itself this next week.
As we close, let me leave you with a verse to think about- Ecclesiastes 9:10 “Whatever your hands find to do, do it with all of your might”. This was read at the nursing school graduation and I haven’t quit thinking about it. Let us all remember, we don’t know how much time here we have, but with time we do have and in whatever we do, let’s do it the best we can and to God’s glory!
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