We regret to inform you … Five words no one wants to read, because whatever follows is sure to be unwanted news. A wave of shock pulsed through my body when I was notified that my grant request had been denied. My plans for spring sabbatical projects and medical missions in Kenya, Africa were in place – airline tickets had already been purchased. It was too late to apply for other funding. How was I going to pay for it!?
That put me in a position of humility (and embarrassment) trusting the Lord to provide for my needs. I decided to raise support for the portion of my time in Kenya when I would be leading medical mission teams for Open Arms International. The last time I raised support for a mission trip was in 1986.
To make matters worse, the world had just entered the recent economic crisis! It seemed to be a really bad time to ask others to help me financially. However, I was reminded that I was on God’s economy NOT the world’s.
While all this was happening, the Lord instructed me to make a large donation to a Christian charity. WHAT!? I have to raise thousands of dollars and You want me to give away hundreds?
My African mission journey began in the spring of 2005 when the Lord commanded me to go to Africa as a medical missionary. I was absolutely blindsided by that “God encounter” at an evening church service. I already had a full summer planned. A mission trip to Africa was NOT on the list. Regardless, I went on my first medical mission trip with Open Arms in July of 2005.
Obedience is rarely convenient.
I put the charitable donation in the mail slot along with a bundle of letters asking friends to help me with the expenses of the Kenya mission trips in 2009. Lord, you know my need. Please return this donation one hundred fold. I trust You.
If you have experienced God’s economy, you know that He provides lavishly. The Lord returned more than I asked!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. (Prov 3:5)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Emergency Transport
We usually have several emergency situations when Open Arms (OA) conducts medical clinics in developing countries. Patients will wait for our free clinics instead of going to the doctor/hospital, because they are so poor. That can result in a life-threatening condition by the time we see them in our medical tent.
We have transported patients to the hospital several times a day at previous medical clinics. Thankfully, the only emergency we had this time was on our last day at Kambi Teso.
The doctors had finished seeing patients and the last prescriptions were being filled in the pharmacy when I overheard Rachel say a woman needed to go to the hospital. The doctor thought something had ruptured in her abdomen, infection had set in, and she needed emergency surgery.
Did anyone pray with her? The critically ill woman was sitting in a chair while the medical tent was being dismantled around her. Ethan and I were about to pray for her when we were told that she had been waiting a long time and needed to be taken immediately. No problem. We assisted her to the transport vehicle, praying as we went. She was sweating and shaking from intense pain, barely able to walk, and crying quietly.
When we got her to the transport van, it had a flat tire. That discovery resulted in a lot of shouting in Kiswahili and English. Chaos ensued. We saw two other vehicles nearby and approached them to see if they could help us get the woman to the hospital. The people in the first car told us they were full and drove away. We pleaded with the people in the second vehicle to help us. They were from AMPATH and had joined us that day to test people for HIV/AIDS. Their truck was also full of people and equipment.
More confusion surrounded us as we continued to pray for the woman. Then our prayer changed. Lord, this is a really frustrating situation, but if the reason for this delay is so we can have more time to pray with this woman, may it be to Your glory.
We had found her a chair, but realized she was getting too warm sitting in the sun. We moved her to a shady spot several yards away and kept praying. Then I asked Ethan, “Did you notice that she walked stronger when we moved her?” He agreed. That encouraged us to pray with confidence that the Lord was healing the woman.
Finally, Michael from AMPATH came over and told us he and another man would give up their seats in their truck so the sick woman and doctor could be taken to the hospital. We thanked them profusely and agreed to give them a ride in exchange. Before moving the woman again, we asked Michael to interpret for us. We believed she was being healed. He was able to confirm that her pain was nearly gone and she was improving. Alleluia! She rose from the chair on her own and needed little assistance to the AMPATH truck.
That night, the doctor reported that she was not rushed to surgery as anticipated, because she was doing so much better. They were going to observe her overnight and make a decision the following day. To God be the GLORY!
We have transported patients to the hospital several times a day at previous medical clinics. Thankfully, the only emergency we had this time was on our last day at Kambi Teso.
The doctors had finished seeing patients and the last prescriptions were being filled in the pharmacy when I overheard Rachel say a woman needed to go to the hospital. The doctor thought something had ruptured in her abdomen, infection had set in, and she needed emergency surgery.
Did anyone pray with her? The critically ill woman was sitting in a chair while the medical tent was being dismantled around her. Ethan and I were about to pray for her when we were told that she had been waiting a long time and needed to be taken immediately. No problem. We assisted her to the transport vehicle, praying as we went. She was sweating and shaking from intense pain, barely able to walk, and crying quietly.
When we got her to the transport van, it had a flat tire. That discovery resulted in a lot of shouting in Kiswahili and English. Chaos ensued. We saw two other vehicles nearby and approached them to see if they could help us get the woman to the hospital. The people in the first car told us they were full and drove away. We pleaded with the people in the second vehicle to help us. They were from AMPATH and had joined us that day to test people for HIV/AIDS. Their truck was also full of people and equipment.
More confusion surrounded us as we continued to pray for the woman. Then our prayer changed. Lord, this is a really frustrating situation, but if the reason for this delay is so we can have more time to pray with this woman, may it be to Your glory.
We had found her a chair, but realized she was getting too warm sitting in the sun. We moved her to a shady spot several yards away and kept praying. Then I asked Ethan, “Did you notice that she walked stronger when we moved her?” He agreed. That encouraged us to pray with confidence that the Lord was healing the woman.
Finally, Michael from AMPATH came over and told us he and another man would give up their seats in their truck so the sick woman and doctor could be taken to the hospital. We thanked them profusely and agreed to give them a ride in exchange. Before moving the woman again, we asked Michael to interpret for us. We believed she was being healed. He was able to confirm that her pain was nearly gone and she was improving. Alleluia! She rose from the chair on her own and needed little assistance to the AMPATH truck.
That night, the doctor reported that she was not rushed to surgery as anticipated, because she was doing so much better. They were going to observe her overnight and make a decision the following day. To God be the GLORY!
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Prayer Tent
Open Arms International (OAI) emphasizes the importance of spiritual AND physical healing at their medical clinics. Each day begins with worship and a message from scripture. An invitation is given for those in attendance to accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. All who pray for salvation are ushered into the prayer tent where a local pastor explains the need for discipleship. Before they leave the tent, each person receives individual prayer. Often times, the Lord heals their physical ailments and they no longer need to see the doctor! Local pastors and OAI team members are available throughout the day to pray with people.
Anton entered the prayer tent our first day at Kambi Teso. He was sent to us by the ophthalmologist. The man had glaucoma, which had rendered him nearly blind. We didn’t have the medicine that he needed, but we had prayer! Anton told us that he also had back and chest pain when he bent forward. His back and chest pain were healed immediately when we prayed for him. PTL! His eyes continued to bulge from the pressure building inside. We asked him to come back another day so we could continue to pray for his eyes.
Anton returned two days later, but he did not come alone. He brought his wife and cousin. They had walked a great distance. Long lines had formed by those awaiting medical care, but these three came ONLY for prayer. Anton knew that Jesus had completely healed his back and chest two days prior. He anticipated another encounter with the Almighty and wanted to share that with his loved ones.
Several Kenyan pastors and OAI team members joined together in prayer for Anton. The anointing power of God was very strong as we prayed. It was evident that Anton was a mighty man of God and the Lord was preparing him to do His work. We also prayed for his wife and cousin. They asked for spiritual strength.
Ethan noted that Anton looked different when he left us. That was a common occurrence at the prayer tent. Many came to Jesus with specific requests, which often times were granted. Several received physical healing. Others were strengthened spiritually. Some left in faith, believing that the Lord had begun to heal their infirmities. Nearly everyone appeared different when they left the prayer tent, usually praising God.
It was obvious that Anton was changed by the Lord that day. Perhaps his eyes were healed as he walked home thanking and praising God. Or, like Paul, he may have learned that God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness. (II Cor 12:9) The Lord knows :)
Anton entered the prayer tent our first day at Kambi Teso. He was sent to us by the ophthalmologist. The man had glaucoma, which had rendered him nearly blind. We didn’t have the medicine that he needed, but we had prayer! Anton told us that he also had back and chest pain when he bent forward. His back and chest pain were healed immediately when we prayed for him. PTL! His eyes continued to bulge from the pressure building inside. We asked him to come back another day so we could continue to pray for his eyes.
Anton returned two days later, but he did not come alone. He brought his wife and cousin. They had walked a great distance. Long lines had formed by those awaiting medical care, but these three came ONLY for prayer. Anton knew that Jesus had completely healed his back and chest two days prior. He anticipated another encounter with the Almighty and wanted to share that with his loved ones.
Several Kenyan pastors and OAI team members joined together in prayer for Anton. The anointing power of God was very strong as we prayed. It was evident that Anton was a mighty man of God and the Lord was preparing him to do His work. We also prayed for his wife and cousin. They asked for spiritual strength.
Ethan noted that Anton looked different when he left us. That was a common occurrence at the prayer tent. Many came to Jesus with specific requests, which often times were granted. Several received physical healing. Others were strengthened spiritually. Some left in faith, believing that the Lord had begun to heal their infirmities. Nearly everyone appeared different when they left the prayer tent, usually praising God.
It was obvious that Anton was changed by the Lord that day. Perhaps his eyes were healed as he walked home thanking and praising God. Or, like Paul, he may have learned that God's grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness. (II Cor 12:9) The Lord knows :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Dental Clinic
Thanks to three dentists from Uganda, we were able to provide dental care for 174 patients during our four days at Kambi Teso. Apollo, Damari, and Doreen have become wonderful Open Arms friends. They traveled by bus all night to join us in Eldoret, Kenya.I broadened my scope of practice this summer. Whenever a dental assistant needed a break, I donned the protective gear and became a “human head-rest” for patients who bravely had their teeth extracted. It put me in the perfect position to comfort the patients and pray for them (and their dentists) during the procedures.
There was a bit more excitement in the dental tent this year…
Sean is a pre-med student at Arizona University. When Phil found out that Doreen had a private dental practice in Uganda and aspires to become an oral surgeon, he decided that Sean and Doreen should get married. The two played along with the gag. Sean tied a string around Doreen’s finger and Phil even brought one of the local pastors into the dental tent to perform a faux wedding. The “newly weds” probably thought that was the end of it, but there were too many pranksters on our team for that to happen ;)
A wedding cake appeared at our final banquet the next night. Everyone who had helped at the medical clinics attended the banquet. Few of them were aware of the joke, so a lot of jaws were dropping when Sean and Doreen cut the cake (and fed it to each other). A trio sang a lovely song for the couple while they had their “first dance.”
If you have seen the movie or TV series MASH, you understand the necessity for such comedic relief. Our medical clinics are a lot like a MASH unit. The three dentists pulled hundreds of teeth; the medical and lay personnel treated 1700+ patients. Everyone was exhausted from four consecutive days of providing medical care for the poorest of the poor. The faux wedding provided the best medicine – LAUGHTER!!!
Friday, July 10, 2009
Kambi Teso
Our four days (M-Th) in the Kambi Teso slum of Eldoret, Kenya consisted of medical clinics, children’s ministry, and the feeding program. This is the largest medical clinic Open Arms (OA) does each year. Three dentists, an opthamologist, and a doctor came from Uganda to assist us. They are long-time friends of OA. Students from the Moi University Medical School also helped along with nurses and a pharmacist from the West. Of course, there was plenty of non-medical personnel on hand to help in a variety of areas as well. Together, we were able to provide general medical, dental, and eye clinics for a total of 1776 patients who would have never received health care otherwise. It was satisfying, exhausting, hard work J
We also prayed for more than 100 people for a variety of requests. Approximately 45 of them had miraculous healings occur in their physical bodies. We witnessed many cataract covered eyes become clear; pain immediately removed; the weak became strong; some who limped into the camp walked away normally; and a bent-over, elderly woman was six inches taller when she left! (I’ll share more healing stories in future posts)
We were grateful to have eight people from Forgotten Children International (FCI) join us for the last three days at Kambi Teso. Many of the OA team members were battling physical ailments when they arrived. They were a great group from Indiana that assimilated quickly with our team.
May God be praised for what He accomplished during our time in Kenya, Africa!!!
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Medical Clinic Prep
Hard labor deserves a reward. Thus, the team was treated to a day of shopping and leisure on Friday. We gave the local economy a boost, especially Joe. The hardiest of souls took a swim in the pool at the Naiberi River Resort where we spent a few afternoon hours enjoying good food, fellowship, God's beautiful creation, and a brief rest. The Kenyans must have thought those who got in the water (all females) were crazy to go swimming in the winter. The Brits said it was like summer for them.
Yesterday (Sat) was our day of preparation for the medical clinics at Kambi Teso, which will take place Mon - Thurs. It required many hands and strong backs to erect the tents that will be used for the general medical, dental, and eye clinics. The tents are quite tall, which created a challenge. How does one secure posts at the top of a 12 foot tent without a ladder? The solution - stack tables, benches, and the tallest person (Nick) & build human pyramids. It was an amazing feat of balance that would rival any circus act;)
There were also opportunities to play with the children in the Kambi Teso slum area. They live in the poorest region of Eldoret. Over 130 of the children are enrolled in the Open Arms feeding program, which provides them a hearty meal four days a week. For some, it is the only meal they get.
Today is our day of worship at the Open Arms Village. The Sunday service will be followed by a traditional goat roast lunch and time to play with the 27 children who live at our village. The children love to receive visitors and we love being with them.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
Yesterday (Sat) was our day of preparation for the medical clinics at Kambi Teso, which will take place Mon - Thurs. It required many hands and strong backs to erect the tents that will be used for the general medical, dental, and eye clinics. The tents are quite tall, which created a challenge. How does one secure posts at the top of a 12 foot tent without a ladder? The solution - stack tables, benches, and the tallest person (Nick) & build human pyramids. It was an amazing feat of balance that would rival any circus act;)
There were also opportunities to play with the children in the Kambi Teso slum area. They live in the poorest region of Eldoret. Over 130 of the children are enrolled in the Open Arms feeding program, which provides them a hearty meal four days a week. For some, it is the only meal they get.
Today is our day of worship at the Open Arms Village. The Sunday service will be followed by a traditional goat roast lunch and time to play with the 27 children who live at our village. The children love to receive visitors and we love being with them.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Moving the earth
How many wheelbarrow loads of dirt can be moved in two days? We didn't keep count, so there isn't an exact number to answer that question. Let's just say that we are sufficiently sore :)
Everyone has been working hard to create a beautiful front yard for the second childrens' home at the Open Arms (OA) Village. The mission team that preceeded us was able to complete the yard area for the first house.
It was VERY exciting to see five houses under construction at our Open Arms property in Eldoret, Kenya. The craftmanship is the best I have seen in Kenya. We were especially impressed by the stone masons who hand chisel 50 large bricks a day for the exterior walls and the plaster work on the interior walls. They will be wonderful homes for the HIV/AIDS orphans to live in with our houseparents.
We split into two groups yesterday - one to move dirt at the OA Village & one to pack medical supplies for our clinics next week. We all enjoyed dinner together afterward praising the Lord for all He allowed us to accomplish in two days.
Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)
Everyone has been working hard to create a beautiful front yard for the second childrens' home at the Open Arms (OA) Village. The mission team that preceeded us was able to complete the yard area for the first house.
It was VERY exciting to see five houses under construction at our Open Arms property in Eldoret, Kenya. The craftmanship is the best I have seen in Kenya. We were especially impressed by the stone masons who hand chisel 50 large bricks a day for the exterior walls and the plaster work on the interior walls. They will be wonderful homes for the HIV/AIDS orphans to live in with our houseparents.
We split into two groups yesterday - one to move dirt at the OA Village & one to pack medical supplies for our clinics next week. We all enjoyed dinner together afterward praising the Lord for all He allowed us to accomplish in two days.
Asante sana! (Thank you very much!)
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Jambo from Kenya!
We are thankful that all the Open Arms International mission team members have arrived safely in Kenya, Africa with bags. Thank you for your prayers!
We enjoyed two days in Nairobi before continuing the journey to Eldoret today. Activities included shopping, feeding giraffes, visiting Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where orphaned elephants and rhinos are cared for, and getting to know each other at meal times. Some of our team members survived being charged by a rhino! Good thing it was only six months old. They have a great story to share with their grandchildren some day;)
We have a great group of people on the team. They are all working really well together. Those of us from the US are struggling to stay awake during the day and sleep at night. However, that is not a problem for our UK teammates.
Tomorrow will be our first day of work at the Open Arms Village. We are anxious to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I am looking forward to seeing the children again.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
We enjoyed two days in Nairobi before continuing the journey to Eldoret today. Activities included shopping, feeding giraffes, visiting Sheldrick Wildlife Trust where orphaned elephants and rhinos are cared for, and getting to know each other at meal times. Some of our team members survived being charged by a rhino! Good thing it was only six months old. They have a great story to share with their grandchildren some day;)
We have a great group of people on the team. They are all working really well together. Those of us from the US are struggling to stay awake during the day and sleep at night. However, that is not a problem for our UK teammates.
Tomorrow will be our first day of work at the Open Arms Village. We are anxious to roll up our sleeves and get to work. I am looking forward to seeing the children again.
Abarikiwe! (Be Blessed!)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Back to Kenya!
Yes, it is true! I am returning to Kenya, Africa with Open Arms International. We have a truly international team that consists of members from the US, Canada, UK, Japan, Kenya, and Uganda. Six of us leave Portland, Oregon at noon tomorrow (6/27/09). We will meet up with several UK team members in Amsterdam and fly to Nairobi together.
Most of us will stay in Nairobi two nights before flying to Eldoret, Kenya on June 30th. While in Nairobi, Taxi George and I will arrange for cultural opportunities to help the team transition to Kenyan life.
We have a full schedule of outreach while in Eldoret, including construction work at the Open Arms Village, prison visit, four medical clinics, etc. Please keep us in your prayers for safe journey and open hearts for what God has planned for us.
Abarikiwe! (Be blessed!)
Monday, April 20, 2009
My Roomie
Linda and I shared a room at the Sirikwa Hotel in Eldoret, Kenya during the Open Arms medical outreach. She had the usual amount of luggage for a team member – two 50 pound bags. One bag contained Open Arms supplies and the other was for her personal items. Her personal bag contained several large ziplock bags filled with prescription drugs. She could have opened her own pharmacy! I soon learned that Linda has suffered with rheumatoid arthritis for 35 years. Her treatment regimen (including chemo) had to be adjusted in order for her to travel with the Soul Safari 09 team.We went to the Open Arms Village on Saturday, March 14, 2009. My favorite spot in Eldoret is the waterfall, which is a short walk downriver from the village. It is a beautiful place to enjoy God’s creation. I was concerned for Linda as we began our walk to the waterfall. I knew she had taken a lot of medication the day before to combat intense pain. Her legs and feet were very swollen by the time we arrived at our destination.
Several Kenyan friends met us at the top of the waterfall for our team devotions. We worshipped God in song before a time of prayer. David Gallagher asked Linda if we could pray for her. She was shocked to agree. It was way out of her “comfort zone.” Several of us prayed with Linda, which was lead by a Kenyan pastor - Esther.
Linda noticed that her knees didn’t hurt when she was walking back to the bus. She had to stop to retie her shoes, because they were too loose. All the swelling was gone from her feet and legs! SHE WAS HEALED!!!
I have witnessed hundreds of Africans healed of many ailments, but this was the first time one of my team members was healed physically. It’s not just for Africans!
Linda had a doctor’s appointment when she returned to Oregon. He was upset when she told him she wasn’t taking her medications. Then she explained that she felt great and didn’t need them. When he examined her, he was surprised at his findings. He finally told her, "I think Linda you had a divine intervention...I can't treat you for now, there is nothing to treat."
To God be the GLORY!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Back in the USA
I took four modes of transportation on April 1st from Thornbury, Bristol, England to McMinnville, Oregon - train, bus, plane, car. The G20 was in London that day. The BBC News broadcast at our departure gate showed riots in a large area of London. I was thankful that my friends were able to route me around that mess. They are clever ones;)
We had a bit of a Linfield College reunion at Terminal 1, Gate C23 of O'Hare airport in Chicago. I heard someone call my name when I located the gate. It was Lisa Garvey '86. While Lisa and I were chatting, Brad Perry '88 showed up. It was great to see them again AND Lisa gave me a ride home from the airport. My friend who was scheduled to pick me up at the airport was pleased to cancel a late night trip to PDX:)
We had a bit of a Linfield College reunion at Terminal 1, Gate C23 of O'Hare airport in Chicago. I heard someone call my name when I located the gate. It was Lisa Garvey '86. While Lisa and I were chatting, Brad Perry '88 showed up. It was great to see them again AND Lisa gave me a ride home from the airport. My friend who was scheduled to pick me up at the airport was pleased to cancel a late night trip to PDX:)
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sleep Over at the Airport
Greetings from merry old England! My flight from Nairobi was scheduled to depart at 11:45pm Saturday and arrive in London 6:45a on Sunday. Are you ready for a story?
We were informed at the check-in desk that the flight was delayed one hour. After a series of delay announcements, the clincher came at 2:00am. Our aircraft could not be repaired and they were arranging for another one, which would depart at 8:45am. And…there weren’t enough rooms available at the airport hotels to put us up for the night. That’s when it got ugly. The poor girl who made the announcement was verbally accosted by several irate men.
Most of us looked for a piece of real estate to curl up on for the night. When blankets were produced, some people decided to hoard the precious items of comfort. One man and I did our best to get blankets for several older women in wheelchairs.
Sleep was impossible due to the hard floor, airport “canned” music, and people complaining loudly. We were allowed to leave the gate area to use the toilet. However, the water was turned off shortly after 2:00am. Do you know what happens when there is no water in a restroom?
Some beverages and snacks appeared at 5:00am. Thank goodness! I knew I was beginning to get dehydrated, and was concerned for the children and elderly. We were moved to another gate at 6:30am. Two hours later, laminated Boarding Cards were placed in our hands without explanation. One woman went ballistic and a fight broke out in one section of the gate area.
Finally, they herded us into a very long, winding tunnel at 9:30am. We speculated where the tunnel would end. Thankfully, it led to an airplane and we finally departed at 10:45am. YEAH!
It truly is amazing that in all my travels, that was the first time I've had to sleep (a relative term) in an airport. I was grateful that I was alone. It would have been much more challenging if I’d been in charge of a group. My time in England was cut short, but I didn’t miss my connecting flight out of London. That, hopefully, leaves tomorrow afternoon.
Cheerio!
We were informed at the check-in desk that the flight was delayed one hour. After a series of delay announcements, the clincher came at 2:00am. Our aircraft could not be repaired and they were arranging for another one, which would depart at 8:45am. And…there weren’t enough rooms available at the airport hotels to put us up for the night. That’s when it got ugly. The poor girl who made the announcement was verbally accosted by several irate men.
Most of us looked for a piece of real estate to curl up on for the night. When blankets were produced, some people decided to hoard the precious items of comfort. One man and I did our best to get blankets for several older women in wheelchairs.
Sleep was impossible due to the hard floor, airport “canned” music, and people complaining loudly. We were allowed to leave the gate area to use the toilet. However, the water was turned off shortly after 2:00am. Do you know what happens when there is no water in a restroom?
Some beverages and snacks appeared at 5:00am. Thank goodness! I knew I was beginning to get dehydrated, and was concerned for the children and elderly. We were moved to another gate at 6:30am. Two hours later, laminated Boarding Cards were placed in our hands without explanation. One woman went ballistic and a fight broke out in one section of the gate area.
Finally, they herded us into a very long, winding tunnel at 9:30am. We speculated where the tunnel would end. Thankfully, it led to an airplane and we finally departed at 10:45am. YEAH!
It truly is amazing that in all my travels, that was the first time I've had to sleep (a relative term) in an airport. I was grateful that I was alone. It would have been much more challenging if I’d been in charge of a group. My time in England was cut short, but I didn’t miss my connecting flight out of London. That, hopefully, leaves tomorrow afternoon.
Cheerio!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Leaving Kenya
My heart is sad to leave Kenya. It is always difficult to say goodbye to my Kenyan friends and the precious children. Thankfully, this time I am able to tell them, “I will see you in three months.” I am returning to Eldoret, Kenya with an Open Arms International (OAI) medical team June 27- July 11, 2009.I’ve had an INCREDIBLE two months in Kenya! God’s hand has been evident in everything. HE has given me favor with my academic projects and ministry opportunities.
I fly from Nairobi to London tonight to visit friends in England for a few days before returning to the USA on April 1st (no fooling). One of the blessings of going on OAI teams is meeting people from other countries.
Adam Cowling (& others?) is meeting me at Paddington Station for a chat at Starbucks when I arrive in London. I'll take a train from there to Bristol, England to stay with Helen Harrison. She has been my roommate the past two summers on Open Arms outreaches. I’m excited to meet the rest of her family and see more of England :)
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Christmas In March
Our last day (Sunday, March 15th) with the Open Arms team was spent at the OAI Village located about 25 minutes from downtown Eldoret and five minutes from their international airport. Note: Driving distance is measured in time NOT length in Africa. It can take two hours to travel twenty miles, depending on the road conditions.Many of the area village elders joined us for the day. Our worship was filled with wonderful music - The OAI children’s choir sang, Metrine (OAI Kenya Feeding Prog Coord) lead us in singing worship/praise songs in English and Swahili, and Levi (OAI Kenya Operations Coord) sang two songs. Two of our team members (US & Kenyan) shared their testimonies of God healing them from physical conditions. I told stories of God’s healing power at the medical clinics in Kambi Teso. Pastor Peter Kimeli (OAI house parent) gave a powerful sermon about the harvest being ripe and laborers few. He challenged Kenyans to take the gospel to other countries and those of us from the US & UK to continue to bring the good news of HOPE to Kenya.
A traditional goat roast meal was served after the service. Then the children experienced “Christmas in March”, when they received boxes of gifts prepared by Al’s church in Texas. You can imagine the excitement of our OAI children when they opened their precious gift boxes.
It was a wonderful way to end our OAI outreach time in Kenya!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
OAI Outreach - Prayer Tent
I’ve witnessed miracles of healing on every Open Arms outreach I have been on since July 2005. God’s healing power was remarkable at Kambi Teso our last day there (Thurs, March 12th). Those who had come for medical treatment were directed to the prayer tent following our morning worship time. Those who did not receive divine healing of their conditions went to the medical tent after prayer. Several of our team members prayed for nearly 200 people with the assistance of two Kenyan pastors.
The first girl we prayed for had been deaf her whole life (18 yrs?). She was brought to us by her mother. I snapped my fingers by each ear after we prayed. She indicated that she could hear the sound. We began shouting Alleluia and she mimicked us. Her mother spoke the word “mama” into her ear and the daughter repeated back, “mama.” It was the first time she heard her mother’s voice! They left the tent praising the Lord!!
We were so encouraged by that first healing, because we knew God’s mighty power was present. There weren’t enough interpreters for all of us, so I found the patients who could speak some English. I would ask their name, if they loved Jesus, and what they wanted Him to do for them. Most had a specific pain somewhere in their body. After praying for them, I was able to find out if the pain was gone. It always was!
One woman, Lucy, said she wanted Jesus to “live in her.” When we finished praying, she said that Jesus was living in her now and she didn’t want to go back. I was about to send Lucy out of the tent when something interesting happened. The Lord began to instruct her through me. He knew she didn’t have a Bible (and couldn’t read) or a pastor, so He would teach her directly. She needed to listen to His voice. If she started to “go back”, He would instruct her not to go that way and would tell her which way to go.
The test: I prayed silently for her while she listened for His voice. Then I asked if she had heard Jesus speak to her. She replied, “Yes!” I asked what He said and she answered, “Follow me.” I encouraged her to obey what He had told her.
The deaf girl heard her mother’s voice and Lucy heard the voice of the Lord for the first time that day. It was a glorious day!!!
The first girl we prayed for had been deaf her whole life (18 yrs?). She was brought to us by her mother. I snapped my fingers by each ear after we prayed. She indicated that she could hear the sound. We began shouting Alleluia and she mimicked us. Her mother spoke the word “mama” into her ear and the daughter repeated back, “mama.” It was the first time she heard her mother’s voice! They left the tent praising the Lord!!
We were so encouraged by that first healing, because we knew God’s mighty power was present. There weren’t enough interpreters for all of us, so I found the patients who could speak some English. I would ask their name, if they loved Jesus, and what they wanted Him to do for them. Most had a specific pain somewhere in their body. After praying for them, I was able to find out if the pain was gone. It always was!
One woman, Lucy, said she wanted Jesus to “live in her.” When we finished praying, she said that Jesus was living in her now and she didn’t want to go back. I was about to send Lucy out of the tent when something interesting happened. The Lord began to instruct her through me. He knew she didn’t have a Bible (and couldn’t read) or a pastor, so He would teach her directly. She needed to listen to His voice. If she started to “go back”, He would instruct her not to go that way and would tell her which way to go.
The test: I prayed silently for her while she listened for His voice. Then I asked if she had heard Jesus speak to her. She replied, “Yes!” I asked what He said and she answered, “Follow me.” I encouraged her to obey what He had told her.
The deaf girl heard her mother’s voice and Lucy heard the voice of the Lord for the first time that day. It was a glorious day!!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Women's Prison
We were granted permission to take 15 members of our Open Arms team into the Eldoret women’s prison on Friday, March 13. Most requests to enter the prison are being denied, but God granted us favor. Our host, Charity (assistant to the warden), welcomed us and gave us a brief tour of the facilities. Much to the delight of her “clients”, several team members purchased crocheted and embroidered items they had made. We could hear the women singing praise songs in the building next door when we were in the Industry building.
Our time of corporate worship was anointed. Many of us could hear the angels singing on the chorus of Open the Eyes of My Heart. The heavenly and earthly choirs intersected in that moment to sing Holy, Holy, Holy to God. Terrilyn and Daphany shared their testimonies of hardships in America and how the Lord has forgiven and restored them. The women prisoners needed to hear their message of hope in difficult times. Kenyan pastor Shadrak followed up with a relevant story and invitation for them to receive Jesus into their lives or recommit their lives to Him. More than 100 women raised their hands in response.
The inmates filed past our team members as we presented them with gifts of personal supplies - soap, sanitary napkins, petroleum jelly, boxed milk, and cookies. We also gave clothing for the children who are with their mothers. Twenty-six children from the ages of 1 day – 4 years are living at the prison. They have to leave when they reach the age of four. We pray that a relative will take the child at that point. Otherwise, they often end up on the streets.
It was a very special day for all of us (OA team, prison staff, and inmates). We were not allowed to take cameras or any recording devices into the prison. Regardless, that visit will remain in our memories forever.
Our time of corporate worship was anointed. Many of us could hear the angels singing on the chorus of Open the Eyes of My Heart. The heavenly and earthly choirs intersected in that moment to sing Holy, Holy, Holy to God. Terrilyn and Daphany shared their testimonies of hardships in America and how the Lord has forgiven and restored them. The women prisoners needed to hear their message of hope in difficult times. Kenyan pastor Shadrak followed up with a relevant story and invitation for them to receive Jesus into their lives or recommit their lives to Him. More than 100 women raised their hands in response.
The inmates filed past our team members as we presented them with gifts of personal supplies - soap, sanitary napkins, petroleum jelly, boxed milk, and cookies. We also gave clothing for the children who are with their mothers. Twenty-six children from the ages of 1 day – 4 years are living at the prison. They have to leave when they reach the age of four. We pray that a relative will take the child at that point. Otherwise, they often end up on the streets.
It was a very special day for all of us (OA team, prison staff, and inmates). We were not allowed to take cameras or any recording devices into the prison. Regardless, that visit will remain in our memories forever.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Smiley
Brittany and Jonto - this post is for you!Here is your beloved Smiley at the Kambi Teso feeding program on Feb 11, 2009. It is a bit difficult to see, but he is wearing a dress. Poor guy. Life is hard enough for him and then they put him in a dress! Many of the seams were ripped out too.
I am happy to report that all the other days I've seen him, he was wearing proper boy clothes.
Congratulations on your engagement!
Medical Tent Pharmacy
If you like chaos, the medical tent pharmacy is the place for you! That is the last stop for patients who come to receive medical care from Open Arms International.Recipe for pharmacy chaos: Take a group of volunteers who have no pharmacy background. Give them prescriptions written by doctors (need I say more?) and ask them to accurately fill them. Cram them into too small of a space so they can bump into each other on a regular basis. (What I call "working cheek-to-cheek”)
The amazing thing is that IT WORKS! By the third day we could have handed out certificates. The lay people had learned how to decipher prescriptions, locate specific medications on the tables or in containers, count and label bags properly, find substitutes for the meds that we didn’t have, etc.
Ruth Major, Kenya staff volunteer, was brilliant (she's from the UK; they use that term a lot)overseeing the pharmacy. She had the space well organized and posted signs on the walls the second day to help decode prescription shorthand.
The OAI medical director, Rachel Gallagher, and I were available to check prescriptions for accuracy. Rachel was the epitome of tolerance as she answered a barrage of questions from volunteer workers (including me), e.g. What does this say? Where is this drug? What does BID mean?
I only had to work with interpreters the first day giving instructions to the patients when they received their medications. Our interpreters knew how to do it themselves on the second day! Alpha Sarara is pictured here giving instructions for cough syrup dosage. I met Alpha on my first mission trip to Eldoret in 2006. His father, Milton, is on the OAI Kenya board of directors.
P.S. The temperature in the pharmacy area was hot enough to melt the soft gel vitamins!
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Outreach Summary
Sorry for the long period of silence. We had a very busy week with the Open Arms International (OAI) medical team, which did not allow time for me to get online. This was my eighth outreach with OAI and it was INCREDIBLE! They are always great, but each has its own dimension that makes it special. Sometimes that is hard to put into words, but I will attempt to do so in a series of posts.
Open Arms has been doing a feeding program for the Kambi Teso slum children since June of 2008. Our team provided medical clinics Tues – Thurs at Kambi Teso last week. We were able to treat approximately 542 patients during those three days for a variety of conditions. Our US medical personnel were paired with Kenyan doctors. It was a valuable learning experience for all of them.
Those who came to our clinic site participated in a time of worship and hearing scripture before receiving medical care. About 155 responded to the message and went forward for prayer. They received prayer for salvation, physical healing, and deliverance. Approximately 97 people made a decision to follow Jesus during our three days at Kambi Teso.
We witnessed many miraculous events including the opening of deaf ears, removal of cataracts for restored vision, broken bones mended, and healing of various pains and illnesses. I’ll share more stories about that later.
We went to a women’s prison on Friday. It was my first experience in a Kenyan prison. Much different than those I have visited in the states. It was a Holy time. Many of us could hear angels singing with us during the worship songs. God’s anointing was very strong.
Saturday and Sunday were spent at the OAI village. Unfortunately, many of our team members were sick and missed at least one of those days. They, most likely, had food poisoning from dinner Friday night. Thankfully, I stayed healthy in order to attend to their needs.
Did I mention before that I was a team leader? By the end of the week they were calling me the “team mom.”
Open Arms has been doing a feeding program for the Kambi Teso slum children since June of 2008. Our team provided medical clinics Tues – Thurs at Kambi Teso last week. We were able to treat approximately 542 patients during those three days for a variety of conditions. Our US medical personnel were paired with Kenyan doctors. It was a valuable learning experience for all of them.
Those who came to our clinic site participated in a time of worship and hearing scripture before receiving medical care. About 155 responded to the message and went forward for prayer. They received prayer for salvation, physical healing, and deliverance. Approximately 97 people made a decision to follow Jesus during our three days at Kambi Teso.
We witnessed many miraculous events including the opening of deaf ears, removal of cataracts for restored vision, broken bones mended, and healing of various pains and illnesses. I’ll share more stories about that later.
We went to a women’s prison on Friday. It was my first experience in a Kenyan prison. Much different than those I have visited in the states. It was a Holy time. Many of us could hear angels singing with us during the worship songs. God’s anointing was very strong.
Saturday and Sunday were spent at the OAI village. Unfortunately, many of our team members were sick and missed at least one of those days. They, most likely, had food poisoning from dinner Friday night. Thankfully, I stayed healthy in order to attend to their needs.
Did I mention before that I was a team leader? By the end of the week they were calling me the “team mom.”
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Open Arms Outreach
We have been very busy preparing for the Open Arms International (OAI) outreach that starts today. The team from the US & UK will arrive in Eldoret early tonight. Our Kenya staff will be setting up the tents and registering the patients for the medical clinics at the Kambi Teso slum on the outskirts of Eldoret before picking up the team at the airport. We will take the team to the Open Arms Village for dinner with the house parents, their assistants, and 25 children who are living there.
It will be a very busy week with medical clinics, children's ministry (similar to VBS), feeding program, women's prison ministry, sharing the good news of the gospel, and lots of prayer. I love OAI outreaches! I've done seven of them since 2005. It is always amazing to witness the many miracles that God does for the patients and team members.
I will be staying with the team at the Sirikwa Hotel for the next eight days. Internet access is not good at the hotel, so I may not be able to post a blog for several days.
Please pray for the people of Kenya and our mission team during this really important week of ministry. It can be the most important week of their lives!
It will be a very busy week with medical clinics, children's ministry (similar to VBS), feeding program, women's prison ministry, sharing the good news of the gospel, and lots of prayer. I love OAI outreaches! I've done seven of them since 2005. It is always amazing to witness the many miracles that God does for the patients and team members.
I will be staying with the team at the Sirikwa Hotel for the next eight days. Internet access is not good at the hotel, so I may not be able to post a blog for several days.
Please pray for the people of Kenya and our mission team during this really important week of ministry. It can be the most important week of their lives!
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Baby Diana
I’ve been staying at the Open Arms International (OAI) Kenya office in Eldoret, Kenya. It has five bedrooms that are usually full of staff from the US and UK, plus visitors. The joy of the OAI Kenya office is, without a doubt, baby Diana. She is about nine months old and possibly the most loved baby girl in all of Kenya. That wasn’t true the first five months of her life, however.Diana was born to a teenage girl who couldn’t keep her. The baby ended up with a woman who has other orphaned children sponsored by OAI. Open Arms began sponsoring Diana when she was 1 month old. She was getting proper medical attention through the sponsorship, but wasn’t gaining weight. The OAI Kenya staff took her under their care when she was five months old. She has been living at the office almost four months and is doing MUCH better. She has lots of mamas, aunties, and uncles that dote on her.
Look how beautiful she is! She really is a great baby. I’ve been doing “baby exercises” with her. She especially enjoys playing on my therapy ball (that I brought for my back exercises). It actually is therapy, but she thinks we are playing ;)
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Mama Victoria - herbalist
I mentioned Mama Victoria in my last blog post. So I will share a story about my experience with her. My days with all five herbalists were very interesting, but Mama Victoria was my favorite. We became fast friends and share a kindred spirit. We thanked God for bringing us together and hope He will allow us to meet again, perhaps working alongside each other treating patients.But first, I should explain that to be called “Mama (first name)”is a term of high position/respect in a village. Most women are referred to as “Mama (name of first born child).”
We went into the forest one day to collect herbs for treating her patients. She also identified many plants for my research project that we didn’t collect. Once we returned to her house/clinic, she showed me how she prepared the different herbs. The preparation methods included, pounding with a mortis and pestle, drying before crushing into powder, boiling in water, and burning in a fire.
At one point, we entered a smoke-filled room where she was preparing the herbs by boiling and burning them. The fire was in the corner of the room and some of the smoke managed to escape through a small window opening. I wondered what kind of herbs were burning in the fire and how it would affect me. Much to my surprise, I didn’t cough or choke while in the room. More amazing than that was watching her handle red-hot coals of the burning herbs with her bare hands! The burnt roots were then crushed into powder and given to the children who were playing nearby. The powder was placed in the palm of their hands for them to lick. It was a kind expression of her love for the children.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Back in Eldoret
I have returned to Eldoret after two weeks of field research in the Kakamega rain forest. It was an amazing experience, which very few people will ever know! By the end of my second day of research with Mama Victoria, a 66 year old female herbalist in the Isecheno region, I realized I had the beginnings of a very interesting book. I met with five traditional medicine herbalists through the much appreciated translation work of my new friend and trusted guide, Ben Obanda.I worked day and night on the research project – and loved it! As you can see from this photo, it was a wonderful environment to work in. I spent most of my computer time at a desk in my room at Rondo Retreat Centre, but enjoyed the tropical jungle setting as much as possible. Often times, monkeys were in the branches overhead. I was grateful that they did not steal my computer!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Open Arms Village
We went to the Open Arms Village yesterday to see the house parents and children. We have 23 children at the village now. They are doing great! I recognized many of them, but need to learn all their names. It was so much fun playing and dancing with them. We really kicked up the dust swapping dance moves. This old lady can still bust a move;)
It was great to see Kemili and Stella again! I met them last July. They are house parents for one of the children’s homes (Upendo House). I got to meet our newest house parents Daniel and Lydia. We have seven welfare officers (guards) that keep all the people and livestock safe. I met several of them as well. They are all lovely people who love the Lord and the children very much.
I leave tomorrow morning to do field research of medicinal plants in the Kakamega rain forest. I’ll be studying with the local herbalists and a guide for two weeks. I won’t have internet access while there. So this is my last blog post until I return.
Go to http://www.openarmsinternational.com/ if you would like to learn more about Open Arms Village.
It was great to see Kemili and Stella again! I met them last July. They are house parents for one of the children’s homes (Upendo House). I got to meet our newest house parents Daniel and Lydia. We have seven welfare officers (guards) that keep all the people and livestock safe. I met several of them as well. They are all lovely people who love the Lord and the children very much.
I leave tomorrow morning to do field research of medicinal plants in the Kakamega rain forest. I’ll be studying with the local herbalists and a guide for two weeks. I won’t have internet access while there. So this is my last blog post until I return.
Go to http://www.openarmsinternational.com/ if you would like to learn more about Open Arms Village.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Feeding Program - Part II
I finally found a way to include photos in my blog posts, but can only upload one photo per post. Thought you might want to see their yummy meal. Kambi Teso - Feeding Program
Went to the Kambi Teso slum on the outskirts of Eldoret for the Open Arms feeding program yesterday. I had participated in it last July and wondered if the children would remember me. I recognized several of them and the older ones said they remembered me and pointed to the area where we had set up the medical tent.Our cooks - Susan, Betty, and Metrine work many hours to prepare and deliver the food. There are currently 100 children in the feeding program! After a hearty meal of getheri, we had Bible stories and singing. There was even time to play some games:) I had a small group of young ones around me playing catch with a nerf football. The configuration of the group changed and I soon had frisbees and balls flying at me all at once. I didn't have enough hands for that bombardment!
We got reorganized and I learned a new Swahili phrase from the children. They were saying, "na mi mi"when they wanted their turn. I started saying it back to them (not really knowing what I was saying, but had a pretty good idea) and one girl wouldn't toss the ball to me unless I said it. Our feeding program coordinator, Metrine, later told me it means, "and me." It is the polite way to ask for something.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Computer is back!
Glory! Halleluia!
Jack was able to get my computer working again! He had to replace the hard drive. He is trying to retrieve information from the old hard drive, but still working on that. Thankfully, I heard many similar stories from others who had traveled to Africa with computers. I backed up my important documents on a flash drive before leaving the USA (Thank you Gloria!) AND I had backed up my research documents the night before the crash. So I only lost the information I was working on that day.
We are going to Rondo today. The Open Arms Kenya office women (Renee and Ruth & her mum, Sylvia) are staying the night. Levi and I are meeting with Ben Obanda to sort out the details of my field research with him there. I hope to arrange for that to happen Feb 15-28.
God is good ALL the time, because that is His nature.
PS I need to have Jack help me restore more software before I can post photos again
Jack was able to get my computer working again! He had to replace the hard drive. He is trying to retrieve information from the old hard drive, but still working on that. Thankfully, I heard many similar stories from others who had traveled to Africa with computers. I backed up my important documents on a flash drive before leaving the USA (Thank you Gloria!) AND I had backed up my research documents the night before the crash. So I only lost the information I was working on that day.
We are going to Rondo today. The Open Arms Kenya office women (Renee and Ruth & her mum, Sylvia) are staying the night. Levi and I are meeting with Ben Obanda to sort out the details of my field research with him there. I hope to arrange for that to happen Feb 15-28.
God is good ALL the time, because that is His nature.
PS I need to have Jack help me restore more software before I can post photos again
Friday, February 6, 2009
Computer Crash
There's always something....
I was having difficulty uploading images on my blog post last night, when it happened...the dreaded "blue screen of death." At least that is the term Troy has given it. We tried to restart the computer as the screen had commanded, but then I got a message that said my processor could not be found. YIKES! Each time we tried to get it to work, it seemed to get worse.
Sooooooo, we took it to a computer "expert" friend of Levi's (Levi Kones is my Kenyan brother) this morning. Jack said he had seen this happen before. Then as he was fixing it, he noticed a clicking sound - the hard drive needed to be replaced. Oh no! I left it with him (after shelling out KS 9000) and have not heard from him since - good or bad.
Have borrowed a computer at the Open Arms office to post this message. If you do not hear from me again (or in several days), you know why.
I might be doing the rest of my research "low tech." I have lots of paper and pens:)
I was having difficulty uploading images on my blog post last night, when it happened...the dreaded "blue screen of death." At least that is the term Troy has given it. We tried to restart the computer as the screen had commanded, but then I got a message that said my processor could not be found. YIKES! Each time we tried to get it to work, it seemed to get worse.
Sooooooo, we took it to a computer "expert" friend of Levi's (Levi Kones is my Kenyan brother) this morning. Jack said he had seen this happen before. Then as he was fixing it, he noticed a clicking sound - the hard drive needed to be replaced. Oh no! I left it with him (after shelling out KS 9000) and have not heard from him since - good or bad.
Have borrowed a computer at the Open Arms office to post this message. If you do not hear from me again (or in several days), you know why.
I might be doing the rest of my research "low tech." I have lots of paper and pens:)
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Is this Hawaii?
2 Feb, 2009
Today reminded me of a day in Hawaii (without the beach). Taxi George and I began the day with a visit to Kiambethu Tea Farm. It is one of the oldest tea farms in Kenya. The last time I visited a tea farm was on the Hawaiian island of Kauii. The drive to the farm looked much like the interior of a tropical island. We felt amazingly blessed with a beautiful day in the garden and private tour (because the others who had reservations were late).
Part of the tea farm tour is through the indigenous forest on the property. A Kenyan guide points out the traditional plants and explains their medicinal uses. I was thrilled to begin my research project and our guide, Kimani, was excited to teach someone who was truly interested. He grabbed his well-used book and I took copious notes and photos of each tree Kimani showed us. George was my lovely assistant. We could have done that all day, but settled for an hour (much longer than the usual tour).
George enjoyed tea and lunch served to him and the other drivers in the garden, while the rest of us (tourists) dined inside. I was pleased for him. What a marvelous treat compared to driving taxi all day in the city. My lunch companions were a delegation of five from Belgium. Never in a million years would I have anticipated sharing lunch and conversation with the Ambassador and Minister of Belgium. They were in the country working on a resettlement project for refugees. Of course, they asked what I was doing in Kenya. They seemed interested in my research project and the work of Open Arms International. Their last words to me were, “Give us a call if you’re ever in Brussels.”
The farm has been passed down through three generations. Fiona and Marcus Vernon are the current proprietors. They enjoy having daily guests for tours. I’m sure they get to meet many interesting people from many parts of the world. The garden was especially lovely today, because they have a reservation for a wedding the following weekend. I gave them medical advice for their orthopedic injuries and suggested we barter – lunch for treatment. They gave me the “missionary rate” instead. I was grateful for that. It was an absolutely delightful experience!
Our next stop was the Kazuri factory. It is world-famous for handmade beads, jewelry, and pottery. They receive orders from all over the world. The business was started by Lady Susan Wood (of Britain) who wanted to provide employment and healthcare for single women in Nairobi. It has grown considerably, but, thankfully, the original mission has been preserved. Lady Susan Wood passed away two years ago. Her good friends, Mark and Regina Newman, took over the business when she died. Mark passed away last year, so only Regina remains. I asked who would take it over when she is gone. Our guide thought it would be her son. Hopefully, the original mission will continue with the successive owners.
Last stop (other than an ATM machine) was the Karen Blixen Museum. If you have seen the movie Out of Africa, you have seen it. I didn’t go inside; only made inquiry.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
First Work Day
My first full day in Nairobi (Jan 31) was a “work” day. I was able to hire Taxi George for the day. He is the taxi driver for Open Arms International when we bring teams through Nairobi. I have known him since 2005 and he has become a trusted friend. We went to several places gathering information for a course on *Healthcare in Kenya* I hope to teach in January 2011.
It was such a wonderful day! We thought it would take two full days to visit all the places on my list. The traffic was not as bad, because it was Saturday. So we went to almost all of them today. God is so good:)
We didn’t go into all the places. Just made inquiry and collected information pamphlets. In fact, the only one I went into was our first stop at the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust. I had seen a segment about this place on a recent 60 Minutes broadcast. They rescue orphaned elephants and rhinos. Sadly, I did not have my camera (because we didn’t plan to go inside any of the places today). However, I was able to capture these photos of Maalim from their web page. He was born prematurely and was abandoned by his mother. These photos were taken when he was one and two days old. I’ve seen many rhinos on previous trips to Kenya, but this was unusual.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Jambo from Nairobi, Kenya!
Unlike my last trip to Kenya, I arrived on schedule in Nairobi this morning (with all my bags!). I thank God for that! It took our team five days to get this far last summer, due to mechanical problems on our first plane at PDX. That caused us to miss all our connecting flights. Nice to make it on the original itinerary this timeJ
Krista Fink was my “hostess with the mostest” in Wimbeldon, England during an 11 hour layover yesterday. She met me at Heathrow airport and gave me a lesson on navigating the Tube. I even have my very own Oyster card now! We ate a traditional breakfast at one of her favorite pubs near her home. The guy who took my order thought I was crazy to drink my tea black. It was great to take a shower (wash off the first layer of travel stink) and rest on her couch before my final flight to Nairobi. Much better than whiling away the hours at the airport. BTDT.
Weather has been spectacular along the way. It never occurred to me that flying through Chicago in the winter may not have been a good choice when I booked my ticket months ago. That thought came to mind as we were making our descent into O’Hare. It was a clear, sunny day in Chicago and I didn’t have to leave the airport to endure the bitter cold. London was equally glorious. Clear skies and sunshine, although brisk. I have yet to experience the dreary weather of merry old England that is classic for that region. It has been sunny each time (3) I have had a long layover there. Of course, that could all change when I have a few days of stop-over on my return trip at the end of March. It is summer in Kenya. AKA: Dry season. Quite a contrast from the snowfall my last day in McMinnville, Oregon.
Was able to enjoy a day of rest at the home of Ed and Dayle Lauber after arriving in Nairobi. That was much appreciated after two days of travel. It was great fun watching Dayle unpack the bag of supplies that I brought for them. I commented that it was like Christmas as I watch her gleefully pull out one item at a time. Then she told me that most of what I delivered actually were Christmas presents from family and friends this year. Call me “Santa.”
Friday, January 23, 2009
packing day
Actually, today was my practice packing day. Yes, that's right. An international traveler needs to do a "test run" on packing in order to determine if all the baggage restrictions are met. Take a look at the photo. How is all that going to fit into two bags, which have a weight limit of 50 pounds each? Yes, I am taking the therapy ball. It will be deflated for packing;)
Note: That's not all my stuff. I am carrying some supplies to friends, Ed & Dayle Lauber, who live in Nairobi, Kenya. They are missionaries with Wycliffe Bible Translators.
Result: It all fit in the two bags and they weighed 40 and 43 lbs! Don't ask me how much the carry-on weighs;)
I won't have any problems on the initial flight from Portland, Oregon to Nairobi, Kenya. However, I am over the 20 kg (44 lbs) weight limit for the short flight to Eldoret, Kenya. Will need to do some item shifting for that one or pay extra. Hmmmmmmm...how much can I put in my carry-on?
Hence, the reason for a practice packing day. I have a few more days to sort it all out.
P.S. I took the practice packing day one step further this year. My friends, Arnold and Marilyn Owens, who are taking me to the airport have a new Prius and wanted to see if the bags would fit in their trunk. Yeaaaaa..they fit! We'll be able to enjoy that new car smell en route to PDX and have a good conscience for being green:)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Open Arms Village - July 2008
One of my favorite days in Eldoret, Kenya last summer was at the Open Arms Village. A family from Oregon had sent stuffed animals for each of the 23 children living in the orphan homes. It was so much fun watching their excitement as they received their personalized stuffed animals. We could see how therapeutic the animals were going to be for these precious children. I can't wait to see them again in a couple weeks:)
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