We have a time of devotion each evening after dinner.  Sharing in scripture, and comments, or story which adds meaning to the underlying message.

Today's meditation from the Book of Awakening by Mark Nepo says:  "Of all the things that exist, can we not breathe and wake and turn it all into song?  For as long as we sing, the pain of our world cannot claim our lives or our faith."

That is never more evident than in the spirit of the Kenyan people.  We have seen their lack of self pity, only finding in their offerings and praises an exultation to God for what they have received, or what they do have.

We each carry within us the events of the week, but we are thankful for our time in the Samburu Game Preserve.  As we reminisce about our week and 'decompress' we are surrounded by a different environment.  Imagine, if you can, attempts to sustain your families food supply and livestock with limited water.

We are reminded of the omnipotence of God in His plan for creation. The animals from large to small  co-existing in a sometimes desolate environment.  Then finding pockets of water with thick green foliage.

We will depart tomorrow for our last day of service in the Meru area at the Bio Intensive Farm.  We have witnessed God's faithfulness in our preparation, journey, and the people we greet.  We pray, and continue to covet your prayers as we begin to prepare for our departure.

May we continue to hear God's call and may all our answers become Here I Am, send me.

Deworming & The Medical Clinic

The best word to describe today is “Illuminating”. When we began our journey, the original plan for today was to visit a nearby primary school and pass out de-worming medication to the children there, however this changed when, on Tuesday, the government announced that all schools would be shutting down by Friday because of the upcoming election. Because of this we traveled straight to the medical clinic the hospital was hosting in a small church on the outskirts of town, and through this clinic the entire team was able to witness miracles and get a better understanding of how these Kenyans live. As we began setting up the clinic, some of the locals and hospital personnel put together some amazing sack lunches for the team and other medical volunteers. It was incredible to see how much they were willing to sacrificing for us without a second thought, and it made many of the team members reflect on their own lives and how they could embrace this practice more often.

The clinic was made up of several different stations, like a blood pressure station and a pharmacy station, which served as a full body checkup when the patient was all set and done. There was one elderly woman, in particular, that especially touched all of our hearts as she received reading glasses in the eye glass station. As she held the weathered bible in her hands and began to realize that she could read again, she danced around those near to her and praised the spirit that allowed her to regain her sight. Many of those present described it as a miracle before their eyes. It was amazing to see how joyous and grateful the grandmother was to receive the gift of reading again. That moment was all the gratification that we desired, as we came to realize how much we had changed not only this woman’s life, but countless others as well.

House Dedication

Today was the culmination of a four day effort to build an AIDS Orphan Home and the team dedicated the house with the help of the local tribe. The house was built for two young boys and their grandmother after they were orphaned by the loss of their mother who died of AIDS.
The dedication was a very moving ceremony that involved the elder women of the local village who sang and praised the house as a gift from God. Our friend Stanley Gitari, the director of community services at Maua Methodist Hospital, helped to lead the ceremony with prayers and scriptures that allowed for everyone involved to really feel connected to the God that brought us here. It was incredibly inspiring to see all the women and children singing and dancing in praise and gratitude, it was enough to bring you to tears.
Toward the end of the ceremony, everyone present laid their hands on the house and offered a prayer to bless the home and further the idea that a community must come together to raise children in need.  Mr. Gitari then presented the house key to the family and a certificate of dedication which showed how this building was built with the help of the Lord and erected in his name. The community came together to bring new mattresses and blankets to make the new house as a way to truly give this family a new beginning. Upon receiving all these item, it was quite clear that the Grandmother was incredibly grateful for the blessing bestowed upon her and her grandchildren. We were all immensely  humbled by the gratitude we received and our lives were enriched by the entire experience.
As we left the village, the women and children formed a line all the way from the work site to the buses to bid us farewell. We all hoped to see them once more in our future endeavors as we continue mission work in Kenya in the coming years.


 

The People Of Kenya

The past few days, as the team worked endlessly, it occurred to us today that we should all take a step back from our immediate mission and reflect on the people around us and how they have affected our journey up until this point. Kathie Mann, a Mission Volunteer with the General Board of Global Ministries and an immeasurably important woman in our work here, is a truly amazing person who greets everyone she meets with a brilliant smile and a warm hug. From the moment we stepped into Maua, she opened her home as a haven to the entire team. She has a gift for understanding exactly what a situation needs and how to accomplish it, which has truly helped us to do all that we have while we've been here. Mrs. Mann is the epitome of self-sacrifice and motherly love as she invites all of her teams into her home to share meals with her. 

Another significant figure is our dear friend Freda Gakii, a local angel in this community. Despite all the obstacles thrown in her path, from having her home taken from her family to truly devastating accidents, she lives to serve others. Evidence of this can be found in her habit of seeking out those without loved ones in the hospital and giving them the nurturing love that they so need. She has single handily cared for her family through thick and thin, and has done everything in her power to make better lives for them. She serves in multiple ways in her church by singing in both the youth and adult choirs and volunteering whenever she can. And to top it all off she's an entrepreneur with a little shop near our hotel.

These people are truly miracles brought to us from Heaven above, and nothing could ever parallel what they have done for us and this community. As we continue our work here and in other cities in Kenya, we pray that God will look over these two indispensable women and guide them with his love. 

Working at MAUA Methodist Hospital

Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Working at MAUA Methodist Hospital

Today is day four in Maua. The Mission team worked along side some of staff at the hospital. Areas covered included the NICU Department, Surgery Unit, Pharmacy and Chaplin Rounds.

The hospital retains some of the older methods that still work with healing illnesses today.  Some of the more sophisticated machines and methods are beyond what is available in this Country.  However the efforts of nurses and doctors and the enthusiasm with which they deliver care makes up for lack of modern medicine.  

A strike by Nurses and Doctors in the Government sector has caused the closure of many Government Hospitals.  This has put a tremendous strain on the Doctors and Nurses at Maua Methodist Hospital. The normal admission rate is 109. The current admit rate is at 275.  Maua Methodist is a 250 bed facility resulting in 2 people per bed in many wards.

During the rounds, God continued to show his Glory.  The staff continue their work, having faith that God will be with them even when there is a lack of supplies or when they have had no rest for days. 

Through all this, the hospital continues to function and find ways to survive.  The support they receive from various churches and organizations helps, however much more is needed.  We as fellow Christians need to help in whatever way we can to ensure they continue to stay open and serve the people of this area.

We are blessed to be here and see God's hand at work.  All the Glory to God.

The Kenya Mission Team

 

Maua Methodist Hospital

On our third day in Maua, the group was treated to a extensive tour of the Maua Methodist Hospital by our friend Kathie Mann (A Mission Volunteer with the General Board of Global Ministries). She taught us the extensive history of the hospital, like for example: the hospital was founded by Methodist Missionaries under the funding of Sam Berresford and one of the first buildings to be constructed was the treasured Chapel building that still stands today at the heart of the property. As the tour continued, the team was able to meet countless nurses and doctors around the hospital including one Dr. Tony who, up until recently, was the only working surgeon in the hospital. We also got to visit all the different wings, like the Maternity and Palliative care wings. We also came across the laundry department in which we discovered the truth of how in deficit the hospital was truly working seeing as they only had a singular functioning washing machine and the staff was therefore forced to wash much of the laundry for the 275 current patients by hand. Kathie informed our group then of how dire their need was for working washing machines but simply could not afford them on their own (food for thought).

By the end of the tour we had all come to realize how much the Hospital did for the community as a whole as we saw the evidence of all of the organizations they cared for, like the AIDS Orphans project and a local Bio Farm that teaches young children how to responsibly farm. On the property there was also a School of Nursing that offered a three-year program, this offers a wonderful occupational option to locals that desire to help others. It was quite obvious how impactful this hospital has been on the city in general and we all felt very blessed to have been able to witness their small daily miracles in action.

P.S. To all those suffering the heat back home; todays high in Maua was 70 degrees Fahrenheit and a low of 57 degrees, just a small upside to participating in these mission trips :)    

 

Bwana Asifwe

Our second day in Maua was an absolute success as we joined MCK (Methodist Church Kenya) Athiru Gaiti Meru County, Kenya for a wonderful Sunday service that featured our very own Pastor Steve. And between the humorous sermon translations and the awe inspiring prayers, I believe we were all a bit damp in the eyes. Our day continued as we toured around the Clark EDC Pre-school, which was located on the church grounds, and bonded with many of the local children. It was truly moving to see how much this community had given to make this school possible.

"Our worship service this morning is something I will always remember and cherish. As we listened to passionate prayers and jubilant singing in Swahili (even though we did not fully understand) the power and presence of the Holy Spirit was truly palpable. To be honored to share a message with so many Kenyan brothers and sisters in Christ about the Holy Spirit's presence in our lives (Luke 4:18 -19) blessed me more than words can describe. Thank you God, Bwana Asifiwe (God is good)." Pastor Steve

To finish out the already wonderful day, several team members took a scenic hike up a small mountain that overlooked the city. It was very easy to see the strong differences between our home towns and the one that lied in front of us, and gave us the opportunity to be grateful for what we normally take for granted.

Thoughts and Observations from drive to Maua

Today we started our journey to Maua from Nairobi, for those of us that had never participated in this trip before we were thoroughly surprised by the unfamiliar driving habits of the Kenyans and their cultures overall hospitality. For our returning team members, old friends were rediscovered and the joy from these re-aquaintances was felt throughout the entire group. Whilst driving through the crowded streets, many of our companions began to notice the strong class lines that divided the wealthy colonial-era land owners from the humble cow herders on the sides of the road. By the end of the night the pure excitement for the upcoming two weeks was quite clear in everyone's eyes and we were thoroughly ready to begin the work God had sent us here to do.

~Madison and the Kenya Mission Group

2017 Kenya Mission Team Heading to Maua, Kenya

Jambo (Hello)!
Our team of 13 folks leave Thursday, July 20!  We are busy packing and wondering what we will see, experience and do in service for our God.
We are from 4 churches, coming together in Methodist connection.  (Acton UMC, Alliance UMC, Good News UMC, Lighthouse Fellowship UMC)
We hope you will follow along with us during our journey.  We really appreciate your prayers!
We ask that you don't worry about us if you don't hear from us for a day or two.  We are busy, and wifi can be a challenge at times.
We will be back to the United States on Thursday, August 3.
Asante Sana (Thank you very much)!
Sheryl Crumrine
Team Leader