August 21, 2013

 

I have returned from Kenya and people ask "Well how was it?"  How do I answer that?  It is difficult to sum it up in just one or two words.  Challenging, exhausting, inspiring, interesting, fun, frustrating, rewarding, exciting  ...  a blessing. 

 
The challenges began when we learned that the international terminal at the airport in Nairobi was destroyed by fire just a day before we left.  The 3 of us from St. Louis met our 10 teammates from Oregon in the airport in Chicago.  We learned about each other as we headed off on an adventure.  Our trip to Kenya took 48 hours traveling through Belgium to Rwanda to Uganda by air, a few hours stay in a hotel in Entebbe, by bus to the Ugandan border, a walk across the border and back on the bus to Kisumu, Kenya, and finally by van to Oyugis. There we met the rest of our wonderful teammates. The young adult translators from Nairobi were full of energy, a joy to be with and visions of Christ.  Our hosts worked long days to keep us well fed and comfortable.  We were all ready to tackle the projects that lay ahead for us. 

Marty and I and 3 others were the medical team.  We set up our stations, organized the pharmacy, and waited for word to spread that a medical team was in town.  The primary focus of the medical mission was to provide care to the orphans from the Oikos project.  We examined and treated 50+ Oikos orphans.  We made a visit to the local orphanage at Ringa.  Many of the local children and adults also received care.  Everyone received soap, toothbrushes and toothpaste and vitamins.  While we felt frustrated early on that we were not seeing enough patients, we treated some very serious wounds and infections.

While we were holding clinic, the others were having VBS and helping to build a chicken coop.  The beautiful happy faces of the Kenyan children appeared outside our window all day long. They loved to try their English on us, and giggled in delight at our attempts at Swahili.  

The Kenyans working on the chicken coop toiled in the sun - women carried buckets of water up the hill from the well, the men mixed and poured concrete and laid brick in the heat - all to support the children of the Oikos project. 

Each evening, we enjoyed our meal while learning more about each other - exchanging stories of life in Kenya and the States. We played games, shared prayers and dreams, and laughed with one another. 

By Saturday morning, we were sad to say goodbye to our new Kenyan friends, and leave the town of Oyugis.  I don't know when or if I will see these "kids" again, but they have earned a special place in my heart.  God bless them!  

 

We traveled by van to safari in Maasai Mara.  We did a short safari ride that afternoon and saw two of the "Big Five" - elephants and lions.  And we had hot showers and toilets that flushed!  On Sunday, we added hippos on our all day adventure.  As we bumped along the rocky roads, we saw over 30 types of animals.  Way cool!

On Monday morning we began our journey home.  Several members of the team were not feeling well.  Shortly into the ride, we had to stop for repairs to the van.  We learned early in the week, that we must be able to adapt to changes in plans.  The flight home beginning from the "outdoor" terminal in Nairobi went smoothly and I was safely home in a little more than 24 hours.   

 

I feel refreshed and blessed by my experiences in Kenya. 

 

 

Margaret