And Finally...

“Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14

“The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat, the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them” Isaiah 11:6

Yes, children came to us. During our time at Kapsowar we had the opportunity to meet many Kenyan children and it was great to see our children respond with the love of Christ.  We went to the Shammah  School where we had the opportunity to play with them during PE and also to attend their weekly chapel. The Kenyan children all want to touch the hands of our children.  Joseph was a little shy and overwhelmed by so many children but Annie, Sam, Ellie and Ella all joined in the activities.  For the chapel they even helped lead a song and Bible story complete with actions. I must say the African children were a little better at singing and the always wanted to sing for us. A few we actually knew and could sing along like “Lord I Lift Your Name on High.”

We also walked to a Children’s Home and learned how orphaned children live  - very sparsely!

They get love and attention and an education. Some are even sponsored to get a higher education.

That reminds me of Godwin - a child left at the hospital who was abused and not wanted. They are trying to get him into the Children’s Home but in the meantime he hangs out at the hospital. The kids took a game over to play with him and started to get to know him.  By the time we left he was venturing over to the missionary compound and always wanted to play with Sam.  Sam left him a gift of clothing (shirt, pants and socks) before leaving.  Ella also gave him her spinner.

How wonderful to see our kids wanting to help in a way that they could.

The other group of children that our children ministered to was the American missionary children.  Since some families were on furlough there was only one family left and their 4 children were starved for playmates.  All of our children reached out to them despite ages differences.  Ellie especially reached out to 2 younger girls. Joseph, though shy in large groups, loved to play with the children around the mission compound. Oscar was his favorite friend but as time went on he expanded that to a larger group of friends. 

I had the privilege of staying with the kids when their parents were at the hospital and was blest to watch how they all showed their faith in God in their own ways.  We all spent much time at the library of an African Inland Mission Church and School.  It was is disarray and the amount of red dust we stirred up was amazing.  After many partial days of work we felt a sense of completion the day before we left.  Annie and Ella especially liked the task of organizing.

I think sometimes we forget and underestimate how our children can be used by God.

“How many are your works, Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. Psalm 104:24

And we have seen many of those creatures and the beauty of creation here is Kenya. We ended our time at Kapsowar and headed to the Masai Mara where we have gone on 2 safaris and will go on 2 more. In the mountains, on the plains, and in the river we have seen creatures: all types of antelopes, giraffes, male and female lions, jackals, hyenas, elephants, buffaloes, wart hogs, baboons, hippos, monkeys, zebras, and eagles.  What a wonderful variety of creation, each unique and amazing. This, all among the plains in the mountains where they all graze or hunt. God provides for them all in a variety of ways.  This all in an resort atmosphere of exotic tents beside the river. God has blessed us with this time of relaxation and wonder.  A wonderful way to say goodbye to Kenya. 

Judy

Judy 

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Sharing with Suffering

We have left Kapsowar, but we have taken a piece with us and have left a piece behind. Thank you for all the prayers throughout our time there. Continue to keep Kapsowar hospital and all the people serving there in your prayers. Dr Rhodes made a great comment during our last devotions - he was discussing how to respond to the extreme suffering we see here in Kenya - "the reality is we cannot change the suffering - we can only join the people in their suffering." We came along a few in their suffering during this trip and hopefully we showed them the love and compassion of Jesus. We pray that we continue to do that same thing to all those we meet whether in America or Kenya or anywhere else the Lord might lead us. We are at safari now...and then will start the long journey home on Monday...still a little time for my mom to blog :). - Christine 

Blog of Lists

We only have two more days at Kapsowar - the time has gone fast and we will be sad to leave...we all talked over dinner and wrote this blog together...so, the blog of lists by David, Judy, Jeremy, Christine, Annie, Sam, Ellie, Josef, Pam and Ella.

Things We Take for Granted
abundant, clean, water - hot water!!!!
electricity
paved roads
cleanliness
grocery stores
sanitation
appliances
wifi
privacy
coffee/Starbucks
milk
ice cubes
ease of getting from one place to another
medical diagnostic tools

Things We Have Learned
cooking with minimal supplies
attributes of God
not to judge people
not to complain on hikes if you want a reward
how to cast
that Kenyans love to shake hands as a greeting
that Kenyans start school at age 3 and at 6:30 am
how to avoid cow poop
the Apostles Creed
altitude is a real thing
being kind and obedient makes you feel good
woman are named after their eldest child

Unusual Things We Have Experienced
cows in our back yard                                                      
honeycomb straight from a beehive in the tree
roosters pecking at door                                            
bird and safari ants in the house
unchewable mutton
altitude sickness
creepy guys following us
                                                                                   
Things We Will Miss
simplicity of life
slower pace
house help
Dr Rhode's devotions
Pick-n-Peel juice
Oscar
roosters crowing in the morning
Mama Brian
not having to worry about material possessions
the view
more time with God

Answered Prayer
rain
travel safety

Grace with medical wisdom and the nurses trust
travel to and from Iten
 connections with coaches and athletes
people staying healthy
meeting Joy's family
Pastor Jacob and his connection to Pastor Robert
Mama Brian
library project for the kids
specific patients

Things to Pray For
Godwin to find a home (hopefully the children's home)
Oscar to get his passport
the long term missionaries here
rain/water source
the upcoming Kenyan election
medical équipement that the hospital needs
our transition back, response to trip and future plans

A personal contrast

On my run this morning I looked down at my shoes and noticed how clean they were compared to last week. They were covered in red dirt from 2 weeks of running dirt roads. This morning they looked like new, as if I just pulled them out of the box. Our housekeeper, Sally, had cleaned them without me asking. She has also cleaned my work shoes and sandals. (Having 3 pairs of shoes with me is also a sign of my excess.) This is no easy task to scrub the red dirt out of the fabric. My hiking sandals I used to climb Kip Kunur  and they were caked with mud but now look like new. Sally works every day without complaint cleaning floors, and washing clothes. She makes our life a little more comfortable without seeking recognition for herself. I am very grateful for her and her example to all of us. She is a person who walks in a manner worthy of the Lord, (Colossians 1:9-12). What a contrast to my self focused attitude. Humbling.

Jeremy

Whining, safari ants, and public transportation

I struggled this weekend with tiredness. Tired of filtering water by hand for almost an hour every day so we could have safe drinking water. Tired of flushing toilets with buckets of recycled shower water to conserve our tank of water. Tired of cold, dripping showers. Tired of red dirt everywhere. In my nose, in my hair, on my clothes and on my shoes...if this sounds like I am whining you are correct. I sat in a hot, muggy church Sunday morning with most of the service in Merekwet, not understanding much, and just plain worn out. I said, "God, I need something!" Not out loud of course, but I needed help to get through the day and next week. I didn't get anything during the service but later I did find some distraction by using a rolling pin to roll out Christine's aching leg muscles from climbing Kip Kunur the day before.


My mind and spirit seemed to be clearing and Sunday night we studied Isaiah 65. It tells of a whiney rebellious nation headed for captivity and the hope of restoration in a new heaven and new earth upon Christ's return when God declares he will make all things new. This was connected with Titus 2:11-14...the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires, and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age. Basically what I heard was that God will restore this world to what he intended it to be but in the interim, by His grace, I have a choice in how I choose to live. I can whine and complain, focusing entirely on my self or live dependently, resting in His grace, choosing to live each day obediently and in faith. (Although I can still crave a cold glass of milk.)

BTW - Sports Med in Iten is going great - more contact with coaches and seven patients today. I have now done all forms of Kenyan public transportation - the tuk tuk, matatu and today the piki piki.

Christine already mentioned the safari ant invasion, (you haven't lived until you have known the pain of several safari ants biting into your inner thigh), so I will let that one rest for now.

Love you all,

Jeremy

Only Josef Can See

Since Josef is the only family member who can't write a blog - I thought I would share what I have learned from him...I reflected on this today as he jumped in the puddles with several Kenyan school boys on lunch break. I have realized that Josef has something that none of the rest of us have - the ability to truly see people as God does - to accept everyone as equal and to not discriminate based on race or socioeconomic status. Try as I may, I can't get rid of my judgement when I see the extreme poverty here. I see the kids with torn shoes and dirty clothes and I have an immediate emotional response. Although I wish it was pure compassion and love that I feel, I know that there is an element of assumption or disgust. I hate that in myself and love that Josef doesn't see anything other than another kid to play with. It's like the below pictures that Sam took on our hike - when we get tripped up by the image in front of our eyes, we aren't able to see clearly the bigger view of God's created beauty - if we can, however, look past... then we see only the view of beauty. "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." Galatians 3:28.

We are doing well..even survived the safari ant invasion last night - they were coming in under the door - FYI, powdered laundry soap is the cure...and watching your husband battle them in his socks and underwear is quite humorous. Annie and Ella went on rounds today with us. It was a busy day with the challenges that come with practicing medicine without resources. There is always combined sorrow and joy and Jesus meets us in both. It rained last night and is raining again now!! The work in the church library continues. Not many more days until we start our journey home - we covet your prayers for the remaining days here and the travel to get us to Safari and then home. My mom promises she will blog before this trip is done and we are all working on a special "list" blog so stay tuned. - Christine

Kip Kunur

Yesterday we hiked Mt Kip Kunur. The hike was 14 miles long and was very hard. Most of it was up hill and we climbed to 10,000 ft elevation. You had to look down to watch for safari ants, stinging nettles, and cow poop. Mama Brian was our guide. Gaga had some problems with his breathing so we had to take breaks for him to regain strength. We had to leave him at a rock about one hour from the top - I was worried about him, but God took care of him. Gaga says that he thinks God had him stay back so they could spend some time together. He says it was a powerful time talking with and hearing from God. At the top, there was a big rock that we sat on and had our snacks. It was very cool because we were in the clouds and sometimes it was hard to see. Also, it was scary because it was a ledge and I was scared to fall off. The way down was much easier and it helped that we had some bamboo walking sticks that a man cut for us. We also saw monkeys and a man who was getting honey from a bee hive. This morning we are all sore but it was worth it. -Sam