Stories from our team members in Kenya

4th August, 2009 - Posted by Camille Cotton -

Rachel B. says: I went to see a 3-year-old named Irene who had fallen into a pot of boiling water and had burns all over her upper body. She was so cute and I was able to play with her in ways that allowed me to assess her mobility. The scars are so bad that they restrict her movement at the elbow. I gave her a few exercises and the guardians that care for her some exercises to do with her. She was not able to move her little arms in a full range of motion or even in what would be considered a normal way. She was fun to play with and her smile was really sweet. I also got to stop in and see another little village with a single house for orphans. They had about 7 children there and 2 of them are twins. They are only 1 1/2, but have only developed to about 8 months old. The mom left after they were born because they were twins. The dad had been leaving the babies at home all day by themselves, while he went to work. Eventually the dad gave the babies up so that they could receive proper care. A very sad situation as they are so far delayed in their development.

Anita says: She loves her husband and misses him tons! She had a great day today and felt like she was in just the right place at the check-in desk. She met loads of people and registered 160 of the 324 patients. She says it was lovely that so many want to sit down and reach to shake your hand and smile. The children were fascinated with her blond hair

Helen says: We completed four ocean scene pictures that were stunning and the house parents took them to hang them in their homes for the children to continue to see. There was great excitement about the masks that we finished. I had an amazing time rolling around on the ground with little Johnny! It really is wonderful. Victor and Johnny love it when I become the tickle monster and chase them. Victor’s eyes go wide and he gets this deep chuckle that causes us all to laugh! It was sad to pack up all the art projects and close down the kids camp. The children were asking if they got to come back again tomorrow, which confirms they have been having a ball! I am indebted to the whole team and especially Ann who has stuck with me and the kids through thick and thin! She is amazing!

Spencer and Karleigh were in the kids camp all day, and they were amazing! They were in charge of the little ones. Spencer had Ian (the child he wants to bring home with him), Victor, Mercy, and Gloria. Karleigh had Beatrice who really counts for two, Johnny, who also counts for two, and Gad. Their job was to make sure the little ones were contained and having fun. Ann, Helen, Bethany, Morris, and two Kenyan volunteers took on the other children. I was a floater today and covered everything from pharmacy, prayer tent, check-in to children’s.

The day started with our service and again we had about 30 people ask to accept Jesus! It was very exciting and fun to pray for them all. As the people waited to be seen by the doctors, I moved through the line, playing with the children, passing out stickers and taking pictures! Things ran really smoothly today and we also had another organization there who was drawing blood and testing for HIV. It was free to everyone. All 27 orphans in the village have been tested before and 2 of them are HIV positive. Rachel, who is 9, and Robert, who is 7. They both are two of the sweetest kids in the Village.

In the kid’s camp today, Bethany and I began painting the nails and toenails of the children…it became kind of like an assembly line. We went from one little hand to another and then one little dirty foot to another! The boys even got in line! We had pink, red, mauve and polka dots! One of the girls even painted the nails on one of Spencer’s hands with the bright red polish! Then they turned and painted the house moms’ toenails! It was very sweet to have them all sitting around us and waiting so patiently for their turn!

By the time we finally finished filling all the prescriptions, it was about 5:00 pm. We then had to break down the tents, count the inventory of drugs, box them all up, and load it on the bus. Everyone came together to get this done. Even the orphans were helping make it happen. I had Abel, big Mercy, and I think about five other kids helping me count and write the inventory. They are so eager to be with you and help you do whatever you need to do. When we came out of the final tent, our bus had been opened up to load and there were Village children in all the seats, the driver’s seat, and hanging out the windows. It was a wonderful site to see these smiling faces, laughing, giggling, and enjoying their time on the bus. I know most of them wanted to go with us or have us stay longer, but it was now about 6:20 pm and we needed to head back for dinner! Our team had sadness in our hearts as we have so grown to love these kids. We will get to see them a bit on Friday before we start our journey home, but we were already missing them as we pulled out of the Village!

I know I speak for the whole team when I say, we have been rolling on the ground, climbed upon, painted, covered in red clay dirt from head to toe, and even after showers, we are still wiping dirt off of us….BUT, we wouldn’t trade a moment of it for anything in the world! Between caring for the children and caring for the 844 medical patients, we have been blessed more than we can possibly express. We know our job was to come and serve the people of Eldoret, and we have, but as God is so well known for doing, he blesses the servants as much as he blesses those that he sends us to serve! Tomorrow some of us will be going to the women’s prison, while others will be unloading the bus, restocking shelves and prepping food for our afternoon feeding program in the slum area. We know tomorrow will provide some challenges, but we are ready for them!

Please pray for a good night sleep for everyone, for continued healing of Helen’s elbow, Brandt’s back/neck and for every single one of the 844 patients we saw. Please pray that God will heal each and every one of them, not just physically, but spiritually too! Until tomorrow…

-Shanon, Trip 4 team leader

1 Comment

Phil Morley

August 4th, 2009 at 2:55 pm    

It has been a great blessing to read of the incredible things God is doing through all of the team in Eldoret. God is an awesome God and nothing is to hard for Him. I am missing Anita loads here in England but know that yet again God is pushing all of you into new areas of experience for Him. We continue to uplift you all in prayer and look forward with expectation to what will be achieved for His glory in the final days of this visit. God bless you all.

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