Kenya in August

Monday, August 17
Visited LivingWay Children’s home in Naivasha and were greeted by 30 ecstatic, dusty children who ran to our approaching van with shrieks of joy. Orphanage has no electricity or running water. Drought so bad their milk cow died from lack of water. Children welcomed us with several songs, and dorm mom had prepared an exceptional lunch for us over an open fire. Kenyan hospitality is humbling.

Wednesday, August 19
Spoke to two hundred pastors and church leaders at a Four Square church conference. Most pastors had traveled over six hours on cramped public transportation to be at the conference and hadn’t yet eaten by the time the conference began at 9:30pm. Meeting scheduled to begin at 6pm. Pastors’ spirits were high, nonetheless.

Thursday, August 20
Caught a minivan, or matatu, designed for 14 but holding up to 26 people, to The Hope Center orphanage in Oyuma. Direct trip turned into indirect. Kept stopping to take on more passengers. Smelly, dusty, tiring ride.

Saturday, August 22
Went to villager’s house to pray over land where he’ll build his new home. Were introduced to his father’s three widows and met his two wives. Having trouble reconciling multiple wives with the 21st century. Interviewed for position of manager at The Hope Center. Were asked to return for a second interview.

Tuesday, August 25
Drove to Maasai Mara. Went on game drive. Saw zebras, giraffes, several types of antelope, cheetahs, cape buffalo, wildebeests, lions, hippos, and crocodiles. Slept in canvas tent with beds. Bathrooms across the camp had hot running water heated by a fire lit under the metal water barrel.

Wednesday, August 26
Went to Munyao’s house (a Kenyan friend from college). Nairobi traffic jam terrible. Our bus drove on the wrong side of the rode for several miles to avoid traffic jam. Oncoming traffic had to move onto sidewalks to get out of the way of bus. Bizarre.

Saturday, August 29
Met the team of medical doctors and assistants this morning who we’ll be working with this week. Rode out to Brittney’s House of Grace in Marindi--an orphanage run in conjunction with a medical clinic.

Monday, August 31
Worked with medical team in clinic. Sherwood assisted oral surgeon. I sterilized instruments. Long day. Doctors saw 500 hundred patients.

Tuesday, September 1
Worked in clinic. Saw woman whose thumb was severed when bandits broke into her house. She’d been walking around with her thumb cut off for two weeks before coming to clinic. District hospital didn’t do a good job of treating her. Hand very swollen--smell was awful.