Hellos and Goodbyes

Two weeks from today, I'll arrive back in the U.S.A. Some days it's hard to believe two years has passed so quickly. Other days I remember how much I have changed and others have changed and it seems longer than 2 years. The transition time is definitely bittersweet - saying goodbye to people, language, surroundings that have become quite familiar, but saying hello to family and friends and my home food and culture. I have accumulated quite a list of both things I will miss and things I will not miss as I head back to the States - maybe I'll share some of those items in a future blog. The goodbyes have definitely begun, but we have also enjoyed some recent hellos. Our friends the Roberts, Galats, and Whites all returned recently from a year in the States, so we have loved getting to enjoy meals and fun with their families again.

We continue to welcome new visiting doctors who provide lots of help in the hospital with patient care and medical education. It's especially beneficial for Tenwek Hospital to have extra help now as they lose 5 doctors at once with our team finishing our two year commitment. Please pray especially for more pediatric and obstetric doctors to be willing to come help in the months ahead. I welcomed my friend Allison to Kenya this month (ophthalmology) and decided to say hello and goodbye to the safari animals one more time with her. God's creation certainly is amazing!

Jackel, rhino, wildebeast, and zebra on the plains during the annual wildebeast migration

After winning the fight, the elephant on the left was still riled up and began to charge our safari vehicle! We quickly drove off and he gave up the chase. For a recent hospital story of the danger of elephants, click here.

Male and female ostriches

The interns came to my house for a pizza party on Wednesday night. Several of them were unfamiliar with pizza but they seemed to like it as it disappeared quickly! We enjoyed a hilarious game of Catch Phrase and had a wonderful time. I've loved getting to know this intern class through the intern Bible studies and through our interactions at the hospital. I'm sad to miss their graduation in January.

The Tenwek long term missionaries hosted a nice goodbye party for all of us leaving this month complete with gracious speeches appreciating each of us (speeches are very Kenyan and expected at big events - the interns even gave me an appreciation speech at my party the other night).

Our team at Tenwek is already shrinking as we said goodbye to the Cropseys a couple weeks ago. They're back in the States enjoying ice cream, fast food, and extended family. We look forward to seeing them again in Philadelphia at the end of September.

The McLaughlins hosted one last Tenwek Coffeehouse open mic night and everyone got into it. In fact all of the interns participated in a couple songs complete with traditional dancing. I enjoyed being the official photographer :)

And finally, some hellos:

We loved getting to meet our new colleagues and friends at the World Harvest Mission East Africa retreat last weekend. We won't officially become World Harvest missionaries until we attend assessment and orientation and are hopefully approved in September in Philly but we were invited to attend the retreat anyways. We really enjoyed getting to know these like minded missionaries from Uganda, South Sudan, and Kenya and look forward to future interactions with them in the years to come.

Maggie and I at the retreat - I'm really going to miss the McCropder children next year, but I can't wait to say hello to my nephew and niece in Philadelphia next month: Samuel and Emma!

Pics from the week

McCropder Team (MClaughlins, CROPseys, FaDER, PfistER)

View from the hospital

L (see below blog) came back to ortho clinic Wednesday from Mfangano Island. She's so excited to be walking without crutches and without a limp! We're thankful to the donors from the States who made her surgery possible. Her life will look so different now. Praise the Lord!

Another C section this morning. I'm trying to get some extra practice in while I can!

Every day as I walk home for lunch I'm greeted by the pre-K classes from the local school on their way home. They enthusiastically practice their two English phrases, "How are you? I am fine." And then they all want to shake my hand. Aren't they adorable in their uniforms? :)

Views of the hospital

Sunrise from my kitchen window

Tenwek missionaries. I'm so thankful for this community over the last 2 years.

Playtime at Aunt Alyssa's

Local wildlife

Araka and Maureen (interns) hosted the women's intern Bible study this week and even made mandazis (like doughnuts but not as sweet). I'm so encouraged to see the interns participating in and even leading the study now.

Lake Victoria Day 6 and following

Last blog on the Mfangano Island mission trip!
Day6:

The team: Calvary Church (Charlotte, NC) and Tenwek Hospital

Tenwek teamWe traveled to Ringiti Island (on the Ugandan border of the lake) for clinic the last day - unlike the nearby islands which are green and beautiful, this one was nothing but rock, tin shacks, trash, and fish - a very difficult place to live and work. Evidently 6400 people live on this island and the HIV/AIDS rate is 30%. Though water is all around, there is no clean drinking water. We held clinic in a bar and treated a lot of parasites, diarrheal disease, and sexually transmitted infections. We tried to share some hope with these people but, though they came to the clinic, we did not feel as warmly received as in the other places nor did we see the same response spiritually. Below is the beginning of a picture article from BBC on Ringiti Island and HIV:
______________________________________________________

From BBC News: [Click here for more pictures/info]
In pictures: HIV in Ringiti Island, Kenya

Sex trade

The Beach and island communities of Nyanza province, along the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, have high levels of HIV infection, particularly in women. One cause is the widespread practice of trading sex in return for the island's only export: a basket of highly prized Nile perch...

_______________________________________________________"As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 'Come, follow me,' Jesus said, 'and I will make you fishers of men.' At once they left their nets and followed him." Mark 1:16-18

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of the shadow of death a light has dawned...And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:2, 6

Please pray for the people living in the dark place of Ringiti Island that they will see the light of Jesus and know His peace and joy and hope as they learn to follow Him.
___________________________________________________________________
We traveled back to Tenwek along with some of the Calvary team after clinic late that day. We thank God for providing safe travels even long after dark. We also returned with 11 year old L.A. who has suffered from chronic osteomyelitis for almost one year and lives on Mfangano Island. She had an xray and some medication prescribed by a local clinic but her family could not afford the meds. Her parents were away but someone told her that there were doctors at the GGCC guesthouse. So L found her own medical records and hobbled along to the guesthouse where she asked to see the doctors. Impressive initiative for an 11 year old! We had some funds donated for such patients, so we were able to bring her back to Tenwek for surgery on her leg.

The Kendall family helped a lot in caring for L. Her mother (who traveled with her) is also pictured here.

Xray of L's lower leg

She successfully underwent surgery by the orthopedic team and went home this morning very thankful.

Lake Victoria islands Day 5

Day 5:

"Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. God came...His glory covered the heavens and his praise filled the earth. His splendor was like the SUNRISE; rays flashed from his hand where his power was hidden." Habakkuk 3:1-4

Team worship

Farewell to the Lakewood team

Tenwek team with Dr. Paul

We held clinic in two different sites each day and saw approximately 1200 patients in the course of the week

Arrival at the village on the mainland this time

I actually saw patients this day (as opposed to working in the pharmacy and dealing with emergencies and referrals like the other days). I enjoy the variety of mixing things up regarding work assignments for the most part (I guess that's why I'm med/peds!) Here I am demonstrating a homemade spacer for a child with wheezing.

This single mother suffering from chronic illness is raising EIGHT children - five of her own and three for a sister unable to care for her own children. She sells small fish but this income is insufficient to support the family.

We departed later than anticipated due to a complicated social situation involving a new diagnosis of pregnancy in a teenager. We face these challenges at Tenwek as well, and it's always hard to know how to navigate the cultural, social, & legal issues involved when I've lived here a relatively short time. Please pray for physical, emotional, & spiritual healing for these children.

Sunset over Mfangano Island