This morning Jackson joined a small group of the younger missionary children who went up to the hospital to entertain the patients and their families. Last week the kids made hand puppets so we carried those with us to help with our singing.  The children sang “Jesus Loves Me” and a Swahili song “Mambo Sawa Sawa”  and gave the patients stickers and coloring sheets with crayons.

Mambo sawa sawa.
Mambo sawa sawa.
Yesu akiwa enzini.
Mambo sawa sawa.

Which in English translates:

Things are getting better.
Things are getting better.
When the Lord is on the throne,
Things are getting better.

We made rounds outside where the some of the patients and their families congregate and in the Pediatric ward, nursery and eye ward.  The elderly Kenyans in the eye ward really enjoyed the songs and puppets.  It was a blessing to see their faces light up at the children and some even joined in the singing with us.  No matter what brought each patient to the hospital we confidently can encourage them that with Jesus on the throne things are truly already better. ~Jennifer

Hello everyone!  Thanks for taking the time to look at our blog; we really like reading your comments! Before I start telling you about what’s going on here in Kenya I want to tell you a little bit about what happened in me before we came.

Most of you know that we were in Kenya last January-February for six weeks. Everything was great and God really used us. But I really felt like God talked to me before we came on this trip. Last time we were here I was excited, but I felt that Africa was far from where I wanted to be. My passion is music and I feel like there is a ‘calling’ on my life in this area.  But I found when I was in Africa it was really tough to practice my music.  Before we left my schedule was God, family, music.  Music was all that I thought about.  I was constantly telling my parents about the big dreams I have, what I want to do, college I want to go to, and so on. But what I didn’t realize was that I wasn’t putting things into perspective!  I still have a good 5 years before I leave my family and go to college! I began to realize I was totally rushing things.

So back to Africa, last time I was here I was questioning God, why do you have me here? So far away from my dreams?! God you know the desires of my heart, why am I here when I want to be over in America? But then I remembered the scripture that says ask and you shall receive. Well, I will let you know that I took that scripture a little too seriously, I asked God about a million times to make me a better musician, for amazing windows of opportunity to open, and what did I get? Nothing. It wasn’t that God didn’t hear me, I know He did. But He just didn’t reply. Well, sometime last month I heard God speak to me. He said, “Georgia, why are you so focused on yourself? I have planted a dream inside you, just like the dream I planted inside your parents. Your dream still has time to come to pass, but your parents dreams are happening now.” That blew me away. I felt so selfish, that I couldn’t express my feelings to my parents. I then realized that my parents are living their dreams now, my dreams still have their own time!God has a plan for everything, don’t ever forget that! If he wants me to be a great musician, I will be, no doubt. But that’s all I was ever focused on, me. It might be years until God fulfills that promise he put in me. God put a dream inside of my dad at 12, and 30+ years later he’s fulfilling it. And guess what?  I get to be a part of his dream.  That is the greatest honor ever, to be a part of one of God’s plans—even if it is for someone else. So what I want you to know is don’t give up on a dream God put in you. And be ready to be a part of making someone else’s dreams come true. And make sure you don’t miss out on all of the great things and great people and great opportunities God has placed in your life right now.  I’m only 12 years old but I guess I’m learning that you can trust God with your dreams.

Georgia Grace

All three arrived at Casualty at the same time.  A dispute over cows had turned ugly.  Guns were fired, two were killed and the rest were brought to our hospital.  The most seriously injured were taken to the operating theatre immediately.  A few minutes later, Dr. Russ and I took this patient to surgery.  He had been shot in the leg just below the knee.  The bones were shattered, the foot was cold and numb.  He lost a lot of blood at the time of the injury and on the way.  A makeshift tourniquet wrapped tightly around the injury and soaked in blood had probably saved his life.

In the operating room, the bleeding was controlled and the injuries quickly assessed.  The main artery and vein behind the knee were torn in two.  Only a few fibers held the main nerve together.  Any chance of saving this man’s leg would require immediately restoring blood flow to the leg.  We quickly removed a vein from his other leg and proceeded to replace his torn artery with this harvested vein.  The operation is difficult because of the location of the injury, deep behind the knee.  Nevertheless, within a little over an hour, the blood was again pulsating to his leg.  Once the flow was restored though, the leg began to ooze blood from where all the bullet fragments had torn through the tissue.  The patient became unstable, his blood pressure dropped, he was cold and his blood was as thin as Kool-Aid.  All of us at the OR table knew that the combination of a cold patient in shock with continued bleeding is often a spiral that cannot be reversed, quickly leading to death.

We called for blood, but the technicians in the lab reported that it wouldn’t be available for another 25 minutes, and they said, when it was available, it would be cold, straight from refrigeration.  The situation was desperate.  The patient continued to bleed, the blood pressure continued to plummet.  Dr. Russ dropped out of the case; he said he wanted to go to the lab to see if he could help retrieve the blood while we continued the resuscitation.  Fifteen minutes later, he returned with a big bag of warm blood.  It was quickly transfused, the patient began to stabilize, and we were able to proceed with an operation that controlled his bleeding.  Everyone in the operating theatre knew that the blood that saved this man’s life was Dr. Russ’s.

A few hours later, I talked to the young man about the operation, and I explained to him that if it had not been for Dr. Russ donating his blood, he would have died on the OR table.  The realization that a man who was a total stranger gave his blood to save his life began to sink in.  He had no words to convey his gratitude.

Later, I was there when Dr. Russ asked him if he knew Jesus as his Savior.  He did not.  And then Dr. Russ explained that it was one thing for him (Dr. Russ) to give his blood to save this young man’s physical life. But two thousand years ago, Jesus gave His blood to save us and give us eternal life.  Even though this young man didn’t commit his life to Jesus that night, I believe a seed was planted in his heart that he will never forget.  That night in a remote mission hospital in Africa, I was reminded that we have no words to convey our gratitude for what Jesus has done for us.

From Africa with love,
Paul

We had the opportunity this Sunday to travel by foot into the hills to a small village church.  My new Kenyan friend, Summary, invited us to join her at the church she is helping to build in her community.

We were off by nine walking about an hour, passing only huts and small tea plantations on our way.  We reached Kapsebet, and Pastor Rono met us at the road and led us to the door of a small wooden room.

Church was supposed to start at ten (but in Kenyan time that meant about 10:30). Slowly the church filled up as people walked from the hills above and all around to worship. We began with singing beautiful traditional hymns.  No one had a songbook except Summary, but the room filled with music.  The songs were sung in Kipsigis, but we easily could follow along in English to the familiar tunes.  Everything was accapella and echoed up the hill along the backside of the building.  There was one hand drum played that kept a beautiful rhythmic beat.  They treated us as honored guests and had lovely throws on the pews designating our special front row seats.  It was a wonderful morning, and we so enjoyed being a part of their service. They translated much of the service into English and made us feel so welcome.

My favorite part of the service was when the offerings and tithes were received.  Many people walked up to place their schillings in the basket, but what amazed me was that many people brought up fruits, vegetables and sugar cane.  Then at the end of the service, the items were auctioned off to the congregation and the profit added to the tithe.  This was such a tender time for us to see people who perhaps did not have any money to spare, but still wanted to give God their best, their first fruits and crops.  Someone bought the sugar cane for the children to enjoy after church; this was Jackson’s favorite part!

Pastor Rono asked Paul to close the service.  Then we walked up the hill where they, with the help of others, were able to purchase a piece of land and hope to build a building of their own someday.  Again, Paul was asked to pray over the construction and finances for this precious congregation.

After the service, we walked another thirty minutes to a home where we were invited for lunch. We had a traditional Kenyan meal of beans, rice, sakumawiki, chapatis (like a tortilla) and ugali.  She used what she had and served us her best. We’ll never forget her generous hospitality. It was a highlight for me to be in the village and be a part in a day of Summary’s family and life.  I especially enjoyed Summary’s children and fell in love with her three-year-old girl, little Flora.

We were “released” to go about 4:30.  In the Kenyan culture, the host literally tells you when you are free to go, and it is considered rude to leave before you have been given permission. We then traveled down the dirt road until we came to the Rickety Bridge.   By the way, the bridge is completely torn down, and the metal frame is up and ready for the work team in March to come and finish.  It was very exciting to see the progress and know that Summary and hundreds more travel this way everyday to come to work in this area at the compound or school. This meant, however, we had to travel over a makeshift bridge below the new one put together with logs and boards inches over the water….another adventure for my tired little family.  I am sure you have read in a previous blog that not everyone in my family was feeling well by this time.:o)

Needless to say, we were early to bed that night after such a full day, some of us doing better than others.  It was such a wonderful way to spend our last Sunday in Kenya.

We could not speak the same language, we looked very different in the small sea of beautiful dark skin and much of the culture was new for us.  But none of that mattered because we were there for the same reason, to worship and honor our Lord and Savior.

It was a glimpse of heaven.

~Jenn