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| A small child watches as we pull trash from the trenches surrounding his home |
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| Audrey and I clearing out some trash from the Bobandogo trenches |
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Anyone up for getting dirty?!?!?!
Generosity
Generosity. I did not know the meaning of the word before today. It is not giving out of abundance, but giving out of sacrifice. Today during my home visits I was blessed by Christine, a single mom who was trying to make ends meet.
After smoothing out the wrinkles in the couch and replacing the plastic mugs to their proper location above the water tin, Christine welcomed us into her house. The tiny one-roomed shanti was cleaner than most. Christine had concrete floors, and the walls were covered in scrap pieces of cloth instead of cardboard -or even bare like some of the homes I had seen before hers. She had one simple couch, a coffee table and a pile of watering basins and jugs. Perched in the corner were three plush teddy bears, all of them well worn, but it was evident that they were precious artifacts. We had to squeeze through the door, as there was barely enough room to open it wide enough. Once inside I realized how dark it was. The only light that entered the room was through the cracks in the door frame and the holes in the roof. My eyes had to adjust to the dim lighting, but once they did I was able to make out the strong character that sat across from me. Christine was tall, slender, and while she was soft-spoken, I could tell that her personality was strong and honest. She spoke in Swahili, so I could not make out her plea. Dan, the interpreter looked distraught, he he kept shaking his head, but I could tell he was defeated.
Christine was eager, but Dan was clearly upset. Before I knew the context of the conversation, Christine left the home and quickly returned with two cold bottles of coke. She proceeded to move to the back of the room and pulled out three glass cups. She diligently washed them then poured a glass for me, Audrey, and Dan. A smile spread across her face as we reached for our portion and graciously thanked her for the treat. But instead of filling a glass for herself, she used the remainder of the coke to fill our glasses after we had a few sips.
Christine poured out love for all of her visitors. She taught me what it meant to give. Our prayer for her today was that should could find a job and provide for her kids. She did not have enough money to buy food for her family, and yet she wanted to treat us with a precious gift. I cannot imagine how much this glass of coke cost her. Her act of selflessness made me think, "when have I ever sacrificially given?" Have I ever given when it hurt?
I think the world would judge this woman -why would she pay so much to buy a coke for someone who clearly does not need it? Why would she waste money that she does not have when she has a family to think about. While the world may judge, I think Jesus is smiling tenderly. I have never felt so humbled as I did today in the presence of Christine. I saw Christ today -he sat right across from me an poured me a glass of coke.
Saturday, September 25, 2010
One spade, one hoe, and a rake
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| community clean up day = clear the trenches |
Armed with nothing more than simple tools and a pair of gloves, the team started pulling trash out of the narrow trenches. We scrapped the sides and shoveled sewage from the muck. These piles of "yuck" were then put on wheel barrows and rolled out. At the end of the day the sewage ran through the trenches -no longer clogged by all the trash. Now that was one dirty job! Mike Row, you would have been proud.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
How much money would it take to buy everyone in the world a piece of cake?
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| Steve is serving the kids a bite-sized piece of delicsiousness |
After having seen a class of 50+ students being served cake for the first time, I have decided that cake is the most precious element on the face of the earth. The way their eyes lit up when the instructor lifted the lid from the box, the way they waited patiently while the instructors first served their American visitors, the way the children opened their mouth wide to receive a sweet gift and the way the smile spread across their face as the sweet sugary frosting dissolved in their mouth -made me want to cry. They were so appreciative of such a small chunk of cake.
I would give up cake for the rest of my life if my share went to these kids here in Africa. What joy I experienced from watching them eat cake.
Black Snot
The ideas of "going green" and "environmentally friendly" have not yet reached Kenya. Here there are no emissions standards for vehicles -huge plumes of black soot billow from exhaust pipes as cars accelerate down the pot-hole ridden paths. The numerous speed bumps and other road obstacles ensure that the hundreds of drivers that traverse that path everyday will repeatedly slow down and then speed up -smashing the gas pedal and leaving behind a trail of black.
There is also no waste management system. Trash piles up into the streets, it clogs ravines, and pollutes rivers. The simple solution is to burn it, so all day, everyday, piles of trash are burning in the street. Toxic fumes rise like an ominous cloud around the city. The smell seems in though the windows and burns my nose, but the people here don't seem to notice. But for me, I still smell the stench when I get home and throw my clothes into the laundry basket.
After breathing this in for several days I noticed something odd -my snot is not the color it once was. My snot is BLACK! It makes me wonder what color my lungs are -well, I guess I will be putting my respiratory system through the ringer.
There is also no waste management system. Trash piles up into the streets, it clogs ravines, and pollutes rivers. The simple solution is to burn it, so all day, everyday, piles of trash are burning in the street. Toxic fumes rise like an ominous cloud around the city. The smell seems in though the windows and burns my nose, but the people here don't seem to notice. But for me, I still smell the stench when I get home and throw my clothes into the laundry basket.
After breathing this in for several days I noticed something odd -my snot is not the color it once was. My snot is BLACK! It makes me wonder what color my lungs are -well, I guess I will be putting my respiratory system through the ringer.
FAME
FAME: Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism, aka the best group!
Today was the last day of FAME's short term mission. They got to Nairobi the same day as me (last Tuesday) and they have been diligently setting up clinics and seeing patients in different communities. Yesterday and today the team was in KOSOVO, one of the ten communities in the Mathare Valley. Yesterday the team of 8 Americans and numerous Kenyans saw a total of 215 people -adults and children alike.
The team is made up of a few nurse practitioners, a PT, a medical technician, and two others without medical training. They set up clinics in the church at KOSOVO and rotated people through registration, triage, nurse consultation, health education, and finally pharmacy. The system worked like clock work, and during the course of 4 days, this team saw a total of 900 people.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to work in the pharmacy.... it was a crash course in medical names. You would think I would know more -being the daughter of a pharmacist, but unfortunately those skills didn't really get passed on. The task was further complicated by the fact that each drug had 3 names, and each nurse -depending on whether they were from the states or from Kenya, would write different things for the same drug. After a few hours I seemed to be catching on, which was good because there wasn't much time for slow learners. Two pharmacist and one other intern were practically throwing pills into bags as fast as possible.
The best part about this clinic is that you get to see the progression all the way through. I got to talk with the people as they waited in line outside of the gate. I then found their charts (if they went to the school they had records, but if they weren't a student we made a temporary card), took height, weight, temp -and with the help of an interpreter, recorded chief complaint and did basic assessments. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to be a part of the health education, but I did sit in with the nurses -and like I said earlier I "helped" in the pharmacy.
Free healthcare is very uncommon, and those seeking treatment were numerous. Most of them were anxious to get seen, even for the most minor of health issues. They very much enjoyed the attention and love they were receiving from this team. We reiterated our message that medicine treats, but God heals. Evangelism could be seen at every corner of the operation -from people praying for others, to nurses loving on kids and blowing bubbles with them.
It was so amazing to be a part of this team, not only because of what they did, but because of who they were. These people were down-right fun! They came over to the Kamau's house last night (where I am living) and we just hung out and ate dinner. My hope is that other teams like FAME will come and share their talents with the communities of Mathare Valley.
Today was the last day of FAME's short term mission. They got to Nairobi the same day as me (last Tuesday) and they have been diligently setting up clinics and seeing patients in different communities. Yesterday and today the team was in KOSOVO, one of the ten communities in the Mathare Valley. Yesterday the team of 8 Americans and numerous Kenyans saw a total of 215 people -adults and children alike.
The team is made up of a few nurse practitioners, a PT, a medical technician, and two others without medical training. They set up clinics in the church at KOSOVO and rotated people through registration, triage, nurse consultation, health education, and finally pharmacy. The system worked like clock work, and during the course of 4 days, this team saw a total of 900 people.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to work in the pharmacy.... it was a crash course in medical names. You would think I would know more -being the daughter of a pharmacist, but unfortunately those skills didn't really get passed on. The task was further complicated by the fact that each drug had 3 names, and each nurse -depending on whether they were from the states or from Kenya, would write different things for the same drug. After a few hours I seemed to be catching on, which was good because there wasn't much time for slow learners. Two pharmacist and one other intern were practically throwing pills into bags as fast as possible.
The best part about this clinic is that you get to see the progression all the way through. I got to talk with the people as they waited in line outside of the gate. I then found their charts (if they went to the school they had records, but if they weren't a student we made a temporary card), took height, weight, temp -and with the help of an interpreter, recorded chief complaint and did basic assessments. Unfortunately I didn't have the chance to be a part of the health education, but I did sit in with the nurses -and like I said earlier I "helped" in the pharmacy.
Free healthcare is very uncommon, and those seeking treatment were numerous. Most of them were anxious to get seen, even for the most minor of health issues. They very much enjoyed the attention and love they were receiving from this team. We reiterated our message that medicine treats, but God heals. Evangelism could be seen at every corner of the operation -from people praying for others, to nurses loving on kids and blowing bubbles with them.
It was so amazing to be a part of this team, not only because of what they did, but because of who they were. These people were down-right fun! They came over to the Kamau's house last night (where I am living) and we just hung out and ate dinner. My hope is that other teams like FAME will come and share their talents with the communities of Mathare Valley.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Karibu (welcome)
Ok everybody, so this blog was slow to start, but what I lack in promptness I promise to make up in energy. As you know by now I am in Nairobi, Kenya working with Missions of Hope international. This mission is a holistic program designed to empower the people of Mathare Valley.
Background: Mathare is referred to as the oldest and dirtiest slum in Africa. It is also dangerous, as it is a center for criminals, prostitutes, and drug addicts. Most people come to the slums as a result of an unfortunate move. They hear stories about jobs being found in Nairobi (the country's capital), however, no jobs exist. People move from the country to live in the city, but with no jobs and no substantial finances, people are forced to move to the slums. A few people are employed here; they carry jobs as watchmen or laborers, some have their own businesses and sell fruits, vegetables, or services.
There are approximately 500,000 people living in an area less than 2 kilometers x 300 meters. It is only a few miles from the city, but few people ever visit the slums -but the growing population is like a festering sore, it can only be ignored for so long.
There are a lot of misconceptions about the slums, many of which I myself had before visiting. From a westerner's vantage point, slums are a terrible place to live -but I assure you it is much worse than just a terrible place to live. The slums are not a temporary residence for those who couldn't make ends meet. It is not just a location for those who cannot find jobs. The slums are a terrifying, health hazardous, degrading, nightmare.
There is a river that runs through Mathare, the Nairobi river, but it is so polluted that even the most optimistic environmentalist would view the restoration as hopeless. The people collect their water in the form of jugs from central areas within their communities. There is no running water, there is no electricity, and toilets are on a pay-per use basis. Obviously in their economic state, there are those unwilling to pay to use the facilities, so instead they have what we call flying toilets. If you see a black bag in Mathare Valley, make sure not to step on it.
Method: In all of this destitution there is hope. Missions of Hope international seeks to empower the people of Mathare. They have set up schools and planted churches. Many of the communities now have schools with young children who have the opportunity to rise up through the education system. This is the life-bread for change. These children have the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty! Empowerment, that is what Missions of Hope is all about. They want to empower the people to make a change for themselves!
Results: MOHi has been met with resistance from the drug dealers and brewers of the valley, but they are overwhelmingly accepted by those who see their good deeds and reap the benefits. MOHi does not just reach out to the children, but their parents as well -through BDS and CHE (more on these programs later). Parents pay a very small fee (60 shillings) 80 shillings=$1.00USD for their child to go to school. Although this amount could not pay for one day's worth of schooling, the parent still feels like they have contributed. In this way they can take pride in the education that their child is receiving. There are other similar projects in which community members take ownership of projects. This instills power and hope into the people.
Progress continues as MOHi employs 250 Kenyans. They work in different communities within the Mathare valley. There are schools in most of the communities, (7 of 10) and the enrollment is at 6,400 -and it is rapidly increasing. All of the 37 eighth-grade graduates of 2009 did well on the National exams and were placed in good high schools. Two students were invited to attend the best high school in the country, Starhe Boys Center.
Conclusion: Mary and Wallace Kamau, the founders of MOHi are on a mission to see that the children of Mathare are not only physically healed, but spiritually nurtured as well. God has given them a vision, and they are dutifully following his lead. This program continues to grow, and as it does, more and more people are being led to Christ. Christ demonstrated love, he healed the sick, and he came so that we could have life eternal. At MOHi, this vision of holistic health is being lived out.
Background: Mathare is referred to as the oldest and dirtiest slum in Africa. It is also dangerous, as it is a center for criminals, prostitutes, and drug addicts. Most people come to the slums as a result of an unfortunate move. They hear stories about jobs being found in Nairobi (the country's capital), however, no jobs exist. People move from the country to live in the city, but with no jobs and no substantial finances, people are forced to move to the slums. A few people are employed here; they carry jobs as watchmen or laborers, some have their own businesses and sell fruits, vegetables, or services.
There are approximately 500,000 people living in an area less than 2 kilometers x 300 meters. It is only a few miles from the city, but few people ever visit the slums -but the growing population is like a festering sore, it can only be ignored for so long.
There are a lot of misconceptions about the slums, many of which I myself had before visiting. From a westerner's vantage point, slums are a terrible place to live -but I assure you it is much worse than just a terrible place to live. The slums are not a temporary residence for those who couldn't make ends meet. It is not just a location for those who cannot find jobs. The slums are a terrifying, health hazardous, degrading, nightmare.
There is a river that runs through Mathare, the Nairobi river, but it is so polluted that even the most optimistic environmentalist would view the restoration as hopeless. The people collect their water in the form of jugs from central areas within their communities. There is no running water, there is no electricity, and toilets are on a pay-per use basis. Obviously in their economic state, there are those unwilling to pay to use the facilities, so instead they have what we call flying toilets. If you see a black bag in Mathare Valley, make sure not to step on it.
Method: In all of this destitution there is hope. Missions of Hope international seeks to empower the people of Mathare. They have set up schools and planted churches. Many of the communities now have schools with young children who have the opportunity to rise up through the education system. This is the life-bread for change. These children have the opportunity to escape the cycle of poverty! Empowerment, that is what Missions of Hope is all about. They want to empower the people to make a change for themselves!
Results: MOHi has been met with resistance from the drug dealers and brewers of the valley, but they are overwhelmingly accepted by those who see their good deeds and reap the benefits. MOHi does not just reach out to the children, but their parents as well -through BDS and CHE (more on these programs later). Parents pay a very small fee (60 shillings) 80 shillings=$1.00USD for their child to go to school. Although this amount could not pay for one day's worth of schooling, the parent still feels like they have contributed. In this way they can take pride in the education that their child is receiving. There are other similar projects in which community members take ownership of projects. This instills power and hope into the people.
Progress continues as MOHi employs 250 Kenyans. They work in different communities within the Mathare valley. There are schools in most of the communities, (7 of 10) and the enrollment is at 6,400 -and it is rapidly increasing. All of the 37 eighth-grade graduates of 2009 did well on the National exams and were placed in good high schools. Two students were invited to attend the best high school in the country, Starhe Boys Center.
Conclusion: Mary and Wallace Kamau, the founders of MOHi are on a mission to see that the children of Mathare are not only physically healed, but spiritually nurtured as well. God has given them a vision, and they are dutifully following his lead. This program continues to grow, and as it does, more and more people are being led to Christ. Christ demonstrated love, he healed the sick, and he came so that we could have life eternal. At MOHi, this vision of holistic health is being lived out.
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