It has been only been two days since we have been in Kisumu and I feel like I already have 100 stories to share. When we walk down the street the Kenyans tell us that we are welcome here. Some children haven even asked us for a fist pound. The pigs, goats, and cows wander free on the side of the roads (outside the compound). We just went swimming and got caught in our first thunder storm. Every moment here has been so welcoming and inviting.
I went on my first hospital visit today. Due to my anticipation for the visit I was emotional before I got in the building, but calmed down once we saw a few patients. The smells were overwhelming and the state of the patients was heart wrenching. The first patient was 14 years old but I thought she was only 8. She was unbelievably tiny and in so much pain. The worst part about it was that she had no one to come visit her. It was just a blessing to look in her eyes, hold her hand and pray with her. All the patients that we visited knew Jesus and wanted the prayers. God is more evident in Africa then anywhere I have ever seen. I am already greatly humbled by being here.
God is SO Good!
Jessica
Monday, June 7, 2010
My first day of work...yesterday!
I tried to write this last night and simply had to sleep first. I fell deeply into a great night of sleep in my freshly made bunk, beneath the protection of a mosquito net with an oscillating fan keeping the air moving...
Yesterday was amazing... Arriving in Kisumu at 8:45am we found rich red dirt, blooming hibiscus and so much more. Flying over the massive Lake Victoria was spectacular! Once we got our bags, we began the transportation adventure! First up...we rode home from the airport in a "matatu". This is a van...minus all the extras including padded seats! I believe these vans are intended to carry a maximum of 15, but I have seen them with 20-25! Then there are boda-bodas... a very common form of inexpensive transportation. This is a bicycle with a slightly padded rectangle on the back side for a rider such as me; and Tuk-tuks, which are a 3 wheeled, motorized, contraption with a driver in the front and a bench seat in the back.
Just a few hours after arriving at the CHI headquarters I learned that two of the long-term volunteers from the Netherlands were going to be visiting a couple of hospital patients. We were asked if anyone wanted to go along and I volunteered. Getting to the hospital took about 2-1/2 hours, a tuk-tuk, an Acacia Shuttle (bigger than a van; smaller than a bus), a boda-boda and a beautiful walk through a cool forest. I was blessed to meet a young man whose body was ravaged by HIV. He was too weak to speak and could barely lift his head - but when I asked him if he would like me to share some scripture from the bible he opened his eyes and blinked several times. I prayed over "John" and shared Psalm 23 and Numbers 6:24-26. The peace that came over his face was visible.
Next we visited the women's ward. The first lady I saw asked me if I would take her baby girl home to America... More prayers, more scripture and lots of love. Words cannot describe.
When we left the hospital to return to CHI it was nearing sundown and the sky was filled with lightning and thunder and God delivered us safely home. There is so much more to share but I imagine I've already lost a lot of you so I will stop for now.
Yesterday was amazing... Arriving in Kisumu at 8:45am we found rich red dirt, blooming hibiscus and so much more. Flying over the massive Lake Victoria was spectacular! Once we got our bags, we began the transportation adventure! First up...we rode home from the airport in a "matatu". This is a van...minus all the extras including padded seats! I believe these vans are intended to carry a maximum of 15, but I have seen them with 20-25! Then there are boda-bodas... a very common form of inexpensive transportation. This is a bicycle with a slightly padded rectangle on the back side for a rider such as me; and Tuk-tuks, which are a 3 wheeled, motorized, contraption with a driver in the front and a bench seat in the back.
Just a few hours after arriving at the CHI headquarters I learned that two of the long-term volunteers from the Netherlands were going to be visiting a couple of hospital patients. We were asked if anyone wanted to go along and I volunteered. Getting to the hospital took about 2-1/2 hours, a tuk-tuk, an Acacia Shuttle (bigger than a van; smaller than a bus), a boda-boda and a beautiful walk through a cool forest. I was blessed to meet a young man whose body was ravaged by HIV. He was too weak to speak and could barely lift his head - but when I asked him if he would like me to share some scripture from the bible he opened his eyes and blinked several times. I prayed over "John" and shared Psalm 23 and Numbers 6:24-26. The peace that came over his face was visible.
Next we visited the women's ward. The first lady I saw asked me if I would take her baby girl home to America... More prayers, more scripture and lots of love. Words cannot describe.
When we left the hospital to return to CHI it was nearing sundown and the sky was filled with lightning and thunder and God delivered us safely home. There is so much more to share but I imagine I've already lost a lot of you so I will stop for now.
Thank you for your prayers.
In Christ alone...
Pamela
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Stop and Breathe and Praise God!
Jambo!
I think I speak for us all when I say how thrilled we are to be here in Africa. It is so beautiful! The team has been comparing the greenery to that of Hawaii... and the birds sing songs that my heart has never heard before!
The Christ's Hope staff has welcomed us with open arms, and I can already tell that this is most definitely home! The people outside the gates are so welcoming as well! While walking down the street, we're greeted with "Jambo!" and "Mzungu!"... and a whole lot of smiles.
On this casual day in Kisumu, I just can't help but stop and Praise God and Thank Him for all he's done for us on this journey. I'm so thankful to be blessed with the opportunity to come here and bless others and share the LOVE and COMPASSION of Christ with them!
Lala Salama,
Mary
I think I speak for us all when I say how thrilled we are to be here in Africa. It is so beautiful! The team has been comparing the greenery to that of Hawaii... and the birds sing songs that my heart has never heard before!
The Christ's Hope staff has welcomed us with open arms, and I can already tell that this is most definitely home! The people outside the gates are so welcoming as well! While walking down the street, we're greeted with "Jambo!" and "Mzungu!"... and a whole lot of smiles.
On this casual day in Kisumu, I just can't help but stop and Praise God and Thank Him for all he's done for us on this journey. I'm so thankful to be blessed with the opportunity to come here and bless others and share the LOVE and COMPASSION of Christ with them!
Lala Salama,
Mary
Sunday in Kisumu
Greetings from the Yellow House on Ring Road, Kisumu, Kenya!
The Kenya team has assembled in Kisumu. The night sky is dark and soft as velvet. When the clouds are not blocking the stars we will be able to see the Southern Cross!
What a wild and wonderful journey we have all had in the past few days! We all have our separate stories and you will get several right now.
It is 8:45 pm Kenya time. People are just getting out of the second church service at Christ Community Church. I miss you all and am looking forward to seeing you face to face. Right now I am living in the moment and savoring the adventure.
The garden here on Ring Road is so different. This afternoon we sat out under the jacaranda trees in the back and had a lot of good food and fellowship and laughter. I have been identifying the plants that are familiar to me and asking many questions about the trees and birdlife I that are so different and unusual.
We took an afternoon walk in our neighborhood and what an experience! I loved the African sun shining down on my head and the people walking home from church and the children playing amid the goats, and pigs and chickens and the people just living their lives.
Some of the Team want to jump in to share their day with you!
Lala salama (sleep in peace)
Pat
Saturday, June 5, 2010
We are in Nairobi!
We flew in about an hour ago and need to get to bed because we fly out to Kisumu in the AM. We made it safely, and are exhausted. Here is where we are staying... (THE HEART LODGE)
http://67.199.32.150/about.html
Look out for our blogs to come...
Just had some yummy cake and hand squeezed applejuice from Desmond.
Love you all, thanks for the prayers!
http://67.199.32.150/about.html
Look out for our blogs to come...
Just had some yummy cake and hand squeezed applejuice from Desmond.
Love you all, thanks for the prayers!
Friday, June 4, 2010
3:30 AM Friday, On our way to Kenya....
Good Morning! It is 3:30 AM Friday, I will be leaving my home in an hour to head to Christ Community Church to get a few things done before the team arrives at 5:30 AM. Then Roger will load us up in the church van, drive us to the Sacramento airport, and we will be off and running, well, sitting actually for the next 26 hours (if there are no delays) on flights that will take us from Sacramento to Dallas, then on to London, then to Nairobi Kenya. Here we will meet up with Mary, Jessica, and Desmond. We will stay a short night in Nairobi, and then catch an early AM short flight on to Kisumu in a bit smaller plane. :)
My mind and body are already remembering the different sounds and smells, sights and faces of last years trip to Africa.
What a beautiful couple of weeks I have had with family and friends. I love you dearly Michelle, Melissa and Roger. I am so blessed. I am reminded as I spend time with my incredible family how many children that we will be with who have lost most, if not all of their families.
I am asking one thing of God on this trip, that somehow He could use me, us, to be His hands and feet, to love the lost and hurting, abandoned and those that have been left behind. Not for our sakes, but for His sake. I pray that we could be His Ambassadors in such a way that He would be glorified. I remind myself that this trip is not for me, or about me, it is for Him and it is about Him. It is not about my experience or about what I am doing, but about what God is doing, behind the experience.
Thank you God, in all things. Thank you that we can trust you and that you are good and you are faithful, not because of what you do or do not do for us, but because you are God, and you are good, and you are faithful.
Time to go...Much love to family and friends. I keep you close in my heart, prayers, and thoughts all thru my travels. xoxoxo Laura
PS I curled my hair for the last time last night for a whole month, how cool is that!
My mind and body are already remembering the different sounds and smells, sights and faces of last years trip to Africa.
What a beautiful couple of weeks I have had with family and friends. I love you dearly Michelle, Melissa and Roger. I am so blessed. I am reminded as I spend time with my incredible family how many children that we will be with who have lost most, if not all of their families.
I am asking one thing of God on this trip, that somehow He could use me, us, to be His hands and feet, to love the lost and hurting, abandoned and those that have been left behind. Not for our sakes, but for His sake. I pray that we could be His Ambassadors in such a way that He would be glorified. I remind myself that this trip is not for me, or about me, it is for Him and it is about Him. It is not about my experience or about what I am doing, but about what God is doing, behind the experience.
Thank you God, in all things. Thank you that we can trust you and that you are good and you are faithful, not because of what you do or do not do for us, but because you are God, and you are good, and you are faithful.
Time to go...Much love to family and friends. I keep you close in my heart, prayers, and thoughts all thru my travels. xoxoxo Laura
PS I curled my hair for the last time last night for a whole month, how cool is that!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
The journey begins!
Tonight our group met for the last official time before we begin this adventure. Our families joined us for dinner at Roger and Laura's house and we had a great time of fellowship and prayer. We also got to hear more of the details of how God showed himself in Tanea's life as she lost all her luggage (including her passport) on Monday and by today, Wednesday, had everything she needed for the trip. He is SO good!
Then Laura started telling us about the BUGS! All I can say is it is a good thing she didn't tell us these particular details earlier in the process... Lord help us!
After dinner, Jessica's parents took her to the Sacramento airport where she boarded a JetBlue aircraft bound for New York where she will meet up with Mary Fugate. They'll spend Thursday in the city and then we will all depart on Friday (4 from Sacramento and 2 from New York) to meet up in Nairobi Saturday evening at 9pm. (It will be 11am Saturday here...) So the journey begins. The next time we see Jessica and Mary will be in Africa! Praise God.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support. We cannot do this alone. Lala Salama (sleep with peace).
In Christ,
Pamela
Then Laura started telling us about the BUGS! All I can say is it is a good thing she didn't tell us these particular details earlier in the process... Lord help us!
After dinner, Jessica's parents took her to the Sacramento airport where she boarded a JetBlue aircraft bound for New York where she will meet up with Mary Fugate. They'll spend Thursday in the city and then we will all depart on Friday (4 from Sacramento and 2 from New York) to meet up in Nairobi Saturday evening at 9pm. (It will be 11am Saturday here...) So the journey begins. The next time we see Jessica and Mary will be in Africa! Praise God.
Thank you again for all your prayers and support. We cannot do this alone. Lala Salama (sleep with peace).
In Christ,
Pamela
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