We've been back at Beacon in the days since Bissel, getting ready for our second, and larger medical camp on Saturday in Ongata Rongai. Last year's camp served 800 patients, and this year we hear projections substantially exceeding that amount. In preparation, we're putting what we learned from our first go at a medical camp in Bissel to good use. We have revamped our pharmacy area with the help and advantage of our team's gifted health care professionals (and those of us who've become experts in the last week or so!).
Mark, James, Paul and Barry put their heads together and came up with an inventory of all the medications we have and all potential dosages and uses for each. Thanks to Mandy living with a laptop for the last few days, we now have a beautiful one-page computerized form for each patient that all of the providers will use to prescribe medications. Our hope is that, with the help of this form, the pharmacy process should run more smoothly for Saturday's clinic, and future medical camps to come!
Barry (our head pharmacist), Sarah and Jenna (pharmacy technicians-in-training) have spent the day in the pharmacy organizing and alphabetizing. Mike, Nathan & Cindy have counted pills all day and filled tons of bottles with cough syrups and suspensions that overflow our many boxes. After a hard day's work I think we are almost ready for medical camp...and a good night's sleep.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Morning Worship: An Invigorating Experience
One thing that has truly impressed me here at Beacon of Hope is their morning worship. Devotions and worship begin EVERY morning at 8:00am sharp, gathering both the women working at Beacon and the entire staff there. What a great way to start the day! For us Americans, it means getting up early to make it to BOH on time (leaving Gracia Gardens at 7:00am and fighting Nairobi traffic for 45 minutes), but we wouldn't miss it.
The singing and clapping make the early rise worth it. We have enjoyed the call and response in Kiswahili, making it less obvious that we don't always know all the words. It's so evident that the women really connect with God during worship. They incorporate fantastic rhythms and a cappella voices, and they are kind enough to let us try to groove along with them. We shared some American worship songs as well, thanks to Kortney and Mike H. on the guitars.
Every morning a woman from Beacon, local pastor, or staff member shares a short devotional message at the end of the musical worship. Even our very own "Reverands" Barry and Mike A. have blessed us by giving their devotions, too, thanks to translators who are impressively fluent in both Kiswahili and English. The words seem more powerful when spoken at the slow pace necessitated by the need for translation to Swahili or English. We often find ourselves leaving morning worship wanting to slow our every morning down, connecting to God in this meaningful way.
What a wonderful tradtion these women are witnessing at Beacon of Hope; the staff and workers truly "walk and talk" their faith. It is refreshing to see an organization put God first in tangible and deliberate ways. In return, we see God working here so powerfully - and are so honored and blessed to be a part of it.
The singing and clapping make the early rise worth it. We have enjoyed the call and response in Kiswahili, making it less obvious that we don't always know all the words. It's so evident that the women really connect with God during worship. They incorporate fantastic rhythms and a cappella voices, and they are kind enough to let us try to groove along with them. We shared some American worship songs as well, thanks to Kortney and Mike H. on the guitars.
Every morning a woman from Beacon, local pastor, or staff member shares a short devotional message at the end of the musical worship. Even our very own "Reverands" Barry and Mike A. have blessed us by giving their devotions, too, thanks to translators who are impressively fluent in both Kiswahili and English. The words seem more powerful when spoken at the slow pace necessitated by the need for translation to Swahili or English. We often find ourselves leaving morning worship wanting to slow our every morning down, connecting to God in this meaningful way.
What a wonderful tradtion these women are witnessing at Beacon of Hope; the staff and workers truly "walk and talk" their faith. It is refreshing to see an organization put God first in tangible and deliberate ways. In return, we see God working here so powerfully - and are so honored and blessed to be a part of it.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Masaai Medical Camp
On Tuesday we drove the two and a half hours to Bissil, a Masaai village in rural Kenya. We saw for ourselves just how traditional the Masaai people were when we walked through the center of town to make some home visits as well as raise awareness about the medical camp we would hold the next day. We brought bags full of food to three manyattas (the traditional Masaai home made of mud, straw and sticks that comes up to a person's shoulders). Two or three of us would enter the home to invite the inhabitants to the medical camp on Wed and pray with them while trying to adjust to the heat, smoke, and darkness inside the manyattas. The only openings to let out the smoke was the door we entered through. It was also quite interesting for us to see their traditional red and purple robes, colorful beaded necklaces, earrings, and bracelets, as well as the large holes in their ears with weights on the ends. After our three home visits, we returned to the church where we were staying, finished getting ready for the medical camp, and then had a worship service. The Masaai got all of us up in the front dancing and singing with them for almost forty-five minutes. It was incredible to see their passion and the difference between the way we worship. Some of us think that we should bring their style back to America. We got up with the roosters the next morning and started the medical camp. We ended up treating over 500 patients and over 50 people were tested for HIV. The doctors and our team working in the pharmacy worked without breaks. One lady sick with Malaria was carried in a wheelbarrow and several kids walked over 12 miles to be treated. I worked at registration and was amazed to meet fellow nineteen year old girls bringing their children to the camp. We filled over a thousand prescriptions and we hope that we touched many lives that day.
Sarah Wier
Sarah Wier
Monday, May 26, 2008
The Great Med Run
Nate and I left Beacon of Hope with a driver to purchase medications for the community health clinic we are holding Wed at the Masai town of Bissil. The 30 minute drive took about 50 minutes due to heavy traffic, potholes, and wayward carts on the road. We finally got to the site only to find out it would take about 75 minutes to get it together. We made a run to our hotel to help load the 20 plus boxes of build-a-backpack supplies to take back to Beacon of Hope. However, we arrived only to find out we just missed them, and all the supplies were loaded. (way to go Mark and Paul). When we returned to get the meds, they weren't ready yet so we waited about 30 minutes more. Finally about 13 large boxes came out, we loaded and off we went back to where we began. All in all, it took about half a day just to buy the meds. Tomorrow we depart for our overnight visit to Bissil. Weds will be a great day as we can really meet the needs of many of our Masai brothers and sisters. As an added bonus, I am hoping to learn from the Masai how to kill a lion with my bare hands. I can't wait!!!
Monday, First day at Beacon of Hope
Today we rose bright and early to head out for our first day at Beacon. As soon as we got here we joined all of the women for devotions (with a translator). We felt extremely welcomed! We got a tour of the entire premises which was very encouraging for those who travelled last year since the new facilities are MUCH larger. We got to see the classrooms and meet all of the kids who were thrilled to see us. This was followed by a tour of the women's project areas where they receive training in sewing, weaving rugs, and beading jewelry, as well as how to spin and die the thread that is used. The handmade articles they produce are absolutely beautiful!
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the tour was seeing the new health clinic up and running. We learned much about AIDS testing, medication, etc. and were encouraged to hear that somewhere around 60% of the people in the surrounding community have been tested for AIDS. We eagerly look forward to the medical camps that we will be helping to run at Bissil on Wednesday and in Ongata Rongai on Saturday. Later on, a few of us went down the hill to the school again to spend time with the kids during recess. They literally chased us around in mobs of 10-20 kids and would not stop jumping up to try to touch our hands. They were also enthralled by the girls' painted toenails.
After our first lunch at Beacon, consisting of beans and ugali (something similar to condensed grits), we are sorting all of the boxes of supplies that arrived on last night's flight. Half our team will spend the day prepping the backpacks for the kids while the other half is observing a home-based care class taught by Beacon staff.
Cindy Reigner
Perhaps the most encouraging part of the tour was seeing the new health clinic up and running. We learned much about AIDS testing, medication, etc. and were encouraged to hear that somewhere around 60% of the people in the surrounding community have been tested for AIDS. We eagerly look forward to the medical camps that we will be helping to run at Bissil on Wednesday and in Ongata Rongai on Saturday. Later on, a few of us went down the hill to the school again to spend time with the kids during recess. They literally chased us around in mobs of 10-20 kids and would not stop jumping up to try to touch our hands. They were also enthralled by the girls' painted toenails.
After our first lunch at Beacon, consisting of beans and ugali (something similar to condensed grits), we are sorting all of the boxes of supplies that arrived on last night's flight. Half our team will spend the day prepping the backpacks for the kids while the other half is observing a home-based care class taught by Beacon staff.
Cindy Reigner
Sunday, Sunshine & Settling In
On Sunday, we arose to a nice leisurely breakfast on our outside patio. We were told not to expect this leisure-ness all the time, but for now we'll take it. We then headed off to church at the Ngong Road church plant (1000 in attendance) - part of Nairobi Chapel.
It was a wonderful site to see . . . a huge white tent (I'm talking HUGE) similar to a big circus tent, set up out in a big field. As we got closer, we saw 2 or more tents nearby (these were for the children's ministry and youth). The temperatures are fairly nice year round, so no need for walls. We sat in plastic chairs and enjoyed meeting many new friends. The service was similar to ours (a bit more clapping) and we felt a wonderful community spirit. We were fortunate to meet Pastor Oscar in the parking lot as we were heading to the tent. He oversees all of Nairobi Chapel, which consists of the main church and 34 church plants in and around Nairobi. He spoke at Urbana '06 and is very active in initiating partnerships between the African Church and the Western Church.
Our lunch was at the mall - very similar to an American mall - and we stopped in the Nakumatt, a store similar to Wal-Mart. To expose us to a more Kenyan-ish market, we also visited the Masai Market which had hand-crafted African items, such as jewelry, scarves/kikoys, carved animals and bowls, etc. This market is different than most in the US as you have to bargain for your purchase - a bit overwhelming for this first-time shopper (I'll have to practice for next week's visit). The rest of the afternoon, we rested . . . it has been a lot to take in. We found ourselves in the dark from 5-10pm during a planned power outage for all of Nairobi. We ate a nice dinner by lamp light. We surprised Mike Anderson with a birthday cake (we didn't ask how many!). It was a wonderful way to end our first official day in Kenya.
My words for the day would be: beautiful yet dusty, rustic yet modern, and appealing yet gates/fences everywhere. It is quite a dichotomy. But overall, we are feeling very blessed to have this opportunity to share life with people in another country.
It was a wonderful site to see . . . a huge white tent (I'm talking HUGE) similar to a big circus tent, set up out in a big field. As we got closer, we saw 2 or more tents nearby (these were for the children's ministry and youth). The temperatures are fairly nice year round, so no need for walls. We sat in plastic chairs and enjoyed meeting many new friends. The service was similar to ours (a bit more clapping) and we felt a wonderful community spirit. We were fortunate to meet Pastor Oscar in the parking lot as we were heading to the tent. He oversees all of Nairobi Chapel, which consists of the main church and 34 church plants in and around Nairobi. He spoke at Urbana '06 and is very active in initiating partnerships between the African Church and the Western Church.
Our lunch was at the mall - very similar to an American mall - and we stopped in the Nakumatt, a store similar to Wal-Mart. To expose us to a more Kenyan-ish market, we also visited the Masai Market which had hand-crafted African items, such as jewelry, scarves/kikoys, carved animals and bowls, etc. This market is different than most in the US as you have to bargain for your purchase - a bit overwhelming for this first-time shopper (I'll have to practice for next week's visit). The rest of the afternoon, we rested . . . it has been a lot to take in. We found ourselves in the dark from 5-10pm during a planned power outage for all of Nairobi. We ate a nice dinner by lamp light. We surprised Mike Anderson with a birthday cake (we didn't ask how many!). It was a wonderful way to end our first official day in Kenya.
My words for the day would be: beautiful yet dusty, rustic yet modern, and appealing yet gates/fences everywhere. It is quite a dichotomy. But overall, we are feeling very blessed to have this opportunity to share life with people in another country.
Linda Hershberger
Sunday, May 25, 2008
39 bags...2 to go
Last night three of us braved the Nairobi night in a reconnaissance mission for the luggage that never made the tight connection in London. Through a series of very fortunate events including what may have been the Jedi mind trick, two of us were allowed into the baggage claim area to await the arrival of the 9pm flight (it arrived at 10pm). Soon after luggage began moving on the conveyor belt, a mass of personal team bags and boxes filled with the build-a-backpack donations began pouring in our direction. After 40 minutes of pulling bags and boxes from the carousel, we had in our possession 39 of 41 checked pieces of luggage. Only one personal bag and one box of backpack items did not make it (they are set to come on the flight tonight). As a result, this am the entire team is very fashionably dressed in a new set of clothes and looking good as they all had a chance to use their own personal toiletries (shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste) for the first time in a few days. In a few moments we are heading out for the Beacon training center. We will post about our first day on site this evening.
Thanks for your prayers. James
Thanks for your prayers. James
Saturday, May 24, 2008
Greetings from Kenya
We arrived safely last night following one very tight connection in London. However, with the assistance of a very assertive gate agent, our entire team was able to make our connecting flight. This was a minor miracle as we had just under 30 minutes to pass through security and make it to our gate at the very end of the terminal. Needless to say, none of our luggage made it. Thus, following church this am, our team will set out for the Nakumat Grocery to pick up the items necessary to maintain team unity (namely deodorant and toothpaste).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)