True Thanks in Giving
29 Nov 2011 3 Comments
in Africa birth, Family, IDPs, Midwife mission trip
Grace and I have safely returned home! Just in time for Thanksgiving and I don’t know if I have ever spent the day so truly thankful for my friends, family, and all the blessings in my life. The trip home began with a 12 hour wait in the Nairobi airport and continued with inconveniences and delays. At one point we both cried, our hearts so anxious to see friends and family, but we knew, ultimately, it would be just another lesson in patience and endurance. Africa was abundant in lessons, the greatest classroom I have ever known. 
When people ask me, “How was It?”
I find myself saying, “Harder than I thought it would be.”
The other side is that it was also more life changing than I ever thought it would be. The difficulties that I experienced in Africa were many… physical discomfort, physical labor, lack of access to resources, overwhelm at so many needs, and most of all isolation. But what I gained in return is the most pure form of gratitude and joy that I have ever known. I understand a new depth of how blessed I am and how much my happiness in life depends on my appreciation of that fact. The people of Shalom know this and showed me what life is like when you make the best of what you have. I have made a p
romise to myself and my friends in Kenya that I will never forget them and what they have taught me.
Over the next few months, I will take time to tell some of the stories from Africa to keep me connected as I also prepare to embark on my next chapter in life. I have decided to close my midwifery practice because my heart tells me that it is time to do other things. I am not sure what that will be yet, though I do have a strong suspicion that women, birth, volunteering and Africa will all somehow be involved. Those things are a part of me that will never leave.
Again I have to give the most sincere “Thank You” to all of you for your prayers, friendship and support. May you also be filled with incredible joy that comes through Thanks and Giving!
Final Days
07 Nov 2011 9 Comments
in Fundraising, Goat Project, IDPs, Midwife mission trip
Well, I could not stay away from the computer for long. Things have remained peaceful in our area and the initial fear we felt has subsided. However, we remain very careful and are still planning to come back home early.
We made the long journey to purchase the goats. What a trip it was. I will never forget the smell of traveling almost four hours in a matatu (the public transportation vehicles which are the size of a VW bus) with 10 goats and 7 people! But we made it all the way back to the other side of Kenya
with pedigree Kenya Alpine Dairy goats for both projects. Some of the females were already producing milk and some are already pregnant, which means that they are already benefiting the members. One mother cried when we delivered her goat. We have set up training for the group which will be ten 2-hour lessons to start this week. I pray that these projects are a success and that one day it can be replicated to eventually result in health and income for the entire community.
Now our focus is on placement for David, pictured below with his family. He is 10 years old and has Cerebral Palsy, likely due to his birth which was unassisted. He cannot speak but is very responsive to sounds and touch and he has the most beautiful smile. He spends most of the day inside an
d I have found that some of his neighbors do not even know of him. This is probably due to the fact that disabilities are still often viewed as a curse here. There are almost no government services and very little general understanding or acceptance. I was able to bring him and his family to get an assessment. Now I am heading to the social worker again today to try and get him a placement in a small home for the disabled which I am hoping will also provide his first opportunity for any type of therapy or learning. So far, each time I have been to the social worker’s office, she is not in and they tell me that she is the only person in this area that can place him. I have learned that the cost for such a home will be somewhere around $300 – 400 per year and I have told the family that I will find sponsorship.
The cost of the goat projects were more than we expected and totaled $2,500, but thanks to the generosity of many of you, we had the funds to complete it. I have $150 in contributions left and need to complete the home for Agnes, a single mother of four still living in a tent, and sponsor David.
So, I am asking again for you to donate if you feel led or pass this on to anyone you may know.
As Grace and I prepare to come home, we are already reflecting on the things we have learned here. We know that we are forever changed by this experience and will never take so many of the blessings we have at home for granted. We also talk daily on how we might continue this work once we return because our extended time here has taught us a lot about what we feel the people really need.
We cannot say thank you enough for all of the love and support we have received. I hope each of you do understand the very real difference you have made for the people of Shalom and Kawangware. This mission was only possible because of you. May you all be richly blessed in return!
We go with Love until we see you again on our home soil!
