Sunday Treat

I was able to visit a friend's church, eat lunch with the family and take lots of pictures in the process.

Getting back to the guesthouse I had some responsibilities to take care of.  Now being a longstanding resident, I have been giving hospital tours.  A really awesome family from Tennessee have came with two small kids, and finally another medical student has arrived!

The most exciting part of my day was facetiming with Mt. Olivet Church in Williamstown.  God is doing some amazing things in a really active part of the body of Christ.  The love and support they/you provide is capable of sustaining the tough challenges of doing medical missions.

Its time to start another week.  I'm praying for remarkable outcomes in all of our lives because we have trust in the Lord almighty.

Long Overdue....

So surgery at Tenwek is going well.  The orthopaedic team is very busy, often having over 40 patients on our service with 10-15 or so needing a non-elective surgery at any given time.  I have worked hard.

Today was very restful.  I woke and talked to a very nice lady who with her husband was helping in a village for 6 months when she was handed a 15 month old that weighed less than 5 pounds.  For the short story she started taking care of the child that a grandmother couldn't raise and her twin sister was also brought for IV fluids and food.  She has 100% family approval for adoption with a commitment to raise the children as dual citizens, but is still fighting a custody battle with the Kenyan government adoption program.  Her husband and other children have been in the states and have been divided off and on for the last 1 year with another 6 months+ to go.  Please pray for this family.  The girls are adorable and doing well.

I have had really a dose of what residency could be like.  Lots of logistics in managing patients, helping make decisions on care for patients, changing dressings, updating medications, teaching patients and helpers on how to take medicines, participating in surgeries, holding reductions, casting fractures at 2:30 am, answering questions about homeopathic herbal remedies, scrubbing legs, sewing up ears, and getting questioned by American chief residents.

I love it.

Last weekend I went to Kisumu and saw people from my trip in 2009.  It was such a blessing to surprise Mary(she has her son with her now) and Ephantus(the new program director, Oke is back in Nairobi and has a second child), and ride along with Jakes (who is much more confident in his English).  So many great things are happening there.  17 children are off the streets and no longer snorting glue, 19 churches are involved up from 5 before, a new rural location is added, a medical clinic is supporting the healthcare needs of the many people involved in this growing empowerment movement, and  many widowed ladies are now able to provide for their children.  The impressionable elderly lady that proposed to me 4 years ago is doing well and still leading her church in giving and service while raising many of her grandchildren.  The focuses are shifting towards vastly expanding the work to prevent children from getting to the streets by using their church family as a network of support.  God has blessed this ministry immensely.

Many of us on the orthopaedic team (including two attendings, a short and long term) are leaving this week.  Please pray we are able to help as many people as possible and that Lord would use the work to glorify His name.  Pray that the census would reduce so that those left will not be overwhelmed.

God continues to bless me with great mentors and conversations about what faith journeys look like when you surrender your own wants and desires.  I am thankful for the time to tangibly be molded during this crucial transition point in my life.  He has also given me many people to encourage out of the abundance He blessed me with.

Check back.  More to come tomorrow!

The Greatest Entitlement

I have seen a patient in Kenya struggle with some of the same hard times many Americans face daily.  Getting assistance from the government or other organization is really appealing.  Kenyan social services are not nearly as generous as ours.  These were some of my patient's thoughts:

-Someone else has it "more fair" because the system helps them.
-If I could just get help with not having to pay my taxes then I would have more money for...
-I am a victim of my situations

Longing for these things rob us of our joy, hope and trust that God alone can provide for our needs. Here is how I think Christians can radically look at the situation differently.

-God has me in this situation with a purpose.
-How can I give abundantly out of the struggles God has helped me overcome.
-I am empowered by my Savior to bring light in a dark situation.

Let's trade worldly traps of dependence on aid for eternal entitlement.  Salvation through Jesus Christ is the most sustainable life-giving program ever created, we all should desire it more than any provision on the earth.

Church

I went to the missionaries church today.   It was very nice, but not as charismatic as most African churches.  However, a 5 year old boy was playing the drums very well (and I am told he has been doing so for about 3 years!).
I took a walk down to the hydroelectric generation plant situated on a 75 foot waterfall.  God's provision is incredible.
It was great to see a lot of your faces on facetime.  Technology makes the world feel very small.
We are gearing up for another busy week, please pray for continued rest and health, giving thanks for the gifts that have come thus far.
 

Kiddos in Spica Casts

So today was restful.  I woke and rounded, later than on weekdays, and was left with a task.  A family was promised to go home by today, but on a busy service, promises are often forgotten in the medical community.  Doctors rely on comfort levels when making judgement calls like discharge dates.  I had remembered an earlier conversation with this dad that had indicated he needed to be home soon, and his son was indeed ready to go minus some casting that we needed to do.  Cast technicians work M-F like in the states.  After reminding the surgeon of his promise, he told me we would walk over and try to find someone to cast (something that would never happen in the States).  God provided a willing person with the time and resources and I was charged by the doctor to help put this cast on.

Please pray for this boy.  He has an infection in his bones, it could cause him to loose walking function for the rest of his life if it does not clear.  He has had surgery to remove what was bad that could be seen and he is on antibiotics to help clear the blood.   Our team treated, but only Jesus, the great physician, can heal.  We protected his leg with a cast for the treatment process to be facilitated.

So the patients leg is protected and he is home in his bed tonight.  I thank God for the small part that I was able to play in today's adventure.

Ps:  Cute kids get even cuter with whole body casts.

Persisting through pain

Kenyans are tough people.  Most of the procedures are done here without general anesthetic, which means spinals, local and monitored anesthesia care are the mainstays.  We have got to do some incredible pain revealing procedures which brings great joy to both patient and medical staff.

Sleeping under a mosquito net is painful for me, but I know that it is a good thing.  Another great thing about Tenwek is that the high altitude means a very low chance for malaria!

Hope all is well in the states.  I really pray to sleep well tonight as I will be taking call this weekend.  Also praying there are not too many machete wounds to fix.