Maasai Development Project

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2010-04-05T19:19:00.001-07:00

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Shopping and Departure Day

2010-03-30T09:54:00.000-07:00

Everyone was up early and ready to head into town to try their out their bargaining skills! We parked at Sarit Center (a mall) and from their the group could spread out and shop both at the mall or at the "Blue Shacks" across the street! Most headed for the "shacks" to see what kinda of African treasures they could get!

Everyone was given some cash to spend for purchasing their lunch at the mall - all though some did spend it on curios instead of food - SMILE

After shopping for several hours we headed back out of Nairobi towards the Division again - stopping just briefly at another shopping center so that I could pick up some items for the Mt Kenya group.

Back and the division the group re-packed all the goodies they had bought, we had worship and supper and then headed to the airport. All flew out, except for 9 of us! Our next goal was Pt. Lenana - on Mt Kenya.

This was a great group of people! I enjoyed each of them! I know they were a blessing to those they came to serve - and I KNOW they blessed me!
kim

Monday March 22nd

2010-03-30T09:48:00.000-07:00

We woke up to a fantastic breakfast buffet! There was just about anything anyone would want to eat for breakfast and more! The group packed up, stopped briefly by the pool for a group picture and headed out to the truck for the ride back to the East Central African Division Guesthouses.

Not to far out of the park one of the truck ran out of fuel, but fortunately we were close to Narok and so the the first truck filled up a container with fuel and drove it back to those waiting. It was not long before we were on our way again -

Back and the Division we unpacked the truck and re-sorted and packed ALL the supplies so they would be ready for the next trip in July. It is a long job and not fun! But most were real troopers about it! A special thanks to Amanda, Jill, Lindsay, and Leon for staying up till the job was complete! They were a huge blessing!

Everyone was tired from the trip and ready for bed at the end of the day!
kim

Sunday - March 21

2010-03-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

It rained all night and many woke up to wet mattresses and sleeping bags (some of us had nice toasty dry ones....SMILE) We warmed up by the hot coals from the fire during the night, had worship and then enjoyed a breakfast of fresh fruits, cereal, boiled eggs and hot drinks.

After we packed everything up we headed back through the Mara to Sarova - a fantastic lodge where the hospitality is heavenly! We pulled in just before lunch and were greeted by the staff handing out cool wet wash clothes with eucalyptus oil on them, and a cold glass of fresh passion fruit juice. Everyone was briefed on their room assignments, and what was available at Sarova then headed for lunch and an afternoon of sunbathing, swimming, ping pong, sleep, reading, massages, and hot showers.

There was an optional game drive for those who wanted it at 4pm and the other truck took Marlin Meharry to the airport strip at Keekerok (in the game reserve) Marlin had to head back early to the US to start back to work on Monday.

Supper found everyone rested up and relaxed - as we enjoyed a candlelight meal and headed out to bed (our rooms were ready - with beds turned back and hot water bottles tucked inside to keep our toes toasty warm)

Sleep came quickly for most - Sarova was a well earned treat! There is truly no better hospitality found in Kenya - then at Sarova Mara Lodge!

Good night all!
kim

Sabbath in the Mara

2010-03-22T20:19:00.001-07:00

Clinics are over and everyone gets to sleep in a little on Sabbath morning! The drivers and I are up bright and early though, cause we are heading back to Siana to pick up the academy kids and bring them back for a pancake brunch.

When we get back to camp the adults have all eaten and are sitting under the big Fig tree talking, bird watching and reading. The days already feels different then all the rest of them. It's going to be relaxing and much slower paced!

The academy kids enjoy their hot showers before we pack up the two trucks, then we had a group worship and headed out to a game drive, with a picnic a long the way. We stopped at the Mara River where the wildebeest cross in July and took pictures of huge crocodiles laying on the banks sunning themselves. The Mara is green and the grass is long, so it makes spotting some of the cats a bit harder.

Because the sun is so warm we opted to just go to our campsite for lunch where there is lots of shade. Tonite we are at a new campsite, not the one that the group has been at for the past few days..... tonite we are camping on the edge of the Mara River out in the middle of nowhere! There are not fences, no guards, not people, just us and the animals. From camp we can see two female lions laying around, elephant wonder around the edges of our camp eating and you can hear their stomachs rumbling as they communicate back and forth with each other. Hippos snort in the river next to us - and we feel blessed by nature and all God's creations.

At 5pm we did a short game drive, stopped at the gate to the park which was not far away and everyone went into the bathroom, then on the way back to camp sat by the pride of lions in the area - there were 4 cubs that were full of energy, pouncing on each other and their moms. It was hard to pull away from them.

Back in camp we had worship around the fire as the sun went down, enjoyed fresh fruit and Raman noodles for supper and then some headed to bed while others sat and visited late into the night. The night was quieter than normal - other than an occasional hynea laugh, or a hippos snort. At 2am I got up and put more wood on the fire and a baboon alerted the others that someone was up and moving around. About 3am in started raining and rained the rest of the morning - several had wet sleeping bags by morning time.

It was fun! Most seemed to really enjoy it
kim

Clinic at Siana

2010-03-22T14:59:00.000-07:00

Friday morning we got up early ate breakfast and left for Siana with a 2 hour game drive on the way there - we were blessed with a rhino, lions and huge herd of buffalo, plus all the regular grazers.

We set up for clinic and I headed up to check on the kids working at the building site nearby and drop off some more food for them. They looked worn out, but happy and begged me to allow them to stay there one more night. So I agreed and told them we would be stopping by after clinic at Siana to tour the site and check out the work they had been doing.

Clinic went well. We had plenty of patients. Had to send one to hospital because of a possible brain tumor - the childs mom was 17 years old, she was married at 12 years old and this was her second child. Praise the Lord for all of you who have sent in donations to "Charitable Medical Funds" for the mission trips. That money will go to help the child above and another one that we had to send in for emergency surgery in Oliotokitok.

After clinic the group toured the building site before heading back to our campsite for the evening. Tomorrow we pack everything up and head out to the Mara River for the night! Cant wait - all though there seems to be some rain clouds gathering over the Mara.
kim

Clinic in Talek

2010-03-22T14:43:00.000-07:00

Thursday morning we had an optional game drive before clinic. Our first drive out we saw a bunch of lions, tons of elephants and lots of grazers! It was great fun seeing the excitement of the group seeing all the animals in the wild for the first time.

We headed back for breakfast (coffee cake and scrambled eggs) and then we loaded up for clinic in Talek. The academy kids stayed in camp and packed up their things cause they were heading to Siana to spend the night and do some construction at the MDP building site.

After I got the adults all settled in at clinic in Talek, I headed back to load up the academy kids. We got to the site about 11:30am and the kids piled out and went right to work, some shoveling sand, some pouring cement and some smoothing out the cement. The spend the night out on the ground under the stars on mattresses.

Back at clinic the adults were working hard - I got back to them just as they closed up clinic and we loaded them up, took them back to camp to freshen up and head out on a optional game drive. A couple of them came with me up to check on the burned baby that had had surgery on his foot this past Christmas. He was doing great!

Back at camp we loaded everyone up and headed out for another game drive - saw three cheetahs and some more lions, besides lots of other creatures. It was a great day - and once again we sat around the fire for worship and then headed to bed.

God had blessed us once again -
kim

Mt Longonot

2010-03-22T14:34:00.001-07:00

Morning came way to soon for those climbing the mountain - breakfast was inhaled at
5am (muffins, mangos, pineapples, papayas, passion fruit and oranges) and we we about 20 of loaded the truck and headed out in the dark for Mt Longonot. Those who stayed in camp got to sleep in and have breakfast about 8am before taking down camp.

Meanwhile those climbing the mountain arrived at the gate, took their water bottles and headed up the mountain. We were lucky that the weather was good - there was clouds that kept the sunshine for beating down on us, and a nice cool breeze. Norbert was in the lead and I brought up the rear. Everyone made it to the rim and in good time too! About 11:30 am the last of the group made it back down the mountain to the truck and we headed back to meet the rest of the group at the town Suswa. It was a great hike - and most everyone was worn out!

We met up with the rest of the group by the MDP church in Suswa and headed out for the Masai Mara National Reserve. We arrived at Sekenani Gate around 4:30pm and headed straight for Gametrackers campsite. After unloading the truck most headed for the showers and then for a hot supper under the stars. Worship was by the fire and everyone turned in early - anxious for the early morning game drive on Thursday.
kim

Clinic at Olgume

2010-03-22T14:27:00.000-07:00

Tuesday morning we headed out to Olgume for our second clinic day. We traveled down the escarpment into the Great Rift Valley, stopping briefly for pictures and a bathroom break, before heading off on a little dirt road to the village of Olgume on the side of Mt Suswa. We set up dental under the tarp of the truck, optical and wound care under trees and pharmacy in the church.

It was a busy day - and most of the academy kids had the opportunity to pull a tooth or two. As clinic neared the end a storm was building around us and you could hear the thunder and smell the rain. We quickley put things away and set up for supper in the church.

Everyone put up their tents before supper - and God blessed us by having the storm move west of us. Some of the academy kids joined in with the Maasai playing soccer and then we all settle down for a burrito and fruit salad supper before heading to bed for the night.

It had been a busy day - and everyone was tired. Tomorrow will be a big day for those climbing Mt Longonot.

Thanks for keeping us in your prayers -
kim

Heading back to the ECD Guesthouses - March 15th

2010-03-15T14:43:00.000-07:00

Today was Howard's 79th birthday! His second time to celebrate in Kenya with us!

Much to the dismay of the group I got them up bright and early (actually it was dark....)They loaded the truck at 5:15am and had breakfast at 5:30am, but 6:15am we were on the road headed back to the Division Guesthouses. They had two options, take one truck and head to Kajiado Rescue Center with me to visit the students there and have a brief tour of the school, or head back with Stephen straight to the guesthouses with a short stop over at the airport to pick up someones luggage that they had forgotten when they landed (wont mention any names - SMILE) The group was almost divided exactly in half.

Stephen's group picked up the suitcase without any problems and made it home in good time. Enjoyed some showers and unloaded the truck. My group had a blast at the Rescue Center. The girls that are sponsored through MDP gave them a tour of the classrooms, kitchen, dorm room, and sang to them! Lots of hugs and smiles were shared before we headed back to the guesthouses at the Division.

It has been a very busy afternoon! Unpacking all the supplies and repacking, sorting, washing water jugs and refilling them and loading up all the kitchen supplies and food! The day seems never ending - it's 1am and I am still baking muffins for breakfast this week for the group! There is an energy that comes when I am working in Kenya..... is is from the heart, and I love it. I feel very passionate about the people here, and am very blessed to be able to do what I do. Thanks for making it possible.
Keep us in your prayers - we head out tomorrow once again bright and early (5:15am we will be loading up) and we will be doing clinic tomorrow in Olgume - in the Great Rift Valley.

kim

Sunday's Clinic - March 14th

2010-03-15T14:28:00.000-07:00

Mt Kilimanjaro was beautiful this morning - the sun coming up cast a pinkish glow on it and there was not a cloud in site! Everyone was anxious for the first clinic and seemed to be up and ready to go early! After breakfast we headed out - stopping for some great pictures of the mountain! The entire mountain was clear - and seemed so close to us!

There were a few people already in line when we arrived at Namelok - after prayer with the lay workers we unloaded the truck and set pharmacy, medical, dental and wound care. We were not able to do optical at this clinic but will be able to at the rest of the clinics.

Wound care had their share of cuts and infections, from cuts all the way to the bone between the thumb and pointer finger, to barbed wire shredding a man's shin.

Medical had us taking young boy to hospital who needed immediate care - the kind we could not offer. When clinic was over we drove him and his mom (who is a widow) to the hospital in Oloitokitok.

Dental had plenty of patients and Mat and Zac were able to pull some teeth, and the toy department was kept busy with lots of little kids. Everyone did a great job!

After clinic was over we spent a little while playing with the kids, they love bubbles, playing volley ball, soccer, and just having stickers put on their foreheads! It was a great day - and everyone was tired out when we got home. At supper time Don realized that he had lost his hearing aid and so the drivers and I went back to the clinic site to see if we could find it. I was hoping to be blessed with a night creature on the way there - and had to be satisfied with a great big tarantula crossing the road. We found his hearing aid within minutes of getting back to the clinic - the Lord is good!

Sleep was needed for all! The day was a blessing.
kim

Sabbath March 13, 2010

2010-03-15T12:45:00.000-07:00

We woke up to Mt Kilimanjaro in our back yard! It was beautiful, but the clouds came in fast. We ate breakfast and headed out to Namelok for church service. It was a little over an hour drive, and we stopped along the way to take pictures of the Mt Kili. The little church was packed and we crowded in a sat on little wooden benches. The walls and roof were made of tin with no windows and by the end of church everyone was quite warm.

I took the little children and went under a tree and told stories and sung songs with them while Gwen Edwards did the sermon. After church we greeted everyone and wished them well then headed back to Kibo Slopes cottages for lunch and some R&R for the afternoon.

About 4pm about half us headed up to have a tour of the hospital in Olitokitok. It was amazing to walk through the labor and delivery rooms and see the equipment and the condition the room was in. It was like you had stepped back in time.

Saturday night we sorted meds and repacked them for clinic in Namelok before finally falling into our beds for another good night of sleep.
kim

Friday March 12

2010-03-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Most of the morning was spent packing up the supplies we needed for the clinic and loading them on the trucks. Just before noon we were done and were able to head out with a short stop for most everyone to exchange dollars into shillings. Then we were on our way.

The roads were great for the most part, and traffic was not too bad as we went through Nairobi and out on the Mombasa Rd. We stopped briefly for a bathroom break about half way and then turned off the main road and headed towards Olitokitok.

The group got all excited as we passed giraffe, zebra and thompson gazelles. It was not long before we saw Mt Kilimanjaro rising up out of no where! The last 15k of the road were under construction so we bumped around in the trucks for about 30 minutes or so before crossing the last boarder patrol before Tanzania - and turning down our little road to Kibo Slopes Cottages - nestled in the trees on the foot hills of Mt Kilimanjaro.

There was just enough time to unload our goodies, shower and head to a hot supper. We opened the Sabbath hours with worship and then headed to our rooms for a good night of sleep.
kim

Group Arrives

2010-03-11T18:49:00.000-08:00

It's Friday morning and the world is still asleep. The group came in last night with almost no difficulties - other than Norbert Schwer missing one suitcase - but it will catch up to us somewhere along the way. It is nothing we can't live without. As soon as we got to the East Central Africa Division everyone unloaded and moved into their guestrooms. Some took showers, others waited in line for the phone, some ate, and some went to bed..... and some did not go to bed until 1:45am! It was so much fun to sit in my guestroom with some of the academy kids and listen to all their stories about the last 24 hrs! I felt like I needed an extra pair of ears - they all talked at once!

Today I will have everyone up and going within the next hour, breakfast will be served, worship and orientation will take place, sack lunches will be packed and we will sort through all the goodies that everyone brought! (I think there are 2,999 beanie babies.... SMILE just kidding - but am not sure if there are any left in the US at this point) We will reload the two trucks and jump on board - heading to Oloitokitok on the foot hills of Mt Kilimanjaro for the weekend. Sabbath we will be visiting a Maasai church in Namelok and then the group can catch up on some R&R Sabbath afternoon, plus there will be an optional visit to the local hospital. Sunday clinic will be at Namelok and then back to Kibo Slopes Cottages (that is where we will be staying for the weekend - if you want to google it you might enjoy reading about it and seeing some pictures)

Monday we will load up REALLY early, did I say REALLY early? Not really - about 5am only and head back to the East Central Africa Division with the options of going on one of the trucks to visit Kajiado Rescue Center, while the other truck goes back directly to the guesthouses.Bobbie Bishop, who is on the trip with us sponsors a young girl through MDP there and will have the opportunity to meet her.

So it might be that once we head out you wont see us on the computers again till Monday evening. This is a great group to have here - full of energy! I can't wait to get them out of bed this morning and watch them experience their first day in Kenya -it will be awesome.

Thanks so much for all your prayers - keep them coming!
kim

March 2010 Medical/Dental Clinic Begins

2010-03-10T19:41:00.001-08:00

Am busy doing last minute preparations for the groups arrival tonite. I am so excited! There are 36 of us and we represent the following places:
Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Arkansas, Oregon, California, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Hawaii, and South Korea. There are 2 Dentists, 5 MD's, 4 RN's, 1 Highschool Teacher, 1 Retired Farmer, 12 Academy Students, 2 Elementary Students, 1 Social Worker, 1 Occupational Therapist, 1 Hospital CEO, 1 Pre-dental Student,and more!

Tomorrow morning we will sort and re-pack all the goodies that everyone is bringing and then we will head out to Oliotokitok on the foothills of Mt. Kilimanjaro. The rains have come to Kenya and that land is green. Last March the trip was very dusty -so am hoping the landscape will be a little greener - but not muddy!

Please keep us in your prayers as we travel about - I will update you after the group arrives tonite. Thanks for all you do! We could not do this without each of you!
kim

Proclaimer Radio-Faith Comes by Hearing

2009-12-31T10:29:00.000-08:00

The following is a report written by one of our MDP lay workers, Immanuel Tumpes, serving in Oloitokitok District. He received a Proclaimer Radio when they were donated by my sister, Cherry Goodridge in May. These radio's are both battery and solar operated and have the New Testament in the Maasai language. To find out more how you or your church can get involved in this program go to the following website: FaithComesByHearing.com

Enjoy the report.

Truly Faith Comes By Hearing
by
Immanuel Tumpes

The “Proclaimer” radio has been a great blessing to my people and relatives since I received it. Many of my relatives have enjoyed listening as the Word of God is being read, book to book and verse to verse to all in our own language.

Here is an amazing story of the Proclaimer impact to society. A father in-law of my elder brother is blind. According to available information, his blindness was caused from an eye infection during childhood. Although his wife is a devoted Pentecostal church believer with some of her children, the father is a fulltime drunkard. One of her sons is our church member since earlier this year. Therefore I usually visit the family and discuss the Word of God. Yet the Proclaimer created another huge bridge to the salvation of this family.

One day for visitation I planned to visit the elder with the radio and have a time to listen with him who is a very good listener with very sharp hearing. I first tuned into the epistles of John, which in large content talks about love. He appreciated it very much and we exchanged views about how love should be cherished and practiced by all. The elder urged me to spend more time with him listening. But because other family members were out for duties, I promised him to come another day. I hereby got a new chance and style to talk to him especially about his serious problem. After some months of conversation, he changed greatly and dramatically his habits. Different from the past, he can now spend one to two weeks without getting into drunkenness. When he is not in the situation he comes to me, asking for the Proclaimer.

More amazingly, he now tells everybody that his church is only “Sabato”, although he has never attended. But what I receive with more appreciation is that two others of his sons have been discussing and studying with me the Bible truths. They have accepted the message but their mother, who is a leader of an evangelical church, was pressuring them, causing an obstacle for them to join the church. However, the elder of the family who had been listening to the Proclaimer, supported them in their decision and they now have a right to worship with us. By now the two young men although still students are our church members, ready for baptism. Whenever they are at home they attend all of the church services.

What I have learned is that many people are ready and willing to listen to the Proclaimer rather than to devote time to reading for themselves. Because so many of the Maasai people are not educated and cannot read, the Proclaimer is a wonderful tool for witnessing.

The great challeng is this:

If anything now days happens anywhere in the world, it will be known very quickly all over the planet because International Broad Casting Stations are present throughout and everywhere, even in the most interior areas like Somali land.

The same is true to the Word of God. If the Proclaimer radios can be found in every home, many learned and unlearned will be very blessed by the light of truth and will come to Jesus, “They Way of Life.”

Traveling Home

2009-10-27T11:44:00.000-07:00

Monday we begrudgingly packed up and left Sarova after a huge breakfast! Stopping along the way for restroom breaks and a little bit of shopping. After arriving back at the East Central Africa Division Guesthouses, we unpacked the truck. After supper we sorted the left over meds and did inventory, before packing up the supplies for the next trip in March of 2010. By the time we were done sorting and counting, no one wanted to see in medicine again! It had been a long day and everyone was tired and ready for bed.

Tuesday after breakfast we headed into Nairobi for several hours of shopping! Now, let me tell you - I have had lots of groups here, but this group took the cake for their shopping abilities! I am not sure there is anything left in the town of Nairobi for anyone else to buy!

After supper we loaded up the bus and were off to the airport!

It was a great mission trip! Each person made a difference, each person reflected Christ!

Tomorrow (Wednesday) will be a busy day for me - I will finish up the sorting and packing of supplies, run some errands in town, and visit some children that are sponsored through MDP, plus do a food and water delivery to a Maasai family. Thursday evening I will head to the airport and be back in the US on Friday. Am looking forward to seeing my family again!

Please keep the group in your prayers as we all travel over the next couple of days, and ask the Lord what He has in mind for you? He just might want you to join us our our next trip to Kenya in March!

Thanks for keeping up on our adventures on the blog!

kim

Pampering at Sarova

2009-10-27T11:35:00.001-07:00

Sunday morning we packed up early and headed to the Mara Sarova Lodge for a day and night of well deserved R&R! We arrived just before lunch - eager for hot showers and normal bathrooms! The group spent the day swimming, sleeping, shopping, bird watching and getting massages.

Around 4pm Kamunge (our driver) and I took Dr Meharry to the Keekerok airstrip for his flight back to the USA and then re-joined the group at the lodge.

The meals were incredible - a true smorgasbord! After supper we sat around a fire and watched some traditional Maasai dances before heading off to our beds for a good night's sleep!

The group had worked hard, they had stepped out of their comfort zone and given all they had - the time at Sarova was well deserved and much needed!

kim

Sabbath in the Masai Mara National Reserve

2009-10-27T11:14:00.000-07:00

Sabbath morning we all got to sleep in! What a blessing that was. Breakfast was at 8:30am. (Pancakes, mangoes, passion fruit, pineapples, papaya, granola and hot drinks) Then we had worship and put all of our things on the truck for a day of game driving and a night camping on the edge of the Mara River!

The animals were abundant and we were blessed with another leopard and spent sometime sitting next to her with her kill. We then headed out to the Mara River and had a picnic lunch under a tree, before heading to our campsite near Musiara. We stopped at gate just briefly for everyone to use the restrooms (the next 24 hours there would only be bushes to use - no running water, no bathrooms)and then headed to the forest on the edge of the Mara River. From our campsite you could see numerous types of animals. With a herd of close to 70 or more elephants hanging around. After we set up our tents we took Dr Guild to the air strip for his flight back to the USA, then headed back to camp for supper and worship by the fire.

The night sounds were incredible (the snoring was also incredible) The baboons barked out their warnings, while the hyenas laughed, the elephants trumpeted, and the hippos voiced their opinions. The stars and moon lit up the sky - it was a perfect night for camping!

There is nothing like spending the day in God's book of nature! Over all it was a fantastic Sabbath day!

You would have loved it!

kim

Friday - Clinic at Siana and Ground Breaking Ceremony

2009-10-26T21:16:00.001-07:00

As the sun rose we ate breakfast and had worship then loaded up for a few hours of viewing the wildlife on our way to clinic at Siana Primary Boarding School. The sun was warm, and the hot air balloons were rising into the sky.

The lay workers that had translated for us traveled with us today through the park - they had a great time standing up looking out of the top of the truck - they felt like tourists for the morning! SMILE

Clinic started right on time and we had many students that came to be seen. Our first visitor at clinic was a little child that had been hit in the eye with a stone. Blood was streaming down his face like tears. Once the eye was cleaned up we could see that there was no damage to the eyeball itself, just a cut on the edge of the skin by the eye. It was once again a busy day for all areas of the clinic.

At 2:45pm we closed clinic up in order to make it to the special ground breaking ceremony for the new hostel. They bused a group of children from Siana Primary Boarding School over to the ceremony (those that are sponsored through MDP were part of the group). The site looks great, and the fence is fabulous. I am sure Jan or Celeste will share on the blog about the site and the ceremony so won't go into too much detail, other then to say it was a honor to be a part of it and have the mission group participants there to join in. The children from Siana are so very excited about having a place to call home!

After the ceremony we headed back to Game Trackers Campsite - supper was ready, showers were hot, and the fire was lit. We welcomed in the Sabbath hours around the fire with worship and then headed to bed. Our last clinic was done - and all of were ready for the rest that only Sabbath can offer.

Happy Sabbath to all -

kim

Thursdays Clinic in Talek

2009-10-26T20:29:00.000-07:00

At 6:15 am we all were loading the truck for an early morning game drive! The Masai Mara is so very dry - in fact I have never seen it this dry in all of the 18 years that I have lived in Kenya. We bumped along slowly over the roads, stopping to take pictures of all the animals. Before heading back to camp for breakfast we were blessed with several lions laying around and a cheetah eating a gazelle.

After breakfast and worship we left for our day of clinic at Talek. There were people already waiting outside the clinic site when we arrived, so we quickley set up and registration started. It was a busy day for all! The little baby that the March '09 group had treated for burns over most of his body was brought to the clinic. He is looking so good. We had a chance to visit with the family and local clinician after the clinic was over and we decided to step out in faith and send the little baby to Kendu Bay Adventist Hospital to have surgery on his foot, so he will be able to walk again. Several of you have mentioned to me that you would be interested in helping with this surgery - and I thank you for that.

After clinic we headed back to camp to drop off some items and use the restrooms - and then headed back into the park for a late afternoon/evening game drive. The animals were once again amazing - and we were blessed with a leopard!

Around sundown we arrived back in camp and Margaret had supper waiting, there were hot showers and a fire to sit by. As we fell into bed that night the hyneas laughed and the wind blew, while the stars twinkled above.

Wish you could all be here with us!

kim

Wednesday - Trip through Narok

2009-10-26T20:02:00.000-07:00

After breakfast and worship we loaded up the truck and set out for Masai Mara National Reserve, with several stops planned along the way.

First stop was on the escarpment of the Great Rift Valley. We stopped at a curio store with a great view of the Rift, and the group had a couple of minutes to shop and use the restrooms.

Second stop was in the town of Narok, a larger town bustling with Maasai, cows, goats, sheep, matatu's (vans that are taxis) and motorcycles. We had an 11:00am appointment at the Narok Hospital - Jim Anderson, one of the mission trip participants had brought a defibrillator donated by Cal-Ore Emergency Flight Service for the hospital. There were hospital administrators, government officials, and community on hand to participate in the donation ceremony. Some of you might remember the little girl that we had seen on our July mission trip that had fallen into the fire and burned her eye. Her father brought her to the hospital in Narok for me to see. She was beautiful! They had done a great job on her eye, and her smile had come back. They are not done with surgery yet though - this next week they are returning to the hospital to have a false eye put in. I cant wait till next March to see the final outcome. This little girl's life has changed - and it is because of each of you - those that give for the mission trips, and those who came and gave what they had to help pay for the hospital bills. Thank you - you have no idea the difference you have made!

Third stop was a short stop at at another curio store - so our driver could get a little break, and the group could spend a few minutes shopping and using the restrooms again.

Fourth stop was at Sekenani Gate - then main entrance to Masai Mara National Reserve. We drove slowly through the park enjoying all the animals.

Fifth and final stop was Game Trackers Campsite on the edge of the Masai Mara National Reserve. We unloaded everything, moved into our little cabins. After supper we relaxed by the fire and ended the day with worship.

God had blessed us all day! But then that should not be a surprise - for He always blesses!

kim

KMQ (Kenya Marble Quarry) Clinics

2009-10-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

On Monday and Tuesday we did clinics in the KMQ area. Plenty of people showed up for both of them and kept us on our toes the entire time! At Tuesdays clinic we had a man show up with a wound on his thumb. The thumb was quite swollen so Dr Guild checked it out and found a small stone in it. Evidently the man works at the quarry. We put the stone in a small clear bag so he could take it to work and show them what we had found inside of his thumb.

It seemed like most patients had back aches, chest pain or bad coughs. We treated a lady that was probably in the final stages of cancer. She had a deep ulcer on her heel that was so deep you could see the bone.

After clinic today we all packed up for the Mara, loaded supplies on the truck and enjoyed a little more relaxed evening for a change. The group surprised me with a wonderful chocolate cake! It was a big surprise and appreciated a lot. My birthday is on Sabbath while in the Mara so I had no clue what was coming, but it sure was a yummy surprise!

Tomorrow we leave for Narok District where we will stop briefly in the town of Narok to donate a defibrillator to the hospital there (thanks to Cal-Ore) and will also have opportunity to visit the little girl that the mission group in July treated for a burned eye. She has had eye surgery since the July trip so it will be nice to see how she is doing and send the group an update on her.

We wont have internet or electricity till next Monday night - so wont be able to update the blog. Please keep us on your prayers though as we travel and continue to share Christ in Maasailand.

We will update you Monday night next week! Thanks for checking the blog and praying for us!

kim

Clinic in Ilparakuo

2009-10-18T20:02:00.000-07:00

Over Ngong Hills and down into the Great Rift Valley we traveled. The road is like a long winding snake traveling through the dry rocky land. The clouds were still covering Ngong and the mist was thick as we traveled. Today was our first clinic and we were headed for the little village of Ilparakuo near Lake Magadi. Rain had come to the area and the acacia trees were green, although there was no grass below them.

After we arrived and had prayer with the lay workers we set up quickly in two different rooms and we were ready to begin. Medical/Wound Care treated about 170 people yesterday and Dental treated 39. It was a busy day and we had to turn many away at the end.

On the way home we stopped to give out water to those waiting for us by the side of the road (they knew we had extra, so had brought their containers to the road). We got back to the East Central Division Guesthouses just in time for supper! It was a great day - and everyone one seemed to enjoy themselves!

Monday we are heading out to the Kenya Marble Quarry area to do our second clinic. It will be a very busy day! Please ask God to give us the extra strength and health that we need to do what He has asked us to do!

Why not consider now joining us next time?

Appreciate all of you so much!

kim

Sabbath in Kajiado District

2009-10-17T10:31:00.000-07:00

The rain stopped during the night and by morning it appeared that the grass was already turning green again! After breakfast we loaded the truck and headed out to Esukata - passing Ostrich, Giraffe, Zebra and Thompsons Gazelles along the way.

The members of the Esukata church has built a metal structure with cut out windows and little wooden benches. With the members and our group we filled the little church. Every visitors was asked to stand and share who they were and where they were from. Following special music, Marlin Meharry gave the sermon.

Several in our group sponsor children or lay workers and today was a a special day for both Karla McKinven and Jim Anderson! Karla sponsors Samwel Saruni who is being raised by lay pastor Daniel Sinti. It was great watching her a Samwel interact. It was if they were made for each other!

After church we stopped by at the Kajiado Rehab Rescue Center to visit the girls that are sponsored through Maasai Development Project. Jim Anderson and his wife sponsor two girls there, and Jim had the opportunity to visit with them while we were there. It was great to see him hugging them and reminding both of them that they are loved by him and his wife.

From there we went to see Joshua who is about 7 years old and is sponsored by a little boy his age in the US. While there the group had opportunity to go inside the Maasai homes and check them out.

It was a great day, and we all had a fantastic time. It was truly a blessed Sabbath day! Wish you could have all been here with us!

Tomorrow we are off to Magadi for our first clinic day! Keep us in your prayers!

kim