A grand entrance

I just want to give quick shout out to some of my friends who are busy serving the people of Rajamundry, India.

Especially Sarah.  This is her first big trip outside of the US and her first international mission trip as well.  But apparently, the girl knows how to make an entrance over there just as she does here.  I was looking at the team blog today and saw this photo.:

This is part of the welcoming ceremony at CEM. Sarah's the babe in the front. 😉

She is one of my fabulous DSW ladies and will be missed for the next week.  I could tell you more about what they are doing on their visit, but I’ll let her tell the story better.  Please read this post to get a rookie’s perspective on the mission.

And keep checking out their blog over the next week – they have a lot going on at the CEM compound!

Jet-lagged

I feel like I’m almost a little rusty at posting on this site – it’s been a few weeks since I’ve drafted a new post of any length!

I am still recovering from my travels -and trying to adjust back to Eastern Standard Time and western culture.  🙂

This trip was AMAZING! Not only was I able to spend time with the amazing Pokot people, but I was blessed to work with a wonderful team from the US.

19 Americans were on this trip.  2 of them were from Harvesters International and they led the team.  Ed Hirschman and Jonathan Lancaster are two amazing, funny, loving, talented, leaders.  More importantly: they are men of God.  Plus they are just a riot to be around.  We laughed so much every day.

I promise to work on some more detailed stories from the trip shortly.  For now the bare bones are:

We saw over 3,200 patients.

Besides dispensing meds, we also did a lot of wound care for some people.  Some minor – and some more severe.  One patient was sent to a hospital a few hours away.

Clinics were held at 12 locations in a very remote area of West Pokot.

I fell into an african toilet.

But, like I said – more details to follow shortly!

I will leave you with a few pics.

The view:

Imagine seeing this every day!

And some of the women we saw:

They called themselves the Savage Women's Club!

And a typical scene in the Pharmacy/Wound Care area:

I'm way in the background behind the Pokot mother. Proof that I actually was working sometimes! ha!

Kenya – Days 14 & 15

We will be taking close to two days to travel back home to the states.  This is partly due to the huge time difference between the two countries.

Pray for rest, reflection and changed hearts.  Pray that we will be able to adjust back to our home culture, without losing all of the changes God has brought about in us over the last two weeks.  Pray for our hearts – for it is hard to leave the Pokot, knowing that there is always more to be done there.

Kenya – Day 13

Lucky number 13!  Today we will be travelling in-country headed back to Nairobi.  A few team members will travel separately and will be visiting the Masai Mara National Game Preserve.   They will get to visit my old friends:

Just waking up from a nap...

For those of us who opted out of the safari, we will be headed into the city to spend a day there.  One of our team members works for Google and we are hoping to visit their Nairobi office while we are there.  Pray for safe travels for both groups as we drive on the poorly maintained and narrow roads.

Pray for: Our drivers and our in-country team members.  For safe travels.

Kenya – Day 12

We are 4/5 of the way through our trip at this point!  Continue to pray for our family and friends at home. And for us – that we would not be homesick, but would be fully present in the work at hand.  Pray also for the Pokot whom we interracted with – that the Gospel would be firmly planted in their hearts.

We may be having a clinic day today – but will likely be packing up for our return back to Nairobi.

Pray for: Relection and soft hearts. 

Pray for team member Julianne (me!).  My verse is Jeremiah 32:17

Ah, Sovereign LORD, you have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and outstretched arm.  Nothing is too hard for you.

Kenya – Day 11

Today will be another clinic day.

Pray for: Continued strength and energy.

Pray for team member Kathy whose verse is John 15:5

I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

Kenya – Day 10

Hey folks, guess what?  Yup – another clinic!  This is always such a great opportunity to be “hands-on” with our mission.  Everyday we look into someone else’s face and share a smile, or a hand-grasp.  I was moved by the love I saw in my teammates faces, words, and actions last year.

Pray for: Pokot Outreach Ministry, and Harvester’s International Mission. 

Pray for team member Jim, whose verse is Matthew 25:45-47

Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom the master has put in charge of the servants in his household to give them their food at the proper time?  It will be good for that servant whose master finds him doing so when he returns.  I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions.

Kenya – Day 9

Today we will be attending a church service at a “tree church”.  In the past, we’ve gone to a gathering where people had congregated under a large tree or group of trees for shade.  Here they hear the Gospel and share their testimonies.  Many people other than the pastor or evangelist share during this time.

And there’s singing.  Oh – it’s amazing!  Words can’t even describe how the layers of harmony and melody wash over you.  I will try to upload an audio file when I return.  The singing was one of my favorite experiences last year.

After church we may conduct a brief medical clinic.

 

Pray for: The Pokot pastors and evangelists, and a day of rest for the team.

Pray for team member Kim, whose verse is Philippians 2:3-4

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.  Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Kenya – Day 8

This is another clinic day for us.  Pray that we are seeking to connect with our Pokot neighbors, and not just giving them medicine and medical care.

Pray for: Joyful serving hearts

Pray for team member Brad McClellan, whose verse is Philippians 4:6-7

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Kenya – Day 7

Another clinic day!  Pray that our medical staff would have insight to carefully diagnose and prescribe for each patient.  Pray that our evangelism, or “waiting room” team would develop connections with people.

Pray for: Team health.  We will have been in the new climate under stressful conditions for several days now.  Fatigue can lead to illness if we aren’t careful!

Pray for team member Terri Nordquist, whose verse is Ephesians 3:20-21

Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.  Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.