Mission Safari: The Next Chapter(s)

Update on Chrismas Decorations

Well, several folks have emailed us regarding our improvised Christmas decorations. We are still without our container, so we continue to enjoy our homemade decorations. However, these decorations are already afflicted.

The blinking lights have all burned out, but at least they didn't burn up the tree. The nativity set characters made out of playdough have all contracted leprosy. As the playdough has dried it has left a white residue all over the figures. And finally, the construction paper chain "garland" has come apart at few places.

At this rate, our artificial tree will lose its "needles" and look like the Charlie Brown Christmas tree..

House Calls

Despite our "modern" advances in medicine, as a Family Physician living in Kenya, I still find that I make "house calls." However, I am finding that the "house" does not necessarily have to be the patients house. For instance, last week, I made 4 "house" calls and not one of the houses belonged to the patient.

The first house call was actually at my house. A friend of ours brought over one of the teens of a fellow missionary. This poor guy was not feeling well. I took his history, did the exam, and made the diagnosis and treatment plan in my den. He had bronchitis.

The second house call was at a guest house. The patient had a sore foot and had already seen another doctor. I did my assessment on the patio. She is to call back if she isn't better in the next day or two.

The third house call was at God's house (church). This patient had fallen the day before and had hurt her arm. I examined her in the parking lot. She may need an xray but I didn't have one in my car.

Finally, the last house call of the week was at the Java House (a local resturant). This unfortunate patient had several things wrong, including HIV and depression. As Marti was with me, our payment ended up being an invitation to the patients house for dessert and coffee.

I wonder how many house calls I will make next week...

Sam, The Washing Machine

One of the "adjustments" we have made the past few months while we wait for our container is to handwash some laundry. Now, we don't do ALL of our laundry by hand as we have made arrangements with a missionary guest house to pay them to do our weekly laundry. But as we do not have a washing machine, we do find that we need to wash our clothes like most Kenyans do.by hand.

In fact, the other day while I was out, Ben called and asked if he could paint a project he built. Since he had helped me paint a room the other day and he did a good job being careful, I told him to go ahead. I forgot to tell him to put on his "worst" clothes. By the time it was over, he had paint on his two favorite shirts and 3 pairs of shorts. He felt bad about it and tried to soak them in the tub to get the paint out. But this wasn't quite enough, so I attempted to get the paint out and so I washed them by hand. Most of the paint was out of the clothes. Ben and I are relieved.

Having set a "good example" for the boys, Sam decided yesterday, on his own accord that he would be helpful. Since I did not put up the wash detergent (leaving on his tub), he filled up the tub with water and the remainder of the detergent. He then set about washing Ben's clothes, both clean and unclean. When he was "finished" he put them out to dry.on the side of the tub.

I am reminded once again that boys really do watch and imitate their dads.a pretty scary thought!

Mission Safari E-Newsletter, December 2004

I am having trouble sending the newsletter by email. I have decided to post it to the blog (as usual). Pray that I can fix the problem with sending the bigger list.

Dear Praying Friends,
What would you do if you usually start decorating your house for the Christmas season the day after Thanksgiving AND all of your Christmas decorations we on a container somewhere in the middle of the ocean? What would you do if you didn't have any Christmas music. What would you do if all of your Christmas presents were on that same container? Panic, cry, get mad, slump into depression, or all or bits of the above? Well, after drifting between those intense feelings, my wonderful wife and daughter decided to IMPROVISE. They talked about the plan before Thanksgiving, and today, they executed it. Marti found a few cheap Christmas CD's at a local music store. Cheap as in a Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton Christmas album from the 80s. But hey, it is Christmas music. They also found a 3 feet high artificial tree for less than $10. They were able to buy colored flashing lights (not our favorite, but hey, they are lights. We also found out why they flash or blink. If they don't the constant current of electricity overheats them and causes them to melt.). They even found some round shiny red Christmas ornaments.
To add garland to the tree, the kids made a red and green paper chain link to wrap around the tree. They also supplemented the red shiny ornaments with some handmade ornaments. Marti even made an awesome yellow star to place atop the tree. Ben was given the task of making a nativity set. He fashioned the stable out of a box and covered it with leaves from a bush. Then he and Sarah made the characters (baby Jesus and all) out of homemade playdough. The tree and nativity set were put together of course listening to our 3 Christmas CD's.
Although it "ain't much to look at", I am sure we will remember this meager set of decorations for many Christmas seasons to come. As we continue to prepare for the Christmas season, we are so thankful for the many ways that God has provided for us this past year. It is hard to believe that we are actually here. Although we have ups and downs, we realize, when we stop to thank about it, we really have no reason to be discouraged when we consider the incredible, unsurpassing, undeserved gift that God gave us over 2000 years ago.His son, whom He would put to death on our behalf. And on that, let us go to our Father in prayer for our praises and petitions. Praises
1. My work permit arrived on November 22nd, my birthday. It was an answer to prayer as it usually takes more than 3 months to receive a work permit and we received it in 6 WEEKS! 2. That Marti was not injured in a recent traffic accident that really tore up our rear bumper and rear hatch door.
3. That the children have been having good school days.
4. That I have had good meetings recently with the National Pastors here and that it has given us direction for the next several months. Petitions
1. Continue to pray for our language learning. We need to find just the right language tutor.
2. Pray for the quick repair of our car and that the insurance companies will pay for all the damages as it was not Marti's fault. 3. Pray for our shipment to arrive soon. It is over a month late. It is due into Mombasa on December 9th, but the country seems to "shut down" after December 12th until the New Year. Pray that we will clear the container promptly after it arrives. 4. Continue to pray that we will find a church home soon.
5. Pray for our Support Account. It is in the red. Pray for folks to keep their commitment and for new support or gifts to come in to erase the deficit. May the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ be ever present and real to you this Christmas season.
Blessings,
Tim

Opportunities

Over the past 48 hours I have had some very good meetings with a couple of the National Pastors we will be working with here in Kenya. Although we had an idea of the work they were doing in their respective congregations we had no idea how far along they were in ministry here. We are excited as we discovered the opportunities that the Lord is opening up through the churches here.

One pastor is working in the slum area Kawangare. Not only is he planting a church in a slum area, he is working with street children to provide a feeding program and educational tutoring for them. Recently because of the influx of Sudanese refugees into his part of the city, he has been working with them. Over 30 families have been reached and many are coming to his church on a regular basis. And if that were not enough, they have been having an outreach to those infected with HIV. Over 40 people get together on a regular basis for bible study, prayer, and support. These are just the beginning stages of work among these various groups, children, refugee, and HIV infected person. Much more needs to be done to reach them with the transformational truth of the Gospel.

Another pastor is working in a different slum, Kibera. He and his wife are not only planting a church there, but they are also working with children at risk. They have a sponsorship program working with these kids. They are also working with those with AIDS. They have several folks from their church that are doing home care among the most desperately sick from AIDS. They are also working on an educational program. And the list could go on.

I was most encouraged to learn of these efforts started by these Kenyan pastors. They have a true heart for the urban poor. We are excited to see what opportunities work themselves out for us to join in and enhance the work that has been started.