Mission Safari: The Next Chapter(s)

Interesting Clinic Day

Yesterday I had my own clinic at St. Mary's Hospital for the first time. To date, I have only been assisting others with rounds on the ward, helping with cases in the operating room (doing C-sections), or teaching Clinical Officers during their clinic time. But I have been so itching to have my own clinic. And now I will be doing this. I will be working on Tuesday in the Outpatient Department. My language tutor is my helper so I am learning a lot Swahili this way.

Yesterday it was very interesting to keep a list of the different patients that I saw. I really enjoyed the interactions with the patients. I saw a good variety of young and old, male and female. And the variety of diagnoses were incredible. I rarely saw the same thing twice yesterday. In fact the list of disease states was a great indication of the importance that Family Medicine plays in a setting like Kenya - the ability to see a range of patients and their problems confidently is sorely needed here.

For those interested, here is the list of conditions I saw yesterday: (Dermoid Cyst, malaria, Hypertension, Mastitis, polyarthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, viral URI, Anxiety, HIV, Hyperemesis Gravidum, pneumonia, rheumatoid arthritis, TB, neck tumor, headaches, sacroilitis, ovarian cyst, pelvic inflammatory disease, rosacea, septic arthritis, and testicular torsion). The list is a good reminder that not everything in Africa is a tropical disease. And not everything is HIV related.

The day was fun and challenging. And amazingly, I was able to make a lot of these diagnoses with the available labs and xrays here.

September Update Mission Safari

Our monthly e-mail update will look a bit different this month because you're hearing from Marti this time. Tim thought you may like to hear from my perspective. Things have been busy this month. Tim was gone for 10 days for MTW's Disaster Relief Training in the States, and he had a wonderful time. Since his involvement in MTW's response to the Sri Lanka disaster in January, he has had a desire to increase his knowledge and involvement in disaster response. We are glad to be safely back together again.

My life is seeming more "normal". We've been here almost a year, and it has taken me the whole year to adjust, and still I am learning. I feel very inadequate and I'm easily frustrated, to be honest, with some of the difficulties here. But one thing is certain: I'm learning to rely on the Lord as never before. On my walk/ quiet time each morning, my usual prayer for the day is "Help, Lord." And, do you know what? He DOES help me. Currently, my dryer is broken and my toilet is on the blink. Our electricity has been off several times already this morning. These things just frustrate me to death, but I hope I am learning patience through it.

My life revolves around kids, for the most part. Our homeschool year has started, and it's going so well. Last year, we just survived and concentrated on the 3 R's, but this year, we're back to normal. The kids and I are enjoying art, a classical music curriculum, and a new Bible curriculum, as well as continuing our study of the history of the Eastern Hemisphere and the basics. Ben and Sarah are involved in piano and violin lessons. Ben is enjoying intramural soccer at a Christian school nearby and Sarah is taking ballet.

Tim and I have also begun teaching the 4-6 year old Sunday School class at our church, New City Fellowship. Our class truly is "red and yellow, black and white". We have 2 little Indian boys, a Korean girl, 2 African born kids, and Sam, the token white child in the class. We really enjoy spending time with these little ones. I'm also making friends with some of the little ones in our neighborhood. Of course, when they start rattling off in Swahili, I am found wanting, but they respond to smiles and "sweeties", like all kids. We're planning a big neighborhood Christmas party for them. We'll put pictures of it on the "blog" for you to enjoy.

NOW, THE BIG NEWS.... I hope you haven't tired of this lengthy e-mail and tuned me out by now. For the last several months, we have been praying and seeking counsel about a big step in our lives. We have made the decision to adopt a little girl from China, and we're currently in the process of gathering the mountain of paperwork required. Adoption has always been on Tim's heart, but it has taken much longer for me to develop the same conviction. Many of you know already about the difficulty I have had with several miscarriages. Motherhood has always been a very strong calling in my life, and as we have begun to more completely appreciate God's adoption of us as His children, our desire to adopt has increased. Please pray for us as we go through this laborious process. It will likely take a year.

Well, that's all the news and then some. We so appreciate your love and support of us. Please never doubt the need for your prayers.
For All of Us,
Marti

"Honest" Shameless Self Promotion

"HONEST!"

"CANDID!"

"REAL!"

I recently asked a friend for some feedback on this blog. The following was the response, which of course I was happy to hear. And in the same self promoting atmosphere, my site visitor tally indicates that since inception, the Mission Safari has had over 25,000 hits. That is pretty cool! Thanks for reading.

"With regards to your blog...I think it is great. It really gives the reader a word picture of the place you and your family have traveled to, to call home...a glimpse of what it is like to be an ex-pat...figuring out another culture...and sharing honestly...very candid...very real...ministry/missions is not easy or glamorous...you can travel to some glorious places...hike great mountains...etc...and STILL feel funky...because the "vision" you had for ministry is not playing out.

It's cool. real...and speaks to the generation of post-mods because it is honest.

AND for your supporters...it communicates in a way that specifically alerts them as to how to pray."

Remembering the Church I Grew Up In

The church I grew up in is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this fall. I have been asked to write a note of reflection. Here is what I wrote.

"The memories of Dewey Avenue United Methodist Church are indelibly written in my heart and mind. Dewey Avenue was the only church I ever attended as a child. The events that took place in this little church have helped shape who I am today.

When I sat to write this so many wonderful memories flooded my mind. I remember with fondness all the holiday seasons. I remember year after year decorating the church for Christmas. I remember the parties we had when we decorated the tree and the church. I remember making the ornaments for the tree with the congregation. I remember the Christmas programs and cantatas. I remember going around the neighborhoods singing Christmas carols to the older folks in the church. I remember the cookies and hot chocolate served after the Christmas caroling. These were good memories.

I also remember the Easter services. I remember going around town on the Saturday morning before Easter to collect the bacon, eggs, flour, and other ingredients for the Sunrise breakfast. I remember getting up early and coming across town to help my mom and dad fix the breakfast. I remember the smell of eggs, bacon, sausage, and biscuits. I remember the taste of Tang Orange Drink. And I remember the services. What wonderful times to celebrate the greatest event in history.Christ rising from the dead.

I remember the other important times of service at Dewey Avenue. I remember my first job - being the janitor at Dewey Avenue. I can smell the floor cleaners and the vacuum cleaner and the Windex even as I write. I remember cleaning up and setting up chairs and tables. I remember the sense of accomplishment when doing a good job.

I remember the times of worship at Dewey Avenue. I remember the Sunday evening services that were mostly just singing from the hymn books. I remember the different Round Robin services. I loved seeing the church completely full with visitors from other churches. I loved hearing the choirs and the singing during this time. I remember the different pastors who spoke during these services. And I remember pot-luck dinners held at the church. I remember the basement being full of laughter and good times.

I remember feeling God call me to a Christian college. I remember the church "commissioning" me to go and follow God's will. I remember preaching my first sermon there. I remember the times of encouragement and prayer by the people of the church for me to be an obedient servant of God.

I remember moving away after I got married. I remember our return visits. They became more and more special as my own family grew. I remember the wonderful welcome of the people in the church. I remember the hugs, and smiles, and laughs of being welcomed "home."

And I remember the people. I remember Reverend Beasley. I remember Reverend Brown and his family (his very big and extended family!) I remember my baseball coach and his family. I remember the organist and her family. I remember so many others I don't dare try to list out the names!

But there is one man who I remember the most at Dewey Avenue and that man is my father. I remember seeing him serve as the Lay Leader of the church. I remember seeing him as the janitor. I remember seeing him as the Sunday School teacher, as the VBS "bus driver", as the gardener, and so many other servant roles. In fact, I know that his example is what I see as the "gold standard" in servant leadership.

The years have passed since I was a little boy at Dewey Avenue. But I will always remember the times and people there. It may be a small church and a small congregation but she has made a big impact in my life.

May God bless the church at Dewey Avenue United Methodist Church."

Weekend Warrior

I officially became a Weekend Warrior yesterday. After more than a decade since I played in my last softball game, I played in a double-header yesterday at the International School of Kenya. I am the newest member of the West Nairobi Rhino's. We play in a four team league - the other teams are Japan, Canada, and the U.S. Embassy. We have a nine game schedule over the next couple of months. We played the Japan team yesterday and beat them twice. We are 2-0.

I played shortstop and batted third. I guess all the time playing with the boys in the front yard paid off. I held my own, made a few good plays, and hit a few homers. It felt great to be outside playing. It sure did lift my spirits.

Unfortunately, I am sore today. My left shoulder aches and I am icing it down. I also have sore leg muscles and upper back. I think this will motivate me to get back into my exercise routine. It is no fun being sore because I have not been as active as I need to be.

As the season progresses I will keep you up to date.

Pickpocketed

Well, I think we are now officially initiated into our new home, "Nairobbery." It is amazing that it has taken this long for us to be the victims of theft. We have tried to be aware of our surroundings but the pickpockets are swift around here.

The incident occurred Saturday before I came back. Marti was in a new bookstore in the new "mall" here. She felt someone bump against her and when she turned the fellow was dropping her wallet back in her bag. She scolded him before he left. Unfortunately he had lifted my cell phone that Marti was carrying in her purse. It could have been worse by far.

So, in just eleven months we have experienced shipping delays, a fender bender, a situation where I needed to "tip" the police, immigration hassles, and now the pickpocket affair. I would say we are well on our way to being "real missionaries" now.