Mission Safari: The Next Chapter(s)

Sam is Six

It is Monday morning and my stomach is finally settling down.  No, I didn't get a G.I. bug or anything.  I spent the weekend celebrating Sam's birthday.  And since it was his birthday, he got to choose the "menu."  Not sure that was such a great idea.

Friday, I took Sam camping.  When I took Ben camping for his birthday, I was able to help "influence" the menu...not so with six year old Sam.  He knew what he wanted.  For our supper we roasted hot-dogs over the campfire and had potato chips.  Later we roasted marshmellows and had chocolate bars.  For breakfast we had scrambled eggs and toast (that was good actually).  For lunch we had cheese sandwiches, more chips, and more soda.  Then, after arriving home we had another birthday bash - burgers, chips, potato salad, baked beans, and cake.  Anyway, he had a great time enjoying all the treats!

The camping was nice.  We went to Lake Naivasha.  We went on a boat safari Saturday morning and saw some great birds and some hippos.  The lake has over 1,000 hippos.  Then, after breaking camp, we went to the Hell's Gate National Park to hike the gorge.  The wildlife was fun to see.  But it was more fun to see Sam climb up and down and through the gorge.  He had (has) so much energy.  He would run ahead and then wait for me to arrive at the next bend.

Of course, on the way home, he crashed.  He lives life either "ON" or "OFF", nothing in between.  Glad I have been training for another marathon.  I have more need for energy now than at any other time in my life.  I expect the next 10-15 years will be the same with Sam - the need for lots of energy. 

Out of Sorts

I am still struggling at work.  It doesn't help that my daily commute back and forth is one huge adventure...I still have white knuckles and tight trapezius muscles whenever I safely (thankfully) reach my destination.  But I am struggling while here as well.

One of the things that I am learning about myself, is that I am not a visionary.  I am more of an implementer.  I do well when a visionary is clearing a path and forging ahead and they give me some tasks to help assist and make it happen.  But to try to do both is not my cup of tea.  I don't like it.  It stresses and drains me.

There are lots of exciting things going on here.  But besides building a castle, I am needing to clear the deeds, clear the land, lay the foundation, and build the castle.  I am not really gifted at administrative work.  And that is what my work at the hospital has turned into.  I am spending less and less time seeing patients and teaching.  And it only seems that it will get "worse" in the days to come as the hospital looks to expand the Family Medicine service and curriculum.

Initially, I thought I would be able to contain the amount of admin work, but that ain't happening.  And it is distracting me from the whole purpose of being here - invest in young doctors.  And it doesn't help that my skill and gift sets are mismatched in this position.  I need to really sort out the way forward because I am definitely out of sorts right now.

Out of Place

I love my iPod Nano.  I listen to it everyday on my commute.  It is loaded with a variety - books, sermons, and music.  My music is varied - lots of Johnny Cash, Country, Rock, Christian, Hymns, and Classical.  I love the variety.

But somehow, everytime I play the Classical music, it just doesn't seem right.  I mean, it is one thing driving and swerving to avoid matatus and potholes while listening to U2 or Hootie and the Blowfish, or even Johnny Cash.  But doing the same while listening to Haydn, Vivaldi, or Beethoven "just ain't right." 

So, I decided to try to listen to it while I run.  But once again, the classical music seems out of place when I am running over rocky terrain, avoid cow patties, bulls, and billie-goats.  Not to mention several of the little squatter's huts, kiosks, and hawkers.

But I won't give up.  Maybe Chopin would do the trick.  Or Mozart. 

Been Busy

Man, it has been a while since I posted on the blog.  We are still here, just very busy.  I guess you can forgive a man for not writing.  Since my last entry, I have been on a camping weekend with Ben to Hell's Gate National Park (and an excellent hike of 13 miles - Ben did great) through the bush and then through some awesome gorge.  I spent the following week overwhelmed with a bunch of meetings at the hospital since everyone finally got back from vacation.  Then last week, I started the week off with some physical problems that required a surgeon to intervene in the Emergency Room (I am much better, but don't want to talk about the details) while at the same time participating as a student in a Pediatric Life Support course.  Today, I have been swamped with email and phone calls. 

But, it is a new week.  Look forward to what God has in store for us.

Marti's Ministry Update

Marti continues to do the little things that are actually big things.  She is taking care of the "fatherless" and the "weak."  Yesterday highlighted her work once again.  She is a hero as far as I am concerned.

Marti doesn't have to leave the neighborhood to minister to folks.  Yesterday, one of the local neighbors came to her and shared about how he was concerned that the 14 year old girl living next door to him was crying all the time.  She recently came to Nairobi from upcountry and doesn't speak any Swahili (which is pretty rare).  Unfortunately, her "uncle" who she is living with has been raping her for the past couple of months.  Marti and her neighbor got her some new clothes, took her to the police, and then bought her a ticket to go back upcountry.  Marti was heartbroken, but had to intervene.  We hope the girl is not pregnant and that the police will intervene and arrest the rapist.

That should have been enough activity for one day, but she also took one of the neighborhood boys to the local high school to enroll him.  Peter just finished 8th grade.  His did fairly well on his High School Entrance exams, but not well enough to get a full scholarship.  His mother is dead, and his father is an alcoholic who is around but not helpful.  Marti is considering helping cover the boys fees as he has potential but has no help from his family. 

And such is a day in the life of Marti - caring for the weak and fatherless.  Making a difference little by little.  Her heart is huge.  Pray for her...these stories of tragedy break her heart.  But she is trusting on the Father to meet the needs of all of the "least of these."

Happy New Year 2007

Well, I am a little slow, but at least I remembered to wish you, my readers, Happy New Year.  Most things shut down here over Christmas.  And that included my writing.  But the holidays are over and it is back to work. 

Our holiday has been great.  One of the advantages this year was that Christmas fell on a Monday.  That meant Saturday through Tuesday off last week (Tuesday was Boxing Day - also a public holiday).  Then of course New Year's Day was on Monday.  So, in the past 11 days I have only worked 2 days (I took Wednesday off last week!).  It was great to be at home and just chill out with the family.

Besides spending time with the family, opening presents, catching up on sleep, I was able to do a lot of reading.  That was a real treat.  I so enjoy the opportunity to read a lot when I can.  In fact this past year has been real good for that - I have read 25 books this year.  Check out my list on the left of this page.

This week I am busy with Intern Oriention.  I also will be taking Ben camping on Friday.  It is his birthday and this is his birthday wish.  We will head over to Hell's Gate National Park for some camping and hiking.  It is called the "Kenyan Grand Canyon."  I look forward to the time with Ben and the scenery.

Again, I want to thank each of my readers for stopping by.  I wish you a Happy New Year.  May you get to know God more intimately this year.