The last few weeks have been tough. I am getting frustrated really easily, tasks are not progressing like they should, I keep forgetting things, or becoming overwhelmed by them. I am not exactly sure what is going on. At one point, I thought it was exhaustion. Then, I thought it must be hormones. Maybe, it's the second stage of culture shock. I don't know now! Your prayers are definitely appreciated!
It's not all difficult though! I have had some great times too! I got to return to the Nairobi Safari walk with some friends and this time I paid the resident rate! Some of the animals were easier to see this time and I got to see the cheetah really up close. Also, I travelled to Matuu (about 4 hours away) to visit a man, Peter, wearing the LIMBS knee and meet his family. He has the cutest 2 year old little boy and the sweetest wife. In order to reach his house from the matatu stage I had to take my first piki piki (motorbike) ride. I spent the night with them since I could not get back to Kijabe before dark. I really enjoyed spending time with them!
I am learning my way around Nairobi so I can travel there alone from Kijabe when I need groceries or need to run an errand. I only travel during daylight hours for two safety reasons. First, it is unsafe for a single woman to travel alone at night. Second, the roads are not well lit and the road down the hill to Kijabe from the main road is treacherous even in the daytime.
The rainy season has finally come, bringing with it colder weather. I am soooooooooo thankful for the down comforter I received at Christmas. I have no heat in my house and minimal insulation. You can call me a wimp but I like to stay warm at night. Therefore, I sleep under a sheet, 2 wool blankets, a spread/bedcover, and my down comforter. The boots I received at Christmas have also come into regular use in this weather. It rains almost everyday and therefore, there is a lot of water and mud on the ground. The rubber toes and soles that rise over an inch up the side of the boots prevent my feet from getting wet and muddy. Due to the amount of rain, there is a lot of moisture in the air. As a result, my laundry and washed shoes don't dry and even some of my dry clothes have become damp!
While the rain is VERY MUCH needed, the massive deforestation around Kijabe has caused flooding in the valley below. A matatu (public transportation vehicle) was swept away by flooding, killing at least 6 people. Also, one of my co-workers (Francis) lost a sister-in-law last weekend when she was swept away by the water. PLEASE PRAY for this family as they also lost a brother in law to illness last weekend as well. The burials are happening the end of this week.
I am not the only one who has been struggling this last week. The AIC-Cure Children's Hospital (Abbreviated Cure) staff have had a hard week as well. Two Saturdays ago, one of the staff members at Cure lost 6 family members (2 sisters and their children, and a niece and her child) in a tragic vehicle collision where the matatu they were ridning in was hit by an oncoming 18-wheeler truck. Out of the 18 people riding in the matatu, only 3 survived. The Cure staff are like family, so they also mourned for this man's loss. To make things even worse, the administration decided to lay-off a bunch of staff members on Friday, including one from the department where I am stationed. He will be sorely missed! He was also the main person who made the locally produced LIMBS knee. His loss really cripples the LIMBS International program here in Kenya. Plus, he was easy to get along with, took correction well, and didn't mind my constant curious questions. The staff had been told a little over a week ago that the hospital was losing money. Upon hearing this, I began re-evaluating what the Orthopedic Department (where I am stationed)was charging patients for appliances. I found out that the department was making a large loss on every orthotic appliance they made. Since teh department has become like family to me, I offered to update the price list to reflect the increases in material cost and labor. Anyone who knows me knows I enjoy solving puzzles and working with numbers. Some of the appliances have gone up in price as much as 700%, others only a little. The important thing is that the hospital is not losing money on account of the orthopedic department! I presented the new list to the powers that be and after a few minor adjustments, it was approved. The new list officially went into effect yesterday (May 1st), though May 1st is a national holiday and the department was closed so the prices come into effect today.
My computer is broken again and this time things was no quick fix. It was working last Wednesday when I left work, but by the time I reached home, it wouldn't even turn on. Now, I have been told that it will take at least until next week for the IT department to find out what is wrong with it. Being without a computer is tough, partly because so much of my work is on the computer and internet and partly because the internet (and therefore the computer) is my main connection to family and friends! PLEASE PRAY the computer will start working again soon!!!!!!!!!!
Also, PLEASE PRAY for my house helper/friend's family. Their father (and sole wage earner for the family) had a bad accident on Saturday and had to be rushed to the hospital in Nairobi for assessment. He is now in the ICU at Kijabe Hospital (right next to Cure). He went to surgery yesterday, but remains in critical condition. When he is working, the father earns a meager salary as a gate guard for one of the high schools in Kijabe. When he is not working, there is no income! The family already has a huge debt (over $200) to pay for his treatment already and it doesn't look like he will be getting out of the hospital soon.
I am still working on writing my support letter for the coming year. As I mentioned in a previous update, I have been offered an extension for another year if I can raise the funds. However, just like I mentioned with the updates, as soon as I sit down to write and work on the letter, I get writer's block and can't think of how to start or what to put in it. PLEASE PRAY that I will be able to compose the letter soon and that I would receive adaquate financial support to stay here in Kenya.
Also, if you wouldn't mind, I would love to hear or get an email from you! Even if it is just to say that you are thinking of me or praying for me! These notes mean a lot to me! Case in point: The RVA student came up to me two weeks ago and gave me a small folded up piece of paper. After I unfolded it and began to read, tears came to my eyes. As you already know, I am part of the praise team during the english church service on Sundays. I had been getting discouraged about whether I should really continue to be part of it since their are so many other ladies in it already. Well, this young lady wrote me a note to encourage me to keep it up and telling me how much she liked my voice. She included several verses that i really needed to hear at that time. We had never met before, but she felt called to write me a very sweet, long, two-sided note to encourage me. I cried.
Praises
- I have friends and family that care about me. (even sometimes strangers!)
- I am healthy
- I just found out my parents are coming to visit me next month! PTL!!!!!
- Praise God for RAIN!
Prayer Requests:
- Pray for Francis' Family as they bury 2 loved ones.
- Pray for more rain, but also safety for those in areas of flooding
- Pray for the CURE Staff and the hospital as they try to stop losing money
- Pray that my computer would come back to life.
- Pray for my friend's family and especially the father.
- Pray for my assessment. Things are not going according to schedule.
- Pray for my attitude and emotions
- Please pray for wisdom about staying a second year. Pray that I will be able to raise the support for a second year. Also, my US insurance runs out this year so I also have to consider how to handle this.
- Please pray for relationships.
- Please pray for the coming elections in Kenya. This will be the first presidential election since 2007 when there was so much post-election violence. Pray for peace!
- I have been getting lonely. Please pray for friends, emails from supporters, etc!
Thank you for your prayers and support!!
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