Two day Vacation

As I mentioned in my last post, I have been doing a lot of business travel recently with mostly disappointing results. Therefore, I decided I needed to get away for a couple of days to relax before I head to western Kenya on the 18th. It just so happens that a friend of mine is in Mombasa right now, so, on Thursday, I took a bus to visit her. In addition to the comfort of relaxing with a friend, the 80 something degree weather made a nice change to the "high of 60" weather here in Kijabe.

Mombasa is on the coast of Kenya along the Indian ocean. Although the city itself is built on an island, most of the surrounding coastal region is referred to as Mombasa. You may have heard in the news about turmoil in Mombasa. This unrest is not targeted at foreigners specifically, but at the Kenyan Government.

Have you ever heard of Texas pride? Well, that is the closest description I know to the attitudes of Mombasa natives. Like Texas, Mombasa has threatened on multiple occasions to separate from the rest of Kenya and the Mombasa culture is entirely different than everywhere else in Kenya. The people move slower, talk slower, socialize more, and in general take friendliness to a whole new level.

Yes, Mombasa has its problems like any other major city in the world. Almost all, if not all, major cities have areas to avoid at certain times, situations and things to watch out for, and safe & unsafe methods of transport.travel. As long as you know what to look out for and what to avoid, you are fine. My friend grew up in Mombasa and knows all about the city and surrounding area.

I was so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I spent the first day of my vacation relaxing within earshot of the palm trees and the ocean and just reading. It was great to do nothing!! I cooked dinner that night and got lots of compliments from my friend and her friends. What an esteem builder!

Sukuma Wiki, a common Kenyan Dish made
with Kale/Spinach, tomatoes,  and garlic or onions.
Usually served over a starch or as a side dish.

Saturday, we moved to Mombasa itself and I went to a bakery, helped my hosts' son build a "tent" (made of towels, chairs, and a broom), and WENT SWIMMING!! I loved being in the water and working out in it, but I also realized just how out of shape I am. One lap and I was winded! Eventually, I built my endurance up a bit and got a great workout! By the end my legs were jelly, but I truly enjoyed my time in the water. One of the things I miss most about North Carolina is swimming. Growing up, I got to swim every summer as well as visit the ocean. In Texas, I got to play a bit in a pool once, but that was all. Kijabe is TOO cold to swim. I don't think the temperature ever rises much above 75 Fahrenheit here. Therefore, this trip to Mombasa was almost like paradise! The ocean, the heat, the pool, the company, etc.

I got back to CURE this morning and am leaving tomorrow for western Kenya until late Thursday night, but last week seems like months ago. I am emotionally, mentally, and physically refreshed. (Ok, so right now I am a little sleep deprived and ate something my body didn't like yesterday, but these are minor things compared to how I felt before.)

Me and the Mombasa Sunset

Prayer Items:

• I am headed to Kitale and Eldorat for a mobile clinic tomorrow. Please pray for travel mercies and for those we will minister to both physically and spiritually.
• My Alien Registration card is not ready yet. It is supposed to take 5 weeks to process, but it has already taken taken that long. This card serves as my legal ID in Kenya and until I get it, I have to carry my passport with me everywhere I go.
• I am discouraged about the LIMBS progress here in Kenya. Other than project sponsored patients, there have been no new patients fit with the LIMBS Knee this year. Pray for guidance!
• I am getting over a cold! Pray for healing!

PRAISE THE LORD!

• First, God allowed me to get involved with several missionaries (both long and short term) in Kijabe.
• MY COMPUTER IS FIXED!!!!!!!!!! Now I just need to find safe transport for it from the USA to Kenya!
• God provided the opportunity for me to travel to Mombasa to relax with a friend. AND, and added bonus, I had the best seat in the bus on the way there!

My view (in Nairobi) headed to Mombasa.

• I got to the bus station an hour and a half early and therefore, was able to enjoy a cup of tea and read my Bible for AN ENTIRE HOUR before the 8.5 hour bus ride! =) 
• God brought me safely from Mombasa back to Kijabe!
  

Full Circle

The Femural IM Nails I helped modify while at Cedarville.

This week I had the opportunity to travel to Tenwek Hospital near Bomet. Many of you may not know, but this is the hospital we partnered with during my senior design project, resizing and reverse engineering femoral Russel-Taylor nails.
My goal during this trip was to introduce the LIMBS Knee system to Tenwek. However, after discussing with the prosthetic in Tenwek, I realized that the hospital has a steady supply of donated prosthetic components and therefore the LIMBS Knee would be more expensive for patients instead of the free donated components. All was not lost though, I was able to see the finished modified Russell-Taylor Nails. This was important to me because inventorying and shortening the nails was my part of the senior design project and these nails were like my babies! I was almost brought to tears when I saw the results of my hard work; the use of the nails by those who need them most.

Me and Samuel, the person in charge of the
orthopedic implants at Tenwek.

God works in strange ways. While I was looking at the nails, a Japanese missionary nurse approached me and asked if I had had anything to do with modifying the nails. I told her I had, she asked if she could take my picture and went to get her camera. After she took several pictures on her IPad, we struck up a conversation. At the time, I didn’t understand why she had tears in her eyes. However, later, when she emailed the pictures to me she explained how much of an encouragement I had been to her. We had been talking about the challenges of organization in Kenya (and the hospitals in particular) and apparently she had just returned to find the extensive organization work she had done in the basement destroyed by a renovation project. When we were talking, I had no idea just how much my words of frustration about trying to keep things organized and my compliments on how organized the sterile storage room looked would mean to her at that moment. I am not by nature an encourager, but God knew this nurse really needed encouragement at that precise moment. All glory goes to GOD!

I stayed in Tenwek an extra day so I could catch a ride with someone leaving for Nairobi at 5am on Thursday.  Therefore, I spent the day sorting and inventorying prosthetic components for Tenwek’s Rehab Department.

Some of the organized prosthetic components
(and rotary grinder on right).

Prosthetic Department at Tenwek.
(That is a standard size oven)

Bright and early on Thursday morning, we left for Nairobi. By 8:30 am I had been dropped in Mai Mahu (which translated means “Hot Water”), the town below Kijabe and was awaiting a piki-piki (motorbike) to carry me up the hill. By 9am, I was back in Kijabe and working at CURE Hospital. That evening I made a cake for a friend and attended praise team rehearsal.

Friday, I went into Nairobi to meet with a patient. The meeting didn’t work out but I did get to meet an incredible missionary couple transitioning between ministry locations.

It had been a busy week, but a fulfilling one.

Prayer Requests

• There is a terrible cold virus going around Lower Station, Kijabe. Please pray that those who have caught the virus will get better quickly.
• My support is low. Please pray for God's provision.
• Please pray for my work here. I have been in Kenya almost 2 years now and yet I am still working on a project that was supposed to take 6 months and only a handful of patients have even used the LIMBS Knee. Please pray that I will know what to do and how to do it.
• Because of the frustrations mentioned in the previous request, I have bee feeling discouraged. Please pray for my emotional stability and moods. \
• I am planning to visit the USA in November-December. Please pray that the details would be ironed out.

Praises

• Praise God I have my voice back. I have had a cold for the last two and a half weeks and the incident with the policeman (refer to previous post) caused me to lose my voice. I was frustrated at not being able to sing, but now I can again!
• Praise God for providing transportation for my trips this week and safety while I was travelling.
• Praise God for Missionary Friends and community.
• Praise God for my cat, Tiger. He provides my with companionship, but also keeps away the vermin. 
• Praise God for faithful supporters who support me and the ministry both in prayer and finances.