The Roller Coaster of Life

It has been too long since I last updated this blog. I got so focused on trying to put together my support letter for my next 2 year term with LIMBS International that my brain burned out. If any of you following this would like a copy of my letter and have not gotten one already, please let me know and I will email it to you.

A lot has happened since I last updated.

I got the opportunity to join the Local AIC Kijabe church on their annual missions trip to Amaya in East Pokot the last week of August. While there, I met a 12 year old boy named Kipilat. He was born with only one leg. His parents 

died when he was young and he has been passed from neighbor ever since. Because of his limited mobility and poverty, Kipilat has not had access to education until this year when the local east pokot church stepped in and enrolled him in preschool. Before I arrived, no one knew that anything could be done for the boy. After I told them about the LIMBS prosthesis, the boy was brought to CURE in Kijabe where we measured and fabricated a prosthetic leg just for him. By the end of September, Kipilat was walking on his own for the first time in his life!

Me and Risa's Mother and sisters

Part of my job is following up with patients using the LIMBS leg. Risa is a Maasai who lost his leg when he had an epileptic attack as a child and fell into the cooking fire. Traditionally, the Maasai are a nomadic people moving from place to place, caring for goats and cattle.If a man cannot walk, he cannot herd animals and therefore is a burden to the community. Many with physical disabilities are ignored by the community or hidden away. This was the case for Risa until he got his LIMBS prosthesis.
 You see, Risa sustained massive burns across his lower body and right side. Doctors were able to save his left leg. However, the knee is completely fused. Therefore, the only prosthetic option for Risa is a leg with a free moving joint and the LIMBS knee is not only a low cost free moving joint, but also works like a normal knee does, locking when loaded with weight. Once Risa started using this leg, he was able to rejoin his community. I finally got a chance to visit Risa in his homeplace. The community has given him some goats to care for and he watches over both his and his uncle’s animals. He cares for his mother and siblings just like any other oldest son would do. His mother and aunt presented me with a Maasai necklace. I felt VERY honored!

On September 21st, Westgate Mall, outside Nairobi, was attacked and held under siege for 3 days. On this particular weekend, I was in Kijabe looking after a couple children for a missionary family while their parents were away. I did not find out about the siege until they got home and turned on the television. For the next few days, most of us were glued to the television watching as the situation unfolded. Many ex-pats and missionaries frequent this mall so it hit everyone hard. Tension was high during the first hours of the siege as everyone called everyone else they know to make sure they were okay. Only two Kijabe-linked families were in Westgate Mall when the attack started, but both quickly escaped. After the siege was over, some tension was relieved but the attack left the country in shock. Clean-up has begun as lives are moving on. We are healing. Kenya has been wounded but not broken. Nowadays, extra vigilance is taken and many in Kijabe make sure that others know where they are going when leaving Kijabe. LIFE CONTINUES.

October was a busy month. The first week, I went to Malindi, on the coast of Kenya, for an Orthopedic Technology Conference.The only bus directly to Malindi is a night bus. So, because I was presenting on the first day of the conference, I left Kijabe a day early. The extra time allowed me to acclimate to the heat and humidity and spend some time with Orthopedic Technologists working in the Ministry of Health.  We visited the Malindi District Hospital, the beach, and had lunch at a local café. God’s provision was evident that day because this informal time with these top government people allowed me to get to know them better and even discuss the future of LIMBS in Kenya. The next few days of the conference were busy but went well. I returned to Kijabe after the conference on Friday so I could be back by Saturday when I was expecting a guest. WELL, I got sick. I was able to entertain a little, but slept most of the day. I spent the entire next Sunday in bed. The rest gave me enough strength to return to work on Monday. 

Then sorrow struck, a young translator friend of mine died suddenly from a pulmonary embolism. This young man was only 30 years old. He was working hard to make a difference in his poverty stricken community. His death hit everyone hard. I attended the funeral along with most of his community and some members of RVA (Rift Valley Academy, where he worked as a librarian). Everyone was emotional.

Time helps heal wounds and so have the last couple of weeks.

A few weekends ago, I went to visit a friend’s, Linda’s, family in Nairobi. She is a student at Kenya Medical Training College studying Orthopedic Technology. She is on attachment for 3 months at CURE. I really enjoyed spending time with her family. However, the entire weekend was overshadowed because my wallet was stolen. I lost my Kenyan ID, Credit Card, ATM Card, and some money. Thankfully, I will be back in the States at the end of November so I will only have to live without them for a few weeks. If it had to happen, now is the best time. God is in control so I don’t have to worry about it. God provides!