Burnout and Recovery

The last 3 months were a haze. I basically worked on autopilot from mid-November until mid December. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can be EXTREMELY stubborn. However, even I had to admit I was burning out. I didn't realize how burned out I was until later.

Isn't it funny that God always has a plan even when we don't see it? Due to finances, I was unable to go to the USA for the holidays this year. Instead, I went to Rwanda to visit one of my best friends from when I was growing up. She works as the librarian in an international school in Kigali. But wait, I am getting ahead of myself.

2014 was a hard year for me. I was told that if the LIMBS work did not pick up here, then LIMBS would pull out of Kenya. I did not want to see that happen. There are too many people in need of legs, but not adequate networking to reach them yet. But no matter how much networking I did, there was little improvement. Yes, we trained more technologists about how to use the LIMBS system, but the going was slow. In fact, the strain in relations between LIMBS (me) and the orthopedic department at CURE reached an all time high. It felt like the LIMBS program was in ICU all year. BUT GOD had a plan! Just as I was preparing to close down the program in Kenya, God provided a new lead. Another nonprofit heard about LIMBS and wanted to partner with us to get above knee prosthetic legs to those who need them most in remote areas of East Africa. I met several times with the gentleman who contacted us (LIMBS) and there is hope. Then the week before CURE slowed down for the holidays, the head of the orthopedic workshop, the one giving me so much trouble, was forced to leave CURE; maybe there is hope for CURE after all. (I felt guilty that I was so relieved at his departure) After all the uncertainty over the last 11 months, I was drained. My goal became make it to December 12th.

I did, of course. My home church in North Carolina, Providence Baptist Church (PBC), sent a team (which included my sister, Martha) to Kenya for a week starting on the 12th December. Very little happens work wise from the middle of December until the beginning of January, so I was able to join the team during the time they were in Kenya. They came up Friday afternoon/evening, December 12th, and I joined them the next morning.

We spent Saturday distributing Christmas bags to those in Kijabe hospital (the hospital next to the one we're I am stationed),starting with the children's ward, then working our way through the maternity, women's, and men's wards. I was so excited spending time with these children (and later adult patients) and talking to them, that I forgot to take many pictures. The smiles on their faces were priceless. I think my favorite part of the day was ministering to those that the world considers the hardest; the young Muslim lady who had just had a miscarriage, the woman that was almost non responsive in the high dependency

Giving out gifts

unit, the boy with a chest tube and suction, the old woman with mental limitations that just wanted a "dolly" to hold, and the young paraplegic lady who was in the hospital because she had pressure sores from sitting in an inappropriate wheelchair for so long. These are the patients that impacted me the most. However, I think the hardest ward for the entire team was the men's ward. This was the last ward we went into and also the smelliest. I have to go in there from time to time for my LIMBS work or when helping the orthopedic department fit a spinal brace, but the stench still gets to me. Picture a rundown nursing home, the stench of urine and other bodily fluids permeates everything. I get used to it over time, but I still remember the first time I visited. The team invited me to join them for dinner and gave me the suitcase containing gifts and things from my parents and the Berean Sunday School class.

The next morning we all went down to one of the small African Inland churches in the valley below Kijabe. Little did I know, this was the church one of CURE's guards had invited me to and where he was pastor. Needless to say, he was very excited to see me. In Kenya, guests are invited to introduce themselves during the service. Well..... He singled me out and introduced me himself from the pulpit. Can you say embarrassed? I was only trying to be part of the team, no one special but I was singled out! Anyway, Pastor George, the mission pastor at PBC and team leader of the team, preached and afterwards the church fed us the best nyama choma (roasted meat, Turkana style) I ever had. After picking up our bags in Kijabe, off we went to Nairobi. The afternoon was spent resting and preparing for the next day.

Pastor George is such a considerate man and he decided to room my sister and I together while we were in Nairobi. I wasn't sure how it would work out, but it was definitely a blessing. Martha taught me how to use FaceTime on my new IPad mini (a gift from my parents so I could read more books), set up a call with my other sister Rachel, and the time alone allowed us to debrief on each other without offending anyone else on the team. I love my sisters so much and am very impressed with what wonderful wise women they have become. (Now I just have to figure out how to stop mothering them and just be a sister and friend)

After and quick breakfast Monday morning, we headed to Nairobi Language Institute in Kalangware for a one-day VBS program. I was originally supposed to help with the crafts, but instead I helped with the youngest group where an extra set of hands were needed. After the program, we helped serve food and wash dishes for those in the feeding program. The ladies in the kitchen were very sweet and one of the cooks, Theresia, even sent me with greeting to take back to the spiritual department at CURE. You see, the week before the PBC team was there, Theresia was working in another part of Kalengware with an evangelism team from CURE. Small world!

The next two days we spent on the outskirts of Kibera, the second largest slum in the world. The hardest part on this site were the numbers. We had planned on around 150-200 kids and instead all the kids in the neighborhood tried to join and we had closer to 350 kids. What made it so hard was we only had craft materials for 200 kids but we didn't want to keep kids from hearing the Word of God. By the beginning of the second day, we had revised our plans and the program went much more smoothly. 

This is Caleb. He was 3 years old when I
first met him. Now he is 14!

The last day, Thursday, we went a couple of hours outside Nairobi to conduct a one day VBS at a Bible Club. That day I remembered to take more pictures because there was not enough room in our, my sister and I's, craft room. I feel like I am losing my touch with kids. Martha is SO much better than I am!

Some of these kids were very creative with their stickers!

After VBS,we returned to the guest house. I had packed earlier the night before because due to some miscommunication my flight to Rwanda was almost 24 hours after the rest of the team flew out and I needed to catch up with a friend I was going to stay with before dark.

The place where I was meeting my friend's mother was surprisingly close and inexpensive to get to. The taxi cost about $8. This was really a blessing because I was taking a rather large suitcase to Rwanda and I was not looking forward to carrying it on the matatus.

I had a wonderful time with my friend and her family. I even got to meet her fiancée. Friday evening I went to the airport and took my flight to Rwanda. The adventure begins......

Rwanda is an hour behind Kenya and the landscape is very different. There is a reason it is called the "Land of a Thousand Hills." Right now, many foreign investors are pouring lots of money into this country and you can tell. The road are flat, well paved, and well maintained. There is no trash on the streets. Because the French and Belgium first colonized Rwanda, everyone drives on the right side of the road. When I got there Rwanda had just gotten some rain so everything was green and lush looking. 

Katharina, one of my best friends, met me at the airport and as soon as we arrived at her townhouse, I went to bed. Saturday morning we relaxed and stopped by the Library at the school to check on some things and check out a couple books. Having a friend who is a librarian has some advantages, she can find books that catch your attention and keep it to the last page, even if you are not big on reading. Over the next two weeks, I read six books. Saturday evening we went to the "mall" and ate dinner before going to see Night at the Museum 3 in the theatre. By eating at a certain place before the movie, we received vouchers to see the movie free. Win-win situation!

Early the next morning, we met the driver we hired and headed to Nyungwe National Forest, the largest rainforest left in Africa. It took almost all day to get there because we stopped at a couple museums and the Kings palace replica on the way. That night we had a little church service among ourselves huddled in blankets. Boy was it cold at night! 

Monday morning we headed off to see the waterfalls. Although it was rainy, we throughly enjoyed the hike and seeing all the flora along the path. We got to see touracos which love the rain and hear many other types of birds. On the way back to the entrance we had the opportunity to talk to our guide about Christ. He is a catholic and believes as long as he goes to the confessional every week and confesses his sins to the priest, he will be saved. We were able to explain that it is not what we do or have done that gets us to heaven but what Christ did for us. I don't remember what I said or how I was able to hike up hill while talking the whole time, but God gave me the words and the strength to do it!

The next morning, we went on the canopy walk. As the name suggests, part of this hike is located on suspension bridges stretched over the valley. The scenery is beautiful and the sky was clearer that day. We heard many birds, one of which was called a tinker bird. After the canopy walk, we headed back towards Kigali.

This is the only picture I have at the memorial.
The sign in the foreground shows where the french
played volley ball. The sign in the background marks
the mass grave where the murdered Tutsi were buried.

On the way we stopped by a genocide memorial. It should have been a technical college not a slaughterhouse. During that visit I learned a lot about the Rwandan genocide. For one, it could have been prevented. The genocide was not a random act, it was carefully planned and administered. Also, the genocide did not happen in a day or even a week. It lasted months. Trouble stirred up by the Belgiums and leading political party at the time can be traced back to more than a year before what we know as the genocide. Many Hutus were pressured into murdering their Tutsi neighbors or face torture and death themselves along with their families. And the West did nothing to stop it. In fact, the memorial site we visited was supposed to be a safe haven for the Tutsis, at least that's what they were told, instead it was used to round up all the Tutsis into one place to torture, slaughter, and mass bury them. Now the Tutsi and the Hutu are two tribes right? WRONG! The difference between a Hutu and a Tutsi was the length and with of their nose and the diameter of their head. That's all. In fact, two Hutus could have a Tutsi. Almost a year after the genocide, the mass graves at this site were dug up and the dead were buried with dignity. I can see now just how close Kenya came to the same fate after the 2007 elections. But Rwanda is rebuilding. Twenty years after the end of the genocide, Rwanda is a united nation. Tourism is booming. The wild animals that were poached to extinction in Rwanda are slowly being replaced as much as possible. Within the next few years, they plan to buy a lion for the game park (more on the park later).

After we got back to Kigali, we spent the evening with some of Katharina's 

co-workers and friends watching Elf then Die Hard (it takes place at Christmas so it must be a Christmas movie, right?). We went to the Christmas Eve and Christmas morning service at Katharina's church and I even got to hear a special arrangement where Katharina played the flute.

After church on Christmas, we went to a potluck brunch and later Katharina and I exchanged gifts, relaxed, and built a puzzle.

Completed puzzle

The following weekend we took a bus to Gisini on the coast of Lake Kivu. Inzu Lodge were we stayed was gorgeous! We stayed in a safari tent with two cot beds and electricity. The view from our porch outside the tent was amazing. We just relaxed, read, and rested. It was about this time I started feeling alive and refreshed again. We returned to Kigali two nights later.

Our Tent

My Bed

View of Lake Kivu from our tent

View of the lake during a walk

New Year's Eve we went up to Akagara National Game Park Reserve. During the genocide, poachers from Tanzania came into the park and killed all the rhinos and elephants. After the genocide the locals in the area killed off all the lions because they feared for their livestock. Now, the country is repopulating the game reserve while working with the locals on conservation measures. Akagara National park is small but contains more diversity than you can find in many other places. The park has woodlands, bush lands, marsh lands, and savannah. The biodiversity allows a large number of different animals to live and thrive within this small area. Since reintroducing elephants to the park several years ago, the elephant herd has grown to over a hundred. We saw topi (they look like antelope in blue jeans), antelope, zebra, giraffe, Cape buffalo, wildebeest, water buck, and a small terrapin (a turtle that lives on land and in the water). 

Hippos

Crocodile

See the three little babies?

Guinea Fowl

                                                                    Topi (see the blue jeans?)

Velvet monkey

Waterbuck

On dry land at last!

Our little turtle

Storks

When we got back to Kigali, we were tired and by 9pm we were asleep. I know, I know, we were spoilsports for not staying up until midnight but we left the house at 4:50am that morning. New Year's Day we slept in. Later we started a puzzle. I never got to finish it before I left to return to Kenya but Katharina finished it after I left. 

Katharina took me to the airport late Saturday morning. Everything in that airport took forever. The check in desk only had one working computer for three flights. Immigration has two agents working with really slow computers. Then security had two short baggage scanners for three flights. But I made my flight. Two others weren't so blessed. The flight attendants held the flight as long as they could, but in the end, we had to leave without them. Did I mention that a third to half the flight consisted of minors? In fact, out of the six exit row seats available, four were originally assigned to minors. I don't envy that flight attendant's job of reseating and rearranging everyone! Ten to twelve of the passengers on the flight were students from RVA. This was actually a double blessing because it made getting my checked bag easier and the RVA guy meeting them offered to take my large suitcase back to Kijabe for me. (Remember how I don't Ike trying to drag it around on matatus?) The same friend who dropped me off at the airport, picked me up. After stopping by her house and getting cleaned up, we had a nice night out with another friend.

After much debating, she convinced me to return to Kijabe early Monday morning instead of Sunday afternoon. We spent the evening with her future in-laws making chapatis and throughly enjoying ourselves. 

Although I did stop by my house to drop off my other luggage and change clothes, I was at work by 8:30am Monday morning. I spent last week and this starting everything with LIMBS back up and running again. The country is just now starting to get back up and running after the holidays.

So now you are mostly up to date and have heard all the good news. 

Here are my challenges for the future:

• I am currently under supported financially. Due to different situations, my support went down $70 a month. I was already low on financial support before, now I am REALLY low. Please pray for God's provision!

• I still don't exactly know what is in store for me this year. There are opportunities but also many obstacles. Pray for wisdom and discernment. One of my bosses is planning to come sometime in February. Pray everything goes well during his visit.

• I get lonely sometimes. Please pray for God's comfort during those times. 

If you feel led to give financially you can either donate online here and writing, "Elizabeth Flow Support" in the memo line or to send a check (with "Elizabeth Flow Support" in the memo line) to:
LIMBS International 
500 W. Overland, Suite 230
El Paso, Texas 79901

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home again

After the whirlwind known as the last month, I am glad to be home in Kijabe.

Between my brother’s wedding and planning and carrying out the LIMBS Training in Nairobi, I was exhausted. Last week, I was running nonstop from 7:30am until 10pm Sunday through Friday managing logistics during this long awaited training. Seriously! I even forgot to tell my parents that my childhood friend from Rwanda was coming to visit me before attending an educational conference in Kijabe. Normally, I would not be able to keep my mouth shut because of my excitement; but not this time. In fact, my head was still spinning when I arrived (via driver) at the airport to pick up Katharina.

We spent Saturday through Sunday watching a family’s kiddos while their parents attended a missionary marriage retreat. Now, before you say poor thing, hear me out. This distraction was exactly what I needed after a LONG HARD week. I was able to cook some great meals (involving LOTS of stress reducing chopping), laugh at the cheesiness of a sci-fi movie with the older girls, and was encouraged by the youngest; a 7 year old, ’s enthusiasm to go with me to the local church’s praise team pre-church rehearsal (at 7:30 AM!).

On Sunday, Katharina and I moved 2 doors over to another missionaries house to watch their dog and housesit this week. Right now, RVA, the missionary school here in Kijabe, is on break and many families are taking this opportunity to take much needed vacations! This can cause a dilemma however, because many of the missionaries in Kijabe have animals and/or pets they have to find accommodations for while the family is away. Enter a single missionary female who loves animals and doesn’t mind house sitting for other missionaries. This is a win-win situation; especially since this young lady has only one bed in her house and has a friend visiting her! Therefore, I had the privilege to watch a VERY laidback dog in a BEAUTIFUL house with high speed internet for 5 days. The house help still came every day so I did not have to do dishes or clean the house.  It was an ideal place for me to get my head back on straight! Plus, I got to hike Mt Longonot on Monday with some friends and got to see at least three giraffe fairly close up!

I returned to my quaint little cabin today.

First, I want to tell you all the ways God has blessed me this month. One, God caused my flight to the USA at the beginning of March to be delay by 24hours and by doing so,  got me over jetlag very quickly! You see the international flights out of Nairobi are all late at night. Mine was scheduled for just after midnight. At first the plane was just delayed, but finally at 5:30 am, because of mechanical problems, the flight was postponed until the next night. Because I had been awake all night, I was ready to hit the sack and did so after getting something to eat at the hotel that the airline booked us into. So by the time we boarded the plane that night, I was pretty much on Eastern Time. I was even upgraded to main cabin extra for my flight from London to Raleigh, NC. Secondly, the place where the LIMBS team and I stayed during the training last week was wonderful and accommodating. The walk to the school hosting the training was short and my boss even complimented me on my choice of lodging for the team. Also, God arranged that one of my best friends growing up would come and arrive from Rwanda at the same time I was scheduled to travel from Nairobi back to Kijabe so I could pick her up from the airport and we could travel back together. Then, God provided the distraction I needed by watching kids (actually high schoolers and a first grader) and then spending a week house sitting for another family.

I am VERY blessed!

Now it might sound like the last month was not too bad, but with the blessings come the challenges. First, travelling to the USA and back in one week requires a lot of cultural adjustment; fast. Then, add to this the fact that even while I was setting up my brother’s wedding, I was still trying to iron out the details for the training at the end of March (last week). Then, after I returned to Kenya, the mother of my contact at KMTC (where the training was hosted) died suddenly. His substitute did not have contact information or details about one of the patients we were using for the training. During the training, public transport went on strike forcing half the attendees/participants at the training to walk across town to reach the school on foot. One of the demo patients and attendees couldn’t make it from Mombasa; 3 out of 4 of the attendees did not show up for their slanted training sessions. There were misunderstandings about transport between Nairobi and Kijabe during a scheduled team visit. Katharina’s flight from Rwanda was late arriving and even then the arrivals board said, “to be advised.” Meetings from the last week require a large amount of follow-up and drafting. And last but not least, I have been having mini anxiety attacks every evening.

Everything needs to be balanced. I know I have a lot of work and pressure on my during the next few weeks, but I also know that I need adequate rest.

Praises:

•  The Training went fairly well.
• Transport worked out in the long run
• I got to spend 4 days with a wonderful friend
• My cat was there to greet me when I returned to my little house (in fact he will not leave my side now)

Prayer Requests:

• My anxiety seems to be getting more cumbersome. Please pray for peace!
• What happens during the next 6 months will determine what happens with LIMBS in Kenya in the future.  Pray God’s will be done and that  I will be at peace with what He does.
• I have several conferences to attend during the next several months. Pray that the details will work out.

Joy comes in the Evening...

WAIT WHAT!?

Tuesday was my birthday. But the day was far from pleasant. First, I didn't sleep well the night before. Then, when I went to update the LIMBS patient database, several patient bios were missing. After extensive searching I found all but two, which still cannot be found. Both the hard and soft copies have disappeared. The only identifying information I have is the serial numbers from their knees. GRRRRR!! Then, to add to everything else, there was the prospect of spending my birthday evening alone in my house.

By the end of the work day, I had decided enough was enough. Whether I had anyone to celebrate with or not, I was going to make the night special! SO THERE!!!!!

After work, I trekked up to the shops and bought ice cream, meat, and an extra liter of milk; all luxuries for me, bought only for special occasions! On my way to my house from the shops, I decided to stop by and say hi to a friend, a widow from Australia, I've made here in Kijabe. When she found out that it was my birthday, she came down to my house and we had a wonderful evening chatting and celebrating. Her visit and our “party” made my whole day worth it!

Now I am not saying that my family and other friends ignored me. In fact, I heard from every single member of my immediate family, a few friends, and received over 30 facebook posts. But it is not the same as having someone here in person to celebrate with you.

Thursday, started out slow and rough but got better in the afternoon. I usually attend a ladies Bible study from 1-2 pm on Thursdays. Well, right before I packed up to attend Bible study; I got an email announcing a delivery of raspberries to the school up the hill. These raspberries are too ripe to export or even sell in Kenya so somebody at the school has arranged to pick up some and bring them back to Kijabe. We just have to pay transport; about $1 a gallon. WHOA! What a treat! Usually, raspberries cost at least a couple of dollars for a tray of just 12 berries. 

Ok, so back to Bible study. Several of the ladies wanted some raspberries but since the delivery was scheduled right smack dab in the middle of our Bible study time. However, I offered to go up and get them.  I had already arranged to borrow a container from another missionary at Moffet, so along with the 2 other containers from the missionary at Moffat and 3 from the ladies at the Bible study, up I went to collect raspberries; all 24 liters! (4 liters for me, 8 for the lady who lent me the container, and 12 for the Bible study ladies. FYI: Each container holds 4 liters)

Mercifully, God provided someone to carry me to and from the delivery location so I didn’t have to carry all those raspberries by myself! I did mention that these raspberries are REALLY ripe, right?

DELICIOUS!!!!!!

I caught the tail end of Bible study and afterwards “helped” divvy up the “spoils”! And of course you know “helping” means consuming close to a cup of raspberries in one sitting!! Hehe!!

Oh how I enjoy helping people, especially if I’m already heading in that direction anyway. I don’t know what made me happier;  getting the raspberries or helping others enjoy the same!!

As I mentioned earlier, I stopped by a friend’s house the evening of my birthday.  The people she is staying with were planning a trip to Nairobi on Friday. As it happens, I needed several things from the grocery store in Nairobi and had been asking and praying for transport into town this week; either Thursday or Friday. I had all but given up hope. Well, God knew what he was doing because what I intended as a polite pop-in to say hello, God meant as a provision for me and my friend’s needs.  Not only did God provide me with birthday company and the opportunity to go into Nairobi, but He also provided the opportunity for my friend to get out of the house and spend some time away from her housemates! I had no idea that she was dreading the trip into Nairobi because it meant following her housemates, a couple, around clothing stores all day.

God knew we needed each other and provided in a way only He could do!!!!

PRAISE THE LORD!!!!!

Around the World and Back Again!

For those who don't know, I spent a month in the USA at the end of last year. I left November 22nd and returned on December 31st/January 1st. It was a busy trip. I traveled about every 3-4 days the entire time. While outside Kenya, I spent time in North Carolina (Durham, Winston-Salem, and Charlotte), Texas (El Paso and Longview), Georgia (Rome/Berry)and Grand Cayman.

I wish I had more pictures, however, my camera broke shortly after I left Kenya. Therefore, you will have to rely on my words alone.

First of all, I want to tell you GOD PROVIDES!

Kijabe is about an hour away from the airport. I took 2 large suitcases and 2 carry-on sized suitcases with me to the USA. This made using public Kenyan Transport difficult to impossible. I found a friend in Nairobi that was willing to take me from Nairobi to the airport, but I still needed to find transport from Kijabe to Nairobi. God did one better! He provided me with transport from Kijabe directly to the airport with some other missionaries travelling the same day.

The journey did have its' hiccups. Somewhere between my seat on the plane to London and the International terminal in London, my "total pillow" travel pillow got lost. It was never found. In view of everything that could have gone wrong, this loss was minor. Especially since all my luggage made it and i was met by my entire family at the airport in North Carolina! =)

When I have a chance I will try and tell you more about my adventures during my month outside Kenya. But for now I am focusing on God's provision during my international flights.

Fast forward to December 31st......

I did not sleep much the night before I left to return to Kenya. Even with my mental fog, I made it to the airport to check in with all my bags.

CUE GOD'S PROVISION!

When the ticketing agent checked me and my 6 bags into the system, the extra baggage fees came to about half of what they should have been! That's a savings of $360!

Security went smoothly and I was off.

While waiting at the gate, I checked my messages and email and found out the transportation and lodging I had all planned out before I left Kenya, fell through! I sent off some messages, but because of the time difference I didn't expect anything back for several hours.

My flight of the three leg journey was booked solid so I got assigned the first seat on the small American Eagle Plane; seat 1A. The cool thing about this seat is: 1. You can look out your window and see down the breezeway, 2. The breezeway seems to come straight at you when it approaches the plane, and 3. You can talk to the flight attendant during take-off and landing because he/she is sitting right in front of you, looking at you. Also, Because  I was in the very front of the plane, I overheard the exchange between the gate agent, flight attendant, and pilots before the door closed. Apparently, the plane was overloaded (I wonder why? =P Could it be the passenger who checked 340 lbs of luggage?) and the airline wanted to take a British couple off the plane. However, if this happened, the couple would miss their flight connection to London.
By rearranging some carry-ons under two empty seats, utilizing the crew storage compartment, and the pilots working a little "magic", we were finally released from the gate with all passengers on board. The plane took a little extra runaway to take off and land due to the weight, but other than that, everything was fine. I had a good chat with the flight stewardess and when we landed she gave me some water and juice to carry with me. Once I reached the gate for my flight to London, I had a wonderful last american meal of leftover pizza, apples, and the juice from the flight attendant. While I was eating I checked my messages/emails to find out if their was any progress in finding a place to spend the night in Nairobi after I reached the airport.

NO RESPONSES FROM THE GUESTHOUSES!

Before I boarded my flight to London, I called and said good bye to everyone on my US cellphone.

The flight from JFK to London was mostly empty and I had an entire row to myself. Though I still did not sleep well, it was nice to stretch out a bit. In London, I had to change terminals and reenter security at the International Terminal. Security is one of the hardest things about London. Everyone in line has been through security at least once before and probably just arrived off another long haul flight. Without fail, I am always sweating by the time I get through and head to the main waiting area. In London, gates are not announced until 50 minutes before a flight. This means you have to watch the clock because some gates take 20 minutes or more to get to and the gates close 15 minutes before a flight's departure time.

I was in one of the last group to board the flight to Nairobi so the overhead storage above my seat was full. Thankfully, I found some storage a few rows back.

AND STILL NO RESPONSE ABOUT HOUSING OR TRANSPORT!

The flight to Nairobi was full and I was anxious. What was going to happen when I got to the airport? How would I find a place to stay? My phone had run out of credit. As much as I try to trust God to provide, it takes divine intervention for me to actually do it. The flight wasn't bad, though my entertainment system/screen locked up half way through the flight.

As many of you have heard, the international arrivals terminal at the airport near Nairobi burnt down. Therefore, when our flight landed we were loaded onto buses and taken to the temporary "arrivals" area. (Read this as a large warehouse/hanger type building divided into pre and post immigration areas.) Since our flight got in at the same time as another flight, twice the people had to funnel through the makeshift immigration booths. Soon after passing through immigration, I found out that the chaos of the immigration lines was nothing compared to collecting luggage. The airport was only running 2 small carousels, 1 for each flight. Also, they must have been using only one baggage train/cart because it was at least 20 minutes between each baggage offload. It took me over an hour, but I did collect all 6 of my bags!

ENTER GOD'S PROVISION!

There were several other people from Kijabe (RVA) on my flight, a family and two young ladies. The two ladies ended up at end of the immigration line. So rather than checking their trunks every time they passed on the baggage carousel, I pulled them off and sorted each one's luggage into a separate stack. AND GUESS WHAT?! It's 11:30pm and I still don't have transport or a place to stay!!!!

One of the ladies, an RVA teacher, let me use her phone to call the AIM guesthouse, Mayfield, and they had room for me. YES, I found a room! Now I just needed a LARGE taxi to get there!

WELL, GOD DID ONE BETTER!

It turns out that the guy I called to drive me back to Kijabe the next day, was the same guy who was picking the two young ladies up from the airport and then heading straight to Kijabe. They were willing to take as much of my luggage as space allowed so I wouldn't need to carry so much in the taxi. WELL, GUESS WHAT!? All the ladies' luggage fit in the back of the driver's car and ALL of mine fit into the roof rack perfectly. (I mean like JIGSAW PUZZLE PERFECT) Also, because everything fit so well, I was able to ride with them all the way back to Kijabe THAT night and in my own little house by 2:30 am!

Now onto the next adventure......... JETLAG!!!!!!

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.

An Anchor in the storm

Hello Family and Friends!
The last few weeks have been not only busy, but also, very emotionally draining. The first week I travelled and house sitted. Last week, I was representing CURE International and LIMBS International at a christian health Conference. However, during this time three people I knew went to be with the LORD.


Ok, so let's started with the week of April 15th.

• On Tuesday, I spent the day in Nairobi interviewing 2 patients, helping 3 patients learn to walk correctly and then filming them. Then in the afternoon, I had a long meeting with the medical training college across the street from the hospital to talk about the possibility of them hosting a training workshop for LIMBS. I left at 7am in the morning and didn’t get back until 7 pm in the evening.
• Wednesday, a patient was supposed to come to be evaluated for the LIMBS system above knee prosthesis, but she never showed up.
• Thursday was by far my longest day. I accompanied the CURE mobile team to Embu because I needed to meet a patient/client there. We left Kijabe at 5 am and didn’t get back until 8:30 pm. I did get to see the patient and do what I needed to with him and after that I helped around the mobile clinic. One of the things CURE doctors do at mobile clinic is tenotamies (where they cut the Achilles tendon in order to enable it to lengthen and the foot to have better range of motion) on infants with clubfoot that is being treated by serial casting. Some mothers are fine holding their child during this 5 minute procedure, but yesterday the mother looked like she might pass out when the doctor explained what they were going to do to her child. For once, I could see she was very uncomfortable so I offered to hold the baby and let her sit outside. As I held the baby while the doctor and his assistants prepared, the baby promptly peed on the sheet on my lap under him! Go figure! I guess I bring out the best in everyone! The tenotamy went well and the child’s leg was casted in the corrected position. The hardest thing for me when holding a child that is undergoing a tenotamy is feeling the Achilles tendon snap. The feeling is a little freaky. Since Embu is about 4 hours away, when we left at around 4pm I knew we wouldn’t get into Kijabe until after dark. When I got back to the house it felt like midnight! However, it was only 8:30 so I took care of my evening responsibilities and tried to watch a movie. Bad Idea! I fell asleep halfway through!

I addition to my other responsibilities this week, I was house-sitting for a missionary family on vacation. This basically just requires me to feed their 5 cats and lock the youngest two in the storeroom at night. I were kind enough to let me stay in their house when I wanted/needed to this week and that has been a big blessing because they live halfway between my house and CURE so the distance to work is half. All my transportation this week has left from the hospital compound so being that much closer allowed me to sleep more than I could have if I stayed at my house. (For example, yesterday, I was able to sleep until 4am instead of 3:30am, etc.)

• Friday, I spent the morning in the house so I could focus on my write ups and admin work. The noise at the workshop makes it hard at times to write up a patient’s story/profile.

I wish I could say that was all that happened that week, but it wasn't. On Monday, I found out that one of my hallmates in college lost her father to cancer. This made me sad and caused me to start prayer for her and the rest the the grieving family. On Wednesday, an AIM missionary and friend of mine, Martha Pontier, had to be admitted to the hospital with a fever of 104 F. I found out on Thursday that another missionary friend of mine in Texas, Joe Comroe, went to be with LORD after fighting the effects of "Agent Orange" for the last several years. Friday, Martha seemed to be getting better, but by Saturday she had to be moved to a hospital room with Oxygen. Sunday morning she was in ICU. AIM worked as hard and fast as they could to get her medi-vacted to South Africa, but to no avail. Sunday night she was moved from Mombasa to a hospital in Nairobi. I got a call right after lunch on Monday, April 23rd, that Martha was in the arms of Jesus. Her illness had lasted 5 days from beginning to end!

Did I mention that this missionary was the sister to the missionaries whose house I was watching?

SO, in the course of a week I lost 3 people I knew. Each one hitting closer to home and more abrupt than the one before. I had only met my hallmate's Dad once, but I knew her VERY well. Joe and I both worked at Missionary TECH during my time in Texas and I got to know him and his family well. But as I said before, he had been suffering the effects of exposure to "agent orange" used in the Vietnam War for several years so his death by cancer was to be expected. Then, there was Martha. I first met her a couple months ago when I visited Mombasa. Then, I had gotten to know her even better when she came to Kijabe to stay with her niece and nephew while their parents, her sister and brother-in-law, were in India on business. The suddenness of her death hit me hard. In fact, I was looking forward to possibly meeting her again last week when I was down in Mombasa helping out her sister and niece with some organizing and renovations down there. 

Our exhibit table at the CHAK Conference

Then, there was this last week. Since Martha's illness, my trip to Mombasa had been cancelled. However, I was told Monday morning that the hospital (AIC-Cure International Children's Hospital) wanted me to represent them (and LIMBS International) at an exhibit booth during the annual CHAK (Christian Health Association of Kenya) conference in Limuru, about a half hour from Kijabe, starting Tuesday morning. This was definitely something orchestrated by God. When my trip to Mombasa didn't work out, HE filled my time with something else to keep my mind off the deaths of two dear friends. And you know, God even enabled me to stay calm in the midst of all the disorganization during the conference? The late nights and early mornings forced me to sleep at night and not think to much about the sorrows. The conference ended Thursday afternoon and I was exhausted! After a half hour accidental nap, I went to praise team rehearsal as scheduled, then, returned to my house and slept. 

Friday, I spent the day waiting for and building wheelchairs for someone who was supposed to pick them up, but never showed. 

"We interrupt this dialogue with a weather update." 

 "Due to the heavy rains this week and the tremendous rainfall last night [Friday], the tunnel leading to Kijabe is blocked and mud/landslides have blocked many parts of the only major access road to Kijabe and her hospitals"

This is the main road into Kijabe and yes, that is a full sized
railroad pylon at the men's feet!
(about a mile from the railroad and tunnel)

Full-sized tree swept down the hill into the middle of the
main road.

In front of the church. If you blow up the picture, you can
just see the the church gate to the right of the red motorcycle
and the church sign on the ground behind the two fallen trees.

This WAS the RVA fenceline! Everything is wiped
out from here to the gate.

The tunnel before it was cleared.

Above the tunnel/the railroad tracks!
The water went OVER the tunnel/railroad tracks!

The road directly after the tunnel /railroad bridge.

Another landslide blocking the road.

"Now back to your dialogue."

Judy and Me

As mentioned above, Friday nights heavy rain caused mudslides, landslides, and a flash flood that essentially cut Kijabe off from the outside world and on the one Saturday I HAD TO go to Nairobi. I was going to meet a friend that I had not seen in close to a decade and Saturday was our only chance to meet before she returned to Western Kenya to teach. Well, where there is a will there's a way! Since the tunnel was blocked I walked up the hill over the railroad tracks over the tunnel (about a mile) and caught a ride on the other side to Limuru and then on to Nairobi. I had a wonderful visit with my friend, Judy, and by the time I returned to Kijabe, the tunnel was clear and I was able to get transportation all way down to Kijabe. A long day, but it was worth it. 

Yesterday was Martha's funeral. Nine of her friends from Mombasa were able to make it to Kijabe to attend. Martha was the manager of Amani Acres, a retreat area for missionaries to escape their hectic lives and relax. Martha was loved by practically everyone she met and therefore many are devastated by her suddeen death. The funeral was full of stories about her hospitality, generosity, and love for Christ. Many of us in Kijabe prayed that the rains would hold off until after the funeral and God answered. The rain did not start until after the final shovel of dirt was laid on the grave! However, it was hard to see Martha being buried and her mother, who traveled all the way from the US for the funeral, was unable to stand in her grief and had her eldest son stand for her to do the necessary things. PLEASE KEEP THIS FAMILY IN YOUR PRAYERS!

Now is a new week and I have more time to think.

Prayer Requests:

• For those grieving the loss of loved ones. Not only the ones mentioned above but also for the family that lost three children in Friday night's mud/landslide.
• Pray for me as I grieve. Losing two people I am close to in one week is hard and this week not as much is going on and I will have more time to think.
• I am trying to arrange a training seminar on the LIMBS knee for sometime this summer. Please pary that the details would work out. 
• Pray for those affected by the landslide, mud slides, and flash floods here in Kijabe. This is the worst mudslide and flooding Kijabe has had since anyone can remember. Several homes have either been entirely washed away or filled with mud. 
• Please pray that interest in the LIMBS knee would pick up and that these legs can get to those who need them most. 

Praises:

• God gave me and those with me safety during our travels.
• Praise God that Martha's Family was in Mombasa when she got sick and were able to be with her during her entire illness.
• Praise God for keeping my house and my neighbors safe during the flooding.