Summary
Thank you for reading my summary. You
may want just the highlights, then just read the
I went with a team from the US to Kenya
to do medical mission work in September 2013. Worked in a hospital, went on a
safari and worked in a rural clinic. I meet a lot of great people and learned
to love the people at home more as well as meet new friends whom I am trying to
keep in relationship with. I learned a lot about Kenya, it’s culture and
people; personally. Personally I learned a lot about myself though prayer,
reflection and pain.
Again thank you for your time in reading
and I look forward to hearing your stories. It is through our growth together
that we can better serve this Lord, Jesus Christ.
Trip
I received an e-mail from Medical
Benevolence Foundation (MBF) in May of 2013. I had already started to look for
some opportunity to go back to Africa in 2014. The Lord was just a little ahead
of me. It is great to get these hints along the way. The next blessing was
Angela, she agreed to take care of Ann (my 85 year old mother), while I was
away. I was taking care of her grandson, Alex and it worked out great. I got
the hints and started to prepare.
A few insights for me were: going to a
new country, going with new people, and medical focus. It would also give me
more insights in doing medical / nursing or engineering / maintenance. Both can
serve the Lord, but needed to go as an RN if really wanted to do medical
mission work.
I got a reality check from my friend,
Barbara Nagy. Barbara is a missionary in Malawi and I have been her friend for
several years and have served with her. “People love you and you can make a
good missionary,” she shared. She also suggested that RN’s are needed and
better accepted if they are registered in the US. She also had a few
suggestions to improve. Long hair is not preferred by the African Presbyterian
Church. They prefer a more conservative look for men and women. I need to be
aware of drinking alcohol and should be careful in joking and kidding around
with women. This hurt at first hearing, but growth usually only comes through
discomfort. So, I cut off my shoulder length hair and sent it to Locks of Love.
That was easy. Now, I stopped drinking two weeks prior to going and did not
drink at all during the trip. This was harder. Now about joking, I am just a
jokester. I did better but still kidded around, especially when it came to
dancing during worship. So, two out of three is not bad. During the trip I
learned more improvements to make me a better Christian.
The mission trip with MBF was going to
be a medical mission trip. This was another clue along the way. Do I do nursing
or not. It was great to be with a medical focused mission team. We had twelve
members, just like the disciples. Team members were from all across United
States and varied medical experiences. We had doctors, nurses, therapist,
teachers, and family members. We did not meet until the start of the trip in
Kenya. Our leader, Eve Tolley was a great, laid back leader, who had planned
and kept planning all the details, so it looked effortless. But it never is.
She labeled us the “God Team” and we were a good cohesive team. No medical
hierarch or stigma, if it needed to be done or said someone stepped forward and
worked together to best serve the Lord. That was our focus and helped keep the
group centered.
The trip was from September 13 to
October 12, 2013, about a month. The first two weeks was with the team working
at Tumutumu Hospital, the second two weeks Caitlyn and I worked at Sugarbaker
Memorial Dispensary. Both the hospital and dispensary are in Nyeri, Kenya.
Nyeri is about 2 hours north of Nairobi, the capital of Kenya. The first two
weeks were scheduled and well planned the second two weeks were open and
flexible. During my time at the hospital I worked as a nursing assistant in the
male ward. At the dispensary I helped build steps, fence and hedge. Between the
first two weeks and second the team went of safaris at two locations; Samburu
and Sweetwater. Transition from missionary to tourist was discomforting. To aid
in the transition I tried to stay focused on people and not actions. I made
friends with staff and other guest. One
of the team’s quotes for the trip was, “It is about Being not Doing.” I tried
to be genuine in my being with others and less focused on what I was doing. The
work is not near as important as the relationships and experiences, especially
the spiritual experiences and insights. I hope you get a feel for these
experiences and insights from this trip summary.
Kenya
I had never been to Kenya, so doing a
little research and reading, learned more about the country. A great book about
Kenya from a personal prospective is– Unbowed, by Wangari Muta Maathai. I read
it on the plane trip over and finished while I was there. Here are some of my insights and Wangari’s with
a little from Nelson Mandela.
Kenya is about the size of Texas and has
more Presbyterians (4 million) than all of US (3 million). The Presbyterian
Church Eastern Africa (PCEA ) is the dominate church in Kenya. Church growth
appears to be high in Kenya. Churches are growing and are also very active in
their communities by running hospitals, like Tumutumu and Sugarbaker and
orphanages. Over 80% of the population (44 M) is Christian and they do not mind
telling you that they are a Christian.
The people are educated with English and
Swahili is spoken across the country. But there are also tribal languages, like
Kikuyu. So, I started to learn Swahili, but also learned a little Kikuyu. The
main thing to remember is to listen with your heart and not your ears. I could
understand more of the meanings vs. the words. One day John and I were downtown
Nyeri and he was just talking away to me (the only white person, mzungu in the
town) in Kikuyu. People stopped him going down the street and asked if I
understood what he was saying and he would tell them, yes. This was a great
feeling, to be in the club. The current day definition of mzungu is “white
person”, but the original definition was “one who is spinning round in the same
spot, dizzy.” I call it “deer in head lights look”, maybe that is the look we white
people have on our faces when we are in Africa. It is eye opening.
Kenya has over 43 tribes. They appear to
have strong communal connections, especially in rural areas. The tribes have
their differences and appear to be the lines for political divide also. Most of
the people I was with were from the Kikuyu tribe. People appear to have a
stronger since of community and they even have a word for it, ubuntu. Nelson Mandela states part of the meaning as,
“what are you going to do to enable the community around you and enable it to
improve.” Other definitions are, “I am what I am because of who we all are,”
and “you can’t exist as a human being in isolation. We are interconnected. You
can’t be human all by yourself, and when you have this quality, you have to be
generous.” People in Kenya have much less (physically) than we do in US but
they have more of a since of community and caring for each other. I felt they
are more spiritual than we are in US.
It is getting harder and harder to care
for each other in Kenya when the countries unemployment is over 40% and in
Nairobi (about the same size as Los Angeles), is over 60% (LA is about 10%).
Therefore people have to share more or take more from each other. This conflict
can be felt in the caring for each other and the increase safety and home
protection. I always felt safe, but I am the mzungu and had lots of people
watching and caring for me.
Safari’s are a big industry in Kenya and
are known as the best in the world. The Maasai tribe is the main tribe in the
safari areas. We were close to Mt. Kenya, the second tallest mountain in
Africa. But it had clouds around the top most of the time. I did get a good
look early one morning.
People
There are three main groups of people:
team members, Kenya friends, and people left behind, I want to share about. My
prayer is that I continue warm bonds of Christian love with these friends and
loved ones.
The team was Eve, Glenn & Jackie,
Cinny & Bill, Tim, Shelley, Caitlyn, Ann & Chuck, Carla and me. Yes me,
“sometimes you need a little Meach and sometimes you don’t.” I was my silly, loud
self and worked hard to be a team player. I pushed the group some, but
hopefully not to the point of making them mad. Eve was happy with me taking a
lead on some task and she was also comfortable telling me to back off. Glenn
learned to use the Meach personality and traits and was comfortable in his role
as a non-medical person, facilities on a medical mission trip. God used us all
in and with our gifts.
Bill was the surgeon who was called by
God to operate on a young boy who had contacted him in US and just happened to
be ready for surgery when this trip was scheduled. God does have a plan we just
have to sit back and let him do the work and not us. Bill and I were able to
tell jokes with similar experiences and outlook on life. Tim (USNA) and I (USMA)
were old cadets hooking back up and telling stories. It was great to get to
know the non-doctor side of Tim. Faith and trust in the Lord is big in his
heart. A wonderful experience with Tim was, praying and laying on of hands on
David and Jessie the mother and father of the young boy Bill operated on.
Caitlyn was the bravest. She was working
temporally at MBF and saw the trip and said, “I’m going to Africa.” Her faith
and trust in the Lord is outstanding. She graduated from Wake Forest and is
applying to Physician Assistant schools, so she was interested in the medical
side and also children. But the most trusting part was she agreed to stay with
me the second two weeks. She got the aftershock of knowing the silly David
first, then seeing the serious David. Once you see the silly one, it is harder
to accept the serious one. We had to adapt to the life alone at Sugarbaker from
the group life at Tumutumu Guest House. We now had no schedule, no meals
planned or prepared and lots of unknowns with the clinic and surroundings. We
had a few hick ups at first but we each found a path that was workable, but was
not the best spiritually. Caitlyn focused on the children and I focused on a
new fence for the clinic. You see we are doing vs. being, opposite of what we said
we should do. I pray for Caitlyn today and hope her experiences at Sugarbaker
were insightful, meaningful and overall positive. It is these close
relationships I have to be more aware and focus on loving and caring for them
over and above myself.
My family back home loves me and care
for me. Angie was so kind and loving to care for Ann, my mother. It is not easy
caring for an 85 year old woman. My brothers and their families also helped and
I am grateful for their love and support. When I was in Kenya there was an
attack on a mall in Nariobri. Angie sent me a text that read, “Come home now.”
My church family also provided support. Bill Cain especially supported and
prayed for me as I journeyed out.
The sewing ministry quilts are such a
blessing and I was privileged to be able to give them away to Emily (head nurse
at Tumutumu Hospital), Geoffrey & Gladys (90 year old couple, house call),
Serah (Sugarbaker receptionist), and Miriam (host at Tumutumu Guest House). I
am grateful for all who supported me directly and indirectly in this mission
trip and reaching out in faith to serve others and grow in my faith in the
Lord.
Others that I met who live in Kenya
include: Nicholas, Emily, Virginia, Jack, Serah, Grace (student), Grace
(nurse), Peter, John, Samuel and many many more. I tried to write down each
one’s names and remember them.
Nicholas is the medical officer at
Sugarbaker. He is a very sweet and kind person. He showed
Emily the head nurse at Tumutumu reached
out to me at our first meeting, we shared our faith and faith journey. She
showed such care for others including me. I enjoyed Caitlyn’s and my visit to
her church. We did a lot of dancing, singing, worshiping, auctioning and just
loving the Lord for more than four hours. Felt like only a short time when you
are with one’s you love. Grace was the male ward head nurse at Tumutumu; she
treated me like one of the other staff. I greatly appreciated her telling me
what to do in Swahili. She said she said it in English but others confirmed she
asked me in Swahili and I knew “…. strappie…” was “I need tape”. She also
encouraged me to continue in nursing. She and Emily both commented on my caring
and nurturing spirit for patients.
While serving on the male ward, I was
accepted by the staff and work and did as they did and needed. Several of the
patients are on my heart: George, blind man, big man and young man with HIV.
George was assigned to me right away. He was big and incontinent. I loved
feeding and caring for him. One man wanted to know more about my family and I
got to meet his when they visited. The blind man got tangled in his clothes
going to the bathroom, I help him find his way and go to the bathroom. I told
him I was white and he said he knew it. The young man was dying for HIV and
other complications. I tried to provide some comfort. Death was common on the
ward. Thanks to Emily, Grace, nurses and students working to comfort others and
letting me work beside you in showing the love of Christ.
Jack is the MBF African contact. He is
very knowledgeable and focused on helping the hospitals in Africa. He was kind
to reach out to the team and to Caitlyn and me, later. I enjoyed our dinner at
Outspan, where Jack and Nicholas were the minority now but we were very happy
being together eating and visiting. Virginia had Caitlyn and me to her home
with her and her son for dinner. It was such a warm and caring atmosphere. She
is on the board of Sugarbaker and is a big support to Nicholas. Her mother just
died and I continue to reach out and share with her.
We visited and meet many students and
children. Two stand out for me Grace and Peter. Grace is a young lady at
Tumaini Children’s Home. She reached out when I first arrived and my heart says
to stay connected and reach out to her. Peter is a young man at Huruma
Children’s Home. He wants to be a lawyer and shared with me his medals for
track and his room. I am still reaching out to him and Grace. One at a time, I
pray for their growth and development.
The number of young adults in Africa is growing faster than anywhere
else in the world. We need to provide productive opportunities for them; the
alternatives are not near as positive.
God reached out a special hand to me as
we were leaving Kenya. Samuel is an older man
(70’s or so) who loves music and
would come to the Guest House at Kikuyu Orthopedic Rehabilitation Hospital in
Nairobi. We would stay a night at the Guest House when flying in and out of
Nairobi. We had meet Samuel when we came and I had told him when we were
leaving and that I would be back. We came back on Thursday night and flew out
on Friday afternoon. So, I thought well I will be sitting around all Friday
morning, then shows up Samuel. We had breakfast together and he invited me to
his home after he went and played for the hospital staff chapel service that
morning. I asked to join him at chapel and then go to his home. We had a nice
service at chapel, the sermon was about serving your neighbor even if you did
not like them. Then Samuel and I rode his motorcycle to his house. We had a
great visit with his wife Priscilla. He was so glad I would visit in his home.
His own brother who lives in London would not visit his home. What an honor to
be welcomed in someone’s home and life. I got an e-mail from him today and am
excited to have a new friend in the Lord.
 |
| Samuel & Priscilla |
Feelings
Baraka, mean “blessing” in Swahili. I
have so many blessings from this trip. Some are a little painful. But as I
learned in Junior High School, God can speak to me through pain. I felt some
pain and pray for growth from this experience.
I twisted my knee during a skit at the
Deaf School and the pain helped remind me to slow down in the caring for the
men in the hospital ward and caring for the other team members. I felt physical
pain building the steps and fence at Sugarbaker, which was reminder to slow
down and focus on being vs. doing, as I should be doing more of now. United
States way is fast and focused on doing, Kenya’s way is “pole, pole” or
“slowly, slowly” with more focus on being together. Slow down David enjoy the walk
and serving the Lord with others.
Enjoy worship, worship with song, dance
and your heart. It is OK to say you are a Christian. I loved introducing myself
as a believer of Jesus Christ; continue to do here at home. Don’t be numb to
life and your faith.
Alcohol can make me numb. I need to
control my drinking more or stop all together. Physically, if I am doing
mission work later in life I need to be more physically fit and not so heavy.
My physical possessions are also to be used best to glorify God. I need to
challenge more of my funds and what I really need vs. what God wants me to do
for others with these funds.
Be more concern and caring for those
right next to you. Learned so much from Caitlyn and how I need to be more aware
of those right in front of me and provide them comfort and care in their times
of pain.
I am so glad I felt more connected to
nursing and am going back to get my nursing degree and certification. It feels
right in my heart to be a nurse and care for others here or in Africa or where
ever. God will be with me.
Trusting in God and judging actions more
as what is best for Christ than David will do me a world of good. I am thankful
for God allowing me to travel to Kenya, serve others and to grow in my faith
and trust in him.
So, what do I do now? Do the personal
changes: regarding close relationships, church,
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