Rick and I led our first trip to Kenya together from June 11 - 23! Although leaving the kids was difficult, we had a chance to prepare for our move there which proved to be very helpful.
We led a team of 11 people (two of whom were my parents!). Day 1 was spent Nairobi visiting the Tea Farm, the Nest, and Kijabe Hospital. We then headed out to 'The Hill' for a week of loving on the kids, teaching the kids, and running medical clinics. We ended the week enjoying God's creativity on safari!
This was our team:
Rick and Ann
Mike and Rose Matlak - resident Doctor and loving mother
Jeanette, Kara, and Joel Gitskin - teacher and 2 energetic and engaging teenagers
Dan and Noah Huffman - Children's pastor and teen musician
Lynda Toner - Physician's assistant and lover of Maasai women
Barb Anema - Nurse
The highlight of the week was definitely Pastor Dan, Joel, Kara, and Noah and their amazing kids programs! All the children at the home LOVED participating in the games and teaching!
We ran clinics on 4 days and saw lots of interesting 'Third World' diseases unfamiliar to our American experience but, having Dr. Mike there who has been in Kenya for the last 6 months proved to be invaluable. We were able to help many needy people and were blessed by their grateful spirits.
During the week we were also able to meet with a woman named Dinah Timuti from Kenyatta University. She is the mother of our friend Abe Timuti (Chapel friend). She spearheads a program at the University that partners with developing areas to raise the standard of living. Her work was inspiring and extremely interesting. We look forward to partnering with her to help this area of Kenya. More to follow on the 'Model Home' we will be building in the future!!!
Rick and I were also able to work on getting our work permit. This is an exhausting process in Kenya and being there before we move was very beneficial in pushing this process forward.
Overall, we were most impacted by the grateful spirits of the Maasai community and the warm hospitality. For people with literally nothing compared to our lifestyles here, they have a sense of gratitude unmatched by anyone I know here. They recognize God in every blessing. The children are all so well loved and are doing such an amazing job caring for each other. They are so diligent in their studies and have such a joy about them. It is a privilidge to be with them and we SO look forward to getting to know each of them more personally when we move there.
