This will be our last full post from Kenya. We have loved our time here and are saddened to leave. We have made many great friends and been involved in so many wonderful ministries. Thank you to everyone who have supported financially and through prayers. Here is just a sampling of the ways your gifts have been used:
1. Feeding, clothing and providing basic needs to orphans and widows
2. Purchasing land for a widowed Rwandan refugee with 6 children
3. Purchasing Bibles for a ladies Bible study that disciples over 3,000 women in the community
4. Purchasing Bibles for a local church
5. Providing medication for widows and the needy
6. Providing school fees and supplies for orphans
7. Supplying fertilizer & seed for planting
8. Much More!
We had several goodbye parties this past week. It made our leaving very special and even more difficult. The surgery department held a party during chai time for John where several people spoke about his influence in the department. John also spoke at Community Health to encourage them in their good work. The ladies Bible study had a special time of prayer and chai for us. They presented John with a Maasai sword (he was WAY excited) and AnneMarie with a Maasai dress. They gave me 2 handmade necklaces and a scarf. We were so touched by every “goodbye” party that we had. Saturday, we had over 20 Kipsigis come to our house to say good bye. We will miss this community and the relationships so much. We are anticipating our return here whenever John finishes residency.
We would like to encourage any doctors or dentists who are interested in missions of any length to contact us or World Medical Missions (see link in the side bar). We have had a wonderful experience and have seen a great need for doctors not only at Tenwek, but at other hospitals in Kenya and the rest of the underserved world.
Here are some of our highlights of the last 9+ months:
1. Reconnecting with the friends we made at Tenwek in 2005
2. Safaris! Including the wildebeest migration, lion kills and baby animals
3. Seeing the peace of the Holy Spirit present in the lives of patients with terminal cancer who know Christ
4. AnneMarie changing from a baby to a talkative toddler
5. Listening to people pray in their language
6. Our families coming to Kenya to experience our life and to better understand what we do
7. Learning to speak (John) and sing (Krista & AnneMarie) in Kipsigis and Kiswahili
Things we can’t wait to do in the good ole’ USA:
1. Drink Dr Pepper
2. Drive on the right side of the road….the non-bumpy, non-dusty road
3. Air conditioning
4. Have a dishwasher & dryer
5. Drink water out of the faucet (without boiling and filtering)
Things we will not miss about Kenya:
1. Bumpy, dusty, rutted, diverted, non-existent roads
2. Beef/mystery meat stew (consist mainly of bones and gristle)
3. Poor internet…grrrrr
4. The dry season
Although I am not looking to flying for 18 hours pregnant and with a toddler, we can’t wait to get home to our families and friends. Thank you for your support, prayers and encouragement. We hope that next time we return to Kenya, some of you may come to serve with us or just to visit!
P.S. I just realized as I was posting this that we hadn’t announced that we are having another girl!
