A Time and a Season

Four years ago today, I was deciding whether or not to go on my first trip to Iraq on a medical team. I decided yes, and I went. A few months after that, I left my beloved job working as a PICU Respiratory Therapist, and took a "one-year" leave-of-absence to volunteer full time in Kenya.

Today, I have spent the morning writing e-mails to people who have been sponsoring me in Kenya, to let them know they can stop donating because I have enough funds to see me through to March. Now I'm thinking of what to say to the girls Bible study group when I meet with them this evening. A season of my life is ending. I have been crying all morning long.

Yes, they are tears of sadness, because I will desperately miss this place, the people here, my friends, and especially the kids. Preparing to leave and thinking of saying goodbye is the worst. I will be doing a lot of reflecting over the next 2 1/2 months.

This is not to say that I have nothing to look forward to! I know God has great plans, because of all I have experienced up to this point. I won't pretend to know that lies ahead of me for the next four years, because I could never have imagined what I have just experienced over the past four. I'm starting a new course, and God will change it and mold it as usual.

I am coming to terms and coping with the stress of drastically changing course again, and starting a whole new scary, challenging, journey into the unknown. This is going to be a cake walk! And when I say cake walk, I mean there will be a lot of cake-eating, followed by a lot of walking to undo the consequences of this epic cake-eating.

To everyone else who is facing great changes this year - my advice is to cling tight to God, and eat more cake. =)

Do I still have a blog?

Today I remembered I still have a blog, that I should be updating more often than I do. I remember how easy it was to blog during the first year in Kenya - I was so excited when I could get online, and I seemed to always have photos to post a story with. Every year since then, I have vowed to blog more frequently or at least more consistently, and every year since I have posted fewer and fewer stories and blogs. Why is this? Well, sometimes I start writing about my day or a story, and halfway through I think, "does anyone really care about what I did on a typical day like this?" Often I end up deleting it because I decided it was too long or too boring! But while I was home the question I was asked most often is "what is your typical day?"

So today I will just tell you about my regular, boring day. =)

Today I woke up early, thinking I would try to leave the house before 7am to visit Michael in the hospital, anticipating that he would probably go to surgery this morning and I wanted to see him first. Mety insisted that he probably wouldn't be operated on until later in the day, so I stopped rushing and had chai and left the house when she did - about 7:45. We walked to the end of our road and I caught a matatu to town while she headed to the village. I was in town by 8am, and stopped by a phone shop to buy a SIM card for a temporary phone I wanted to give to Michael so he could use it while he is admitted. After standing in a line that did not move at all for 20 minutes, I walked to a different shop and bought a SIM card for 50 shillings (about 60 cents) and minutes (for $1.25). I sat for about 10 minutes while the phone guy registered the phone and loaded it with minutes, then I walked down the hill and got a motorbike ride to the hospital. Michael was still sleeping when I arrived at his bed, but he was excited to get the phone so he didn't mind me waking him! He told me his surgery would be in the evening. I gave him the phone, then told him I would come later and he should go back to sleep! I got another motorbike to a cafe in town where I know the staff, so that I could drop off medicines for a child in Kambi Teso, which would be picked later by a co-worker who is going to the slum today. I then walked to the matatu stage to go to the village. A man grabbed my arm as I was crossing the street to the stage, and tried to take a coffee cup out of my hand. I pushed his hand away with my other arm and told him very firmly in Swahili to leave me alone. The shopkeepers behind him laughed and rebuked him for harassing a mzungu who "knows Swahili."
After a 20 minute matatu ride, I reached the village road just as a motorbike with a passenger was starting down the road towards the village. I hesitated, thinking of calling another one, then decided to just walk to the village. But the motorbike guy and his passenger stopped and backed up to pick me, so I got a quick ride down the dirt road!
Two sick kids were waiting for me, one with an eye infection and another with asthma. I treated both of them, then did some cleaning in pharmacy, then met with one of our high-school girls who came home for half-term break. It's only 12:00pm, so most of the day is still ahead of me. I'll go to baby home next to follow-up with some development education and do paperwork. This evening I will visit Michael and hopefully see his mom who is traveling to see him today. Then I am meeting Peter at a clinic in town to change the bandage on his leg, and afterwards Mety and I are going to a friend's house to cook popcorn chicken for dinner.

That's a typical day. =)

What a difference a day makes!

Sunday afternoon, Michael was sitting in his sister's house in Kipkaren slum, with no idea that I was going to show up that evening to invite him for a school interview. The next morning, we both woke up very early to meet in town so I could bring him to Open Arms.

He spent Monday morning taking tests to determine what grade he could be placed into. By the end of the day he had a school uniform, and an invitation to stay at the head teacher's home during the week, to save him from long daily commutes from Kipkaren! Michael took all of this news in quietly. That evening, he was given transport money to return to Kipkaren - this time to pack his clothes and return the next morning to Open Arms.

Tuesday, Michael sat at his own desk in a classroom for the first time in 3 years! Tuesday night would be his first night staying with his new host family. During the day I had gone to town and bought him some basic things - a backpack, blankets, sheets, wash basin, soap, and some shoe polish for his brand new black school shoes!

I posted about Michael's needs on Facebook on Monday, and by Wednesday morning he had a school sponsor and some other donations to help cover his additional costs! Thank you so much for caring for Michael and for your quick response to his need!! He has a lot of catching up to do, but his future has changed because of the opportunity your generosity is giving him!

In Loving Memory...

I visited my Grandma this Christmas, and while I was there she bought some new clothes for Asha - her sponsored child. I was so excited to bring them back and send her photos of Asha trying them on! But, my Grandma went to be with the Lord on January 5th, 2014, just one day before I was due to come back to Kenya. I stayed longer in the U.S to attend her memorial and spend time with family, and just arrived back in Kenya this week.Today, Asha tried on her new clothes. She absolutely loved them, and was so excited to try them all on! Now I am sending these photos to my Aunt, Uncle, and my mom, who are continuing Asha's sponsorship for my Grandma. But as Asha was trying on the clothes, I was wondering if just maybe my Grandma can see her, too. I'm sure Asha's joy in these pictures is just a tiny glimpse of the joy we will someday share in Heaven!

In loving memory of Josephine Magrogan

May 9, 1923 - January 5, 2014

Wisdom from Baby Home!

Life lessons from a few of our babies.....

If someone lets you out, take off running! And don't be afraid to take a few falls....

The cuter you are, the more you can get away with. And it's ok to dance in the middle of the road, as long as no cars are coming.

Be sure to point out interesting scenery, to anyone who might not be noticing it.

Get a stick,

or two....or three!

 and don't be afraid to use it!

If someone takes your stick, don't waste time - move on and find something better!

So little, but so wise! =)

Michael's progress...

Michael is continuing to heal and improve. He is very happy to be bearing full weight on his leg, and these days when I go to his house to do dressing changes, I never find him sitting down! 

I have been taking occasional photos of his leg, and it's nice to see the progress! He's really come a long way. Thanks for your prayers and support!

Knit two!

Update on the girls knitting: They are finishing lots of scarves. =)

Debora and Grace - two of the youngest who have learned and actually kept going! Both of them have finished scarves!

Naomi - Last week she got the hugest pile of tangled yarn I have EVER seen. Three girls spent over an hour trying to detangle it and ended up taking it all home still in a mess. She brought it back this week, cut into pieces and tied back together - she's still going! Love this girl.

Mercy

Rachael has finished 8 scarves in the last month. She knits SO fast! =)

Grace and Mercy Chumba, having fun!

Phylis

Risper

Marion

Purity

Sheila - showing off all her finished scarves!