Jambo! We are here at Maua Methodist Hospital spending our last day, wrapping up, some visiting the Zoe project, some slinging mud with Moses, some sorting ALL 500 pounds of children's clothes sent by YOU, some painting with Erastus, and Katie...blogging and painting a mural to leave behind from the team!
Today we want to tell you about 2 things, Kelly's amazing experiences with Jim, Sue, and the Chaplain this week, as well as all of our experiences building the home for the Zoe family, which was only made possible by YOU!
Tomorrow we leave to head back to the bio-intensive farm in Meru, where we will stay until very early Tuesday morning. Our job there is to help build a pig pen! Also, I apologize there have been no photos just yet, we are grateful to Jim and Sue for allowing us to use their personal computers to blog, but have not wanted to upload all 1000 photos on Alison's memory card onto their computers, and have not had much luck connecting an iPad to WiFi:(
Kelly: To say that this mission trip has been amazing would be a serious understatement! I have had the pleasure of getting to witness some special events while in Maua. On Tuesday and Thursday I was allowed the opportunity to make rounds with the hospital Chaplain, Reverend Alexander and another clergyman, Evangelist Johnson, in Maua Methodist Hospital. Chaplain Alexander and Evangelist Johnson brought a holy and peaceful presence to the pain and suffering going on in the hospital. in each of the wards Chaplain Alexander would tell the patients that I was there to show that people do care about them and know that they are alive...someone noticed that there is a need in the hospital. And, as I walked around the wards on Thursday, Evangelist Johnson read from John 15:7 in order to "give the patients encouraging words to lift their spirits because it was what the Lord called him to do each and every day". These two men represented hope to hurting and lonely people in their time of need.
I was also given the privilege of preaching twice while in Maua. The first time being later on tuesday where God used me as His "mouth-piece" to the relatives who were coming to visit their loved ones in the hospital. I shared Scripture and a prayer in order to help them know that God cares about their situation and so do I. I was also asked to bring a Word during chapel on Wednesday but only afar the team lifted their voices in song as they sang "Sanctuary". It was an incredible experience which I won't soon forget.
Another awesome experience was Thurdsay when I was asked to join Jim and Sue Monroe (the new mission coordinators) and Community Outreach Coordinator for MMH (Stanley Gitari) to attend a meeting of tribal leaders down the hill from Maua at Kiwaru. The meeting was a gathering of chiefs and tribal leaders in order to get their blessings to drill a water well at the primary school at Nkaanga, which is like West Texas on steroids...very dry and dusty with no food and no water. As the meeting started, the tension was high on both sides because Jim and Sue and their team of friends in the US have invested time and energy into the well, and could continue drilling despite the outcome of the meeting. However, they wanted the blessing from the tribal leaders as they move forward with the project. But, there was also tension from the tribal leaders chiefs due to our presence there in that place. But, the leaders unanimously agreed to move forward with the project and thanked us profusely for going all that way because it showed how much total strangers care for them. It was humbling, to say the least, to hear how much they believed God had sent us there and that they appreciated us and our efforts to make their lives better...one well at a time.
God's blessings and providence have been evident throughout this journey but no where more than these days at Maua. God is good...all the time, and all the time...God is good!!!!
"What does the Lord require but to do justice, love mercy and walk humbly with your God". Micah 6:8
Madison, Alison, Katie: Many years ago, a native Kenyan whom we have come to know well as the Community Outreach Coordinator at MMH, Stanley Gitari identified a need in the Maua area. Children were becoming orphans due to the AIDS epidemic (see previous blog about Zoe Project).
Children are being left with crude shelter, and left to fend for themselves, older siblings left to care for younger siblings and grandparents. Part of the Zoe ministry aims to help those children secure a safe home for themselves and the ones they care for (they become the Head of Household). Stanley and others raised funds to build shelter for 1 of these families in 2004, and with the help of other groups and organizations have been able to build at least 10 units per year. These units include a concrete slab, 4 walls (sometimes a separating wall to create 2 rooms), and a roof. It is covered in creosote, painted, and ready to live in. Many times, the living situation for these families is much worse, a small shack made out of whatever scraps they can find, unwanted building materials, umbrellas, sacks, etc.
This week, with the help from St. Lukes UMC Midland church members, family and friends, the Kenyadoit2012 team was able to fund the supplies for and build a home for a Zoe family.
Mary, 16, head of household, her grandmother, Sopora, her sister, Wendy, 14 and Wendy's 2 month old baby, Zelma. Mary is still in school, and will soon start her business.
We were rained out on Monday, so building started Tuesday morning with 6 team members. Charles is the man in charge of the building, he has his own team that includes Margaret, the roofer. Since 2004, Charles has been in charge of the building of over 250 homes!
On Thursday, half of the team went out to finish the home, with the dedication at 3 pm. Around 2:30, we began cleaning up, and waiting for the rest of the team to show up. Several elderly neighbor women came to support our building of this home up in a village in the mountains.
We were surprised when, right around 3 o'clock, the neighbor women began singing a song while standing in the road...they greeted the rest of the team singing the song. We found out later that in Swahili, the song was about welcoming visitors and praising God. Evangelist Johnson led the ceremony which included scripture, prayer and a sermon. At the end, everyone surrounded the home, touching it, and Kelly read a prayer blessing the home! Stanley gave a wonderful talk, telling us over and over how this will CHANGE Mary and her family's life. In many ways, but especially because when children lost their parents to AIDS, there is a stigma attached to them, gaining a house helps them to gain some status back in the community. Alison said "the outpouring of joy and gratefulness was just so inspirational and moving", and Madison said "we were part of God's miracle"! When we exited, the women gathered again, walking us down the road to our vans, singing another song which meant "Thank you God for the miracle, asking God to send the miracle on to others". This was NO DOUBT THE BEST DAY EVER!
It costs just over $2000 American dollars to build one of these homes, and we were able to do it with YOUR help. We even got to hang a sign from the house that said "St. Lukes UMC, Midland TX, MMH, and all of our initials".
Kelly said " to hear the stories of God changing lives through the program and how we were a part of that mission was truly a God moment. Watching the face of the family including the new 16 year old head of household take the keys to her new home where she could take care of her siblings and grandmother while going to school was an incredible gift that was made possible by the team and members of the congregation known as St. Lukes UMC Midland!"
To say the least, THANK YOU from Mary and her family, and others for your support. WE ALL changed lives on August 23rd, 2012!
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