God's Uplifting Strength

A bible verse that is growing very much in popularity with me is John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world."

I am excited about sharing this post today! I have so much to say and tell, but just not enough time do it so I will be picky in what I am sharing. Today was a very different day for me...I feel as if God has opened my eyes and revealed a miraculous event to me! Myself and many others have been in prayer for so long in preparation for this journey, but nothing could have fully prepared me for what I have experienced. I was in complete shock the past few days, but today I was able to embrace this culture! I fully believe in the power of prayer! So many brothers and sisters in Christ have been lifting me up in prayer; I have been dwelling in God's presence, I have been consumed in His Word, and I have been praying reverently. I am in awe of His strength! I started my day by gathering with the other physicians this morning for prayer time and to review a case. Prayer with other healthcare providers before starting a day filled with such hardship is such a lifting experience! As I started seeing my patients today I felt God's strength in me! I was able to show the children such compassion without completely breaking down...it was a great accomplishment and one that would not have been possible without God! The children are so loving and thankful! They are in love with "white" people, and are overcome with joy by just a smile or a handshake! Critically ill children, children fighting for their lives, and they are so appreciative of all you do! It is such a great motivation for my day! There were definitely still hardships to endure today, just as there will be everyday in this society, but there is so much that is positive! An 8 year old child is being sent to hospice tomorrow for an illness that could have been cured in the US. If a certain drug that is routine for pregnant mothers in the US had been affordable for a mother over here, her baby would not have permanent brain damage. Everyday I could sit down and be depressed about the tragedies that occur here, but by God's will I am choosing not to! I walked around with a big smile on my face all day today because that is what these children need! In the pediatric unit 1 in 9 children die, in the neonatal unit 1 in 5 die....but so many children live!!! It is a miracle that so many children are able to survive in these conditions. Tenwek Hospital (a mission led hospital) is considered one of the nicer hospitals in Kenya...in the US it would not meet the standards of even our poorest hospitals. It is so amazing that they can do so very much with so little! It shows me even more so how ridiculous the US healthcare system is!

Just a little background of why the mortality rate of children is so high in Kenya. The average income for a Kenyan FAMILY is 100 Shilling per day (about $1.50) and my meal at a fast food place in Nairobi (small value meal consisting of a chicken sandwich, small fry, small soda) costs 490 Shilling.....what an average family makes in 5 days was the price of my one meal!!! In the healthcare system in Kenya patients must pay for their treatment upfront...if they were to send bills out the hospitals would never get paid and they would not be able to function. It may seem harsh to turn people away who can't afford treatment, but it is necessary. The hospitals do try to make everything as affordable as possible. With such a low income and having to pay upfront, treatment is often only sought if the illness is life-threatening. So, pretty much every pediatric case seen in inpatient is a critical case. The sad part to this story is that many of the conditions seen could have been cured early on if the parents would have sought medical treatment before the condition became so severe.

Apart from my clinical experience, I got to eat American food today! I've only been away from the states for 4 days now (although it seems like months), but it funny how fast you miss the little things! We are so spoiled in the US that we eat for comfort, not survival. Therefore, if something doesn't taste good, we don't eat it. It has been a challenge for me to eat Kenyan food because to me nothing taste good. Today, a missionary family from the US (they are all from the US) had myself, Nathan, and Lyle (a visiting medical student) over for lunch. We had beef stew, carrots, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, and brownies for desert!!! I never thought I would be so excited about food! The taste was wonderful! I am learning very quickly an appreciation for the little things!! I only hope that this appreciation carries back over with me to the states!

One more story, then on to school work! I was walking on a mile long path today that surrounds Tenwek. When the children that were playing in their yard saw me walking by, they quickly flocked to me screaming with excitement! They rubbed my blond hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and kissed my arms...each one just wanted to simple touch me. It was such a joy for me that by simply being present I could bring a little excitement into these kids lives!

Overwhelmed

As Justin and I were saying our "Goodbyes" at the airport this past Sunday, Justin handed me 52 letters: one initial letter to read on the airplane, and a note for each day I am away. The notes are labeled Day 1 - Day 51 so I can read them in order, and each includes a bible verse to read, an encouraging note, and a prayer for that day. (I know, I have an amazing fiance!) These notes have provided me with a sense of comfort and enjoyment each day thus forth. Today's bible verse was 1 Thessalonians 5:11, "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing." My prayer was: Pray to be encouraged and to recognize ways to encourage others today. This was perfect for the day I had today!

It is hard adjusting to this culture. My mind races each night, so the sleep I am getting is minimum. The taste of the food here is not appealing, so I am also getting minimum of that. Only the missionaries and healthcare workers speak English, and the Kenyan healthcare provider's "English" is a struggle to understand. Adapting is very hard! With all that said today started off pretty well. Nathan and I got a tour of the hospital, the we went to Doctor's Devotional which takes place every Wednesday morning. This morning the devotional related to covenants, since an intern is about to marry this weekend. I enjoyed the devotional very much since I too am about to become a wife. We had prayer time which was a refreshing way to start rounds. Afterward we got a brief orientation...mainly about HIV precaution, then split into the units we will be working with for the next 3 weeks. Nathan is in OB/GYN and I am in Pediatrics/Neonatal. At this point my day took a slight decline.

We started our rounds with the teenage children, one of which died this morning due to Heart Failure. Heart failure in children in the US is rare, but in Kenya is quite common. Parents of children with infectious diseases don't seek care immediately due to cost. Infectious diseases left untreated often turn into rheumatic heart disease causing the heart failure. With the younger children common problems were: meningitis, pneumonia, malnutrition, malaria, and of course the majority had HIV.

Intensive Care Unit (ICU):



Pediatrics:








During lunch I sat with some of the missionaries who were able to provide me with much comfort and prayer. As for the ones who know me well, yes of course I cried the whole time.

After lunch and after I thought the tears had ceased, I went to the NIC Unit (Neonatal Intensive Care Unit) for rounds. As soon as I walked into the room the tears started flowing again! There were about 30 babies between 2-3 lbs in the hand built wood boxes...many with IVs, NG tubes, and heating lamps. The rate of mortality in this unit is about 1 in every 5 babies. After I gained my composure, I finished out the rounds with my team in that unit only to move on to the ICU. In the ICU we were seeing two children that had been poisoned by their mother the night before. The mother had decided to poison herself and her three children...one child was dead, one unresponsive, one beginning to show signs of improvement, and their mother was alive and well a few beds away. I can not and will not lay judgment on this mother for I do not know anything about her situation, and after the past few days I can not begin to imagine what it might be like...but how sad when someone feels like they have no other choice but to kill their three children and themselves.

Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU):
















After many tears were shed, I was able to share my night with new friends which provided me with much encouragement. The missionaries at this facility are powerful followers of God! The mission statement at Tenwek is "We Treat - Jesus Heals" and they wholeheartedly believe in that statement! I know I have mentioned many negative things in today's post, but that is the way of life here and I want to paint an accurate picture. Through all the hardship that is faced though, Kenyans are very kind, loving people. I can learn so much from this way of life! God is truly teaching me how to rely fully upon His strength! God is and will always be our ultimate healer!!!

My First Impression

"So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Luke 11:9-10
Dear Heavenly Father,
I ask for guidance! I know You have led me on this journey for a reason, and that reason is what I seek. Please don't let my worldly views stand in the way of what this journey is about, don't let my close-minded ways blind me from seeing Your purpose. Open my eyes Lord! Be my hands and feet! Let me "be clear minded and self-controlled so that I can pray." 1Peter 4:10-11 says, "Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God's grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ." Help me to speak Your Word and to serve with Your strength! Lead me! Use me Lord in which ever way best serves You and brings You glory! I pray for the people at Tenwek! I pray for their healing physically and more importantly spiritually. I pray that You not only use me to radically change the lives of these people forever, but You also use them to help change me forever! Help me to live in a way that is radical, always showing my love and devotion to Jesus Christ!
In Jesus name I pray...Amen!
A new world was shown to me today. One that I have never fully comprehended its existence, but it is hard to deny something that you see with your own eyes. The following pictures display the "normal" lives of the people of Kenya.

An American Flag in a Kenyan Car:


I dozed off for a bit!


Gorgeous Scenery:


Various Towns From Nairobi to Tenwek:











The Market Area Around Tenwek:

Raffle Winners!!!

Congratulations to Joy McCubbin for winning a 42" Insignia TV, and Craig Keith for winning a Wireless Blueray Player...they were the raffle winners!!! Thank you both for your support!! A special thanks to: Best Buy, The Hotrods, my family and friends, and everyone who supported me by purchasing a raffle ticket!!! I leave for Africa in 14 days!!! Everything is falling into place perfectly, which puts to ease any underlying doubts that I have had! The amount of support that my family, friends, and pure strangers have shown me is absolutely incredible!! God has truly began to work in my life! I can not wait to begin my journey overseas! Thank you all again...this would not have been possible without your support!!!