Greetings friends,
Thank you for caring about our neighbors and our family in Kijabe. This fall has continued to be an interesting time, with encouraging events like rebuilding from the floods and new families moving to Kijabe, and challenges like national strikes over education and healthcare. Continue below to hear a patient story, a library update, a message from Auntie, and family happenings.
In the turmoil of the changing national healthcare system, our work at the hospital feels more important than ever. Patients with dental infections, like the elderly Maasai lady in the top photo, have a hard time finding hospitals capable of providing treatment. She had visited several facilities closer to her village, but they were unable to treat her infection, which had become quite severe by the time we performed her surgery. She stayed with us for weeks, undergoing dressing changes and multiple surgeries. Her son translated our Swahili instructions into Maa, the only language that she speaks.
Patients with mandibular ameloblastomas, benign bony tumors of the jaw, usually spend years searching for a hospital that can offer reconstructive surgery. We have performed 14 jaw reconstructions using the fibula bone since our arrival, with each surgery lasting 8-10 hours. This is only possible with the help of visiting teams, lots of donated equipment, and the dedicated hospital staff staying late to help us. Pray that God would continue to provide the resources and perseverance to allow this type of surgery to continue.
Residents completing their surgical training spend time with me in clinic learning new skills, like to how clean ears using a microscope. When they finish their training and set out to a rural mission hospital, they are likely to be the only surgeon for many miles. I don’t envy their task of caring for patients with diseases outside their comfort zone, with sparse resources and minimal equipment. Pray that God would equip them for every good work, and that the Peace of God would fill their hearts as they face challenges from every side.
Kenya is typically a relatively stable country compared to its neighbors. However, recent political scandals have shaken people’s faith in the president, leading to impeachments, strikes, and general unrest. For the family that lives in the house above, any changes to the price of flour or salt means longer days tending crops just to put food on the table. Extra money for school fees or healthcare is hard to come by. Pray that Kenyans can unite, and seek peace over violence in these difficult times.
The boys just had their midterm break, it’s hard to believe the term is already halfway over! Henry is loving first grade, working hard and playing hard, too. He has been able to play football (soccer) with some of the other elementary students and looks forward to every practice and game. Owen is getting adjusted to Kindergarten and loves learning with his fellow classmates. He has 5 boys and 1 girl in his class and he is gaining more confidence every day. Grace and Emma are enjoying “girl time” each morning while Owen is at school. Grace loves doing crafts and playing with her friends. Emma is growing up so fast and is getting stronger all the time. We were able to hike the volcano near our house last Friday and we think Emma might be one of the youngest ever to make the climb.
Thank you so much for the continued prayers for Baby Blessing and her family. She is growing and healthy, thanks to both the numerous prayers lifted on her behalf and the infant formula we have been able to provide thanks to generous donations. Her father, Baba, is still unemployed. He used to work harvesting cashews but has not been able to find employment for several months. Please pray that he is able to find work soon. Below is a message from Auntie to you:
“Thank you for supporting baby ‘Blessing’. She is growing well. We really appreciate it. May God bless you more.”
The children’s library is well under way with many renovations happening in the past month. I (Mary Beth) was able to meet the new Pastor named Paul and got approval to start work again. We were not aware, but it is customary for Pastors to be assigned to a different church every 5 years. So, Peter finished his time with AIC Kijabe Church at the end of June and Paul came in as the head Pastor starting in July. Pictured above, you can see myself with Pastor Paul, Jeff (the grounds manager who has been the one hiring workers for the renovations), and Lydia (the main receptionist for the church). I feel so blessed to work alongside this team and the library space is coming together very nicely!Here’s a break-down of all that has been accomplished in the past month: built bookshelves for the middle of the room, installed wheels on these shelves so they can be moved aside for library events, sanded, cleaned and stained all of the shelves, built a desk for the librarian, repurposed wooden couches to be used as seating for the library, bought curtains and rods and installed on all the windows, and had cushions made for the couches. And here’s the remaining to-do list: replace the broken windows, replace the lock on the library door, buy/make a chair for the librarian.The books are getting loaded onto the container in North Carolina and will be shipped soon. It’s a long journey for the books to get to Kijabe, so please pray that they arrive without issue.
Prayer requests:
Please pray that the government would fix the national healthcare system speedily. This month they attempted to switch to a new system, even though it was not ready yet. That means that everyone without private insurance is left to pay out-of-pocket for any medical expenses they need emergently, causing them to go into awful debt.
Bryce’s ENT partner is heading back to the US this week for the next 3 months. Please pray that he has a safe journey and that Bryce and Michelle are able to find a manageable schedule that allows them to help all the patients without getting overwhelmed.
Emma is starting to show symptoms of food allergies, she has the same rashes that Owen and Grace had when they were young. Please pray that we would be able to figure out what she is allergic to and that she would be comfortable. We plan to have her visit an allergist in the US in December to have her tested.
Please continue praying for Baby Blessing and her family. Pray that Blessing will continue growing stronger each day and that Baba can find a good job.
We are so grateful for your dedication to praying for us and for our community. Your support gives us strength and encouragement daily!
Kenya Hear 