Bisil Medical Clinic - Thurs/Fri

Bisil Clinic Day 1

While the two and a half day delay gave us some unexpected time in the beautiful city of Paris and an entire day in Amsterdam, it seemed rather out of context.  Our hearts and minds were focused on serving the Kenyan people, not doing something fun for ourselves.  It was an odd juxtaposition of feelings

Upon arrival in Nairobi we showered and had breakfast at the Wathome's (pronounced wah-thome-ee) and finally headed out to Bisil to do our first medical clinic.  In less than 24 hours we journeyed from the booming metropolis of Amsterdam to the poverty stricken, rural village of Bisil, Kenya: home of the Maasai tribe.

 Village of Bisil in the background.

Arriving in Bisil around 4:00 PM didn’t give us much daylight time to get the clinic set up.  The sun sets early here and it is completely dark by 7:15 PM.  In those 3 short hours we had to transform the church into a medical clinic by hanging sheets from the ceiling beams to create “treatment rooms,” get the pharmacy unpacked and set up which included counting pills by candle light and flashlights.

Arriving at the Bisil church and assessing how to create the “treatment rooms.”

Leslie and Christine counting pills in the dark.
Don’t let the light fool you…it’s just my camera flash.

Hanging sheets to create the rooms.

During these daylight hours we also had the distinct pleasure of using the rather unadorned, primitive bathroom facilities.  Although warned ahead of time, I don’t think one can truly prepare oneself for using these facilities.

At least they had doors!

Soon into the evening, the church was transformed back into a worship hall and people began to assemble for worship time. Blackhawk Church members were the first to arrive. Soon a couple of women of the village came and started singing.  They had an endless supply of energy as they repeated the same song that is used as a call to worship for the village members.  One by one, the village members trickled in until the church was full.

Like the revolving gates one must pass through to access the subway, the church doors seemed to have a similar gate invisible to the eye but instead of allowing entrance it controlled a volume dial the increased as each person entered the worship hall.

Before long all the peoples of the village had errupted into song and dance praising God for His greatness.  Many of us "white folk" from America joined in the celebration and joined in the dancing with the Maasai people and their children - experiencing pure joy.  Many of looked at each other and exclaimed - "This is what it's going to be like in Heaven!"

Day 2

We woke up at the crack of dawn to the song of the roosters and quickly began our preparations for the day long clinic.  People came from long distances to attend the clinic to receive much needed medical care.  They began lining up outside the church doors at 7:15 AM.  After tea, cookies and butter sandwiches, the Blackhawk team moved into their places to begin seeing patients. Weights, blood pressures and pulses were taken prior to waiting to see one of the "doctors."  our 'doctors" consisted of 2 PA's, 2 nurses, a Neurologist and a local MD.  Symptoms were assessed, necessary injections administered, HIV tests taken, wounds attended to, HIV counseling given and medications dispensed.

All 18 women were in one room!

There were 3 of us on each one of these mattresses.

 School building where we slept

and housed the pharmacy.

Timothy dispensing meds at the pharmacy.

He is one of the pharmacists at BOH.

The long waiting line outside the clinic.

The children just love seeing their pictures on the camera.

 Jody with Sakina and her mother just after receiving their meds.

 On their school breaks,

the children always gathered to take pictures.

 The kitchen where our meals were prepared.

By the way....they were delicious!

A Maasai child waiting with his mother at the clinic.

One very cool dude.....

 The children are always so happy.

 Patients waiting to see the doctors.

One of the "fathers" of the tribe.

At approximately 4:00 PM we handed out medication to the last patient and at the end of the day we ministered to 550 Kenyans.  We had the usual 4:00 tea time then packed up and headed back to Nairobi reflecting on the blessings of the day.  God is Great!

Blessings to all.