Nairobi National Park

Getting up this morning at 5:30 AM was challenging after being out so late at the Carnivore the night before.  We had to load up and head to the Nairobi National Park for our "Safari."  The animals are the most active in the early hours of the morning.

We were out in the park for almost 5 hours limping along in the vans over roads that should not be called roads. We were tossed about in the vans like weeble wobbles...and no one fell down!

A few of us would have preferred to be at home in bed as we got hit pretty hard with another round of the wonderful flu bug that we have all been sharing since the 3rd day we were here.  It definitely was not the place to be when feeling nauseous.

We were very fortunate to see just about all the animals you can see in the park.  We had a great time.

Following the safari, we headed to Beacon to say our final goodbyes.  I can't really expound on this experience as I was back at Kijiji lying prone in bed with the flu.  I do know that everyone enjoyed their time there and are very thankful for all that God did in our lives through the work of Beacon of Hope.

Sunday May 30th

We started the day out by attending Maggie's church - Mavuno Downtown Chapel.  It was an amazing service.  We all felt very blessed to be able to have this experience.

Following church, we switched hotels today and went to a more serene setting.  Kijiji is made up of 2 “cottages” (two story, octagonal buildings with 16 rooms each) and is set off the main road quite a ways in the midst of a setting consisting of trees, plants, flowers and a pond.  It will provide a peaceful place for us to debrief.

We had our celebration dinner tonight with Rosemary and the Wathome’s.  We went to a restaurant called “Carinvore,” which, by the way, was voted to be amongst the top 50 restaurants in the world.  Hmmm…I’m not sure the herbivores would agree with this.

Upon entering the restaurant, you are immediately greeted with a huge (and I mean HUGE) rotisserie of various different meats cooking on their respective skewers.  I don’t think I have ever seen so much meet at one time!


The meet menu for the night:

Round 1: Pork Sausage
Round 2: Chicken
Round 3: Potatos
Round 4: Spare Ribs
Round 5: Lamb Chops
Round 6: Beef
Round 7: Pork
Round 8: Crocodile (yes...crocodile!)
Round 9: Turkey
Round 10: Chicken Gizzards
Round 11: Leg of Lamb
Round 12: Ground Ostrich meet balls

These were brought to the table on the HUGE skewers that they were cooked on in the rotisserie.  The waiters had a huge, very sharp knife and simple set the skewer on your plate and began to shave the meet onto your plate.

The table had a white flag on it and when you decided it was time to surrender to your gorged stomach, you pulled the flag from its base and the waiters would no longer come to your table with more meet.  Until then, it was eat as much as you can!

Beacon of Hope Medical Clinic

Sorry, folks, for getting so far behind on the blog as we wind down here in Kenya.   I got sick right after the Beacon Medical Clinic and then had no internet access for a day.  We had our final medical clinic on Saturday, May 29the at Beacon of Hope. It is a combined effort between Beacon of Hope, Gertrude’s Teaching Hospital (here in Nairobi) and the Blackhawk Church team.

Line of tents: Triage, Doctors/Nurses, Pediatrics, GYN

We started our morning with a word of prayer with all 200 volunteers gathered together in His name.  It was pretty cool.  Michael (a Beacon staff member) came over the loud speaker to give us instructions, finishing with letting us know where the exclusives are.   As he finished, one of the other Beacon staff members went up and whispered in his ear – we were all curious as to what was going to be said.  Many of us must have had a dazed look on our faces as the next thing Michael announced was: “For those of you wondering what the exclusives are, they are the two portable bathrooms over to your left.”  A low rumble of giggles rippled through the crowd.

 "The Exclusives"

It didn’t take long to become overwhelmed with a long line of patients.  The line backed up for blocks outside the Beacon of Hope gates (which was still quite a ways from where we held the clinic).  It was clear the local volunteers had the distinct advantage over us using their native tongue (Kiswahili) to “direct traffic,” while we “musungu’s” (white person) relied on smiles and polite gestures.  Somehow, we still got our message across.

Line at the second gate.

The line at the first gate was two blocks long.

Patients patiently waiting for treatment.

As many as possible sought solace in the shade from the tree.

 One of the "little" patients :)

 Paul assessing a patient.

I remember him telling the patient his blood sugar was high.

 Triage Tent
Everyone had to start here to get their vitals.

 The pharmacy.
The lines (or crowd) got progressively larger as the day wore on.

The day wore on…everything moving along very well…until tea time.  In Kenya, everything stops for tea time, even a medical clinic.  Well, it didn’t stop completely, but it slowed down significantly as half the volunteers and providers got up and went behind the Beacon building to sit and have tea.  Then when they were done, the next wave went.  Then immediately following that, it was lunch time and the same routine started all over again.  Things didn’t seem to flow quite as well after that.

 "Tea Time"

As I headed back to lunch (I skipped tea), it struck me how casually everyone just stopped what they were doing to go get tea or food, as if it were expected.  The stark contrast between that and seeing the level of poverty emanating from the patients was a lesson I will take with me forever.  It brought tears to my heart, knowing how each and everyone of those patients go through daily struggles just to survive.

At the end of the day, over 2000 patients were seen.  Wounds were treated, one patient was transferred to the hospital, children received immunizations, coughs and fevers were treated…but most of all, the patients knew that there were people that cared enough to offer them compassion through their struggle to stay healthy.

 Patients relaxing at the end of the day.

 Most waiting for their prescriptions.

Children passing the time by

playing games on the squares.

Isn't she adorable?

May God get all the glory for the many riches he provided at this clinic.

Jody

On behalf of the entire Kenya team