5 Loaves & 2 Fish

Coming home.
I send greetings from my new home in the village of Kipkaren. I am grateful that God has called me to come and live this season of life in this place. Throughout the community, I have been welcomed with rich hospitality by both old and new friends. One of the first people to greet me was a little 4 year old boy named Daudi, a child I delivered my first trip to Kenya. It’s hard to describe the feelings I felt in seeing this child again, but it was definitely a moment I was reminded of the faithfulness of God.
I wish each of you could also experience the view from the front door of my hut which overlooks the Kipkaren River. It is truly a beautiful sight and peace-filled place.
Grace to care.
Within days of arriving to the village, I met a 12 year old boy named Edwin. His story and life have touched my heart deeply. I ask that you pray for him and his family as their lives are filled with great challenges. I met Edwin while he was in a local hospital in the town of Eldoret. Although his smile would tell otherwise, his grossly distended abdomen revealed that he was gravely sick. His cardiac workup confirmed that he is in late stage heart failure with no treatment options available. He was sent home and is currently on medication to help filter out the excess fluid that fills his abdomen and is surrounding his heart. The reality of his situation allowed me to realize again the need for home-based care. Allison Tjaden, my dear friend and co-worker with ELI, and I have begun to visit Edwin & his family about once a week. I tell you, some of my favorite moments have been spent simply sitting under a tree with this little boy & his family. We shell the recently harvested maize, listen to Edwin’s radio, and attempt to learn the Kalenjiin language. Basic physical assessments are done and we pray together. In the midst of the challenges, I am learning that joy is found in meeting people simply where they are. I ask you to join me in praying for the compassion and grace to care for this family in a way that will allow them to experience the love of God.
Orphanage update.
Since my last update, the number of children living at the children’s home has grown to 50. These little ones are so full of life and doing very well. Please continue to pray for the entire children’s home staff and these precious children.
Need realized.
In my last update, I reported that I would be attending a training on the implementation of home-based care. It was timely that the day before I was scheduled to go I attended the funeral of a 30 year old man named Amos. I know little about his life; but his death, due to AIDS, allowed me to realize again the deep need that exists within this community. These words, written within my journal, were reflections of a hard day but also represent the prayers of my heart: “I need to surrender these heavy burdens that accompany this day. Passions that are deep within me are now developing into realities; and yet, they are harsh and way bigger than myself. My heart was grieved today over Amos’ lost life and also what he left behind. Two small boys watched as their father was lowered into the ground. A widow wept. A mother sat in shock and silence as her second child, in two months, was buried. A community gathered and supported each other, but an unspoken reality also rang crystal clear. Another life was stolen and shortened by AIDS. Today, AIDS was not about statistics. It was not about research or academic pursuit. Today, there were two little boys, a widow, and grieving parents who buried a man they loved. There is a monster in this land; and there are challenges, that apart from God, are impossible. This is not about programs or my plans, but I pray that the love of God can be implemented into action.”
The next morning, I traveled with several others from the clinic staff to be trained on practical ways to implement holistic care within homes using local resources. The training was led by a Kenyan lady who has been running a home-based care program for HIV/AIDS patients in a slum area outside of Nairobi. The stories she shared, from her experiences, were inspiring to say the least. I t was a great two days of learning and dreaming, and I am excited to see how God is going to use these ideas and knowledge learned to care for the sick within the community of Kipkaren. The overwhelming need that fills this place reminds me of the story found in Matthew 14:15-21. Jesus, recognizing the hungry people, had compassion on them and told the disciples: “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” The resources they had were a mere five loaves of bread & two fish; but when surrendered to Jesus, it met the needs of a multitude. I,too, find myself in the midst of a multitude with great needs and hear Jesus reminding me: “They don’t need to go away. You give them something to eat.” So, I’ll offer the five loaves of bread and two fish and trust Jesus to multiply it. Thank you for your continued prayers and support.