Go and Do Likewise.

As I press on to follow Christ’s example of living out compassion, I am confronted with a question: who is my neighbor? I wonder: who are the ones that I live life alongside of and, by encountering them, have the opportunity to learn what it means to “love my neighbor as myself”? When Jesus was asked this very question, he refused to limit neighbors by geographical residence, race, family or religious affiliation. Instead, as he often did, Jesus chose to tell a story. It’s the familiar parable where a man was beaten by thieves and left to die. Two men separately noticed the man suffering alongside the road but simply passed by. But when the Samaritan, an outcast of the day, came to where the man was lying, he was moved with compassion. The Samaritan bandaged the injured man’s wounds and made arrangements for his continued care. As Jesus concluded his story, he asked the question: “Which of the three do you think was a neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?” And he replied, “He who showed mercy on him.” Jesus told the man: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:29-37).
As I reflect upon this story, I recognize myself in each of the characters. I regret that, far too many times, I have been availed the opportunity to show mercy but, with great excuses, have simply passed by. Other times, I have been the one sick and in need. In those times, I have received the gracious touch from a Good Samaritan and been restored. And, ever increasingly, there are moments when my heart is moved with compassion; and as I hear the words of Jesus to “go and do likewise”, I love. More than ever, I am convinced that, as Brennan Manning stated: “the success of [my] life will be measured by how delicately and sensitively I have loved… For the meaning of our religion is love. Christianity is all about loving, and we either take it or leave it. It’s not about worship and morality, except insofar as these things are expressions of the love that causes them both.”
As I continue to discover who my neighbor is and, more importantly, ways that I can show mercy to them; I wanted to share, in brief, about what is happening in the community of Kipkaren and in the lives of several of my neighbors…

Children’s Home.
There are now 96 little ones living in the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In caring for their health, I am privileged with the opportunity to spend a lot of time amongst these children. It never ceases to amaze me how God shows up in unexpected places. He took me by surprise tonight as I walked into a room filled with 18 children seated with their new mom. Their faces were aglow by the light of a small lantern, and their exuberant greetings overwhelmed me with joy.
But it was one child’s face in particular that caught my attention. His face is familiar to me as he is one of the orphans that moved to the children’s home from our community. His name is Omari; and being his neighbor, I am used to seeing this child dirty, wearing his tattered clothing and always somehow seeming to be lost. I don’t mean “lost” in a directionally challenged sort of way; but rather, he was in search for a place where he could belong. Shelter, daily bread, love, and the list goes on were not consistent in his life.
I have greeted him countless times walking our dirt paths, but I have never seen him smile like he smiled at me tonight. As he looked into my eyes, he was speaking to me in a way that goes deeper than words. It was as if he were saying: “thank you” and that he has been found in this refuge. It was only a moment, but that is all it took to touch my heart. So after a long day and a full week, I am grateful to God for the gift given to me through the smile of a little boy who was once an orphan.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign.
On September 1, our Home-Based Care team gathered together in a village called Kaptebee with several thousand people for the purpose of increasing awareness and hope concerning HIV/AIDS and to offer HIV testing and counseling. In a single day, 721 people were tested and those who were HIV positive were referred for treatment at a nearby clinic. It was a day of victory in this long battle that must be fought against HIV/AIDS.

A Broken Heart.
Upon moving to Kipkaren in 2004, I met a little boy named Edwin. His story and life touched my heart deeply. 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. After medical evaluation, it was reported that his heart was failing with no treatment options available. It seemed that life would end quickly for this child; but as I visited Edwin and his family over the past two years, he continued to survive. A few weeks ago, I took Edwin to another physician that I respect greatly to see if there could be any possible treatment options. Edwin was admitted to the hospital and, as suspected, was diagnosed with Constrictive Pericarditis which means that the extra fluid that was in between the outer lining of his heart and the heart muscle was not allowing the heart muscle the room it needs to beat adequately. This condition was causing fluid to build up within his abdomen as well as many other complications. Since being admitted to the hospital, Edwin has had two surgeries and the prognosis is not clear. I am asking God to heal Edwin’s heart and to bring hope again to his family. I ask you to join me in praying on behalf of a little boy who needs a new heart.