Much like an expectant mother prepares and waits for her unborn child, we in Kipkaren are preparing and waiting for 96 orphaned children to come and find a
refuge of hope and a place to call home. As a follower of Christ, I have been challenged that pure and undefiled religion before God is simply this: to care for orphans and widows in their trouble (James 1:27).
In Sub-Saharan Africa— where there are literally millions of orphans—the need for a response is overwhelming. And the reality of living in this community is to be confronted daily with these statistics in the form of children who are struggling to survive. They each have a name and a story of how life has left them without parents.
Nine-year-old Patrick was born to a single mother who died of AIDS-related complications. Because he, too, had been infected by the HIV virus,
his family rejected and abandoned him. About 4 months ago, a Good Samaritan found Patrick sleeping amongst bushes. He was very sick. Patrick was admitted to a local hospital where he continues to live, because there is no other place that is willing to accept him. I am anxiously awaiting the day when he gets to come to a home where he will be accepted and loved
as he is!
Recently, I was shocked by another story I read about in an article in a Kenyan newspaper. In a
town about an hour away from Kipkaren lives a grandmother whose 8 children and their spouses all died of AIDS, leaving this grandmother to care for her 37 grandchildren. The article explained that she owned very little land; therefore, she has been farming on the top of her children’s graves in order to feed the orphaned children. The grandmother was pleading for help. I thank God that in a few days her burden will be lightened as we’ll be able to take in some of her grandchildren.
There are also 2 little boys whose mother was a patient of our home-based care ministry when she
died last July. I remember the day I watched those kids bury their mother. I went home that night and journaled these words:
What did your little eyes see?
There were no tears today.
What did your little eyes see?
As your mama went away.
What did your broken hearts feel?
Were you just too scared to say?
What did your broken hearts feel?
As your mama went away.
Little eyes—I’ll cry for you;
Though I don’t know what to say.
Broken hearts—I’ll fight for you.
Because your mama went away.
I thank God that these two brothers will soon have an opportunity to go to school, to eat a balanced diet, and to grow up within a safe environment. These stories represent countless others that could be told; but for now, I ask you join me in praying for the Kipkaren Children’s Home. In the upcoming weeks, we will be receiving 96 children between the ages of 3-10 who are total orphans. There are big adjustments ahead for the entire staff as well as the children who will be coming. Please pray that in every single detail, God’s Spirit will lead in this journey of faith.
Sudan Update
This week, I received an email from Stephen Reech, director of Empowering Lives Sudan. “After your team’s visit to Sudan, the community came to share testimonies. Within 17 families, people were healed,” Stephen reported. “Abiei [a girl with cholera whom we took to the compound to treat] thanked God for what He had done for her. She said that the devil had a plan to kill her, and God’s plan was to send His people to rescue her from the devil. Abiei said that she had no faith in God before, but now she believes in God.” Praise be to God!
Stephen concluded his email by requesting continued prayer for peace in all of Sudan. Thank you for your continued prayers and support of this ministry in Southern Sudan.
Loving Much
It amazes me the number of times in the Bible, outcasts and people who were considered failures
were the ones to become the children of God. In fact, Jesus taught the religious leaders that the harlots and tax collectors would enter His Kingdom before they would.
On another occasion, when Jesus was invited to the home of a Pharisee for dinner, a prostitute lady came, and Jesus allowed her to come near to him. She was broken and weeping, but she came and worshipped at the feet of Jesus with her tears and a costly bottle of fragrant oil. After much criticism, Jesus replied to the accusers: “You gave me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss my feet since the time I came in . . . Therefore, I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little. Then
he said to her, ‘Your sins are forgiven.’” (Luke 7:45-48). And then he sent her away in peace.
I have often read that story but never with a face in mind of someone who is like this woman.
Right now, that is changing.
In April of 2005, while hosting an AIDS awareness campaign in Kipkaren, our home-based
care (HBC) team was sharing about the importance of HIV testing as well as making wise choices to prevent the further spread of HIV. A known prostitute from our community had come to the campaign and approached David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya. She grabbed his arm and, in Swahili, said these words, “I know that I am HIV+, and I don’t want to pass the virus to others. You are telling me to change, but this is the way I feed my children. Can you help me find another way?”
Over the past year, her plea for help has continued to be heard deep within our HBC team. We
have prayed for God to give us wisdom to know how to minister to this woman as well as to six other prostitutes from the Kipkaren area with whom we have been meeting. It has been a challenging journey, but God is leading us in the way to go. We meet together every Wednesday morning to encourage the women, to ask them what their dreams are, and to teach simple business skills and other life skills. This past Saturday, the women came for a Bible study and
then there was a time for their feet to be washed and their nails to be painted. One of the goals behind this ministry is that each of these women will begin to see that they are of value to God. As one of the women was having her feet washed, I walked into the room. She grabbed my
hand and said, “Juli, I will never forget this day!” Please join me in praying for these women.
Along with their children, they live very vulnerable lives. Please pray that God will show us practical ways to train and empower these women. It is only God that can deliver them, but I know that Jesus is waiting to receive them into His Kingdom.://
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Monday, May 15, 2006
A Future & A Hope...
“For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all of your heart. I will be found by you, and I will bring you back from your captivity; I will gather you from all the nations…” (Jeremiah 29:11-14).
These verses are so often quoted, but as I listened to them within the setting of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan, I was struck again by the reality that these hope-filled promises were written to the Israelites as they entered 70 years of exile. And as I looked into the faces of my Sudanese friends, I saw that the promises of these verses have been clung to, waited upon, and are now being lived out. For 2 decades, they were in exile crying out to God for peace and justice to fill Sudan. They were praying that they might return home. Because of the war, many had been separated from their families, and they have been praying that they might be reunited. Over and over again, stories have been told of children being lost from their parents. For many, they are still waiting, still hoping to be reunited.
As these verses were being read, I could also see out the window of the church as 900 Southern Sudanese refugees were returning home. Men, women, children and animals were loaded into the back of open beded trucks. At the end of their journey lies a land they know as home. For years they have waited to return, but 20 years of war has left the land different than they remember. 20 years of war has left them different. Still they long to return.
So many of the struggles of life are impossible to understand and may not change within this life; but this past week, I witnessed again that God is close to the brokenhearted. He is faithful to His promise: if we will search for Him, He will be found. He is gathering these Sudanese from many lands and bringing them home, but I thank God that His ultimate promise is nothing more, nothing less than Himself. He alone is the future and the hope of Sudan.
The return to Sudan…
I am at a loss for words as I try to write about our team’s 6 days in Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. There are so many stories to be told, and there are no words to adequately describe the intensity of the journey or the emotions that were felt along the way. For sure, God’s favor and grace were experienced, and His provision led our way. He prepared the hearts of us who were going as well as the hearts of those we were going to serve. He granted us health and protection in all that we did. He allowed us to live amongst a community of survivors and to see glimpses of what life, within the Dinka culture, is like. Personally, He allowed my heart for the Dinka people and the ministry within Southern Sudan to grow larger than before.
It was an incredible blessing to be a part of this united team of 9 who traveled from Kenya to Sudan to serve the sick within the village of Kolmarek. Resources were limited and the climate was extremely harsh (120 degree days intermixed with torrential rain & wind); but with God as our strength, the mission remained clear. The partnership that developed with the Sudanese nationals who hosted us was equally wonderful. Without their assistance with translation and the countless other ways they served us, the mission would have been impossible. We held a mobile clinic in a local school for 4 days and treated 1046 patients with general medical and dental services. A majority of the patients were treated for preventable diseases related to food and water borne illnesses, worms, malaria, malnutrition, and an eye disease which leads to blindness known as trachoma.
I want to share the story of one of the patients we had the opportunity to care for. Her name is Abiei, and she is a 16 year old who was carried to the clinic on a mat. Like so many of the people in the community, Abiei and her family live as pastoralists in a cattle camp amongst thousands of cows. During the day, the cows range to get food; but in the evening, the cows and people gather together and sleep in the open air. The people survive by drinking the milk of their cattle. For generations, cattle camps have been a way of life for the Dinka people.
Due to contaminated water, there has recently been a cholera outbreak in different areas of Southern Sudan. Without intervention, cholera causes severe dysentery and eventually death. Upon arriving, it was reported that Abiei had been suffering from severe diarrhea and vomiting for several hours. Upon physical examination, it was clear that she was going into shock. Her extremities were ice cold and her blood pressure was no longer audible. We began to give her IV fluids to rehydrate her and monitored her very closely. At moments, it seemed that she was not going to make it. There was no place to refer her for more extensive treatment; and if our mobile clinic had not been there, there would have been no treatment for her. We, along with her family, cried out to God on her behalf and asked that He would spare her life and bring healing to her broken body. He did; and for the next four days, Abiei and her father lived with us as we continued treating her.
One of the first nights, she was critically sick and continued to have severe diarrhea and vomiting. Throughout the night, I was getting up every 2 hours to give her medication; and I had the privilege of watching Abiei’s father lovingly care for her. He cleaned her and comforted her in a way that I have rarely seen before. I thank God for sparing Abiei’s life and for allowing me to be a part of caring for her. I also thank God for the example of selfless love I witnessed through this father- it has touched my heart in a deep way.
Thank you for choosing to partner with me in this mission. Your prayers, your financial support helped to make this trip possible. There is no way to measure your investment’s worth; but by God’s grace, I watched the life of a 16 year old girl be spared and 1045 others helped. The need for ongoing community health work as well as basic medical services was deeply impressed within my heart. As ELI’s vision for ministry in Sudan continues to take shape, I am praying that God will raise up Sudanese nationals who speak Dinka to continue in this work. Please join me in praying for God’s will to be done in the health of these dear people and for peace to continue in the land of Sudan.
These verses are so often quoted, but as I listened to them within the setting of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan, I was struck again by the reality that these hope-filled promises were written to the Israelites as they entered 70 years of exile. And as I looked into the faces of my Sudanese friends, I saw that the promises of these verses have been clung to, waited upon, and are now being lived out. For 2 decades, they were in exile crying out to God for peace and justice to fill Sudan. They were praying that they might return home. Because of the war, many had been separated from their families, and they have been praying that they might be reunited. Over and over again, stories have been told of children being lost from their parents. For many, they are still waiting, still hoping to be reunited.
As these verses were being read, I could also see out the window of the church as 900 Southern Sudanese refugees were returning home. Men, women, children and animals were loaded into the back of open beded trucks. At the end of their journey lies a land they know as home. For years they have waited to return, but 20 years of war has left the land different than they remember. 20 years of war has left them different. Still they long to return.
So many of the struggles of life are impossible to understand and may not change within this life; but this past week, I witnessed again that God is close to the brokenhearted. He is faithful to His promise: if we will search for Him, He will be found. He is gathering these Sudanese from many lands and bringing them home, but I thank God that His ultimate promise is nothing more, nothing less than Himself. He alone is the future and the hope of Sudan.
The return to Sudan…
I am at a loss for words as I try to write about our team’s 6 days in Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. There are so many stories to be told, and there are no words to adequately describe the intensity of the journey or the emotions that were felt along the way. For sure, God’s favor and grace were experienced, and His provision led our way. He prepared the hearts of us who were going as well as the hearts of those we were going to serve. He granted us health and protection in all that we did. He allowed us to live amongst a community of survivors and to see glimpses of what life, within the Dinka culture, is like. Personally, He allowed my heart for the Dinka people and the ministry within Southern Sudan to grow larger than before.
It was an incredible blessing to be a part of this united team of 9 who traveled from Kenya to Sudan to serve the sick within the village of Kolmarek. Resources were limited and the climate was extremely harsh (120 degree days intermixed with torrential rain & wind); but with God as our strength, the mission remained clear. The partnership that developed with the Sudanese nationals who hosted us was equally wonderful. Without their assistance with translation and the countless other ways they served us, the mission would have been impossible. We held a mobile clinic in a local school for 4 days and treated 1046 patients with general medical and dental services. A majority of the patients were treated for preventable diseases related to food and water borne illnesses, worms, malaria, malnutrition, and an eye disease which leads to blindness known as trachoma.
I want to share the story of one of the patients we had the opportunity to care for. Her name is Abiei, and she is a 16 year old who was carried to the clinic on a mat. Like so many of the people in the community, Abiei and her family live as pastoralists in a cattle camp amongst thousands of cows. During the day, the cows range to get food; but in the evening, the cows and people gather together and sleep in the open air. The people survive by drinking the milk of their cattle. For generations, cattle camps have been a way of life for the Dinka people.
Due to contaminated water, there has recently been a cholera outbreak in different areas of Southern Sudan. Without intervention, cholera causes severe dysentery and eventually death. Upon arriving, it was reported that Abiei had been suffering from severe diarrhea and vomiting for several hours. Upon physical examination, it was clear that she was going into shock. Her extremities were ice cold and her blood pressure was no longer audible. We began to give her IV fluids to rehydrate her and monitored her very closely. At moments, it seemed that she was not going to make it. There was no place to refer her for more extensive treatment; and if our mobile clinic had not been there, there would have been no treatment for her. We, along with her family, cried out to God on her behalf and asked that He would spare her life and bring healing to her broken body. He did; and for the next four days, Abiei and her father lived with us as we continued treating her.
One of the first nights, she was critically sick and continued to have severe diarrhea and vomiting. Throughout the night, I was getting up every 2 hours to give her medication; and I had the privilege of watching Abiei’s father lovingly care for her. He cleaned her and comforted her in a way that I have rarely seen before. I thank God for sparing Abiei’s life and for allowing me to be a part of caring for her. I also thank God for the example of selfless love I witnessed through this father- it has touched my heart in a deep way.
Thank you for choosing to partner with me in this mission. Your prayers, your financial support helped to make this trip possible. There is no way to measure your investment’s worth; but by God’s grace, I watched the life of a 16 year old girl be spared and 1045 others helped. The need for ongoing community health work as well as basic medical services was deeply impressed within my heart. As ELI’s vision for ministry in Sudan continues to take shape, I am praying that God will raise up Sudanese nationals who speak Dinka to continue in this work. Please join me in praying for God’s will to be done in the health of these dear people and for peace to continue in the land of Sudan.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
Stories of Empowered Lives
This past week, I sat in a staff meeting with a group of 20 Kenyans who work in the training center in Kipkaren as we were asked this question: “When you think of a life that has been empowered by ELI, who comes to your mind?” One by one, we began to share the names and stories of people whose lives we have witnessed being changed. Many began by saying that they themselves & their families were the ones empowered with vision and hope for their lives.
Mwei, one of the gardeners at the training center, retold the story of one of our Home-Based Care (HBC) clients named Kibet. He said that he used to hopelessly push him on the back of his bicycle to try and get treatment. Through HBC, he has witnessed Kibet receive quality care and regain his strength to the point that he is now working on the construction team at the ELI Children’s Home.
Pastor Peter shared about a lady named Dinah. She is 26 years old, a single mother of 3, who has been blind since childhood. She recently tested positive for HIV, along with her 2½ year old son named Daniel. Her situation is full of challenges, but there is also hope. Dinah and Daniel have started taking HIV medication, and her family is receiving food support. For the first time in his 2½ years of life, Daniel is not crying from pain when he is held, his chronic diarrhea has stopped, and he has the energy to play with his brother & sister.
Ezekiel, one of the caregivers we have trained from a neighboring village of Laboret, shared about a time his wife was recently sick. Because of the loving care he & his wife have extended to HIV+ clients in his community, one came to his home to also help care for his wife.
Maru, who works as a driver for ELI, explained that he recently overheard a conversation by some of the HBC clients while returning from the HIV clinic. A man named Joseph said, “If it were not for this car, for these people, many would have died.” Another lady named Esther then remarked, “I would have died.” Maru also told the story of a day he parked the car near a lady who was sleeping along the side of the road. When she woke up, he heard her say: “Wow-it’s our car! This takes care of us with ukimwi (AIDS).”
For me, the name that came to mind was Betty. She is a lady whose trust in God challenges and encourages me in my own faith. I write about her often but truly, Betty allows God’s strength to be lived so beautifully in her weakness. The other day we were walking together after a church service and I asked her this question: “Betty, what is your dream?” She quickly responded that when she was so sick, she had lost hope. Her only dream was for her children to be educated and taken care of. She went on to say that after accepting her HIV status and finding acceptance within the Home Based Care program, she found hope again. Now, her dream is this: “I dream that I will make more room for God to fit in me. I do not need riches or the things of this world. I need more of God. Juli, I was so dirty, but God lifted me out of my mess. I do not want to be the same Betty today as I was yesterday… I am being transformed.” Currently, Betty is in Nairobi attending a training to become certified to counsel and test others for HIV. I am blessed as I watch God expand His kingdom through the life of this dear friend.
David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya, concluded our staff meeting by saying this: “Because of this ministry, our lives have been changed. We get up in the morning with a plan for the day. Now that our lives have been changed, we want to be a part of changing the lives of others.” For sure, as Jesus said, the poor will always be with us; and because of it, we have been instructed to open our hands wide to the poor and to the needy in our land (Deuteronomy 15:11).
Upcoming Trip to Sudan…
In my last update, I shared about my experiences in Southern Sudan and about preparations to return in May with a medical team. It has been amazing to watch God bring together a compassionate and skilled health-care team made up of Kenyans & Americans who desire to assist people within the village of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. I have been equally blessed and humbled by those who have chosen to partner financially and in prayer with this mission.
May 3-9, we will be in Sudan. The goal of the trip is to set up a mobile clinic to treat patients: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the process, we hope to get a better assessment of the immediate as well as long term health related needs of the community. Also, part of the team will be doing some community health related teachings in ELI's elementary school to both teachers and children. I also see this trip as a time to continue to seek after God, to wait upon Him, for what is next for the health ministry of ELI in Southern Sudan. Thank you again for your much needed prayers and support.
Home-Based Care…
Over the past few months, God has placed a great desire and burden within my heart and the hearts of our Home Based Care team to reach out to people who are alcoholics within our community. As we continue in AIDS ministry, it is evident that the widespread addiction to alcohol feeds the cycle of poverty and is a contributing factor in the spread of HIV. Recently, David Tarus, the director of ELI in Kipkaren and a man who searches after God’s heart, wrote letters to the local drunkards and their families inviting them to be the special guests of our church service on a Sunday. It was an incredible day as, one by one, they came. Some were sober, all were wondering why they were invited. David shared about the parable of the prodigal son. He explained that there is a loving Father who longs to forgive and waits for us to return home. David’s humble heart, so connected to this community, pleaded with these men and women, calling them by name, to something more. He explained that, as the body of Christ, we would stand together. After the service, nearly 50 families stayed for lunch. HIV testing was also offered and 38 were tested. It was a remarkable beginning, and we are asking God to continue to lead us step by step.
Please join me in praying for this ongoing ministry of extending compassion and acceptance to alcoholics whose lives are entangled in addiction and brokenness. It is only God that can bring change; but I believe He longs to redeem what is lost.
Mwei, one of the gardeners at the training center, retold the story of one of our Home-Based Care (HBC) clients named Kibet. He said that he used to hopelessly push him on the back of his bicycle to try and get treatment. Through HBC, he has witnessed Kibet receive quality care and regain his strength to the point that he is now working on the construction team at the ELI Children’s Home.
Pastor Peter shared about a lady named Dinah. She is 26 years old, a single mother of 3, who has been blind since childhood. She recently tested positive for HIV, along with her 2½ year old son named Daniel. Her situation is full of challenges, but there is also hope. Dinah and Daniel have started taking HIV medication, and her family is receiving food support. For the first time in his 2½ years of life, Daniel is not crying from pain when he is held, his chronic diarrhea has stopped, and he has the energy to play with his brother & sister.
Ezekiel, one of the caregivers we have trained from a neighboring village of Laboret, shared about a time his wife was recently sick. Because of the loving care he & his wife have extended to HIV+ clients in his community, one came to his home to also help care for his wife.
Maru, who works as a driver for ELI, explained that he recently overheard a conversation by some of the HBC clients while returning from the HIV clinic. A man named Joseph said, “If it were not for this car, for these people, many would have died.” Another lady named Esther then remarked, “I would have died.” Maru also told the story of a day he parked the car near a lady who was sleeping along the side of the road. When she woke up, he heard her say: “Wow-it’s our car! This takes care of us with ukimwi (AIDS).”
For me, the name that came to mind was Betty. She is a lady whose trust in God challenges and encourages me in my own faith. I write about her often but truly, Betty allows God’s strength to be lived so beautifully in her weakness. The other day we were walking together after a church service and I asked her this question: “Betty, what is your dream?” She quickly responded that when she was so sick, she had lost hope. Her only dream was for her children to be educated and taken care of. She went on to say that after accepting her HIV status and finding acceptance within the Home Based Care program, she found hope again. Now, her dream is this: “I dream that I will make more room for God to fit in me. I do not need riches or the things of this world. I need more of God. Juli, I was so dirty, but God lifted me out of my mess. I do not want to be the same Betty today as I was yesterday… I am being transformed.” Currently, Betty is in Nairobi attending a training to become certified to counsel and test others for HIV. I am blessed as I watch God expand His kingdom through the life of this dear friend.
David Tarus, one of the directors of ELI Kenya, concluded our staff meeting by saying this: “Because of this ministry, our lives have been changed. We get up in the morning with a plan for the day. Now that our lives have been changed, we want to be a part of changing the lives of others.” For sure, as Jesus said, the poor will always be with us; and because of it, we have been instructed to open our hands wide to the poor and to the needy in our land (Deuteronomy 15:11).
Upcoming Trip to Sudan…
In my last update, I shared about my experiences in Southern Sudan and about preparations to return in May with a medical team. It has been amazing to watch God bring together a compassionate and skilled health-care team made up of Kenyans & Americans who desire to assist people within the village of Kolmarek, Southern Sudan. I have been equally blessed and humbled by those who have chosen to partner financially and in prayer with this mission.
May 3-9, we will be in Sudan. The goal of the trip is to set up a mobile clinic to treat patients: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. In the process, we hope to get a better assessment of the immediate as well as long term health related needs of the community. Also, part of the team will be doing some community health related teachings in ELI's elementary school to both teachers and children. I also see this trip as a time to continue to seek after God, to wait upon Him, for what is next for the health ministry of ELI in Southern Sudan. Thank you again for your much needed prayers and support.
Home-Based Care…
Over the past few months, God has placed a great desire and burden within my heart and the hearts of our Home Based Care team to reach out to people who are alcoholics within our community. As we continue in AIDS ministry, it is evident that the widespread addiction to alcohol feeds the cycle of poverty and is a contributing factor in the spread of HIV. Recently, David Tarus, the director of ELI in Kipkaren and a man who searches after God’s heart, wrote letters to the local drunkards and their families inviting them to be the special guests of our church service on a Sunday. It was an incredible day as, one by one, they came. Some were sober, all were wondering why they were invited. David shared about the parable of the prodigal son. He explained that there is a loving Father who longs to forgive and waits for us to return home. David’s humble heart, so connected to this community, pleaded with these men and women, calling them by name, to something more. He explained that, as the body of Christ, we would stand together. After the service, nearly 50 families stayed for lunch. HIV testing was also offered and 38 were tested. It was a remarkable beginning, and we are asking God to continue to lead us step by step.
Please join me in praying for this ongoing ministry of extending compassion and acceptance to alcoholics whose lives are entangled in addiction and brokenness. It is only God that can bring change; but I believe He longs to redeem what is lost.
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
Update From Sudan
“Open your mouth for the speechless, in the cause of all who are appointed to die. Open your mouth, judge righteously. And plead the cause of the poor & the needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
These are the words that resonate in my mind & my heart as I consider my journey to Southern Sudan.
Over the past 1 1/2 years, through the vision & life of my friend, a Sudanese refugee named Stephen Reech, God has allowed my eyes to be opened and my heart to be softened towards the brokenness within the land of Sudan.
Stephen’s Story
I remember the day I first heard Stephen share the story of his life and the struggles of his people. He told of a civil war that had spanned over two decades, a war fought between the Northern Islamic Sudan and rebels in the South. In the genocide, approximately 2 million people were killed and an estimated 5 million people were displaced. In 1991, in order to survive, Stephen & his wife walked for 11/2months to the border of Uganda. Along the way, their only sources of food were leaves and wild fruits. Upon reaching Uganda, they lived in a refugee camp amongst thousands of other Sudanese who had also fled Sudan to save their lives. Because of the harsh conditions of the camp, 2 of Stephen’s children grew very
sick and eventually died.
In the midst of exile, Stephen & his wife refused to give up. They prayed night & day for peace to return to their land. Despite being offered several opportunities to go & live in the U.S. & Canada, Stephen refused, saying that his dream was to one day return home to
help rebuild Sudan. In January of 2005, the peace treaty was signed declaring peace between the North & the South, and for the first time in 13 years, Stephen went home. He explained that everywhere he went, he would become so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be
unable to speak. He witnessed the continued suffering of his people. He explained that the children were naked, hungry & many were sick. As I listened to Stephen, I wondered how it was possible that I could know nothing of this war that had lasted for almost as long as I have
lived. My spirit grieved that the world stood by as a modern day holocaust took place once again. A desire grew within me to go to Sudan to assist in whatever waysGod might lead. After Stephen shared, I told him that, God willing, I would one day go to visit his homeland
and to meet his people. Last Thursday, I—along with a team of six others—landed on a dirt airstrip in the desolate village of Padak, Southern Sudan. Stephen was waiting for us
as we arrived and greeted me by saying, “Thank you, Juli. You have fulfilled your promise.”
A Time to Return, A Time to Rebuild
As I traveled along dirt paths through the desolate countryside of Sudan, I wondered what the place was like before the war. I also considered what it will be like after the masses return from their time in exile. There is a generation of children and adolescents who have lived
their entire lives as refugees. As a ministry, ELI’s vision is to empower the poor and oppressed that they may be able to know, worship, & serve God without hindrance.
As the Sudanese return to their homeland, remnants of the war remain, and the Sudanese vulnerably fight to survive: physically, emotionally, & spiritually. After much prayer and consideration, it has been more than evident to the leadership of ELI that God
is expanding the ministry and leading us to be a part of bringing His hope into the rebuilding & development of Southern Sudan.
On Sunday, our team had the privilege to attend one of the churches that Stephen had helped
start before the war. As I listened to the Sudanese sing their songs of worship, I did not hear the sounds of celebration that I am accustomed to hearing in Kenya. Although I could not understand the words they were saying, I deeply felt the cry of a people who were intensely and desperately—from the depths of their lives—calling out to God. As I was confronted with the beauty & the brokenness of this people, I was moved with compassion.
In a country where the governmental infrastructure is, at best, weak, there are many
challenges to be faced.
Within the area of health, resources are scarce and disease is rampant. There are major public health crises because of the mass number of returnees living in overpopulated camps as
they await relocation. Refugees are returning from Ethiopia, Uganda, & Kenya as well as areas of hiding throughout Southern Sudan. Cholera and yellow fever outbreaks as well as
severe malnutrition amongst children are prevalent throughout the area. I visited several cattle camps where children are raised outdoors amongst thousands of cows. The children survive only off of the milk of their cattle. The eyes & faces of the children were covered with dirt and flies. One of the major health problems throughout Southern Sudan is blindness caused by an easily preventable bacterial infection known as Trachoma.
Throughout my time in Sudan, it was clear there is an abundant need for the implementation of health programs, both preventative and curative.
In May, I am planning to return to Sudan with a team of healthcare workers from Kenya. As I have shared about the experiences I had in Sudan with my co-workers in Kenya, they have expressed the desire to go and share their knowledge and services with the people of Sudan. It is exciting to see those who have been empowered in Kenya desiring to be a part of empowering people in other parts of the world.
In order for this trip & ministry to be possible, we need to raise nearly $10,000. If God would lead you to join us financially in ministering to the sick in Sudan, please write your check to ELI & note that it is for “Health in Sudan”. In advance, I thank you for your partnership. Praying for Peace
As I have left Sudan and returned to my home in Kenya, there are many images and experiences that fill my mind. I cannot forget the 18-month-old, severelymalnourished
baby that sat naked on my lap as I visited a refugee camp. Although his life has started with
so many odds against him, he is a part of the generation that is the future of the new Sudan.
I will also remember the words of 26-year-old Abraham who found God in the midst of exile. He explained, “I had lost my family when I left Sudan, and I kept asking myself, ‘Who is my guide?’ When I was sick and did not have medicine, I asked myself, ‘Who is my
healer?’” Surely it was God.
And I still hear the fervor in the voices of the Sudanese as they chanted, “Exile is over. Exile is over. Exile is over.”
In a way that I’ve never understood to pray before, I pray that the Lord will make His face to shine upon Sudan. There is much forgiveness needed for healing to take place.
Oh, I pray for peace.
These are the words that resonate in my mind & my heart as I consider my journey to Southern Sudan.
Over the past 1 1/2 years, through the vision & life of my friend, a Sudanese refugee named Stephen Reech, God has allowed my eyes to be opened and my heart to be softened towards the brokenness within the land of Sudan.
Stephen’s Story
I remember the day I first heard Stephen share the story of his life and the struggles of his people. He told of a civil war that had spanned over two decades, a war fought between the Northern Islamic Sudan and rebels in the South. In the genocide, approximately 2 million people were killed and an estimated 5 million people were displaced. In 1991, in order to survive, Stephen & his wife walked for 11/2months to the border of Uganda. Along the way, their only sources of food were leaves and wild fruits. Upon reaching Uganda, they lived in a refugee camp amongst thousands of other Sudanese who had also fled Sudan to save their lives. Because of the harsh conditions of the camp, 2 of Stephen’s children grew very
sick and eventually died.
In the midst of exile, Stephen & his wife refused to give up. They prayed night & day for peace to return to their land. Despite being offered several opportunities to go & live in the U.S. & Canada, Stephen refused, saying that his dream was to one day return home to
help rebuild Sudan. In January of 2005, the peace treaty was signed declaring peace between the North & the South, and for the first time in 13 years, Stephen went home. He explained that everywhere he went, he would become so overwhelmed with emotion that he would be
unable to speak. He witnessed the continued suffering of his people. He explained that the children were naked, hungry & many were sick. As I listened to Stephen, I wondered how it was possible that I could know nothing of this war that had lasted for almost as long as I have
lived. My spirit grieved that the world stood by as a modern day holocaust took place once again. A desire grew within me to go to Sudan to assist in whatever waysGod might lead. After Stephen shared, I told him that, God willing, I would one day go to visit his homeland
and to meet his people. Last Thursday, I—along with a team of six others—landed on a dirt airstrip in the desolate village of Padak, Southern Sudan. Stephen was waiting for us
as we arrived and greeted me by saying, “Thank you, Juli. You have fulfilled your promise.”
A Time to Return, A Time to Rebuild
As I traveled along dirt paths through the desolate countryside of Sudan, I wondered what the place was like before the war. I also considered what it will be like after the masses return from their time in exile. There is a generation of children and adolescents who have lived
their entire lives as refugees. As a ministry, ELI’s vision is to empower the poor and oppressed that they may be able to know, worship, & serve God without hindrance.
As the Sudanese return to their homeland, remnants of the war remain, and the Sudanese vulnerably fight to survive: physically, emotionally, & spiritually. After much prayer and consideration, it has been more than evident to the leadership of ELI that God
is expanding the ministry and leading us to be a part of bringing His hope into the rebuilding & development of Southern Sudan.
On Sunday, our team had the privilege to attend one of the churches that Stephen had helped
start before the war. As I listened to the Sudanese sing their songs of worship, I did not hear the sounds of celebration that I am accustomed to hearing in Kenya. Although I could not understand the words they were saying, I deeply felt the cry of a people who were intensely and desperately—from the depths of their lives—calling out to God. As I was confronted with the beauty & the brokenness of this people, I was moved with compassion.
In a country where the governmental infrastructure is, at best, weak, there are many
challenges to be faced.
Within the area of health, resources are scarce and disease is rampant. There are major public health crises because of the mass number of returnees living in overpopulated camps as
they await relocation. Refugees are returning from Ethiopia, Uganda, & Kenya as well as areas of hiding throughout Southern Sudan. Cholera and yellow fever outbreaks as well as
severe malnutrition amongst children are prevalent throughout the area. I visited several cattle camps where children are raised outdoors amongst thousands of cows. The children survive only off of the milk of their cattle. The eyes & faces of the children were covered with dirt and flies. One of the major health problems throughout Southern Sudan is blindness caused by an easily preventable bacterial infection known as Trachoma.
Throughout my time in Sudan, it was clear there is an abundant need for the implementation of health programs, both preventative and curative.
In May, I am planning to return to Sudan with a team of healthcare workers from Kenya. As I have shared about the experiences I had in Sudan with my co-workers in Kenya, they have expressed the desire to go and share their knowledge and services with the people of Sudan. It is exciting to see those who have been empowered in Kenya desiring to be a part of empowering people in other parts of the world.
In order for this trip & ministry to be possible, we need to raise nearly $10,000. If God would lead you to join us financially in ministering to the sick in Sudan, please write your check to ELI & note that it is for “Health in Sudan”. In advance, I thank you for your partnership. Praying for Peace
As I have left Sudan and returned to my home in Kenya, there are many images and experiences that fill my mind. I cannot forget the 18-month-old, severelymalnourished
baby that sat naked on my lap as I visited a refugee camp. Although his life has started with
so many odds against him, he is a part of the generation that is the future of the new Sudan.
I will also remember the words of 26-year-old Abraham who found God in the midst of exile. He explained, “I had lost my family when I left Sudan, and I kept asking myself, ‘Who is my guide?’ When I was sick and did not have medicine, I asked myself, ‘Who is my
healer?’” Surely it was God.
And I still hear the fervor in the voices of the Sudanese as they chanted, “Exile is over. Exile is over. Exile is over.”
In a way that I’ve never understood to pray before, I pray that the Lord will make His face to shine upon Sudan. There is much forgiveness needed for healing to take place.
Oh, I pray for peace.
Monday, February 06, 2006
My Homecoming
As we drove into Kipkaren, I could hear the familiar sound of my dear friends singing to welcome me home. It was already dark, and they were waiting in the pouring rain. As I walked down the line to greet my friends, I was overwhelmed with thanksgiving because of the opportunity I have to serve God in this place. Even though I have lived within this culture for some time and frequently experienced their “welcomes”, it was still remarkable. I continue to be amazed by, and learn from, the hospitality that is so generously given.
I have jumped back into village life with a great sense of peace and joy. It has been encouraging to see the ways in which the health ministry has not only continued while I was away- it has flourished. The staff of ELI’s health clinic had a vision to begin a mobile clinic in a neighboring village called Labuywet. Over the past 3 months, we have been partnering with this village through our Traditional Birth Attendant training program. The lack of health care within the community prompted our staff to respond. This past Wednesday we held our first mobile clinic and treated 70 patients & tested 40 for HIV with 3 being positive. Please pray for us as we embark on this exciting new aspect of ministry.
This past weekend, we held an HIV/AIDS Campaign in a town called Moi’s Bridge. Approximately 6 months ago, we trained members from a local church there in our 3-Day Home-Based Care training. Needless to say, the church caught the vision & have begun a great work in their community. On Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered in the town center and marched to the site of the HIV/AIDS Campaign as the Salvation Army band played on. We held a soccer tournament, bicycle race & concert which created a platform to speak truth concerning HIV/AIDS. We counseled and tested 127 people for HIV with 6 being positive. Those who tested positive are being connected with quality treatment for HIV. It was truly an amazing day to experience.
Marching, that morning, in the middle of the crowd felt something like I imagine marching into a battle field might feel. There was the rush of adrenaline but also the realization of the very present danger. In this case, AIDS. The strategies to battle against it are not clear cut; but for the sake of Africa, the battles must be fought and won. God continues to speak to my heart that this is not a battle I’m called to fight on my own. Rather, it is His battle, and I simply get to a play a part. I recently was reading in 2 Kings 6 and was both encouraged & challenged by the story I read. It says, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to Elisha, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So Elisha answered, ‘Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (15-17). It is humbling to consider all that goes unseen; but like Elisha, I am asking God to open my eyes that I, too, might see. He is with me. He has surrounded me and is fighting the battle that is so much bigger than myself.
Journey to Sudan…
I ask you to join me in praying… I am going to travel to Southern Sudan with a team of 6 others February 16-21. Over the past year, God has been opening doors and confirming opportunities for ELI to move into Southern Sudan. A peace treaty was signed last January ending 21 years of civil war in Sudan. There is much brokenness in the land. The poverty is extreme. There is great need for healthcare. As I consider this journey, there is no doubt it will be stretching. I also know that God will be with us.
Please pray for:
- Safety & protection throughout our travels & stay in Sudan.
- Vision for the ways God is wanting to work through ELI to empower the people of Sudan & wisdom in how to do it best.
- Health & strength as the climate is extremely hot.
- God’s compassion for the people of Sudan to be experienced & put into action.
Thank you for your prayers & support. I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead. Blessings & love, Juli
I have jumped back into village life with a great sense of peace and joy. It has been encouraging to see the ways in which the health ministry has not only continued while I was away- it has flourished. The staff of ELI’s health clinic had a vision to begin a mobile clinic in a neighboring village called Labuywet. Over the past 3 months, we have been partnering with this village through our Traditional Birth Attendant training program. The lack of health care within the community prompted our staff to respond. This past Wednesday we held our first mobile clinic and treated 70 patients & tested 40 for HIV with 3 being positive. Please pray for us as we embark on this exciting new aspect of ministry.
This past weekend, we held an HIV/AIDS Campaign in a town called Moi’s Bridge. Approximately 6 months ago, we trained members from a local church there in our 3-Day Home-Based Care training. Needless to say, the church caught the vision & have begun a great work in their community. On Saturday morning, hundreds of people gathered in the town center and marched to the site of the HIV/AIDS Campaign as the Salvation Army band played on. We held a soccer tournament, bicycle race & concert which created a platform to speak truth concerning HIV/AIDS. We counseled and tested 127 people for HIV with 6 being positive. Those who tested positive are being connected with quality treatment for HIV. It was truly an amazing day to experience.
Marching, that morning, in the middle of the crowd felt something like I imagine marching into a battle field might feel. There was the rush of adrenaline but also the realization of the very present danger. In this case, AIDS. The strategies to battle against it are not clear cut; but for the sake of Africa, the battles must be fought and won. God continues to speak to my heart that this is not a battle I’m called to fight on my own. Rather, it is His battle, and I simply get to a play a part. I recently was reading in 2 Kings 6 and was both encouraged & challenged by the story I read. It says, “And when the servant of the man of God arose early and went out, there was an army, surrounding the city with horses and chariots. And his servant said to Elisha, ‘Alas, my master! What shall we do?’ So Elisha answered, ‘Do not fear for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.’ And Elisha prayed, and said, ‘Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.’ Then the Lord opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (15-17). It is humbling to consider all that goes unseen; but like Elisha, I am asking God to open my eyes that I, too, might see. He is with me. He has surrounded me and is fighting the battle that is so much bigger than myself.
Journey to Sudan…
I ask you to join me in praying… I am going to travel to Southern Sudan with a team of 6 others February 16-21. Over the past year, God has been opening doors and confirming opportunities for ELI to move into Southern Sudan. A peace treaty was signed last January ending 21 years of civil war in Sudan. There is much brokenness in the land. The poverty is extreme. There is great need for healthcare. As I consider this journey, there is no doubt it will be stretching. I also know that God will be with us.
Please pray for:
- Safety & protection throughout our travels & stay in Sudan.
- Vision for the ways God is wanting to work through ELI to empower the people of Sudan & wisdom in how to do it best.
- Health & strength as the climate is extremely hot.
- God’s compassion for the people of Sudan to be experienced & put into action.
Thank you for your prayers & support. I look forward to sharing more in the days ahead. Blessings & love, Juli
Tax-exempt donations may be sent to Empowering Lives International
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
email: julimcgowan@empoweringlives.org web: www.empoweringlives.org
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
email: julimcgowan@empoweringlives.org web: www.empoweringlives.org
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
I Must Remember
For the past eight weeks, I have been in California reconnecting with family & friends and sharing stories, with anyone willing to listen, of what is taking place in the health ministry in Kipkaren. I have been speaking on behalf of those who do not often have a voice: widows, orphans, the sick & poor. Over the past 5 ½ years, God has been confronting my tendencies towards complacency and reshaping my worldview so that these are the voices and cries I do hear. I want to say thank you to the many of you who were willing to listen and compelled to respond. Thank you for your compassionate actions. Personally, I was humbled & truly encouraged by the ways I was genuinely received and embraced by my family & friends as well as the many I have come to meet along the way.
I must remember...
I don't often admit it, but I have a memory problem. In the busyness of life, I can be quick to forget that God has been faithful. As I dream about where God is leading and prepare to return to Kenya, I have also felt the need to be still & simply remember the things He has already done. 1 Samuel 7 documents a time when Samuel did just this. The army of Israel had just been granted a miraculous victory over the Philistines as God had used thunder to confuse their army. The story goes on to say: "Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer (Stone of Help), saying, 'Thus far the Lord has helped us'" (1 Samuel 7:12). As I look back upon this past year of ministry in Kipkaren; I, too, must say: "Thus far the Lord has helped us". There are faces that come to my mind of people who did not expect to live to see 2005 and are still alive today to speak the praises of God. There is HIV testing accessible at the village level and HIV medications available to those already infected. There is a community of individuals who are willing to extend compassionate care to the sick, to orphans & widows. Where once there was only fear, a deep sense of hope has been born.
On Monday, I will return to Kenya knowing that there is much work to be done. There are challenges to face and dreams to dream. However, as I reflect upon what God has already done, I am filled with thanksgiving. I have come to know the Lord as My Helper and am learning to trust Him with what lies ahead.
CD release...
Over the past year, I had an opportunity to record an album of songs I wrote. The lyrics are reflections from my journey of following Christ. Traditional Kalenjiin chants were recorded in Kipkaren and are interwoven throughout the project. If you are interested in purchasing a CD, please make checks payable to ELI ($15/CD). All proceeds of this album will go towards the Empowering Lives International's Health Ministry. Please be sure to include your mailing information and mail to PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785.
Thank you again for your continued partnership and support in ministry & life. Juli
Thank you again for your continued partnership and support in ministry & life. Juli
Tax-exempt donations may be sent to Empowering Lives International
PO Box 67 Upland, CA 91785 Phone 909.476.6822
Monday, January 02, 2006
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Saying Good-bye
The Story Continues...Last night I was invited for a “kwaheri” (good-bye) dinner at the home of my dear friends. It was a simple night with food generously shared. We ate by the light of a lantern in their hut and laughed as we told stories about life. As we walked home through the dark African jungle, with the moon & stars overhead, I was filled with a deep sense of thankfulness. I truly love this place; and more than ever, I love these people. Today has been filled with “good-byes”. This afternoon a friend named Kibet, who is a patient in our Home-Based Care program, came to my home to say thank you. As I sat with him, he reminded me of the day I met him lying under a tree. At that time, he was waiting to die. Now he is physically strong and eager to live. He constantly speaks of a God that has granted him another day. When I came to Kipkaren fourteen months ago, I did not know Kibet. I did not know the road we would walk together, but I thank God for this journey. There is nothing easy about it, but we are experiencing the grace and goodness of God.
Later, this afternoon, a group of women in the community gathered and spoke words of blessings into my life. One lady stood and said that I had planted a seed within the heart of this village that would never be forgotten within this generation. Another went on to say that the seed fell on good ground and is ready to grow. She told me that I only need to return to weed it. As the ladies shared, I was reminded of a verse when Paul said, “I planted the seed, Apollos watered, but it was God who made it grow,” (1 Cor. 3:6). Surely it is God that has granted favor and is allowing this dream that was planted to grow into reality.
I’ve been challenged as I’ve read journal entries about living amongst the poor written by Henri Nouwen. During his stay in Peru, he wrote: “Jesus learned obedience from what he suffered. This means that the pains and struggles of which Jesus became part made him listen more perfectly to God. In & through his sufferings, he came to know God & could respond to God’s call. Maybe there are no better words than these to summarize the meaning of the option of the poor. Entering into the suffering of the poor is the way to become obedient, that is, a listener to God. Suffering accepted & shared in love breaks down our selfish defenses and sets us free to accept God’s guidance… But do I really want to know Jesus? Do I really want to listen to him? Do I really want to take up my cross and follow him? Do I really want to dedicate myself to unconditional service?” As I prepare to leave tomorrow, I can truthfully say the answer to these questions is yes. I desire to know Jesus with all of my heart. I do want to live my life to serve God through the lives of others. I know the cost is nothing short of everything- my family, comfort, and security. But I’ve also experienced that this surrender leads you straight to the heart of God. For that, I will search all of my life.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
A Year Ago Today...
A year ago today I arrived in Kenya. There were so many unknowns awaiting me; but without a doubt, I knew God was leading me back to this little village called Kipkaren. And I am so grateful He did. This year has been full of both joy & heartache. The lessons I have learned and the experiences I have lived could fill an entire book. Within every story, there would be the central theme of the faithfulness of my God. Over the past year, dreams & passions of caring for those infected & affected by HIV/AIDS have been realized far beyond what I had even imagined. The partnership that has developed with a neighboring clinic has brought access to much needed HIV testing, food support, and quality treatment including HIV medications. On a daily basis, the ELI Home-Based Care team humbly gives their lives to serve the sick, the widows and the orphans within this village. In an amazing way, this community has captured a vision and is combating the fear that plagues HIV/AIDS by speaking truth and extending compassion in practical ways to their neighbors and family members. Trainings have been given to empower people from other communities to also invest their lives in similar efforts. For obvious reasons, HIV/AIDS is overwhelmingly challenging. It has stolen so much life, but I thank God I am witnessing a sense of hope being restored. In the midst of so much darkness, there are glimmers of light. I have witnessed the healing that is received when people are free to come as they are, in their brokenness, and find a place of refuge. This journey has led me deeper in understanding of what it means to receive & extend the limitless love of God, and I have never felt more alive.
As I have prayed and watched all that is happening around me, it is clear that this is where I am called to be. My heart for the people of this land continues to grow day by day. I have committed to serve with Empowering Lives International until December of 2006 but will remain as long as God leads. There is much work to be done & love to be given. By faith, I believe that the ELI Home-Based Care program has only touched the surface of what God is desiring to do within this village and throughout Africa. In the days to come, I envision massive mobilization of churches and individuals from surrounding communities to be involved in trainings on how to implement home-based care for those already infected with HIV/AIDS. Silence must be broken with words of truth. AIDS awareness campaigns are needed to encourage and provide opportunity for early HIV testing & treatment as well as to promote behavioral changes that prevent further spread of the virus.
The partnership I have experienced over the past year has been such a blessing. I cannot express what it means to know that people are standing with me in prayer and giving financially to this ministry. I wish I could take you on a home visit and introduce you to my friend Kibet. He would welcome you into his home and then explain how he had expected to die before reaching Christmas of 2004. He would go on to to thank God for hearing his cry and making a way for him to live. If we went to visit Betty, she might tell you that she has been rejected by her family but has been surprised by the love and new family she has found in the Home-Based Care team. And Timone, he would simply lift his hand towards heaven and say “Mungu tu”. It’s only God. These are just a few of the lives that are being transformed by the love of Christ.
I invite you to continue to join me in this journey in any way that God would lead. Your prayers and financial gifts are gratefully received. The cost for living and continuing the work in Kipkaren will be around $40,000 for this next one year. Please consider making a one time gift or a monthly commitment to partner with me as I minister to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the people affected by HIV/AIDS. Thank you again, and may God bless you.
As I have prayed and watched all that is happening around me, it is clear that this is where I am called to be. My heart for the people of this land continues to grow day by day. I have committed to serve with Empowering Lives International until December of 2006 but will remain as long as God leads. There is much work to be done & love to be given. By faith, I believe that the ELI Home-Based Care program has only touched the surface of what God is desiring to do within this village and throughout Africa. In the days to come, I envision massive mobilization of churches and individuals from surrounding communities to be involved in trainings on how to implement home-based care for those already infected with HIV/AIDS. Silence must be broken with words of truth. AIDS awareness campaigns are needed to encourage and provide opportunity for early HIV testing & treatment as well as to promote behavioral changes that prevent further spread of the virus.
The partnership I have experienced over the past year has been such a blessing. I cannot express what it means to know that people are standing with me in prayer and giving financially to this ministry. I wish I could take you on a home visit and introduce you to my friend Kibet. He would welcome you into his home and then explain how he had expected to die before reaching Christmas of 2004. He would go on to to thank God for hearing his cry and making a way for him to live. If we went to visit Betty, she might tell you that she has been rejected by her family but has been surprised by the love and new family she has found in the Home-Based Care team. And Timone, he would simply lift his hand towards heaven and say “Mungu tu”. It’s only God. These are just a few of the lives that are being transformed by the love of Christ.
I invite you to continue to join me in this journey in any way that God would lead. Your prayers and financial gifts are gratefully received. The cost for living and continuing the work in Kipkaren will be around $40,000 for this next one year. Please consider making a one time gift or a monthly commitment to partner with me as I minister to the physical, spiritual and emotional needs of the people affected by HIV/AIDS. Thank you again, and may God bless you.
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
Waiting
“I would have lost heart unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage. And He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord.” (Psalm 27:13-14) Over the past month, these verses have been a wellspring of life to my soul. I am in a season of brokenness. Within the last weeks, I have cared for a young mother of 2 boys as she suffered the painful effects of HIV/AIDS & died. I have cried as I looked into the eyes of those same boys as they buried their mother. On that day, there were no tears in their eyes; instead, their eyes were filled with fear and questions too difficult to ask. A few days later, I held within my arms a 2 week old baby as she drew her final breath. And then I sat and grieved with the baby’s mother as she no longer had her baby to hold.
I live and breath among a people that know the feelings of hunger, disease & death- all too well. I confess there are moments that I want to run away to a place where life can be comfortable and where I won’t feel the burden or hear the cries of the poor. But when I am still, I know there is something deeper within me. It is the love of Christ: it is what compelled me to come and is what will allow me to remain. Recently, I have been considering Jesus’ journey to the cross, and I am realizing that the only thing greater than His suffering was His compassion for the people for which he died. Mother Teresa was quoted saying: “If you love until it hurts, there is no hurt only more love.” I don’t fully understand what this means or know how to live it out, but I believe there is a great truth hidden within. As I strive to learn what it means to wait upon the Lord & seek Him to be my refuge and strength, I know it is no longer simply about what He can give. Sure, I pray for the blessings of God to be released upon this place. I pray for lives to transformed and sicknesses to be healed, but I long for more than the blessings He can give. I long for Him. And so I will wait and trust the sufficiency of His grace to be my strength and my joy.
HIV/AIDS Home Based Care Update…
The Home Based Care program continues to thrive and is a blessing to both the families cared for as well as to those of us who provide care. We are currently visiting and assisting 26 families affected by HIV within our community. The numbers of people infected surface almost on a weekly basis. As I have already shared, there are many challenges involved; but I am grateful to God for the ways He is providing ideas and resources to care for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. HIV testing remains available to the community at our ELI Health Dispensary. Over the past 6 months, we have tested over 200 clients for HIV with 25 people testing positive. As truth is spoken and compassion is extended, I see the reality that fear truly can be replaced with hope. And I thank God. We are currently preparing to teach another 3-day seminar on Home Based Care to individuals from the churches in surrounding communities. The need for compassionate care to be extended is so evident. Day by day, I am asking God for ideas and the means to live out His love. Thank you for your continued prayers- they are desperately needed.
The journey…
One year ago, this week, I was finishing my packing, saying good-bye to family and friends, and preparing to board a flight on a one way ticket to Kenya. I had very little idea of what awaited me, but I knew that God had led me. This year has been full of adventure and learning. I have experienced community in a way that I have always desired, and I have seen longtime dreams realized. There have been seasons of sorrow and brokenness equally met by moments of pure joy. More than ever, I feel God’s anointing upon my life to be in Kenya. So, as long as He leads me here, I will remain.
I am planning to come to the U.S. for a visit in November and will remain through Christmas. I am greatly looking forward to time with family and friends and for opportunities to share more of what God is doing within the ministry of ELI as well as within my own life.
Your prayers, financial gifts, and encouragement are blessings I will forever be grateful for. I want to thank you again for your continued partnership with me in this journey. May God bless you.
Friday, July 15, 2005
Gratitude
I’m at a loss for words. As I stare at the blank screen before me, I wonder how I can possibly communicate the countless ways in which God continues to work within this community, within my own life. I long to tell of the stories that fill my days, introduce you to the friends that teach me so much about living, and allow you to experience the joy & pain that accompanies life within this village. Words feel limited and don’t accurately articulate all there is to tell. How can I describe the tears that flow down Timone’s face or his words that, in the midst of loneliness & pain, insist “Mungu tu” (Only God)? Or how can I relate what it is like to sit with Mary, a widow & mother of two young boys? Her weakened immune system has allowed multiple opportunistic infections to fill her body; and yet, she explains: “Yesterday I was feeling weak & tired, but today I woke up & remembered my God. He is good.” Although I cannot adequately describe all there is to tell, it must be told that surely God is good & is working in this place. In the midst of a people who know hunger, poverty & suffering, I continue to be amazed & envious at the way their lives are filled with such faith, dependence & thanksgiving.
As I share life with these friends, I keep being drawn to a message Jesus first told thousands of years ago. Seated on a mountainside, he talked about a kingdom where blessings lie in what we so often struggle to avoid. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” In The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey writes: “With no where else to turn, the desperate just may turn to Jesus, the only one who can offer the deliverance they long for. Jesus really believed that a person who is poor in spirit, or mourning, or persecuted, or hungry & thirsty for righteousness has a peculiar “advantage” over the rest of us. Maybe, just maybe, the desperate person will cry out to God for help. If so, that person truly is blessed.” Yancey quoted a list of “advantages” to being poor written by Monica Hellwig. These describe so much of what I witness on a daily basis in the lives of the people I serve with:
1. The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
2. The poor know not only their dependence on God & on powerful people but also their interdependence with one another.
3. The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
4. The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance, and no exaggerated sense of privacy.
5. The poor expect little from competition & much from cooperation.
6. The poor can distinguish between necessities & luxuries.
7. The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
8. The fears of the poor are more realistic & less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering & want.
9. When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news & not a threat or scolding.
10. The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment & totality because they have so little to lose & are ready for anything.
In a way that baffles the standards of this world, I am learning & experiencing that God’s kingdom is offered & received by those who recognize their need for it. Just this past week, I met a lady named Teresa whose life demonstrates a dependence upon God. Her story continues to move & challenge me to live out the love of Christ.
Like so many others in the community, Teresa’s life situation is extremely difficult. Her husband, an alcoholic, abandoned her to raise their five children alone. She lives in a mud hut and survives through her small business of cooking & selling food to workers in the community. As if her life were not already full of struggles, one month ago Teresa took in a 5 month old little girl named Ivon. Ivon’s mother died in May. Her father was leaving Ivon in the house alone from morning until night while he was away drinking. Upon learning of the neglect & abuse that was occurring, Teresa went to Ivon’s father & asked him to allow her to take the baby. When asked why she decided to care for the baby, her only response was: “I felt sympathy towards her.”
Teresa’s generosity, in the midst of her poverty, humbles & challenges me. She has taken the message of 1 John 3:16-18, as it was intended, literally. It says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for our brothers. But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how can the love of Christ abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in action and in truth.” Since my visit, the sacrificial love of Teresa & the face of this beautiful child have not escaped my mind.
Let me close by sharing lyrics that speak of living with gratitude in the midst of unfulfilled hopes. This is the prayer of my friends & has become the desire of my heart. As Jesus said, the kingdom belongs to such as these.
Gratitude
By Nichole Nordeman
Send some rain, would you send some rain?
Cause the earth is dry & needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade.
Would you send a cloud, thunder long & loud,
Let the sky grow black & send some mercy down?
Surely you can see we are thirsty & afraid.
But maybe not, not today, maybe you’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case, we’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You;
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain.
Daily bread, give us daily bread.
Bless our bodies; keep our children fed.
Fill our cups then fill them up again tonight.
Wrap us up & warm us through,
Tucked away beneath sturdy roofs.
Let us slumber, safe from danger’s view this time.
Or maybe not, not today, maybe You’ll provide in other ways.
And if that’s the case, we’ll give thanks to You with gratitude.
A lesson learned: to hunger after You,
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead.
And if we never taste that bread.
Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need.
So grant us peace, Jesus grant us peace.
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight.
Or maybe not, not today.
Peace might be a million miles away. And if that’s the case,
We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude,
For lessons learned in how to trust in You.
We are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need.
And if You never grant us peace,
But, Jesus, would you please?
As I share life with these friends, I keep being drawn to a message Jesus first told thousands of years ago. Seated on a mountainside, he talked about a kingdom where blessings lie in what we so often struggle to avoid. He said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of God.” In The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey writes: “With no where else to turn, the desperate just may turn to Jesus, the only one who can offer the deliverance they long for. Jesus really believed that a person who is poor in spirit, or mourning, or persecuted, or hungry & thirsty for righteousness has a peculiar “advantage” over the rest of us. Maybe, just maybe, the desperate person will cry out to God for help. If so, that person truly is blessed.” Yancey quoted a list of “advantages” to being poor written by Monica Hellwig. These describe so much of what I witness on a daily basis in the lives of the people I serve with:
1. The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
2. The poor know not only their dependence on God & on powerful people but also their interdependence with one another.
3. The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
4. The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance, and no exaggerated sense of privacy.
5. The poor expect little from competition & much from cooperation.
6. The poor can distinguish between necessities & luxuries.
7. The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
8. The fears of the poor are more realistic & less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering & want.
9. When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news & not a threat or scolding.
10. The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment & totality because they have so little to lose & are ready for anything.
In a way that baffles the standards of this world, I am learning & experiencing that God’s kingdom is offered & received by those who recognize their need for it. Just this past week, I met a lady named Teresa whose life demonstrates a dependence upon God. Her story continues to move & challenge me to live out the love of Christ.
Like so many others in the community, Teresa’s life situation is extremely difficult. Her husband, an alcoholic, abandoned her to raise their five children alone. She lives in a mud hut and survives through her small business of cooking & selling food to workers in the community. As if her life were not already full of struggles, one month ago Teresa took in a 5 month old little girl named Ivon. Ivon’s mother died in May. Her father was leaving Ivon in the house alone from morning until night while he was away drinking. Upon learning of the neglect & abuse that was occurring, Teresa went to Ivon’s father & asked him to allow her to take the baby. When asked why she decided to care for the baby, her only response was: “I felt sympathy towards her.”
Teresa’s generosity, in the midst of her poverty, humbles & challenges me. She has taken the message of 1 John 3:16-18, as it was intended, literally. It says, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus gave his life for us. We too, then, ought to give our lives for our brothers. But whoever has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how can the love of Christ abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in action and in truth.” Since my visit, the sacrificial love of Teresa & the face of this beautiful child have not escaped my mind.
Let me close by sharing lyrics that speak of living with gratitude in the midst of unfulfilled hopes. This is the prayer of my friends & has become the desire of my heart. As Jesus said, the kingdom belongs to such as these.
Gratitude
By Nichole Nordeman
Send some rain, would you send some rain?
Cause the earth is dry & needs to drink again
And the sun is high and we are sinking in the shade.
Would you send a cloud, thunder long & loud,
Let the sky grow black & send some mercy down?
Surely you can see we are thirsty & afraid.
But maybe not, not today, maybe you’ll provide in other ways
And if that’s the case, we’ll give thanks to You with gratitude
For lessons learned in how to thirst for You;
How to bless the very sun that warms our face
If you never send us rain.
Daily bread, give us daily bread.
Bless our bodies; keep our children fed.
Fill our cups then fill them up again tonight.
Wrap us up & warm us through,
Tucked away beneath sturdy roofs.
Let us slumber, safe from danger’s view this time.
Or maybe not, not today, maybe You’ll provide in other ways.
And if that’s the case, we’ll give thanks to You with gratitude.
A lesson learned: to hunger after You,
That a starry sky offers a better view if no roof is overhead.
And if we never taste that bread.
Oh, the differences that often are between
Everything we want and what we really need.
So grant us peace, Jesus grant us peace.
Move our hearts to hear a single beat
Between alibis and enemies tonight.
Or maybe not, not today.
Peace might be a million miles away. And if that’s the case,
We’ll give thanks to You with gratitude,
For lessons learned in how to trust in You.
We are blessed beyond what we could ever dream
In abundance or in need.
And if You never grant us peace,
But, Jesus, would you please?
Tuesday, May 17, 2005
Unexpected Suprises
This evening I was taking a walk & was overwhelmed by the beauty of this place. As the rains have come, the landscape is transforming. Everything is green, the river is rising & the corn is covering the country side. As I was walking & thanking God for His provision, I was greeted by two little kids. When I say “greeted”, I mean they ran at full speed with muddied, bare-feet & outstretched arms to hug me. I should probably mention I’ve never met these children before. I’m guessing the rule of not talking to strangers does not apply here. Needless to say, their hunger for attention & uninhibited embrace grabbed my heart. God used those two precious children to remind me of His great love & why it is that I am here.
Over the past months, there have been many moments filled with reminders just like this one. Without a doubt, this is a journey of trust filled with unexpected surprises. There are many obstacles & challenges along the way, but there is also an overwhelming sense of the favor of God. I’m experiencing the truth that indeed “eye has not seen, nor ear heard. Nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” (1 Corinthians 2:9). In reflecting upon how this verse defines so much of my life these days, I wrote these words.
As the plans I’ve made are all stripped away,
I find what I’ve been searching for.
The longings within my heart-
Are clearer than ever before.
As I sit within the meadows,
And I dance through the streams.
With Your Presence forevermore,
I’ll live what I didn’t dare to dream.
What my ears have not heard.
What my eyes have yet to see.
What my mind could not comprehend.
You’ve already prepared for me.
Community Health Projects…
There are several exciting projects currently occurring within the ELI Health Ministry. For me, it is really a blessing to watch this community catch a vision to implement practices that promote better health for themselves & their families as well as to care for those who are sick within the village. I want to share about 3 projects that are taking place, and I ask you to join me in praying that God will use these efforts & bring new ideas for further development.
Traditional Birth Attendant (TBA) Training.
As I shared within a previous newsletter, it is estimated that at least 80% of births, within the village of Kipkaren, are conducted in homes by untrained traditional birth attendants (TBAs). TBAs are women who have learned delivery methods through the experience of older women. Because there is a greater risk for the health of both mother & child in delivering at home, the need to empower TBAs with more knowledge was identified.
In 2004, 35 TBAs successfully completed a 16-week TBA training taught by the ELI Health Clinic staff. In March, I had the privilege of partnering with one of these TBAs in a home delivery, and I tell you it really was a blessing to witness the combination of her years of extensive experience & newly gained knowledge put into practice.
In June, we are beginning our second 16- week training for another group of TBAs within Kipkaren as well as a training in a neighboring community. The course will include topics such as hygiene, HIV/AIDS, delivery complications, when to refer the expectant mother to the clinic, mother & child nutrition, family planning, and many others. At the end of the training, there will be a final exam. Because many of these women have not have the opportunity to go to school and do not read or write, it will be their first exam and will be conducted orally. For those who successfully complete the course, there will be a graduation in which each TBA will receive a certificate and a metal box filled with basic supplies to carry with them when conducting deliveries.
Home-Based Care (HBC) Caregiver Training. We have just completed an 8-week training for people to learn more about HIV/AIDS and how to provide home-based care for those who are sick within the community. It was exciting to watch the HBC committee teach the course with so much passion as well as the community members applying themselves to learn with so much dedication. In addition to learning within the classroom, the community members went into the homes of the sick & had an opportunity to implement “hands on” what they had learned. There are 31 who will graduate from the course this coming Saturday. In the weeks & months ahead, the HBC committee will be partnering with those newly trained caregivers to mobilize care for the ever growing need within Kipkaren & the surrounding villages.
In 2 weeks, there will be another caregiver training for 25 people, from churches in the surrounding areas, to come for a 3-day intensive course. Please pray that God will use these trainings to enable those trained to reach out to their neighbors & family members with the love of Christ.
Malaria Prevention Project. During the rainy season, malaria is a huge problem within this area. In 2004, the ELI Health Clinic treated 786 adults & children with malaria. Even this past week, there have been 2 small children who have died while under treatment and another hospitalized due to malaria. Recently we have been able to purchase mosquito nets, at a dramatically discounted rate, to distribute them throughout the community.
Please pray that God will bring new ideas to break the cycle of malaria as it causes so much suffering within this community.
Blessings to you…Thank you for your continued prayers & support. Know that they are needed & appreciated so very much.
Friday, April 15, 2005
"Together We Are Coming Against AIDS"
April 15, 2005 is a day that will not be soon forgotten in the village of Kipkaren as hundreds to thousands of men, women & children gathered together in a field for an HIV/AIDS Awareness Campaign. The event began in the morning and lasted until late in the night and was evidence that God can & is truly replacing the fears surrounding HIV/AIDS with a new sense of hope within this community. The day’s theme was “Together we are Coming Against AIDS”; and throughout the day, those theme words were repeated in Swahili, “pamoja tunapinga ukimwi”, as people joined & lifted their hands together.
The day was filled with many activities- all with this underlying message: HIV/AIDS has & continues to steal to many lives, and it is past time for the community to join together & fight it. It is time to fight the stigma surrounding AIDS that alienates people. It is time to speak the truth about the realities of HIV. It is time to make wise choices that prevent the transmission of HIV. And for those already HIV positive, it is time to face the fear of going to be tested in order to gain the chance for treatment.
The activities of the day included the finals of a local tournament. It was amazing to watch these young men from surrounding villages come & play. There were no lines to mark the field, no scoreboard to keep the marks, and some even played barefoot; but it was very competitive and a lot of fun for the many who watched as well as for those who played.
In the afternoon, HIV testing & counselling was offered and dramas & songs by Kipkaren’s Home-Based Care caregivers were performed. As I watched men & women share openly & with passion about the topic of
AIDS, I knew it was a pivitol day in the life of the community as the vision for fighting against the spread of HIV & caring for those already infected was, by at least a few, captured.
One of the highlights of the day was witnessing 5 people from the surrounding area stand before the community & share that they were HIV positive. As I listened to one of the patient’s within our Home-Based Care share about his status & his life, I was reminded of sitting in his home just a few short months ago. He was so very sick & did not think he would live to see the new year. But on this day, as he shared there was a new found hope. He is currently taking HIV medications & growing stronger with each day. Upon visiting him, he often reminds me, “Mungu anaweza” which means God is able. As he stood before the people, he encouraged them to go for HIV testing & to face their fears. His testimony of what God is doing in his life was truly a miracle to experience.
The remarkable day was closed by an amazing concert by a band from Nairobi called “The Village”. Through music, this group of gifted Christian musicians powerfully proclaimed a message about the love of Christ and Kenya’s need to fight against HIV/AIDS. It was a night filled with singing & dancing as well as a time where people fell to their knees & asked God to bring healing to their land.
In a village filled with many struggles, I am grateful for the victories, great & small, that are being won. I am grateful for the relationships that are being made & the lives that are being empowered through the work being done. I am grateful that God has allowed me to be a part in what He is wanting to do within this community. And I am grateful for the ways God has used you, my family & friends, again & again to reveal His love & faithfulness. Your continued prayers & support enable me to live & work here in Kipkaren & bless my life more than I could ever express. So thank you.
Thursday, February 10, 2005
The Battle Is Not My Own
I no longer wonder what it felt like for David to come against Goliath. I, too an unlikely choice, have been asked and have committed to fight a battle that is much bigger than myself. I must confess it seems absurd to throw the few small stones I’ve been given at this giant killing Africa; but then again, I need not forget that the battle is not my own. The longer I remain in this little village, the more God is awakening me to the reality of how big an enemy AIDS really is. The love of God continues to compel me to follow the model of Jesus Christ “who walked thousands of kilometers, held hundreds of hands crushed by calamity, ate with prostitutes & thieves, and marched into big churches to tell the religious leaders that the kingdom of God was upon them- outside in the community where the blind and lepers lay”.
The nature of HIV is to hide itself within an individual’s body as well as a community & continent until it has spread to unfathomable proportions. By the time it shows its indiscriminant and ugly face, life is quickly stolen striking a fear so deep within those left behind. The fear factor, associated with AIDS, has caused even the word Ukimwi (Swahili for AIDS) to rarely be mentioned; instead, we talk about “the sickness”. This silence and refusal to recognize the reality of HIV/AIDS continues to nourish its spread in Africa.
Two weeks ago, as I sat with yet another family experiencing the devastation of AIDS, my heart was broken again. The family is comprised of a man in his forties who is struggling to hold onto life, two wives already infected, and a beautiful three month old baby named Brian whose status is yet to be discovered. On that day, I wasn’t alright with simply sitting beside them as they die. I desired for there to be hope restored. I told the family that I had heard about a clinic in the neighboring town of Turbo offering services to HIV patients on Friday’s. I had no idea what to expect, but we decided it was worth a try.
Friday morning, I woke up early and was encouraged as I read in the Psalms that God does not forget the cries of the humble (9:12). I needed to be reminded of that. Upon arriving to the Turbo clinic, an older gentleman from the States welcomed me graciously and introduced himself as Dr. Joe, the physician in charge of the clinic. As I stood in an office full of antiretrovirals and other medications, he asked what I thought. Tears streamed down my face as I told him, "I sit with people every day as they struggle to live & it's horrible." As the day continued, it was very evident that God was opening doors for us to partner together to care for & treat AIDS patients.
Through grants & other funding sources, Dr. Joe has been able to open multiple clinics & give free testing & treatment to thousands of HIV patients throughout Kenya. The services offered include medical treatment with access to HIV medications, laboratory services, nutritional support & counseling, and other social supports. That day, I returned to the village in awe of the possibilities for providing care that had been revealed.
Since my first visit to the Turbo clinic two weeks ago, we have begun a HIV/AIDS Awareness Counsel that is made up of 8 dynamic people from Kipkaren who are passionate about caring for the needs of those infected & affected within this community. With a renewed sense of hope, we are looking for ways to battle the fears associated with HIV/AIDS.
This week, HIV testing & counseling has been started within the village. Even this morning, I sat with a young man who came requesting to be tested. He was obviously frightened by what the results would be; when the test results were negative, he pulled condoms out of his pocket and shared that he needed to throw them away & begin to live in a way he knew Jesus had called him to. I spoke frankly with him & told him that he was responsible to make choices that would protect his family & himself from HIV and encouraged him to find someone he could talk with to hold him accountable for his actions. As we shared, I felt led to pray for him. His reply was that we needed to get on our knees. In my little hut, we asked God to lead, to provide strength in weakness, & thanked Him for grace and protection. It was an amazing moment of truth.
For those that test positive, access to medical treatment with Dr. Joe is offered & coordinated for any who are willing to go. We’re finding home based care to be a valuable way to monitor medication compliance in between visits as well as to follow up on other needs within the family. Pastoral support and counseling are also available to encourage the patient & family.
Needless to say, there are many exciting things happening within the health ministry of ELI these days. I am seeing visions become realities & watching God grant dreams greater than I had dared to dream. I covet your prayers for continued strength & wisdom as I continue to fight this battle & learn to love. God is at work, and I want to join Him
Monday, January 17, 2005
What We Have Not Yet Seen
"For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever” (2 Corinthians 4:17-18). In a much needed email, I received these verses this past week and was gratefully reminded how temporary the pains of this world, Kipkaren village, and my own life really are. This is not to deny the reality of the present suffering; on a daily basis, I see that it is all too real. There is hunger, sickness, and struggles of many kinds that surround. But in the midst of pain, it is easy to lose heart and forget that the burdens will soon be over and replaced by unending joy. So as I write this, I find myself thankful that God’s heart is for the broken & oppressed but also hope-filled that someday the suffering will altogether end.
Childbirth is a perfect analogy of this process of struggle & pain preceding joy. Jesus described it as this: “A woman, when she is in labor, has sorrow because her hour of suffering has come; but as soon as she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish for she is filled with joy that her baby has been born into the world” (John 16:21). I experienced this very thing today. On the floor of a mud hut, I sat with a friend as she labored for an intense 16 hours. There were no medications to numb her pain; and with great courage, she labored. Without immediate relief, she struggled & cried out to God. After many hours, she asked: “will this baby ever come?” Although I wondered the same thing, I encouraged her that the painful process would soon end and would be worth it. When the long awaited moment arrived, a greater joy indeed replaced her pain. There was a little baby boy who filled her arms. As I delivered the baby & he drew his first breath, I was reminded of the incredible miracle & gift life truly is. Although it’s indescribable, I witnessed this mystery that “pleasure, coming after the pain, absorbs it” (Yancey).
For the present time, within each of us, there will remain unfulfilled desires and a longing for what is broken to be restored. But I am learning that, in the midst of pain, God is still deserving of my praise. There are lyrics to a song entitled “When the Tears Fall” that express what it is that I am trying to share. They say:
“I’ve had questions without answers. I’ve known sorrow, I have known pain. But there’s one thing, I will cling to: You are faithful. Jesus, You’re true. When hope is lost, I’ll call you Savior. When pain surrounds, I’ll call you healer. When silence falls, you’ll be the song within my heart. In the long hour of my sorrow. Through the darkest night of my soul, You surround me and sustain me. My defender, forevermore. I will praise you, I will praise you. When the tears fall, still I will sing to you. I will praise you, Jesus praise you. Through the suffering, still I will sing”. – Tim Hughes
More to tell…
Over the past months, I have shared stories about various aspects of ELI’s health ministry taking place within the community and wanted to give you the latest updates.
Orphange: There are now 90 children living in the ELI Children’s Home. They are doing very well as they remain in an environment with structure & love. Please continue to pray for the parents, teachers, and all of the other workers who have full-time jobs investing in these little ones.
Community Health Program: A major target of ELI’s efforts are geared towards the prevention of disease. It is clear that preventing is always better than treating a disease; and within the clinic, our health team meets weekly to develop & implement strategies for the prevention of illness within our community. Some of our efforts are currently targeting the following areas:
Immunization of infants & children- Easily preventable childhood illnesses such as measles, mumps & polio continue to seen due to the lack of immunizations. Because of this identified need, immunizations and monitoring the growth & development of infants and children are now available to the community on a bi-weekly basis.
Solar water purification pilot project- Water borne illnesses are a leading cause of illness and even death within the region. A pilot project has been launched targeting 10 families within the community utilizing 1 liter plastic bottles. The bottles are filled with water & left in the sun for 6 hours. The UV rays from the sun kill the disease causing organisms & offer hope of reducing illnesses related to dirty water. With time, we plan for this strategy to be introduced into the larger community.
Malaria Prevention- Within tropical & sub-tropical regions throughout the world, malaria causes more than 300 million acute illnesses & at least 1 million deaths annually (WHO, 2004). The World Health Organization reports that malaria kills an African child every 30 seconds. In 2004, the ELI Health Ministry treated 786 adults & children with malaria. Ongoing education is being offered in ways to prevent the transmission of malaria. Also, we are pushing to sell mosquito nets treated with insecticide at discounted rates to the community.
Traditional Birth Attendants (TBA’s)- Within the Kipkaren community, we estimate that at least 80% of births in this community are conducted in homes by untrained traditional birth attendants (TBAs). TBAs are women who have learned delivery methods through the experience of older women. Because there is a greater risk for the health of both mother & child in delivering at home, the need to empower TBAs with more knowledge was identified. A 16 week TBA training was taught by the clinic staff with 35 women successfully completing the course in December 2004. In June of 2005, another 16 week training will be conducted for other TBA’s within the community as well as continued follow up for those previously trained.
Home-Based Care (HBC)- As reported within my last update, the HBC program continues to grow quickly and in incredible ways. Currently, there is HIV testing & counseling available within Kipkaren, HIV medications & treatment within the neighboring town of Turbo, & routine follow-up home visits made by the members of our HIV/AIDS Awareness Committee. We are also regularly visiting orphans & widows that fill our community to encourage and assist them where possible. This week, we have begun a 6 week training for caregivers on home-based care. It was exciting as 27 men & women came for the first session. I truly believe this will be a great means of allowing members of the community to become aware of the realities of HIV/AIDS that will enable them to reach out to their neighbors & family members with the love of Christ.
Thank you again for your continued prayers, love & support. They allow and enable me to do what I love and have been called to do. I pray that this update has been a reflection of what is occurring within my heart as well as the greater ministry in which I serve and will be an encouragement & blessing to you.
Tuesday, December 28, 2004
Kenyan Christmas
The Story Continues...
Over the months, bit by bit I have been telling of the vision that God has placed within my heart to visit & care for the sick within their homes. This time, I want to continue, in that, by telling you the story of a man named Timone. If I were to describe what I feel most called to and passionate about, Timone’s situation is it.
He is an educated man who was once a husband, father, & successful businessman. Now, in his mid-thirties, his life has little remnants of what used to be. The consequences of HIV/AIDS have left his physical body wasted, filled with pain, and unable to eat or control even his most basic body functions. Because of neurological impairment, he has significant right sided weakness & his speech is very limited. But it only takes one look into his eyes to understand, at least in part, the story he is unable to speak. Abandoned by his family, he can be found sitting alone within his little hut on any given day. He’s tired & alone. Upon our initial visits, the clinic staff & I found Timone hungry & dirty. We began visiting Timone regularly in order to build a relationship & to care for the most basic needs of this broken man. We started with the obvious needs by cooking foods (he could actually eat) and assisting him with bathing, laundry, & other household chores.
As time has passed, I’ve learned that Timone & I share a love for music And so we sing. In actuality, he hums as I attempt to accompany him in my broken Swahili or Kalenjiin; nonetheless, his face lights up leaving both of our eyes filled with tears. Translated from Kalenjiin, the words of his favorite song say: “ Let the hand of the Lord take care of me until I go home.”
Although this may sound strange, sitting with Timone is often the closest I feel to Jesus. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us a story in which he says: “I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was sick and you took care of me”... When asked, “when did this happen?”, Jesus simply replied: “whenever you did it unto the least of these, you did it to me”. Just prior to my coming to Kenya, I read a quote by Mother Teresa in which she said: “Each AIDS victim is Jesus in a distressing disguise”. Believing this is what God was calling me to do, I wrote a song in reflection of these words. The lyrics read:
See You…
Little hands- tear stained eyes.
Wasted bodies. Endless cries.
In a world, so hard to understand-
Jesus, I see it’s your hands.
Broken hearts- Tired of the fight.
Afraid & alone with death in sight.
In their world, so hard to understand-
Jesus, I see it’s your hands,
It’s your feet, & your heart.
And I want to touch you &
Serve you all of my days.
I love you, because you first loved me.
Jesus, help me to see that when I look deeper-
It is you who is looking back at me.
Jesus, help me to see- It’s you.
Even though it’s just a glimpse, I am getting see Jesus; and I must tell you, it is in what might seem to be the most unlikely of places.
A Kenyan Christmas...
As I wrote in my last update, I knew that Christmas would be a different experience this year. I desired for it to be different, and it was. It was a simple season but rich with precious moments and priceless gifts…
Much of the week proceeding Christmas, I spent in Ilula at the children’s home where there are currently 85 children living. It was an amazing blessing as my sister’s company sent 7 large packages full of clothes, toys, Christmas decorations & toiletry items for the kids. Tears filled my eyes as I opened the boxes- most of these kids have never had a single toy. Over the past months, they have come one by one to this home barefoot with only the clothes on their backs. Their eyes wideopen and wondering where life was taking them next. One of the parents, upon seeing the boxes, said: "I have no words to say- surely God is good." And I wish there was a way to truly capture the smiles upon each child’s face as they received their gifts- it is a moment I am not soon to forget.
I also had the opportunity to take food and supplies to Timone. I was surprised, upon arriving to his home, to find his 5 year old son had come to visit his dad for a few weeks over the Christmas holiday. Little Kipchumba’s presence had brought a smile that was rare to see upon Timone’s face. Again, I was grateful for the good gifts that only God could give.
Last, but definitely not least, I had the privelege to take food & supplies to the home of Edwin. He is the 12 year old boy in late stage heart failure that I wrote about a few months ago. Thank you for your continued prayers for he and his family. He continues on medications to help filter out the excess fluid that fills his abdomen and is surrounding his heart, and his abdomen is at least half the size it was when I met him. I walked up to where his family lives & told his mom & brother that there were things for them in the car. The next thing I know- Edwin is running down the hill to the car with this huge smile upon his face. It was an incredible miracle to watch. On Christmas morning, I was amazed when Edwin & 2 of his sisters walked over 2 miles to the training center. Upon arriving, Edwin explained that they had come to go to the Christmas service at church. Again, my heart was overwhelmed by the gifts God was allowing us to receive & experience.
There are not enough words to express the gratefulness I feel within my heart for the continued prayers and generous support I’ve received throughout the past year. But I thank you & pray the blessings of God would fill your lives throughout the coming new year.
Over the months, bit by bit I have been telling of the vision that God has placed within my heart to visit & care for the sick within their homes. This time, I want to continue, in that, by telling you the story of a man named Timone. If I were to describe what I feel most called to and passionate about, Timone’s situation is it.
He is an educated man who was once a husband, father, & successful businessman. Now, in his mid-thirties, his life has little remnants of what used to be. The consequences of HIV/AIDS have left his physical body wasted, filled with pain, and unable to eat or control even his most basic body functions. Because of neurological impairment, he has significant right sided weakness & his speech is very limited. But it only takes one look into his eyes to understand, at least in part, the story he is unable to speak. Abandoned by his family, he can be found sitting alone within his little hut on any given day. He’s tired & alone. Upon our initial visits, the clinic staff & I found Timone hungry & dirty. We began visiting Timone regularly in order to build a relationship & to care for the most basic needs of this broken man. We started with the obvious needs by cooking foods (he could actually eat) and assisting him with bathing, laundry, & other household chores.
As time has passed, I’ve learned that Timone & I share a love for music And so we sing. In actuality, he hums as I attempt to accompany him in my broken Swahili or Kalenjiin; nonetheless, his face lights up leaving both of our eyes filled with tears. Translated from Kalenjiin, the words of his favorite song say: “ Let the hand of the Lord take care of me until I go home.”
Although this may sound strange, sitting with Timone is often the closest I feel to Jesus. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells us a story in which he says: “I was hungry and you fed me, thirsty and you gave me a drink; I was sick and you took care of me”... When asked, “when did this happen?”, Jesus simply replied: “whenever you did it unto the least of these, you did it to me”. Just prior to my coming to Kenya, I read a quote by Mother Teresa in which she said: “Each AIDS victim is Jesus in a distressing disguise”. Believing this is what God was calling me to do, I wrote a song in reflection of these words. The lyrics read:
See You…
Little hands- tear stained eyes.
Wasted bodies. Endless cries.
In a world, so hard to understand-
Jesus, I see it’s your hands.
Broken hearts- Tired of the fight.
Afraid & alone with death in sight.
In their world, so hard to understand-
Jesus, I see it’s your hands,
It’s your feet, & your heart.
And I want to touch you &
Serve you all of my days.
I love you, because you first loved me.
Jesus, help me to see that when I look deeper-
It is you who is looking back at me.
Jesus, help me to see- It’s you.
Even though it’s just a glimpse, I am getting see Jesus; and I must tell you, it is in what might seem to be the most unlikely of places.
A Kenyan Christmas...
As I wrote in my last update, I knew that Christmas would be a different experience this year. I desired for it to be different, and it was. It was a simple season but rich with precious moments and priceless gifts…
Much of the week proceeding Christmas, I spent in Ilula at the children’s home where there are currently 85 children living. It was an amazing blessing as my sister’s company sent 7 large packages full of clothes, toys, Christmas decorations & toiletry items for the kids. Tears filled my eyes as I opened the boxes- most of these kids have never had a single toy. Over the past months, they have come one by one to this home barefoot with only the clothes on their backs. Their eyes wideopen and wondering where life was taking them next. One of the parents, upon seeing the boxes, said: "I have no words to say- surely God is good." And I wish there was a way to truly capture the smiles upon each child’s face as they received their gifts- it is a moment I am not soon to forget.
I also had the opportunity to take food and supplies to Timone. I was surprised, upon arriving to his home, to find his 5 year old son had come to visit his dad for a few weeks over the Christmas holiday. Little Kipchumba’s presence had brought a smile that was rare to see upon Timone’s face. Again, I was grateful for the good gifts that only God could give.
Last, but definitely not least, I had the privelege to take food & supplies to the home of Edwin. He is the 12 year old boy in late stage heart failure that I wrote about a few months ago. Thank you for your continued prayers for he and his family. He continues on medications to help filter out the excess fluid that fills his abdomen and is surrounding his heart, and his abdomen is at least half the size it was when I met him. I walked up to where his family lives & told his mom & brother that there were things for them in the car. The next thing I know- Edwin is running down the hill to the car with this huge smile upon his face. It was an incredible miracle to watch. On Christmas morning, I was amazed when Edwin & 2 of his sisters walked over 2 miles to the training center. Upon arriving, Edwin explained that they had come to go to the Christmas service at church. Again, my heart was overwhelmed by the gifts God was allowing us to receive & experience.
There are not enough words to express the gratefulness I feel within my heart for the continued prayers and generous support I’ve received throughout the past year. But I thank you & pray the blessings of God would fill your lives throughout the coming new year.
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Christmas at the Manger
It’s hard to believe Christmas season has come… To say the least, it has a very different feeling this year. In my little village, we don’t experience the hustle & bustle of shopping, there are no holiday parties to attend, no hopes for a white Christmas, and no trees to decorate or Santa Claus to visit in the mall. Life feels somehow the same as every other day; and yet, there is a clear understanding that there is reason to celebrate.
This season I’ve been reminded again of my first trip to Kenya. I’ll never forget wallking down that dirt path only to find a young pregnant lady named Christine in labor and ready to deliver. She had walked several miles, having heard there was a nurse in the village, and I was the one she had found. I remember thinking, “this is no place or way for a baby to be born”; and yet, that is exactly what was about to happen. Just down the path, there was a small mud hut that became a delivery room. Little Joshua was born on a dirty floor made of cow dung without complication, and God’s peace and presence filled that place in a way I had never experienced before. I was amazed to later learn that the people who were gracious enough to open their home were named Mary & Joseph. After that day, the humble birth of Jesus took on a whole new meaning to me.
Over the past few weeks, I have been blessed with a little taste of home as my parents and a team from their church in Redding, California have come to visit Kip Karen. Without doubt, one of the highlights of their trip was the night we celebrated Christmas together. Yes, it was a bit early as it proceeded December 25 by a few weeks; nonetheless, an unforgettable night. With great love & care, the team had brought presents for each member of the family I live with and myself. After opening my presents, I was thankful for the generosity of gifts given; but in my spirit, I needed something more. I desired what “things” could not provide me.
As we prepared to continue with the party, I explained to the team: “to truly celebrate, there’s not enough room in this inn”. They didn’t really understand what was about to take place; but through the rainy night, we made our way to the stables & simply stood at the manger. Among the animals, we read the Christmas story with a greater understanding of what actually took place that first Christmas. It was not glamorous and the most unlikely place for the Saviour of the world to be born; and yet, it was the way he chose to come and be among us. Tears streamed down my face as the words of the old Christmas carol kept running through my head: “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed. The little, Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head. The stars in the sky looked down where he lay. The little, Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.”
I wondered, what kind of love would allow Jesus to come to the world in this way? I still wonder… I do pray that your Christmas will be blessed and filled with great joy. And just maybe, through the busyness of the season, you can find your way back to the manger. It is an incredible place to go- it’s where God chose to come.
Sunday, October 31, 2004
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.
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.
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