We are half way there!
After a 9 hour flight we have arrived in Amsterdam. It is 8:30 in the morning and we'll board our flight for Kenya in one hour. The trip has been easy so far. We miss our kids. We left them standing in the drive way with their Nanna and Pappa after tearful goodbyes. But we will try to focus on Kenya and for whatever God has for us there. We are thankful for your continued prayers...we can feel them following us here to Europe and know they will go on with us to Africa.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Preparation Continues
We have found out that part of our purpose is to transport items to Kijabe that would be too expensive to ship or are too value to trust to shipping services to Africa.
As of this time we have received or are expected to receive: orthopedic drill chargers from Tennessee, micro centrifuge tubes from Michigan, and lady Bible study books and materials.
We start taking our malaria prophylaxis medication tomorrow night and will continue that daily until 2 weeks after we return to the states.
As of this time we have received or are expected to receive: orthopedic drill chargers from Tennessee, micro centrifuge tubes from Michigan, and lady Bible study books and materials.
We start taking our malaria prophylaxis medication tomorrow night and will continue that daily until 2 weeks after we return to the states.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Brief History
I've been getting a lot of questions about our trip, so I thought I'd give everyone a brief history on how we chose to go to Kenya.
About 8-9 months ago, Mitch was doing some research and discovered that more people die in Kenya of cancer that any other cause. He also discovered that there are only 3 medical Oncologists in the entire country (we have 5 in our "small" town of Wenatchee). That was enough of a tug on his heart to consider a medical mission to that country to see how he could help. When he approached me about it I was totally on board. We have been long time supporters of Franklin Grahm's Samaritan's Purse and have participated in Operation Christmas Child for many years. Mitch contacted them and through their organization "World Medical Missions" the trip was arranged. We did have to wait awhile for the go ahead for Kenya as there was still some unrest in that country at the time.( that gave us some time to get all the vaccinations we needed for the trip!!) Since things have gotten better, we feel that this is where God is leading us.
Mitch will be filling in for one of the Internal Medicine missionary Docs, who will be taking some time off at Kijabe Hospital, a 200 bed mission hospital/compound located above the Great Rift Valley. There is also another Hospital-Bethany Children's for "special needs" children-burn victims, cleft lips, etc, etc. (you can guess where I will be serving!!). We will be staying in a guest home and will be fortunate to have running water and electricity through a generator. There will be many adjustments to what we have become accustomed (spoiled) but we are up for the change.
Mitch is already making contacts on bringing Oncology over there, so a future trip seems inevitable!
We are not going through our local church, nor going with a "group" it's just us! It's going to be quite a journey and experience and we are looking forward to it very much. We can't express enough how much your prayers mean to us. We are also praying that God use us to bring glory to Him.
I still don't know exactly what I'll be doing on a day to day basis, but I have NO doubt that God will show me and that the need will be apparent. That seems to be the way I work best anyway. We've been told by all who have gone to serve in Africa that the needs are so great that there is always something to do. God will put me exactly where he wants me!
I hope that this gives you an idea of how we came about this journey. We look forward to you joining us in prayer and blogs and will cherish your response and interaction, especially as we are half way around the world!
Love and Blessings,
Amy
About 8-9 months ago, Mitch was doing some research and discovered that more people die in Kenya of cancer that any other cause. He also discovered that there are only 3 medical Oncologists in the entire country (we have 5 in our "small" town of Wenatchee). That was enough of a tug on his heart to consider a medical mission to that country to see how he could help. When he approached me about it I was totally on board. We have been long time supporters of Franklin Grahm's Samaritan's Purse and have participated in Operation Christmas Child for many years. Mitch contacted them and through their organization "World Medical Missions" the trip was arranged. We did have to wait awhile for the go ahead for Kenya as there was still some unrest in that country at the time.( that gave us some time to get all the vaccinations we needed for the trip!!) Since things have gotten better, we feel that this is where God is leading us.
Mitch will be filling in for one of the Internal Medicine missionary Docs, who will be taking some time off at Kijabe Hospital, a 200 bed mission hospital/compound located above the Great Rift Valley. There is also another Hospital-Bethany Children's for "special needs" children-burn victims, cleft lips, etc, etc. (you can guess where I will be serving!!). We will be staying in a guest home and will be fortunate to have running water and electricity through a generator. There will be many adjustments to what we have become accustomed (spoiled) but we are up for the change.
Mitch is already making contacts on bringing Oncology over there, so a future trip seems inevitable!
We are not going through our local church, nor going with a "group" it's just us! It's going to be quite a journey and experience and we are looking forward to it very much. We can't express enough how much your prayers mean to us. We are also praying that God use us to bring glory to Him.
I still don't know exactly what I'll be doing on a day to day basis, but I have NO doubt that God will show me and that the need will be apparent. That seems to be the way I work best anyway. We've been told by all who have gone to serve in Africa that the needs are so great that there is always something to do. God will put me exactly where he wants me!
I hope that this gives you an idea of how we came about this journey. We look forward to you joining us in prayer and blogs and will cherish your response and interaction, especially as we are half way around the world!
Love and Blessings,
Amy
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Amy's Addition
Hi all,
I agree with Mitch that your prayers are SO appreciated this week as we plan and get ready for our trip. We are so excited and encouraged about our experience in church this morning and it is definitely evidence from God that He is present in our plans and lives.
My concerns of course, are the kids as we leave. Please pray for them as we prepare them and us for the separation. They will be starting school while we are gone, so there will be some changes and challenges while we are gone. We know that they will be in capable hands while we are away, so that is reassuring.
We will enjoy being able to communicate this way with you all. Isn't technology great?!!
Love to all,
Amy
I agree with Mitch that your prayers are SO appreciated this week as we plan and get ready for our trip. We are so excited and encouraged about our experience in church this morning and it is definitely evidence from God that He is present in our plans and lives.
My concerns of course, are the kids as we leave. Please pray for them as we prepare them and us for the separation. They will be starting school while we are gone, so there will be some changes and challenges while we are gone. We know that they will be in capable hands while we are away, so that is reassuring.
We will enjoy being able to communicate this way with you all. Isn't technology great?!!
Love to all,
Amy
Getting Ready to Go
Hello,
It is six days until Amy and I head off to Kenya. At the advice of Aunt Di we have created this blog to post to (?daily) while we are in Africa to allow our loved ones in the US to know how God is using us and changing us.
We had a wonderful experience at church this morning. We visited a local church (our third time) and were amazed at the blessing we received in so many ways. Unbenowst to us, a small mission team of young adults sent from the church to Uganda returned last Sunday and was reporting back to the church their experiences. It was encouraging and inspiring. Afterwards we spoke with one of the young women who gave such practical and timely advice. This was all truly from God.
During the service we felt that our trip was not "bathed" in prayer as it should be. As we were talking with some new friends we met this morning the senior pastor approached us and introduced himself to us. We spoke briefly then he led our small group in prayer for our trip. He then asked to have the trip shared with the congregation next Sunday as we will be arriving in Kenya. What an amazing blessing, to have our trip prayed for by the body of Christ!
We appreciate everyone's prayers...especially this week as we know there will be great spiritual warfare to hinder our plans and desire to go.
Thank you for following along with us on this journey through this blog.
MG
It is six days until Amy and I head off to Kenya. At the advice of Aunt Di we have created this blog to post to (?daily) while we are in Africa to allow our loved ones in the US to know how God is using us and changing us.
We had a wonderful experience at church this morning. We visited a local church (our third time) and were amazed at the blessing we received in so many ways. Unbenowst to us, a small mission team of young adults sent from the church to Uganda returned last Sunday and was reporting back to the church their experiences. It was encouraging and inspiring. Afterwards we spoke with one of the young women who gave such practical and timely advice. This was all truly from God.
During the service we felt that our trip was not "bathed" in prayer as it should be. As we were talking with some new friends we met this morning the senior pastor approached us and introduced himself to us. We spoke briefly then he led our small group in prayer for our trip. He then asked to have the trip shared with the congregation next Sunday as we will be arriving in Kenya. What an amazing blessing, to have our trip prayed for by the body of Christ!
We appreciate everyone's prayers...especially this week as we know there will be great spiritual warfare to hinder our plans and desire to go.
Thank you for following along with us on this journey through this blog.
MG
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