AWESOME Medical Clinic

Hey Everyone,

The trip has been an outstanding success!!! We treated around 350 patients from the slum for much more severe things than we normally treat. We also treated all 450 children in the school!. Darby, our pharmacist estimated that we dispensed approximately half a MILLION dollars worth of medication (US retail value). The children gave us a send-off service this evening and now we're heading back to the Y to send Wendy home! This has been an absolutely AMAZING team. We can't wait to share the stories from this trip when we get home. We love you all.

Sawa Sawa!

Dr. Chad

Quick general update

Chad gave me a quick call to update us on what has been happening in general for the team! It was exciting for us to hear news about the changes that are happening in Mitumba!


Update:
The last few days have been chaotic but great at the same time! He said that the team members are all healthy and
in great spirits! Keep the team in your prayers as they begin Day 2 of the clinic. They will need energy and time to rest!
Chad says that nobody wants to come home, they are loving Africa too much to leave!

The first day of the medical clinic was pretty much the same as every first day that the medical team has, crazy but good. He thinks they will have a good enough system down to be able to run smoothly and treat more people tomorrow.

Things change so quickly in Mitumba! He said that a Canadian team did construction this summer and everything looks new! The prefab building that was used as classrooms and teachers' lounge that the very first GOYA team constructed is now torn down as well as the building behind it( kind of behind where the flagpole was, directly across the courtyard from the church)with the storage area. They knocked it  over and built a two story building in their place the first floor is open and covers the courtyard area, there are classrooms on the top floor. The courtyard area that was made of dirt is now a concrete floor! Also, they Canadians bought the two homes that were in the middle of the school complex, remember the people that refused to move out? Those buildings were torn down and the area is now an open space. 

I am excited to see photos of all this! Chad says that the whole space looks awesome and it is much easier to conduct the clinic because it is not as cramped of a space.

~Roxy

crazy busy

We have been so busy and little time to make it to the internet cafe before dark. The safari was really fun, saw lots of animals. We got to see the baboons really close (just ask Sandra). Celebrated News Years but counting up- a little different. Also had a lot of time with kids. They have so much energy. Today was the first day at the clinic. Saw just under 50 patients. Tuesday should be a very busy day and hope to see 100 people. Take care everyone. Thinking of you as we enjoy the warm weather here.

~Rochelle

Finally on the blog. Thanks everyone for your patience. The first two days were all about air travel survival. The students have been real troopers. No real complaints and very willing to cooperate. The teamwork of this group has already made us proud. Some of it has to do with the Kenyan people who are most gracious and very appreciative of whatever service or help we offer. We enjoyed a safari the first day to the Rift Valley, "the cradle of civilization". I hope my tons photos will help you understand the immense size and beauty of the area. The students had a blast looking for animals while standing in the observation vans. Oh, by the way, there are no drivers on earth as fearless as well as assertive as the Kenyan drivers. It's a fast carnival ride with near misses everyday. Lake Nacuru is the lake you see in Out of Africa and is worth the 2hr. drive one way. New Years Eve has most of Nairobi doing the countdown in a church along with sermons and long chants and song. The three soccer stadiums were filled for the event. We spent the evening until 1AM with the poor in Mitumba slum. The next day we toured the shack-like homes of the 30,000 residents. The children flocked and clung to the students as we approached with tiny voices shouting "How are you...How are you". Some had never seen a white erson and were a little afraid of my size but once they touched my hand they compared it to their own and then they all piled on. I'm skipping the hospital tour explanation for now to tell you of how wonderful our first day of clinic was for the people. The students took inventory of what was available, set up registration, assessed the patient or child, sent them to the physician, then fill pharmacy orders and had the Kenyan nurse do the patient education of med. ed. I was so filled with pride I could burst. And then to see them joyfully walking the two miles back to the YMCA...WOW, what kind of students did we produce!!! I'm well. Family please know I'm thoroughly joyful. Hope I can write again in a day or two. More clinic days ahead, maybe 400 patients will be seen. PS ...I contacted the Maryknoll Sisters in town and they remembered my aunt. Love to all. Keep up the thoughts of peace and prayer. Dave

A Great First Two Days

As Roxy mentioned in the previous post, we landed safe and sound in Nairobi with all luggage around 12:30am on Wednesday. Pastor Shadrack and Peter the Driver picked us up, took us to Nakumat (the Wal Mart of Kenya) to get bottled water. Along the way we ran into a pack of wild Zebra...just outside the airport. Everyone was pretty excited to see them as it was a good reminder that we really are in Africa. Then we went to the YMCA to get checked it. Everyone was really excited after check in so we had hard time getting to sleep. Most of us didn't go to sleep until around 3am. But we were all awake by 8am the next morning. We met for breakfast and schedule review, then we were off to Mbagathi Hospital for a tour of the facility with our new friend Dr Francis. After touring the hospital and meeting with staff for nearly 3 hours, we went to town to change money. Then we went to Nakumat to gather supplies and eat lunch.

We're winding the day down at the Cyber cafe and trying to get to bed early tonight. Everyone is feeling the effects of jet lag. And we have to awake at 5am tomorrow to hit the road for Lake Nakuru by 6. Tomorrow is Safari day!! Then we'll end the new year at the Kisha service in Mitumba Slum.

We probably won't be posting to the blog tomorrow, but we'll try to we'll try to report back on Saturday as we should have a little free time then.

Thanks to everyone for your thoughts and prayers.

Chad

The team has landed!

I just received word from Chad, the team leader, that the team has landed in Nairobi, Kenya!

It is very late there, so they will pack up their luggage and head straight to the Y for some sleep before a busy day tomorrow. Keep the team in your thoughts and prayers as they travel. Hopefully they are able to get some rest and won't have too much jet lag.

~Roxanna Parker
Trip Coordinator

We're Flying