Kenya Medical Outreach

680 Wood Branch Trail, Suwannee, GA 30024

www.kenyamo.com

Newsletter to our prayer partners and supporters                JULY 2006

          “Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Psalm 119:105  What a blessing it is that God has provided His word to guide us and keep us from falling into the pitfalls that are waiting to swallow us up in this life.  His plan for us would never be realized if we did not have His Word to instruct us and His Spirit to empower us.  Sheila recently read something by Beth Moore about this verse and would like to share Beth’s insight with you.  The Word of God is a “lamp unto our feet” – meaning a guide to our present steps – and is a “light unto our path” – a guide to our future steps.  Now, when you are out camping and night falls and there is no light and you have to go out, you take your flashlight.  This is the good part – how far does that light shine the path for you?  How many steps can you take within that light?  Not too many more than one step and that is exactly how God leads us – one step at a time!  Sometimes, we want to see the whole picture immediately but God knows that we would be overwhelmed and stressed out if we knew everything all at once and we would also be tempted to do our own thing and leave Him out of the plan.  One step at a time is God’s way – the best way – for it keeps us dependent upon the only One who knows everything and will lovingly guide us through the maze of life – safely to the other side – one step at a time.  

GOD DIRECTS OUR STEPS - ONE AT A TIME

          We would like to share with you how God has been directing the leadership of KMO one step at a time.  The ministry began with the building of Mercy Hospital in the village of Olmekenyu in 2000.  We had no idea at that time how this one thing would affect the economy of the entire area. It has truly been amazing to see the growth that has occurred since the hospital was built.  In 2001 Dr. Bill Williams took a small team (6 people) to the hospital to dentistry for the local people.  In 2002 God added another step we went back with a medical and a dental team.  Each year the number of people volunteering their time and service has increased.  We take an average of 25 people with us each year – this year we had 29 volunteers.  We have worked with the schools and local pastors each year.  We have built a building for a small church and we show the Jesus film each year.

            In 2004 God took us a step further with the addition of Tembe Ne Yesu, which stands for Walk with Christ in Swahili.  This is a spiritual encounter weekend patterned after Walk to Emmaus.  God has been building on the spiritual aspect of the mission.  We started out showing the Jesus film and now we are able to do more discipling of the precious people in these remote villages of Kenya.  This year the Tembe Ne Yesu team spent 4 weeks in Kenya.  Two weeks they did the “walks” and the second two weeks they participated in the medical/dental part of the mission.  As the people trust us, we are able to share more of Christ’s love for them.  They are so hungry and excited to learn more.

            Each year, God takes us a step further.  In 2005 we were able to do a Tembe ne Yesu at the safari camp we visit each year at the end of our mission work.  The team had the opportunity to minister to the employees of the surrounding safari camps.  God has definitely given us favor in this area. We always do the medical/dental aspect of the mission.  God meets both their physical and spiritual needs; just as He did when Jesus walked this earth.

            I hope this gives you an idea of how God is guiding us and leading us one step at a time.  It seems that in 2006 He had us take several steps – things seem to be happening faster!  It is so exciting to be a part of what God is doing with His precious children in another part of the world.  In June of 2006 the Tembe Ne Yesu team was able to have one location do their own spiritual weekend – the local people did the teaching with our team being there to support them.  Now the village of Sotik will be able to have Tembe Ne Yesu weekends year round – not just once a year when the KMO team is there.  Praise the Lord!  Also Tembe Ne Yesu was done for a group of 26 pastors from surrounding areas.  They were hesitant at first but in the end they were so excited about what God is doing.  The medical/dental team arrived at the end of this particular weekend and we had the privilege of praying and encouraging this group of pastors.  As we prayed, the anointing of the Holy Spirit was thick that it was difficult to stand.  Several of the team members received prophetic words for the pastors to encourage them in the spiritual battle they are in.  There are many different religions in this part of the world – these pastors need your prayers to stand strong and be bold and courageous for the Lord.

            So many things happened that it is hard to know where to start in sharing all the news with you but it seems fitting to share the miraculous work of the Lord as He healed several people.  In Olmekenyu, we started our first morning at the hospital with a complicated birth.  As we are getting set up and organized, the nurse that works at the hospital came to get the doctor to help with the delivery.  The mother was bleeding, having some blood pressure problems and the baby was in distress.  After working with her for awhile, one of our nurses sent for one of our prayer ministers to come and pray.  They told her that if the baby was not born in the next five minutes it would not make it.  She prayed along with the nurses for the mother and asked God to have the baby come within the next five minutes.  God is faithful and the child was born in guess how many minutes?  Five!  The baby was born with the cord wrapped around his neck which could have caused many complications for the dear child but again, God was in control and the baby is fine.  What a way to start the first day. 

            As the day progressed, a gentleman was admitted to the hospital with alcohol poisoning.  It did not look good for him.  Later he had a heart attack and was dead.  The nurses did CPR and prayed along with several other people for this man’s life.  God brought him back.  He made it through the night and the next day, the doctor came and said that she couldn’t do anything else for him and he was dying.  Again a team of prayer warriors went in to pray for him and once again God spared him!  At this point one of the prayer ministers said to him in English, “Albert now would be a good time to accept Christ.”  He said back to her in English, “yes, I accept Christ.”  The prayer minister then led him in the sinner’s prayer.  He repeated everything in perfect English.  Now, understand that prior to this time, the man did not speak or understand English.  This had to be the work of the Holy Spirit.  Think about it, when we ask someone who speaks another language how to say something in their language we have to repeat it several times before we get it right.  Albert was speaking clearly – amazing!  It was even more amazing that he was awake and coherent enough to carry on a conversation – remember he was unconscious and dying just minutes before this.  The next day Albert asked for prayer for the deliverance of the addiction to alcohol.  Several people prayed again while he repeated the words in English.  He was able to be dismissed from the hospital later that day.  “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons;  they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”  Mark 16:17-18 

            On another day, there was teaching on healing going on outside the clinic by one of our team members.  There were others waiting to pray for people.  The people were hesitant at first but they finally began to allow the prayer ministers to pray for them.  One little deaf girl received her hearing and was able to hear her mother’s voice for the first time.

            In the clinic a mother brought in her son who looked to have been about 10 years old.  The doctor examined him and he had no red reflex in his eyes.  This indicated a retina problem and in the US he would be considered legally blind. He was prayed for and after being re-examined, there was red reflex.  I saw him look at a poster on the wall with amazement.  This particular day, we were giving food out to help families because of the severe drought they have had in Kenya this year.  After the little boy was prayed for and could see, the mother would not take the food.  She felt so blessed she said to let someone who needs it more have it.  This really touched our hearts.

            The last day we were at the hospital we sent 8 people to the hospital for surgeries. One of the young girls may have bone cancer and is in danger of loosing a leg if not her life – so please keep her in your prayers.  We prayed for her there and saw one of the hard tumors on her legs shrink in size. The team took up a collection from their own funds to help cover the expenses for all these patients.  The morning we left we sent 2 more children and their parents by public transportation for consultations for more serious conditions that would require on going treatment.  They may be able to get assistance from Child Spring.   There is one young man there who is 21 and too old to be considered for Child Spring.  His name is Nicholas and he has touched the hearts of all of us who go each year.  He has a heart problem and will need surgery to continue to survive.  Keep him in your prayers and also one of the nurses who travels with us each year as she tries to raise the money for him to have this surgery. 

            When you are in the middle of all this, you hardly have any time to think about what is happening because it happens so quickly and then there is the next person to take care of waiting in line.  We see the next person with tear filled eyes as we thank God for what He has done.  But I know for me, the reality of God’s greatness and all these wonderful miracles didn’t really hit me until Sunday morning as we stood worshipping our God and King.  He began to bring these things to my mind and I was overcome with His greatness.  He is so much bigger than anything we can ever even begin to imagine!  What an awesome God we serve.  How awesome that he allows ordinary people like you and me to participate in His work.

            The dental team extracted about 450 teeth, did about 15 fillings and 10 cleanings.  This year we had a hygienist travel with us and she was able to go to the schools to teach some prevention – brushing, flossing, etc. to the children.  She also placed topical fluoride treatments to strengthen the teeth.  This was a wonderful service that we have not been able to provide in the past. The medical team saw approximately 900 patients.  We were all very busy each day.

            I mentioned earlier that we gave food to the people.  We purchased rice and corn to distribute to the village.  We were concerned about not having enough.  Earlier this year a Red Cross team came with food and people were injured as they ran and pushed and shoved to get to the food.  God was really with the leaders of the community and KMO as they planned how to do an orderly distribution.  All went very smoothly without incidence.  We gave out 2000 sacks of food.  The people who that were still in line hoping for food were very kind when they were told we were out.  They clapped and thanked us for what we had been able to do.  We had been concerned that they could be angry and rush the clinic or something but again – God was in control and all went incredibly well.  Why do we ever worry about anything?  

            This year we had a children’s minister with us so again we were able to do so much more at the schools with the children and teaching them about the Lord.  We also had a clown with us!  The children loved the balloon animals and hats that he made.  This was a great addition to the team!  The clown was also our cook and he did a wonderful job of keeping us well fed. This was by far the best year for food for our team!  

            We gave away many pairs of eye glasses.  The people are so cute – they want the ones that look good not always the ones they see better with.  People are the same everywhere you go!

            Brad met with a geologist in Morijo the Maisai village where we are trying to get government approval for a well.  The Lord has already provided the funds for this much needed provision for the people.  The women walk miles to get water each day for their families.  We found out that we may be able to purchase equipment to drill our own wells (once the geologists helps determine the location) for a little more than we were planning to spend for two wells.  This would mean that we could do many wells for the same price as the two that we are planning to do and that would help many more people.  Pray for us to have wisdom in making a decision about this.  It would require some additional funding so we are researching it before making any decision.  We also need to speak with the people who donated funds for the wells.  We would not want to go against anything that was intended for the money without getting approval.    

             We gave Bibles in both Maisai and Kipsigee languages to the pastors of the churches in the villages so that they could share them with new Christians and those who have no Bible .

            One of our team members stayed two weeks after we left to continue teaching the word and sharing God’s incredible love.

            We also had a door open to go into Uganda.  The hotel owners have noticed what good employees Christians make and they want their employees in this area to attend a Tembe Ne Yesu.  The owners themselves are not Christians but this gave Brad an opportunity to share his personal testimony with them.  They were most amazed that there was an immediate difference in Brad when he received Christ and felt the presence of the Lord come upon him.  They do not experience this in their religion.  The seed has been planted – now to see what God does with it!  There is never a dull moment when you are working for the Lord.  He continues to guide us one step at a time.  One open door at a time.

            Oh, I almost forgot that there is an opportunity for a 24 hour Christian radio station in two different areas of Kenya.  We will need funding for that as well.  This is a tremendous chance to promote God’s kingdom in a town that is being led in a different direction.

            A local businessman has donated 10 acres for a private Christian school!  He wants us to help build the school and plan the curriculum.  Another step with the Lord; another open door.

            The list just goes on and on.  In Morijo, there are about 18 orphan children that need a home.  We can partner with another organization that builds and manages homes for widows and orphans.  This will cost around $10,000.00 according to our first estimate.   

            Last year we sent three large solar panels that had been donated to Morijo for the primary school via FedEx. Happily they arrived and had been put into service and the boarding students are now able to study after dark in their school rooms and dorms. We have been funding the restoration of windows in the school and can report that 90% of the school now has glass panes and working metal-frame windows. The school also has two large water tanks to store rain water thanks to donations from KMO individuals.

            In some Maisai villages, some of the people (non Christian) still pledge (sell) their daughters to be married at a very young age – 10-13 years old.  To men who may be 20, 40 or even 60 years old and may already have multiple wives. The family receives cows and other “perks” for their daughter.  They also practice female circumcision that takes place in the pre-marriage ritual, to be sure the girls have no temptation or interest in sex with anyone, other than out of obedience to their husband (owner) and to whomever he may offer her to.  (It is common in this situation for the girl to be shared among close friends)  The girls do not know ahead of time that they are being given (sold).  All preparations and transactions are finalized and then in a matter of days the wedding transaction takes place.  If the girl refuses it doesn’t matter, the family forces her mentally and physically if required.  If the family knows she is in danger of  running away they hold her captive.  There is a group of people who have started a safe house in an area far from Morijo for these girls to be rescued.  They must run away from home secretly as soon as they learn of the arrangement to avoid these marriages.  Now they have a place to go to.  It is a Christian place where they are able to live, go to school and grow up a little till they can make a life for themselves.   Once the girls who have escaped reach age of 16 to 18 they are mature enough work to support themselves and to call upon the legal system to get protection from such practices.  We are looking at how we can help this group.

            Because of all the opportunities God had put before us, we are going to need a part-time person to help with the administrative duties of applying for grants and so forth.  Please be in prayer for God to provide someone who wants to volunteer their time or for Him to provide the funds for us to be able to hire a part-time person with a heart for missions.

            We have a small group going back in November to do an evangelical crusade.  The pastors are hungry for that.  Pray for God to work in mighty ways, for their safety and funds to be raised for their trip.

            Each year God shows us more ways that we can help his children as He opens doors, provides funds and blesses this ministry, its volunteers and supporters.  May we continue to let His Word be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our paths as we go about the great commission – “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.  And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” Matthew 28: 19-20   We are thankful that God is with us and thankful that He has laid it on your heart to participate in this ministry through your prayers, your time, and your finances.  One friend shared with me that she had prayed with a group of ladies everyday for one hour as they took their morning walk.  We know that many more of you were lifting us up daily.  Intercession is without a doubt the most important part of our ministry and we can’t thank you enough for all your prayers – your rewards will be eternal!  We praise God for each of you.  I feel a lump in my throat as I write this thinking of God’s goodness in giving us precious friends like each of you.