Maisha International's Blog

Kenyan Food...Yummy

Laura:   We made it to Africa!!!  People have done a good job the past few posts explaining what it is like here.  David and I have been spending most of our time in the medical clinic.  In the pharmacy, we repackage medicine from the large stock bottles into small brown envelops.  We write the name of the medication and 1 X 3 if they are to take one tablet three times daily, 2 X 3 for two tablets three times daily, etc.  We dispense liquid medication for the children.  The mothers bring bottles from home (usually old medicine bottles, occasionally larger, water bottles) that we use to fill.  Gaudencia and Jackie, healthcare workers with Maisha, explain to the patients how to take the medicine.  They have been a joy to work with.

Laura Dispensing Meds

In addition to the children and widows at Maisha, we have met a lot of other great people.  Frank, B’s brother, is always willing to help with any special task that needs to be done.  Antony drives our bus to and from Maisha each day.  He also drops us off at Nakumatt (Kisumu’s Walmart) when we have shopping to do in the evening.  The roads are always busy, we have encountered motorcycles (piky piky), bicycles, TukTuks (3-wheeled vehicles), other cars and trucks, cattle, chickens, sheep, people walking, a green snake, deep-standing water and ruts.  There seems to be a special honking language that the locals understand.  Antony is a pro and always manages to turn the corners and keep us one the road when I am quite certain we are headed straight for the ditch.

David Sorts Medical Supplies

David:   “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace.” –Isaiah 55:12. This was the word to start the day and it definitely ended up being the way the day went. Breakfast was great as usual. The fruit is amazing here. I started out at the medical clinic again today. Supplies were dwindling quickly, especially the medications. Interpreters have been the heart and soul of the medical clinic and can quickly give information that is needed and connect with the needs of those being treated. They have also become friends of ours over the past few days. I could not blog without mentioning Brandon. He has done more than this asked of him, and has picked up on medical techniques in a matter of minutes that would normally take weeks to learn. He has made life much easier and enjoyable.

Brandon Helps In Clinic

I am horrible at remembering names. Which is funny because a lot of children at Maisha will come up to you and ask you if you remember their name if they have met you previously. I find this to be amusing because they must know they are better at remembering names than I am. The children are always laughing, playing and eager to learn. Our teenage and younger team members have almost a sixth sense of being able to relate and communicate with the Maisha children. This is amazing to watch when the opportunity arises.

This evening after dinner we all talked about how the day went and the plans for the next day. During this time I realized this group has really started to care and show love for each other that wouldn’t have had an opportunity to happen elsewhere. This is the true meaning of “the church”; God’s people working together doing His work.