Tuesday, July 3, 2012

New Adventures

Finally!  I'm sorry I've been slacking on this whole blog thing just like I said I wouldn't, but life has been pretty crazy!  It seems that God has other plans for the second half of my time here!  I'm currently in Nairobi working with another WGM missionary who is a nurse.  Today we went to a boy's home and did some simple physicals.  I helped count medications and sign people in.  We really take healthcare for granted in the US- some of these kids were simply getting Tylenol, but it will help them a lot with basic things that they have going on.  Thus, my time at AGC Baby Centre is over.  However, I'm excited for the new adventures with God in Nairobi, and also at the famed Tenwek Hospital in Bomet in the coming month.  Mary leaves on Friday, and Kayla, my new fellow VIA comes in the same night.  So it's a big week of transition!  Needless to say, I have learned a lot about flexibility, which everyone says is important for a missionary to have.  God is sovereign and He is faithful.

Here's a fun cultural story of another new adventure I've had here.  On Saturday, there was a 5k/half marathon with proceeds going to Baby Centre sponsored by a local university.  We rolled in "on time" and no one really knew where or when the race was starting or where registration was.  So we waited around for awhile, and then set off on an adventure to find out.  We managed to find bib numbers, and vague directions to the starting line.  Team Baby Centre (for the 5k) was finally assembled with our matching t-shirts (printed backwards nonetheless).  They read, "I may not always win... but I'm never left behind," citing Deuteronomy 31:6.  We found the starting line, but the race had already started!  There wasn't time for us all to go the full 5k, but we were granted one lap (of the campus), complete with a start from the starting gun and lots of enthusiasm from everyone.  Let me also point out that I am in the country in the world known for having the best and fastest runners, and in an area where the specific "runner tribes" are the majority.  And its 6,000 feet above sea level.  And I'm not that great of a runner, plus I basically live at sea level the rest of the time.  I decided to sneakily take the supportive team member approach and stayed with the last member of team Baby Centre so that we crossed the finish line together for our wonderful 5k that was really only a 2k.  On the upside, the entire rest of the team was there to cheer for us!  A little while after that, we went to watch the finish of the half marathon.  Oh. My. Goodness.  These people really were made by God to run.  It's like watching art in motion.  Even kids of 7 or 8 have the stride and proportions and form down and look so graceful!  I'm still laughing.  Of ALL the countries in the world to run a 5k (or a 2k), Kenya.  Well, hopefully this altitude will help me actually go somewhere running before feeling like my lungs are going to burst.

Pray:
- peace and purpose in this time of transition
- for Baby Centre and other WGM ministries in Kenya
- for Mary as she is leaving and Kayla as she is coming in
- for God's heart and eyes for these people

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