Final Days in Kisumu

Saying goodbye is never easy, especially while God was blessing us with so many opportunities to love the people of Kisumu.  Between a packed last few days and the long journey home, we haven't had an opportunity to post to the blog in several days.  Here is a glimpse into our final days in Kisumu...

Mandy and Cassi returned to Russia Hospital where we again visited the Children's Cancer Ward 5 and Obama Children's Ward.  Thanks to many of you who so generously donated coloring books, crayons, socks, toothbrushes... we were able to pass along these goodies to many.  While seeing some of the same children who we had left coloring books with last Wednesday, we were surprised to learn that the 4 children in the cancer ward had so much fun that they completed their entire coloring book in a days time!  Needless to say, they were so happy we had come with more books.  We were able to again visit with Melvine, a patient who has sickle cell anemia.  Melvine had connected with Mandy while she read her a storybook during an earlier visit.  During this last visit, we were happy to learn that Melvine had been discharged.  However, the bad news was her uncle (caretaker) could not pay the bill.  Therefore, she could not go home.  Knowing how much potential Melvine has, we found a way to make up the difference so this beautiful and smart girl could return home and get back to school.

 

Valery lovin' her new Hello Kitty coloring book

Lameck & Austin sportin' their new socks

Melvine & Mandy

Many Bibles were donated before we left on our journey, which were happily received by Pastor George.  However, there was still a need for Bibles in the native language, Luo (pronounced Lou-oh).  We purchased 30 Luo Bibles at the local bookstore and gave them to people who needed one.  It's hard for us to imagine how Christianity could exist without having access to a Bible.  However, that was the case for many centuries before books could be printed and it still exists today in places like Kisumu, Kenya.  It just goes to show that following Christ is more than just believing what is written in a book.

Vince & Pastor George

 

Cassi spent the lunch hour with a very sweet and beautiful girl, Neema.  Neema is in grade 8 and has high hopes of attending high school next year.  With a strong desire God placed on my heart to invest in the children, Cassi could not be happier to sponsor Neema for high school.  She is very smart, motivated and has tons of potential.  Being familiar with the school systems in America, the schools in Kenya are nothing like what you might expect.  The RingRoad Orphanage Day School ends with grade 8 and there is no real system in place for government funded high school.  Without outside financial assistance, Neema may have otherwise not been able to further her education.  We can't wait to see what God has planned for Neema as she goes off to high school in February.  Keep up the good work Neema!

Cassi with new friend Neema

Meanwhile, Vince took a trip to visit Jon Keen who is a young boy he met on his last trip.  Last year, Jon Keen was attending RingRoad School.  He has always had some medical problems, but those problems magnified last year and resulted in paralysis of his lower extremities.  A lot has changed in Jon Keens life, but he has the same positive outlook and sweet spirit that he had when he could walk.  Most people that have met Jon Keen have been inspired by his story and we made sure to let him know that before we left.

Jon Keen excited to open a gift sent from a friend back in the USA

 In the afternoon, we returned to RingRoad School for a final visit and to say bittersweet goodbyes to our new friends.  After surprising the children on Tuesday with afternoon juice, they were happy to see that we had once again come with treats.  This time it was a lollipop and a new pencil for each of the 400 students.  Juice, a lollipop, and a new pencil...seems simple, right?  You could not imagine the excitement this brought to the children's faces as we handed them out.



Final walk through the slum to RingRoad School

Children anxiously waiting in line for juice, a rare treat

Pouring 400+ cups of juice

 

 

 

 

A bittersweet goodbye to Heidi and Chris; Mandy already en route to ATL

Our two week trip passed by very quickly but we have quite a bit of information to process and think through.  It is good to experience life outside of the USA and it really sinks in that our lives are not the norm for a lot of people.  Air conditioning, electricity, running water, Bibles, internet, health care; those are some things that we take for granted but don't exist for many people.  Vince cut his finger cooking dinner one night and almost passed out at the thought of getting stitches at a hospital in Kisumu.  We are so thankful for local anesthetics.

It seems common to have grand ideas of making the world a better place.  We think most people would want to do their part in helping those who really need help.  Sometimes it can be discouraging to leave a place that seems to be in the same condition as when we arrived.  On a whole, that may be true.  But we hope that in some small cases, our message of love will be a source of hope and encouragement.  We hope this message is reciprocated by those in the community who saw it play out while we were there.

Many thanks to all of you for the outpouring of love and support through this journey.  To God be the Glory!

Cassi, Mandy & Vince