Beauty, Strength, and Resilience: The Women and Children of Kenya

The Great Rift Valley is a sight to behold, what beauty in the lush green plains that seem to go on forever. Not only is the landscape of western Kenya beautiful, but the people it holds are some of the strongest you will ever meet. We arrived after 9 hours of driving the bumpy red dirt roads to Megengo. A rural village town where over 50% of the population lives below the poverty line, which is less than a dollar a day. These people have little to no access to medical care, let alone the ability to afford it if they did. We put on a medical camp at a widows center in Megengo this past Friday for the population they minister too, only advertised by word of mouth. Without any public advertising, we saw over 500 women, children, and a few men during our one day clinic. I asked how many people would have showed up if we had advertised publicly and they said over 2,000. I cherished each "Jambo" and handshake from the women's strong leather hands and the sweet shy faces of their children. These women are absolutely incredible and daily they face unimaginable obstacles to survive and provide for their children. They are strong not only physically, but mentally and spiritually. They work so hard and their bodies are to show for it. As I took blood pressure after blood pressure I couldn't help but notice that so many of them have better biceps than 99% of the guys I know (sorry, but its true!). They work so hard to survive and make a living for their children. I was blessed by them and the opportunity to pray for each of them as they were seen. We saw many cases of malaria, intestinal worms, diarrhea, hypertension, back and joint pain, jiggers, colds, and other various infections.

Some of my friends showing off their heart tattoos (: 

 I made some sweet little friends with my broken swahili after the camp while sitting contently in the red dirt that now feels like home. What a curious creature I am to their young eyes. What is that yellow stuff on her head? Why is her skin such a weird color? I am a curious figure, but I am so glad my looks do not scare away, but rather draw some very curious little hands to touch and explore this odd being. I asked each one of them their names and being valentines day, which is widely celebrated here, I had brought some heart shaped temporary tattoos with me. Oh the joy! This kids had never seen such a thing and their faces glowed with excitement as I gave each on a little gift of not only my love, but their Heavenly Father's love on their dirty hand. These are His treasured ones, His precious vulnerable children. They are His masterpiece.

You can't pick favorites, but one sweet girl in the group stood out to me the most. Her name was Mary and she was a beauty. She came to the group only after she saw us while she was carrying a bucket from her small brick and straw home and the others called her over. I asked her age, she was a tender 8 years. I learned that 4 kids in the group were her siblings and they lived with their grandmother. They were orphans and Mary played big role in running the house and watching her siblings while grandmother tried to make money to feed them. She is a doll, graced with such joy and strength. I will always treasure my time with her and the others.

The boys waiting as we introduced ourselves 

The next day we traveled to Kakamega for little different scenery for our medical camp. We went to Shkusa Boys Prison, presently home to 365 boys from around the country of Kenya. Shkusa now functions as a rehabilitation and reintegration prison for juvenile boy criminals, but it used to be one of the worst prisons in Kenya. Boys sent there often did not make it out. They died from starvation and rampant disease all too often. A local Kenyan doctor has made Shkusa one of his many ministry projects and after 2 years of investment and care, Shkusa is a very different place. The boys are once again healthy, due to periodic mini medical camps, like we put on that day, and better nutrition. The conditions are still not ideal, currently all the boys have scabies, but there is nothing that they care do without throwing away all the mattresses and blankets they have, which aren't even enough, leaving many of the boys sleeping on the cement floors without any means to stay warm. We were able to introduce ourselves to all of the boys before our medical camp started and as I looked out at each of their faces I saw I sea of eyes, hearts, and lives that needed fathers. Men of honesty, integrity, and faithfulness. My heart broke for the boys. Yah, they are in prison, but get this, the vast majority are there for being petty thieves. They stole because they were hungry, cold, thirsty. They were trying to survive. Thats a difficult element of the reality of Kenya and much of Africa. Far too many families are separated, leaving mom to raise the children and work the farm, while dad leaves to work in the city because the farm will not make enough to sustain them and pay school fees. Many men are gone for months at a time and unfortunately many are unfaithful to their spouse in the process. They often contract HIV/AIDS, eventually infect their wives, leaving her a widow in a short period of time and eventually a household of orphans. This is a vicious cycle here and its heartbreaking because people are just trying to survive and put food on the table. Nothing fancy.

Despite all of the hurt, there is hope at Shkusa now. Dr George has also brought the gospel there and about 60% of the boys have a relationship with Jesus now. They baptized 63 in the nearby river last August. My prayer is that even though many of these boys do not have an earthly Father, their relationship with their Heavenly Father would become so real and would guide, lead, and empower them to be men of God for the next generation of Kenyan men.

Last but not least we had the pleasure to bless the children most people forget about and don't bother to love or invest in. We took two visits to a school/orphanage for deaf and disabled children. Oh what joy yet again! There are 68 children at the orphanage and as our van drove down the dusty road to their building what a party of jumping and dancing began under the tree by the schoolhouse. I loved our time with them, especially because I took two years of sign language in high school and was able to minimally communicate with the kids. We brought gifts of food with us on both Saturday and Sunday because they struggle to feed the kids. Those sweet silent faces are the forgotten ones here. Many are abandoned by their parents and brought to the school by the police that find them helplessly wandering the streets. Because of that, their government funding is little to non and only 5% of their children have parents that actually pay school fees. We brought them 150lbs of beans the first day and after hearing about their great need we pooled money together and brought 40 loaves of bread, 20lbs of sugar, cooking fat, and salt the next day.

Some of the children signing their thanks and excitement at our gifts! 

In addition, we also brought a little party in the form of jump ropes and balls. A classmate and I purchased the toys because we had also learned the first day that they had absolutely no play toys. At all. 68 kids between the ages of 4 and 17 and there were no toys. So we told them they were loved and cherished by us and Jesus and we launched the party. Such fun teaching the group of older girls I had befriended how to hit the ball volleyball style in a circle, laughing and smiling as we played. I will never forget those girls. They even gave me a sign name, which is an honor to receive as a hearing individual. The first day we were with them we used up the rest of the tattoos I had brought and each child got one on their hand and I also had valentines day heart shaped gummies. The kids loved getting loved on and gifted. Such joy erupted from a single temporary tattoo and three gummy hearts. They were desperate for love and attention. It broke my heart, but I was so glad we had the honor to love the Lord's treasured ones. His precious vulnerable children. Forgotten by most of the world, but oh so special in His eyes!

The journey continues and I will continue to post updates more often now that we are back in wifi zone.
Much Love  ~Ally

Acident and Emergency Ward at Kenyatta and Medical Camp Preparations

Today was a tough one as we spent our first shift at Kenyatta National Hospital. My heart is still heavy as my mind replays some of the images that won't be far from my memory for a very long time. The six of us were placed in pairs on the pediatric, labor and delivery, and acident and emergency wards. As the title reveals, I was on the A&E ward today. For the first part of the day we were with a group of Kenyan Red Cross EMT's and critical care nursing students in a class covering the disaster and mass casualty procedures and response at Kenyatta. It was awesome to get to sit in on the class and learn from the Kenyan students and also have them desire to learn how things are done in America. Our community health Community Emergency Response Training from last semester came in handy today! After that class we were ushered down to the Acident and Emergency ward and given a tour of the layout, procedures, and patient flow. Talk about overwhelming. Patients and families lining every wall and hallway, ambulances constantly arriving, babies crying, and desperate eyes staring at you searching for an answer to their pain and suffering. Nothing compares to the emotions that overwhelm you. Absolutely nothing. You feel almost as helpless as they do because the need is as vast. The hardest part of the day was my time in the resusitation room. A litle one of about 2 or 3 was in the process of being intubated with his mother beside him crying softly. She looked at us with that same desperation. As I finally glanced at her still child my heart dropped to the floor and it took all my strength not to cry. Her little boy was bured from head to toe. Most likely due to falling into a fire or having cooking oil spill down on his sweet curious face. A tragedy all to common in the slum communities here in Kenya. The team was struggling to intubate him due to the swelling and infmalatory response occuring in his airway due to severe facial burns. A procedure normally steril here in the US was attmepted by a nurse not even wearing gloves. Quite a contrast from what I have been taught. Those images burn in my mind tonight and I pray for that sweet little boy. Join with me in prayer for him. I don't know if he made it. This little one is only one of thousands every day being treated at Kenyatta. Only one of thousands desperate for resources, desperate for care, desperate for an answer, and desperate for hope. You my friend are blessed. Thank God for your health today. Thank Him for your abundance. And even though it is not ideal, thank him for the health care system you have access to. Our hospitals may not offer the best coverage, but praise Him that admitance does not equal a death sentance at times. You are far better off than you may feel tonight.

Tomorrow we take off for the weekend to Kakamega, about an 8 hour drive away. There we will be partnering with World Comp and puting on a medical camp in a rural community for two days. We expect to serve roughly 900 people. We will conduct health screenings and referral for diabetes and hypertenion, malaria screening, deworming for children, jigger removal, wound care, stiching, treat skin infections, vision and hearing screenings, diagnose and treat UTI's, pap smears and prostate screenings, and rehydrate for dehydration and other gastric conditions. I am looking forward to beign thrown into something totally new and also to carry more responsibility as a nurse in a rural African setting. I can hardly believe this is only day 5 of 31. Thank you for praying for our team. Please continue to pray for health as one has a cold and one has been dealing with migranes. Pray for openness of heart and love to overflow for the people we serve, sensitivity to the Spirit, and favor as we build relationships with the communities.
Much Love.  ~Ally

Slums, Church, and Kenyatta Hospital: Life in Kenya

Dr. Sedera's truck with 8 of us. Some covered by Ben (: 

Jambo! The last few days have been full of the dichotomy between the rich and poor here in Kenya. There really is no middle class. Our home is in a nicer area close to the embassy's and the UN headquarters. However, 15 minutes aways is a slum where the poorest of Nairobi live and you travel in the other direction farther from the city and the slums get bigger and the population grows more dense. The sights and smells are overwhelming. And to think that this is reality for billions of people all over the world.

Driving here is crazy. We learned yesterday that 5 million people sleep in Nairobi, but 8 million work here. So every day and night 3 million people commute in and out of this city on foot, by bike, matatu, or motorcycle. That is three of the entire population of Seattle driving in and out every day. And we thought our traffic was bad. Think again. We piled 8 people into a 5 seater truck in the jam yesterday as the rain flash flooded the roads (pictured to the side). When it rains here it rains like crazy! It only took 15 minutes of rain for the roads to flood. Yesterday we met with the Dr. overseeing our time as nurses here in Nairobi. Originally we were expecting to work at Nairobi General hospital, which is a private hospital, but as Africa works plans changed and we are working at Kenyatta Hospital. Kenyatta is a public hospital and functions as the Harborview of Kenya. As a public hospital the conditions are far worse and less sanitary. The hospital has approximately 1,500 beds, which is huge! For perspective, Seattle Children's only has around 300. There was a sea of people there yesterday as we got to see some of the grounds and met with the hospital administrator. There were constant Matatu ambulances into their ED and people lining every hallway waiting for outpatient services. There are simply not enough doctors, nurses, or beds there. People hooked up to IV's were lying on blankets on the floor. You almost feel helpless and don't know where to start. We'll be spending Monday-Wednesday working there on the Pediatric, OB, ED, Cardiac, ICU, CCC(HIV/AIDS), and Surgical wards. We have orientation today and will start full shifts tomorrow. The need is so immense and it blows me away because I know that Kenya (Nairobi) gets a lot of NGO, governmental, and missionary assistance and developmental help. So many African countries are far worse off medically then Kenya. Africa needs nurses. The world needs nurses. I am one, so what am I going to do about it? What will you do about it? We have seen the needs, now we are held responsible. Pretty heavy stuff.

One thing I really appreciate about the people here and Africa as a whole is the concept of African time. I am a go go person, I keep a tight schedule in school and often find myself rushing to the next thing each day. However, here they do things very differently. Kenyan's find the person that they are with as far more important then the person or event waiting for them next. They never rush, they are fully engaged, and they are very good at being. Simply being present with the people they are with and letting time take care of itself. We've had to deal with that a lot the past few days as we have met with hospital staff, doctors, and waited our wonderful driver Mesh. But it's okay. I am learning from their culture to be still, to be far more present, and far less concerned with my agenda and far more invested in the people I am with in the moment. Us American's could learn a lot from them. I am also learning Swahili from Mesh as we drive around and picked up some Maasi yesterday. Nani itwa Allyson. Habari Gani my friends? Misru Sana. Asatesana for praying for my team! Aminya bwana! My team is saying koja teen dee to me, so kwaheri for now! Much love ~Ally

Red Dirt, Rain, and Babies: Welcome to Kenya

Kenya, what a beautiful place. Our arrival was graced by the first rain here since October. As I stepped off the plan directly onto the runway, I looked to the night sky and allowed the drops of warm rain to run down my face. I took a few deep breaths of the humid air and I knew I was back. Africa just has a feel, a scent. And those who have been here will agree. Everyone was so joyful at the blessing of rain. We even joked how since we're from Seattle we brought it with us. Our Kenyan friends laughed and genuinley thanked us for bringing it. How desperatly the land needed it. How beautiful is the imagrey. As we arrive the sky opens up to refresh, feed, and heal the dry red ground. We've come with the same purpose, but with us we carry the Lvining Water and the healing, refreshing, and restoring power and love of Jesus. The rain and my team seem to have the same agenda. My prayer is that our trip can have the same effect on the people here. Joy, dancing, feeding of hearts, thankfulnes to God, and celebration. I've been to Afica before, but I already feel humbled by my experience here. The people are lovely and the children, as always, steal your heart. The missionary family we are staying with currently have a four month old orphaned foster baby named Joseph and that boy has stolen a piece of my heart. He'll be up for adoption soon, so if anyone if looking for a beautiful, handsome boy to love, he is a doll. He has a difficult story, but God's grace is one his life, and I believe his name is only a forshadowing to the leader and man of God he will become. My heart for the vulnerable little ones only grows bigger. We visited a secondary school today in a slum of around 6,000 people not too far from where we are staying. We toured the school grounds and met some of the students and teachers. We will hopefully be doing some health teaching there later this month. A sweet five year old little girl names Joyce became my fast friend, in addition to another 25 other children as we walked the muddy garbage filled streets. Joyce brought me flowers and as I showed her how to put one behind her ear as a pretty decoration. Soon all the children wanted one, even the boys. Placeing a flower of blessing behind each of their ears was a moment I'll cherish for a very long time. Slums are complicated places, with much need, yet so much joy in the simplicity of daily life. The women washing clothes in the river, singing and laughing together. The children playing hopscotch, barefoot in the red dirt. Finding such fun and joy in a flower being carefullly placed behind your ear by a blonde mazungu. I have a feeling I will enjoy this month. Jesus use my hands to bless, heal, and love. Much Love, ~Ally

For the Love of People, Jesus, and Nursing: Kenya 2014

I just finished packing and can't quite wrap my little mind around the fact that I leave in just a day and a half. Once again to fly across the vast ocean to a land full of beautiful, vibrant, and loved people. They are SO loved. By Jesus and me. I am so excited to get to opportunity to love the people of Kenya through the healing power of Jesus and the medical abilities He has given me the amazing opportunity to learn these past four years of schooling. Surreal is just begins to explain how this feels right now. We got a taste of the power of collaboration today as the team gathered and packed 400 pounds of medical supplies from donations we've been gathering only in the last week and a half. Pictured with the whole team below. Pretty amazing! I want to thank all of you who played a part in that! You are a part of the team. For those of you who are praying for us, you also a part of the team.

There are 8 of us going to Kenya, 6 students and 2 faculty members. As a snap shot of our month, we'll be working in hospitals three days a week and doing health education in high schools once a week on topics like safe sex, STD prevention, HIV/AIDS, malaria, and basic hygiene and infection prevention. In addition, we'll be putting on a 3 day medical camp 8 hours southeast of Nairobi in a rural village area where we anticipate seeing about 1000 patients a day. We'll also be serving at primary and pre-schools in the Kibara and Dagorreti slums doing medial screenings on the children and serving meals and also spending a day at a juvenile detention center doing medical screening on the 500 youth there and have a time of sharing stories and speaking into their lives.

The trip will be one full of new experiences and relationships and I am so excited to see and learn from the beautiful people of Kenya and see the Lord work through our team! This opportunity is one in a lifetime and I am so blessed to be attending the only school in the US that requires their nursing students to spend a month serving and nursing cross-culturally like this. The training is invaluable and I know it is just the beginning of a lifelong love for nursing and serving and loving people from all Nations!