Unpacking hope...

Yesterday we unpacked the container from MedShare. Wow...seeing the items listed on a packing list is nothing like seeing them in person. I really wish all of you could have been here to see the excitement of the PFC staff. All the staff were overwhelmed with how wonderful the supplies are. Everything traveled well - nothing was broken. Every ministry in PFC found something that they could use to help people. Ice packs for the sports ministry, a cabinet for the 2nd Chance School, a step down for the music team, even supplies for Moses for the PFC house.

The container arriving at the PFC house

Unpacking the stuff

There was one item that surprised all of us - personal transportation carts! I saw them on the packing list but didn't know what they were. The team quickly assembled one of them. They are carts that someone sits in and it has hand pedals. Immediately the staff identified seven people with disabilities to give them to. One is a young boy in Marurui slum who scoots on his belly. Two will go to Marsabit. Pastor Hirbo wants to give them to two people there who are handicapped and help them use the carts to sell small items so they can support themselves and their families. Another will go to a man who lives nearby who all his life has scooted as he can't walk. These carts alone were worth the wait in Mombasa :).

There were many boxes of large urine collection containers. Staff saw them and immediately called them water jugs. They will go to Marsabit for the people to carry water. The team was excited because the size of them will be easier for the children to carry water instead of the big yellow jugs.

Carrying the many boxes into the PFC Compound

All the stuff at the PFC House

We had 18 men helping so within 8 hours everything was off the truck and sorted. We separated what PFC can use and what will go to hospitals and other ministries. Our clinic in Marurui sees about 150 people in the clinic and another 75 through the mHealth program. And, we usually see 3-5,000 people in medical camps each year. We are able to use many of the supplies for the clinic, mHealth program and medical missions.

All of the equipment is either in our clinic or in our garage. The team did great getting the work completed. Part of the team was in the kitchen cooking most of the day as we fed everybody throughout the day.

There was one special box I saved opening until the end. Staff gathered around as I opened the box and read them the letter that was in the box. Inside the box were four beautiful paintings sent by The Foundation for Hospital Art www.hospitalart.org. They are a non-profit organization working to bring art to hospitals all over the world. All the paintings are beautiful. We plan to hang one in our clinic and then take the others others to hospitals that will hang them. Dr. Vincent's wife is a nurse and works at Gertude's Children's Hospital. It is a hospital for children with HIV/AIDS. We were going to see if they would hang one or two of the paintings.

One of the first recipients of the blessings, who received a walking stick

At the end of the day the staff were tired but excited about the wonderful medical supplies they had received. There were many heros in this story including:

• Nell Diallo - Vice President of MedShare. Without her help, support, guidance and encouragement PFC would not have received this container. The PFC staff know her by name as we throughout the process of clearing the container we always talked about what Nell was telling us. The staff hope someday to meet her in person so they can thank you. PFC is grateful to Nell!
• Dan - as most of you know Dan is the "man behind the scene". He managed all the funds ensuring we had what we needed "on the ground". Thanks Dan!
• There were a couple main donors that helped us with the costs associated with getting the container. While MedShare paid for the majority of the costs there are costs associated with receiving a container. Without these donations we would not have been able to get the container.
• Sharon and the PFC board members - they were there during the entire process with prayers, support, encouragement and funds to help. So glad for all of them!
• And, of course Mark, Sammy and Franko. They never gave up! It was challenging for us to get the container due to the congestion at the Mombasa port. But, they worked the process and were successful.

Thankful for the opportunity to receive this container which provides hope for many people in Kenya.
Connie
Sent via Cingular Xpress Mail with Blackberry