Packs, packs and more packs

Thanks to work of the Partners for Care team we have been blessed with more packs! The PFC staff did an excellent job of distributing the 1,100 water back packs we received from Greif and PackH20. Staff trained people who received the packs on how to use them and followed up weekly to ensure proper use of the packs.

PFC staff understood the water back packs were more than just an easier way to transport water...they knew the water back packs could prevent water borne illnesses helping to save the lives of many people.

So more packs are coming so PFC staff can help more people...7,700 more packs! There are 700 packs that were flown to Nairobi and will be delivered to the PFC house tomorrow and there are 7,000 packs coming by ship - they are already enroute.

PFC will be conducting the first demonstration project studying how the proper use of the water pack back can reduce water borne illnesses. We are partnering with the University of Utah to help us with the study. They are sending two people next week to join me here in Kenya to write the protocols for the study.

Whoever thought a meeting on a plane would lead to so many people being helped. Remember I was introduced to the packs by Liz Blake, Vice President of Habitat when I sat next to her on a plane. God has a great way of connecting people.

From Kenya,

Connie
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Hello from Kenya!

As I told you in an earlier update Sharon is traveling with me. She has begun her journey of meeting the PFC staff and seeing the programs. I am so grateful she is here!

Hi everyone!

I arrived safely in Kenya late Weds evening and wanted to thank all of you for your prayers, encouragement, and support to get me here. It was a 20-hour long trip to get here but a great experience too. One of Connie's clients, a woman named Jill, is also here with us, two Partners for Care staff - Sammy and Franco - picked us up at the Nairobi airport and took us to the PFC house about 45 minutes away. That night was my first experience sleeping under a bed net. I now see how a simple mesh net saves lives by preventing malaria, especially in babies.

This morning began with the PFC team gathering together at the house for morning devotionals and worship songs. This is a team of mostly young 20-something Kenyan men and women with a passion to better their own lives and those of their fellow Kenyans by helping them to implement sustainable solutions to the problems of poverty, disease, and illiteracy. They lead by example and many of them have themselves grown up in the slums.

After morning devotions and breakfast of "chapatti" and tea, Jill and I walked the 10 minute trip to see the PFC "what if? Life changing center" in Marurui slum.

There's really no way to describe the slum - the sounds , sights, smells. Children in dirty tattered clothes, goats running wild, crowded streets, and people everywhere. And in the middle of it all is an oasis of hope -- the what if? center houses a small medical clinic, a 2nd Chance education center, and a small IT school for people in the community to access low-cost healthcare and education classes. All of PFC's programs are led by Kenyans and all donor monies go to support the like-saving work of this team. It's a novel approach to effective, sustainable change by and for the people of Kenya.....and its working! 

All of you who know me well, know that I never intended th go to Kenya. Its way out of my comfort zone and I'm the world's wimpiest traveler. But I'm grateful for God,s not so gentle nudging and for all that He's showing me through this trip and this team of humble Kenyan servant leaders.

Ill write more later.  Love to all of you, I miss everyone.

Sharon

Special Request

Dear Partners for Care supporters,

People so often ask what they can do to help Partners for Care.  People read the updates and they see the photos of lives being changed on the ground in Kenya and they just naturally wonder…."how can I be a part of that?" 

What if you could help us reach hundreds of people (maybe thousands!) with the life-changing work of our Partners for Care team in Kenya!  People who have a heart for Africa and want to do something, individually or as a family, to make a difference in the lives of Kenyan children…..people who could then reach out to others and spread the word.  Imagine the impact that would have on raising awareness and funds for the work of Partners for Care!  

Here's how you can help……

PFC launched a fundraising campaign earlier this week to raise money for our boys' soccer team in Kenya.  PFC uses soccer to help transform the lives of youth, helping kids to abandon idleness and destructive behaviors for life on a soccer team, where they have a sense of purpose and belonging.  

We are testing a site called GoFundMe.com (crowdsourcing) to see how well it works in raising funds for our various programs in Kenya. The boys' soccer team is our first project using GoFundMe.

We would love for each of you to use your various social media channels to get the word out about this project and help us raise funds.  You can do this very easily by simply posting the link below on your social media accounts -- Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email, and asking your "friends and followers" to do the same on their social media sites.  The more people we direct to the site, the more likely we are to be successful.  There are literally hundreds of projects on this site raising money every day, so we know it works!

Feel free to go to the site and read about the project needs and let me know if you have any suggestions.

http://www.gofundme.com/Helping-kids-with-soccer

As always, this work would not be possible without your support.  Thank you!

Sharon Dicks

Partners for Care

Director of Development

sharon@partnersforcare.org

(770) 294-3586

Prayers worked - Kenyans voted in peace

Kenyans voted in peace today. I have spoken to our staff in Kenya, and have been following the news all day. There was violence in Mombasa but it does not appear to be related to the election. It was truly inspiring to see how many Kenyans voted today! Many lined up starting at 3:30 am and waited for nine hours to vote! There were 30,000 poll watchers from many countries to help ensure peaceful voting. Many are committed to see Kenya does not repeat what happened 5 years ago.

Now is the critical time. The fear is there may be violent responses when the winner is announced. For there to be a winner the candidate must have over 50% of the vote. If no candidate receives a majority vote there will be a run-off vote April 11. I understand there could be an announcement in the next few hours.

Praying for peace throughout Kenya as the election results are announced....Connie
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Water packs - bringing running water for people living in tents and shanties

I just received these photos today.  These photos make me want to work harder and run faster to get water packs to more people who can benefit like the people in these photos.  It is almost like they have running water!  Connie

We wait and pray

On Monday, Kenyans will vote for their new President. This time five years ago when Kenya had their presidential election was as some call "the darkest hours in Kenya's history". While there are hopeful signs things will be different this time, there are other signs of potential violence. The presidential candidates came together last weekend and prayed in a public forum. They pledged to accept the election outcome.

Mathare slum, home to people that many of you know - Christina, Joyce, CT staff, etc. has experienced violence this last week. Five years ago Mathare slum was one of the worst areas affected by the violence.

Some of the Partners for Care have already traveled home to their villages to be with their families. Monday is a national holiday so PFC staff will wait to see if there is any violence before they travel back to Nairobi. Sammy has offered Nick, Charles and Jenga to stay at the PFC house and advised them to stay out of Mathare slum.

We are watching the news and will put links on our website www.partnersforcare.org.

Many in the world pray that Kenya peacefully elects its leaders.

Waiting and praying, Connie


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The Value of Partners

It is in our name.  It is how we work.  We partner.  With the help of our partners we are able to have a much greater impact.  Partnering with PeacePassers www.peacepassers.org means we can bring soccer balls, soccer shoes, shin guards and other pieces of sports equipment to the Partners for Care team on the ground who use the equipment to put youth in organized teams.  From northeastern Kenya to the Rift Valley and places in between PFC staff are using sports to change the lives of the youth of Kenya.

Partnering with ITT Technical Institute www.itt-tech.edu means we can provide computers and open computer schools for children, youth and adults who want to learn the computer skills that will help them gain employment.

We partner with SANA Mobile www.sana.mit.edu and Global HEED www.globalheed.org to implement mhealth - a revolutionary way of extending the reach of health care practitioners helping to improve access to health care for hundreds of people.

We partner with HEART in Kenya to buy the bed nets we distribute.  These bed nets are made by women in their WEEP program.  Women who are infected by HIV/AIDS sew the nets providing them gainful employment to feed their families and send their children to school.  Putting a bed net over a child can prevent the child from dying from malaria.

Partnering with MEDSHARE www.medshare.org means we can receive hundreds of boxes of medical equipment and supplies for health care providers in Kenya, including our own medical clinic.  These clinics help save the lives of the sick.

We partner with Greif, PackH20 and Habitat for Humanity to bring to Kenya a solution for transporting and storing water that can be kept safe for drinking - preventing waterborne illnesses.

And, our newest partner is my church - St. James United Methodist Church.  They are sending a team to Kenya in October to help the PFC staff.  I am very excited to have my church partner with us to promote our work on the ground in northeastern Kenya.

We partner to equip our Partners for Care team on the ground.  We partner to save lives.  We partner because it works.  We thank our current partners and our future partners.  Together we are more effective.

Connie

Transforming the 2nd Chance classroom

When Bridgette, PFC board member, went on her last trip to Kenya she helped transform the classroom of the 2nd Chance program. We are told to use all our gifts and talents when we serve....Bridgette is a designer so she used her gifts and talents to transform the room where many students come seeking a 2nd chance. Bridgette consulted Sam, 2nd Chance teacher, asking him what colors he wanted the walls, what should the desks be like, where did he want the white board. It was a highlight when she went with Sam to select the learning material for the walls of the school.

The pictures show the transformation! What you can't see in the photos though is the reaction of the students. These are young people who because of the costs of high school were not able to complete their studies. They are now getting a 2nd chance as Sam prepares them to take the National Exams that will give them a high school certificate. They said their new classroom felt more like a college classroom and was so much more conducive for learning.

Sam also teaches students who are seeking an elementary degree. And, between sessions Sam teaches a group of women who want to learn to read and write. With 7.1 million illiterate adults in Kenya, PFC staff are doing their part to help ensure every mom can read and write. Learning to read and write helps a mom to care for her children and leads the way for them to be educated. More than a room is being transformed by the work of the PFC team in Kenya.

Thank you Bridgette for caring enough to help so many in Kenya, Connie

Every little girl deserves a pretty dress

When Dano Lister, Greif Corporation, came to Kenya he met the little girls of Parkishon. When he returned home to his family he told his daughter Kennedy about the little girls. He told her how they didn't have enough clothes. Kennedy decided to do something to help. She started a project called Upendo. Upendo is Swahilli for love. She began making pillow dresses. She recruited others to help her including her Grandmother.

When Dano returned to Kenya, he brought the dresses for the little girls of Parkishon. Pastor Hirbo gave them the dresses for Christmas. You can see on the smiles of the girls how happy they are that Kennedy cared enough to make a difference in the lives of these little girls.

On her flyer Kennedy wrote:

Many small people, who in many small places do many small things can alter the face of the earth. (Transcribed on the Berlin Wall).

Thanks Kennedy for helping the little girls of Parkishon have pretty dresses.

Connie

Partners for Care team continues to distribute the packH20

One of the blessings last year was our partnership with Greif Corporation who makes the packH20. These water packs carry as much water as the jerry cans. But, the packs keep safe drinking water safe and are much easier to carry. The team has distributed the packs to far northern Kenya, in Nairobi and in MaiMahui. Each person who receives a pack completes a survey answering questions about their water source, how they sanitize the water, and if they or their family experience signs and symptoms of water borne illnesses.

The Partners for Care staff follow-up weekly to ensure proper use of the pack. In three months the recipients will be asked to complete a follow-up survey. It is hopeful they they and their family will no longer experience signs and symptoms of water borne illnesses.

Most of the world's health problems relate to a lack of safe drinking water. Partners for Care is privileged to partner with Greif as they work to help so many in the world.

Grateful for Greif who desires to good in the world,

Connie

Dental and eye clinics

When the Michigan team came last Spring, they donated a portable dental chair and eye clinic. Both were developed by Steve Saint's organization - I-TEC. The eye clinic has hundreds of glasses and an easy way to help determine which pair of glasses will improve the patents's vision. Both the portable dental clinic and the eye clinic will travel with us when we do medical mission out reaches. When not being used in the field, both clinics are used in the what if? Medical Clinic.

Both of the clinics expand the ability of the PFC medical team to help the materially poor in Maururi slum. It is wonderful when a team comes and leaves equipment like the dental and eye clinics which helps the team on the ground serve thousands of people for years to come.

PFC is grateful to the Michigan team for raising the funds to purchase these clinics.

Connie

Broken...again

Here is an update written by Bridgette after we went with Peter and Charles to make an mHealth visit in Maurui slum. It is never easy to go to the home of someone who lives in the slum and who is sick. Our staff do it everyday. They are helping those they serve.

From Bridgette

One of the most exciting things happening at Partners For Care here is our medical clinic in Marurui slum. Last year, when I was here the clinic had just opened. In this one year it has become a real Godsend to so many in this area.

Also this year, PFC was chosen by Sana (a team from. Harvard and MIT) and Global Heed to field test mHealth - healthcare using mobile phones. Here's how it works... a PFC staff person takes the mobile phone and goes to a sick person's house in the slum. They take their vital signs, collect personal data, photograph the patient and upload all of this into the device, which is immediately transmitted to our clinician at the clinic. The clinician then triages the patient making one of four decisions:

1. If an emergency, advises the patient to go to a hospital
2. Advises the patient to come into the clinic to be seen
3. Advises the patient to come to the clinic for medication
4. Or asked the PFC staff to provide information to the patient to address their symptoms

This device can literally change the way health care can be done in a developing nation. And all of it is free to those in abject poverty. Further, because a medical record has been established in the computer system, it gives PFC vital information necessary to follow up with the patient... and it's all paperless!
Thus far, the implementation has been going very well, and allows PFC to triage and treat many sick people who might not ever have access to health care. The program will be one of the classes taught at Harvard this next spring on Global Health.

Before leaving in a few days, I wanted to spend a day down at the clinic with the PFC staff there. I was invited to go out with Peter on a follow up home visit. As we walked deeper and deeper into the slum, I realized I had no idea just how bad the conditions were. As we entered the one room, dirt floor shack where 9 people live, I sat and watched as a mother held her listless baby girl. She had been diagnosed with environmental asthma... most likely caused by the burning of the black coal in the same room they sleep in!

As I sat there, I was heartbroken as God reminded me how incredibly blessed I am... and that no one should ever have to live like those I saw today! The scene still haunts me as I write. As I lay my head down tonight with a soft pillow under my head, clean sheets over my body and a mosquito net around my bed, I pray that I will always feel heartbroken over what I saw today... because without that, I would forget just how much God has blessed me and that He has blessed me to bless others. Peter and Charles go deep into the slum every single day. Their hearts break too... and that is why they do it.

Partners For Care's medical work here in Kenya is indeed making a huge difference... as they continue to show this community that they are not forgotten. Through medical treatment, community health initiatives, bed net distribution, HIV testing and education and free medical camps, they are truly changing their nation, one patient at a time. I am so humbled to be a part of it.


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Favorite photos from Connie's and Bridgette's Trip

Bridgette and a newborn

Bridgette and Connie observing the bead program

Bridgette and the CHW

Bridgette in the field

Child searching for water

Debra and the children

Children watching us

Connie helping with Adan

Debra and the children

Pastor Hirbo rescuing Adan

Pastor Hirbo's children in the new dresses

Sweet boy

Sweet children

They are in wonder of Bridgette's hair

Volleyball In A Slum

Bridgette has done a great job of explaining one of our programs here in Kenya...girls volleyball. This morning I listened to John Maxwell's DVD on 5 Levels of Leadership - position, permission, production, people development and pinnacle. Pinnacle level of leadership means being a leader people follow because of who you are and what you represent.

I was reminded how Partners for Care is about helping young people here develop their God-given abilities to be pinnacle level leaders. Leaders people follow because they are followers of Jesus - the greatest leader of all times and because they do as Christ commanded - care for the orphans and the children and serve the poor.

Do all the good you can - wherever and when ever you can and do your work the best you can undo the Lord. That is what Bridgette and I have seen the PFC staff doing here in Kenya.

Connie.


One of the programs at Partners For Care involves sports-particularly mens' soccer and ladies' volleyball. Because of our relationship with Peace Passers (www.peacepassers.org), which I found out about through a dear tennis teammate in Atlanta...the men's soccer teams have been equipped with uniforms, cleats, etc.... Obviously, the girls' volleyball team does not require as much; however, the more equipped they are, the more confident they will feel.

While here, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the middle school age girls on the team. These young ladies are at such impressionable ages, and their coach Justus (one of the PFC Temples of Worship musicians), has invested much time and energy into their lives. For that reason, I have seen and heard amazing stories of the bond being created both on and off the volleyball court. They are sharing their faith, their friendships and their struggles...and Justus is teaching them how to be pure sexually, faithful spiritually and committed to get their educations no matter their circumstances. Their stories bring me to tears ( she told me not to cry!) as they live day to day for their basic needs to be met. Life is incredibly difficult for these girls...yet they are stronger and more disciplined than many adults I know. I am in awe of their resolves...and can see how the sport of volleyball is building so much more than athleticism among them. I listened as they shared how they scraped together 10 schillings each to help a teammate in crisis...or how they took turns around the clock coming to Justus' bedside and praying when he was very sick this past spring.

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure of going to one of their matches. As we drove deep into the village where the match was to be played, I was shocked at how badly these people were living. All that came to mind was "Our slum's better than your slum!" Its all relative, isn't it? I mean, we compare our "stuff" to others all the time, right? We've all heard the saying...One man's junk is another man's treasure. But as I stood there in the middle of a slum in East Africa watching these girls play with simple t-shirts and no shoes...I was reminded just how important this program is on so many levels. You see, to them, it didn't matter the conditions around them or the fact that they had no shoes to wear. They were playing their hearts out and loving every minute of it!

After the game/match, Justus used this opportunity to talk to them all (including the other team) about character, perseverance and personal growth through education, etc.... By modeling this lifestyle himself, he is changing the direction of these young girls lives forever. We played a movie on the projector that Connie and I brought from the U.S. (on a concrete wall) and we popped maize over an open flame for snacks. You should have seen how much fun the girls were having! It will indeed be one of my fondest moments here as I have formed lasting relationships with several of these girls. I can't wait to see how God will use them to be a shining example for others...all because of a simple sport called volleyball in a slum in East Africa!

A Rescued Child Feeds Others

Another update from Bridgette. It is indeed a blessing to see the team harvest food and feed the children. It is a special blessing to me to share this experience with Bridgette.

From Kenya,

Connie.

One of our outreach ministries is in an area around The Rift Valley called MaiMahui. While the drive through the valley is breathtaking... the area is heavily infected with HIV/AIDS due to the heavy trucker population that travels through this village. PFC supports Pastor John in this area as he runs Kathi's House of Restoration Rescue Center where he has rescued 10 year old Mini. Mini is a double orphan who was being cared for by her elderly grandfather. They were living nearby when the grandfather approached Pastor John and asked him to help them so that Mini could go to school and get an education. Our job here is to equip those less fortunate so that they can help themselves....which is only possible through education. So little Mini moved into Kathi's House where she could return to school yet remain close to her grandfather.

Several weeks after Mini came to Kathi's House, the grandfather offered Pastor John 2.5 acres of land to lease for a minimal cost. Because Pastor John has a strong ministry in this area assisting the widows and the very poor, what a better way to use the land than to plant a large Hope Farm? PFC rented the land last spring and had a full garden of beans the first season. In less than 3 months, we had 3 large bags of beans! These bags were distributed between many in MaiMahui, Maruri slum and Nick and Charles' children. This first garden gave hope and food to many for months... and I have even been able to enjoy them while here! Immediately after the first crop, maize was planted. While we were in Marsabit last week, several of the guys went out there and retrieved 5.5 large bags of maize! Again, these bags were distributed between multiple ministries...in order to feed others for months to come.

Partners for Care Hope Farm in Maai Mahiu

God has used one little girl rescued by Pastor John to feed many others, including children rescued by Pastor Hirbo as well as the 34 children rescued by Nick and Charles in Mathare slum. Who knew that saying "Yes" to one grandfather in need would ultimately bring food to many? Sometimes I think we refuse to say "yes" to so many opportunities because we are afraid or we don't know the outcome... but I think we also miss out on the opportunity to bless others and be blessed ourselves in return. God promises to provide... always! As I have seen here over and over again, I long to have the faith of those with so very little... and be bold enough to respond when nudged.

"What good is it if people claim to have faith but have no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose someone is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed, " but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, without action, is dead".


-- Bridgette.

She Told Me Not To Cry

I wanted to share with you why I have told Bridgette not to cry.

Nick is the one who taught me not to cry. I used to cry when I made home visits to those infected with HIV/AIDS and heard their stories and saw their living conditions. Nick explained that I wasn't helping and I was even hurting people.

Nick sees it this way. If he can bring a smile and a little joy to someone infected with AIDS they just might live a little longer. That is why when you make visits with Nick or Charles or any of their team they make small jokes with the people they visit. There is always laughter and joy when we visit those infected with HIV/AIDS.

I have also learned that I misjudge what is sad to someone. I use my life experience to decide a home is too small or the lack of a material good is sad. My son would be very sad to be given a bike to get back and forth to college where here giving PFC staff bikes brought great joy. I love my son but I am afraid he might just cry if I told him that his mode of transportation would be a bike.

So I have learned to not cry at what I see and what I hear. It doesn't mean I don't cry later in private. It doesn't mean my heart isn't broken at the sickness and hurting I see. And, I found myself tearing up when I read Bridgette's update. But, I respect those I meet enough not to judge their situation through my own world view.

I am learning from those who serve everyday on the ground here in Kenya.

As you read Bridgette's update you will see her heart and passion for the people here in Kenya.

Connie
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We see many things here that move us to the core of our beings. Without this exposure and awareness, God cannot use us as humble servants to glorify Him. Connie has taught me over many trips here that we must try very hard not to show our emotions in front of the people when faced with difficult challenges/situations. Imagine how anyone would feel if others around them cried whenever the shared their struggles or hard circumstances? We all strive to maintain dignity, no matter who or where we are.

So I have tried to be very strong...but must admit that I have fought back tears, some joyous, some sad when:

• I saw little Adan's gangrene feet for the first time;
• One of the PFC staff workers in Marsabit held my hand, thanking me for "coming so far to help his people";
• I walked into Pastor Hirbo's home and saw how 13 people lived there;
• I washed jigger infested little feet;

Treating jiggers

• I saw the Second Chance center transformed with fluorescent lighting and bright colored paints...and the smiles of all who study and learn there;

Grace studying in the new classroom

• I walked into the what If? Computer center in Marsabit and saw 4 computers we had hand-carried there working;

• Parkishon women drinking brown, muddy water...followed by goats doing the same;

• I walked in Marsabit Hospital where they don't even have gloves to protect their hands and the doctor said "This is our children's ward";

• When I heard and saw the beautiful women of Parkishon singing and praising God's blessings while dancing in the middle of a parched desert;
• When little Adan hugged my neck and first smiled after a warm bath in a plastic basin and a full meal;
• When Pastor Hirbo's adorable 3 year old daughter played with and tried to braid my curly hair;

Pastor Hirbo's home

• I saw the women of Parkishon filling their Greif water back packs with water;

• I took one of the full 50 lb. packs off an old woman's back and put it on my own....

These are just a few of the many times I have fought hard to hold back tears. If you really want God to break your heart while on the ground here, you have to see the work of the humble people who serve others every day here. God breaks our hearts to allow us to become more like them. "Whatsoever you do for the least of these...you do for me". I pray I will always be moved to tears...because through humility, it allows transformation to be more like Him.

A vision grows

It was a simple vision...help the women of Parkishon make medallions out of beads and Linda would sew them on bags and purses and sell them in the US. Linda called the project Rendille Inspired Designs. There is no commerce in the village of Parkishon so this would bring a small commerce to the women.

We purchased beads in Nairobi and the wire in Marsabit. We delivered the supplies in August on a Monday and one week later there were 76 women making medallions. We were humbled when we went to see the women making medallions. They were sitting in the dirt, legs outstretched making the medallions on their laps. There was no shade and in the desert the sun is hot.

Making the medallions

Someone said, "we should build a shelter for them to protect them from the sun.". When the women were told this they went to the chief's house late at night and told the chief "you must give us land to build our shelter for our bead project". Many NGOs have attempted to get land but the chief has denied them. But, the chief has said yes for Partners for Care to build a shelter for the women.

When we visited this past Tuesday, Elizabeth, the Community Health Worker took my hand and led me to a place behind the chief's house and told me to "stand there". She then got others to stand in the other corners of the land that the chief has donated. It is a good size piece of land.

Now the plan is to build a what if? Life Changing Center in Parkishon where the women can learn to read and write and where they can make the medallions. And, even possibly they will sew water packs and sell them for income.

This vision has grown because of Deb, Communication Director for Greif and Dano who is a business leader with Greif. They came, they saw and they want to help Pastor Hirbo help his people to help themselves through sustainable projects.

Is this bigger vision possible? All things are possible for those who believe. We believe this center will happen.

Watching visions grow here in Kenya as God brings together an incredible group of people who have a heart to make a difference in the world,

Connie
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Rescuing Adan

A few weeks ago Pastor Hirbo sent us some photos of children he was treating for jiggers. We have seen photos before and we have treated jiggers ourselves but these photos were very sad to see.

It is always heartbreaking to see any child's hand and feet eaten away by jigger infestation but the photos of two of the children haunted me. I sent them to Linda one of our board members and she wrote that the photos sickened her and reminded her our work is not finished.

As soon as we arrived in Marsabit on the missionary flight and I saw Pastor Hirbo I asked him about these two children. He said, "we shall go see them".

That afternoon we traveled 40 minutes in the four wheel drive we had hired. As we traveled on rough, dirt roads up and down hills I wondered how Pastor Hirbo could even get to where these children lived. Praise God for Pastor Hirbo's motorbike that allows him to reach the hurting children.

We arrived at a small village which seemed more like a collection of a few manyattas (homes made of sticls with dirt floors). We walked on a dirt path to a manyatta separate from the others. They brought to us the boy who had the jigger infected fingers and they were much improved! Then they brought Adan to us. Pastor Hirbo and I sat on a rock holding Adan as his mother stood by holding a month old baby. It was obvious the baby was developmentally delayed and blind. The mom seemed barely old enough to have the children.

Adan

Making the decision

I checked little Adan's feet and knew he had dry gangrene on the bottom of both his feet. Pastor Hirbo sand he felt the child needed rescued. The Kenyan team spoke with the mom and she agreed. It is never easy to take a child from their mother and Pastor Hirbo only does it in desperate situations. We took the child to the quest house we were staying and everyone on our team helped. Some bathed him, some went to buy him clolthes and others went to get him medicine. It was fun watching John and George of the Kenya buy small clothes and diapers for Adan.

At first Adan wouldn't eat. He was so listless and weak. We started him on an oral antibiotic and tetracycline ointment for the gangrene. And, we prayed for him. Soon he was reaching for the chapati and eating. We dewormed him and diapered him and put him to bed. He slept in our room with Bridgette. He slept so peacefully.

Sleeping

The next day Sam and George took him to the hospital. They found he was at severe nutritional risk and the doctor confirmed he had dry gangrene. The spots around his month and the black on his heads that wouldn't come oFf when we washed him was dirt.

George at the hospital assessing his nutritional status

Pastor Hirbo and his wife (who is a saint!) agreed to take Adan into their home for now until the gangrene is gone. Adan would be the 7th child rescued by Pastor Hirbo.

The mom came to town to see where Adan was - she walked to Marsabit carrying the baby of one month. The mom had given birth to 8 children - 4 had already been rescued by the Catholic Church. She was unmarried and was shunned by her village. Very sad situation. Pastor Hirbo's team had arranged for her to go to the hospital and be tested for HIV/AIDS and to be given family planning help. Pastor Hirbo also arranged for her to have food for the other two children and herself.

We have hired help for Pastor Hirbo's wife as she cares for. 10 children in their home. Three of the children are away in secondary school.

These are the kinds of situations Pastor Hirbo deals with on a daily basis - making life and death decisions for some of the most marginalized people in the world living in some of the harshest conditions in the world.

Humbled to know a man like Pastor Hirbo and the wife who supports his vision to save the children of Marsabit,

Connie
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