Where has the time gone?. a few days to go

These weeks have flown by,... can't believe our 6 weeks is almost gone,...but time does fly when you're having fun,.... and this,.. has been fun. In the past two weeks alone we've traveled the breadth of Kenya. From Nairobi to Kisumu on the shores of Lake Victoria, back to Nairobi, on to Mombasa, and back to Nairobi again. All along, studying this vast and beautiful country, its healthcare system, its customs, its people, its poverty, its wealth. And, as if we hadn't traveled enough, we then left for a 2 day holiday in Masai Mara, ... safari, anyone? The five weeks of this clinical service learning experience has officially ended. Its been a blast.

The two clinic days we had this past week, were in Laikipia district in places known only to those who live there,.. Sipili and Donyloip. Anyone who finds these on a map has my admiration, if not my suspicion that they just fabricated these names. But they do exist,. ask anyone, again, anyone who lives there, that is. But Sipili and Doyloip are real. The people are extremely hospitable and genuine, desiring a quality of life similar to that which is desired by all places on this globe. Sipili and Donyloip are also dry and dusty, ...without any meaningful rainfall for the past four years,... that's right, four years,... but the rains have come recently, planting has begun and area farmers are looking towards a harvest in the next several months, as well as the resultant food and water.

No,.. we haven't gone the route of veterinary medicine,... but the medical camps were held not far from livestock, and our patients didn't come through a maze of shopping malls and
housing developments to reach us. Instead they traversed open fields of grazing cattle. Quite a difference from the areas to which we're accustomed. But this is daily living for these areas in almost desperate need of health care. Areas where upper respiratory and skin infections are commonplace as is gastrointestinal worm infestation. Malnutrition and dehydration are the norm. Cardiovascular and metabolic diseases aren't seen so much since these are diseases of aging, yet some of our patients were in their 10th decade, and even as you age here, you're more inclined toward prostate, esophageal and liver cancers. Although there was one patient who was under the care of her son who was managing her diabetes, but now, they were out of money with no prospects that the closest hospital would continue to provide her insulin or her oral diabetic medication (Glucomet) without charge,... Although we happened to have a three month supply of Glucomet, the insulin would have to wait,.... We were a well stocked pharmacy, but in this area, largely devoid of electricity, we had no refrigeration, and therefore no insulin, and for that matter, neither did the patient. This son, who had managed his Mother's diabetes thus far was limited in options, but that's not unusual here,... truly, the options available are either limited or,... none.

This has been a new and quite different experience for soon to be Doctors Saomony Cheam and Tam Nguyen from the University of the Sciences in Philadelphia. When we embarked on this adventure, even I who have praticed in similar settings on many occasions, had not envisioned that this trip would involve seeing approximately 300 patients over two days in places that appear on no maps and thus are located, literally, in the middle of nowhere. These Doctors of Pharmacy have opened themselves to rare opportuinities in global health and have, over the course of the last two weeks, provided much needed medications to over 450 patients including the clinic conducted in Mtwapa, Kenya. But its much more than this. The care, compassion and hope that Drs. Cheam and Nguyen have given along with the medications they've dispensed,... that care will be enduring in this community. Amid the herds of cattle and dry, dutsy environment, these pharmacists saw the need for administering the quenching balm of hope and love, and they have more than met this need.

But this has been a trip of opened opportunites. Medical students from the University of Cincinati joined us. Elihu Godshalk and Pam Stem, forth year medical students saw patients, touched patients, prescribed for patients and in this also administered love, compassion and hope. The human touch aspect is huge here. For it is through this human contact that we are providing others with the touch that we all need as part of the human family. Its through this touch that not only affects the patients seen but also forever changes us. Elihu, Pam, Saomony and Tam have changed this community, themselves and those of us who have done this before. These soon to be Doctors of Pharmacy and Medicine have been an inspiration to all of us. For this we are thankful.

So Dr. Michael Johnson has been here before,.... the people of Sipili and Donyloip know him, have worked with him,,,, know of his compassion and passion for inspiring hope for "The Least of These". Dr. Johnson has been in Kenya for 20 years, but will be leaving soon. Will a void be felt,.. absolutely,... Will God provide another who will adminster health care to this area,.... absolutely,.. For I believe that although the Bible refers to "The least of these, my bretheren", in God's view, these are not really the least these, rather they are indeed our bretheren....and in that, they are also God's children. Dr. Johnson and his familiy have sacrificed much, in love, to be here for the last 20 years, but they, like Abraham, know that God will provide. Even to this dry and dusty plain, God will provide,... maybe especially to this dry and dusty plain, God will provide.

Amos Ooga, also was a blessing, having only recently welcomed a newborn, he and his wife are meeting the challenges of any couple married for two years. But here was Amos, a specialist in orthopedic appliances, serving on the mission field,.. a blesssing to those served, and a blessing to those with whom he served. Thank you Amos.

Then there's Anthony,... who we really couldn't do without, since he was single-handedly responsibile for our arriving safely at Nayaharuru, Laikipia, Sipili and Donyloip, as well as returning us safely to Nairobi. Anthony, a zillion thanks, especially since some of the best photos of the clinic were taken by you.

I've improved my kiswahili, somewhat,... at least conversational at the prescription window, ...mbili mara mbili kwasiku... (two tablets twice daily), ... Enjoying my time with Tam, Saomony, Michael, Elihu, Pam, Amos and Anthony. Learning much about each one and especially learning about each one's passion for service. This team is serving with joy. In our eyes, serving our bretheren,... in God's eyes, serving His children.

But there's one thing more. This team is American, Kenyan, Vietnamese, Cambodian and Jewish.... five different heritage origins. Could this be the Body of Christ? Too often we tend to segregate ourselves without reconciling ourselves in Christ or to each other. Perhaps this is what John saw in Revelations when he talks about a gathering of people from every nation and every tribe standing before the throne of the Lamb. In this team we've begun to create an assembly of service composed of people from various ethnic backgrounds,... an unlikely team perhaps, but a team in which our service to God greatly overshadows any differences we may have. Yes, these weeks have flown past, ....we've done, seen and traveled much,.. an adventure to say the least, an awesome and wonderful experience to say the most.

Four days to go, but then, who's counting :>)