The frustrations of working in the free clinic all week have made the weeks that I spent with the toddlers, Amos, and the day school teens seem like a carefree walk in the park. How I treasure those kids! The experiences with them indeed give me hope that we are making a small difference to a few families in Africa. I suppose that is better than none at all...
I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed by this third world culture. Admittedly, I'm living in a relatively sheltered village behind gated walls with security guards 24/7, so I haven't seen that much of it, especially before the clinic. Still, I haven't met a Kenyan national that I didn't like. They are all such loving people here, so warm and friendly. MY PROBLEM is that I personally do not have a heart big enough, pockets deep enough, brains ample enough, time left enough, or friends numerous enough to make a change in this situation. I am feeling very, very small and insignificant in the face of such ginormous and humongous hurdles of poverty, public health issues, and government corruption. What am I to do? I pray that God gives me clarity as I continue this path for the next few months. I feel helpless now, but I know that He is a BIG GOD. I know that He has plans for me with the time and energy that I have remaining on this earth. I just think that I'm supposed to wrestle with this learning experience in my heart and mind for awhile. It takes me a long time to process and analyze such information and feeling overload. Please bear with me as I sort it out over time...
I'm just feeling a bit overwhelmed by this third world culture. Admittedly, I'm living in a relatively sheltered village behind gated walls with security guards 24/7, so I haven't seen that much of it, especially before the clinic. Still, I haven't met a Kenyan national that I didn't like. They are all such loving people here, so warm and friendly. MY PROBLEM is that I personally do not have a heart big enough, pockets deep enough, brains ample enough, time left enough, or friends numerous enough to make a change in this situation. I am feeling very, very small and insignificant in the face of such ginormous and humongous hurdles of poverty, public health issues, and government corruption. What am I to do? I pray that God gives me clarity as I continue this path for the next few months. I feel helpless now, but I know that He is a BIG GOD. I know that He has plans for me with the time and energy that I have remaining on this earth. I just think that I'm supposed to wrestle with this learning experience in my heart and mind for awhile. It takes me a long time to process and analyze such information and feeling overload. Please bear with me as I sort it out over time...
By the way, the little girl in the Michigan cheerleading outfit tested positive for HIV, while her dad, a Baptist minister, tested negative. He made excuses for why his wife couldn't come in to get tested. Sad, sad, story...The lady being carried into Kenyatta Hospital Emergency Room was accompanied by our nurse Terry, her husband (who brought her to us on a borrowed bicycle because she was in shock) and one of our Rafiki staff drivers. Other pics were village shots out the window of our van as we drove upcountry for a tour of a tea farm. These were really uptown compared to Mwiki next door to us...
1 comment:
when you teach a single child something, you make a difference. God Bless
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