I Thank the Lord for My Experience

By Kay E. Staley

February of this year, 2007, I went with Shelley Ulrich to Kenya, Africa to visit the Tumutumu Hospital and Tumutumu School for the Hearing Impaired. Glenkirk supports both the hospital and the deaf school.

Tumutumu Hospital is located on Tumutumu Mountain about a two hour drive north of Nairobi and a mile from the small town of Karatina. The partnership between Glenkirk and Tumutumu Hospital is wonderful. I could not have been more impressed. It is a true relationship between the people there and our church through Shelley. I have never felt so welcomed. Dr. James Kariithi, the chief of Staff at Tumutumu and his staff team could not have been more kind and they spent a lot of their time with us. They showed us around and we could witness the changes/improvements they had made and were making at the hospital and their mobile clinic ministry.

One day we toured the hospital. I was very impressed with the hospital and all that was offered. The HIV/AIDS Treatment Center was very impressive. In order for an AIDS patient to get treatment from the hospital they had to enter into an agreement with the hospital. A nurse and/or HIV/AIDS positive person from the hospital’s Treatment Center goes with the patient to tell their family. I could not begin to imagine how hard this would be. They (hospital) are trying to educate the whole family, not just the patient.

I met Evelyn Kariuki who is one of the leaders of the Presbyterian Church of East Africa, specifically the Mount Kenya region, Woman’s Guild. She has over 6,000 women in her Guild. She is very involved with HIV/AIDS particularly the education of women and men about how to prevent AIDS. Shelley asked Evelyn to tell her what kind of information she needed when a group from Glenkirk is sent to train/teach the women leaders of the Guild about how to prevent AIDS. She wanted to know what would be most helpful.

We went to the meeting in Nairobi called the Network Gathering, and many of the partnerships between PCUSA churches and the PCEA came together to share the work they were doing together. It was very interesting. The partnership between Glenkirk and Tumutumu Hospital is the real thing. They respect each other and listen to each other and keep each other informed. The Lord has truly blessed this relationship.  

We visited the School for the Hearing Impaired to see and hear about the work they are doing with the 125 children living and attending the school on a regular basis. Keeping, teaching, and training these children for the future seemed like a daunting task. They are giving these children, many who are infected with HIV/AIDS, a place where they are safe and accepted. I was so touched by the dedication of the teachers at the school. I came away with a new understanding, and was pleased to be supporting their efforts through the support of seven boys.

I was so impressed. I cannot put into words my feelings of being there and seeing all the wonderful work that is being done. I am so glad I had the opportunity to go and see for myself the love between the people at Tumutumu Hospital to include; James, David, Emily, Charity, Marion, Esther and the Glenkirk Presbyterian Church.

I thank the Lord for my experience. YES! I will go again.

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