2007 Kenya Mission Report

The Kenya mission team left Los Angeles on Sunday, May 13, 2007. The 10 member team included eight people from Glenkirk Church and two members of Mountain View Presbyterian Church in Wildomar, California. There was a great deal of pre-trip preparation necessary as we were planning to provide various activities that coincided with each other. It was essential that we be organized and that we bring all the necessary supplies with us.

Our team leader, Shelley Ulrich, was well acquainted with the situation at Tumutumu Hospital. This made it easy to anticipate our needs as well as theirs. We brought all of the items needed for our activities as well as gifts to eliminate the need to purchase items in Kenya.

Our overnight layover in London was rainy and cold but we were able to rest and recuperate from the long night flight from LA.

Monday, May 14, we took a night flight from London to Nairobi, arriving to welcomed warmth and sunshine. Our safari in the Masai Mara was a great opportunity to meet the Kenyan people and learn more about their culture and country. The team really bonded during this time and we were able to fellowship and have Bible study in beautiful surroundings. One night, as we were doing our devotional in a meeting room at the hotel, we were joined by a fellow guest. He was a Kenyan, living in the US. We were able to exchange observations about Kenya and the needs of the people.

We arrived at the Tumutumu Guest House in Karatina rested and acclimated to the time change on Friday, May 18. The three hour drive from Nairobi was made more comfortable by the new van purchased with funds from Glenkirk. Our hosts were prepared for our arrival and we felt safe, comfortable and welcomed.

The next day was spent unpacking and preparing for the busy week ahead. We were able to visit the local open air market in the afternoon accompanied by nurses from Tumutumu Hospital.

Sunday, May 20, we attended Nyamachaki Church in Nyeri. We worshipped along with members of Tumutumu Hospital staff. Shelley introduced the team to the congregation. During lunch with the church elders, we discussed issues facing the church and found many common challenges. We were impressed by the growth of their church outreach and were invited to visit the Kiawara church, newly constructed in the local slum area.

We also visited an orphanage near Nyeri, run by Rev. Bernard Muindi. We were able to see the tremendous progress being made in providing food, shelter and schooling to local orphans.

Monday, May 21 began our planned programs. Carole Matthews, Joy Hunt, Peggy Diller and Shelley Ulrich provided a three day conference called “Women of Living Water” for about 60 women from the Presbyterian Woman’s Guild. The information presented included such topics as building self esteem, dealing with domestic violence and education on the stigma associated with AIDS. The participants represented various parishes and they were provided with training materials to help them educate others, potentially reaching thousands of women.

Jane Beard, Tom Brunner and Bonnie Carr lead a Bible school program for 131 children at the Tumutumu School for the Hearing Impaired. We presented Bible stories, lead singing and provided crafts on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. We gave pens to the teaching staff and pencils and bracelets to the children.

A tour of the school allowed us to see the many improvements made with the support of Glenkirk sponsors. The children all have uniforms, their dormitories are renovated, new classrooms are being filled and a new library is stocked with age appropriate books. We were informed that there have been improvements in the food supply for the children to include meat, fruit and milk. We discussed future plans for heated water, improvements in dormitory bathrooms, the purchase of tools for the woodworking shop and the construction of a chicken “house” for much need chickens. We were treated to a performance of dancing and singing by the children. We photographed each of the children for their Glenkirk sponsors. A check for $1,210 was provided for material for uniforms (included in the amount was $500 from Mountain View Church), and $200 was given for the purchase of chickens.

Rod Ulrich went to Tumutumu Hospital daily to assist them with their computer and telecommunication systems.

Tim Ferguson and Rev. Joseph Mazzela met with the pastor of Tumutumu Church. They arranged to meet with the men of the church to discuss the role of a Christian husband. They discussed strategies to build the self esteem of Kenyan men who are frequently unemployed. The men at Tumutumu Church hope to buy land to allow the unemployed men to farm it.

Jane Beard taught Basic Life Support classes for the hospital staff and student nurses on three consecutive afternoons. We gave the hospital a DVD player with teaching materials on Basic Life Support so that continuing education could be provided to hospital staff and student nurses. An adult CPR manikin and resuscitation bags were also given to them.

Evenings were spent dining together with hospital staff at the guesthouse and sharing devotionals lead by Carole Matthews. One morning, we had the opportunity to join the hospital staff at morning chapel. Our team participated in the service by providing the message, Bible reading, singing and prayer.

We visited Mahiga Dispensary on Thursday, May 24, where we learned of some challenges facing the new maternity ward. Increasing prices of building materials has delayed construction efforts. Discussions were held on how we can help to get the project completed. We gave them newborn caps, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, measuring tapes, a pregnancy calculator chart and resuscitation bags for the maternity ward. Shelley presented them with a check from Glenkirk.

At the Kiaruhiu Dispensary, on Friday, May 25, we learned that few mothers are electing to have their babies in the new maternity ward. The reasons for this include the fact that about 80% of Kenya women still deliver at home and the dispensary prices are more than what the government hospital charges. The surrounding area has very poor people who can not afford any fees. It was discussed that perhaps a fund could be set aside to assist the poor with maternity charges. We gave them newborn caps, blood pressure cuffs, stethoscopes, measuring tapes and resuscitation bags. They took us for a drive through the countryside, showing us the tea plantations and how the local farmers harvest the tea. The day ended with a tour of a tea factory.

Two evenings were spent dining in the homes of our friends Samuel Mwaria and Dr. Karithii. It was a blessing to fellowship with them and their families.

After worship time together on Saturday morning, we exchanged gifts with our Tumutumu friends. Team gifts to our hosts included a framed photo of the team, a wall banner for the guesthouse and hand towels, bookmarks and pens for the staff. Gifts for the hospital included two laryngoscope sets ( handles and two blades), two fetal dopplers with carrying cases and instructional DVD, eight gel bottles, two automated blood pressure machines with temperature probes and oximetry, six episiotomy scissors, stethoscopes, resuscitation bags and surgical instruments.

We arrived home on Sunday, May 27, exhausted but blessed. Every member of the team verbalized that this was a great opportunity to witness what God is doing in Kenya. Those who had been to Kenya before, observed a great deal of progress and growth over the years.

Email to a Friend


Back