October 5 - Day 2

Today was a day filled with joy and tears. We traveled to Mathare Village 2 as a combined team (CrossWay and White River) and set up a medical clinic at the brand new Hope Center. The center has only been open for 1 week and is already making a tremendous impact in the community. It is a temporary structure that has several rooms including a school for young kids. When we arrived at the Hope Center, people were already beginning to line up outside the entrance. We divided into several teams including crowd control, entertainment, triage, medical exams, pharmacy, and prayer team. Each team member had a unique and important role to play in ensuring that that things ran smoothly.


Word about the clinic spread quickly and we were blessed to treat over 115 people within a 6 hour period! Our experience in Mathare 1 prepared us for Mathare 2 in the sense that we had already walked the streets of the slums, smelled the smells and looked into the eyes of people so many in need. Our entire team was deeply impacted by the beautiful children and parents that entered the clinic throughout the day; people who literally have no options when it comes to medical care. There were children with ranges of medical conditions from mild colds to severe ailments. Some adults also needed treatment including one mother who did not want to burden the medical team with a severe burn on her arm. Her only concern was getting help for her child, but our medical team treated her as well. Her story was heartbreaking in that she had been working to earn money so she could just get a ride to the hospital to seek her own treatment. It was truly heartbreaking to see a person in such a desperate position.


Several members of our group were able to meet their sponsored children. It was really special being able to see their faces and get a real sense for the impact that the Hope Center is making in their lives. Thanks to all of you who a sponsoring a child... you are helping to make a tremendous difference. These kids are being loved, fed and cared for, and are recieving a valuable education that is Christ centered. God willing, this could be the generation that builds change in Nairobi.

At the end of the day, we traveled to Mary and Wallace's house (who run the Missions of Hope Center). They were gracious to open their home to our entire team and serve a wonderful meal. We had a great evening of fellowship and reflection.

Both teams have developed relationships quickly that have allowed us to work well together and serve the community. God has graced our team with a diverse group of people with a sincere desire to be the hands and feet of Jesus in this place. God is truly at work here. Please continue to pray for our strength, courage and God's direction as we continue our mission in Nairobi. Also, please pray for the members of the Indiana team that will be heading to the bush to serve over the next 5 days. We will rejoin them this Sunday.


We'll be back in touch tomorrow.

Asante!

Posted by: Scott Kroeger on behalf of the CrossWay Kenya 2009 Team