Surgery has started & the children, some with lower extremity deformities causing severe bowed legs & feet rotated 180 degrees, are coming & are such a delight to see. Knowing they can be helped is such a satisfying feeling. I was having a difficult time after the screening & it took me a while to feel better. I emailed a friend in Nairobi, Kenya who is a local young man helping children in the neighborhood slum in which he grew up. I asked him for prayer & he sent me the email below. I felt his letter spoke very well to me. I am now working with 10 "Day Volunteers." We have a 7am-3pm & a 3pm -11pm shift cleaning the hospital & doing the laundry!! God has a sense of humor with me doing this job I certainly don't have the credentials. In fact when I heard there was a job working with the locals I really didn't pay an attention to what the job was. I was just excited to work with them. Later we hope to describe some of the day volunteers we have met & some of the West Africans, their stories are amazing.
Hi Mary & Ken.
Thank you so much for the updates, Always know we draw our strength from the almighty and He watches over us often, so keep turning to Him in your Low moments and He will make you see how loving He's through you, and when you help out, just know its His blessings that you are sharing with others.
I know how we at times get overwhelmed and feel like we cant take it or do it any more, but the Lord keeps reminding us that its for His glory that we are doing it, its for the good health He has given us that we take care of the sick, for his provision that he has blessed us with that we share with others, for the joy and love He has kept in us that we want to see people happy and feeling loved.
He will indeed keep you safe, Healthy and strong through this entire mission, He will teach you how to do it for those in need and bless everyone that comes your way..................so hold on and do it for Him.
Always pray for the families and kids in our program, the loving and dedicated staff, the people who support and pray for us often and for a stable and better Kenya. Not forgetting for our strength and commitment to keep serving Him through others. God Bless David
Florence's Wedding
The wedding was beautiful. There was a traditional wedding before the church wedding which is very symbolic. A calabash bowl is packed with a needle & thread to show the wife will take care of the husband's clothes, stitch them & keep the home, a bitter & a sweet cola nut symbolizing marriage has sweet & bitter times. A matt which shows that even in hard times, no money "to buy a bed" you don't leave your husband. These items are wrapped up in the calabash bowl with a white cloth which also symbolizes peace. The cloth is saved as a burial cloth I believe for the mother to symbolize her daughter was married when she dies. This bowl is brought when the husbands family comes to the brides house & knocks at their door & they say they have come to bring peace & they noticed a rose in the garden & wanted to pick it. Then they come in & they are given cold water. Then "false brides" greet the husband's family & they are asked is this the rose you saw & they will say no until the real bride appears. The calabash bowl is something that grows on a tree that is dried out & used for this ceremony. It is carried by a young virgin child on the father's side & given to the bride. I got this info from my day workers & another married woman here & I probably didnt get everything corrert but this is close I think. I love the symbolism & I think it is a wonderful tradition.
Amen! A very uplifting and encouraging message! Hope you guys are doing well - thinking of you and praying for all the best xo
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