Now that we are back in the US we can post some of the videos we took during our Mission Trip. Here is the first song we heard at Sunday School 6/5/2016 at Maua Methodist Church.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Sunday, June 19, 2016
Highlights of our time in Maua and Meru
Jambo!
Our mission team has returned to the USA and we are reviewing our time in Maua and Meru. It was a very intense and productive trip. We accomplished a lot. The sidewalk that we funded and helped create will help the hospital develop an emergency surgical facility. With the help of our funding and labor, an AIDS widow with 7 children will have a new home with substantially more space. We were able to purchase beds, blankets, pillows and a water tank that will provide for that family. During the trip we visited four different schools to take our donations. It was particularly difficult to get to the remote 73 acre farm where street children who had been sniffing glue are residing and receiving their first school experience. All of the boys are of school age and some of them look to be 10-11 years old. It is good to see them get some education for the first time.
Another rural school near Meru is surrounded by elephants who often will tie up access to the school so that the children have to wait to get to school. The teachers we met on Saturday were very dedicated and we were delighted to bring soccer balls, jump ropes and books that they could use with their students. Fortunately Beth demonstrated how to use the jump ropes so now the teachers know what to do with them.
Most of the team visited Clark Early Developmental school where kindergarten age kids from remote areas begin their schooling. Almost half of the kids are orphans. Our team loved the kids and were happy to bring donations for them.
In addition to the specific school visits, we dispensed de-worming medication at 4-5 remote schools. Over 1,000 kids received the chewable medication from us. At a couple of the schools we witnessed native dances being performed.
On our de-worming day most of the team staffed a remote medical clinic. Kim and Jan, our practicing nurses, took blood pressures and performed other nursing functions. Some others weighed folks while in another room team members dispensed medications that were prescribed by the visiting doctors.
Finally, in Meru we stayed on the Bio-intensity farm where we learned of their mission to help farmers learn to raise crops that will provide more income as well as teaching about inexpensive ways to collect rainwater for irrigation. While there we participated in services at the local Methodist church and some of our team helped with Sunday School for the children.
Our last mission project was in Meru at the Kaaga Primary school. We turned soil, and help construct a mesh covered vegetable garden. We planted tomato plants and the parents from the school planted other vegetables.
Below there are pictures from several of these mission events.
Our mission team has returned to the USA and we are reviewing our time in Maua and Meru. It was a very intense and productive trip. We accomplished a lot. The sidewalk that we funded and helped create will help the hospital develop an emergency surgical facility. With the help of our funding and labor, an AIDS widow with 7 children will have a new home with substantially more space. We were able to purchase beds, blankets, pillows and a water tank that will provide for that family. During the trip we visited four different schools to take our donations. It was particularly difficult to get to the remote 73 acre farm where street children who had been sniffing glue are residing and receiving their first school experience. All of the boys are of school age and some of them look to be 10-11 years old. It is good to see them get some education for the first time.
Another rural school near Meru is surrounded by elephants who often will tie up access to the school so that the children have to wait to get to school. The teachers we met on Saturday were very dedicated and we were delighted to bring soccer balls, jump ropes and books that they could use with their students. Fortunately Beth demonstrated how to use the jump ropes so now the teachers know what to do with them.
Most of the team visited Clark Early Developmental school where kindergarten age kids from remote areas begin their schooling. Almost half of the kids are orphans. Our team loved the kids and were happy to bring donations for them.
In addition to the specific school visits, we dispensed de-worming medication at 4-5 remote schools. Over 1,000 kids received the chewable medication from us. At a couple of the schools we witnessed native dances being performed.
On our de-worming day most of the team staffed a remote medical clinic. Kim and Jan, our practicing nurses, took blood pressures and performed other nursing functions. Some others weighed folks while in another room team members dispensed medications that were prescribed by the visiting doctors.
Finally, in Meru we stayed on the Bio-intensity farm where we learned of their mission to help farmers learn to raise crops that will provide more income as well as teaching about inexpensive ways to collect rainwater for irrigation. While there we participated in services at the local Methodist church and some of our team helped with Sunday School for the children.
Our last mission project was in Meru at the Kaaga Primary school. We turned soil, and help construct a mesh covered vegetable garden. We planted tomato plants and the parents from the school planted other vegetables.
Below there are pictures from several of these mission events.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Lots happening here in Maua, Kenya
Jambo Habari (Hello! How are you?) friends and family,
It is Tuesday, June 7, 2016 and our mission team has been very busy. We are all experiencing amazing things in our work here. We will share some of the highlights so far. Internet access is spotty and we are often without it for long stretches of time so the Facebook addicts among us are constantly going through withdrawal.
Sunday we attended Maua Methodist Church. It is beside the hospital and has a rather large sanctuary as well as a Sunday School building. The original Chapel was built by missionaries in 1947 and it sits on the hospital grounds. The congregation outgrew that building and it is now used for daily services for the staff each morning. Sunday School is attended by a large number of young children. It was enchanting to watch these adorable children singing .We are all in love with them. Kenyan people are so extremely friendly and welcoming. It is such a pleasure to interact with them.
In total we spent three hours at church. The service was two hours long but it was so energetic with all the singing and dancing that the time passed very quickly. We were able to record some of the singing before the service but were told that it would be disrepectiful to photograph or record anything during the service. Similarly, we are not taking pictures of the children because that is considered disrepectiful. But occasionally we have requests to do so and we will be able to post some pictures.
Monday our entire team toured the hospital campus. It is a rather large area with lots of buildings including homes and apartments for all of the medical staff, interns, nursing students, and administration. After the grand tour we were given "tea" and introduced to some of the senior administrators in the hospital.
After all of that different teams departed for their projects of the day. Those of us with medical training stayed at the hospital and got involved professionally.
-Our nurses, Jan and Kim assisted in the delivery of a child...always a very special experience.
-Our psychologist, Shirley, did a psychotherapeutic intervention with a woman in emotional distress and spent time developing a coaching relationship with the Administrator that will continue for the remainder of the week.
-Our teacher, Rachael and interior designer, Doreen, crushed rocks for an important passageway that will be paved to give patients better access to the maternity wards.
-Pastor Lisa, Bob (our construction manager), Josie, our artist, Beth from FUMC and Kathy from Naperville, worked on building the AIDS orphan house that will be dedicated by the Bishop on Thursday afternoon.
It is wonderful to be able to use our individual talents as well as our team's hard work to serve the Kenyans here in Maua. There is so much that we have to offer above and beyond all of the supplies that we have brought from the U.S.
It is Tuesday, June 7, 2016 and our mission team has been very busy. We are all experiencing amazing things in our work here. We will share some of the highlights so far. Internet access is spotty and we are often without it for long stretches of time so the Facebook addicts among us are constantly going through withdrawal.
Sunday we attended Maua Methodist Church. It is beside the hospital and has a rather large sanctuary as well as a Sunday School building. The original Chapel was built by missionaries in 1947 and it sits on the hospital grounds. The congregation outgrew that building and it is now used for daily services for the staff each morning. Sunday School is attended by a large number of young children. It was enchanting to watch these adorable children singing .We are all in love with them. Kenyan people are so extremely friendly and welcoming. It is such a pleasure to interact with them.
In total we spent three hours at church. The service was two hours long but it was so energetic with all the singing and dancing that the time passed very quickly. We were able to record some of the singing before the service but were told that it would be disrepectiful to photograph or record anything during the service. Similarly, we are not taking pictures of the children because that is considered disrepectiful. But occasionally we have requests to do so and we will be able to post some pictures.
Monday our entire team toured the hospital campus. It is a rather large area with lots of buildings including homes and apartments for all of the medical staff, interns, nursing students, and administration. After the grand tour we were given "tea" and introduced to some of the senior administrators in the hospital.
After all of that different teams departed for their projects of the day. Those of us with medical training stayed at the hospital and got involved professionally.
-Our nurses, Jan and Kim assisted in the delivery of a child...always a very special experience.
-Our psychologist, Shirley, did a psychotherapeutic intervention with a woman in emotional distress and spent time developing a coaching relationship with the Administrator that will continue for the remainder of the week.
-Our teacher, Rachael and interior designer, Doreen, crushed rocks for an important passageway that will be paved to give patients better access to the maternity wards.
-Pastor Lisa, Bob (our construction manager), Josie, our artist, Beth from FUMC and Kathy from Naperville, worked on building the AIDS orphan house that will be dedicated by the Bishop on Thursday afternoon.
It is wonderful to be able to use our individual talents as well as our team's hard work to serve the Kenyans here in Maua. There is so much that we have to offer above and beyond all of the supplies that we have brought from the U.S.
Sunday, June 5, 2016
We have finally arrived in Maua, Kenya after traveling 20 some hours by air and being transported by vans from Naibori all day today. In spite of the minor inconveniences to be expected in this part of the world, our team is in good spirits and ready to be further engaged with our Kenyan brothers and sisters.
Staff at the Maua Basin Hotel greeted us with smiles and handshakes. Then they helped us unload the numerous bags and find out rooms. They prepared dinner for us and we were very impressed with the candles on the table and the delicious meal.
Stanley Gitari, the Maua Methodist Hospital leader, and his coworkers Doris and Janet, met us for dinner and gave us an overview of the projects we are working on this week in Maua. Tomorrow morning Stanley will meet us and walk with us down the street to the Methodist Church for Sunday School and the main service in Swahili He assures us that there will some English in the service so it should be interesting.
Staff at the Maua Basin Hotel greeted us with smiles and handshakes. Then they helped us unload the numerous bags and find out rooms. They prepared dinner for us and we were very impressed with the candles on the table and the delicious meal.
Stanley Gitari, the Maua Methodist Hospital leader, and his coworkers Doris and Janet, met us for dinner and gave us an overview of the projects we are working on this week in Maua. Tomorrow morning Stanley will meet us and walk with us down the street to the Methodist Church for Sunday School and the main service in Swahili He assures us that there will some English in the service so it should be interesting.
Monday, May 23, 2016
May 22nd Packing Day
Our Kenya Mission Team sorted and packed 11 large suitcases to their 50 pound limit on Sunday March 22nd from 1:00 pm until 8:00 pm. We were able to use compression bags so that we could take:
- Medical supplies to Maua Methodist Hospital (including scrubs for staff)
- Infant hats and receiving blankets for newborns
- Kids' clothing for AIDS orphans
- Sunday school supplies
- Kid's toys and books for the schools
Here are some pictures of items that were donated and packed:
- Medical supplies to Maua Methodist Hospital (including scrubs for staff)
- Infant hats and receiving blankets for newborns
- Kids' clothing for AIDS orphans
- Sunday school supplies
- Kid's toys and books for the schools
Here are some pictures of items that were donated and packed:
Sunday, May 15, 2016
Introduction to our Team and Missions
Welcome to the travel log for our Kenya Mission team 2016. We are a group from the western suburbs of Chicago going on a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip sponsored by the United Methodist Church. There are ten of us embarking on this mission June 1-18, 2016. We are:
-Jan Cosgrove, Team Leader from Grace UMC Naperville-Pastor Lisa Telomen, Co-Leader, from First UMC LaGrange
-Kim Russett, First UMC LaGrange
-Beth Wagner, First UMC LaGrange
-Bob Elazan, Construction Leader, Grace UMC Naperville
-Shirley Maides-Keane, Blogger, Hinsdale UMC
-Josie Keane, Chicago, Hinsdale UMC
-Rachel Colby, Galesburg, IL, First UMC LaGrange
-Doreen Schweitzer, UCC Naperville
-Kathy Stalker, Grace UMC, Naperville
Our mission includes working at Maua Methodist Hospital, constructing an AIDS orphan house, de-worming at the local primary school in Maua, and building a vegetable garden at a school in Mehru.
The next three posts feature short videos about our trip. The first is about the hospital, the second is about the AIDS orphan homes, and the third is about the de-worming at the local school. We will post pictures and videos of our actual work as we go along starting with packing stateside, in LaGrange, on May 22nd.
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