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.
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