The Mzungu Daktari!!

I am loving being able to put my medical training into practice here in the rural parts of East Africa. I am in fact, a Mzungu Daktari! That means a medical professional with white skin. Let me share with you a little about how I am implementing nursing into day-to-day ministry in Kenya.

The Kipkaren Childrens Home
On Friday the first children will arrive in the Kipkaren Childrens Home. ELI has chosen to not use the word orphanage because they truly want the children to feel that they are a part of a family. I will be helping to provide the medical care for the children. We will be accepting HIV+ children, and that has caused a bit of upset in the government. They are hesitant to approve for these children to live with those who test negative. Pray that God will soften hearts and open doors. I am currently preparing health forms for the physical exams and follow-up visits for the children. I will also help to give a training to the parents on basic health first-aid, HIV, and general child development.

Labuiywet Mobile Health Clinic
Once a month ELI journeys to the nearby village of Labuiywet. This village does not have any medical services available. They set up at a home and begin to see patients and provide HIV testing and counseling. Last week I joined another RN and a nursing assistant at this clinic. It was a wonderful and amazing experience. I treated malaria case after malaria case. It is amazing to me the lack of resources. From past experience I knew that that would be the case, however it seems I never cease to be amazed at how we treat them and send them on their way. So many patients I see here would be hospitalized in the states. We are hoping to up the visits to this area to weekly instead of just monthly.

Chebaiywa Health Clinic
This is the clinic that is partially funded by ELI. I am blessed to have the opportunity to work here several times each week. I am seeing patients and providing primary care alongside two incredible Kenyan nurses. Last week I had two patients who arrived in hypertensive crisis. I was seeing blood pressures of 230/120!! I was able to assume care of these patients and successfully bring them down to a safe range before, you guessed it! sending them home!!! I really hope to have an opportunity to do some education regarding this condition and its treatement.

On Thurs a woman was carried to the clinic and presented to me while my colleague was at lunch. She had a severe case of malaria. I was so thankul for the IV starting skills I have learned through ER work. She was severely dehydrated. We treated her with intravenous fluids, Quinine, SP, Tylenol and then sent her on her way. She left the clinic able to smile and walk on her own. What a blessing to be able to make a tangible difference in someones life!!

Specific Prayer Requests
After a little over a week of settling in I am ready to embark on the adventure of trying to learn Swahili. I must confessed that I am more than a little intimidated by some of the interns living in the village. It seems that they have somehow become close to fluent in under a month!! (ok, that is an exageration but it feels that way!) I am convinced that somehow the language acquisition part of my brain has been switched off. So pray that I will be a fast and studious learner.

Things truly are in high gear at the training center. Pray for energy and enthusiasm as I often pursue three or four projects at a time.

Please pray for my relationships. I am learning so much about the Kenyan culture. I am making many new friends and building relationships with old ones. I was able to spend a day in the kitchen cooking over a fire. I felt like I had stepped into the 1800s in the USA. The Kenyan ladies have been so gracious in welcoming and teaching me.

Continue to pray that Christ will draw me closer and closer to his heart. I want to know my savior on an even deeper level. I want others to see his love in my life every day. Know that you are all in my prayers as well. I would love to hear from home so send me your e-mails with updates!