Journal of Sacred Work

5 responses to “Day 184 – Open Forum”

1. 

   Ann Kaiser

   July 3, 2009

   God is good all the time and all the time God is good.
   Just a couple months ago, I set out on one of the most remarkable events of my life. I miraculously became a team member of a Medical Mission Trip to Kenya. ME!! A farm girl from Iowa, nurse at St. Joseph’s Home Health, going to Kenya for 2 weeks! As Brandon Kidd told me “It’s a God thing.” God took the lead two weeks prior and for every road block I put up i.e., (finances, experience, time off, passport, immunizations) God opened doors. So I took that leap of faith and with an immense support of my church family I boarded the plane on March 1, 2009 with four other team members to Africa! I was joined by Dr. Colette Cozean, Jessie Cozean and Jason and Amanda Macallister. We were then joined with three other medical team members from Kenya.
   We treated patients, visited dispensaries, and trained Kenya medical personnel together for two weeks. Although on more than one occasion, I felt I was more the student than a teacher!!
   In Narok and Nairasirasa groups of the Masai tribe were treated for Malaria, pneumonia, bronchitis, TB, some Typhoid, and Brucellosis, arthritis and gout. Our team members were taught how to test for Drug-resistant TB by Hain Lifesciences.
   When I triaged a man with a complaint of being pushed by a water buffalo and another Masai man for being kicked by an elephant, I truly realized that I was no longer in Orange County, CA. It was an overwhelming feeling to see hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of people gather to be treated. They had not had medical care in years and many of the children, never. I will no longer complain about my HMO program. I at least I have medical care!!
   One of my patients was a little Masai girl with a large slash on her foot and ankle from stepping against a spear. As I assessed the situation and realized everyone else was busy with their own dilemmas, I started thinking I cannot do this. I quickly prayed and asked for guidance. God brought me the courage I needed. A physician I worked for in the Midwest had taught me suturing for “just in case” situations. I was definitely in one! So a Kenya nurse and I proceeded and fortunately it was not very deep, just long and soon the suturing was completed and the little girl had a nice dressing on her foot and a “balloon” in her hand as she left. The balloon was a latex glove that I blew up for her to get her to smile. After that, the rest of the medical team gave out “balloons” also. It makes me laugh now, to imagine the children there think American ”balloons” have five fingers on them!
   We also went to Masai Mara in the plains of the Great Rift Valley for a safari. At the time of our visit, the land was in great drought. I thought I had a concept of what a drought should look like. However, my thoughts did not come close to the devastation it creates for the plant and wild life and how burdened and affected the people are who live there. I was greatly saddened to see the vastness of such hardship a drought imposes on the land. Please remember to pray for rain for this land and her people. I gained insight and a better understanding of how important funding a well for this area would be of great help.
   Dr Colette Cozean worked closely with the political members there. We met with City Council members and members of Parliament and the Provincial Medical Officer of Health (PMOH, one of the top medical people in the country.) The Nyeri Presbytery voted to work with the Limuru Presbytery and the PMOH in implementing two new dispensaries. Dr. Cozean also met with the Prime Minister of Health and several governmental leaders. The Limuru Member of Parliament (like our congress) treated the team to a dinner and also personally escorted us to the airport upon our departure. (I think he just wanted to make sure I got on the plane.)
   The medical team had the opportunity to present a continuing education certificate program our last day to medical personnel scattered throughout the Limuru Presbytery. Lectures on physical therapy, diabetes, childhood development, hypertension, and cancer were presented. It is my hope that my small contribution and presentation on cancer and end of life care will help to make a large difference in the quality of life for someone there.
   The highlight of my trip was definitely visiting the girl’s home in Limuru. Seeing these little girls so happy and excited to see us at every visit, made me forget about all the hard work of moving camp every two days and lugging around medical equipment and drugs, 12-hour workdays of treating people, and long hard dusty jeep rides covering 450 kilometers. I could tell you about my bout with horrific food poisoning, but I don’t want to scare anyone. It made me forget about my terrible fall on the rocks and my purple knee (the girls liked looking at the progress of the color of bruises!!) So playing in the dirt with the girls is a special memory that I carry with me every day.
   The low point of my trip would be climbing into the landrover at the end of a hot treatment day. I was downing a bottle of water and a tribesman approached me and asked for some water. As I went to grab one of our bottles out of the box, my driver instructed me that I could not give out any water. He stated to me that everyone will come and ask for water and we only have a limited supply for the team. As I closed the jeep door and shook my head no, I started to cry. It was so hot and dusty as we pulled way from the bush. I will never forget that tribesman and I will always remember him in my prayers.
   My life has been so blessed by being given this opportunity to visit the people of Kenya. Some of the people from Kenya came to visit in January and stayed with us for a couple of weeks. They became a part of me and I am a part of them and now I long to return to them.
   JOMBO!! God Bless!!
   Ann Kaiser

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2. 

   ~liz Wessel

   July 3, 2009

   Ann,
   Thanks for sharing your experiences while in Kenya. I liked the stories you told, and especially the courage you demonstrated by suturing the little girls leg. The story of not being able to share water with the tribesman was disturbing and one that I too will remember. It must be very difficult to be immersed in human suffering and be without the necessary resources. However, efforts like this are a beginning and helping to make a difference.
   It is great to see how your outreach efforts are connecting people with people to benefit one another and the world. I know the conditions were less than ideal and that you lost 12 pounds in the short time you were there. I greatly admire you for all the work you do to help others. All your visits to build houses in Mexico helped prepare you for this. It will be interesting to learn how your husband Glen’s trip to Kenya unfolds. I understand he is helping with some construction projects there this month.
   Jombo and God bless you Ann!
   Love,
   ~liz

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3. 

   ann kaiser

   July 4, 2009

   Today I post with a heavy heart as I have learned of a tragic loss in Kenya on Saturday. A young 23 year old girl from our church and a recent grad from CSU went with the group of Missionaries on JUne 19th , to help with the orphanage in Africa. My husband was on the construction team and he was so excited that Natasha was coming on this trip with him. We have known her from when she was little. “Tasha” was always the Pied Piper of children. They flocked to her, whether in Mexico or at our church for VBS or Sunday School. She was also the youth group leader for Junior High and for the college group.
   On Friday evening Natasha took ill, and the nausea and vomiting and intestinal illness continued. She became severly dehydrated. Natasha also has a medical condition. A disease from childhood, called Addisson’s disease ( an endoctrine disorder) . This caused complications . Cardiac complications. Dr Collette started IV’s to hydrate her and the medical team worked with her and gave her the steriods required for her condiition. Amazing that the medical team had exactly everything that they needed with them this time. I had requested that they travel with hydration bags and steroids for such an occurence !! Natasha arrested….Dr Colette revived her…and air vac had just arrived. Natasha was talking some …stood up to get to the air vac…took a few steps and then collasped in Dr Colette’s arms and she could not be revived. God has called his angel back home just like that. Saturday I stood with her parents at our Pastor’s home. They appeared as frozen statues. We are all in shock. We are all heart broken. If she was a ” hollywood star” this would be all over the news. But she is OUR star..and now she shines more brightly than before. On Monday my husband and the mission team arrive home from Kenya. The team will arrive short one. But then that beautiful girl is already home. Home in the house of her Lord that she served everyday of her life. She was truely a blessing to us all for just to have known her. My life if better because I loved her and I will miss her greatly every day and on future Mexico Mission trips. This all surpasses my understanding…I just don’t know what to say..

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4. 

   ~liz Wessel

   July 5, 2009

   Ann,
   I was deeply saddened to learn of Natasha’s death. I have since learned more about this beautiful young woman who had a passion to help young people and to reach out to those who were in greatest need. She was a light of hope and her life held so much promise to heal our broken world. Although I did not know Tasha personally, I mourn her loss from this earth. Now she is a radiant light in the lap of God. My deepest sympathy goes out to her family, especially her parents, and to all those who love her. However short her earthly stay, I know that she made a significant impact in the lives of others. I hope there is some way to find meaning in her tragic and untimely death by continuing her dream of helping others.

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5. 

   Gemma Fernandez

   August 10, 2009

   It is very important to me to know that, there are a lot of people around me who cares and they are bathed with the Holy Spirit. This is why we can do our job, the love that we share with each other and to our dear patients.

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