Monday---part 1

"So the people of Israel---every man and woman who was eager to help in the work the LORD had given them through Moses---brought their gifts and gave them freely to the LORD."

Exodus 35:29

At this point in my journal, I had to resort to snippets, so will not bore you with those.  Instead, I'll try and remember what they were and expand on them.  As I've been typing and writing this out, I have found that I will need to separate things into partial days, because there is so much to cover.


Monday morning we awoke at 5 am by a rooster.  The sun wasn't up yet, but was able to take a cold shower at 6:15.  I did some journal writing to catch up, then met with everyone for breakfast.  Trecy awoke this and every morning to go and work out with the other guys.  Not me---I figure I'd enjoy my Christmas gift and relax when I got the chance.

After a quick breakfast, we all piled into our vans/trucks and headed to Kiawara.  The ride was about 35-40 minutes down an nicely paved highway.  There are a few speed bumps when you reach some larger communities, but all in all, it is a very quick commute.  One thing I noticed right away is the amount people were walking.  Nieri is no where near the size of Nairobi, but there certainly are many people.

This is my Lion King Tree---I was day dreaming, looking out
the window in anticipation of our first day at clinic, and saw this
in the distance.  It so reminded me of what one saw in the Lion
King---long plains, with an oasis of a huge tree or two.  I looked for
it every day---this day, there was a fog behind it, so it seemed that there was
nothing beyond it.  Actually, there are some mountains miles away, you just
can't see them.

We arrived at clinic to a line of about 100 people or so waiting to be seen.  The first day is unique for the dental team---every person has to go through the doctor's clinic to be seen first, then, if they need it (based on doctor's diagnosis), will be sent to the dental unit for extraction.  So our first day, our first patient wouldn't come until at least 30 minutes after clinic starts.

But I am getting ahead of myself.  We didn't begin until about 10:30, which was about 30 minutes later than we anticipated.  Prior to start up, we prayed and were introduced to everyone including all of the 35-45 pastors and helpers that volunteered their time this week to do the same---serve others. So, as we were being introduced (and it was being translated into Swahili), Donald, our trip leader, introduced everyone by name and where they would be working.  The problem was this---for a second day in a row, he was asked to introduce people in front of a big crowd.  For a second day in a row, he messed up people's names, where they'd be working, even introduced someone twice.  I can't say I blame him, but we were able to give him a good ribbing for being forgetful and wrong in the introductions.

Praying before we start.   You can see all of the volunteering nurses
in white---we actually worked with the government agency, who normally
would have sent a few people, sent us about 10-15, which helped allow us to
see over 1000 people in just over 3 and a half days.

When it came to introducing me, I felt that I had to show these people how God made who I am, so I did.  It may sound a bit off, but I felt that I can connect with people through my enthusiasm and silliness, and I don't embarrass easy.  So, when Donald said, "Stephen Buckingham, Dental," I proceeded to to smile extremely big, point to my mouth with both hands at my cheeks and SMILED big and look foolish doing so.  Everyone had a big laugh about it, but I wanted to show I'd be working with teeth.  Anyhow, all week, I had people come up to me and smile and point at their mouth like I did---it was a great way for them to be at ease to approach me---a bearded white guy who otherwise may look intimidating.

Our work stations for the week.  You will notice the cleaning station in the back, and you
can see two of the three stations.  Each station has three chairs (Dentist, Patient, assistant),
a spit bucket filled with dirt, and all of the gauze that you could handle.

The start of the line, and notice everyone dressed up in their Sunday
best.  It was wonderful to see the pride yet humility that the people
of Kiawara had.  You can see Bernard (light and dark blue striped shirt)
talking with the people.  You will notice that the pastors are all dressed in suits---but hard
to distinguish, as other men in their Sunday best as well.

I had the wonderful opportunity to work on the first patient of the clinic.  I assisted Keenan in an elderly gentleman.  Mind you, I've never done any of this before, and I was pretty much winging it.  I had no preconceived notions on what was or wasn't a tough case.  In this case, it wasn't too tough---this man wanted all of his teeth out---he told us through the translator/pastor Bedan that he wanted to be as he was when he came into this life---no teeth.  So we helped him---his teeth were barely hanging in there as it was, and we removed 16 teeth.  Yea.  16.  He was so happy when we were done, and I felt good about what we were doing.

These were two of my many "ladies."  The hut for cooking was on the way to
the bathroom for us, and I was able to pass them several times a day.  With that,
from the first time I passed them, they smiled big beautiful smiles to me---and were doing so
because of my "introduction."  Knowing this, I smiled HUGE every time I saw them, and thanked them profusely
as I walked by them.  I loved my ladies---they were so great to see, especially when the days got hard.

Another of my ladies, washing the dishes in the nice equatorial sun.

As Kenya was a British colony until the early 1960's, they observe the tea times of day.  Specifically, they describe it as "Chai."  Now, the Chai is not the type of tea, but rather the translation.  Chai is traditionally served as tea, milk and sugar---very sweet, very hot.  We took a Chai break, Bedan and I, and had a great time.  The thing is, if someone asks you to go to Chai, especially if you are Mzungu.

Just showing how we are set up----you can see Dori with gauze in her
hand, we all wear glasses, masks, headlamps, gloves, etc.  

Bedan and I spent a lot of time together the first two days, and then the
assistants and dentists kept switching up, so we had a nice team work type
of program going on.

Sunday, "Sabbath..." Part 2

The verse of the day:  1 Kings 8:56-61
"Praise the Lord who has given rest to his people Israel, just as he promised.  Not one work has failed of all the wonderful promises he gave through his servant Moses.  May the Lord our God be with us as he was with our ancestors; may he never leave us or abandon us.  May he give us the desire to do his will in everything and to obey all the commands, decrees, and regulations that he gave our ancestors.  And may these words that I have prayed in the presence of the Lord be before him constantly, day and night, so that the Lord our God may give justice to me and to his people Israel, according to each day's needs.  Then people all over the earth will know that the Lord alone is God and there is no other.  And may you be completely faithful to the Lord our God.  May you always obey his decrees and commands, just as you are doing today."



"We got to Nyeri Baptist church a little after noon, and were able to worship with Pastor Peter, his son Joseph, about 30 or 40 kids, and 100 adults.  It was truly great to see the Spirit work through them, and humbling to see how well they welcomed us into their house of worhsip.

Peter gave the sermon (English), while a translator did so in Swahili.  The translator seeme dto scream into the mic, whereas Peter would bring his voice tone up and down.  It was funny that Peter was barely above a whisper, then the translator SCREAMS what he says in Swahili.

After church, we were able to take pictures with the children and kids before we loaded back up and drove to our hotel---Westwood.  It is a very nice place, one that we'll be able to make our home for the next few days.

Trecy and I get to room together in room 486---with one of the best views in the hotel.  Simply gorgeous.  We quickly loaded up and went to the clinic before the sun went down.  Clinic is in a school off the beaten path.  We set up shop, and found that we were missing a bag of all of the pain medicine.  We are praying it shows up but are a bit apprehensive about what will happen.  God will provide what He wants, and we have to trust Him.

We got back at 8 pm and went straight to dinner, set up in an upper room with chairs around the outside---reminds me of a Seder!

Internet is spotty at best----was able to FB Katie, which was good."

Sunday was a busy, busy day.  We traveled from Kentemere all the way up to our clinic in Kiawara.  We had worship service, checked into hotel, had several meals, and essentially got our game faces on, for the next morning it was "go time."

So Sabbath?  A time of rest?  Not so much.  That would come at the end of the week for us, as you will see.

Below are a bunch of pictures, the captions explain themselves.

Then I asked him to take mine...

After service, this boy ask I take his picture...

Suddenly, they all wanted to take pictures...I had to stop with the one
in taking pictures.  Note that unless you are prepared to let 40 kids do
what you let the 1 kid do, don't do it!

Beautiful little girl after service.

This man seemed to be mentally challenged, but
filled with spirit and fun and love.  He was dancing
through the aisles and singing along with everything.

All of the children singing songs so that we could
record them.  Some of these children are considered
OVC, Orphan-Vulnerable Children.  You can read more
about our partner Bernard's program as it relates to OVC
here.

Pastor Peter's son, Joseph, who rode with us to Westwood
Hotel for lunch. 

On top of the hill in the background is a prison
and the small village below is one of the most
"unsafe" places in the area, according to the
Pastors.

The kids making faces as we leave.

Heading to the Cho.  We'd be seeing this scene over the next few days
and as you can see, it is absolutely gorgeous here.

Some of the out buildings----the white one is a large meeting room
used for preaching the Gospel.  The two-door building on the right is where
the 40 pastors, (who volunteered their time, walking from miles away from
their villages to spend the week here) slept.  They served the food in the
right door, and we ate where I am standing (out in a field).

Building in the back ground is one of two that create an "L" shape.
That building is where the people would come to first meet with the doctors,
and we (and the pharmacy) were in the second building.

This is where they cooked our food----notice the dark
black soot on the top part of the wood---I wonder how many
meals are represented by the black smoke/steam that is created
each day while this was a school.

Would we call it ironic or divine foresight that caused us as
a dental team to choose this room?  After we chose it, we noticed
this sign, describing the different types of teeth in a human
mouth!

This is the view out the back window of our room.

The dental office---three stations, one washing station, and a
whole lot of gauze! 

This is likely not what the dentists mean by "brushing your teeth."
Molly and I were both assistants this week.

From left to right, starting with the khaki shirt, Dr. Trecy Watson, Dr. Keenan Smith,
Molly Puryear, Dori Clark (yellow), Amanda Gay, Dr. Ryan Magg, Me.

Sunday, "Sabbath..." Part 1

We have been meaning to do a study on the Sabbath...will have to do so, because on Sunday, it was anything but a rest, as you will read...

"4/22/13

It seems that once we get going, we are 'on.'  We awoke Sunday morning to a wonderful, lush greenery outside our window.  It reminds me of El Farrah---definitely---all of the flowers, smells and beauty...very Western European indeed.

One of the many cottages in this quaint, nice compound which
was once an officer's club.  There are about 25 little buildings like
this that run around the campus, and a main area, of which you
saw in a previous posting.

Outside the breakfast/bar area, this is what greeted
me in the morning.  Isn't it amazing?

Breakfast was wonderful; Spanish omelette  coffee, and some Cipro.  Saturday night didn't do well on my insides.  I did get a solid 4 hours sleep, though.  We unpacked and repacked our bags at Kentemere, then loaded up for a 3 hour ride North to Nyeri.

Us unpacking and repacking bags for the clinic.

Notice all in Sunday attire, and how packed the truck
already was.  

The country side was awesome.  One could tell the change in scenery...it went from urban, lots of people and shanties on the sides of the road, to less and less, to cows and other livestock, to foothills and nothing but trees and fields.

Shanties

Less and Less

No cows, but trees and fields

The roads were very smooth (until the end), so a nap would have been prudent had I not been so jacked up with adrenalin. It was great to be able to get to know some of the team a little better."

This is a good stopping point for me to interject just how quick things seemed to go by; one minute, we were enjoying breakfast in a European type pension, the next we are speeding down the road watching countless people dressed in their Sunday best, walking to church.  And still, it is all a whirlwind in my memory.  How hard it is to try and capture the moment God wants us to have, but to have it pulled away by our absolute sense of mania to get things done "now now now now quick quick quick." And I realize that it is not just there, on a short term mission trip with a very specific timeline---this is our everyday lives.  How often do we Sabbath?  How often do we truly look and see what is good, and intentionally rest?  Just something to think about.

  I am glad I am able to go back through my notes and pictures to try and get some of those "snapshots" of the moments.  How it hurts to know that I may have missed something that He wanted for me to see.  Yet how it is great that I don't have to worry about it, because His timing and plan is perfect, I'm just along for the ride---He's driving!

Oh...my intentions

Faithful reader, and I am talking to all three of you, I had such delusions that I'd be updating this exactly one week after the events happened.  Well, life happened, and here I am behind.  And lo, I found that I missed a critical part of my journey.

You see, some sneaky wife, who will remain nameless, snook in a pile of envelopes with days listed on them.  Now I know, I graduated from a small country school in the upstate of South Carolina, but even I could figure out that I should open each envelope on the designated day.

Not only did the sneaky spouse leave me a pile of envelopes, a pile was also left for a fellow traveler whom we were asked to pray for along the journey.

You will notice that not only were there hand
written notes from the sneaky spouse, but also
her helping brood of children left pictures.  They
also left verses for each day!

So, the message on Saturday came, and I mistakenly waited until the night time to read it----it should have been a morning thing.  Anywho, it reads:

"All of your works will thank you, LORD, and your faithful followers will praise you.  They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power.  They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign.  For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom.  You rule throughout all generations.

The LORD always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does."

Psalms 145:10-13


Imagine how much love I was feeling every time I was able to open an envelope.  Not only was I getting an intentional line of scripture, but the personalized notes also told me what she was praying for that day (she kept a copy by our bedside table, I later learned).  How awesome and loved did I feel?  Pretty much, totally!  Not only from my sneaky spouse, but from the GOD whose image she was created in; the GOD whom we are called to not only worship, but spread the great news of His Son;  the God whose image we reflect, and we are to show not only in the words of our mouths, but our actions, thoughts and deeds---and do so as a response to His Graciousness.

So yes, my intentions was to keep going at a quick clip with this blog and my narrative about my trip---but God has other plans, and who am I to not follow them?