We are well into our week at the Living Room now. People have become familiar friends, routines have been established, and we have even learned more Swahili words! As the men were away yesterday gathering the donated supplies, the women of the group were able to finish transforming hand-made quilts from the states into curtains and wall décor. It was a joy to see the patients interacting with us from blowing bubbles to laughing at us trying to learn the language. On the clinical side of the hospice, Michelle has been working with the physician assistants, Rachel and Kim, and Nurse Betty. Dar has been working with the Social Worker, Daniel. It is evident to both of them that the workers of the Living Room truly care about their patients. The staff workers are not just employed at the Living Room, they are taking care of their brothers and sisters.
Today, Thursday, the Living Room was a flurry of activity. It was full of supplies and everyone was helping move out the old beds with the new, sorting supplies, and getting patients ready for the day. As Kari and Ken described, the Living Room felt like an exhaling breath of all the blessing it had received. A breath full of praise, jubilation, and excitement. Today we also celebrated International Hospice Day. The real day is Oct. 8th, but that was the day we first arrived at the Living Room and we were given an amazing celebration. So we postponed IHD tell today. It was so neat to see patients’ family members and previous patients arrive to celebrate with us. Together, we remembered those who had moved from earth to their heavenly homes with Christ. People like Betty, Mary, and Samuel. As noticed by Dar, one of the neatest things about the Living Room is that patients are given a voice. That was displayed today at the ceremony as patients told their stories “testimonies” of what lead them to their illness and how they were at home or in the hospital and were not cared for, developing wounds and get becoming more ill. It has not been until the Living Room that they knew they were loved, cared for well, and started seeing improvement in their conditions. Everyone told of how they knew this could not be possible unless it was from God. It was a very Kenyan ceremony with many speeches, food, and singing. As we sat out on the veranda, singing in worship during the ceremony, Gene and Chris noticed how the trees were swaying in the breeze to the rhythm of our song. The verse came to their minds, Isaiah 55: 12 “You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.” They felt as though creation was in celebration with us.
It was a joy to the whole team today to see little Enoch, the boy with the facial tumor diagnosed with a treatable form of cancer, playing ball with Cassidy. This boy came to the Living Room two and a half weeks ago, scared and with a facial tumor covering his nose and mouth. Now, after the first round of chemo, he was kicking a ball and hugging Cassidy goodbye. Moses is an older patient with lung and heart problems. When we arrived today it looked like Moses might pass away. His breathing was not good and he was very weak. Later in the day he showed improvement. Michelle was able to have a conversation with him through interpretation and Moses said he was worried about his home. It had been destroyed and he had no house. She reassured him that the people of the Living Room will not send him away from this place without a place to live. She asked where will be his spirit’s home after this life. Moses told her that it will be in heaven with God. Michelle told him that he would have rest then, but he will also have rest now. The Living Room is your home for today. The new patient Samuel has already claimed the Living Room as his new home. He comes from a different tribe in Kenya and traveled far to be here. He has been welcomed by the people of this tribe and has even been given a new tribal name.
Tonight we were able to go to the orphanage and perform a skit on David and Goliath for the children. They loved it, we know because they laughed! Gene was Goliath, Cassidy was David (he walked on his knees), Greg was King Saul, and Ken narrated the story as they acted it out. Kris was very innovative at coming up with props for the skit. We also led them in song with “Father Abraham”, “Deep and Wide”, and “I thank you God for making me me”. The children at the orphanage love to hug us and be near us.
We always feel so blessed at the guest house where we are staying. There are two wonderful women, Stella and Miriam, who make us incredible food. They provide us with the opportunity to debrief, and share God’s stories in us with Juli, Alison, David, and other community leaders that come by. Tonight was another blessed night.
Asante Sana and Praise God!
The Team
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