The below Kingdom Driven Ministry (KDM) blog post really captures one of the primary the ways I think
God will use us to minister in Jesus name to the poor in Kenya.
September 25, 2013 By
As we (
the Carriers)
have become at home in our village and slowly built relationships
within our community, we’ve been better able to discern just exactly
what the needs are and what direction the ministry here should take. Of
course, Marc’s work focuses on teaching and training, and we have a
fellowship that meets in our home. Beyond that, though, we have found
that here in the villages, life can be hard and the needs can be great.
The average wage for those lucky enough to find work is approximately
300 KSH per day (about $4). Tea is breakfast, sometimes there is no
lunch, and ugali and greens (home grown on the
shamba) are all
that is available for supper. In this season (Kenyan Winter, which
brings much rain), firewood is hard to get and expensive, which adds to
the cost of daily bread. Though most families make it, when illness
strikes, often a decision has to be made: food or medicine?
Case in point: just yesterday, a Mama came to our door carrying a
baby on her back. She knew no English and my Swahili is still limited (I
can make small talk, but understanding medical terminology is still
beyond my grasp) so I was glad that my neighbor was here to assist us in
conversation. The woman is a member of a local church (the pastor of
which is another neighbor), and she was apparently recently widowed,
with seven children at home. The baby she carried had put her hand in a
pot of boiling water and had a severe burn. I assumed that the burn had
just happened, and was surprised that the baby wasn’t crying. As it
turns out, the incident had happened on Saturday morning. The Mama had
done her best to cool the burn with water, and washed it with soap, but
she became increasingly concerned and by Tuesday morning felt that her
only option was to go see the
wazungu and ask for help. When I
saw the baby, there was no skin on her hand and there was beginning
evidence of infection. Knowing that she needed more help than I could
give, we organized to bring her to a local cottage hospital for
treatment.
The wound was dressed and liquid antibiotics were dispensed, all for about $6 USD ($7, if you count transport
). Since
Sam, who assisted her at the hospital, owns a small produce shop, she
hesitatingly asked if we would be able to help her with about 100 KSH
worth of fruit (about four small mangoes, which were her choice). Of
course, that was no problem.
And so we regularly see here the need for medical assistance, since
daily bread often uses up a family’s meager resources. When an emergency
arises, they have no “savings,” and nothing to fall back on. Those who
know us, or know of us, come and ask for assistance, often as a last
resort. Although some of the funds come from us, Kingdom Driven
Ministries has been able to offer an increasing amount of financial
assistance as well. It comes from YOU–people who faithfully give to KDM,
so that we can not only minister the Gospel of the Kingdom but also
serve “the least of these” in our community. For us, a few US dollars
doesn’t seem like much–but (in the case of malaria medicine) it can mean
the difference between life and death. It can buy not only healing for a
child but a mother’s peace.
Our village is small, and word is getting around. The number of
visitors seeking medical assistance is daily increasing. Today, we
coordinated with our local chemist to dispense malaria medicine to a
pregnant Mama and gave cough medicine to two other families (since it’s
Winter, and cold season, here). We sent a sick baby to the clinic with
Silas and gave an older woman with arthritis some ibuprofen (if that
doesn’t help, we’ll have to bring her to the clinic). Marc also went to
Kitale to take another elderly woman to the hospital. That might be the
most we’ve done in one day, but it could be a new trend. Each individual
need is comparatively inexpensive, but our total today (including
transport costs) was about $20.
I can’t imagine being forced to neglect quality care for my child
because I had to choose between that and feeding that child and her
siblings. Any parent knows the angst that would cause. In the end, the
woman who came yesterday thanked me profusely, and twice asked God to
bless me. But I asked God if he would bless
you instead, those
whose giving has made blessing possible. Though you don’t see what goes
on here each day “on the ground,” please know that your generosity is
making a difference in the lives of many. If you feel led to give so
that we can continue to meet these needs, you can make a donation in any
amount to the KDM general fund at
www.kingdomdriven.org/donate. If you would like, you can add a note at checkout to earmark the funds for medical assistance.
Abba Father help me to utilize the training that You have led me to these last two years.... help me to serve, live and love like Jesus. And Lord work in and through me to care for the sick and help the poor. Use my hands for Your work. Lord I ask that the sick be healed in Your Son, Jesus holy and mighty name. May this bring You praise and glory Lord.
Thank
You Lord for You have lead me through Community Health Evangelism,
Emergency Medical Training and allowed me to gain experience in
volunteering at Mercy Medical Clinic and working in the Emergency room
at UK Hospital, and now topping it off with the Missionary Medical
Intensive in March. I have been blessed by You, now Lord please make me
able.
I ask this in Jesus, my King & Savior's name
Amen
