When traditional medicine meets modern medicine.

The Kenyan doctor allowed Samara to take the patients blood pressure before the consultation. 

It is not uncommon to see a wide arrangement of charm necklaces and bracelets on little children. When we ask about them, the response is usually to quickly shy it away as insignificant- just a tradition that is simply passed down. At times it has been said that it is part of Islamic religious practices.  Few have come right out to say it was given to them by the witch doctor for protection against the "evil eye". One day Jason was working with the Pharmacist (on clinic day at the farm) to help give out medicine and a lady came with her baby. Sure enough this baby had a necklace on with a pouch tied around it. Jason asked her why the baby was wearing it. She told him confidently it was medicine. Jason said it must not be working then, because she was at the clinic to see the doctor. Jason asked her if he could pay her 200ksh to cut it off. She said no. He upped his price to 500ksh. Still no. Finally he emptied his pockets which had a little more than 1,500ksh- which is what is paid to the doctor for their daily service. The Mom did not budge- her answer was still no. Jason came outside to tell me about this lady shocked that she would not take the money and have it removed. Her belief in the charms power was so strong and the fear of what would happen if she got rid of it- led her to not compromise. I look at this in two ways- 
1) Layers upon layers of bondage and chains holding people back from the freedom, truth, confidence and hope found in knowing Jesus. 
2) If it really was seen as part of her religion,  no amount of money could ever persuade her to abandon her "faith". If this is the case than I can totally relate. My faith in Jesus is solid and cannot be shaken by what comes along. It's a hard reality to grasp others having the same stance in an inanimate  object as I do towards the Lord/Creator of the Universe. When I revert back to the Bible I realize what we are encountering now really is no different than thousands of years ago. People wanting to pledge their allegiance to  some idol made by human hands. I often feel like there is no sense of logic to be discussed. It just is what it is and will remain to be so....until Jesus transforms thier lives! 

We have two praises to report. First of all we were able to buy a new water pump. Our friend and mechanic Teddy was a huge blessing in organizing this purchase and then ironing out the problems so that it could be successfully installed. It provides double the intake of water that the old pump brought in. This will allow the farm to expand, more seeds to be planted thus more to be harvested! God is so generous!
The second praise is that we are in the process of getting solar power out at the farm. All the panels are already there. Next trenches need to be dug to place all the wiring that is needed for everything to be set up to work properly. Solar power will make a tremendous difference at the clinic because we can plug in a refrigerator that can keep vaccines for infants and whoever else needs them. This will also allow us to do blood tests to ensure the proper medication is given if there are infections. And who knows what it will give access to in the future- ultrasounds? Wireless internet at the farm? Endless possibilities. Every time we turn around God has more provisions than we ever imagined. He is our heavenly Father who delights in giving gifts to His children. Now that we would be faithful in what He has entrusted to us.

In just a few weeks from now we will be welcoming new College interns (yes it is already that time if year again). We are excited for them to come. We know that they will learn a lot about this area of the world. They will grow in their relationship with God, and God will grant them grace to love these people and see them how He sees them. It also means that we will be divided with our time with our current interns (who are now Seniors) and helping to get these new interns settled in. We were able to camp out at the farm to celebrate Tori and Andrew's birthdays- sort of like as last hurrah with them until the business of getting everything ready begins. It was such a special time together. Hamburgers, hotdogs, pasta salad, potato salad and smore`s were eaten. We sang fun songs as well as worshipped around the campfire. We will have to say goodbye to this group in December which we dread, as always. They have become part of our lives and ministry here. All in all its no accident that God has brought us all to Gtown  for His Kingdom come, His will be done here on earth as it is in heaven. 

The Lady in yellow is missing a leg from a crocodile attack many years ago. She is a regular to the clinic as well as her children. 

Amos and Jason (with the help of Righteous and Nevaeh) doing registration on a Thursday at the farm.

Weighing in kilometers. 

My view from the mat. Animal masks made out of paper plates.

Githeri was for lunch. (Maize, beans, potatoes, carrots, tomatoes,  cabbage, green peppers, all fried together. 

In My opinion, new bunnies are ugly without fur.

Baby goat

Andrew, our intern, asked for a Meme themed birthday party. 

We camped out at the farm as a team.

Jason and my humble abode.

Our girls spent the night on this trailer.