We departed Toronto on Aug 4th at 6:05 pm with 49 Team members and 104 checked bags! We ended up only needing to pay for 6 additional bags in the end, as many team members sacrificed their personal checked baggage for the team donations!
We flew 8 hours to Zurich with a 2 hour layover and then another 8 hours to Nairobi. Thank You for all your prayers, as all 104 checked bags made it safely to Nairobi. As we spoke with the Kenyan Customs, we were able to clear most of our bags for a very reasonable cost!
Please continue praying for our 20 HPIC Boxes of medications, they are currently being held at the airport until we receive approval from the Kenyan Poison Control Board.
We then stopped at a cafe for a quick take out, which ended up being 2 hrs, before travelling another 2.5 hours to MCF Ndalani by bus. We rolled into our rooms at MCF near 3 am. Despite the long travels, our team was still in great spirits and everyone is well! Thanks for remaining Flexible, Humble, Adaptable and Teachable (FHAT), Team Upendo!
Below is an email from one of team members to our team leader:
Kelly,
This just happened at the office.
As the count down to our departure nears the “to do list” seems never ending. The challenges with obtaining needed medicines and supplies, the logistically battle of how to pack everything in airline approved sized boxes while not exceeding weight limits, the unexpected cost involved with getting all our supplies onto the plane, and so on.
It is very easy to forget the reasons why we are all going to MCF but then our amazing God gives us a gentle reminder.
A patient I saw 2 weeks ago took a copy of my prayer letter as she left the office (I leave a few copies on the reception desk). Today she came in for her 2 week follow up appointment. After her visit I was about to leave the exam room to see my next patient when she whispered if she could have a word with me. I stopped to listen knowing that these types of conversations usually end with sad news.
She said that she was very touched after reading my prayer letter and “someone” told her that she needed help. With limited financial means she was struggling to find a way to contribute. Someone told her to knit. So she started to knit. Today she give me this….see attached.
I was humbled by her words and her actions which caused me to pause.
As she turned to leave the exam room, she smiled at me and pulled out a wrinkled envelope from her bag…”here is some money. Please use it the best way you can. It is not much.”
This reminds me of two passages:
Mark 12:41-44
The Widow’s Offering
41Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts.42 But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.
43Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others.44They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything all she had to live on.”
2 Corinthians 9:6-7
The Cheerful Giver
6The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully[a] will also reap bountifully. 7Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
With all the busyness getting ready to go – are we grumbling about all the work that we need to do or are we joyfully giving our all?
Kelly, if you feel that this can encourage others on the team please send out or post to blog.
We are excited to welcome Mona Small and Bev Banks to our team. Their experience in obstetrics, paediatric, emergency and public health nursing will be a blessing to all those at MCF Kenya.
We have received a new Statim 2000 Autoclave for our trip!
Apotex made a very generous donation of medication.
We have donations for 60 soccer balls and jerseys.
Team Wray has 17 Hockey Bags of clothing for MCF children
Not Just Tourists have provided us with over 12 boxes/suitcases of medical supplies. Check out there work here. https://njt.net
MCF 2019 Team Upendo 