Reflections on poverty.

"You see, there are two kinds of poverty. There is poverty and then there is absolute poverty where you are just tumbling along every day, wondering where your next meal will come from." ~Marcus Ooloo, resident surgeon at Tenwek Hospital, Kenya.~

A profound statement that has been tumbling around in my head since I have come home from Kenya. We were discussing health care and health insurance in Kenya when Marcus spoke those words to me.  Middle class is where I consider myself to be here in America. You know, if I don't go to work, my bills are not paid. As a young woman, like most young people in America, I sought wealth, worked very hard and received a good education in order to live comfortably. It's been about 30 years or so since that objective was in the forefront of my thinking and here I am once again shifting my thinking and perspective.

Driving to work today, I was overwhelmed at the wealth around me. It's monumental. It's choking me almost. Again, according to my income, I am middle class America. I live and work in neighborhoods where everyone works hard and has to save money to purchase things and go on vacation. But witnessing the poverty in Kenya has changed the color of things. I am sickened with the extreme way in which most of us live our lives. The things we buy, the things we talk about. Most of them are wasteful and self indulgent. Or so it seems now.  To me. 

There are people, children, living all around the world living in absolute poverty. It's heart wrenching. Really. I said these same words when I returned from Cambodia eight years ago....I thought I knew what poverty was but I don't. And maybe I still don't today but I'm grasping it a little better now.

Change is good. I am so incredibly thankful for my trip to Kenya. The people I met, the woman and children. The people I worked with. My heart is forever changed. ❤️ Thank God...

The children....

Missing the children...

Safely guarded.

The campus at Kenya Relief is surround by high wire fencing, has locked gates, armed guards at night and two German Shepard dogs to keep everyone safe. Here's a picture of the guard tower.

What a classroom looks like at Kenya Relief Academy.

While In Kenya, Steve James, founder of Kenya Relief, took us on a tour of Kenya Relief Academy which is located next to the orphanage and across the street from the clinic. The school is considered

a prestigious one in the area because of the computer technology classroom, the low number of students in each class and the good teachers they have. Several government officials send their kids to the academy.

From the OR. A trip of a lifetime.

A bit of reflecting today.  This work was undeniably the most gratifying work I've ever done.  The OR can be a place that feels miraculous with the team work that takes place, the ability to very quickly make another life better and the miracle of everyone's paths crossing at the same time. It's beautiful. It's magical. 

Pictures from the OR in Migori, Kenya.....

Home sweet home.....

After a 6 hour lay over at JFK, made it safely home to RDU at 1:00 a.m.. It's pouring rain and cold so I won't unpack this... morning. The dogs were so happy to see me and I couldn't get enough of them. Oh how I missed Scrappy and Coltrane! I had the best pet sitter in the history of ever taking care of them while away. Melissa. 

It's good to be home........

Last post tomorrow ......

Good night and sweet dreams...❤️

Amsterdam.

Best airport EVER!! So colorful and friendly!!!

On my way home!!!

After a 7 hour drive from safari to the Nairobi airport, and an 8 hour flight, here we are in Amsterdam! This food is to live for! Divine! Straight out of heaven!!! When you order a cafe mocha here, you get cocoa powder and two kinds of chips on it! The young man said "cheers" when he handed it to me!!! Ha haha! It's certainly deserving of a cheer! And a $20 shower at a wonderful hotel at this airport was worth it's weight in gold. Headed out at 10:30 to JFK. But...Amstedam is 6 hours behind in time. Sooooo... I will be at RDU at 7:00 pm tonight. 

Last day on safari. Sort of.....

Today was our last day on safari. If the weather is good tomorrow morning, we may go out one more time for an early morning one. We'll have breakfast and then head to the airport in Nairobi. It's a six hour drive from here. I'll post some pictures of our safari today and then a few more of our team tomorrow. This has been an opportunity of a life time and I mean that. In so many different ways. God opened so many doors and placed so many people in my life to create an incredible journey. I miss the OR...but not in America. This OR nursing opportunity was the purest form of operating room nursing. Calling a 'time out' before surgery to check that we're doing the right surgery on the right patient is the norm. Then praying over our patient? Let me rephrase that. The surgeon taking the lead and praying over our patient? This brought me to my knees. Brought me to tears and changed my standard of care as a nurse. 

The children. Their smiles and their eyes and their laughter. Their stories. Above all...their stories. Swinimer washing the OR laundry by hand. The Kenyan people. Kenyan food....and the landscape.

The safari. I have no words right now for this. Except that I am changed. Forever changed. So very thankful that I am changed. I hope I touched the hearts and lives of the people I have come to know. 

Many thanks to all of you who prayed for and financially supported this journey. More on that in a later post. For now, here's today's safari...❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

The picture of the stone is the border marker between Kenya and Tanzania. The first pictures are of a lioness and her four Cubs. It was a magical day...❤️❤️❤️

A few pictures from our short safari after lunch.

Steve James, founder of Kenya Relief, works, and works all of us until we have nothing left. We have been joyfully exhausted since Monday night. He ends our work at Brase clinic with a 2 day safari that is pretty close to heaven!  A few pictures from our 2 hour safari today after lunch. The last picture is lunch from the buffet at the lodge. Red snapper, lemon rice, carrots, Indian bread and beer from Nairobi. Yes please!

We made it to Mara Serena Safari Lodge!

The beauty of Africa can't be captured.... Well... Not with my camera!   Am I dreaming?! I feel as though I'm in a dream. Honestly. Our drivers are 3 of the friendliest men I have ever known and this lodge. I'm in awe. I hope my pictures show the great wonders of God's creation. It will take your breath away.  The plains and mountains go out as far as the eyes can see. The rich beauty of this place. Here are a few pictures... The giraffe as we entered into the lodge, information about the lodge, looking out across the plains, one of many beautiful trees and lastly, the safari lodge lobby.

Even more pictures from the Maasi village!

More pictures from the Maasi village!

The singing and dancing were so pretty!

Maasi village.

Today is Thursday and we have left Migori to travel first to the Maasi village and then to Mara Serena Safari lodge. It's about 3 hours away from Migori. We traveled thru rural areas and saw lots of kids walking to school. The poverty here is unbelievable. My new friend Mark from Tenwek hospital tells me there are two kinds of poverty. First there is poverty and then there is absolute poverty where you are just tumbling along each day wondering where your food is going to come from. No pictures along the way.   At Maasi village, we danced sang and learned about the Maasi people. Wow! Incredible! Woman build the homes out of dung and mud. The animals spend the night in the house in the living room so they won't get eaten by predators. They have dozens of chickens but they don't eat them. They only have them so they know what time it it! A beautiful tribe!