Litein Living

We have been in Litein now for 10 days and what an interesting 10 days it has been. We started the first 3 days in the hospital, getting oriented and learning our way around. This past week we were asked to attend a palliative care seminar. We were hesitant because we did not want to miss time in the hospital but decided to go. The week has been okay and we made it through. I am certain there was a reason that we had to attend the seminar I just don’t know it right now. Someday I’ll know (maybe not this side of heaven though). I must say, we are extremely anxious to get back into the hospital on Monday.

I want to give you a little idea of what it is like each day for us. Most days we finish at the hospital around 4:30 or 5:00 and then head back to our guesthouse. This leaves enough time to walk to the market for vegetables and fruit, to cook dinner, and shower before the sun goes down. Dinner has been fun! We usually use tomatoes, onions, carrots, cabbage, bell peppers, and potatoes. The debate usually comes in deciding whether we want noodles, rice, or ugali with our vegetables. Turns out Kate is a big fan of ugali!

Water and electricity have been inconsistent to say the least. It is quite a treat when we have water AND electricity in the evenings. Of course, having both of these simultaneously also makes cooking and showering easier. This does mean that hot showers or showers at all are come and go. We have been extremely lucky the past 4 days in that we have had hot showers. We do not take this for granted. It’s fun to feel like we’re roughing it a little bit.

We are really searching out ways to get more involved in the community. This Sunday we will meet with some of the Kenyan student nurses. We hope to get to know them and find ways to encourage them spiritually. Please be in prayer for this time. Pray that the Lord will build meaningful relationships with these students, and that He will provide a way for us to speak the truth of His love over them. We are also hoping to have an opportunity for more patient involvement in the coming weeks. The language barrier will continue to be a challenge. Most individuals here prefer to speak their tribal language so our English and Kiswahili are not always helpful. I have found this to be frustrating already when a young woman came into the outpatient clinic room I was in and spoke of being beaten. I wanted so badly to talk with her, encourage her, and help her find a safe place to go but she spoke no English and I don’t know that much Swahili. I had to settle for hugging her and telling her how sorry I was for her situation. Sometimes I wish I could just open my mouth and whatever language was appropriate would just come spilling out… that would be absolutely wonderful.

Now on a more personal note… the Lord is busy at work in my life. It seems each and every day He is revealing more and more of himself to me. I am thankful but revelation requires a response from me, a change in my life. The anvil is never comfortable. To be honest, it is painful. I take comfort in knowing that the pounding and shaping in the fire is only to make me more useful in the hand of the carpenter. I often wonder why I must come to Africa to learn such seemingly simple truths. I guess it is when my heart is less distracted that it is ready to HEAR the truth of the Father.
I ask for your continued prayer for safety and health for the three of us. Pray that the Lord will draw us closer in friendship so that we might be a united voice for the gospel. And, pray that we would seek to joyfully do the will of our Father, daily pouring out His love over Litein.
Thank you for faithfully interceding on our behalf. Have a great weekend!!