Tuesday 8 July 2008

More of the same, but not the same

The overall ingredients of today were the same as yesterday: medical, prayer, preaching, children and sports ministry; but the people were different, the ways God moved in those people were different, and the individuals touched were different.
We had several people suffering from seizures at various times during yesterday and today: in the UK and US we would say they suffer from epilepsy, but here in Kenya (and many other parts of Africa), the common perception is that they are demon-possessed. So it is a powerful image that we are able to give as we pray for them, and accept them as regular people just like anyone else.
The numbers of people that we are seeing in the clinics has gone up a lot this week with all the extra staff. Last week our busiest day was just over 200 patients, but this week we are nearly 400 patients a day: medical, dental and eyes. The pharmacy is busy to say the least, and those counting out tablets and filling prescriptions are doing amazingly well, especially as for most people they have not ever done anything like it before. Excitement is mounting for Thursday when the sports ministry will be on for the full day, and there will be no medical clinics at all, so all those with a love of soccer can take part in running around and kicking a ball with the locals.
Camille got her bags today which was a wonderful answer to prayer, and Jonathan got his second bag, so that is pretty much it on the luggage front: just time to unpack before we pack up and go home!
Please pray that we are able to see everyone that comes tomorrow; it is the final clinic and the concern is always that we will get to the end of the day and the line will still be long, and someone with a real need will get missed. But with God’s help it will all turn out OK, and the right people will get through the clinics.

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