no more visits to Kambi Teso

There was no let up in the pace for the final day of medical clinics on Wednesday as we tried to see everyone that came for assessment, treatment and prayer. On previous outreach trips, the final day has often ended with people still in line hoping to be seen, but this time the line was much less apparent, and there was much less clamouring to squeeze through as the time came to shut up shop. God certainly answered the prayers that we might be able to see all who needed to be seen.

For the statistics, the breakdown of numbers seen is as follows:
July 2nd: 108 children 95 adults 203 total
July 3rd: 83 children 88 adults 171 total
July 4th: 88 children 57 adults 145 total
July 7th: 169 children 139 adults 388 total (including dental and eyes)
July 8th: 175 children 194 adults 486 total (ditto)
July 9th: 246 children 287 adults 700 total (ditto)

Grand Total: 2093 adults and children seen in medical, dental and ophthalmology clinics.

It is a wonderful number, and especially considering that most of those can’t afford to go to get medical treatment, or to have a dental check-up, and for some it will be the first time they have been able to see things clearly as they got necessary eye-glasses previously unaffordable. What a privilege to be able to serve these people, and to be part of God’s healing touch.

We don’t have exact numbers of people that have come to accept Christ as their Lord and Saviour, but the estimate, including the men’s prison ministry, is between 650 – 800: alleluia for them also!

Thursday was our final visit to Kambi Teso and comprised a day of sports ministry and crazy Olympics for the children – for many this is a rare opportunity to be children, rather than having to find food, look after younger siblings, worry about how to get through each day, and it is so lovely to see them relax and enjoy playing together. Those who prefered not to charge around with the youngsters did the decamping of the clinics, made PBJ sandwiches, sorted out the left-over medications and delittered the playing fields of the Amsteve Hussey school, whose playing field we have been using.
In the evening we had a meal with the OAI Kenya staff and families, as well as the wonderful Kenyan medical students and volunteers without whom we couldn’t have coped. Unfortunately the equally wonderful Ugandan medical team returned to Uganda during the day, so they were unable to join us. They have all been such examples of humility and Christ-like servants as they give of themselves so sacrificially and so quietly and unassumingly. We have all been blessed by their presence so much.

Today, Friday, is a day of debrief, wind down, visiting Pricilla (mother to 20 orphans in Eldoret, and supported by OAI), visiting the property, and starting the journey home. Pastor James has been leading the devotions each morning for us, and has been encouraging us to think about the fact that we are each called by God, and what that means in practice. It has been good to be reminded of that as we have gone out to the clinics and ministry times each day, and now we each start the process of reflecting on what it means to be called by God, and how we use the privilege and responsibility of being out here as we return to our lives back home.
Everyone takes their own special memories, everyone returns home changed and challenged and blessed in different ways; we all have new friends, and we all have new outlooks on life. And I guess for the American team especially, one prayer will be that they get home quicker and more hassle-free than they got out here! But the main prayer is for God to show each of us how to use the privilege of this trip for His glory, and to further His work.