The work continues…

This week Africa Mission Services has been blessed to have a group from Advent Health led by Steve Yost. The group organized  mobile clinics, vacation Bible school (VBS), and a special painting project as well as adventured on their first Kenyan safari experience.

The five mobile clinics consisted of traveling to various communities and offering free health consults, blood pressure screenings, and free medications and treatments to Masai people. Over 450 people were seen by physicians. And over 700 children were treated for parasites and given multi-vitamins.

Some of the prevalent issues that were seen by the doctors include respiratory infections, ulcers, bacterial skin infections, burns, and muscular pains. On the first day of clinic, one of the doctors noted that a small one year old boy had flies stuck in both ears. The nurses were able to remove the flies by flushing the ears thus offering the little boy relief. There was also a young man who crashed on his motorcycle and the bike rolled over him. The doctors at the clinic were able to help treat his symptoms and generously sent him for further care to get an X-ray.

The patients were not only given medicine but the providers tried to educate the community on better hygiene, drinking more water, and the importance of exercise as well as offering prayer and discussion about God. Many people in the community came up to the doctors with such thankfulness and relief from the care provided.

While some people in the group, provided medical relief, others went to the primary school to put on children’s programs similar to VBS. There were special songs with motions, crafts, and carefully dramatized Bible stories to share with the children how much Jesus loves them. The children’s eyes sparkled with excitement as they participated in so many fun activities. 

School was not currently in session so the children got to choose on their own whether or not to participate. Yet despite not being forced to go, 100- 400 children participated daily!

At the end of the the children’s program, two schools were given education supplies including colored pencils, pens, rulers, and bags for the teachers and children to use.

Finally the group completed a painting project for a bible training center’s dormitory. It was a busy and fun week full of many blessings.

* This post was written by Brooke Bernhardt. I am a pediatric nurse from Chattanooga Tennessee, and will be working at the Africa Mission Services clinic for six months helping with women’s and pediatric health. I have previously spent a year helping at Amor Projects in Peru and look forward to helping in the Masai community and learning many new things about labor and delivery.