By Juli McGowan Boit | Published: March 3, 2016
March 3, 2016
JAMBO! It is currently 0600 here, the birds are waking up, the non-stop rooster crowing is joining them. I hear the crickets yet and awaiting the sunrise. I hear the voices of the neighbors here at the Shiloh Guesthouse starting their day of early morning chores. We have been so blessed with everything that is going on here, each day filled to the brim with interacting with the local community, helping at Kimbilio Hospice, making home visits, gathering at the end of the day at the guesthouse with our hosts for wonderful dinners of local foods and a time of fellowship.
Yesterday, I personally had been invited to attend the widow’s support group since I have been a widow for 27 years. I was able to meet with Pastor Helen and 2 men who developed the support group, before joining the women. It is such a wonderful program to help these women gain skills and self-esteem to proceed with their lives as the breadwinner of their households. This is above and beyond the emotional support they are to each other. I was so very humbled by being able to meet about 38 of the 90 women who are in the program. I was able to share some of my story with these women and 3 of them also stood up and shared their stories. I am just awestruck and amazed at what they deal with on a daily basis, my struggles as a widow seem so minor compared to what they endure. We are, however, all sisters in Christ and I feel bonded to them forever and we all know that by the grace of God we make it through each day.
Two of the other team nurses went on home visits to 3 homes. Others of the team made rounds of the “guests” at the Kimbilio Hospice. By the time I joined them, they were involved with helping with some serious wound care. This can take many hours of a nurses’ day. They are able to make remarkable progress with wound healing using limited resources compared to what we have available to us in the States. A lot of good old fashioned TLC I feel is a good portion of that healing process.
It was a busy day for admitting 4 new guests to Kimbilio yesterday, most of us were able to help with that process. It was interesting to see how much of it is similar to what I used to do as an admitting nurse with Hospice of Spokane. Wonderful to watch the loving interaction of the staff with these new guests and their family members to help them be comfortable with their symptoms and to feel at home so quickly.
At the end of the “work” day we went to a gift shop that is operated by a group of women in the community. This enables them to earn money to help them with their daily needs. These homemade items were very hard to resist! We had a wonderful time of fellowship again in the evening. Dinner was shared with our house hosts George & Maggie; David & Allison with their 2 young children and Julie & Titus & their young daughter.
Today I will be able to go on home visits along with Robin, our team leader, then will be helping to unload supplies we brought and organize their supply closet with these additions. I will also help to organize some papers/forms for them over the next few days. This afternoon we will be going to the nearby Kipkaren Children’s Home to take craft items that we brought for them and spend time with the children on some craft projects.
Well, the sun has now risen, nothing like a Kenyan sunrise. Best get ready for the day and I look forward to the many new adventures that God is allowing us to experience. We covet your thoughts and prayers for the team and each of those we meet each day.
Nancy
One of Kimbilio's precious young guests
Tender loving care for both of us
A beautiful Kenyan sunrise
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