The Kenya Diary
May, 2010
By Darlene Sala
When we stepped off the plane on Thursday, May 6 in Kitale, Kenya, I knew we were headed for an emotion-packed week. We had come primarily for the dedication of Sister Freda’s Nzoia College of Nursing that would be held two days after we arrived--no doubt the red-letter event of our time in Kenya. Eight of us were there to help Richard and Sister Freda Robinson celebrate—John and Sandi West, Michelle Calvert, and Eithne Keegan plus ourselves, from the U.S.--and Drs. Butch and Susan Mabunga from Manila, Philippines. In addition, we had great times with Terri Bibee, whom Guidelines sent in March as the first permanent missionary who has gone to help Sister Freda.
The first thing we did was tour the new school—6 dormitory rooms housing 4 students each, two classrooms, an ample-sized skills lab, a library and dining hall/kitchen. So much hard work and sacrificial giving has gone into the school. So many dreams about to be fulfilled of training local young men and women so they could in turn reach out to relieve the suffering of needy Kenyans--in line with Sister Freda’s heart of compassion and hands of care.
The school still lacked some of the furniture and teaching equipment needed, and had not yet received final approval by the Kenyan Nursing Council. But we were hopeful of opening in September.
On Saturday, the dedication was held outdoors on the property. Since this is rainy season in Kenya, white tents with purple bunting had been erected for the guests. Government dignitaries and pastors as well as Sister Freda Medical Centre staff and guests attended. A choir provided harmonious and rhythmic Kenyan music throughout the celebration. There was a prayer of dedication, and many speeches, followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony and a tour of the facilities. After the formalities a Kenyan feast was served to everyone.
But one event of the day will always stand out in everyone’s mind. The head of the Kenya policy making committee for Nursing for the entire country stood to speak. After his opening remarks, he announced, totally unexpectedly, that he had decided on the spot to grant accreditation to the Nzoia College of Nursing. There were gasps of surprise and joy! You can just imagine the excitement! This was something many people over the past two years had spent long hours, much prayer, and much expense to obtain. We all praised God for overcoming this final hurdle. The timing was perfect in that we had hoped to have the approval before the dedication.
Later the gentleman told us that two things influenced him to give approval on the spot. One was Eithne Keegan’s “traveling partner” as she flew from Los Angeles to Kenya-- a skeleton (plastic model) that had been donated by a friend of hers for the skills lab convinced him we were serious about opening the school. He wanted his picture taken with “Kwanza (which means “first” in Swahili).” God does have a sense of humor! The second influential factor was the presence of Dr. Butch Mabunga, professor of nursing from Manila, who cared enough about the school to travel from the Philippines to Kenya to be there for the dedication. 
Later the official expressed a desire to have a mutual exchange of cooperation between the two countries, so who knows where that will lead? Far away in the Philippines Drs. Butch and Susan (she teaches dentistry in Manila) had heard the week of radio programs that we did with Sister Freda when she was in the U.S. last year, and God had spoken to their hearts to come to Kenya to help.
While the dedication was the main event of the trip, we also spent time helping in the Kipsongo slum, Oasis of Hope ministry to street kids, Tumaini Orphanage, and Sister Freda’s preschool for slum children. We spoke for an HIV-AIDS conference, and Harold preached Sunday morning. We ministered at the Kitale Prison, Harold speaking to the men and me to the women—you wouldn’t believe the rags the women were wearing. (A gift from one of our group bought fabric for them to sew new dresses for themselves.)
In addition, we accompanied Sister Freda and the others to do an outreach clinic in a very poor village about an hour from Kitale. Hundreds of people jammed in to get help within the walls of the little mud church. Their needs are indescribable and touching when you believe every person is of value to the Lord.
While the doctors and clinical officers diagnosed and prescribed, the rest of us counted out pills into little brown envelopes and filled bottles with liquid medicines. (Have you ever tried to pour thick pink medicine into a Tabasco sauce bottle without a funnel??) One man who had both malaria and typhoid fainted and fell into Terri Bibee’s lap. Dr. Susan pulled about 15 teeth as children and adults alike leaned forward to watch.
I don’t have words to describe or space to tell of the children, men and women whose lives are being dramatically changed by Sister Freda and the others in Kitale who care enough to do the hard work of ministering to the poor—“glue boys” on the streets who ease their hunger by sniffing shoe glue and cooking their brains in the process, people with burns and festering wounds who have no medical care in their area, and those who would die of malaria within three days if they didn’t get medicine. Tiny orphans cared for who were found wandering the streets. The emotional impact stays with you for a long time.
We can make a difference. So little help accomplishes so much. God bless each one who has a part! Our Kenyan friends thank you. So do we! And a big thanks to all who prayed for us on the trip.
