Out of Nairobi

CURE Kenya Children's Hospital

Christine Kithome

Two days have passed since my last blog, and in that space of time I missed an entire night's sleep (either jetlag or the coffee--I had ordered decaf, but...), traveled with the team to Kijabe to have lunch with Christine Kithome (pictured) and tour Cure International's first hospital, visited with the women at Threads of Hope, John Njane's and Jana Mead's ministry. We ended the day at Brackenhurst Conference Center.

The hospital continues to grow; what a delightful surprise to see the apartments and conference center nearing completion--hopefully to be dedicated in September-- as well as the new wing of private rooms and finished space where the prosthetics are made. The hospital is known all around the Nairobi area for the excellent health care offered and for the amazing staff that runs it. The children's ward was filled with some 30 young patients and their mammas. Even with so many post-surgery children, it was a place of peace and community.

On the way to Kijabe we discovered that our van was overheating. John, our driver, added water and things seemed to be fine until we got nearer the hospital and discovered that a water pipe (or something like that) was broken. A new van and driver were called up and we got to see some sights we didn't expect to see, including the remains of John Njane's burned house. To see it, we had to climb a bit of a rise, and as we did, curious children from John's neighborhood joined us. We all enjoyed taking their pictures and they enjoyed seeing their images on the small camera screens. The structures in John's neighborhood are shanties, many of them with lush gardens and spectacular views of the Rift Valley. In comparison, most of the "good" homes are surrounded by high fences. Better facilities, perhaps, but with obstructed views. Some good food for thought for me.

John our driver managed to get the van to the highway where the Threads of Hope facility is located, and I have to hand it to him--the road from John Njane's house would be considered impossible for most of us. I am prone to carsickness in some circumstances, but John drove with skill and confidence. Everything within me stayed put.

John Njane introduced to some 16 women who sew for Threads of Hope. The women's ages range between young teens and my age (don't ask); some are widowed (Salome), one lost her husband following the election and tribal clashes of 2008; several are young, single mothers, and all of them have been sewing since January when West Shore's women's ministry collected money to buy the machines.

 Cyndi entertained the group by trying on one of the garments they made. When they asked her her name, she told them they could call her "beautiful." Then each woman introduced herself--to a person they each gave thanks to God for the sewing machines. They also offered thanks for John Njane and Jana Mead for teaching them to sew. One of the young women told us she could not get a job and so stayed home each day worrying about her life. Since January she has a place to go, a job to do, and hope. Cyndi shared from the devotion she gave to the team earlier in the morning which ended with the last verses from 2 Corinthians 4: Do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal weight of glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.

Good words for all of us, but especially for women whose lives are very difficult.