A big "welcome and thank you" to my newest followers, Roan, Lydia, Dimple, Urmi and Mildred. You may check out their blogs by clicking on their names.
I can hardly believe it but the time has finally come for little Kigen from Pokot country to return home. He has been in Moi Teaching & Referral Hospital now for 5 months. I first introduced this little boy to my readers in early March 2011. If you are new to my blog or missed the post, you can read all about it here. A few days later, I reported here that my friend Jonah was able to organize a medical mercy mission and bring the little boy to Eldoret, Kenya for medical attention.
Little did Jonah or I know just how long it would be before the medical mission was completed, Neither did we know of the twists and turns and the length of time it would actually take to get full medical treatment for the little boy. You can read all the updates at this blog by searching for "Kigen".
After months of waiting and wondering, little Kigen at last had surgery on June 11, 2011. He received an operation on one eye as the doctors diagnosed that he could see out of at least one eye if they opened it. Since then we have been waiting for Kigen's healing and recovery. After that we were waiting to be able to meet the medical bill before he and his family could be released from the hospital. That has been particularly difficult because the bill was much higher than we anticipated. We have been stretched in our faith and in our finances to meet it. Particularly my friend, Jonah in Kenya and the pastor and missionary to the Pokot peoples (pictured in the photo below). Sometimes, in fact oftentimes, when God calls you to do something, it will not be easy. The help you may have experienced initially may fade away. The personal cost may seem high and the cost of your obedience can also cost those around you. That is when it is important to stand on your faith and trust in God to help you complete the task set before you no matter what comes.
I'm delighted to be able to report at last, that the mission given to Jonah has been accomplished. Paulina, the mother and her two children are now being escorted home by the pastor from their area. They all have a very long journey ahead of them.
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| Here is the pastor along with the children. The mother is carrying Kigen on her back and her helper is carrying TikiTik. |
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| This is Paulina, the mother in the blue shirt. She is in a pensive mood. No doubt she is thinking about how long she has been away and how things will be at home after being away for so long. She looks much healthier herself from the first time we saw her in these photos. The children as you can see are paying no attention to having their picture taken. Instead they are engrossed in enjoying their sodas. Kigen is the one with the blanket on his head. |
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| I like this photo. The mother Paulina is trying hard to get her children to pose for a final photo but the children are having none of it. They want to run and play after having been confined to a hospital for so long. The pastor sitting beside them has been a huge help to Jonah in overseeing this family's care and well-being. |
I want to thank everyone who has been a part of this medical mercy mission to help Kigen. Please know you have given a little boy a chance at life and helped his little sibling too. Kigen now has vision out of one eye and thus he has been given a good start in having a productive life. Please continue to pray for this family as they will have difficulties looking after their hygiene needs where they live. This will make their health issues a continuing concern. Pray also for the pastor and missionary who minister to the needs of Pokot at a time of famine and great difficulty.
God bless.
Photo credits: All photos the property of Jonah
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Photo credits: All photos the property of Jonah
That is my world for today. Please click on the buttons below to join up with folks from all over the world.
57 comments:
Oh Praise God, Penny for this news. Thank you too, for the important role you're playing in these children's lives. You're right we have to continue to stand on our faith - that is what you and Jonah did - and you're being rewarded with success. I pray that people reading this post willl continue to open their hearts in prayer and their purses to help Kigen and the people of Pokot. Bless you my dearest sister in the Lord. (((hugs))) Jo
Thank you, Jo for rejoicing in the good news. Thank you too for your support for Kigen and your prayers. They are so much appreciated. God still speaks to hearts when people are still enough to listen. Hugs and blessings.
Shalom Joyful. Your blog is certainly full of wonderful and wondrous things.
Hope you make that trip you mentioned.
What a trip the mother and those two boys have been through, but I am so happy to hear that they are on their way home. God bless all. Diane
You're doing a wonderful job, Penny.I'm glad your mission was successful.
Rosie
Dina, shalom. So glad you made it for a visit. Thank you for your kind words. I pray for the peace of Israel.
Yes, Diane, this little family has been through a lot. They are certainly resilient and I hope and pray their journey home goes well. Thanks for dropping by!
Rosie, it is so nice to have you as my new follower (I will mention in my next post). Thank you too for your kind words. Blessings.
A beautiful post. glad the mission has been accomplished. I'll pray the best for Kigen and her family.
Hi there - this is a good news story. I dont think many of us in the "West" really know how lucky we are.
Cheers - Stewart M
Wonderful post. I am delighted that the mission has been successfully accomplished. My best wishes for Kigen and all the family members.
You are welcome at my new post-
http://amazing-shot.blogspot.com/
http://urmi-z-unique.blogspot.com/
Wonderful news. You and your colleagues have made this world a better place through your care for this child and his family.
It's a noble mission, and praise God for that. I seldom stumbled upon a blog like this. May God be with you always and blessings to Kigen and his family.
Wow, Praise God for finishing the mission! I know that He will be there while you all check on their hygiene and continued health. He is using you in such a big way!!!
I'm so pleased that Kigen's life will improve for the better, and it's nice to know that you've played a part in it. Will he ever see out of the other eye?
Caroline
I am thankful little Kigen got to go home at last, and with sight! God is good! I pray for adequate food, clothing, and shelter for him and his family, and that they will be able to maintain the level of cleanliness needed as they grow in God's love.
You have an amazing heart. What a blessing. What a wonderful story. Thank you for sharing. I found you through Shanda's blog hop. I would love it if you came and hoped with me. I have a special draw towards those who understand grief. Letting go is one of the hardest things we ever have to face. Nice meeting you.
I love that you have taken us along on this little boy's journey! Blessings.
So glad all went well for this young boy.
Carolina Mts
Bravo and well done, dear Penny! this is real good news and i hope Kigen's journey and his parents' will be a joyful one. You were in my thoughts today because i was reading about Wangari Maathai (she's the head of the Kenya-Green Belt movement and former Nobel peace prize) and wow what a wonderful woman...
Keep up the good work :-)
How wonderful that this little boy was helped and healed so that he could go home.God bless you!
Oh, my heart just breaks for these little ones around the world. I wanted to cry when I saw how skinny Kigen is. I am a firm believer in mission hospitals as they not only treat the body but aim to heal the soul. I can tell how much you love these people and have no doubt that God send YOU specifically to help in Kenya.
What a wonderful and uplifting post. The photography and story are fantastic.
Life Ramblings, I'm so pleased you will pray. Thank you for your visit!
Stewart, it is one of my hopes that through my blog and the posts about Africa, we in the west will appreciate all of our blessings. Even in difficult times, we have much more than others do. I don't mean to diminish here the difficulties I know that many are going through but I also know that many more of us have been greatly blessed. We need to bless others while we can and be grateful for what we have before it is no longer in our hands.
Thank you Babli.
Thank you Wren. It is a team effort with God's provision :-)
Dear My, I hope you come again. It was lovely to have you visit.
Lydia, thank you for your very kind words. I appreciate your prayers for the hygiene and continued help of this family.
Caroline, I do not have a direct report from the doctor. I'm not sure if there is a chance for this boy to see out of his second eye. My guess is that the doctors at Moi would say "no" as they examined him thoroughly prior to surgery. They determined to operate on one eye only. Now I suppose if we had more money down the line, we could get a second opinion, but Moi has some of the best medical staff in the country other than a hospital in Nairobi so chances are they have given the best advice.
Dimple, thank you so much for the prayers. It is our sincere hope that through our actions, we have shown the love of God to not only these 3 members of the family but to his broader family and to the villagers where they live. We hope that the success of the mission will give hope to the people and glory and honour to God and his goodness.
Jackie, so nice to meet you too. I will hop back to where you are :-) God bless you and your heart.
Clair, I'm so glad that you've been able to join in the journey with us through blog posts and photos. I'm glad that you could see this medical mercy mission through to completion :-)
This is wonderful news. Thank you for sharing it with us.
Cheri, love your little cat photo. Thanks for dropping by!
Lala, I know of the work of Wangari Maathai. She is a wonderful role model. If you ever get to Kenya you will meet some awesome women in general. Thank you for visiting and commenting :-)
Reader Wil, thank you for your kind remarks and your visit. God bless you too!
You have created a beautiful blog and are doing important work here. Thank you for reaching out, and also for reaching inward. You are making a difference in the world!
In the words of Dorothy: "There's no place like home..." What good news!
Shanda, I too was struck by how small little Kigen was when I met him and his sibling too. I can see they have both grown taller and filled out a bit also. The hospital is not actually a mission hospital but it is the closest hospital to where they live and is probably the second best one in the country though they've had their recent challenges. I do have a great love for these people. I can't explain it but it is a God thing :-)
Carver, I'm so glad you enjoyed the post and the photos. My friend Jonah who put this whole mercy mission into action is the photographer.
Thank yo for your visit and your ind words Meredith. I really appreciate it :-)
KT, Dorothy had it right! It is nice for these people to go home. At the same time they live in very harsh conditions so I pray that God would provide food and water. It has been incredibly dry and food is scarce.
Though I'm slow to respond, I'm delighted to meet you! it always good to have a blogging friend in the Lower Mainland...I've signed up to follow!
Your story about Kigen touched my heart.Having visited East Africa, I've seen how great the need is simply for life's basics. A lad with Kigen's challenges wouldn't stand a chance without some assistance.You have inspired me to brainstorm ways to raise funds.
I'm off work on disability currently and will be retired when I turn sixty-five next year. One huge area of concern for me is the multitudes of AIDS orphans left to struggle on their own. I'm hoping to travel to Africa next year to volunteer at a nursery and would hope to take extra money with me to help with their expenses. If my health continues to improve, I may make it, though I'm very bad at asking for help, even for others!
I will be back to visit soon...
Lynette
Oh my - such a difference from the before and after photos. Such a wonderful thing to be able to share in this mission and I rejoice in the good report for Kigen.
Blessings,
Joan
Hi Lynette, I'm delighted you've paid me a visit. I'm sure we have lots to discuss and share and if you come out to Vancouver let me know. I don't have a car but I could meet you somewhere for coffee. I'm sorry about your disability but I'm sure God can use a willing vessel. Lovely to meet you :-) I look forward to getting to know you.
Joan, I'm so glad you enjoyed the before and afters of little Kigen and his family. God bless you for your visit.
Congratulations to Kigem and you - that's awesome news!
Hi there, thanks for a terrific update- The help you may have experienced initially may fade away. The personal cost may seem high and the cost of your obedience can also cost those around you.." well put and very encouraging- enjoyed the photos too (what a relief and a journey in more ways than one)
Don't know what a blog hop is exactly, is it about something specific? Have a good evening-
"Sometimes, in fact oftentimes, when God calls you to do something, it will not be easy."
How very true it is. But the hardship endured in God's way will never be in vain - for He created us all for a mission: to love and help our fellow human beings and all His creatures.
GBU.
Hi Al, it is great news indeed!
REgina, I'm glad you found the post encouraging. That is how it is intended :-) Jonah's photos are always great so I'm glad you enjoyed those too. The Blog Hop I joined is hosted by Shanda Oakley (see her comment on this post and click her name to get to her blog). A blog hop as I'm learning is a linky whereby it allows all posters to link in a certain way so that all participants appear on every blog. I'm not explaining so well I know so I will direct you to this explanation http://www.apsense.com/article/159355.html
Eki, you said it well and you understood my post. Thank you for your visit and your follow. GBU too.
Thank you for stopping at my blog! I so enjoyed reading through some of your posts and getting acquainted with your heart. I love your pictures - it is so powerful to put words and pictures together and I also appreciate your goals page. Thank you for your transparency
Thank you Susan for your kind words and your comments. I've since updated my pages in case you want to have another look, esp. the page about the "Missions of Hope". God bless.
Paulina indeed looks healthy in these photos... I hope everything will be okay for them..
Thank you, Webbielady for checking out the related posts and leaving a kind remark here. It is much appreciated.
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