Leaving Kenya

It is hard to believe that my time in Kenya is coming to a close as I leave on Sunday to come home. The week has been packed with excitement and a lot of emotions. I had the privilege to visit somany children and parents in the hospital, witness the incredible workof the surgeons, and enjoy the wonderful hospitality of so many here in Kenya.

I believe that what we are doing at St. Vincent is making an incredible impact on the work at Bethany both financially and also from a support perspective. They are so encouraged that students, parents, and teachers are so involved in their work.

This trip would not have been possible without the support andecouragement of a lot of people. The staff of St. Vincent have been behind this project from the start and their work with the students really got this project going. Their professionalism, talents, and commitment to their faith has allowed me to be out of the school for such a long time. The parents of our community continue to humble me with their genorosity. As soon as I mentioned the trip, everyone started to ask: "How can I help". All of the gifts have been so well received. To the students of St. Vincent - your words, actions, prayers, and support continue to inspire me and I hope you know how much you have inspired the doctors and patients here in Kenya. I have told them that you will continue to pray for them. Our Director ofEducation, Mr. Paulter and our Oakville Superintendent, Mrs. Tessari, have also provided tremdous support to allow this to happen. Finally,and most importantly, I thank my wife Sarah and my daughter Fiona whoI have missed terribly while here. I can't wait to see them.

I am down in the Masai Mara right now for a quick safari to end the trip. As everyone says: you can't go to Africa without going on safari! I will be taking photos of as many amazing animals as I can.

I look forward to seeing everyone next week and sharing more storiesthan I was able to post on this blog.

Sincere thanks to everyone for following the blog. I may post fromNairobi airport on Sunday if I can.

Exciting and Turbulent Times

Each time I post I recognize that I am reporting on conversations that seem to be going in many directions from Bethany Kids itself and the medical work taking place there, to the opportunities to expand through the education of local surgeons to practice around Kenya and East Africa (and possibly beyond), to the suggestion of the takeover of a hospital in Mombasa to set up a satellite clinic, to the discussion about Joytown and the improvements that are required there, to the expansion of the existing facilities at Bethany which is associated with Kijabe Hospital.

I understand that this sounds like a lot of different directions in which it is not possible to go everyone at once. However, as I sit around the table, join these groups on tours and visit the hospital, I am in awe of the inspiration, dedication, and the creativity of ideas that are shared. The partnership between IF (spina bifida hydrocephalus), Samaratin's Purse, Africa Inland Missions, etc. spark interesting ideas about how to improve care and make a larger impact on the children here.

Bethany is coming to a point where change is necessary in one way or another. As I mentioned in my previous visit to the ward, children and mothers are occupying every available bed in every room and hallway. Increased capacity is required to service these children from all over east Africa: Kenya, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, and possibly beyond. This may come in the form of an expansion to the existing facility to add more wards and beds. The problem there is that the building and land is actually owned by Kijabe Hospital and not Bethany. Another option is the purchase of land and the building of an autonomous facility. That requires more than simply money.

Expanding the capacity by using other hospitals such as Mombasa is an option to alleviate the overwhelming numbers. The takeover of Joytown could also provide another medical location attached to the school so that children can receive medical attention and schooling during the rehab process. There are many options and they are all being explored. The reality is expansion is required in order to continue to meet the needs. Careful consideration and evaluation is on-going. From this perspective, it is an exciting time for me to be here to take part in the discussions, especially the ones involving schools and education.

Thank you for your on-going prayers of support.

Somalia and Bethany

Somalia is the country immediately to the north of Kenya along the Indian Ocean. In fact, you may recognize the name of the country as coming up in the news a lot recently with tankers being hijacked and driven up to Somalia. The country has been involved in a bitter war involving rival clans since 1991. Fighting has involved one clan against the other as the UN has attempted to intervene on many occasions brokering peace deals and power sharing between the clans that have worked temporarily before war erupts again. The capital of Somalia is Mogadishu which has been a battleground for a long time. The movie 'Black Hawk Down' is set in the streets of Mogadishu. The country is widely recognized around Africa as the most dangerous place on the continent.

Because of the on-going wars, many people have been forced from their homes to escape the fighting and end up in refugee camps. Refugee camps as places to seek refuge from the fighting and many people have been living there since 1991. The close proximity of Kenya to some of the camps has meant that many Somalis have ended up in Northern Kenya. The reputation of Bethany Kids as a place for medical intervention for children means that many Somalis have come to Bethany seeking help for their children.

Currently, 40% of the children and parents at Bethany Kids are Somali. Somalia is a country in which 99.9% of the population are Muslim. When they come to Bethany, they know that they are coming to a Christian hospital for care. While some Somalis at Bethany are tolerant and respectful of prayer as Mercy makes her rounds, we witnessed others who did everything they could to disrupt prayer. We were visiting one ward in which there were two Somali women, a Somali man, and a Masi man. The Somali man was very kind and accommodating when it came time to pray, but the two women started shouting at each other across the room in order to disrupt prayer. Mercy tried to show one of the children the bible and the child recoiled from it as if it were diseased as the women shouted. One woman would not shake my hand and stared at me with daggers the whole time I was in the room. In another ward, as soon as prayer began, one of the Somali women picked up her mobile and started speaking in Somali as loud as possible.

Mercy told us that this is quite frequent, that they want to disrupt her, but she carries on. Her message and mandate is simple: continue to love and care for everyone. When the women and children go back to their camps or Somali, at least their experience with Christians (for many of whom it would be their first time ever meeting a Christian) would be one of caring and love for them and their children. Though the Kenyan government adds a small amount of money to medical intervention for Kenyans, the doctors operate, treat, and rehabilitate the Somalis without any money whatsoever because the children need the care.

Many of the Somalis also object to having their photo taken because they feel that the capturing of their image is stealing a piece of their soul. Though some Kenyans feel this way too, Mercy told us that this is something that is less and less a belief of the people.

We met some Somalis who were very willing to speak with us and their English was good. One man named Al Kadir Ali Mou'hed and his daughter were in Bethany as his daughter was recovering from an operation to repair her club feet and other internal difficulties. He was very willing to share with us his experiences of living in a refugee camp and caring for his disabled daughter having been there since the war broke out in 1991 along with stories about life inside the camp and the tribalism that went along with that. He said that despite world views, the United States is highly regarded within the camps as trying to help the people of Somalia while the EU makes applications for refugee status difficult. He also shared his gratitude to the doctors and staff at Bethany and to the people of Kenya for opening their doors to them so his daughter could receive the medical attention she needed. Al Kadir Ali Mou'hed also shared his dream to one day make it to Toronto. The city of Toronto has the largest population of Somalis outside of Somalia itself. The next biggest Somali population in North America is Minneapolis Minnesota. I found that interesting.

We spoke with another Somali woman who was so delighted that her one month old was being given the treatment he needed. We talked at length about Toronto again, as she has many relatives living there. As a displaced person, she also said that she dreams of one day ending up there with her child.

I have some photographs attached of the Somalis I met at Bethany who agreed to be photographed. Some of the photos are just of the children because the mothers did not want their picutre taken but were happy to have their child's photo taken. I was able to take pictures and immediately share the image on my digital screen with them which they usually laughed at which was fun.

Photos from the Operating Room

In the Operating Room

Dr. Patey and I were invited into the operating room to witness some of the surgeries that take place. While I appreciated the invitation, I must admit that I wasn’t sure about witnessing first hand. However, I accepted and before I knew it I was in blue scrubs from head to toe with a mask across my face (yes - that's me in the scrubs in the photo above holding the boy's hand). Dr. Bransford was performing the surgeries that morning. We met him in the operating room as he reviewed the day’s caseload and prioritized each surgery. We were allowed to take photos, some of which I have posted here.

We went into a post-operation recovery area first (ironically) where children were having their bandages re-dressed. The surgeon has to take part in this process though so three children were brought into the room crying. The nurses were amazing at calming them down and getting them prepared to have their issues addressed.

The first girl whose bandages were re-done was the small Masi child who I told you about in a previous post who had her feet amputated after a fire. She was calm and really cute as the doctors removed the bandages and re-dressed her leg which really did look quite good in my non-medical opinion. The next child we attended to I actually got involved with. This young man suffered from a fairly serious burn that affected half of his face, shoulders, and arm and had been at Bethany for over two weeks so this re-dressing was another of many that have taken place in between. As Dr. Bransford cleaned the boy and prepared him for another bandage, he started to move around because of the discomfort. Dr. Bransford asked me to come over and hold the boy’s hand as he continued. The boy gripped tightly onto my hand and I rubbed his wrist with my thumb as they worked on him. I talked to him as best I could while Dr. Bransford worked, but I don’t know if he only spoke Swahili because he didn’t respond. He did, however, calm down and relaxed enough to allow the doctors to finish his new bandages. As he was treating the boy, Dr. Bransford told us a story of a man and another boy from Nairobi who was in Bethany recently. The boy had suffered a similar burn from a fire but he had gone without any medical treatment of any kind for 6 weeks before he arrived at Bethany. While this may seem neglectful, the man simply could not afford to take his child to the hospital because he didn’t have any money. Eventually he heard about the work being done here at Bethany. He took whatever money he could and brought him in to the hospital. This is such a foreign concept to us in Ontario with our health care coverage. There is health care here in Kenya for as little as $5 a month for situations requiring hospital stays, but even that is out of reach for many people.

The third child we attended to was a young girl from Mogadishu in Somalia. She was having her leg cast removed so it could be re-treated and then re-cast. The doctors were able to remove some of the damage to her leg that had been caused by a missile in the Somali capital. We had met her and her father the day before. They are the ones in the photo with me that I posted yesterday.

Dr. Patey and I then followed Dr. Bransford into the operating room. The surgery we would witness was on a young infant girl with spina bifida. I had never witnessed a surgery before first hand and saw all of the prep that goes into preparing for such work. The girl had a growth on her lower back from spina bifida which the surgeons were going to work on. I could go into more detail about the specifics of what they had to do, but suffice to say the result was incredible. The growth was quite large when the child was wheeled in but by the time the surgeons were finished, it was reduced significantly to the point where besides the stitching, it would be barely noticable.

Spina bifia does sometimes also mean neurological difficulties because of the swelling on the spine and all of the nerves that run to our brain go up the spine. However, when treated early, while spina bifida cannot be ‘cured’, the surgery can prevent it from getting any worse and progressing any more. In most of these cases, the child can go on to lead normal lives with minimal disruption and discomfort. I don’t know how the child who we witnessed today would work out, but from what I saw and from what Dr. Bransford suggested, it was a successful surgery.

I didn’t anticipate getting the opportunity to witness surgeries and get into that part of the hospital but I am grateful for having done so. It really put a perspective on what the surgeons do for the children. I was grateful for the perspective on the wards with Mercy, but seeing the doctors at work really put the whole experience in perspective. I had the chance to visit with many children and parents on the ward to get to know them personally, then also had the privilege of witnessing how the doctors do their work.

Obviously getting into the operating room was a huge privilege (Dr. Patey said he never gets into the OR at the hospital he works at in Kingston!) and the invitation was extended because the doctors were so moved by the support and encouragement of the St. Vincent community. They send their thanks and best wishes!

Gifts from St. Vincent

As you can read in my post below, Mercy was so grateful for the crayons, books, markers, bibles, etc. Here are a few shots of the Canada paddles which were quite a hit in one of the wards!

St. Vincent’s Gifts for Bethany

About half way through our visit Mercy took us to her Chaplain’s office to pick up some crayons for the children. She told me that she was down to the last of the crayons and colouring books which the children love and showed me the small woven bowl in which broken crayons were strewn. “There are no more green crayons” she said. “I’m not sure why...” We had already agreed to meet again in the afternoon because I had told her that I had a few things for her for the children at Bethany from the St. Vincent community. She was not prepared for what I would late walk in with.

I hauled all of the items that so many members of our community had given me in the weeks leading up to my departure into one large woven bag (the kind of bag that would hold firewood or coal). I separated the colouring books into one bag, the pencils, erasers, markers, and sharpeners into another, books for reading into another, balls and paddles into another, the games, and the small copies of the New Testament written in plain language and 16 CDs of the New Testament that had been read and recorded that I brought over in my suitcase and packed them all carefully into the large bag. I hauled the bag down the red clay path to the main road and along the road into the hospital to meet Mercy. I am so thankful for the fact that the hospital is downhill from the house I am staying because the air is so thin at 7300 ft above sea level that exertion takes the breath away!

I met Mercy and we went into her office and I unpacked everything in front of her so that she would know what everything was. The look on her face when I started pulling out the books and balls was incredible. She put her hand over her mouth and watched as I kept reaching in and pulling out new things for the children. By the time I pulled out the 25 packs of crayons that I brought over, her eyes welled up with tears. She claimed that the arrival and timing of these gifts was a miracle of sorts because she didn’t know what she was going to do as they ran out of everything. She talked about putting her faith in the Lord though as the provider and saw our contribution as another example of being provided for when needed most. She was delighted by the Canada stickers, pens, and paddles (which were a huge hit on the ward – see the photos attached!), and was really thankful for the pocket sized versions of the New Testament and the CDs of the New Testament being read aloud. I signed the inside of every book and bible: To – Bethany Kids, From – St. Vincent Catholic Elementary School, Oakville, Ontario, Canada, Date – Nov. 19th, 2008.

I have some soccer balls that have been earmarked for the local school which I know are going to be a huge hit. Soccer is massively popular here in Kenya and I am delighted to report that here in Africa, Arsenal is by far the most supported Premiership team. I just had to mention that. Thank you so much for all of the contributions of the generous gifts for these children. It meant more to them and to Mercy who has dedicated herself to caring for them then we could have imagined when we started to collect a few things for me to bring over. The good thing for me is despite a few items I’ve purchased for my wife Sarah and Fiona, my suitcase is going to be very light coming home. It will be a big change from being personally responsible for three suitcases with ventilators, drugs, and children’s items on the way over to bringing back one half empty case. Please see the attached photos of some of the children holding onto the Canada paddles Mercy gave them. They really were a big hit!

I put up two posts with photos so don't forget to scroll down after you've finished with this post to read about my trip around the hospital with Mercy, the Hospital's Chaplain.

Photos from Bethany

Back at Bethany

I spent most of the day today at Bethany touring the wards with Mercy, the Chaplain at Bethany Kids. Mercy graciously allowed Dr. Patey and I to join her on her rounds as we had the opportunity to meet and speak with every child and parent throughout the hospital. We were originally going to do the rounds with a physician, but the opportunity to go with Mercy seemed much more appealing as were would be able to stop and spend time rather than the sometimes clinical way in which a physician can interact with patients, especially in a hospital as busy as Bethany.

Mercy conducts each visit by saying hello and greeting the child and parent. Many of the children and mothers (called ‘Mamas’) she knows well as they have been at Bethany for a while recovering, but many of the children were admitted as recently as last night so she is just getting to know them. Each visit starts with a greeting, an introduction of Dr. Patey and I, a conversation about the child – their condition and progress - and then Mercy would read some scripture from the bible in Swahili, selecting various passages depending on the situation in each ward. Dr. Patey and I were also invited to pray, and often the Mama would pray as well, more often than not in Swahili.

Each ward was very different, depending on who was in the room. In some rooms where there are Somali refugees, the prayer was very difficult because of their strong Muslim faith. I will write more about that in another post. Mercy persists with her message and prayer regardless, and we found that most people were so grateful for the message of faith during what is a difficult time for them.

Generally, the children in the hospital are there with their mothers, but there are also some fathers who are there with their children which is really encouraging. Parents wear pink hospital smocks and sleep in the same bed with their child.

Many of the children suffer from spina bifida and hydrocephalus, but there are a wide variety of reasons why the children are at Bethany. I met a one month old little girl with hydracephalus who was waiting to have a shunt surgically placed in her brain to drain the fluid there. I met a Masi man (the Masi are a traditional tribe who live in the Masi Mari area of Kenya in mud huts, wear jewelry and elaborate clothing, and are a traditional hunter and warrior tribe of Kenya) with his young daughter. She had been admitted with severe burns to her feet from stepping in a fire and subsequently had to have both feet amputated. He is holding his daughter in one of the pictures above and if you look closely, you can see the stretched skin from his ear lobes where they had been elongated over time with various instruments as it is a sign of beauty in their tribe. I met another young man and his mother who had just had his nose surgically repaired after an incident with a machete.

For the most part though, the boys and girls at Bethany were being treated for clef palette, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and club foot. The young babies with their heads severely swollen from fluid build up on the brain with tubes coming out of their heads, noses, and arms is heartbreaking. Their little bodies and tiny arms dwarf in comparison to their heads as they await the implanting of a shunt to drain the fluid. When addressed early, this young boys and girls can recover entirely and go on to lead quite happy and productive lives. Untreated, however, they would have a difficult time walking, would have developmental difficulties, and here in Africa, could quite possibly end up abandoned in the current culture. Despite the condition of the boys and girls, the blessing is that they are in the hospital receiving the treatment they need and will hopefully go on to lead full lives because of the work taking place at Bethany.

The most remarkable part of our visit was the strength, courage, and resilience of these young mothers who had sought the medical attention for their children, despite society’s views of disabilities, and were in the hospital with them full of hope and optimism for the most part. We met some parents who were frustrated, defeated, feeling overwhelmed and hopeless in regards to their children’s future, but we were introduced to many more by Mercy who had been similarly depressed and hopeless, but had come to embrace the optimism of the hospital and of their faith as Mercy shared the gospel and prayer with them each day.

One of the most wonderful moments I experienced was the mothers in the cramped hydrocephalus ward who lifted their hearts and voices in song together. Holding their child and rocking them back in forth in their arms, or joining their fellow mothers, they sang songs of praise and worship to God in Swahili as a group united in their struggles, and in their faith. I felt so blessed to have been able to witness this moment as I filmed it. I will try to upload the video onto this blog post for you to share in the moment. The camera work is shaky as it was another emotional and electrifying experience, but it is worth a few moments of your time to watch and listen. Despite their situation, they still had time for their faith, for each other, and did so with such optimism.

More Photos from Joytown

Meeting with the US Assistant Ambassador to Kenya and the Salvation Army

We headed back into Nairobi on Tuesday for two important and every interesting meetings. First, we met with a representative from the Salvation Army. As I mentioned in my posting about Joytown, the Salvation Army is the organization that started Joytown but has since distanced itself from the school and the result has been some of the conditions you can see in the slide show and in this posting as I’ve added a few more. The government took over the running of the facility which has left the school in a state of deterioration from a facilities and pedagogical perspective. It more resembles an ‘institution’ for disabled children than it does a ‘school’ and place of learning. The photos attached are of some children hanging around outside, sitting in a makeshift wheel chair made with a plastic deck chair, playing out at recess atop garbage on the school yard, and me with the Joytown Secondary School Headboy (prefect) Stephen. The meeting with the Salvation Army was about them severing ties with the facility entirely and the possibility of Bethany taking over.

As mentioned in the last Bethany post, every square inch of space and bed is utilized at Bethany at Kijabe Hospital. I will clarify the various options that are being considered in more detail in another posting later this week. However, Joytown presents an opportunity to provide medical assistance for these children who are currently at Joytown, another possible location for a rehabilitation centre for Bethany once surgeries are completed with an educational component. More importantly, there is a feeling that not only is there a need to get involved, but perhaps a higher calling as well. Our visit the other day was part of working out the details. The meeting with the Salvation Army was more pragmatic regarding ownership, investment, etc.

We then met with the US Assistant Ambassador to Kenya. This was a fascinating meeting because we learned a lot about American policy in relation to Eastern Africa. Moreover, we talked about the refugee camps in Darfur and Sudan. He was part of a project that involved interviewing all of the refugees at these camps about their experiences and documenting them for the United States government and for the United Nations. Some of the stories, as you can imagine, were eye opening.

We discussed US Aid programs and the grants that are available and how to process them for some of the projects I have mentioned in my postings. From the hospital in Mombasa to the doctor willing to run a satellite Bethany clinic in Madagascar (which he couldn’t actually talk about because he could only talk about Kenya specifically), to Joytown, the possibilities of grants through the US Aid program would obviously help with the stable funding of these potential projects and his opinions and information was very interesting.

We discussed diplomatic life as an American living in Nairobi. Security is always a main focus and despite the fact that the US compound, Embassy, and dignitaries always have to be protected, that life is good for him and his family. With a 5 year old and 3 year old, there is a lot to do in Kenya, good international schools, and an interesting look at international politics from an African perspective. He is here for another two years and then will be sent off to another posting at another region in the world. He would like to stay in Africa, but as a part of the foreign service, the US government requires diplomats to serve in at least two different regions around the world. Though they are settled and happy in Kenya at the moment, they will have to pick up and move to somewhere else in the world for another diplomatic posting. As exciting as that sounds, I recognize how difficult that must be on family and friends to have to move every few years.

The subject of the recent tourist warning against travel to Kenya came up. The recent piracy issues of ships being hijacked in the Indian Ocean and taken up to Somalia has caused the Embassy to issue the warning. An interesting piece of information about that recent tanker being taken is that, according to the Assistant Ambassador, the tanker was holding 25% of the entire production of oil for a day from Saudi Arabia! That must be a large tanker. These issues seem to continue to come up here. As I have heard from the Assistant Ambassador today though and from many others since I’ve been here, as long as peace can be maintained across the continent, progress will continue to be made. The only thing we can do is pray, be hopeful, and continue to do what we can to support, encourage, and assist.

Joytown and the Dagonetti Orphanage

We got up early this morning to get on the road toward Nairobi to visit two very different schools: Joytown and the Dagonetti Orphanage. When I say I got up early, I mean when I woke up this morning, it was actually 9:30pm the night before in Oakville! After a quick breakfast, De. Bransford, Dr. Stewart, Dr. Patey, Noel, Pierre, and I hit the road in a land rover ambulance from the hospital. The land rover is necessary on the roads here.

We arrived at the end of rainy season which has worked out well for the weather which has been beautiful and sunny during the day, and pleasantly cool in the evening with no rain. However, the roads are a mess. Many of the roads are simply dirt, rocks, huge ruts and ditches that have formed from the water that cut through during the rainy season. The result is bumpy and shifting left and right all over the road to Nairobi back and forth inside the landrover. I feel like I’m inside a television commercial for SUVs.

The two school visits were chosen to highlight the stark contrast between the conditions of both schools and students. We drove past the endless roadside markets (you can see some photos in the slide show on the right of this blog) to visit a school for children with disabilities called Joytown. Joytown was originally started by the Salvation Army but is now run by the government. We met with the new Headmistress who took over after the last headmistress was caught embezzling funds from the school. After a conversation in her office about the operating budget, the philosophy of the school, the children, curriculum, and boarding situation, we had the chance to wander around the school. The children who live and go to school there have severe physical disabilities such as spina bifida and hydrocephalus – the main conditions treated by the doctors at Bethany. Children were outside in their wheelchairs and on their crutches, taking refuge from the sun in the shade. I had the chance to chat with a few of them, while others struggled with English and spoke only Swahili (though all educational instruction in Kenya is in English). The conditions were appalling. From the clothing to the repair of the wheelchairs and crutches the children were using to the state of the dormitories and classrooms, I found myself wondering how any learning could be taking place at the school. The Headmistress told us that there is a waiting list of disabled students waiting to get in. I asked how she selects the students who do get in. She told me it is based on an interview process where they determine the academic capability of the students as well as their potential response to rehabilitation. I asked how many therapists were on staff. She said none. I asked how they assess academic potential. She replied that she just knows. I was baffled.

Students sat against the wall or on wheelchairs around the campus and happily obliged for a chat and photograph. I wandered into some of the dorms and saw tiny metal springs with wires sticking out placed side by side by side in cramped quarters. The spirit of the children was remarkable considering the conditions.

Children are sent to this school as a boarding school by their parents. Many cannot pay the fees, the school is grossly underfunded, and the conditions suffer as a result. They have a marvelous school choir whose voices are incredible and a positive outlook from what I could tell during my brief visit and based on the comments of others I was there with.

I left Joytown thoroughly depressed.

We drove to the other side of Nairobi to visit another school which is also an orphanage. The Dagonetti Children’s Centre was established in 1960 as a place for boys and girls who had been abandoned. It served as an orphanage and a school for these children, many of whom had physical and mental disabilities which are regarded as the assumed reason why they were abandoned by their parents in the first place. As the years went on, the conditions at the facility deteriorated significantly until they resembled very closely the conditions we witnessed at Joytown. However, in the late 1990s, Larry and Frances Jones, founders of Feed the Children, came for a visit, were shocked at the conditions, and decided to do something about it. Feed the Children, students of St. Vincent will be happy to know, is the same foundation which we donated our Halloween Candy to these past two years as part of their work overseas.

In 2001, Feed The Children took over the facility and did a complete overhaul of the existing buildings, and rebuilt new buildings and administrative offices as they took of all aspects of the running of the facility, also adding a food distribution warehouse on the site for the main aspect of Feed the Children which is providing food and nutrition to children around Africa. We met with the director of the facility who shared with us the remarkable process of transformation that took place. At the moment, they are currently feeding 120,000 children across the slums of Nairobi in their schools, along with the children at the school on the site. For more information about what is happening here in Kenya with the Dagonetti Centre and Feed the Children check out http://www.feedthechildren.co.ke/

We took a tour of the school from the pre-school programs to JK and SK to the primary school and were amazed at the facilities, the cleanliness, the ratio of staff to students, and the students around campus. Though many of the students could not walk, they were helping one another with toys and bikes and playing games together. From the cafeteria to the classrooms to the dormitories for the students who live there full time, I was thoroughly impressed with the level of care and education that the students were engaging in. Each month, approximately 40 students are adopted from the centre and 40 more abandoned children arrive.

The most exciting thing for me about the day was meeting all the different students in these two schools and getting a chance to connect with them for however brief a period. The other encouraging aspect is the evidence that the Dagonetti Centre provides for the ability to make an impact and turn around a school in need. As little as 7 years ago, the Centre was in an appalling state similar to Joytown but in the few short intervening years, they were able to turn the school and orphanage around into a facility to be proud of that respects the dignity of the children living and going to school there. What is required is the vision, the right people, and the means to put it all in place.

The reason Dr. Bransford wanted to take us to both schools was for the reason I just mentioned because Bethany is seriously considering intervening in Joytown in a similar way to Feed the Children at the Dagonetti Centre. Many of the children can be helped medically, and a rehabilitation centre at the school would provide a place to do so at the boarding school, but it would need to be done as a complete overhaul of the facilities, staff, and mission of the school. There is so obviously a need, and what we were talking about is how it can be done. The Dagonetti Centre is proof that it can be for the benefit of the students. We are not sure about where to go from here. Today’s visit was simply an exploratory expedition where we found out facts at both locations about operating budget, who owns the land title, staffing, government funding and intervention or lack thereof, enrollment, etc.

The photos I’ve attached include two from Joytown and two from the Dagonetti Centre (though you can scroll through the slide show to see many more) so you can see the obvious contrast. While these photos (and the 127 others I took during the visits) provide a grim picture on the one hand of students who have been given very little opportunity for survival, let alone success, the other pictures hopefully provides some hope for what can be with the right intervention, people, funding, and intention.

St. Vincent Connections to Aid Groups Here in Africa

Our connection with the work taking place at Bethany is our most obvious connection that continues to be at the forefront of our philanthropic initiatives. However, I have made some connections here in Kenya with two other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) which we at St. Vincent have a history of supporting and in fact, have done so quite recently.

In my next post, I will mention my visit to the Feed the Children warehouse which is on the same site as the Dagonetti Children’s Centre. I had a chance to visit the warehouse from where they send out maize (corn), wheat, oil, and rice to schools all around Nairobi for their lunch programs. You will remember that as recently as Halloween, we were involved with a project in support of Feed the Children with our Halloween candy drive. Mrs. Szpiech and Mrs. Morson organized this amazing opportunity again this year which collected candy which was then donated to Feed the Children through Dr. Simone’s warehouse.

The other NGO that I have come in contact with here that has a St. Vincent connection is Samaritan’s Purse. This organization is a missionary group who supports missionaries who are working in third world countries. A missionary is someone who has dedicated themselves to spreading the word of Christ and sharing the Gospel of Jesus with others around the world. Samaritan’s Purse is a partner with Bethany Hospital and is the missionary group which the founder of Bethany Kids, Dr. Bransford, was originally and is still associated with. Samaratin’s Purse contributes financially to the work taking place at Bethany as an official partner.

The day I left to come here to Kenya, there were many brightly coloured and wrapped shoe boxes out in the hallway of St. Vincent in front of the grade 1 and 2 classes. These boxes contained gifts for Christmas that are being shipped to third world countries (quite possibly Kenya) to be given to children for the Christmas season. Samaritan’s Purse is run in conjunction with the Knights of Columbus in Oakville out of St. Andrew Parish and we are always excited to support the work of the Knights as a Catholic organization. Mrs. Demmings brought this program into our school again this year and I know our students really enjoy purchasing the gifts and wrapping them before being sent out for Christmas. We even had Father Watters join us for the afternoon.

These St. Vincent connections highlight the amazing work of our staff, students, and parents in support of philanthropic initiatives in Oakville and across the globe. It was really special to meet representatives from these groups and be able to ‘brag’ about the St. Vincent connection to their organizations. They asked me to pass along their heartfelt thanks for your support.

Bethany

Dr. Stewart took Dr. Patey and I to visit Bethany. We walked through the main part of the Kijabe hospital toward the Bethany Kids wing. I had seen the photos for years from Dr. Stewart, and even used some in the presentation Mr. Oswald and I used when we introduced the Lenten project last February in our gymnasium. However, I was not prepared for what I was about to witness.

We walked into the main hallway and Dr. Stewart pointed out rooms to the left and right where mothers were dressed in the same pink smocks as their children who were there for surgery. While the children are in the hospital, mothers (and some fathers) move into the hospital with their child to be together for the whole process. In the first two rooms we looked into, there were four beds, each with a small child with hydrocephalus or spina bifida. As Dr. Stewart lead us around the first part of the ward, he explained how beds and space was getting tight and how they had planned to increase the number of beds through expansion. We walked out into a courtyard and he explained where the expansion could be by pointing to the external walls. There is a small green tent set up in the middle of the courtyard in which is the ‘office’ of Bethany’s chaplain appropriately named Mercy. Dr. Stewart promised me a chance to chat with her later in the week. We walked along a path through the courtyard where laundry was hanging (the mothers do theirs and their children’s own laundry there) and then back into the hospital through another set of double doors.

Dr. Stewart explained how when they had maximized capacity in the original wing years ago they needed to expand within the existing Kijabe hospital so they purchased more space from what used to be a portion of the maternity wing. We walked into this new wing into a room filled with hospital beds portioned around the room carefully side by side and lengthways like a hospital bed jigsaw puzzle. Mothers stood over their children’s bed in their pink hospital smocks tending to their children. I watched a mother stand rocking back and forth as she gently rubbed the back of her tiny son while a tube drained fluid from his swollen head. A father and son sat beside one another on a chair, the boy’s legs bandaged and under-developed. We moved into the next room and saw nine or more beds in a room that was clearly meant for no more than three. Each bed had a child lying in it and a mother in a matching pink smock sitting beside them.

As we walked back through the room and out the way we came in, one of the boys with a swollen skull from hydrocephalus and tubes draining fluid began to cry as his mother tended to him at the side of the bed. I am having a diffcult time writing this because it was a powerful experience. It has strengthened my resolve to do whatever possible to help these unbelievable doctors to carry out their mission to help these children who so desperately need it. They are doing everything they can to accommodate and work with the resources they have. I will take photos on Tuesday when I am back again for a surgery and rounds with the doctors. It also serves as a reminder of how worthy all of the work at St. Vincent has been for these children. They will benefit from your support.

I was at Joytown today visiting the school and children there and also at another school run by Feed the Children (the group that we donated our Halloween Candy to this year). They are a contrast in facilities and dignity and so much to process. I look forward to sharing more in my next post along with some photos.

The photos that are showing in the slide show on the right have been updated and include many of my shots from these first few days. They scroll through, but you can also click on the pictures to move them along. I was obviously fascinated with the markets on the side of the road so there are many pictures of them. I have also been talking about Pierre, Noel, Dr. Stewart and Dr. Patey a lot and there are one or two posed shots of them as well.

I've recieved two posts so far! Thanks for your support and comments. I hope these notes find everyone well back in Canada.

Deciding to Make an Impact

We had breakfast this morning Dr. Bransford’s home and had a wonderful discussion around the table. Noel from Norway, Pierre from Belgium, a missionary named Rick who was working in northern Kenya and his brother Mike from California, Dr. Bransford, Dr. Patey, and myself. We spoke at length about everyone’s work in Africa. Pierre and Noel as advocates for education and medical intervention for children with spina bifida, Dr. Bransford and Dr. Stewart regarding plans for Bethany, and about Joytown, a school for disabled children. Dr. Bransford shared with us a story about how he was visiting Joytown one day and watched as the children made their way from classes to the cafeteria. Students all suffered from various physical disabilities and Dr. Bransford remembers watching them help one another across the yard to the cafeteria, each moving at their own pace, and noting that with medical intervention, he felt that he could he and his doctors could correct 80% of them. That is a staggering statistic and indication of the lack of support and education which continues to exist here in Kenya and throughout Africa. Apparently, the state of affairs at Joytown for these children is appalling and Bethany is considering how to intervene on behalf of these students. There is no concrete plan in place now, but simply a recognition of need in the community. It is interesting when they differ to my opinion from a school administration and pedagogical perspective, especially since I have not been there yet. We do plan on visiting Joytown tomorrow. We will also be visiting another school for disabled children that is run by Feed the Children after Joytown. Pierre and Noel then take their leave from us as they are heading up to Uganda from here.

What struck me as the conversation around the table progressed and opinions and ideas were shared is how everyone became involved here in Africa. Both Noel and Pierre lost children to the disease and are working to help prevent other parents from going through the same thing. Dr. Bransford and Dr. Stewart have felt called to contribute to the children of Africa. None of these people ‘fell into’ their roles or became involved because of luck or fortune. They made conscious decisions to intentionally make an impact, to seek out and contribute to organizations which are doing good things for others here in Africa. I am both inspired and humbled by their commitment to service to others.

We had the unique opportunity to attend a baptism this morning as part of the Sunday service. We were outside under large trees and a large basin in which children were baptized. It was fantastic to have the opportunity to take part in a local celebration.

We were invited up to Dr. Pinero’s house (one of the main surgeons at Bethany) so we could have the opportunity to get on line and sit on his porch and look out at the incredible views across the Rift Valley and the mountains in the background. It must be one of the most spectacular views in Africa. I have included a picture of the view with this post. Across the valley are white ‘dots’ of tents. These are settlements of displaced people who lost their homes during the civil unrest during the elections in January of this year. The interesting this is that these people set up makeshift settlements out of nothing. The government gave them 10,000 Kenyan Schillings each (there are approximately 65 Schillings per dollar so 10,000 is approximately $150) for their trouble. They then pooled their money together and actually purchased the land on which they were temporarily settled on. Not everyone is happy about it, but it highlights the resiliency of the spirit to move on.

Dr. Pinero conducted a session here with two medical residents from Cameroon. As I mentioned in a previous post, a goal is to educate African doctors on the surgeries and intricacies of the work on children with spina bifida, hydrocephalous, club foot, etc. and their care. Dr. Pinero regularly hosts doctors as the mandate of Bethany expands to include doctors from around the continent who can continue to carry out the work for the children. While he was meeting with the surgeons from Cameroon, Pierre was inside the house meeting with another surgeon from Tanzania about the possibility of joining them up on Uganda. The connections that everyone makes with one another is inspiring and very grassroots. One doctor or volunteer NGO introduces to another, contacts are made, and plans developed to support the various projects in the area.

I am staying in a remarkable little two room structure with a tin roof. There are no roads in the way we would think of them. Simply worn footpaths of red clay that snake their way around the area. With no television, phone access, and limited internet (when I visit other’s houses) there is a lot of room for reading, writing, and reflection.

The Drive to Kijabe

This is rainy season in Kenya so while the weather is lovely most of the time, when it rains, it pours. We were woken up a few times during the night with incredible rain pounding the tin roof of our room as it sounded like torrents rushing off the top and onto the road outside.
As Dr. Stewart, Dr. Patey, Noel and I waited in the reception area for breakfast, conversation turned to plans at Bethany for the future. With 60 beds being the current capacity at the hospital, there is a growing need to expand the number of beds in Kijabe. However, the physical and financial barriers families face to even get to Kijabe is a reality. As the current physicians age, there is a need to support young doctors, local Kenyan and other African physicians to take over in the future. The educational component of Bethany which focuses on the training of doctors (a post-degree residency specializing in the type of care and surgeries performed at Bethany) is becoming a larger focus in order to move away from medical care coming only from North American doctors, but from African doctors trained to take over. For example, there is a current resident at Bethany who is willing to set up in Madagascar and that island is recognized as an area of need. The support, financial and otherwise was discussed as a way to spread out and reach as many children as possible through more doctors helping more children and taking on leadership with Bethany with an eye to the future. Through the education of more doctors willing to take on this work, more children can access the medical attention they need throughout Africa.

A Belgian gentleman named Pierre then joined us before breakfast. Pierre works very closely with an organization dedicated to medical assistance for children with Spina Bifida at various clinics throughout Africa in memory of his daughter who died of the disease 20 years ago at the age of 11. Pierre works with International Federation for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (http://www.ifglobal.org/) which works in Kenya, Uganda, and is moving into other areas in Africa in need. The basic mandate of IF is to promote the concept of inclusion (congruent with our School Board’s philosophy of education) so that families will accept and care for their children born with this disability with an eye toward societal acceptance. Acceptance leads to families seeking help (medical intervention) rather than abandoning their children at birth. He told a story being able to intervene with a young mother who was so distraught with finding out her son was born with spina bifida that she was about to leave him by the river. Instead, the child was cared for and received the surgeries required to help him survive and live a full life (the child is still doing well by all accounts). Children who are born with physical deformities are often abandoned because they are regarded as cursed. IF and Bethany are working toward dispelling that myth and advocating for medical intervention and education and support for families. Having only been here for a couple of days now, I am seeing how organizations are connected and working together.

Pierre is also connected with Bethany, is friends with Dr. Stewart and would be joining us on our journey to Kijabe. Over breakfast, we discussed his plans to be with us at Bethany until Monday, then on to Uganda to a clinic there. Noel and Pierre advocate for medical intervention for children with spina bifeda, Noel having a 13 year old daughter with the disease.

We packed up and headed into Nairobi and stopped at a local coffee shop. We began to share the morning’s discussion with Pierre and he shared with us that a Swedish NGO he partners with was looking at financially support the overhauling of an existing hospital in Mombasa (about nine hours south of here on the coast) to focus on care for children. As Bethany is currently looking for ways to reach more children and expand through the training of African doctors, the Mombasa situation presented an interesting option. Dr. Stewart asked how the group responsible for funding would take to the Christ-centric mandate of Bethany, and the conversation turned to “When can we visit the hospital?” Sometimes opportunities are presented without explanation that require further investigation. Despite the 9 hour drive, they are considering heading down there but sadly (for me) it will probably not be when I am here.

We hit the road and headed for Kijabe. Though the influence of being a former British colony means everyone drives on the left side of the road, traffic appears to be without rules of civility or safety. Ditches line either side of the road, there are no lines painted, and cars come and go from all angles. Thankfully our driver was a missionary ex-pat who was comfortable with the conditions. The markets along the side of the road were absolutely extraordinary. Shops are housed in small wooden shacks with precariously balanced tin roofs crammed beside one another, painted bright shades of blue, red, yellow, and green. There were donkeys carrying packs and women walking along the dirt path with loads on their backs and on their heads. Markets lined the road for mile after mile selling everything from meats and vegetables to clothing and tools.

My ears kept popping as we steadily climbed. Mexico City, the highest elevation to ever host the summer Olympics, is 5000 ft above sea level. By the time we neared Kijabe, we were at 8000 ft above sea level! Kijabe is located in the Rift Valley, so we came down from that height to closer to 73000 ft above sea level.

Since it was Saturday, we met Dr. Bransford, the Director of Bethany Kids, at the local mission school where his son was playing soccer. Imagine my fortune of turning up just in time for a soccer tournament! I had a chance to walk around the school – it is an international school for children of missionaries which offers an American or British diploma for students – and see what their elementary school looked like and secondary. I look forward to the opportunity to visit this school when students are in session at some point this week.

The photos above are of local markets on the road between Nairobi and Kijabe.

I will be at Bethany hospital this week and plan on visiting a school for disabled children in Joytown which is, from all accounts, turned into a sad situation for the students, staff, and facility. I look forward to keeping everyone posted. Thank you for your on-going support!

Airports and Airplans

Dr. Stewart and I arrived at the airport at the exact same time as Dr. Patey. Between the three of us, we unloaded nine suitcases: hard shell cases filled with venitilators, drugs for the hopsital, computers, and gifts from our community. With three trolley pilled high, we made our way to the desk and were happy to check in and not have to see them again until Nairobi.

We arrived in London at 6am UK time and experienced the rush of multiple planes landing simultaneously. Since Heathrow does not permit landings before 6am, planes are forced to circle until then so first thing in the morning, the airport becomes packed instantly. We had to go through the crowds and security again so after a quick breakfast, it was time to catch our 9:50am flight to Nairobi.

The flight to Nairobi is 9 hours but since Kenya is three hours ahead this time of year, we arrived at 10pm. Kenya does not change its clock in the fall and spring like we do so this time of year they are 8 hours ahead of us. We had to go through the process of Visa application (which is done on arrival) and pay $50 US for it. We met up with a man from Norway named Noel who is a donator to Bethany who was waiting for us after coming in an hour earlier on a KLM flight. Two men from Africa Inland Mission help up signs with our names. We loaded up two cars and headed out in to the Nairobi night.

Our driver Stephen was a native of Nairobi. He slid a mixed cassette inot the tape deck that played Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers songs exclusively and navigated the roads in and around traffic as I stared out the window at the buildings, sings, billboards, shacks that sold everything you can imagine during the day, and the tin roofs. We had decided to stay in Nairobi to save the night time drive to Kijabe. I was delighted with this plan as we were tired from such a long journey, and happy not to be risking a drive into the mountains at night. Stephen took us to MAyfield house run by Africa Inland Mission which is associated with Bethany. After some confusion with keys and reservations, we unloaded the cars of all of our bags again, pulled them into the room, pulled the mosquito nets over the bed, and fell asleep.

Though I have taken a lot of photos already, I am not able to post yet. I look forward to doing so soon.

Kenya and the American President-Elect

I am looking forward to the opportunity to get an international perspective on world politics with my trip to Kenya. Specifically, the new president-elect of our neighbours to the south (who would spell ‘neighbours’ without the ‘u’) Barack Obama is of Kenyan descent. In fact, his father was born and raised in Kenya so President-Elect Obama is half Kenyan – his mother is originally from Kansas. When I was watching the results from the American election broadcast on election night, there was a special camera on supporters in Kenya who were watching the election with interest as he is considered a son of Kenya. I look forward to finding out more about the Kenyan reaction to the election of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States.

As Friday is a travel day, it may be difficult to post a blog. If can from the airport, I will. However, we get into Nairobi late (Kenyan time) on Friday evening and still have to travel to Kijabe so I may not have access or opportunity to post for Friday the 14th. I do look forward to my first posting from Kenya by Saturday.

Thanks for all the support and well wishes these past few days. It has meant a lot to me and provided me with tremendous encouragement. I hope to be able to pass along your enthusiasm and support to the children at Bethany while I’m there. I also continue to appreciate your thoughts and prayers while I am there as well. That would mean a lot to me.

About Kenya

I have been receiving books to bring over with me to Kenya to give to the children there as our community continues to contribute to the important work happening at Bethany. I also recently received some beautiful portable (pocket size) versions of the New Testament to bring over as well to give to the children and the hospital. I was asked “What language do they speak there?” by the contributors of the books.

In Kenya, most people speak English as Kenya is a former British colony. In fact, before 1920, the area now known as Kenya was known as the “British East Africa Protectorate”. The educational system in Kenya to this day is still based on the British system. However, there are many regional dialects that are spoken throughout the country. A native language is Swahili and many Kenyans speak Swahili as their first language, but English is widely spoken and read in the country so our books will be put to good use there

It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north, Somolia to the northeast, Tanzania to the south, Uganda to the west, and Sudan to the northwest, with the Indian Ocean running along the eastern border. The country is named after Mount Kenya, a very significant landmark and the second among the highest mountain peaks of Africa.

Where I am going in Kijabe is into the mountains in Kenya. The temperature varies quite considerably throughout the country depending on the elevation. For example, down by the coast in Mombassa, the temperature is very warm as it is at sea level and close to the equator. Into the mountains, the air becomes thinner and temperatures drop. Kijabe, where Bethany Kids is located, is approximately 7000 feet above sea level so even though I will be very near the equator, the temperature actually dips quite low in the evenings. I’ve brought my St. Vincent hoodie to wear at night.

The high elevation is also a reason why Kenya produces some of the best distance runners in the world. Up at elevation, the body produces more red blood cells which carry oxygen. This gives runners who train at elevation an advantage when they run at sea level. So many of the Kenyan runners who are world class athletes actually come from or train in the part of Kenya where I will be: the mountains!

I encourage you to find out more about the country while I am there to find out about where it is the culture and people. Also, feel free to post a question on this blog and if I can find out the answer for you while I’m there, I will.

Planning for the Journey

Travelling to a country like Kenya requires more than simply booking an airline ticket. As is the case with most countries in Africa, precautionary vaccinations are required months before departing. To get ready for my trip to Kenya, I went to visit my doctor to find out what medication I should take to keep myself safe. I received shots to protect me from hepatitis, yellow fever, tetanus, typhoid, and have pills to take for the prevention of malaria.

Malaria is a disease which is usually passed to humans through mosquitoes. There is a large movement to equip houses across Africa with mosquito nets for sleeping at night. These nets hang from the ceiling over each bed and stretch to the floor. The net is fine enough to keep mosquitoes out, while letting air in. Recent research has shown that the increased use of mosquito nets around Africa have begun to significantly reduce the number of incidents of malaria. While I am there, I will be similarly sleeping under a mosquito net. I will take a photo of the mosquito net and post it on this blog once I arrive. For more information on how mosquito nets are making a positive impact in Africa, check out the Unicef site at http://www.unicef.org/health/index_26163.html or google ‘mosquito nets in Africa’.

Along with the vaccinations I received already, other precautions include mosquito repellent with deet to protect me from mosquitoes during the day, breathable clothing, a hat to protect me from the sun (my TFC hat!), and sunscreen. Kenya is an equatorial country meaning it is located very close to the equator. If you can imagine how intense the sun can be in Oakville in the summer, you can probably imagine how intense the sun’s rays can be right on the equator. I will be packing enough sunscreen to keep my skin protected while in Kenya.

I am making this journey with Dr. Ivan Stewart, Chair of Bethany Kids Hospital (and my father-in-law) and Dr. Greg Patey. Together, the three of us will be bringing two respirators for the hospital, drugs for the surgeries, computers for the hospital, and items donated from the St. Vincent community including books, pencils, pencil crayons, Canada pens, stickers, and balls, and soccer balls which have been flattened to fit into my suitcase. I look forward bringing these items over to share with the children there some things from Canada.

The journey itself begins at the airport in Toronto. We fly from Toronto to London, a flight of approximately 6.5 hours. From London, we fly directly to Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. The flight from London to Nairobi will take approximately 10 hours. From Nairobi, we will drive an hour north west into the mountains to Bethany Kids Hospital in Kijabe. May bags are packed, precautions taken, and I am looking forward to the journey to Kenya. Stay tuned to this site for updates as the departure approaches and when I am in Africa!

Support from the St. Vincent Students and Community

Since we introduced our Lenten initiative last year and challenged our students and community to contribute to the important work the doctors are doing at Bethany, I have been amazed by the support, encouragement, and creativity of our school community.

During Lent last year, as mentioned in my first posting, a grade 6 student hosted a birthday party and asked for donations in lieu of gifts. That act of selflessness and consideration of service to others was extremely encouraging as we attempted to plant the seeds of service and philanthropy in our students. That act made me realize that we were making an impact and our students were beginning to see the world and begin to ask “how can I make a difference?” Parental support was similarly inspiring as a parent hosted jewelry sale in support of our initiative. Our Lenten fundraiser was a resounding success because of our community commitment.

When I accepted the invitation to travel to Bethany, the generosity of the community became apparent again. In addition to sincere support and best wishes, parents asked “how can we help?” From a school perspective, we decided that I would carry as many books, colouring books, pencils, pencil crayons, and school items as I could. I even received size 3, 4, and 5 soccer balls which I have flattened and packed into my suitcase. I look forward to sharing these items with the children at the hospital and the local school in Kijabe.

I continue to be amazed by our students at St. Vincent and I am delighted that this journey has inspired our students to take on some amazing initiatives. During the month of October, five Grade 5 boys organized a yard sale on their own and presented me with their earnings: $53.37. A Grade 2 student hosted a birthday party at which she asked for donations instead of gifts for herself. She was able to purchase a goat for a community, clean drinking water, and donated the rest to the children at Bethany.

More recently, I was invited into Mrs. Becker’s Gr. 5 class today to hear about some of them. The class organized a ‘Crazy Hair Day’ in for the group last week and raised $28. Two students organized a hot chocolate stand in front of their house on the weekend and raised $82. Other students from the class came up with the idea to sell pizza to high school students and set up a ‘pizza stand’ at their house across the street from the local high school and raised $100. Finally, another group of students hosted a garage sale outside their house on the weekend at which they also sold baked goods and raised a total of $400! Staff and parents have also contributed to Bethany and I am honoured to bring their contributions over with me to present personally.

We did not ask for money, books, crayons, balls, pencil crayons, or markers before departing, and that is the most amazing aspect to these contributions. Our students’ and parents’ support came from a genuine desire to support the journey and the children in Kenya. This encouragement will be with me as I visit Bethany and I look forward to sharing the experiences using this blog and when I return.

The St. Vincent/Bethany Connection

Bethany Kids Hospital operates at Kijabe Hospital in Kenya, about an hour's drive from Nairobi into the mountains. At Bethany, children receive medical attention and vital surgeries that address physical disabilities. The goal of the hospital is to provide children with an opportunity to become fully functioning members of Kenyan society. Supported by donations from around the world, doctors volunteer their services to support the important work being done at Bethany.

During the 40 days of Lent, 2007, the students of St. Vincent school were introduced to Bethany and immediately connected with the children of Kenya. The community's response was: "how can we help?" During Lent, students were challenged to donate their own money - funds that were raised by doing chores, sacrificing allowances - and placing it into a special jar. Parents were similarly challenged to match the donations of their children in the spirit of community. The result was tremendous and inspiring.

Students began to surpass our expectations by donating money they raised in a variety of creative and imaginative ways. Students hosted bakes sales on the street, parents hosted jewellery sales, and a student hosted his entire grade for a birthday party and asked for donations for Bethany in lieu of gifts. The support in the school and throughout the community was truly amazing.

By the end of Lent, our community raised over $10,000 for Bethany! At approximately $400 per surgery, the Students at St. Vincent contributed enough money to support 25 surgeries for children from across Kenya. Our students were treated to a visit from Dr. Ivan Stewart, Chair of the Board at Bethany, and received a special message from the doctors at the hospital via a video made specifically for the students of St. Vincent.

The parent community and staff began to wonder if it was possible for me to visit Bethany on behalf of our school and make the connection between the students of St. Vincent and the children of Bethany even stronger. As fate would have it, an invitation from Bethany was extended to me to visit Kenya, meet the doctors and children, and further establish the connection between our two communities.

With the support of the Superintendent of Oakville Schools, Mrs. Mary Tessari, and the Director of Education, Mr. Michael Paulter, I have embraced this opportunity to visit Bethany in Kenya. I will be in Kenya from November 14th until November 23rd. I hope that during that time the staff, students, and parents of St. Vincent will enjoy my daily blogs about the experience, and it will spark conversations about social justice and how we can make an impact across the globe by acting here at home.

I am looking forward to making this journey and sharing my experiences through this blog and upon my return. We intend to further our partnership and support of Bethany with our Lenten philanthropic fundraiser during Lent 2009.