DAY 7 - Tuesday May 29 - THE ORPHANAGE REUNION

Little Moses

Kids at Sunday Church

Elizabeth - the director

Today was my most emotional day.  I met Rick and Ann Smith, a very nice couple from Chicago who moved to the Oasis orphanage shortly after my support had to end.  Despite my failures "on the hill", Rick and Ann have been able continue the good fight for those kids by actually living there for 2 years now! The orphanage is prospering under their guidance. This was the only real hope for those kids, given the systemic corruption of the adults and church elders overseeing the orphanage.   So we shared stories about Elizabeth, little Moses, Simon and the rest.

I presented to Rick and Ann a box of first aid items we packed at Project CURE and then continued our conversation at the Church of God compound.  Now THAT was something I was uncertain about, given the serious accusations made of the Church of God elder.  The good news is that the meeting was one of sincere apology for the corruption and the failure of our project.  But it was nice to have some closure and, at the same time, see Agnes and Joseph, my dear friends that actually live on this compound.

Agnes is a nurse that I've worked with extensively and Joseph was the electrician I hired to wire the orphanage and various medical clinics.  I brought some gifts for them, souvenirs actually from Colorado, which is what the next photo is about.

Judy, Joseph, Agnes and Ole Punda

We concluded our "reunion" around 3ish and Steve and I drove back to Nairobi.  We got to the hotel around 8pm and I crashed

DAY 6 - Monday May 28 LOGORIAN SUB-DISTRICT HOSPITAL

Damn, my phone isn't working.  Ugh.  Big problem.  Strange really.  Never had any problems on previous visits.  May have to buy a local phone.  In the meantime, Steve (my driver) is gracious in making my calls.

It's about a 1 hour drive to Logorian from Kilgoris.  About 25 miles due south (yes - 1 hour to drive 25 miles!!).  Really rough roads, but we got there around 11ish.

Robert turned my visit into a big deal.  Regional medical directors from the government were there and all of the local politicians and leaders.

This is a fun leg of the trip for me.  More of a celebration really.  About a year ago, I financed a water project for them and having abundant, fresh water now is HUGE.  I took a few photos (above) of their water well, pump and stuff we had repaired or replaced.

The Amazing Dr. Robert Mutula and my transportation from Kilgoris

Above are some photos of the group of local and regional officials Mutula gathered for my arrival


So, we inspect the items that arrived this week on the container.  They are especially excited about the dental equipment!!  They have never provided dental services out here (a big problem) and whats crazy is that the dentist in Kilgoris has nothing to do because no one has any dental equipment.  Well, they do now!

Since the items just arrived, they've had really no time to organize or implement them.  Consequently, I didnt have many photo ops.

Infant warmer

Rut row!  In the big meeting, they decided to give me ANOTHER Masai name.  Geeze.  OLKISHUYIET - MEANING "SAVE LIVES".  I'm struggling with the pronunciation.  Very close to "O' Kiss you shit".  So there you have it.  :)

Robert actually got married last December.  He's in his early 40's and getting married that late is very unusual in Kenya.  I met his wife.  Very nice lady.  She fixed us an awesome dinner that night, when I presented my wedding gift to them

Robert and Wife with Wedding Gifts - matching watches

Kenyan's sometimes say "AMERICANS HAVE THE WATCHES, KENYANS HAVE THE TIME".  So true and funny given my choice of gift for them.  I actually researched appropriate wedding gifts in the Kenyan culture, but a goat just wouldn't fit in my suit case!

The only sobering aspect of today was that Robert told me he's going back to graduate school to specialize in surgery.  He leaves Logorian in September.  Boy, without him, I'm not sure what our future holds in Logorian.

DAY 5 - Sunday May 27 LOGORIAN SUB-DISTRICT HOSPITAL

My gosh they have good coffee here!  And the fresh mango and eggs.  Whew!  I could get used to this.  Oh yes, I can't forget to mention Tusker beer.  I'm good.

So today I return to Masai land, where I spent so much time during previous trips working on the Church of God medical clinics and the Oasis orphanage, that I feel so in love with.  Bunch of memories and emotions are percolating.

My good friend, Steve Ndungu, is going to drive me to Kilgoris. 25,000 shs for 3 days driving (about $297 US)  The roads are substantially improved and flying there turned out to not be an option anyway.  It was good to spend 4 hours with Steve talking about family, Kenya and such.

We arrived in Kilgoris around 5ish and went directly to the Sister's Convent, where they have guest houses I stay at.  Waiting for us at the gate was Dr. Robert Mutula, who I got to know previously and become good friends.  Robert is an excellent doctor and a man of impeccable integrity, not always easy to find over here.  He is the man who convinced me to finance a container to his hospital in Logorian.  A  government "Sub-district" hospital with about 25 beds.  Too small to receive an entire container, so we shared the load with Muthale.  Much thanks to Bishop for helping with logistics!!

DAY 4 - Saturday, May 26 PROJECT CURE MIRACLE DAY

Off to Kyeni Hospital in Embu, the other Catholic hospital Bishop oversees.   We have now shipped two half containers to this facility (2009 and 2011).  Truly THE biggest success story for me in Kenya!!  My gosh.  When we did an assessment of this facility in 2009, the hospital was a disaster!  It had lost it's electricity due to non-payment and had a horrible water supply.  This hospital has a substantial compound with at least a dozen structures and 120 hospital beds, yet they were only seeing 12-15 patients a day, 5-6000 annually. I had a real concern whether they even had the management skill, capacity or volume to utilize a container.

Thank God I'm a stubborn ass.  I agreed to finance the first (shared) container in 2009 and another in 2011.  Wow!  I guess the old saying "if you build it, they will come" is sometimes true!  Dr. Maina informed me today that the hospital saw over 120,000 patients last year and are currently at FULL capacity!  He said to me:

"PROJECT CURE'S CONTAINER HELPED SERVE OR SAVE OVER 100,000 LIVES"!!

Now that's what we're after!!  Hey Doug, if this is true, imagine how many lives this adds up to over Project C.U.R.E's 25 year history!

By example, I took a photo of the maternity ward (which they did not have previously) we equipped last year.  Complete with birthing tables and infant warmers.  I was actually visiting within 30 minutes or so of two births.  However, due to privacy for the Mothers, I took no photos of them.

I am so excited for Kyeni!  Dr. Maina and I have already begun a list of priorities and inventory list for the next container, which I really hope to get to them before year-end.

This day was especially joyful for me because I got to reunite with my DEAREST friend here in Kenya, Fr Patrick Njiru.  He was literally the first Kenyan I met and who introduced me to Bishop Muheria.  Fr is now in a separate Diocese from Bishop but is close to Kyeni, so we were able to visit.

Fr Patrick in front of new Cathedral

Fr Patrick and Michael, my driver for 2 days, in front of the Parish Home where the Bishop lives, Priests stay for R&R and where I stay during visits

I concluded my visit by slipping Fr Patrick $740 for "step downs", the funny Kenyan name for electrical transformers.  Muthale's container had 30 pieces of equipment that ran on electricity but were 110 and not the 240 they operate on over here.

Off to Nairobi.  Very anxious about this.  My luggage has now been lost for 5 days and Michael is going to drive me past the airport to see if they have located it.  I'm getting REALLY tired of wearing the same clothes every day.  I'm also out of Malaria pills.  Ugh.

Whew!  My bag was at the airport.  First thing I did upon return to Norfolk Hotel was to grab a Tusker beer, take a hot shower and put on some CLEAN clothes!

DAY 3 - Friday, May 25 KYENI HOSPITAL

Sorry for the lag in postings.  Access to internet is limited here.  Anyway, it was great to reunite with Bishop Muheria.  We have really connected these past few years.  I feel like I've known him forever.  Here's our picture together on my last day in Kitui.  We have wide ranging conversations, from health care to politics to religion (both countries).  Bishop's obviously a significant spiritual leader in Kenya but I have been most impressed with his management skills, overseeing hundreds of churches, schools, medical facilities, etc.

Bishop Muheria and Ole Punda at Muthale Hospital

By the way, the Masai have a tradition of giving a Masai name to those who "walk among them".  My given name is Ole Punda.  Connotation - a man who bears heavy burdens.  Literal translation - Son of a Donkey.  Hummm.

My 2 day visit at Muthale Hospital was very successful.  Arrival of the digital X-ray machine was a really big deal (see earlier photo).  I feel they have a good management team more than capable of implementing our container of supplies and equipment.  Here is a photo of the key people:

From left to right: Fr Peter Muvea (Bishop's exec asst and my driver), Sister Margaret (medical operations "CEO"), Sister  Stella Mwelu (Hospital Administrator), Matron Flora Muchiri (Hospital Director) and THE Fr Joseph (Fr of local parish and who I call "Fr Master Negotiator")

DAY 2 - Thursday, May 24 (continued)

Matron Flora in one of two storage rooms of the "consumables" we provided.

Sister Margaret in the new X-Ray Machine room with the unit we provided

We met with a technician out of Nairbobi that is confident he'll be able to install this unit.  He tells us that Kenya only as 2 or 3 equivalent units in the entire country!  Sister Margaret's response:  "this will make Muthale a showcase and elevate the entire hospital.  Wow.  Exciting.  I found the hospital under-performing and I'm optimistic it will dramatically improve like we experienced in Kyeni Hospital, which I am to visit tomorrow.

DAY 2 - Thursday, May 24 MUTHALE HOSPITAL

Off to Kitui and Muthale Hospital today, about 2 hours east of here in Nairobi.  Fr Peter, right, was my driver and great company.  Really good guy.  Sister Margaret, left, is Director of Medical Operations (oversees this hospital and many other facilities).  Matron Flora is new and is Director of Muthale Mission Hospital.

DAY 1 - Wednesday May 23 ARRIVAL IN NAIROBI (happy birthday Ben!!)

Hey All, Just arrived in Nairobi. Whew! Long haul. My old sorry ass is dragging tonight. Anyway, flights were good without a hitch. Although, my luggage didn't make it. The airport promised they have it tomorrow morning. I hope so because Father Muvea is picking me up at 8am tomorrow to drive to Kitui and Muthale Hospital. I'm really jazzed about this leg because I get to reunite with Fr Patrick, Fr Eluid and Bishop Muheria. I just love those guys. What they see in this non-Catholic heathin is beyond me! My goal on this leg of the trip is to try and figure out how to get the digital X-ray machine hooked up. Heck, a $300k piece of equipment. We gotta make it work! Lots of issues. Room build out with lead walls, support for 1800lbs, the appropriate power supply AND locating a skilled technician to fire it up. Easy Peazy! Enough for now. I promise to have photos/videos for next time. Kwaheri

ACTUAL LOADING OF CONTAINER (MARCH 2012)

The Miracle Making Organization

My Super Action Heros  - Millie and Dave, Leslie 

All packed up and ready to go!  Shipped in March 2012

Hi All,

This is my first attempt at blogging so bear with me! :)

So I depart tomorrow morning for Kenya.  I'll have an 8 hour layover in Paris and then arrive in Nairobi Wednesday evening at 8:30pm.

Thursday morning Bishop Muheria has arranged for my transportation to Muthale Hospital in Kitui, a small town about 5 to 6 hours SE of Nairobi.  This is our container's first stop.  My purpose is to oversee it's unloading and reloading to Logorian.  Also, I hope to work out the logistics of getting the digital X-ray machine installed.  A huge deal for them.

I'll return to Nairobi Sunday and then off to Logorian where I reunite with dear friends and celebrate the long awaited container.  This should be totally fun for me.  Dr. Mutula recently got married.  So I'll have fun meeting his wife and presenting her with a gift.

Thanks for checking in.  I promise to have fun photos and videos as I have opportunities to upload them.

S