Lindsay's Trip: The Short Version

Larissa, my dad, and I spent three weeks in Kenya to assist Fahari Ministries and other organizations.

Below is the short version of the story. If you would like to download the short version into Microsoft Word, click here. If you are looking for the long version, click here.

Karibu Kenya (Welcome to Kenya)!

I was very happy to arrive in Nairobi and was greeted at the airport by my lovely host family, with whom I have grown very close. They are the same family I stayed with in 2004 and visited with in 2005. The baby in the picture is my namesake, "Lindsay!"

The change in plans left us with lots of extra time on our hands. We went to Kenyatta National Hospital to see if we could find an opportunity for dad and Larissa to help out. Well, it turns out God's plans are better than ours. Sir Magdi Yacoub, an eminent heart surgeon, "happened" to be in Nairobi at the same time to perform surgery on children with congenital heart defects. And it just so "happened" that the first assistant who was supposed to operate with him was sick the first day of the trip so Dad got to assist! Dad also got to share with them some of his skills and techniques as well as his passion for and commitment to helping those with coronary artery disease, mitral valve disease, and other valvular issues. Larissa and Dad both really enjoyed meeting these doctors and we were all glad that it worked out so well!

Trinity Time

While they were working at the hospital, Judy and I were busy with Trinity. Judy was my host mom in 2004 and is a dear friend and an amazing woman. She has sacrificially devoted herself to God and to her community as the director of Trinity AIDS program. Without pay or really any resources at all she has been quietly and determinedly ministering to people living with HIV/AIDS in Huruma and Mathare Valley. She has her own children whom she loves and takes good care of, but sometimes they have had to sacrifice too. At times she has had to give their clothes or shoes to the children of her ministry! When asked about her giving she responds, "What can I do? They need it and I am the only one who knows their HIV status. They don't have anyone else to ask so they ask me. And if I have it, I must give it to them. They have so many needs." She brings them food when they're hungry, medicine when they're sick, clothes when they're naked, and Jesus all the time.

Dad, Larissa, and I all attended their monthly Trinity AIDS meeting. People living with HIV/AIDS came from near and far to make it to this meeting. It began with songs of praise in both English and Swahili. After several songs, Judy asked people to give testimonies. One woman talked about how she was so sick that she couldn't even walk but with medicine, prayer, and determination, she is feeling healthy again and is now able to continue caring for her small baby, who is also HIV positive. Other women expressed their gratefulness to God, to Judy, and to the other women. Then it was time to hear a brief teaching from the Bible. I had informed Larissa about ten minutes prior to the start of the meeting that she would be doing the Bible teaching. Despite the very short notice, she was ready in season and out of season and did a beautiful job. After the Bible lesson, Judy did a health lesson. She told them about two former members of Trinity AIDS. These two women were prayed for by a preacher who told them that they were healed of their HIV and no longer needed medication. The women stopped taking their life-saving AIDS drugs. In just a matter of days both women became very ill. Shortly after that, both died. Judy emphasized to them the importance of taking their medication. She said, "We pray that God will heal us. But we also know that God has blessed us with this medication so we pray for healing but we also take our medicine. We must take it every day."

After the Trinity meeting, my desire to serve was deepened and quickened. Judy and I got back to work and accomplished many things. We wrote the NGO constitution and the first few resolutions establishing the board and Judy's position. We also came up with a budget for the end of the year and for next year too. We wrote the vision, mission, and values, and basically everything else that you see on this website! Neither Judy nor I are great administrators. We love visiting sick people and taking care of others, but we're not so fond of making budgets and writing mission statements. Thankfully, when we are weak, God is strong. We waded through all of these things VERY quickly.

Hanging with the Fam

Towards the end of the trip, Dad and Larissa went to neighboring Tanzania to hunt a cape buffalo, one of dad's lifelong dreams. Thankfully, I was allowed to skip the hours of trekking through thick bush chasing a very large and very dangerous animal. I also got to skip the tick bite and ring worm that Larissa ended up with! While they were gone I stayed with Stanlas and Judy at their house as I had in 2004. It was so nice to get to be part of their family again, even if only for a short while. I really enjoyed playing with the children, especially the baby!

A Trip Well Worth It

Before the trip, I was unsure if I should go. A plane ticket to Kenya is VERY expensive. With the way the ministry has been struggling financially, I considered just writing them a check and staying home. I thought and prayed about it and Eric and I decided that if we thought I could be of more long-term help by going, then I should go, even if in the short-term that meant less resources. In the end, I'm very glad I went. We established a good foundation on which to build the ministry.

To me, it is so exciting that God lets us partake in his work on earth. I mean, God doesn't need me. The God I serve rained manna from heaven on the Israelites. The God I serve laid the very foundations of the earth. He doesn't need my (poor) mission statement writing abilities. He sure doesn't need my scarce money or my untested nursing skills. And yet, he wants me. He wants me to fly halfway around the world to learn that when I am weak, God is strong; when I am poor, God is rich; where I have doubts, fears, and uncertainties, God has faithfulness, truth, and strength.

Judy, her family, and the people of Trinity have been praying for resources so that they can better serve those around them. The answer to their prayers came through me and through you. I got to carry those answered prayers across a wide ocean and over a vast desert and into their hands. I got to watch their faces light up when my very presence gave them renewed hope. My life is but a vapor, my time on earth just a moment, and yet the God of the universe lets me do such things. What a privilege!

Thanks for reading my story! If you'd like to print out the short version, click here.

If you'd like to see more pictures, click here. All of our pictures aren't up yet though so check back soon. If you do not know the password, email Lindsay.

If you are interested in getting involved, you can pray, donate, and volunteer.