by Donna

Our residential Christian Fellowship has begun more outreach into the local community within our housing estate. We had our first meeting of ” The Kidz Club”, whereby 22 children signed up. We are just getting started, and the plan is to hold a weekly Bible study with activities. There are many children within these Walls and we are praying this effort will have a positive impact on these children’s lives.

Signing up

The weather is warming, and we have planted our garden in anticipation of the rains  which are soon to arrive! Lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, green peppers and beans will be on the menu frequently within the next few months, God willing! Little as we know about farming, we are seriously dependent on God for the increase. Let the rains begin!

Nurturing the garden

Last, but not least, our cat Mia has now become Queen Mama Mia! On September 17th she gave birth to four baby kittens! They are so precious and have just opened their eyes today! She hid her kittens one morning in the back of the pantry to protect them and keep them warm during the cold Nairobi nights, so we haven’t seen much of them.
We are expecting they will be out and about in no time. ( we are still trying to decipher how many are male and how many are female! )

Mama Mia – with Kittens

by Joana

It was a cold and windy morning.. Not the kind of weather that I usually enjoy, but it would end up to be a unique and special day.  The busiest I had ever yet seen at Mbagathi District Hospital; the day I would deliver my first little baby.

On this particular morning,  6 woman were in labor all at once. It was a sight and sound to make you begin to pray, and indeed, praying was something of an addiction to me when I worked here. Everyone was running around. It was too early for the usual nurse in charge to have decided to show up, so we scrambled to make some order out of the chaos. The nurse interns had a pile of files and were working on gathering  patient history and some basic observations.  The interning doctor on shift was Calvin. Since the morning that we  tried for hours to cannulate an extremely overweight  patient,  him and I had become good friends. He was  also very good at deliveries, I had always  learnt a lot from him. Now he was preparing each and every mother for the birthing and I was his assistant. And that s just the team that we were: 3 nurses, another CO intern , Calvin and then me.

Each of the mothers in labor had  a unique way of  expressing their pain and apprehension; some howled  and some muttered meaningless nonsense, others just hit their beds with unexplainable strength and energy.

I was setting up an Iv solution for a young mother in her early 20s. She was freakishly thin with dust and grime covering her little body and  her swollen stomach. Her contractions were coming fast and strong..i could just see the bulging around her opening each time at the peak of a contraction. A quick examination confirmed that, yes, the time was near.  I started calling for Calvin, ‘it is coming, it is coming!!’ he was very calm but also very preoccupied, “I can t be there right now,” he told me, as he slowly drew medicine from a vial into a syringe. ‘you know what to do right?’  I knew I had the basic idea, I had practiced with big plastic dummies in class and I had observed countless births since my very first shift in maternity. A wave of confidence suddenly swept over me and I agreed that, yes, I could do it.”  “ok, that s good. Remember to support that head and those shoulders,’ and that was that, left alone with no time to lose, that baby wanted to come out, and come out NOW.

I tore open the delivery pack and began preparing the birth site, while supporting the perineum with a heavy wad of cotton. The young mother was holding onto my coat and at times tugging at me ferociously, unnerving me that I might lose my balance.  It was not her first child and she was a great pusher, she panted and moaned and shrieked .I encouraged her that with each mighty contraction the baby was slowly being revealed. Suddenly the head popped out. It took me a second to react and start wiping the airways of the little head…there was more pushing and shoving and then the shoulders came out, one at a time. I caught it just in time as the whole infant spurted out with a considerable force. It was so small, warm and slippery, I had a terrible thought that it might slip form my trembling hands.. But that  didn’t happen…I placed the baby on mommy s stomach and she gave it an intense look, as if she couldn’t’ t decide what to feel. It was a  baby boy..pinkish brown all over with little scrunched up face and large lumpy head covered in dark thick curls. A quick rub on his back and his screams filled the room along with the all the others,  like a symphony of wails. It s was the sound of new life. Little souls protesting their reluctance to enter this  world. And yet all I wanted to say was, ‘welcome! welcome to existence!’ The cord clamps were attached and I cut the filmy cord that had  stopped pulsating. A quick glance up at the clock on the wall to my right to note the time: 9:15. I was feeling elated and out of control. The nurse ran over to whisk the baby off to the resuscitation machine: to be suctioned, dried, oxygenated and so on and so forth.

Joana EMT ready..

Blood was oozing out slowly and steady out from the mother. I had a gag reflex as the scent of everything suddenly seemed very strong. I inspected the site and was incredibly relieved to note there was no tear, (as I dread little else more than having to suture). After a few minutes the placenta was ready to be delivered. I massaged  her uterus until I felt  it contracting into a grapefruit sized lobe beneath her navel. Giving firm and even pulls on the protruding end of the cord with one hand and applying downward pressure on the uterus with the other, I know that this will help the placenta to move down and then out. As it was slowly proceeding, the cord would be wrapped more and more around the forceps that I had used to clamp the cord at the mother s end. Eventually the whole thing slipped out in a smooth’ swoosh’. As it came out it was caught in my two hands and turned gently until all the membranes were twisted.  It was very important step to then thoroughly inspect the placenta to  assure  that it was all intact and no pieces were left behind which would be a potential source of infection. Then there was the final work of cleaning out the clots and cleaning up the mother.  I felt she worked so hard and I could imagine her relief. I went and made her a huge cup of hot chocolate. There was a big smile on my face and all the tension was melting away and converting into a deep feeling of joy and satisfaction. The mother and I shared a small moment of silence and exchange of smiles. I respected her deeply as she got up from the cot, wrapped her blood soaked kanga around her hips and limped off to collect her child. This was definitely an experience I could not forget.

Here is a reaction to the Portuguese Audio Bibles left in Mozambique last month – (received via email from A. and J.):

On behalf of those who received an Audio Bible we want to thank you with all our hearts.
The other day we got a feedback from Pastor Sebastião. He just loves is  Audio Bible, listens to it every afternoon until late at night, he said. In the morning he goes to the Machamba with his wife:  “But as soon as we are home, my wife is cooking and looking after our children, I sit in the backyard of my little house and listen to the Word of God.” His daughter Sabina, is a student at the Catholic School in Macomia and a good friend of J.. Sabina just spent 2 weeks at home and told us that in fact the whole family listens to the Audio Bible, every night and they all love it!

Luis Rafael, a Church Deacon told A. that he is so happy to have an Audio Bible. Since he got it, he listens to it every day for 2 hours! These are just a couple of the many reactions, many of them expressed to me by phone, text message, or in person, while we were there. People were really thankful. We have to remember that in all the cities of the North of Mozambique there is not one place where you can acquire even a printed Bible.

Set of audioBibles for Beira

After one month of travelling through Tanzania and Mozambique, we arrived yesterday and we are ready to share with you the news and pictures of this trip.

This visit to Mozambique had a double purpose: to survey and find out more what can be done to help with the process of evangelization and to have some needed break from the cold weather of Nairobi and enjoy some sunny skies and warmer weather. On the first objective we were able to meet with several missionaries on the field and find out what has been done in concern to Bible translation in the local languages –  in summary there is a lot to be done specially in the areas of digitalization of the Word, as a to be able to place it online for all to use, and audio recordings, for use by people who are illiterate, especially in the villages. Most of those we talked to were very enthusiastic about this and loved the idea of having  Audio Bibles in different local languages, however those languages are not yet recorded and some of them not yet translated.

electronic Portuguese Bibles to Pastors in Mozambique

In Mozambique, where the official national language is Portuguese, the pastors we were able to meet were blessed to receive the gift of Portuguese Audio Bibles we brought for them. In all 100 Audio Bibles were given out and in Tanzania we also left at least 15 Swahili  Audio Bibles. We would need 1000’s but we would need to import them straight into those countries. On that line we also found some valuable information which we will share in due time.

Bible for the North of Mozambique

Some of the work in Mozambique is based on training local leaders and pastors, who in turn will teach others… there are several training courses scheduled for the near future. These audio Bibles are a blessing to help the local pastors and leaders to  increase their knowledge of the Word and also to share when they go back to their communities. In summary, there is lot to be learned and strategies to be defined in result of this visit to Mozambique and Tanzania. In due time we are going to debate and pray for the next steps to be made. We thank all of you who made this possible with your prayers and support.

As for the second objective of this voyage, please check reports from Donna and Gloria, and enjoy their observations and experiences.

Bless you all.

Jorge

Joana back in reunion with family, celebrating her 19th birthday

Dad, mom, Ben, Jason and Gloria left for Mozambique on the 6th. Since then I’ve been surviving in Kenya with the companionship of Terry, a Chinese friend of many years. As she is working with one of the local Chinese churches in Nairobi, I have also found myself quite involved there. On the 16th there was a big revival meeting aimed at uniting the different Chinese congregations in Nairobi. It took 2 whole days to prepare that great event. The meeting was a grand affair with pastors who just arrived from Hong Kong along with TV filming crew. It was a wonderful opportunity to get to know more Chinese Christians here and to feel the power of God working among them. This Sunday we had our church
meeting outdoors!! We all drove out to lake Naivasha and worshiped while gazing at God s marvelous creations. A Brother who is a professional Chinese chief then prepared an amazing BBQ afterwards. This Month I was also very busy with interning. I was recently
transferred to Bagathi district hospital. It s the hospital that boarders and services the great Kibera slum. The hospital itself is just a collection of low, stone buildings that house very meager facilities and an unbelievable amount of patients.

Joana at Mbagati Hospital, Nairobi

They call it the hospital where
people come to die as around ¾ of the patients are HIV positive in their 3-4th stage. Almost all the medical staff is interns and we all do the best we can. I pray every day for God s protection as I work there. This month has been a month of challenge and adventure and experience. As I look back on it, I see God s protection and guidance
throughout. God bless you all!!

During the month we have been in intense communications with some brothers in Mozambique who have invited us to come. We also had to get visas and to get visas we needed an invitation letter. Besides, we had to take vaccinations against yellow fever as that is also required.   Joana, because of her involvement in the EMT course, cannot come with us. We have invited Terry, our dear sister from Zhuhai, who is now on mission here in Kenya, to come and stay  with Joana at our home during the time we are absent…

Thus, the time has come to take our summer break [actually winter here] and this week we are making final preparations for our mission and retreat, all in one. Please pray with us as there is a lot of driving to do and spiritual battles to be fought. Please intercede on behalf of Mozambique. It is a country still coming out of a long term  communist regime and is desperately in need of the salt and light of the Gospel. We are bringing over 100 Portuguese Audio Bibles, and “Crescer em Cristo” booklets,  as a gift to the work, and we are also interested in making further contact with missionaries there and see how we can help more in the future. We will certainly try to enjoy the beautiful pristine beaches while there and get to know the people and the language of the land.  Psalm 67:2-3. – “That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.  Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee.”

New arrived iBibles –

Portuguese language Bibles for Mozambique

testing the load — most of the rack is full of audio Bibles

[by Donna]

Every Thursday evening there is a prayer meeting with members of our estate. The majority of the couples are Kenyans, but there are also others from neighboring countries such as Malawi, etc. We are focusing on prayer and intercession, and it is a very enriching experience to hear testimonies, share the Word, and join in prayer for personal needs, the nations etc. It is also helps to create deep bonds between the local community members. We have a “Hospitality Outreach” and now we are focusing on supply hot water kettles and supplies to the estate guards who pass the night standing in the cold! Yes, it’s cold at at night here, temperatures can go below 10 degrees C!

Fellowships

This month, as usual, we attended several fellowships. The youth meeting at the Griffins over in Karen, the International fellowship at Roslyn School and the Chinese Fellowship at Junction. We has a very special time at the Chinese Fellowship as several short term mission visitors from Hong Kong were visiting. We are encouraged to see more and more Chinese interested in the field of Africa. The Chinese Christian experience, especially the broad and deep “house church” movement that makes the main stream of Christian activity in China, with millions of believers, is an example to share with the rest of the world. Gabriel, our son  in Macau, sent us an  interesting and incisive article about the “House Church Revolution”, which you may read HERE. [pdf format]

All attending at Chinese Church

Outside the small apartment room that makes the Chinese Fellowship at Junction

Terry, Donna, Joana and visitor from Hong Kong