Rebeca’s Blog

Hello again from Kijabe! Things are going great here, busy, but great. Any feelings of only being a bystander have disappeared after being “on call.” For those of you “who don’t habla espanol” call means you are the one the nurses call for admissions and for any problem on the patients already admitted. At Kijabe, they spice it up by making you see anyone that comes to the ED, admitting sick patients, managing crosscover and managing the outpatient clinic, ahhh! But praise God because I survived and the patients are well. I definitely feel useful and that I am contributing, something that I was really praying for. I also have had the pleasure of connecting more with patients and staff and have even picked up a few words in Swahili (the basics vomiting-topika, diarrhea-anaharra, fever-joto and a few others J) Apart from hospital life, there’s not much going. If not on call I usually come home exhausted with only energy to walk, not run, around the RVA campus (the big, American boarding school up the hill). Apart from providing a great walking trail, RVA is also the site for ultimate frisbee on Sunday afternoons! I was on call last Sunday and will be on call next Sunday as well, but I hope to make it the last Sunday I’m here.  Thank you so much for your prayers. I really enjoy being able to serve but sometimes feel a bit overwhelmed; please pray that in my weakness God’s strength will be made perfect. Also please pray for the many needs all around this hospital and essentially the world, as we forgot so quickly what people suffer in other countries. Pray for rain as there’s been a bad drought around this part of Kenya. Thank you for your interest, friendship and prayers.

First couple of days!

Hi! I’m not sure anyone is reading, but if anyone is, thank you for your interest. I have arrived safely in Kijabe, Kenya after 3 plane rides and a couple of taxi rides!  This place is awesome! Kijabe is in the Rift Valley so we’re surrounded by mountains and of course the valley. The weather is cool in the early morning, 75-80 degrees during the day and back to the 60s in the evening, it’s perfect. I have settled in at the guest house where I will be staying for a total of 4 weeks. The space is more than adequate and only a 3 minute walk (or 1 minute run, like this morning!) from the hospital. The hospital is great. Not large in square feet by any means but very much space efficient. They have everything from Nursery and NICU to multiple “theaters” (i.e. OR). I will be working on the Pediatric service for 2 weeks then will switch off to both men’s ad women’s medicine wards for the last two weeks. I’m still getting comfortable with the paperwork, the diseases here and just the day-to-day activities, but everyone has been more than welcoming and helpful. This place is sustained by long term missionaries and I’ve had the pleasure to interact with some (there’s a lot!). Its super encouraging hearing people’s stories and the way God opened up the path for them to be here. The Kenyans residents are also great, very smart, flexible and kind to the med student who doesn’t speak Swahili I had the pleasure to go to staff chapel Wed morning, which includes most of the hospital staff from kitchen staff to attendings and executive office staff (my upper level resident played the keyboard for the worship time!). I could no help buy cry at the honor of worshipping our Father God with people completely devoted to Him. I am so thankful to be here and praise God for allowing me to come and experience Him as completely sufficient, provider and healer. I pray that He would use me, as right now I just feel new and needy of guidance. I also pray for the needs as the things that people are suffering here from are more than I can understand. Thank you to all for your prayers.

Getting ready…

Hi. Just wanted to get a handle on this blogging business:) My trip is coming up and I cannot wait! Wohoo! I look forward to being able to stay in touch with all of you. Thank you to all for your encouragement and prayers throughout this busy time but I kindly ask that you would continue to pray for this trip, for safety, wisdom, boldness and a total attitude of service.

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