Kapsowar, Kenya

Hey Friends,

I am currently writing on my second to last day in Kenya, as we leave for Uganda by bus tomorrow. Chris and I have spent the last 2 and a half weeks in an amazing place called Kapsowar. It is in the highlands of Kenya at about 7,500 ft and is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. This place of sharp peaks and valleys of brilliant colors, steep farms that look like checkerboards on the hillside, and a tropical climate is home to where most of the amazing marathon runners come from. So Chris and I definitely spent some time running and exploring the scenery. And some of my favorite memories are running down red dirt roads with Kenyan children coming alongside to run with us.

Beyond the scenery we were staying at a compound that houses doctors and nurses for the mission hopsital here. This hospital is the only in the area serving over 1/4 of a million people. So as we visited the hospital we saw the huge need for better health care in the area. There were many patients there who could not afford proper care, but the hospital would front much of the bill. We had the chance to go with the chaplains to visit these patients, to talk with them, pray with them, encourage them. As we did all of this we were faced once again with the contrast of harsh realities such as death, disease, HIV, poverty and the light of hope of people who are caring for and mending these people. We saw again some of the broken places of this world and some of the amazing ways God is using people to meet these needs.

We were also able to help out in various ways, since we have absolutely no medical expertise, such as painting, taking inventory, any way we could help out really. But the highlight of our trip may have been the friendship Chris and I developed with 2 Kenyan medical students who were living next to us. We ate every meal together and were able to share life, learn from each other, encourage each other. It was definitely hard to say goodbye but we feel that we will see them again.

This is getting long enough, but I do love hearing from you all and your emails and prayers are really appreciated. Even if I cant respond to the emails, I do read them all and will respond when internet is available. Please pray for 1) Chris and I continue to learn what's worth working for in this world 2) Us to be able to serve in the best ways that show God's love.

Thanks and I love you all. Talk to you soon!