As many of you know Anne, Susannah, and I (Tom) spent 17 days on a medical mission trip to Nairobi, Kenya. Here are some thoughts regarding my part on the team.

The team was comprised of 32 Americans: 7 MDs and a Nurse Practitioner, 7 Nurses, 5 Pharmacists, 1 Physical Therapist, 2 Dentists and 2 Dental Assistants, myself as a Pastor, and a number of general helpers. We partnered with a large Kenyan team of Administrators, Pastors, Dentists, MDs, Nurses, helpers, and drivers. The total number of patients seen in 8 clinical days was roughly 3200. Our work ranged from dental extractions to HIV testing, from spiritual counseling to minor surgery, and from physical therapy to malaria treatments. We gave virtually everyone meds to rid their bodies of worms, and a course of multi-vitamins to improve their general health.

Each day the team of pastors shared brief evangelistic messages with those waiting to be seen, and counseled and/or prayed with everyone who desired it. We were privileged to lead between 60 and 70 people to Christ. We also distributed 100 New Testaments, and a few dozen Gospels of John. The material plight of the people was desperate in both locations (Nyamira,– a rural town in west Kenya, and Dandora,– a slum built on a trash dump in east Nairobi). The extreme pollution of water and air in Dandora makes life there a constant hazzard. Whereas Americans are rich in material goods, Kenyans are rich in community, creativity, and courage. A number of HIV+ children whose parents had died were being raised by neighbors. Typical of the creativity was a bicycle repair shop located at a tree along the road. A sign was nailed to the tree: Bikes for sale/repair. From the branches of the tree hung a dozen bikes, and beneath sat a man on a stool with a couple wrenches and tube repair kits. Women bake and sell cookies each day in order to get enough money to feed a half-dozen kids, while others forage through the trash heaps in order to find something that can be sold, and still others make a few shillings watching the children of those who have jobs. Most of these people (~100,000 in Dandora) exist on less than $1/day. Our clinic met in a primary school that serves 575 students (nursery age through grade 8), 34 of them are orphans.

I was very privileged to be introduced to two Kenyan pastors. Rev. Oscar Muriu is pastor of Nairobi Chapel (a church of more than 500 that carries out extensive ministry to various segments of the population of the city. He emphasized the need for missionaries to develop relationships and to suffer along side of Kenyans, before doling out money or material goods. Rather than trying to solve KenyaÂ’s problems, we should equip Kenyans with the skills to solve their own problems and trust God to motivate them to rise to the occasion. If we jump in with money and solutions it fosters dependency.

Rev. Steve Maina is an Anglican pastor who heads up a multi-faceted ministry called Church Army. This ministry runs a free dental clinic, operates a K-12 school in the Kibera slum (~10X the size of Dandora!), runs a vo-tech school, a seminary, and a host of other Word and Deed services. They also are committed to plant churches throughout the city. Steve is zealous to get young men involved in Youth Work. 75% of the population is under 25 years of age. He shared that a church planting pastor in Nairobi must also have entrepreneurial skills because he will have to support himself financially for at least the first 5 years of his pastorate. The seminary run by Church Army equips men to support themselves financially, while also training them in the various skills needed to pastor a congregation.

The hardest part of this trip was our departure back to the States. Leaving those we had come to love and rejoice over in such difficult circumstances reminded me of Jesus’ prayer in John 17. He prayed for the Father to keep these tender souls “by the power of your name.” It is so tempting to think that what these folks really need is the power of money, or the power of new government, or of just about any tangible thing. I realized in a new way that Jesus knew just how much it would cost each disciple to live for His glory where he left them.

IÂ’ve attached a picture of our team gathered for prayer at the beginning of a clinic day.

May you know Jesus more and more each day,

Tom and Anne Corey along with our daughter Susannah