KENYA TRIP PROJECTS

It’s been four years since a group has gone to Maua Methodist Hospital from Servant and I’d like to share the projects we will undertake while we are there. Most of these are what we do each time with the funds that our congregation has raised over the years.

1. Build a home for a family with AIDS, usually a grandmother and her grandchildren – $3,000. The cost includes all building materials as well as bedding, pot and pans, health insurance for a year, school uniforms, and a few other items.

2. Hospital Project - teams are asked to bring $3,000 over to assist with various projects on the hospital grounds. This year, we will be helping to complete a perimeter fence for the housing area of the hospital, paint (there is always painting!), and smaller projects like replacing window screens (there is no AC and it is important to keep the pesky mosquitos out). We work with Kenyans and of course they can do the work without us, but it’s invaluable in the relationship building process.

3. Medical Clinic – $600 – the team will accompany hospital staff to a rural area to provide a number of services - test for HIV and malaria, do eye exams, hand out readers, and medications. People are treated on site or given a referral to the hospital with a voucher for transportation. Last summer when I was there, two people with very serious injuries came and were immediately taken to the hospital. One was a boy of around 9 who had an infected leg that had been locally treated; he was facing a possible amputation when he was taken to the hospital that day. Fortunately, the hospital staff were able to save his leg. Approximately 250-400 people are seen that day.

4. School deworming – $300 – this is everyone’s favorite. We visit several schools K-12 and give the kids a pill to kill intestinal parasites. That is followed up with a dum-dum as there may not be running water at the schools. We treat between 800-1800 kids in one day. We go classroom to classroom, sing songs with the kids, meet the teachers, and give them the school supplies we have collected.

Working alongside Kenyans in each of these areas allows us to get to know our partners and to encourage and affirm them. We will be there for two weeks while they work day in and day out to create a better life for the community.

Thank you for your continued support!

Ann Knutson