Day 1 of Clinic

Today was a long day. We had breakfast at the hotel and then headed out to our first stop: Muhoroni. 

We drove about an hour on a combination of paved, rough, and dirt roads winding through the tea country until it brought us to a road through the sugar cane fields leading us to Muhoroni Orphanage and Feeding Station. The kids were waiting under the large tent set up in the open area outside. We immediately went to work unloading the equipment and setting up clinic. After everything was set up, the generator was brought over and we ran into a bit of difficulty. The generator was not providing enough power to run both dental units. After about an hour of technical difficulties, our great dentists made the best of the situation. Mark and Caroline Albritton did all of the extractions (36), while Alan and Julie Coleman used the one working unit to provide care for fillings (13). We even had a guest dentist who did one of the extractions... our very own Eileen Guthrie! During the hour of technical difficulties, the kids patiently waited outside without complaining or getting restless. They sat, sang beautiful songs, and were so well behaved. 

There were many familiar faces here and many of the kids remembered us as well. We met KWO's man on the ground, Stephen Owino, who was incredibly helpful with translating in the clinic. We had several other translators who made the process run much smoother. One in particular was Caroline, a matron assigned to this orphanage by the government for two months. She basically oversees the orphanage to make sure the kids are bathed, fed, etc. She lives onsite and is a huge blessing to everyone at Muhoroni. 

The main issues among the children our physician saw were allergies, due to the sugar cane harvest and dirt roads in the area. 

The kids, as always, LOVED having their picture taken. Then they want to see it. Oh, the beauty of technology and digital cameras. Seriously. It is something so common to us that is so cool to them. It's funny how this is a common theme with many things... We either depreciate items, take them for granted, or just don't realize the impact something may have on someone else.

Alan Coleman took a short break from fillings to catch his breath and Caroline jokingly asked him, "What are you just standing around for?!" As he gazed out the window he said to her, "Just taking a minute to soak it all in."

This is something that randomly happens at various points throughout the week. Sometimes it's hard because we get so wrapped up in what's going on in the clinic, trying to be the most efficient and get through the day quickly; but sometimes we need to each just stop for a moment and soak it all in. If we get too wrapped up in what we are doing, what we have going on, we tend to miss what God is doing and what God wants us to see. But as Alan looked outside at the kids playing soccer, the elderly church members fellowshipping with one another under the tent, and the babies asleep on their mothers' laps, he was able to soak it in and appreciate the goodness of God and the people of Kenya. 

Everyone proved to be extremely hard workers, but also showed their heart for God's people in various ways. Layne making the kids laugh, Jason and Mbuvi playing soccer with the older boys, Kayla playing ring around the rosey with the girls, just to name a few... Even though these three are the only ones I named, have no doubt, they were not the only ones being used. Everyone used their gifts, talents, and gave their time to love and be Jesus to these people.