Re: FW: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 28 2011

This is the note that preceded the day events.

Good morning world! "This is the day that the Lord hath made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it".  Attached is our report from yesterday, a day not to be forgotten.  We lost our water last night and went to bed hot and sweatty but woke up to the water source restored and plenty of it to wash us clean for a new day. A few team members are feeling a bit under the weather today but there are no complaints and Dr. Jeff is here to take good care of us.  The long hours of travel, the humidity, new food tastes, fatigue, etc. all wreak havoc on bodies not used to the African way of life. But, we press on to finish the race and finish it well.  Without further delay, please read the attachment penned by our team journalist, Jeff McCord (the team thinks we have the start of a new book and if you haven't read his first one, you can find it on Amazon.com - Awkward Grace by Jeff McCord). ---

Date: Tuesday, June 28, 2011, 8:47 PM Good Morning! I just received a text from our team leader, Chris, saying she was having trouble with the internet connection in Kisumu. This is fairly typical for the beginning of a trip and we hope to have it cleared up soon. The team had a great day but they're exhausted so they will try to fix the problem tomorrow and email everyone then.   In the meantime, keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming! They appreciate all the love they are feeling and everyone says "Hi!!!".   Thank you again,   Blessings to all - Sally

JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM JUNE 30 2011

Chris Espedal June 2011 Kenya Team Update June 30 2011

June 30 - We had french toast this morning. And while we covered it with butter and jam, we were given the honor of naming two puppies that were new to Jack and Evelyn's home. We settled on "WaWa" and "Abby". "WaWa" is the best gas-station-sandwhich-shop-milkshake-parlor-cofee-shop-restaurant in the Pennsylvania and Washington area. We have a lot of passion on our team for WaWa, and it somehow seemed an appropriate name for a Kenyan puppy. Abby is not the name of anyone you will see written on our team roster, but it is someone we know is with us and who we all carry around. We felt that it was also the finest of names.

We started the day at Salem School and Medical Clinic where we visited with orphans and sorted medical supplies. The motto at Salem is "Knowledge is Light" and the chidren are beautiful and incredibly bright. They are much more fluent in U.S. state cpaitals than anyone on our team. In the late morning, we split into two teams and traveled to the Obunga slum. Obunga is the largest slum in Kisumu. The word "slum" conjures a lot of images and they are all present at Obunga. It was something, that for us, Hollywood movies had not captured and our minds had not imagined. It is a desparate place were raw sewage runs like small creeks along the dirt roads. Homes of mud brick and tin lean toward one another and half-naked children play in front of small storefronts. We walked into this place with suitcases filled with medical supplies to visit the homes of some of the sick and to do what we could do. Sharayah flowed easily into the community helping with the cooking at one home. Grace held the children being treated, sometimes very tightly, and handed Justine medical supplies using a color-coded-non-medical-terminology method that somehow seemed to work. Rachael fashioned an orthpedic out of a cornhusk and Dr. Jeff waded through the crowds to the homes of the sick treating people along the way. It was hard. It was hot. It was overwhelming. So much need. So many people. So few resources. It is fair to say that we all became emotional in Obunga. And it is also fair to say that later that evening, when we prayed and talked we became even more emotional. But by the grace of God and the strength of this team that emotion found a safe outlet. In between those times, we visited the Salem Orphange and found happy children ready to play. We needed to play. So we played.

It is hard to know what to do with a day like this day. At its end though, under the protection of the Holy Spirit, we walked in love into the day to do what we could do. For now that is enough. Our prayers this day include Mary (the Director of Salem Clinic), Monique (a lady on the streets of Obunga who asked for our prayers), John (the director of Salem Orphange), Bernard (an orphan at Salem Orhanage whose smile lights the day) and Rebecca (an orphan at Salem who has captured our hearts). And so again we ask your prayers for us as well. Until tomorrow...

Re: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM JUNE 28 2011

Thu, Jun 30, 2011 at 9:59 AM

CHRIS ESPADAL JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM  JUNE 28 2011

6-29 - It's cool in Kisumu in the mornings. This is a surprise to most of us, but the winds from Lake Victoria keep a slight chill in the air. Children are off  by 6:15 am walking to school in their uniforms. Birds of some unknown origin call loudly  back and forth while roosters try in earnest to wake the day. Chickens appear in the yard, mosquitos retreat the coming sun, and we are off to live another day. Devin got to see her dad at work today. During health inspections, Dr. Jeff was the center of attention at Orongo Orphanage. Anna worked the other line of children with skill and love that amazed the rest of the team. The children stood patiently in line while they waited for their check-ups. At Migosi Orphanage Justine organized the effort, surprising no one, with Rachael at her side. Mary taught school and Jill engaged the children in games that cast wide smiles accross their faces. We found that HIV had taken many of these children's parents and that many had the disease themselves. We learned that in Kenya the phrase "Living Positive" was not a new Nike slogan or some new age affirmation, but what it is called when a child lives infected with this dreaded disease. We heard children's songs like "rain rain go away" but also ones like "Aids is a very bad disease" showing that this plague had gone so far as to infect a child's nursery rhyme. But we also heard the children sing a song that said, "Things are already getting better", and that sort of hope is part what makes this place so special and this day so good.

After our visits to the orphanges, we visited both boys and girls classrooms at Orongo Highschool answering questions ranging from the existence of dinosuars to how HIV is contracted by newborns. We tried to explain snow and how movies are made along with a multitude of other questions that left us wishing we were smarter. After class Heidi was the first to recieve what quickly became a flurry of marriage proposals. On the ride home, Dr. Jeff and Justine made a roadside "house call" before we sat down to dinner and called it a day. Along the way we met people like Florence, the director of Orongo Orphange, whose faith left us humbled and George whose crafts we are sure some of you will enjoy. Our prayers are with them as we hope yours are with us. This place is really too big for words. Words were not meant to stretch that far. But from them, we hope you can feel at least a little bit of what is in our hearts. Until next time...

Fwd: FW: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 29 2011

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Jambo everyone,    It's really us - the June team in Kisumu.  Wow, where do I begin. This has been a trip of wonders to date with more to come.  We are blessed beyond measure to experience the hand of God on a daily basis.  Beginning with  problem free travel, meeting the team and making all of our connections, to getting through customs without even a glance in our direction. From there it has been continued team bonding, lots of laughter, thunder & lightening to the heat of the African sun. We've had it all and count ourselves blessed.   We apologize for the delay in team reports - such is life in Africa ...some days we have power, others we are de-briefing by the light of our headlamps.    Everyone on the team is healthy, no problems at all.  We are all sleeping well and are comfortable and cared for. The African meals we have been served are a delight. The people we meet, the things we do all add to the joy of our service.    One of my biggest blessings as team leader is to have a newspaper columist on the team.  Attached you will find our first report with many more to follow, Lord willing the internet is up. Blessing to all of you. I am grateful to serve with my husband Larry as team leaders for this Team Terrific! In HIS grip, Larry and Chris (please see attached)    good! Love to all.   Please continue to pray for Chris, Larry, the team and the VCI Kenya staff as they bring help and healing to so many. Pray everyone stays healthy and happy, too!   Thank you, once again, for your never-ending support for the team and for Village Care International.   May God continue to bless you today! Sally

Fwd: June 2011 Kenya Team Update June 29 2011

Chris Espedal June 2011 Kenya Team Update June 29 2011

June 27 - We woke to an early breakfast and a long bus ride. The journey from Nairobi to Kisumu is about six hours on a good day, this was not a good day. A small traffic jam and a couple of detours stretched the ride to a couple of hours past that. But as we were riding along in our lime-green bus, it didn't seem to matter much.  Something began to  happen along the way. We talked a little too loud and laughed with an ease that sometime takes years to grow. We told our stories and gave each other a good natured hard-time. We started, in almost a miraculous way, to become a family. And why not? For most of us, we are traveling to an unknown place. To all of us we are taking a journey of faith. Before we met, we were already a family. Larry was pretty sure he would see a giraffe along the side of the highway. Chris told him, he most definitely would not. When the zebras appeared, Larry thought that was close enough and counted it as vindication. Other than that, we talked and laughed, went to the bathroom when we could, and tried to sleep just a little. It was a long trip, but a good one. At its end, we ate a wonderful meal full of new tastes and textures. Then we made our way to Pastor Jack's where we will live close together for the next little while. It was night but dozens of children came to greet us. And even through the darkness, we began to make new friends. We settled, slept, and counted it a blessed day.

June 28 - We enjoyed the graciouness of Evelyn's (Pastor Jack's wife) hospitatlity at breakfast, then splitting into two teams, we went to share, learn, observe, pray, and encourage. We saw a Talipia farm where people from a nearby village were bringing both hope and prosperity to their community. We visited a farm where the pride in working the land grew as tall as avacado trees. We witnessed the beauty of work and the power of putting faith into action. We were amazed. Our groups met back together in a house where a women's group presented their work in helping orphans and then sang a prayer of praise. We were overwhelmed. We prayed that there would be no more hail. We prayed for the protection of a fish pond. And, we prayed for names like Benson, Richard, and Benta. We were served incredible African tea and enormous avacados. Though this is a place of little means, there is large hospitality. Among other things, we also learned that Kerry was named after a county in Ireland, and we grew even closer as a team. We visited Briarly Childrens home, which is sponsored by a church in England, where 48 orphans are cared for and educated. The children's faces were full of curiosity and love, and so were ours. All in all, it was a day that is difficult to put into words. Grace is often like that.

It is not yet 9:00 pm, but most of the team is fast asleep. We are all filled with a good kind of tired. Tomorrow, we will continue our work, so as we do, please continue to pray for us.

Fwd: FW: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 29 2011

Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2011 11:27:02 -0700
Subject: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 29 2011

Hello everybody,

Well, yes….if it's me, that means the team is still having report troubles. L Yesterday it was internet problems, today, there is no power to send anything with! Such is life in Africa….

I have received a report of sorts via text message from Chris and the rest of the team. They are bonding well and working hard (of course!). The team is asking for prayer regarding the health assessments they're doing during their visits this week. During these assessments, each child in the VCI program for the place they're visiting is seen by the medical personnel on the team (or in the case of a non-medical team, is looked at by those of us experienced with children and typical health and illness issues). Each child is checked for visible signs of illness or injury, ringworm, distended bellies or physical harm. If there is something of note, a note is made on the child's assessment form and the issue is brought to the attention of the leadership of VCI Kenya and of the place being visited. If the issue warrants it, the child is given medical treatment on the spot, or taken to a local clinic for help. (Your donations and team support help pay for this type of work to be done, with funds from our Orphan Care Fund going along with the team to Kenya – thank you!.) The key part of the assessment is that team members train the Kenyans to do the evaluations so that they can repeat it every three months to monitor the child and their progress.

Today, Chris texted "When and if you ever get our email reports, you will be blessed beyond words. One woman taken to hospital today for life saving measures, four kids seen with pneumonia and Lydia (a young woman the May team helped with a serious health issue) was seen and referred for open biopsy. Medical team members rock…Dr. Jeff is exhausted!
Other team members have been very busy and very helpful. Great time of HIV education at Orongo (Children's Home, in Kisumu, which oversees more than 3,000 children!).
All team members happy and healthy. God is good!
Love to all.

Please continue to pray for Chris, Larry, the team and the VCI Kenya staff as they bring help and healing to so many. Pray everyone stays healthy and happy, too!

Thank you, once again, for your never-ending support for the team and for Village Care International.

May God continue to bless you today!
Sally

Fwd: FW: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 28 2011

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Subject: JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM UPDATE JUNE 28 2011

Good Morning!
I just received a text from our team leader, Chris, saying she was having trouble with the internet connection in Kisumu. This is fairly typical for the beginning of a trip and we hope to have it cleared up soon.
The team had a great day but they're exhausted so they will try to fix the problem tomorrow and email everyone then.

In the meantime, keep the prayers and positive thoughts coming! They appreciate all the love they are feeling and everyone says "Hi!!!".

Thank you again,

Blessings to all -
Sally

Fwd: FW: MADE IT SAFELY TO KISUMU

Hello everyone!

I received word that the team made it safely to Kisumu, Kenya, this morning (their late afternoon). No doubt they arrived tired and hungry, and most likely had no time to email. With 14 people squeezing into three rooms (living like Africans already!), it probably took most of the evening to simply get settled.
I feel confident you will get their first "on the ground" report tomorrow.

Just to clarify, emails will be sent whenever possible by the team, but if you don't get one, don't worry! It doesn't mean there is any kind of problem, other than running out of hours in the day. J

In the meantime, if you would like to read more about Village Care and the many teams and stories in our background, please visit our blog at http://villagecare.blogspot.com/. You will see many great stories of the wonderful projects started in Africa and plenty of team reports including great pictures of people they have met (and some of the animals, too!).

Thank you, as always, for your love and support for the team!

God bless,
Sally

Fwd: FW: THE JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM IS ON THE WAY!

This was sent Saturday as the team left Washington, DC for Zurich.  Rachel said the plane was full of people from all over the world.  She was so excited!

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Subject: THE JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM IS ON THE WAY!

The June 2011 Kenya Team is on its way to Zurich, then on to Nairobi later tonight.
Everyone met as planned and they even had time for a team photo (see attached).

Please keep them in your prayers – apparently seat assignments were changed so the team is very spread out on this flight. Pray that the Zurich to Nairobi flight is not so jumbled (or crowded – this one is packed).
Please also pray that they become invisible to the customs agents when they go through, as they are bringing many medical supplies. Unfortunately, due to corruption by some, it's not unusual for tourists to get pulled and made to pay fines for things….so…let's just pray no one sees them. J

I'll send an update when they land tomorrow morning.
Thank you for your prayers and support!

Sally



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Join a team. Change a life.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
1Timothy 2:1

Fwd: FW: THE TEAM HAS ARRIVED IN NAIROBI!

Date: Sun, 26 Jun 2011 16:14:47 -0700
Subject: THE TEAM HAS ARRIVED IN NAIROBI!

Hello everyone!

I wanted to let you know that the June 2011 Kenya Team has arrived safely in Nairobi, Kenya. They are spending the night there and will begin their journey to Kisumu tomorrow.

Thank you so much for all your prayers of invisibility – of course, they worked! I received the following message via text from Larry Espedal, our team co-leader earlier today:
"Arrived safe. Not even a glance in our direction thru customs. God is good. Great trip, great team."

The 14-member team is bringing medical supplies to donate and use while working in the area with Village Care's partner clinic, Salem Medical Clinic. The clinic is instrumental in getting medical care out to those who are too ill to leave their homes and who would otherwise have no medical care at all.
The team, which includes an ER Doctor, a pediatric nurse, a practical nurse and an EMT/Federal Emergency Response Team Member (team co-leader Chris Espedal), will journey into the slums to help these people and when their work in Kisumu is complete, will leave the remaining supplies with Village Care Kenya to disperse as needed throughout our partner orphanages and the clinic.

They will also be visiting and working with partner villages in the Kisumu region, encouraging them and seeing the projects they've started, and of course, lending a hand wherever possible.

Please stay tuned! The team will send email updates as often as possible. Our target is daily, although some days it's just not possible…so don't worry if you don't hear from them!

Thank you, on behalf of the team. I know they appreciate all your support and prayers.

God bless,
Sally

Fwd: FW: THE JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM IS ON THE WAY!

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Date: Sat, 25 Jun 2011 16:33:33 -0700
Subject: THE JUNE 2011 KENYA TEAM IS ON THE WAY!

The June 2011 Kenya Team is on its way to Zurich, then on to Nairobi later tonight.
Everyone met as planned and they even had time for a team photo (see attached).

Please keep them in your prayers – apparently seat assignments were changed so the team is very spread out on this flight. Pray that the Zurich to Nairobi flight is not so jumbled (or crowded – this one is packed).
Please also pray that they become invisible to the customs agents when they go through, as they are bringing many medical supplies. Unfortunately, due to corruption by some, it's not unusual for tourists to get pulled and made to pay fines for things….so…let's just pray no one sees them. J

I'll send an update when they land tomorrow morning.
Thank you for your prayers and support!

Sally





Join a team. Change a life.

I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them.
1Timothy 2:1

Made it to washington dc to meet the team! Sitting on the plane waiting to take off to zurich switzerland! Bon voyage!

test

rach

The Time Has Arrived!

It is finally here! Tomorrow at 1:30 my plane will depart from nashville for washington DC to meet my team. From there we will fly to Zurich Switzerland and connect to our flight into Nairobi.

Today has been an amazing day for me. I found out early this morning that i passed my board exams for Physical Therapy....i cannot begin to express to you the overwhelming joy that has been heaping up today and flowing out of my eyes (as we call tears :) ). It has been unreal. I am soo thankful to have made it through that program. I remember the days when i feared that i would never get in to begin with.

And now the next day I am going to Africa! I have been dreaming of this for many years ever since i was a little girl. My birthday was a few days ago, and with passing boards and now this, it seams so trivial. 26 has brought on already sooo much! I cannot wait to get there, to learn from them, experience it, to just be there. I know it is going to change me like crazy,and trust me, you'll hear about it.

I learned a lot about this program by reading the book the insanity of Africa. I finished it a little while ago and it was eye opening and yet soo simple. Basically the book talks about the problems that africa faces and our role in how the problems got there, and our role in how to help these problems...which is basically no role at all. The idea of village care is to encourage people, to be present with them, and give them room to solve their own problems. Because they are the ones who know the problem the most!! The book applies this principle to Africa. It talks about the mentality of the Africans that has been established from past events, the mentality of americans, and where africa is today. I am excited to see this all play out while we are there and to learn from it, and be encouraged by it.

So every day We will be sending from Africa a little write up of how the day went, what happened and such. And this is all possible by my mother who will be taking the email and uploading it to my blog! Thanks Mom!! They'll be typed up by a different team member everyday, with pics too i think.

Thats all for now! thank you for your prayers and support. Pray for the safety of our team, prevention of illness and the such, pray that God will speak to us all through each other(our team, the africans), and that we will all be encouraged. uuuuu iam soo excited about these next 14 days! It'll be good to REALLY learn how to use my djembe. Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible for me to go on and for this all to happen. This is soooo huge and i cant believe that it all came together and that i am really going on such a big event (in price, and situation), and it is sooo great that it is happening at this exact time for me, a true celebration. ......and it actually has turned about to be somewhat of a medical trip! A handful of us going are medical professionals (including myself :), WOW!) so we will have the opportunity to do some home visits and help some people, which is not standard on the trip. How cool is that! Ever since i started PT school i thought how awesome would it be to do medical missions.........whala! Thanks big man

-Rachel

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