Be Servants of Men

"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet.  I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you." - John 13:14-15

So my title for this post and this scripture has to deal with what we did today, but first I want to back-up to yesterday and briefly explain my Friday.  The internet was not working properly last night and wouldn't let me post unfortunately, which saddened me.  Yesterday I was on the maternity ward while Emily worked in the clinic after rounds.  During rounds, I got called in by one of the doctors to observe an abdominal wound closure on a patient that had been in the hospital for a month.  It was a very interesting wound and closure procedure.  The patient will be going home very soon now after waiting so long for this wound to be clear of infection and in the process of healing so it could be sutured.  After that I got to assist with a c-section and tubal ligation, just me and the doctor and the nurse handing her the instruments.  I literally held the woman's uterus in my hand for a good 20 minutes while the doctor sutured and tied. It was very awesome! I am officially cured off all queasiness associated with cutting open people, Woo-Hoo! 

The day slowed down after that with doing exams on a couple ladies on the ward, tracking down labs, and having a couple women need non-stress tests done to see if we need to deliver their babies.  Three women were in labor but not ready to deliver quite yet, so we got ready to go and do a D&C when we got called over to Casualty (the ER) for a women brought in with postpartum hemorrhage.  She was unresponsive so they were running a full code on her.  I helped with CPR while they pushed fluids and blood.  We finally got a good pulse and heartbeat while Seth, the ER doc, talked me through a central line as he did it (quickly!).  Unfortunately, the women coded again and we could not get her back.  I had observed three codes before on a previous rotation, but this was my first time to play a role in the code (as they have full code teams already in place back on the hospital floors at home) and the first time the patient died.  We prayed over her body after she had passed and I found myself tearing up.  I never knew this woman, but it just kind of hit me that this is the first time I've seen someone actually die.  I can't really explain what I felt, a lot of different emotions at once that I don't know how to sum up.  This will definitely be one of those moments that I hope to never forget and I hope if I do see more death, that I never lose those feelings that I had, no matter how mixed they may have been.  I don't want to become immune.  We must always remember that this is a life, someone's loved one.  Even though they may be with God now, there are still people left behind grieving.

Today was a day that was definitely needed after that last experience yesterday.  Mark, Emily, and I joined 9 other missionaries and went to an orphanage about an 1 1/2 hours away to wash the feet of the children.  First, let me just say that the trip to this orphanage was a new experience for me.  The first 20 minutes is on paved highway, but after that it's all dirt, mud, rock, potholes filled with water, and everything else not soft.  There were 12 of us in the vehicle posted below and it was the most I have ever bounced around and had to hold on to something when traveling in a car.  I will never again complain of the West KY or Bluegrass Parkways! I have never been so grateful for pavement in my life!

 12 people and bags and bags of shoes, socks, and shirts

Just an example of some of the road we traveled though not very clear

The orphanage we went to is Bosto Children's Home and it is home to around 40 children ranging from elementary to high school age.  There was 30 kids there today greeting us as we climbed out of the jeep with big smiles and handshakes (or hand slaps, they liked to put power behind it lol).  Dr. Bemm, a long-term pediatric missionary here at Tenwek, invited us along with him and part of his family to wash the feet of these children and to hand out 2 pairs of socks, a pair of shoes, and a shirt to every single one.  He held a short Bible study beforehand telling the story from John 13: 1-17 of how Jesus washed the feet of the disciples at the Last Supper.  The kids were great at answering questions about the story and what God expects from us as Christians and his servants.  He sent His only son here to live and die for us and he is called Lord.  Yet Jesus did not act superior to anyone and he treated everyone equally.  He was many roles but most importantly he served others and we should do the same.  The verses I quoted above explains exactly why we did what we did: Jesus commanded us to go forth and do as he has done.

 SHOES!!

What an amazing view from the orphanage!

With Amos after a good feet wash and new socks and shoes on his feet.

These kids were amazing, as are all Kenyan children.  They have a spirit that is so thankful for everything that is brought their way no matter what troubles or circumstances they have endured.  They are empowering and I hope I am able to bring some of their spirit home with me! One day I hope to bring one of them home with me through adoption :)  God Bless everyone!