Vanovers' Travels: Hippos in the morning

Greetings from the Maasai Mara! We were awakened today by the inimitable sound of hippos returning from a night of grazing…truly a memorable event not to be missed if one has the opportunity. We started our weekend of celebration and relaxation a bit early with a surprise birthday celebration for Marilyn on Thursday (her sixth birthday here in Kenya!). Our friends from Fredericksburg, Gayle and Cyndie Williams, were kind enough to bake a cake for her and surprise her during dinnertime at the guesthouse. We had a great time visiting with the other volunteers, as well as a fascinating retired missionary couple (Ruth and Dilley - see photos below) who have lived in Kenya now for the past 50+ years. They had driven in to Tenwek for appointments with the ophthalmology service, and were spending the night before driving on to their next destination… a weekend retreat with the African Inland Missions organization. Dilley had been born in Kenya, and held us spellbound with tales of growing up in Kenya, cobbling together his first car (a Land Rover) from junk parts salvaged from a local junkyard for the equivalent of $50, working as a delivery man and repairman at Kijabe Hospital near Nairobi, traveling to the Mara shortly after the Mau Mau wars (before safaris became commonplace), having his 50$ Land Rover break down on the Mara, overhauling the engine (again with spare parts from salvage), traveling to the US with only enough money to pay for his passage to NY, and eventually making his way to California, where he was able to find work as a repairman, and eventually work his way through university, where he graduated with a degree in engineering. Afterwards, he returned to Kenya where he met and married his wife Ruth, who had ventured there as a 28 year old newly graduated nurse from England. She had felt the call to mission work at a young age, and has been serving the people of Kenya for over 50 years now! What a fascinating story they had to tell!! We had a wonderful evening of fellowship, with cake, candles, and celebration… AS WELL AS… ice cream! (thanks to Cheryl and Dean Cowles). On Friday we left for safari with Gayle and Cyndie. We travelled to the Maasai Mara, and stayed the weekend at the Fairmont Safari resort…what a wonderful respite time for all. A typical day on the Mara included an early a.m. game drive, followed by a gourmet breakfast buffet, a midday trip to a local Maasai village, then the gourmet lunch buffet, an afternoon game drive, followed by an evening gourmet dinner buffet! In between all of this eating, sight seeing, and relaxing, I (Randy) squeezed in some time for a massage, and some rest (I know what you’re thinking… “this mission work sounds rough”?). This morning, I was treated to one last chorus from the hippos returning to the river outside our tent…what an amazing world our God has created for us to enjoy, and what amazing creatures we share this earth with! See some of the images of our journey below. It is now time to return to Tenwek for the last week of our volunteer time. Gayle has been providing radiology services to the hospital, and teaching the physician staff the basics of head CT interpretation (and any other helpful tips which can be critical when radiology support is not so readily available). Cyndie has been working with some local women, teaching them sewing techniques, so that they might be able to earn some extra income for their families. Marilyn and I will be returning to our duties with the obstetrical and medical services. What a joy it has been to again serve at Tenwek Hospital. We all feel truly blessed to be able to see God doing such amazing things among the people here, and to partner with Him in the work at hand. The needs here are massive and at times overwhelming, but the presence of Tenwek in the midst of this, is a reminder of what can be accomplished as the result of individuals faithfully following where God leads. Our time here will soon be up, but the experiences, rewards, friendships, and memories will last a lifetime. Thank you for your continued prayers on our behalf. We look forward to being back among our friends and family soon!

With love,

Randy and Marilyn