Vanovers' Travels: The Beauty of Christian Community

Dear friends and family,

Marilyn and I are finally getting settled into our roles here at Tenwek Hospital in Bomet county Kenya. It has again taken a bit of time to adjust to the time change as well as the transition from outpatient U.S. medicine to inpatient Kenya medicine – the two are quite literally “worlds apart”. Thus far, our time here has been a bit unusual compared with prior trips – the hospital census has been down for all services, and the types of problems being seen are a bit unusual as well. The local physicians theorize that the change might be due to the implementation of mandatory COVID 19 screening prior to being seen in casualty (the emergency department), and prior to admission to the hospital. The cost of screening is about 3000 Kenyan shillings (Ksh) (the equivalent of about $30 USD) which is quite a lot of money for the local people of Bomet county. Most of the local residents are farmers and are living on about 400 ksh/day (about $4 USD). In addition to the cost of testing being somewhat prohibitive, there is a growing stigma which is attached to being diagnosed with COVID 19 (much like we have seen with the diagnosis of HIV here in the past). Once an individual in the community is diagnosed with COVID 19, he or she is often shunned by family members and friends and becomes very isolated. The belief is that these factors are leading patients to remain at home rather than seek care. Consequently, there are fewer than normal numbers of patients being seen and admitted to the hospital. Even the OB deliveries are lower than usual- presumably this means that more patients are delivering at home. This is not to say that we have nothing to do…just that we are a bit less busy than usual. The impact of COVID 19 on the missionary community has been very harsh as well. Many of the staff have become infected, though fortunately all have recovered thus far. Over the past year, the number of visiting staff has been dramatically reduced, and Tenwek is only just now beginning to see more visitors coming through (including ourselves). When we were here in January of this year, we were pretty much alone, with the exception of one other physician from North Carolina. It was a particularly lonely time…we had very little contact with the long-term staff during that visit. As a result, both the long-term staff and the short- term visiting staff have been very isolated, overworked, and stressed. The critical importance and therapeutic effect of in-person interactions, and Christian community was brought home to us again this week when we were invited to attend a going-away party for one of the local clinical officers that both Marilyn and I have worked with in the past. His name is Brian, and he is a particularly bright and friendly young man that we have been fortunate to know and work with over the years. After a few years of serving on the Tenwek staff as a clinical officer (the U.S. equivalent of a physician assistant), Brian has made the decision to go back and train to become a physician (which means an additional 6 years of medical school on top of his already completed clinical officer training). While at Tenwek, Brian has had many deep personal relationships with other CO’s, MO’s (medical officers), and physicians. He has been involved in weekly bible studies hosted by a long-term missionary couple, weekly luncheons for students and clinical staff at the hospital, regular devotionals at the hospital, and weekly worship services with the African Gospel Church here on campus. As a result, he is KNOWN and well LOVED by those in his community. We had the opportunity to witness this love and friendship up-close during his going-away celebration. When those attending were asked if they had any advice to impart to Brian before his departure from Tenwek. the advice was obviously heartfelt…most of his friends stressed the importance of finding fellow Christian students to hold him accountable, to provide love and support when he was experiencing hard times or periods of anxiety and stress, and to provide him with community and respite from the rigors of training and study. All of his friends covenanted to be in prayer for him, and to be available to him should he need a sympathetic ear, or reassurance that what he was going through was normal and surmountable. There was much laughter, some moments of quiet sincerity, a few tears, several prayers, and even some dancing! I am including some pictures and a video clip (below) from our evening of celebration with Brian and friends, and hosts Dean and Cheryl Cowles (Cheryl is head of the OB/GYN program here at Tenwek, and her husband Dean is a pastor and the liaison between all visiting staff and the long-term staff).

Marilyn and I have been fortunate to be part of a similar Christian community in San Antonio called the Christian Medical and Dental Association (CMDA). This group offers numerous weekly small group opportunities and prayer groups, weekly bible studies, weekly luncheons with Christian doctors or dentists as speakers, and periodic medical and dental service projects – many of which we have blessed to be a part of. Here again, we have witnessed the importance of life in a community of fellow believers. We have also witnessed how difficult it has been to maintain this community when not able to meet in person over the past year. It was a joy for Marilyn and me to again witness that which has been missing for us here at Tenwek since the COVID era began – that beautiful, living, breathing “thing” that is Christian community. I suspect this is but a glimpse of the Kingdom life to come! Our prayer is that each of you might also be blessed with such friends and community. Enjoy!

Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” NIV.

The 2021 OB Team (left to right): Brian C.O., Annette MD, FP resident, Abola MD, MO, Cheryl Cowles MD, OB/GYN, Angela MD, OB/GYN, Marilyn MD, OB/GYN, and Dorcas CO (front).