Habari #11

(For English, try this LINK and hit the „Translate“ button)

Habari means "message" or "What's up?" in Swahili. If you've missed our last newsletters, simply... HERE click. You can also HERE Sign up for future newsletters.

Our vision:
Making more effective health services possible in East Africa.

Can I just forget?

„We are so grateful to be able to participate in this training!“ one of the “aunties,” as the staff members at the children’s home are called, recently exclaimed. For about a month now, I (Lisa) have been spending three days a week with the approximately 30 childcare workers at the children’s home. Naomi's Village. Kenyans love training. But what surprises some women here is that my training sessions are less about imparting knowledge and skills, and more about offering a space for healing one's own soul. Interested in this? Trauma healing Program? Click here for the Homepage)

The women's fates are difficult: physical and sexual abuse, neglect, and hunger are sadly commonplace. The women worry about how they can care for the children in the home when they themselves have so many "heart wounds." One of the women asked: "Can I simply forget my trauma?"„
With open wounds on the body, foreign objects and dirt must first be removed, and then the area disinfected; otherwise, even more painful infections can occur. The same applies to emotional wounds, the so-called "heart wounds." If the pain in our soul is suppressed and ignored, it won't get better. Unfortunately, forgetting emotional wounds is a myth, because the triggers always resurface and spread dirt around the wound. The woman who asked this question has bravely decided to attend regular individual sessions to work on her pain. This isn't easy, because talking about one's own pain is seen as a sign of weakness by many in this culture. My hope is that these women will no longer suppress and ignore their pain, but will learn to integrate the following principles into their lives:

• „"Grief is a process.",
• „"Feelings are not evil, but provide me with important clues about my inner reality,",
• „"God's goodness is not dependent on our behavior."“

Arrive

Here's a short video of our new surroundings. 

Video summary:

The girls have started back at school for in-person classes, and everyone is very happy that homeschooling is over and things are returning to some semblance of normality. Lisa has started her new job and is thoroughly enjoying it.
David visited Garissa, a place he had long wanted to go. There, he toured Banda Health clinics and trained a new "Ambassador," a regional representative for Banda Health. He also had the opportunity to visit the various institutions that partner with Kijabe Hospital and participate in a Community Health Volunteer Training program. David is currently working with Garissa County Referral Hospital on a new organizational structure for their emergency department.
As a family, we are grateful to be in Kijabe and have settled in quite well. We are now ready to welcome guests 😉

Corruption stinks

David has had many frustrating experiences with corruption lately. Some of it was expected from government officials, but not from churches and small institutions like schools or utility companies. It feels like everyone is only focused on their own profit, without any regard for the consequences. Starting with the customs officials, who 2.3 million childhood vaccinations to expire, From the police officers who refuse to lift a finger for a young girl who has been raped, to the wealthy bishop who, in a sermon about the gifts of the Holy Spirit, urged his poor parishioners to give him (even) more money. Corruption is everywhere and sometimes seems insurmountable.
It is not our job here to end corruption. It has always existed.Ecclesiastes 5:7) and it is God's job to judge (Mark 12:38-40But we are already fighting against that!
But there are also always very encouraging stories of people who are generous beyond their means. A colleague who gave up a lucrative career in America to support her mother and brother, or the hospital administrator who, despite threatened dismissal, continues to fight for good structures and good care in his government hospital. God is at work there!
We also witnessed how much could be changed and improved with little effort and little money:

• With a little help, for example, a friend whose rented apartment was vandalized can now build a house.
• With less than 30 euros from the Austrian central bank, over 60 children can now go back to school, where they receive their only hot meal of the day, or take their apprenticeship exam to support their HIV-infected family, or a farmer whose well has collapsed can dig a new well, creating new opportunities for the surrounding farms.

It's so easy to help, but where should we start, and where should we hold back? We ask ourselves this question several times a day.

prayer corner

We recently watched Charles Mully's life story on YouTube. His journey – from street child to one of the biggest helpers for street children in Kenya – is very moving, and you get a good picture of what life is like in Kenya. Enjoy!

Best regards,

the miners