I saw God work many miracles as He helped Living Waters Intl (LWI) gather an international medical team to provide the first Medical/Dental Camp at their orphan feeding center on Rusinga Island in Kenya. One of the miracles was how the specialized equipment and various supplies came together, including an autoclave from the Kendu Adventist Hospital (KAH). Jane, a dental assistant at KAH, trained me to sterilize dental tools. She shared with me, “It is my privilege and honor to help those less fortunate. My employer is fine with me taking extra time off from time to time to do mission work. This has been a very good experience, being able to help so many children in just a few days.”
The event provided medical check-ups, dental cleaning and procedures and vision testing for 205 orphans, 56 guardians and 11 staff members, on March 26 – April 1. Various chance meetings and invitations over the course of three months provided LWI Directors Daryl and Mary Jo Oft a dream team who came from Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Russia, The Dominican Republic, and Kendu Bay, Kenya. LWI has been caring for orphans in Kaswanga for 20 years. Equipment and supplies were provided by LWI’s donors, the AZ SonShine organization, Dentsply Sirona, Patterson, and KAH.
The majority of the LWI children had never previously seen a doctor or a dentist or had their vision checked. After 194 procedures, three children were transported to the Kendu Adventist Hospital for follow-up care. Moses, a KAH emergency room nurse said, “I love my job, but helping these orphans who have no resources for this kind of care, is very exciting. I was impressed that they were clean, well taken care of, wearing school uniforms and shoes. They are all kind, patient and very happy to get this care.” A 14-year-old volunteer from Maryland said, “I am so glad I get to help these children. They have no resources for this kind of care.”
The staff members at LWI Orphan Feeding Center were surprised at how efficiently the clinic was laid out and run. “I’ve never seen anything like this” noted Julie, manager of the feeding program since LWI’s beginning, said, “To see the team, who had never met together before this event, working so well together, is truly inspiring. And I see every person serving with purpose. This is definitely a God thing.”
The Center’s veranda became the registration area. Julie offered her office for dental cleaning. The Guest House office/clinic became the doctors’ clinic. The screened porch became the vision checkpoint. The sewing center was transformed into a dental clinic. The children were served for over four days, so no single area was too full. The last two days of the clinic were reserved for those who needed follow-up care.
Local volunteer, Sharon, who helped in the medical waiting area and served as a translator, was impressed how happy the adults were to serve and how friendly the doctors were with the children. LWI Kaswanga’s program director, Ezekiel said, “The help we provide, feeding and clothing these children and now providing medical care, helps the community.”
So, for all of us, this was a purposeful journey to share God’s love in tangible ways and to build on LWI’s daily mission work. LWI treasures the Bible verse in Matthew 25:40: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” LWI will continue to feed, clothe and care for orphan children with our help. Dr. Ugonna Woods, LWI board member and medical director for Arizona SonShine said, “If you want to see God working in very tangible ways, go on a mission trip”.
Being a part of God’s love in action in Kaswanga has lifted my spirits, encouraged me to live with less, be happy in Jesus’s care every day and to continue to look for tangible ways to share God’s love and care with those less fortunate. Every person can make a tangible difference if they are open to God’s leading. You can reach Living Waters Intl on their website: www.livingwatersintl.org
Respectfully submitted,
Kathy Siler
Payson AZ
Coming soon: new opportunities in partnering with Living Waters to serve His children.