The Friess Family

Want To Start A Mission Hospital....Read This!

2011-09-23T13:51:00.001-04:00

http://www.cmda.org/wcm/media/pdf/Compile_Management_Manual.pdf?WebsiteKey=48ec18ec-fd3e-4aaf-96a0-7e0f5e5efc08&=404%3bhttp%3a%2f%2fwww.cmda.org%3a80%2fWCM%2fCMDA%2fmedia%2fpdf%2fCompile_Management_Manual.pdf

First Day of School

2011-09-01T00:07:00.002-04:00

Backpacks, dolls, lunches....ready to go!

Meredith is in Pre-Kindergarden in the mornings this year. She likes learning songs, making friends, and earning coupons for a pizza party. She also gets excited when she occasionally see's her big sister on the playground.

Amelia is learning about the solar system and has declared when she turns 10 she wants to go to space! She is enjoying a similar curriculum with Advanced Reading as she used in Kenya. She has made a good friend with the other new student from Texas. The worst part of school was that in PE she had to square-dance with a boy

Crescent Lake

2011-08-18T22:25:00.003-04:00

I am 8!

Cousins...and lots of girl cousins!

Meredith & her decorated bike for the bike parade.

Thanks

2011-08-01T22:58:00.004-04:00

I think we had a theme for birthday gift. Thanks Nana, Papa, Auntie Ana, Uncle John, and Auntie Rachel. Amelia had a fabulous day and the celebrations continue now at Crescent Lake with Malin's family.

8

2011-07-27T00:24:00.004-04:00

Where has the time gone?

In a year that has included three different schools, two continents, three new churches, and many new friends....we are proud of Amelia and her patience on her 8th birthday.

Getting Together in Colorado

2011-07-11T22:01:00.001-04:00

Piano Lessons for Barley

2011-07-08T15:11:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Ivy gives Amelia piano lessons at the piano source here in Albuquerque. Amelia then gives Barley piano lessons..but his paws are a little to big for the black notes. I (Malin) am competing with Amelia as we are now at the same skill (level 1 in piano adventures technique and artistry book). Amelia has nailed "Journey by Camel" and I can play "My Pony" almost by memory.

In praise of the church

2011-05-26T12:37:00.002-04:00

Coming to Albuquerque we knew that we needed to immediately begin building community. We looked to the church as a natural place to meet and connect with people. Our experience in Akron during residency, of not connecting in a church we attended for 2 years and then having Meredith prematurely and realizing their was no one coming to support us, pray with us and help us taught us the importance of the church. And caused us to change churches and focus more time and energy in the church. This lesson continued as we relied on the support of several churches during our time Kenya.

So, we began "the church hunt" or "the church shopping". I think most of dread those terms as we sound like consumers: just looking for the church that will meet our needs. And yet we needed a church that would meet our loneliness and replace it with community and friendship.

Our second Sunday in Albuquerque we were invited to attend Hope Evangelical Free. And all I can say is that the people there have got it right from introducing by name and remembering our names, asking questions and taking the time to listen, inviting strangers to activities, and directing you to people that could help our family connect. We were immediately loved by that church and that in turn testifies to the love of Christ. We've learned that this welcoming didn't just happen, but took work and intentionality from the church. It also meant people willing to call us to go to playgroups, have dinner, join in on a BBQ, go running, meet for breakfast, introduce us to missionaries from Tenwek, invite us to a child's birthday partg, and play the piano as a means to get to know us. And so God's provision continues through the church.

Visitors #2

2011-05-26T12:29:00.005-04:00

Thanks to Ana and John for coming as well to visit. We had a good time hiking, playing and eating with them as well. Malin and John also enjoyed a nationally ranked golf course (I didn't tell Malin beforehand that John actually really knows how to play). The girls loved having another uncle around to climb on, talk with and chase. We're excited to see Megan, Gary, Joel, Anna and Estee this weekend at Mesa Verde park and to camp with them. And then in 2 weeks Nana comes. It's been so good to reconnect with family!

Visitors #1

2011-05-26T12:26:00.003-04:00

Thanks to Kiersten and Jason for coming to our house! We had a great time several weeks ago hiking, playing, and eating.

Making A Home

2011-04-26T12:07:00.000-04:00

Bouldering

2011-04-18T10:40:00.003-04:00

The Sandia foothills are essentially in our backyard. Amelia and Meredith have taken to evening hikes and climbing as many boulders as they can. Barley follows along and I'm often trying not to watch as they ascend something bigger. Meredith astutely commented, "It seems easier to go up, up, up but then tricky to get down." Yes, they both want to hike in dresses or skirts. And the camelback makes ever hike much better!

Settling In

2011-04-03T19:12:00.009-04:00

Few Pictures of the highlights of our road trip to Albuquerque

Dinner with Auntie Kiersten and Uncle Jason

Movie night with the cousins

Great Sand Dunes National Park-- a little detour on our road trip to Albuquerque

Auntie Ana treating the girls at the American Girl Doll Store Denver

We arrived in Albuquerque 10 days ago and are beginning to settle into our home. It's good to have arrived here and reflect on the path God brought us on to get here. How would we sum-up the 2 years in Kenya?--I can't answer that question. How would we describe our time there? What did we think of the experience? What did we see God do? We intended this blog to continually answer those questions. The answers aren't short and the questions continue because they can and should be asked where ever you live and work.

Amelia and Meredith attended a new school last week; overall the experience was good. Malin began work and I will be starting on some research prior to starting the fellowship. We appreciate prayer as we seek out community here.

On the road....

2011-03-25T23:02:00.002-04:00

We're in Rawlins for the night heading to Denver tomorrow. After an extended weekend there visiting family, we'll be heading to Albuquerque. Malin begins working April 4th. Amelia is traveling with us keeping Barley under control. Meredith flew with Grammie to Denver to spend some extra time with her cousins (but the real reason is that she's just not so great on road trips). Amelia has been bribed with a dollar per day she doesn't ask, "Are we there yet? or how much longer?" She's been creative and has asked, "What town do you think we'll eat in? What state will we sleep in tonight and are we in that State yet? Do you think I'll have enough time to watch Enchanted before we get there?" She's also reading out-loud to me in the car which is quite enjoyable. I was surprised when she asked me to continue home schooling her the next two months before I start fellowship. I'm still thinking about my answer.

As we drive I think of all that needs to happen once we arrive in Albuquerque, I find the extensive highway of 84 to 80 a perfect time to agonize over all that's coming, but it does seem that the speed of the car correlates with my anxiety level and so I'm reminded we are commanded by God to not worry, not to be anxious. So instead I think of all the ways God has provided in the past, confident He will continue to be faithful in the future.

How to get a puppy....

2011-03-23T20:59:00.002-04:00

1. Find a breed that doesn't shed (this was #1 for me)
2. Ask your parents for 3 years.
3. Write a letter to your daddy about all you'll do to care for a puppy and that he can even decide on the name (because as much as you want to name him Fluffy--maybe daddy doesn't.)
4. Check-out library books about dogs every chance you get.
5. Look endlessly on the internet at dog breeds and tell your parents about them in detail.
6. Promise your parents that you won't ask for another animal (like a horse) after you get the dog.

So meet the newest member of our family... BARLEY!

"no wrong doing.."

2011-03-23T12:02:00.002-04:00

It was more than I expected, but I am very grateful to have received an official letter from the Kenya saying there is no validity to the claims made against me and the hospital. Honestly I didn't believe resolution or even a favorable outcome was possible. And while I had committed this to prayer, along with many others, I did doubt that God would provide vindication. But there it is, written, clearly. How much peace this news brings!

A break..

2011-03-01T21:03:00.003-05:00

I planned to take a little break from blogging, but that quickly turned into an entire month!

We just traveled from Oak Harbor to Bend to start what I see as the final phase before our move to Albuquerque. We did get to use snow chains for the first time crossing the pass today and so it was a long journey.

Thankfully Amelia was still able to say, "Goodbye," to her friends at Oak Harbor Christian School as last week the school closed for snow. We've resumed home-schooling for now. Meredith is eager to join in after going to pre-school the past 3 months.

These are the easy things to write about--the facts of our day to day life since returning to the States. The harder things, the things we're still working through and processing I'm not ready yet to commit to words.

Together again

2011-01-28T23:08:00.004-05:00

Amelia, Meredith and I flew to Bend, Oregon and reunited with Malin for the next week (it's been just over 5 weeks since we've seen each other). While he's working, we'll still enjoy some cross-country skiing, swimming, running, and just being together. And of course the girls are excited to play with Grammie again. The girls and I left Papa to fend for himself until my Mom returns from Haiti Feb 2nd. It really has been so good to be geographically closer to our family for a while.

Haiti

2011-01-24T11:12:00.003-05:00

By the time this is posted Mom will have already been in Haiti one week--which means I was remiss and should've posted sooner. For quite a while my Mom has actively supported and participated in a ministry called Children of the Promise (childrenofthepromise.org) which provides care for orphans in Haiti. They both seek adoptive parents and support Haitian family members trying to care for orphans. I've lost track of the exact number of times Mom has been to Haiti, but sufficient to say she has made a long-term commitment to this ministry through short term service, constant fundraising and awareness. Her passion for these children testifies to Christ's call to care for orphans and I'm proud of her service. This time she traveled with her sister Julie and we appreciate prayers for them and the team they are working with. Meredith's prayers for Nana go something like this, "Dear Jesus, Help Nana in Haiti. Help her know she can't stay with the babies forever that we need her here. Don't let her stay there forever. Amen."

God made me that way....

2011-01-20T22:43:00.002-05:00

As I carried Meredith to the car after swimming lessons she said, "Wouldn't it be great if we had a bathroom in our car?" I said, "No, it wouldn't be great because guess who would have to clean it!" She retorted that then we could not only "tinkle" in the bathroon, but in the car as well and that would be fun particularly since "we can't go potty in the hot tub or the pool." I teased her about being one of the silliest 4 year olds I've ever known. She said, "Mom, I just came out like that. That's what God made me."

I think she's right. But have often wondered what parts of my personality God made and therefore are pleasing before Him and what parts of my personality arise from a sinful heart. Sometimes the answer is obvious. Other times I'm not so sure. When does driveness change from admirable to annoying or harmful to people around you? And there have been times I've heard, "God made me that way," as some pseudo-religous reason to engage in something like gossip. It'd be convenient if that phrase provided a spiritual exempt when we don't want to aknowledge wrong-doing.

Boards

2011-01-18T15:20:00.002-05:00

Taking the oral boards in Dallas last Thursday was one of the most stressful experiences of my life. It started with snow in Seattle (seriously, how often does it snow in Seattle?) and an hour delay which meant normally I would've missed my connection in Denver, but we had an "unusually strong tail wind" and made-up over an hour of time in route. Then Laura's Aunt Judy graciously met me at the airport in Dallas and showed me the highlights of the city and took me out for BBQ and a souffle. I don't think I've ever had souffle before and it was exquisite. Nothing like an amazing salvatory experience to distract from a test. After a near sleepless night, followed by a morning run, I put on the suit and shoes on the my friend Jill lent me (I'm so lucky to have a friend with good taste and a suit my size!).

The next part was 3 hours of gruelling questioning. Some questions I anticipated, most I did not. Naturally there were questions I thought of much better answers too after the test which ate at me for the next 5 days.

I boarded a plane that night and went to Denver to visit Ana for an extended weekend. Ana did everything she could to distract me from the obvious question: did I pass or fail? We had a great time eating-out, attending a canvas and cocktails class, running, shopping and generally just being together. She was patient with my perseveration on several board questions.

After returning to Seattle Jill brought me to the ferry and Dad drove me home. Amelia had waited-up and greeted me with chatter about all the fun they had with Nana and Papa and the exciting weekend staying with Auntie Laura, Uncle Dan and Si. Meredith was asleep and only said, "I'm too tired to pray tonight."

As much as I tried to concentrate on other things the only thing that eased my anxiety was reading this morning the word "Passed" on my ABOG page.

Reflecting on the studying, travel and test I see how many people supported and encouraged me in this process... perhaps you see a bit of that in reading this. I know also that there were many people, not as obvious to me, but just as important praying for clarity, calmness and confidence as I took the exam. Thank you.

Miscellaneous Pictures

2011-01-09T21:57:00.003-05:00

Making Gingerbread houses with Grammie (and snitching a little candy too).

Papa pouring out Washington State Clams, Mussels, & Shrimp steaming hot!

Christmas Prime Rib...enough to make a vegetarian tremble with fear.
Malin giving surfing (longboard) a try at Cape Kiwanda on the Oregon Coast. Let me say if it was me vs. the waves..the waves won the battle.

Meredith, Amelia, and Sara hiked the Sand-Dune twice.

Partial Cichowski family picture (and Whidbey the dog).
The cousins with Amelia, Meredith, & Josiah.

So what is my job

2011-01-07T14:15:00.002-05:00

It seems only fair after the last post to describe what a specialist in Pelvic Reconstruction does. First, the terms "vaginal rejuvination" and "designer vagina" are not recognized by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecologist and the procedures are also not sanctioned (although they are commonly presented on a certain TV real life series). So while it may be sort of funny to think of titles for cosmetic surgery of the vagina, that's really not what I am training to do.

Reconstruction is not synonomous with cosmetic. In fact the patients I'll be focusing on are patients with fecal or urinary incontinence and/or vaginal, urethral, bladder, uterine or rectal prolapse. These problems often occur from childbirth and are certainly not funny. And where medical care is limited, women can also develop fistulas from traumatic childbirth.

Sometime I'll write more about why I've chosen to focus on medical issues that predominantly impact quality of life, but for now I hope that clarifies my future area of expertise.

What do you do?

2011-01-06T19:23:00.002-05:00

I think there's certain jobs out there that when mentioned sort of end the conversation. Perhaps I'm entering a career like that, here was a recent conversation that occurred when I picked Amelia up from school.

"Are you Jan's daughter?"

"Yes."

"Hi. I'm .... I served with your Mom on the school board. You're a doctor right and you've been in Kenya?"

"Yes, I am."

"What are your plans, are you returning to Kenya?"

"Well, we are still interested in medical missions, but I'm going to start a fellowship in pelvic reconstruction."

"Oh, so you're an orthopedic surgeon?"

"No, I'm a gynecologist."

A look of surprise, a slight smile and then, "Well, I better go get my kids."

Obedience

2011-01-04T16:53:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, when I found Amelia's Christmas gift in disarray I asked Meredith, "Did you play with your sister's American girl doll?" Meredith cowered and said, "Mommy, it takes a lot of time to learn how to be obedient." I tried to hide my grin and remind her that that isn't an excuse to do something you know is wrong.

But Meredith is right. Obedience takes time to learn and involves failure. Particularly when it comes to obeying God. Scripture is filled with examples of people failing to follow God and God's forgiveness following, but only after repentance. And perhaps that's the bigger lessons I'm trying to instill in my children, not that they can be perfect and obey every rule, but that repentance is part of obedience.

2010 Friess Christmas Picture

2011-01-03T00:11:00.004-05:00

At Cape Kiwanda near Pacific City, Oregon on a sunny but cold windy day on the Oregon Coast.

New Year

2011-01-01T13:48:00.002-05:00

Happy New Year! We celebrated by playing games until 930pm. That was late enough for Meredith and Amelia and then I decided I shouldn't stay-up too much later. Good thing I went to bed because Meredith woke-up early as usual and came to say, "I need breakfast and I can't wait until Papa is up." We're looking forward to starting the year with family the "thing" we missed most over the past 2 years in Kenya.

The girls have noticed a lot of things that are different about America. Amelia, in particular, notices all the signs and names of stores (in part because there are so many more choices of places to shop). She asked me why AM/PM was named that, I explained it's because it's a convenience store open all the time, day and night. Later on she said she didn't want a job where she worked all day and all night. I said, "Like Mommy's job as an obstetrician?" "No," she replied, "Like the people who work at AM/PM." Amelia enjoys a good night's sleep so I think New Year's will never be one of her favorite holidays!

Reunion

2010-12-29T13:47:00.004-05:00

I saw someone I hadn't seen in 15 years. We were close friends in middle school, but as high school progressed our common interests in music, debate and swimming weren't enough to sustain our friendship. I chastised her for some decisions and suspect my attempts to talk about faith in Jesus were filled with personnel arrogance and righteousness rather than love. Nevertheless I always wondered how she was, what she was doing, and prayed that she was well. So, I can't describe the beauty of our reunion occurring at First Reformed Church Christmas eve. There we celebrated, together, the birth of our Savior Jesus. To see her worship Jesus brought great joy. And it turns out, when we met-up later that week we still have a lot in common 15 years later.

Merry Christmas

2010-12-29T13:37:00.002-05:00

After nearly 4 weeks apart, the girls and I took the train to meet Malin and his family on the Oregon coast. We had a great time walking the beach, looking at tide pools, playing games and opening some gifts. The following week we returned to my parent's house and celebrated Christmas.

For now we have decided it's best for Malin to continue working in Oregon and Amelia, Meredith and I continue in Oak Harbor while I study. The girls are doing well in school here, but miss Daddy. Hope you all had a blessed Christmas.

Talk

2010-12-15T13:42:00.004-05:00

I wanted to post what I shared with First Reformed Church's annual Women's Christmas Party so below is the text. It was a privilege to share my story with these women--some who have known me since childhood and in a church that generously supported us through the past two years.

We just finished singing some beautiful songs. I get somewhat excited at the anticipation each year of pulling out my Christmas music, playing songs I only treat myself to once a year and they always sound better than I remember and how much fun is it to go caroling or play Christmas music at the hospital or jusy sing aloud in the car with the radio. What is your favorite Christmas carol? Is it the words to, “Silent night, holy night, all is calm all is bright?” Or the words to “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed, the little Lord Jesus lays down his sweet head?” Or maybe, “Oh little town of Bethlehem how still we see thee lie?”

Do you like these carols that proclaim the peace of Christmas? Listen to the words again; “Silent night, holy night, all is calm all is bright.” “The little Lord Jesus no crying he makes,” “Oh, holy night the stars are brightly shining...” they speak of silence, stillness and calmness. Is that how you picture our Savior’s birth?

Many of you know that I am obstetrician and for the past 2 years have practiced in Kenya with an organization called Samaritan’s purse. I have attended a lot of births... while I believe birth is sacred, birth is not generally a silent, still or calm endeavor. Perhaps those of you that have given birth or have seen birth will also testify that it’s not silent. In fact I often sit as the patient pushes thinking about all that can go wrong: hemorrhage, shock, infection, shoulder dystocia, head entrapment, lacerations, and pray that it won’t happen. So when things go well I do rejoice. Picture Mary sweating, terrified, in great pain, wondering if Jesus would be alright as she gave birth. And after she gave birth how did she know Jesus was alright?

What is it that we do after a child is born? The first thing is to stimulate them. Obstetricians used to hold the infant by their feet and give them a swift swat on the rear: thankfully this practice has mostly been abandoned so that now we begin rubbing the baby’s back, drying them off, stroking their head: why? We don’t want them to be silent but rather we want the baby crying.... the mother and father wait at times with their own breathes held in anticipation of that cry. The cry that signifies all is well--the lungs are working, the heart rate is strong and then the pale, dusky skin turns pink and the limbs move as oxygenated blood courses through their little bodies.

So, I believe, even though the Bible doesn’t explicitly say it, that Jesus cried. And that Mary rejoiced as His first words as a person sounded in the world as a crying newborn. That His entry as a person into our world was noted with not only the sound of angels, but the crying of new life as He expanded his lungs and let out a sound signifying all was well. The cry that proclaimed God’s love for us in the form of a baby.

Babies sleep silently too... in fact a lot of a new mother’s time is spent trying to calm and still the newborn. And isn’t there anything more sweet than seeing a mother nurture her child or to hold a baby while they sleep? So the Christmas hymns aren’t wrong. Christ also rested, peacefully as a baby. I want to use this time with you to discuss the communication of God both in the stillness of a baby and the crying of a newborn named Jesus the Christ. Listen to the words of

John 1:1-51In the beginning the Word already existed.
The Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2He existed in the beginning with God.
3God created everything through him,
and nothing was created except through him.
4The Word gave life to everything that was created,a
and his life brought light to everyone.
5The light shines in the darkness,
and the darkness can never extinguish it.b

What does it mean that the “Word became flesh?” Interpreting this mystical, magnificent passage isn’t easy. Words are written or spoken but not usually embodied in flesh. So as we try to picture this miraculous birth were the word becomes flesh hear the cry of Christ at Christmas as God’s longing to communicate with us. God communicated LOVE in a way we best understand--a person named Jesus.

If you believe in Jesus and believe that God has a purpose and a plan for your life than you long for God to communicate that to you. Sometimes the Word, the communication is desired for practical questions like: where are we supposed to move to? should I marry him? is this the profession you’ve called me too? should we adopt?

Other times it’s the harder, philosophical questions we long for God to answer, you know the questions that usually start with WHY: why does God allow evil? why did God allow me to go through that? why did they have to bury their child? why am I sick?

I’m not sure what questions you’re asking God right now however, I do hope that you are engaged in conversation with God. I’d like to share a little bit about the questions we’ve asked over the past two years working in Kenya. My hope is that the part of our story I share today will demonstrate and represent God’s profound desire to communicate with each of us.

It’s probably the most popular question we get asked, “Why did you go to Kenya for 2 years?” I could give a long, winding, winded answer, but the simple truth is that God made it clear we were supposed to go. However, we thought we’d be going to Cameroon, in fact we sent over 80,000 dollars of donated medical equipment to a hospital there along with one box of toys for a few Christmas surprises for our girls ahead of time, but when we didn’t get our visas to Cameroon and had reduced our life to the size of a mini-van we asked to temporarily go to Kenya. While in Kenya 3 different missionaries spoke to us--telling us not to go to Cameroon. Each one gave a different reason: They will work you (Sara) too hard. The church and the hospital are fighting. Your children will not be able to play outside without an armed guard. It was clear to us that God protected us from a harmful situation and wanted us to stay in Kenya. It’s great when God’s word and direction is that clear.

So we stayed in Kenya and 7 months into our time at Tenwek we were asked to move, to Kijabe Hospital nearer Nairobi where I would replace the 3 ob/gyns that were leaving and Malin would assume primary responsibility for the existing dental clinic. There was also the added bonus of a mission school on campus that Amelia could attend and to be quite honest we were failing at home schooling. So again the answer and direction seemed clear and we moved to Kijabe.

At Tenwek and Kijabe there were many nights my sleep was disrupted. In particular I remember one early morning where the conversation went something like, “Daktari, there’s a patient here that insists you deliver her.” “Tell her I’m not the doctor on-call.” And I wanted to add, and I’ve been-up for the past 4 nights, and frankly I’m just too tired. “Daktari, you have to come; she refuses to let us do anything unless you come.” Quite honestly, I initially fell back asleep for a few minutes and then awoke with urgency feeling that I had to go. What happened was that her delivery was one of the most difficult C/S of my career as I had to do several things I’d only read about to extract the baby from a uterus overgrown with fibroids. I have no doubt that baby would not have survived had I not been there--and I don’t say that with arrogance rather with the reality that I was the only obstetrician and therefore the only person truly trained to handle the difficult and challenging cases. So afterwards, when the patient said, “God told me you had to be there.” I added, “He told me too.” Also privately noting that initially I tried to resist and continue sleeping.

God also “speaks” in the events we see around us. What things have you seen in your life that defied natural law, things you knew were clear signs of God’s love? Which reminds me of one of the most poignant cries I’ve ever heard. It came from the baby of Bila and in that cry I heard the rejoicing of God. The first time I met Bila she presented with her 8th pregnancy loss. The next time I saw her she was expecting again. I always thought her name was this horrible irony as Bila in swahili means “without” and here was this women without any children after 8 pregnancies. I saw her frequently during the pregnancy and tried nearly everything I could to help her achieve a pregnancy past 6months; much of what I did had already been tried. And so we also prayed together and committed to continue praying in between visits... I have to also add that her husband came to every single appointment something I didn’t experience with any other patient in Kenya. So that when their son arrived with vigorous crying at 37 weeks we all rejoiced and gave thanks to God. As we heard this baby’s cry it rang as proclamation from God that He had heard her and her husband’s cries and prayers and here was their child.

Another baby that deserves mentioning is the twin that survived severe pre-eclampsia (a condition in which blood pressure becomes too high from a pregnancy), death of the other twin at 30 weeks, and he was born to a mom who had already delivered 3 still-births. She had carried 5 children; only this one lived. How beautiful was his crying!

Last Christmas Eve delivered a special blessing for my patient, Leah. She had seen me numerous times during her pregnancy and I had been doing weekly testing and exams to evaluate the health of the baby because previously she had delivered a baby that died 1 hour after birth and had also delivered a stillbirth at 38 weeks. After much worry about when I should do a repeat C/S to deliver her 3rd girl, she started complaining of decreased fetal movement. And so at 36 weeks I decided it was time. Leah sobbed seeing a live, crying little girl and of course that made me start to cry for joy as well. How we prayed for this outcome and God graciously gave Leah what she desired most last Christmas... in the crying of a baby.

In the crying of a newborn we experience joy just as when God’s communication seems clear, prayers are answered, solutions are found, the way is made straight. But as you’ve listened to these stories have you heard the paradox; the joy of the crying newborn juxtaposed with the silence, emptiness and deep pain these women previously experienced. Times of questioning what God was doing and wondering where He was in the midst of such deep, numerous losses.

Sometimes the stories I heard I didn’t even want to even believe because it seemed too cruel, too much the suffering these women had faced. Yet we know God is love and that God sent Christ to communicate that love. As we are assured that God loves these women; it’s still hard to resolve the love of God with the hardness, unfairness, and even evil in our own lives and the lives we see around us.

And so we go back to the Christmas carols proclaiming silence, stillness, and calmness as we experience the silence of God. It’s baffling how we associate peace with the silence of Christ at His Birth and yet when we hear that silence in our own lives we feel anything but peace.

The claims made against me by a patient while in Kenya often kept me awake at night wondering what God was, or rather what God wasn’t doing. This woman claimed that I had held her down against her will, hit her, slapped her and forced her to have a hysterectomy. While profoundly untrue, her family’s anger towards me really made feel physically threatened. Then as she sought criminal charges against me through the corrupt legal system I really became worried. Particularly as we were in a country where laws are arbitrarily made and followed. The lawsuit continued to progress regardless of the absurdness of the patient’s claim. When the hearing came all the witness supporting my claim that I acted professionally and did only what I believed the patient had consented for were asked to leave the room. And so before the patient, her lawyer for 1 hour I was grilled, questioned, interrogated about the case. I struggled to remain calm as the medical board didn’t even ask the patient whether or not she had been truthful. Can you imagine the board didn’t even question her claims? The reality was that my team was forced to abandon me and I wondered why God did not intervene and stop the nonsense. I know God could have spoken ONE word and it would’ve ended. God’s silence can even make us feel like we’ve been abandoned. And while I believe there was a greater spiritual battle going on with this patient and I knew many people were praying I am left saying that God remained silent. My name was not cleared, peace was not restored and the hearings continue in my absence. Yet I still can say with confidence that I know I am alright before God, who does love me.

The most piercing silence came from the questions I asked after losing 3 consecutive pregnancies during our time at Kijabe and a 4th pregnancy while at home vacationing this past summer. There is no satisfying reason that I can’t seem to hold a pregnancy past eight weeks. No comforting explanation for having three D&Cs at the hospital in Kijabe and certainly no understanding as to why this has happened. Moreover, I’m not sure that being a doctor who knows all the ins and outs of pregnancy, conception and fertility has helped me. It definitely doesn’t help to be surrounded all day by pregnant women, some who don’t want to be pregnant, some who shouldn’t be pregnant, and some who have tried to end their pregnancies. Even the presence of women like me who have recurrent pregnancy loss is of no comfort.

So this summer as I signed a consent for the procedure to remove the pregnancy and read the listed complications: bleeding, infection, injury to other organs. I quietly ask, “Where can I sign saying that I’ve had enough?”

I believe at some time you have experienced the longing for someone to be present with you in tragedy or grief, but wanting them silent. Just letting you be. Comforted by their presence but not by words. And when something horrible has happened words often fail us, or what we say sounds trite so that silence becomes the wiser option. Maybe God’s silence shows this too. That we think an answer will help heal us, when God knows it won’t... or maybe the answer can’t be given with our limited understanding on earth or maybe the answer is this pain is what it is-tragic, deep, anguishing, and God is silently present out of reverence for our hurt. However you interpret the silence, remember that God is present. Encourage those hurting to continue engaging God even if all that can be said is “Lord, have mercy.”

I’d like to ask each of you to close your eyes, and I promise I’m not going to ask anyone to raise their hands or stand-up, rather I’d like us, together, to meditate on Christ’s birth and what God is communicating this Christmas to you. Some of you need to hear and picture the Christ-child crying and believe and trust that God longs to communicate with you. Believing that God knows, cares and will answer your questions. See Mary and Joseph in stable amongst the hay with a brilliant star shining above them, holding a newborn baby, stroking his back and rejoicing in His crying as they begin to dry him, swaddle him and nurture him. Hear His crying cease, see Him slowly and gently drifting into sleep and silence; at the same time note the silences of God in your own life- fuse those silences with the picture of Christ sleeping peacefully. Let that sleeping, Christmas child fill the silences with peace, calmness and stillness.

Let us remember this Christmas season that God sent Jesus to communicate His love. That even in the crying of a newborn we can hear God’s voice and in the pierce of silence that God is present because His love is a word that never ends.

The Countdown

2010-12-13T17:30:00.002-05:00

Meredith turns 4 in December 16th. She can hardly contain her excitement and asks several times each day when she can start opening presents. I reminded her that getting her ears pierced was her present; she retorted, "Mommy, real presents are the secret kind with wrapping." She also asked Nana the other day, "What is your rule about going potty in the hot-tub?" On her birthday her preschool will also present a Christmas pageant. Meredith got the lead role as angel after she kept correcting the previous angel and telling her what to say. She'll be wearing the extravagant, white, wedding style dress she received from one of my patients in Kenya. And when I asked if she could have anything in the world what would it be she smiled and said, "Sparkly wings."

Meredithism

2010-12-04T20:04:00.002-05:00

1) She taught her class the first day of preschool the Rolling Stone's song, "You can't always get what you want..."

2) She says, "You don't say push, poke, buy me a Coke--that's bad to say because Coke isn't a healthy choice."

3) She made two friends at school and when asked their names she says, "There's the small one and the big one."

4) When her Mother goes to pay for groceries and realizes she's forgot her wallet she says, "Silly Mommy. We better hurry home and get your money so no one steals our cart."

5) She gets her ears pierced and exclaims, "That didn't hurt one bit. Look how sparkly my ears are."

6) She talks and talks and talks to her cousin Si until he finally says, "She's loud and crazy."

7) She gets a new haircut and says to the stylist, "Be careful with those scissors, scissors are sharp. How do you not cut yourself?"

8) Her newest aspiration for a career: "make-up artist."

Studying

2010-12-01T13:18:00.002-05:00

Perhaps writing this on our blog will publicly commit me to study regularly now for the oral boards. The oral boards are the final step in obtaining accreditation as an OB/GYN. My exam is scheduled for the week of Jan 10th and will occur in Dallas. Anybody know anything about Dallas?

Part of the exam is reviewing the patients I took care of from June 2009-June 2010. As I begin reading over the list and reviewing the specific aspects of each case I'm reminded how different medicine was in Kenya. Even finding information about some of these problems is challenging.

I am also reminded that I did see and experience both the tragic and triumphant in the lives of these patients. Even though my list no longer has their names I remember them by their stories and I remember seeing God's healing hand in many of their lives. It is good to be reminded of this having left Kenya immediately after the hearing.

School

2010-11-30T08:29:00.003-05:00

One of the hardest things for Amelia to leave was her school. She loved the teachers,classes, activities and her friends as most kids do. We were so grateful for the teachers that made her love learning, something we weren't able to do when we tried homeschooling. So it was great yesterday to drop her off at Oak Harbor Christian school. The school has allowed her attend for an indefinite period of time. When I picked her up she exclaimed, "We have three recesses; I was already invited to a birthday party; we can still have a morning snack from our lunch; and the girls in my class showed me all the good places to play." Wednesday Meredith will start at a preschool and she also is so excited to make some new friends and continue "learning my letters."

The Many Faces of Goodbye

2010-11-25T17:43:00.006-05:00

And now as our two year contract with Samaritan's Purse has come to an end in Kenya and it is time to say goodbye...

Goodbyes to the staff at the dental clinic and for Sara the maternity ward and Theatre. Friends gathered in a circle with me and one by one shared their thanks, tears, appreciation, prophesy (that God would bring us back again), and prayers of blessings for myself and my family as we go. It was moving and surprising in a reserved culture where thanks is not commonly used that an impact was made even in people when you least expected.

Goodbyes involve tears represented by chalk images drawn by Amelia. Her pictorial response of her feelings in saying goodbye to Mocha our dog the past 18 months. Mocha moved to the orthopedist house (even with many attempts to escape back to our house), Lucy the gold fish moved to a dorm at RVA, and Flower the Bunny escaped to the forest.

Goodbyes to CS Meredith's best friend. Their smiles and hugs say it all.

Goodbyes to close friends in the mission community like the Shirley's were too hard to verbalize...and just better left at "we'll see you later."

Goodbyes to "things" brought relief as couches, piano, and our car all sold within two weeks and the rest was given to those who needed...coming back with much less than we brought.

Goodbye to the beautiful sunsets of the Great Rift Valley and the moderate sunny climate in which the Meredith & Amelia wore sundresses every day.

Goodbyes to a kenyan culture that we have grown to love.

Kwaheri Kenya!

My Top 3 Cultural Blunders

2010-11-23T07:26:00.004-05:00

The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.
Elbert Hubbard

My wife could verify that 1) I'm not at all afraid to make cultural blunders and 2) I am quite proficient in doing so. My top 3 cultural blunders:

3) The Interlock-I find a seat at hospital morning chapel and settle into singing the Kenyan praise song, "We will praise you in the morning, We will praise you in the noontime, we will praise in the evening, we will praise you all the time." We finish singing and the pastor requests that we hold hands with our neighbors. So I reluctantly (like every man feels) go in for the clasp handshake with the man to my right and the man to my left. I'm thinking the only decision here is: Do I go palm forward or palm backward? Oh no. It's much different here in Kenya. My neighbor goes for the interlock...every finger no less and even the thumbs. And it was a good prayer the pastor prayed, but also such a long, long prayer. I still believe it was the longest prayer I've ever head in my life.

2) The Air Shake - The first thing I tell any Western visitor is that greeting Kenyans by shaking hands is very important. A simple hello, or nod...just does not work here in Kenya. Even if you enter a room with 20 strangers...you still take the time to shake every one of their hands even the children. I'm pretty much a hand-shaking madman now. I shake when we meet, some time in the middle of the conversation, and at least once or twice as we leave just to cover all my bases. It was my second day in the dental clinic and the following lady was my patient I went in right-handed for a hearty handshake and came up empty...a complete air shake. Strange...I thought. Next to her was her mother so I tried again with a right palm coming up high with my hand near my ear and swooping down right in front of her waist. But nothing...the patient's mother didn't even raise her hand. Another air shake. Before I could manage strike 3 in hands shakes with her sister...a kind Kenyan pulled me aside to say, "Somali woman do not shake hands with men."

1) The Kiondo -I really had some heavy dental supplies that were donated that I wanted to bring up to the dental clinic. I had seen many Kenyans using a Kiondo to carry fruit and vegetable with the strap around their forehead. I was told that using the head and the muscles of the neck with the weight of the material on your back is the best way to carry a heavy load. So I loaded up my Kiondo with dental anesthetic and instruments and walked up to the hospital. Well, have you ever had a moment where everyone is looking your direction and pointing and laughing and so you turn 180 degrees to look behind to see what is so funny...and then you realize there is nothing behind you but wide open space. And then you know they are laughing at you and you have to turn back around and acknowledge their laughter. So thanks...only later did I find out that men do not carry anything in Kenya (even their child)...and especially not a Kiondo strapped around their head.

Does anyone have a cross-cultural blunder they would like to share?

Everything that has breath...

2010-11-21T12:36:00.006-05:00

The donations of stuffed animals from the VBS kids at WPC in Akron were so plenty that the Meredith & Amelia enjoyed a second round of giving a little bit of cheer to the kids in the pediatric ward at Kijabe Hospital.

This sign was a reminder that all life comes from God and no matter how small are valuable in His eyes.

Pedodontics

2010-11-20T02:43:00.005-05:00

Maybe some of you can sympathize with this 4-year-old girl...seeing the dentist can be terrifying.

My favorite pediatric dental patients are the ones that the anesthetist can put softly to sleep. We (the patient and I) seem to get along better this way.

My inclination has been that dental cases are the ones that anesthetists like to avoid. We need access in the mouth to restore and extract teeth and the anesthetist needs access to the larynx to secure the airway. I'm constantly redirecting their tube away from the teeth and the anesthetists are following behind resecuring the tube with more tape. Here, reintubating the patient after too many adjustments and failure to retain a tight seal. We should push for more nasal intubation.

Our hope in pediatric dental cases is to never need to take the child back to the OR for dental care again because of cost and general anesthetic risk. We are aggressive and treat with extractions, SSC's, and preventative restorations. Our hope is that if the uncooperative child needs care again, it won't be until they are 7 or 8 years of age and able to behave in the clinic.

CATS

2010-11-19T10:32:00.001-05:00

Cats
by Amelia

I love cats.They are nice and soft.I want a cat.
Ben has a cat.Cats chase mice.Cats eat mice.
Ben's cat is named Theo.Cats are afraid of
dogs.There are lots of different kinds of
cats.They can be big or little.We will not
get a cat I think.Cats can wear clothes if
you want them to.Cats have eyes ears a
mouth and a nose.Cats can clime tall
trees.Cats play with yarn and a pretend
mouse toy.A cat will sleep in your bed.
Cats are warm when they are by you.
Cats have sharp nails.They can have a
shot and same medicine.If you have a
mouse in your house call a cat. They live different in places.
A cat will start as
a kitten then will grow up to a cat.
What kind of cat would you get?Cats are my favorite animal.
Some people are allergic to cats.THE END

Piano Performance

2010-11-19T04:17:00.004-05:00

We have finally been diligent in practicing the piano. Amelia's hard work shows as she has completed the primer level and now can read the grand staff and play parts with both hands. This past weekend she performed in the RVA piano recital. I was proud of her. Last minute we added Meredith into the piece by having her jingle the bells. Without prompting or explanation Meredith bowed with us at the end-- it was too cute.

Hearing

2010-11-17T09:20:00.002-05:00

The short version is that I am free to leave the country, but that another date was set in January to continue discussing the case. We waited 3 hours before the hearing and then everyone was asked to leave except myself, the patient and her lawyer. The board asked a lot of questions of me and eventually I just started to cry as I honestly said I did what I thought was best for her and life-saving. At that point we took a break and Malin was allowed to sit in with me.

In time, perhaps I will be able to write more about this, about how it feels to be persecuted or falsely accused and to try to prove the motives of my heart. So, thank you to all who wrote, prayed, talked, and/or listened to me. I truthfully told my side of this story and in the end-- before God-- all is right and I will be alright.

Amelia's Africa Memory Quilt

2010-11-16T08:54:00.002-05:00

To help Amelia celebrate and remember her time in Kenya she designed a quilt with animals. Together we pieced the colors and fabrics she chose. Next she drew the animals and we appliqued them onto the quilt. And then our friend, Deanna (pictured), long-arm quilted it. It truly is a masterpiece and was so fun to create with her. If you're ever at our house you'll have to come to Amelia's room and see it hung!

Skipping Cultures

2010-11-13T10:18:00.006-05:00

O God of all creation,

Bless this our land and nation.

Justice be our shield and defender,

May we dwell in unity,

Peace and liberty.

Plenty be found within our borders.

Yesterday, Amelia sang to me the first stanza to Kenya's national anthem. I guess it shouldn't be surprising as she sings the anthem weekly at school during flag raising.
Ee Mungu nguvu yetu

Ilete baraka kwetu

Haki iwe ngao na mlinzi

Natukae na udugu

Amani na uhuru

Raha tupate na ustawi.

But then Amelia really surprised me my singing the first stanza of Kenya's National Anthem in Swahili (with just a little assistance from Nancy our househelper). So after Amelia finished I clapped and said, "So Amelia, what about the Star Spangled Banner?" She looked at me blankly...."you know..Oh say can you seeeeee, by the....." Still a blank stare from Amelia.

"Dad..I don't know what song you are singing."

I guess Amelia has in a way skipped cultures from USA to Kenya and will then be skipping back again in the near future to the USA. I wonder if they still sing the Star Spangled Banner back in US schools today? If so it will be new to Amelia.

Iowa compared to Kenya

2010-11-11T00:23:00.004-05:00

The ADA (American Dental Association) is kind enough to give me a free membership as a missionary/volunteer international dentist. With that membership I appreciate that JADA sends to me in Kenya their monthly journal.

Above are research pictures depicting children in Iowa "suffering" from moderate to mild Fluorosis of the teeth maybe caused by excess fluoride found in infant formula.

In comparison a typical patient of mine in Kijabe, Kenya suffering from severe Fluorosis surely caused by excessive fluoride in the well water due to the enriched soil of the great Rift Valley.

The Long Walk

2010-11-09T08:25:00.006-05:00

The walking journey from our duplex on lower station below Kijabe Hospital to Amelia's school at upper station has many detours on the way.
7:23 AM - Off to school we go.

7:25 - Climbing Gravel Mountain.

7:28 - Past Kijabe Hospital and watching out for Matatus dropping patients.

7:31-7:34 - Stop to pick up a Weaver Bird nest that dropped from the tree above.

7:37 Tight-rope walking along side the curb.

7:39 - Stop to touch the Sap Stump.

7:41 - Up the gigantic steps of the outdoor amphitheater.

7:43- A pause to quench our thirst.

7:46 - Finally a flat part of our walk across the soccer field.

7:49 - Always time to hang from the soccer goal.

7:53 - Stop to take a swing.

7:56- Made it with 4 minutes to spare before the school bell rings.

Encouragement

2010-11-07T23:40:00.006-05:00

Why is that the one slight criticism is far more memorable than many kind compliments?

- Coach, you didn't give my son enough playing time on the court.

- Pastor, your sermons I don't follow.

- Doctor, you didn't take time to listen to all of my health problems.

-Sales Representative, your presentation to the clients are not convincing.

-Teacher, it was not fair to assign my daughter that much homework on homecoming weekend.

-Mother, you always give her what she wants and never let me do what I want.

-Ob/Gyn, my other doctor promised to deliver me no matter if he was on call or not.

-Musician, are you really going to try to do 2 new songs, the congregation can never follow that.

-Dentist, that shot hurt more than the last dentist I saw.

-Volunteer, why would you want to decorate that way, we used green last year?

-Surgeon, are those suture marks going to show forever?

I recently talked to a friend who was embattled in a bitter professional conflict. The person screamed at my friend and said I will make it so you never work in this career again. The conflict detrimentally affected his health, his relationship with his family, and his ability to function in his career. It sucked away his spirit of volunteerism. He prayed and prayed, but there was no resolution. He nearly quit his career out of disgust, depression, and discouragement. But in the 11th hour after 6 years the conflict was resolved. My friend says it is not forgotten. It haunts him everyday. He can't even make a minor decision without reflecting back to those ugly years. I asked him if there is anything that helps him today. He said the following, "Yes. Every time I doubt my abilities I open up my bottom desk drawer. Here I keep all the pictures, all the thank-you notes, all the encouraging letters I have ever received. And I read through them one by one. Many I have memorized by now. And it takes 10's of letters to even begin to repress that one angry person I faced years ago. I would tell everyone to have a drawer set aside just for that reason."

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. (1 Thess. 5:11)

Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. (2 Cor. 13:11)

It's A Hard Life

2010-11-05T07:58:00.010-04:00

As I walk to the hospital I see this man in a stocking hat. His name is Jeremy.

Jeremy, I see you out here each morning with a hammer and chisel. You work hard.
Yes, I am a craftsmen. I am a stone mason.

Jeremy, you are always barefoot Do you not have shoes?
No I have, you see the how the splinters spray (he drives the hammer against the chisel into the rock and chards of stone disperse) into the air. They would infest my shoes. It is better to wear nothing at all.

Do you live here in Kijabe?
No, I live in Nairobi. But I am here from Monday to Saturday. That is my temporary home (he points to a 10 x 20 shipping container in the field) for myself and the others. We work until evening.

Do you have family?
Yes. I have two children and my job as a craftsmen provides for them.

How are you paid?
It is paid by the foot. You see this one here is one foot (gesturing to the rock he just split). I am paid 15 Ksh per foot (about 20 cents). On a good day I can I do 100 foot of stone. But that is just a good day (he points to the quarry of rocks he has completed) when I am feeling strong. But you see these rocks are softer....the other rocks (pointing to a new delivery of rocks) are harder. For those maybe only 50 foot in a day.

How long have you been a stone craftsmen?
15 years. I am 37 years old. Can you help me with something?

Do you want me to hammer a stone? I am a dentist..we do use elevators, chisels, and things like that. I might be good at this. Can I give it a try? (Jeremy nodded in approval. I cradled the stone with my shoes, picked up the hammer, and place the blade of the chisel at a 45 degree angle to the rock. I pounded. Nothing happened. Adjusted the chisel and pounded again. Nothing happened...more force Jeremy said. I kept at it for about 5 minutes banging my knuckles with the hammer as frequently as the chisel. I picked up a new chisel and tried again (maybe the blade was dull?). 5 minutes later the rock looked no different. Jeremy's boss arrived so I handed the chisel and hammer back to him.)

No doctor, I could really use your help with some pain medicine. It is paining here (he points to his shoulders).
Yes, of course. I could imagine your muscles may hurt.

This is what you are building (we looked behind to the new Cure intern housing sixplex)?
Yes..to that I have added.

Jeremy, that is many bricks you have made. And you are an excellent craftsmen.

Then a new king, to whom Joseph meant nothing, came to power in Egypt. “Look,” he said to his people, “the Israelites have become far too numerous for us. Come, we must deal shrewdly with them or they will become even more numerous and, if war breaks out, will join our enemies, fight against us and leave the country.” So they put slave masters over them to oppress them with forced labor, and they built Pithom and Rameses as store cities for Pharaoh. But the more they were oppressed, the more they multiplied and spread; so the Egyptians came to dread the Israelites and worked them ruthlessly. They made their lives bitter with harsh labor in brick and mortar and with all kinds of work in the fields; in all their harsh labor the Egyptians worked them ruthlessly. (Exodus 1)

Jeremy told me he is a Christian. I imagine he can relate to the struggle of the Israelites differently than I can. With brick and mortar he is building a sitaplex (not a Pyramid). But, Jeremy works voluntarily, earns a reasonable salary, and is proud of his craftsmanship as a stone mason (as he should be). But, could you imagine hammering rocks all day long for 15 years? If this was your life would the Israelites plight look a little different? Would it just be an old story with a few good moral lessons to learn? Or might the book of Exodus really be a living document...that you would identify and claim as your own with every swing of the hammer.

Maternity Guidelines

2010-11-05T06:48:00.006-04:00

Traditional medical textbooks do not translate effectively to patient care in a third world setting. Sara and Sharon created a guideline for maternal care appropriate for Kijabe Hospital for nurse midwifes and interns. Chapters include such topics as Post Partum Haemorrhage, Eclampsia, Breast Feeding (nurses tell patients to drink Chai to help their milk come in) Pelvic Inflammatory Disease, Twin Delivery, Ectopic Pregancy, Drugs in OB/GYN, VBAC, On Call Responsibilities, Approved Acronyms, and Shoulder Dystocia.

Velcro Teeth

2010-11-04T11:43:00.007-04:00

Typical Jack-O-Lantern Smile seen in a Mzee patient here at Kijabe. His teeth were knocked out 5 years ago.

Hakuna Shieda (No Problem). Even 5 years later from out of his pocket came his original incisors.

The patient show me how he presses his incisors into position for eating and talking...a perfect fit. Like a Velcro tooth held in by the lips, adjacent tooth contacts, and gingival contours. So how do I answer the unimaginable ethical dilemmas of our specialty....To make or not to make a partial denture?

Hearing

2010-11-03T07:50:00.002-04:00

I should have posted this sooner. The hearing before the Kenyan Medical Board to address the accusations made by a patient was supposed to occur Nov 2nd. However, last Friday when the medical director called to confirm, the board stated that they had decided to move the hearing until Nov 17th. It is frustrating to continue with this issue unresolved and to be delayed in testifying to the truth. So, thank you for those who prayed specifically on the 1st and 2nd and I graciously ask that you continue to intercede before God that either this would just be dropped or that all is resolved well on Nov 17th.

Prove Me Wrong

2010-11-03T06:03:00.013-04:00

There are so many good organizations, charities, and NGO's in which to donate; but I am convinced that supporting young Christian doctors to voluntarily serve at least 2 years in a third world setting (making a fraction of what they are worth back in the West) sharing Christ's love through compassionate healing is one of the best impacts that can be made to change the world for His Kingdom dollar for dollar.

I am not good at all at asking for money...and I try not to ask very often. But medical doctors and dentists could not provide care on a daily basis at mission hospital with the Post-Residency Program if it were not for your generous financial donations. In the past it has been labors intensive to logistically give to our account with Samaritan's Purse and WMM. It required our account number, a check, a stamp, the right address, and a mail-box (one donor even got lost in the word of charities and donated to Doctor's Without Borders...a worthy cause, but not us). For many in our generation (Facebook, Amazon, I-tunes & Skype) sending a donation by check and mail is just too slow and cumbersome. For months we have asked that Samaritan's Purse consider setting up online donations to our project account. And to be honest I thought SP was trigger slow and or indifferent (not believing this would truly help).

Online giving to our project account is now available at: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/wmmgiving

With just a click at the above website and search (Friess or Cichowski) you will see a picture of our family. This will allow 100% of your tax-deductable donation to go to our project account to support things like patient surgeries, medicine, building a new dental clinic at Tenwek, transporting donated medical supplies.

I told the administrators and IT people at Samaritan's Purse that the ease of online donations would increase the frequency of those that give and expand the donating base (I hope I am right), particularly if we made the information available on our blog.

I can't preach to you without trying myself. So I gave online donating a try and in less than 3 minutes (even with Kenyan speed internet) our donation to Friess PRP account was made. It's as easy as buying a song on I-tunes.

While we have been supported generously and never lacked (thank-you), often the number of our monthly supporters can be counted on just one hand. Seeing the names of those regular monthly supporters is our biggest encouragement, but I believe there could be even more people involved. I started if off and I would like to see at least 20 donations made (the amount is of less importance) to http://www.samaritanspurse.org/wmmgiving in the next few days. Maybe it is unlikely? Prove me wrong.

click here!

Skipping

2010-10-31T08:58:00.002-04:00

Amelia taught Meredith how to jump rope Saturday morning. They then skipped-up to RVA and back twice that day. Honestly I think that is more of a work-out than my runs.

Weekend

2010-10-31T08:43:00.004-04:00

It's seems churches, Christian schools and other religious institutions find a way to get kids to dress-up and then distribute candy on Halloween under the guise of a different name. At my childhood church we dressed-up for "Reformation Day". Amelia's preschool had a fall festival. Well in the case of RVA it's called "Carnival." Malin learned that two 50 pound suitcases were transported from the States loaded with candy for the event (to a dentist this causes chest pain or at least makes them think about getting the drill ready). Amelia chose to be cats with her school big sisters and Meredith went as Aurora complete with high heals and make-up. They had a great time. Only coming home with 4 pieces of candy each from the games they played. So I'm just wondering what the record out there is for the number of pieces of candy collected in one evening?

Amelia & Meredith

2010-10-29T09:01:00.003-04:00

"It's hard playing against 3rd grade boys, but pink sweat pants make me run faster."

Some of Meredith's theological thoughts, "God is God. God is always by your side even when you go to church. God can take your heart and scrub it clean."

My favorite song I am learning is "Jingle Bells." But I usually play with my eyes open.

Me and Flower eating some carrots.

Entombed

2010-10-27T09:52:00.002-04:00

#9 treated 4 years previously (incomplete GP?) and DFL composite. PARL with fistula present at MCJ apical to #9. Percussion Positive. No suppuration present today. Dx- Failed RCT or Incomplete RCT--CAP (Phoenix Abscess).

Access through cotton pellet to find one canal. Strong, foul odor present, vital tissue was entombed and became necrotic.

Irrigate NaOCL, Dry, Thermaseal, 50x.012 Tulsa Rotary, 25 mm length, Warm GP, EPA, DFIL Comp. BU shade C-2.

What makes A Great Counselor?

2010-10-26T05:44:00.004-04:00

With certainty we will all have experiences in our life (loss of a loved one, fired from a job, tragic car accident, watching your child make wrong decisions) that make no sense. And many of us will ask God, "Why?" Thankfully, there are many of you out there; pastors, friends, teachers, family, doctors, and counselors who are gifted in listening and giving timely Godly counsel. Without these relationships I think many people who suffer would move from faith to despair instead of slowly returning to God and hope. But how do great counselors engage people in a Christian context when they are suffering?

David Powlison in the book "Suffering and the Sovereignty of God" give a few timely hints...

People... often focus exclusively on "the problem." They ask about "the problem." They offer advice for solving "the problem." They care for you! They are well-meaning attempts to be helpful. But the effect can become unkind. Many significant sufferings have no remedy until the day when all tears are wiped away. Your disease or disability is incurable. Your loved one is dead. The marriage is over. The money is gone. There may be partial helps along the way. There may be partial redemption. There will be no fix. Often the biggest problem for any sufferer is not "the problem." It is the spiritual challenge the problem presents. "How are you doing in the midst of what you are going through? What are you learning? Where are you failing? Where do you need encouragement? Will you learn to live well and wisely within pain, limitation, weakness and loss? Will suffering define you? Will faith and love grow, or will you shrivel up?" These issues are more important than "the problem" in the final analysis. They take asking, thinking, listening, responding. They take time. People are often clumsy and uncomprehending about the most important things, while pouring energy and love into solving what is often insoluble.

Mr. G's Salon

2010-10-25T04:23:00.005-04:00

Walk down the dirt road past the hospital, vegetable ladies, supa-duka, the old gas station (with no working tanks) and you will find Mr. G's Salon.

Mr. G's Salon has a plenty of mirrors, vigorous vines, electricity from a car battery, Kenyan tunes on the radio, and a barber chair with a heavy hub-cap as its base.

Mr. G. makes it easy to select your desired hairstyle (1-50) by displaying all your options on the wall. I picked 48 without the goatee. I'm not sure if your cutting instruments affect a barber's options; but I found it interesting that Mr. G has 3 electric clippers in his Salon but not even one pair of scissors. Interesting??

I find the overall haircut experience at Mr. G's Salon pleasant from the initial seating with a cape to the final hot towel dressing of the neck at the departure. Mr. G. cut my hair and told me I looked, "smart and young!" And all for under 70 KSH. Amelia, Meredith, & Sara haven't yet followed my lead.

PWD

2010-10-23T11:51:00.007-04:00

Rift Valley Academy held its annual pine wood derby race today. PWD has evolved tremendously from my childhood days of carving a block of pine with a pocket knife, a little red spray paint, and then attaching some nails and wheels on to a car with Elmer's glue. RVA 1) has to keep a lot of boarding kids busy and 2) has a lot of adult-kids with lots of time to imagine how we can keep the kids busy and 3) just plain likes to do everything bigger and better than ever imagined. So they have created what I call PWD on Steroids.

Students have spent weeks sanding, cutting, painting, adding lead weights to achieve the allowed weight (must be under 350 grams), truing and oiling wheels all to achieve the fastest or for some the most creatively designed car.

As you can tell this is no ordinary PWD track. It is the length of a basketball court and the height of a two story building. An olympic style electric timer releases 6 cars all at once as they race to the end of the track (video recorded for instant replay) in just under 5 seconds. Each of the 6 cars' times are recorded (4.567 seconds), ranked (1-6), and then rerun in multiple heats (to count for A-F track speed discrepancies).

Amelia created Duma (swahili for cheetah) because cheetahs are the fastest animal on the planet. Besides cutting with the jigsaw Amelia did all the design, gluing, and painting herself. As it is with rules she was racing against the men. Duma raced out of the first round but could not find his legs in the second round and was defeated by a drag racer.

Are any of your kids doing PWD these days?

Waxing & Waiting (A Walk Through Kijabe Dental)

2010-10-22T08:07:00.004-04:00

Take a quick pictorial walk through Kijabe Dental Clinic.

Caroline (COHO) developing intra-oral x-rays with the old fashioned peripro-light box using the hand dip method.

Louis (COHO) scaling teeth with the old fashioned patient spittoon (now eliminated in the US because of OSHA) in the foreground. Patients always tell me they miss having this spittoon available to clear their mouth.

Just like in the U.S. our patients wait as well (or Queue as they call it). We try to recycle old magazines and leave them in the waiting room for their pleasure.

Dr. Friess at the Dental Clinic in a rare appearance with a suit and tie the day President Kibaki visited Kijabe. The comments were remarkable, 1) Dr. Friess you look smart today. 2) Dr. Friess you are being smart 3) Dr. Friess you are looking smart wearing a tie. 4) Dr. Friess- yes it is smart for you to wear a suit. I guess I said, "thanks! Imagine all the smarter clinical decisions I could make if I wore a suit and tie everyday. But on the other hand...if I'm smart when I wear suit and tie, how am I the other days?"

George (laboratory dental technician) waxing up a denture with a burner just as I did years ago in dental school.

フライス家族

2010-10-20T16:04:00.004-04:00

フライス家族 (Friess Family in Japanese)

I'm not sure how or why, but readers from the following countries have found our blog: United Kingdom, Tanzania, India, Canada, Germany, Spain, Philippines, Chile, Romania, South Africa, Brazil, Mexico, Malaysia, Lithuania, Japan, Portugal, Poland, Norway, Netherlands, Jordan, Hungary, France, Egypt, Australia, Venezuela, Czech Republic, Austria, Cote D'Ivoire, Colombia, Uruguay, Finland, Peru, Ecuador, Trinidad and Tobago, Moldova, Korea, Tunisia, Taiwan, Turkey, Italy, Switzerland, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Guatemala.

As much as I really don't anyone in Tunisia or Uruguay or India; I am excited that readers from these countries are following God's story playing out in our family in Africa. Whether you are Christians, non-Christians, dentists, doctors, mothers, pastors, missionaries or something else...I am glad you are reading. Indeed it is true as Amelia recently sang at multicultural day at her school, "God's Love Goes All Over the World."

Regardless of your view of big corporations, I think Google is making the world an easier place to live. Not only is Google taking pictures of every street in America to provide better driving directions, and making a car that drives on its own that is much safer than a human can ever be, and guessing your search results before you type them to save the average person hours in a lifetime; Google is also translating blogs into languages all over the world.

If you are a reader of our blog who prefers a language other than english please scroll down to the widget on the right titled "Translate our Blog." Then click on the blue box with the white question mark. A new screen will be open. Select one of over 55 languages (swahili, french, chinese, hindi) in which you wish to read our blog. This is an example of how it will work.

Swahili
Upendo huvumilia, upendo ni mwema. Hana wivu, haina cha kujivunia, lakini si kwa kiburi. Si rude, si ubinafsi, si kwa urahisi angered, hakuna anayeshika rekodi ya makosa. Upendo hana furaha katika uovu, bali hufurahia ukweli. Daima inalinda, daima amana, daima matumaini, daima hudumu. (1 Kor 13:4-7.)

Hindi
प्रेम रोगी है, प्रेम दयालु है. यह ईर्ष्या यह दावा नहीं करता, यह गर्व नहीं है नहीं करता है. यह कठोर नहीं है, यह-, यह आसानी से नाराज नहीं है की मांग नहीं कर आत्म है, यह गलतियों को सुधारने का कोई रिकॉर्ड नहीं रखता है. प्यार करता हूँ लेकिन सच के साथ बुराई रमण में प्रसन्न नहीं करता है. यह हमेशा की सुरक्षा करता है, हमेशा पर भरोसा करता है, हमेशा की उम्मीद है, हमेशा perseveres. (1 कोर. 13:4-7)

French
L'amour est patient, amour est aimable. Il n'est pas envieux, il ne se vante pas, il n'est pas fier. Il n'est pas impoli, il n'est pas égoïste, il n'est pas facilement en colère, il ne garde aucun disque des maux. L'amour ne se réjouit pas de mal mais se réjouit avec la vérité. Elle protège toujours, toujours confiance, il espère tout, elle supporte toujours. (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Latin
Amor patiens, diligo est pius. Non aemulatur non glorietur, non superbi. Non rudis, non ambitio, non irascendum facilem record sustinet malum. Non gaudet in iniquitatem congaudet autem veritati. Is usquequaque servo, semper deposita sperat perseverat. (I Cor. 13:4-7)

English
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. (1 Cor. 13:4-7)

Does the google translation seem accurate in your native language?

Buffalo Country

2010-10-20T13:52:00.003-04:00

2010 Rift Valley Academy Class Picture

The arrangements of the kids in red, white, green, and black are representative of the Kenyan Flag.

Foolishness

2010-10-19T09:04:00.008-04:00

A recent conversation with a friend:

So let me ask you a question.
Sure.

You live in Africa, right?
Yes, for the past two years.

You have kids right?
Yes, I have two daughters.

So, I just trying to make sense of this. You have young kids who will need college tuition. You are in in your highest income potential time. And you have decided to practice in Africa. Are you independently wealthy or something?
No.

Are you getting paid a lot by your organization.
No. Certainly not, but we are grateful for their support!

So, this just doesn't make sense. Why are you doing this?
I'm trying my best to live out my Christian faith just like many others, and go where it leads me.

The conversation changed topics to sports at that point. But I appreciated this friend because he was simply trying to figure out why I (a logical guy) would make such a seemingly foolish professional decision. He is not the first to question what we are doing.

But I wonder how many of us have also been in situations where living out our faith seems foolish; coaching a kids team when you could be earning some overtime pay, declining a promotion to be a better mother or father, donating money that could otherwise be used to shore up a retirement fund, giving a way valuable things to someone in need that could be sold for profit, spending your spare time pounding nails to build a house for the homeless when you ought to be resting, teaching a Sunday School class when it isn't at all your gift, forgiving an angry neighbor when they don't deserve your kindness. I think it happens all the time...what foolishness have you accomplished?

For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength.
1 Cor. 1:25

Your Generosity Has Done This...Part VI

2010-10-18T03:56:00.009-04:00

We want to keep you (friends, family, our churches) aware of how your generous donations are being used. Travis & Lydia (with their two boys Meshack and Silas) have been missionaries in Nakuru, Kenya for over 9 years. Sara and Lydia were roommates back in 1999 at Wheaton College and it has been fun to reconnect. The Klingsforths are involved in Urban Ministry of Discipleship in Nakuru for the past 9 years. Travis and Lydia are encouraging because they are everything a missionary should be; fluent in the local language (swahili), immensely patient, relational, flexible, cross-cultural, evangelical, and just plain friendly.

Lydia approached us to team with then in an educational project. Lamaze International and Duke University Area Health Program have started a training program called "Giving Birth Lamaze Africa." This program trains Kenyan Nurse Midwifes and other lay health care workers in the concepts of Lamaze. Also, some concepts about bad outcomes (meconium present, water breaks and their is hemorrhage) are taught and when you need to get emergency help and get the laboring mother to the hospital. At least 75% of deliveries in rural Kenya are completed outside of the hospital under the supervision of lay staff. So, training of these health care workers can make a big difference.

Donations were needed to purchase the model placentas, umbilical cords, babies (Target), and replica pelvis openings to teach the course. A medical supplier can charge well over $100 per model (well above an affordable cost for the course). Thankfully some creative ladies by hand "created" a placenta, umbilical cord, and so forth for less than $10 per model.

You can see how the training you a model like this is far superior to a text book or verbal explanation. The instructor can show breach deliveries, foot presentation, twins, delivering the placenta, clamping the umbilical cord, etc.

We hope this training provides health care workers the knowledge to provide better outcomes with normal deliveries and also the know-how to get assistance more rapidly when things don't go as planned. Your generosity again has made a big difference here in Kenya. You bought 10 placentas (placenti??)! Thank-you for blessing others by giving to God's Kingdom.

How we come to church?

2010-10-17T11:16:00.007-04:00

I admire the way Kenyans honor God on Sunday. Despite that a typical Kenyan family exists as subsistence farmers, walks 3-5 miles to church down a muddy dirt road, resides in a house with a dirt floor, cooks over smoky charcoal, and washes their clothes in a bucket; that very family will come to church wearing their Sunday best. It is remarkable. I don't know how they do it. Meredith manages to dirty up her dress and color her arms with pink marker just between our hospital and our walk to church.

The Kenyan men and boys wear suits, ties, vests, and dark shoes nicely polished. The Kenyan women and girls adorn themselves with their most beautiful dresses (well ironed), high-heeled shoes, jewelry, and hair neatly kept. I wonder if this is a way they are giving God their "first fruits" as discussed in Nehemiah 10. It may not be much but I wonder if coming in your "Sunday Best" is an offering to God? Is this their first crop, their new wine, their finest oils, their best grain, their purest ground meal.

When we were back in the States we came to church on "show your knees Sunday" where you were encouraged to wear shorts. Casual is in. Formal is not. "Come as you are" is the norm. Overdressing to church is almost more awkward than underdressing.

Have times changed? This is a picture of me and my siblings circa 1981. Yes, I am confidently wearing a bow tie and a Big-bird vest. Maybe this is Easter Sunday...I can't remember. But I know at that moment we came dressed to church...as if this was really important...as if something special was going to happen...and someone amazing would be in our presence.

What do you think? Is it church dress regional? Is church dress denominational? Have we become more casual? Does it still matter "how" we come to church?

What to expect when you go to a Kenyan law firm...

2010-10-16T02:55:00.002-04:00

So, it's probably not fair to generalize after seeing 2 lawyers in Kenya yesterday, but still there are a few things to laugh about. But before I share those moments I want to emphasize that both of them were professional, did understand Kenyan law, and reassuring that all should be well.

First, the directions to the law firm were something like, "It's near this building," turns out it wasn't even on the same street as this building and we nearly got stuck in a military parade. Second, there's no parking at the massive building complex which in Nairobi can turn into a real hassle. Thank goodness for the gentlemen who nearly backed his Lexus into us as we walked just to say that he had previously owned Besley's car and we could have his parking spot--license plate numbers don't change here, so he recognized the plate which is amazing. He also told us that he was a lawyer and happy to help anyone who owned the car now that he had once loved. Third, you will be expected to sign in over and over at security check-points and then be asked, "Is this official business?" At which point I wanted to sarcastically scream, "No, the medical director of Kijabe, myself, an OB/GYN and my husband, a dentist, all thought taking a day off to visit a lawyer would be entertaining." Next when you get off the elevator at the 12th floor there will be no directional sign to the specific office so of course we went the wrong way. Then when you ask for the key to the restroom the secretary will say, "I hope you remembered your own TP." Yes I did, that's a permanent fixture in my purse now. Finally the lawyers will appear, look at the 3 of us, introduce themselves and say, "Our office is too small to meet in let's go to a restaurant in the building." Then you take a glass, outside elevator down 12 flights (at which point I really thought about getting on my knees and praying) only to arrive a dumpy, fly-swatting, non-airconditioned restaurant that is out of bottled water and serves instant coffee.

I think my favorite part though was when we had asked some specific legal questions and they graciously admitted not knowing the answers, but they had a friend who was a lawyer and a doctor. So yes, they phoned a friend and proceeded to talk to him as they talked to us. It felt something like a Who wants to be a millionaire life-line. Except instead of winning a million dollars I'm hoping to stay out of jail.

Then & Now

2010-10-14T05:17:00.002-04:00

Then (November 2009)

Now

Thumb sucker

2010-10-13T08:38:00.005-04:00

Meredith has generally been a content child. We attributed some of that contentment to her ability to self-soothe by sucking her thumb. She sucked her thumb to sleep, when she fell and got hurt, when she needed to rest, or when she wanted to relax and listen to a book or watch a movie. Sometimes we'd even tell her, "Just suck your thumb sweetheart, then you will be alright." Although once we got to Africa the thumb sucking was probably the reason she had Giardia for 6 straight months. And Kenyans loved to yank that thumb right out of her mouth causing her to yell, "Stop, it's mine," frequently.

Well, by the textbooks (dental textbooks) by age 5 we needed to stop this self-soothing or we were going to more permanently impact her smile. Recognizing that it wasn't going to get any easier for her to stop we decided to find her currency-- you know the thing that she wanted more than her thumb. We suggested several things we could get her for her birthday only to have her say, "I've decided I have enough toys and only want cake for my birthday," i.e. no way am I giving-up my thumb. But then a high schooler mentioned she wanted to sell her American girl doll. I took Meredith up to see the doll. She wanted it and I think she wanted it even more because it was something Amelia wanted. But her thumb hasn't been in her mouth since. Those first few naps and bed times were hard, but she figured out other ways to soothe to sleep. I see now that along with contentment my child does have self-control (at least some of the time). I'm proud of her and will always picture her baby-toddler years with her thumb in her mouth.

How Kids Can Share God's Love From Afar...

2010-10-10T08:09:00.004-04:00

Despite great care given by doctors, nurses, and chaplains; the Kijabe Hospital Pediatrics Ward can be a sad place for a child to be. This children's hospital doesn't have pretty aquariums, carpet with stars, air-conditioning, crayons, helium balloons, visiting puppies, clowns, or televisions with cartoons. This hospital does have rice and beans three meals per day, a dusty floor, lots of cement walls, multiple IV bags, too many tears, too many long needles, thin mattresses, patient stays that are much too long; and far too many incurable diseases, aggressive cancers, traumatic injuries, and untreatable disfigurements.

Imagine bed 1 sits a 12 year old boy who suffers from a mandibular tumor that disfigures his face. Bed 2 cries an 18 month old girl trying to remain still, wrapped in bandages recovering from 2nd and 3rd degree burns all over her body because she rolled into the fire place in the middle of her home. Bed 3 lays an 8 month old boy hooked to IV. He is thin, dehydrated, suffers from TB, and is likely just being diagnosed with HIV. Bed 4 has a 4 month old girl who goes for surgery almost weekly to drain the excess CS fluid in her head that is twice as large as it should be. Bed 5 has a 9 year old boy casted leg all the way to his hip, attached to a string and a few rusty weights dangling above the bed to keep the appendage elevated. The stories go on..but the pictures do better justice to these kids.

This past August the kids of Westminster Presbyterian Church of Akron, Ohio gathered around the figurative Baobab Tree for Vacation Bible School (African Theme). These kids had a great idea to help out kids just like themselves (but suffering from sickness) here in Africa. One by one our friends back at WPC donated stuffed animals, crayons, and coloring books to be given to kids here in Kenya. And gather they did...all in all over 250 stuffed animals, 200 coloring books, and just as many crayons were collected and packaged in an oversized action packer. In coordination we were able to pick them up in Washington and bring them with us to Kenya.

Well, Kids of WPC please see the happy kids below (and their new fuzzy friends) and how your desire to share God's Love gave these kids a little joy, some hope,and a piece of happiness. The pediatric chaplain said as we left, "Please thank those who have given from me and the patients. The kids are still sick and hurting..but they know someone thought about them. Today they have made the hospital a happy place."

State House News

2010-10-09T14:40:00.001-04:00

The link below outlines President Kibaki's visit to Kijabe Hospital yesterday.

http://www.statehousekenya.go.ke/news/october2010/2010081002.htm

God's Love, Power, & Justice - Part 1

2010-10-09T13:28:00.005-04:00

Author Thomas Talbot describes three propositions most Christians hold to be true:

(1) It is God’s desire to reconcile all sinners back to Him.

I Timothy 2:4 - God desires everyone to be saved and to come to knowledge of the truth.
II Peter 3:9 - God is not wanting that any should perish, but everyone to come to repentance.
Romans 8:38- Neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us, from the love of God.

(2) It is within God’s power to do as He pleases, including redeem all of the world back to Him.

Job 42:2: I know that you can do all things and that no purpose of yours can be thwarted.
Isaiah 46:10: My (God’s) purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
Ephesians 1:11: God accomplishes all things according to his counsel and will.

(3) Yet, some will never be reconciled to God, and enter a place of eternal separation from God.

II Thessalonians 1:9: These will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction.
Matthew 25:46: Then they will go away into eternal punishment.
Matthew 13:42: They will throw them into the fiery furnace where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

It seems there is Biblical support for all three propositions? God desires all to be saved, it is within God's power to insure that all are saved, but some are seemingly lost. How can God be all-loving, all-powerful, and a God of justice at the same time? Is it consistent to hold on to all three positions?

Rolling Out The Red Carpet

2010-10-08T09:10:00.007-04:00

The Red Carpet was rolled out today for His Excellency the Honorable President of Kenya Mwai Kibaki. President Kibaki arrived at Kijabe at about 11 AM in a motorcade of vehicles.

The President greeting various board members of Kijabe Hospital and Pastors of Africa Inland Church.

The newly designed and expanded (and very clean) recovery room for patients immediately after surgery. We can take some pride that Samaritan's Purse (our sending organization) generously donated over 200,000 USD towards the total 500,000 USD needed for the theatre expansion at Kijabe.

The ever present white dry-erase board to keep track of the anesthetist, patient, surgeon, and procedures for the now expanded Theatre with nine different operating rooms.

Several thousand people gathered to view the presentations and hear President Kibaki speak.

President Kibaki spoke for 15 minutes. The president acknowledged the importance of religious organizations in responding to the great health care needs of Kenya. He commended Kijabe on its response to provide excellent compassionate health care at affordable costs to the poor. The President responded to a request by Kijabe to relieve 2 million KSH debt left by patients who could not pay, "I will deal with it," he said. The President agreed to insure that all supplies and medical equipment imported to Kenya with purpose to be used at Kijabe hospital could now come "Duty Free." The President even address the roads leading to Kijabe--and did not go as far as promising they would be fixed, but was sympathetic to the needs to have the roads repaired for safety and comfort for patient travel. In the end I found President Kibaki to be soft spoken, at times humorous from the podium, and responsive to the needs of Kijabe. He seems like a really decent guy.

The president being escorted away from Kijabe Hospital left with the words, "please let us (the government) know how we can help Kijabe." I want to believe the President was moved, impressed, and maybe surprised by this mission hospital that has grown in a hundred years from a little dispensary to a now a level 5 referral hospital with over 20 doctors/specialists, a nursing school, and a medical training facility. And that the Commander and Chief of a sovereign republic of over 30 million people will support and enable Kijabe to continue to share God's love through medical care.

Presidential Preparations

2010-10-07T10:24:00.004-04:00

Tomorrow may be the biggest day in the history of Kijabe since 1905 when Theodore Roosevelt laid the cornerstone at Rift Valley Academy. We are excited that His Excellency President of Kenya, Mwai Kibaki will be coming to Kijabe Hospital. Kibaki has served as Kenya's President since 2002, but this will be his first visit to Kijabe Hospital. He has agreed to ceremonially open the Theatre (Operating Room) expansion. This expansion will triple the square footage of the operating room by adding 5 new operating rooms, a larger recovery room, patient reception area, staff chai room, and conference rooms. This will enable more patients to be treated and especially expand the capacity of surgical care in Plastic Surgery, ENT, Orthopedics, General Surgery, and make available around the clock an emergency OR (decreasing the wait time for urgent C-sections).

Most of all we pray that with the President of Kenya attending this event, the national spotlight will shine on Kijabe and God will be glorified through compassionate health care.

Gallons of Glossy White have been painted to make the walls sparkle.

Believe it or not, 10-20 casual workers have spent the past week sanding the exterior walls of the hospital by hand (fine grade paper I think).

The buzz of the President's visit has mobile phones ringing and text messages flying.

A stage is being built for the President to speak after the opening of the Theatre expansion. Even more interesting new green turf (seen in lower left hand corner of the picture) is being laid to sharpen up the field.

Even new steps are being laid in cement to the backdoor of the hospital to welcome the President's visit.

Have you ever met a current or former president of any country?

African proverbs

2010-10-05T11:07:00.003-04:00

There are many wonderful African proverbs like, " A single bracelet doesn't jingle" or "When spiders unite they can tie up an army" or "Haraka, haraka heina baraka (Hurry, hurry there is no blessing)."

After thinking our lives were going to end on the road numerous times I've decided to create a few more proverbs of my own. Perhaps this in some way will ease my anxiety every time we get into the car.

"It's the engine, not the body that counts."

"It is better to add people to the car than leave a friend on the road."

"Speed limits are just recommendations on the freeway of life."

"The biggest vehicle always wins."

"Flashing lights do not signal all is well." (Drivers flash lights to indicate they are in your lane, but see you coming.)

"A single branch can stop traffic." (Tree branches are often used to mark accident sites or to signal that a car has broken down on the road)

"Donkey carts on freeways are just God's reminders to slow down and enjoy the view."

"You never know what could be coming at you, so know where you are going."

Anybody else have some vehicular proverbs to add?

Watch out

2010-10-05T11:00:00.004-04:00

How often can you yell at a playground, "Watch out for the hippo poop?" Well, if you ever want to come to play on the fabulous playground at Lake Naivasha Simba Lodge you better watch out for what you could step in!

Post Resident Families

2010-10-04T06:35:00.009-04:00

World Medical Mission's Post Resident Families in Kenya

These adults & children represent the families currently serving through Samaritan's Purse under World Medical Mission's Post-Residency Program in Kenya. Included in this group is the Friess Family (OB/GYN & Dental in Kijabe), Jones Family (FP in Kapsowar), Shirley Family (ID in Kijabe), Cropsey Family (OP in Tenwek), Fader Family (GS in Tenwek), Christina Francis (OB/Gyn in Kapsowar), Mclaughlin Family (FP & OB/GYN in Tenwek) and Alyssa Pfyster (IM/PD in Tenwek).

Can anyone name all of the kids from left to right?

Meet Odete Lauren Friess

2010-10-03T09:27:00.003-04:00

Meredith Lauren Friess has been informing everyone that as of her 4th birthday, December 16th, she is changing her name to Odete Lauren Friess. Odete is the name of her favorite dancing princess and therefore Meredith hopes to become her by changing her name!

Meredith also told me that,"God made Uncle Jason very silly!" I asked her how God made her and she exuberantly exclaimed, "God made me happy!" Of course I was delighted when she added, "And God made mommy beautiful."

Last night she went to bed complaining that I only gave her 1 dinner and she wanted at least 2. She also persuaded me to keep the quilt I made for the maternity ward and put it in her bedroom by exclaiming, "Mommy, that is the most beautiful quilt I've ever seen. I love it! Please, please, please can you put it in my room so I always can look at it?"

Meredith brings much joy to our family and it is a gift to have her call me "Mommy."

Silence

2010-10-01T12:08:00.002-04:00

I can't write much about the stress, anxiety, hurt and anger over an allegation that has been lodged at me--because this is a public forum not because I don't have a lot to say. So it will have to suffice that the allegation is serious and profoundly untrue, but simultaneously things are "missing" from the chart. Entrusting this in a system that is foreign to me and believing that all will be well feels impossible. I cry with the Psalmist, "Answer me when I call to you, O my righteous God. Give me relief from my distress; be merciful to me and hear my prayer (Psalm 4:1)" and ask, "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?(Psalm 10:1)" The silence aches in me, particularly late at night as I consider what could happen... and no one seems able to really answer that question. I long for reassurance that all will be well. Yet I hear nothing.

How much do I really trust God? After all Paul ended-up in jail, most of the disciples were beheaded as was John the Baptist, and Stephen was stoned. Things working out to God's glory doesn't necessarily entail a happy ending.

But somehow, some deep part of me, still believes that this is the middle of the story, where a lot has not been sorted out, and more needs to be said. So that when this story of wrongful accusation and preposterous claims is concluded God will right what is wrong, dishonesty and falsehood will be brought to light and I will somehow be able to, "It is well with my soul."

Mud Painting

2010-09-30T03:59:00.002-04:00

Amelia and her new friend Anna want to start a business creating, painting and selling pictures made from mud. They spent hours gathering the right ingredients for mud paint and flower petal paint. Painting the pictures with meticulous detail Amelia asked how much she could charge for them. I wasn't sure. The next day her mud and flower paint had been cleaned-up. Amelia voiced her frustration and I reminded her that it was our cereal bowls she had used to mix the paint in. But I have to confess it was our helper Sarah who cleaned them up (without me asking her too) and what a mess it must have been to scrub out those bowls and the stairs!

Kenyan Elementary School

2010-09-27T09:15:00.002-04:00

Regent Academy Kijabe School (Form 1). This school was started by Africa Inland Church Kijabe two years ago with a special interest in providing education for girls.

Math.

We brought these books to donate to the school and I asked where the library was. The principal Esther said, "We don't have a library..these will be our first books for the school."

Do airlines discriminate against kids?

2010-09-26T06:52:00.006-04:00

There are 30 rows of seats on the average passenger airplane (64 rows on a 747 and around 35 on a 757). If half of the flyers preselect their seat and are granted their request, then those who have not preselected have a 1/15 chance of being in any particular row (6% probability).

On our recent trip back to the United States we had 6 different flights between the cities of Nairobi, Dubai, San Francisco, New York City, and Seattle. On each of the flights we preselected seats in the middle of the plane. On 3 of those flights (even though our seating request had been preselected) we glanced at our ticket and saw seats 64 A,B,C,D. So Sara and I and two very tired girls took the long walk past first class, past the first row of bathrooms, past coach, past the second row of bathrooms, and turned to our left just before the drink cart and stow-away seat. I mean, come-on the very back row on 3 of 6 flights (and this is not the first time) seems like more than chance.

We tried to sleep any way possible even using the lap tray to rest on but couldn't in chairs that wouldn't recline. Sara was bumped and disturbed by the doors of the restroom directly behind our seats. And of course we deboarded the airplane as the very last passengers.

It costs 4 cents to fly 1 pound 1000 miles. Amelia and Meredith weigh combined 90 lbs. That is about 1/3 that of the combined weight of an average couple 270 lbs. Amelia and Meredith pay the same fare as an adult on all domestic flights. The flight distance from Seattle to Kenya is approximately 10,000 miles. Amelia and Meredith's weight savings in cost of fuel not needed for the airlines is over $700 one way.

Do airlines intentionally seat young children at the back of the plane? Do they use online reservation age information to discriminate? Do they want these kids out of sight and out of mind in the back of the plane to retain a more professional class at the front of the plane? Is it fair when these little kids (although noisy and with a tendency to kick the chair of the passenger to the front) actually save airlines significantly in fuel costs? (Amazingly each flight could save $23 in fuel costs due to decreased weight if passengers relieved themselves before boarding.)

Has this happened to any other families with young kids or maybe I'm just imagining a conspiracy?

Much Better Late Than Never

2010-09-24T10:07:00.008-04:00

My little sister Kiersten is never early, fashionably and consistently late, but always good for her word. Before we left for Africa Kiersten and her husband Jason promised they would come visit. Twenty some months later they landed in Nairobi making good on their word. And what a wonderful visit it was.

Jason is an anethesiologist fellowship trained in regional blocks. As far as we know Kenya does not have any doctors trained in this subspecialty. Dr. Jason Ramirez was quickly popular, often grabbed by several anesthetists the moment he walked in the OR. Mornings he gave lectures to the 10-15 nurse anesthetists on anything from anatomy of regional blocks, to anesthesia in patients with head injury, to obstetrical anesthesia. Jason said the KRNA's "were like sponges..wanting to soak up information. But very quiet when asked a question, even though they knew the answer."

Jason's favorite part of medicine is managing the difficult issue of pain. Pain in Kenya I believe is often under-treated or not treated at all. Patients suffering from fractures lie in unpleasant wards for weeks in traction with little or no pain relief offered We assume Africans are tough or just prescribe a little paracetamol. Long acting regional nerve blocks to the upper and lower extremities placed by Dr. Jason had one child smiling and eating for the first time in days and another chronic pain patient walking comfortably (or at least assumed so as he could not be found bedside on rounds).

Below Jason is teaching the KRNAs how to give a patient a long lasting femoral nerve block before knee surgery.

Kiersten, an RN with masters in international health spent time with the community health HIV outreach team helping with medications. Kiersten learned to make Samosas and ran the trails with Sara. We also celebrated Kiersten's 3rd anniversary of her 29th birthday. She reclaimed the ever changing title of Amelia and Meredith's new favorite Auntie!

Kiersten and Jason did find time for visits to Safari (Kiersten said they couldn't stop smiling), Masai Market, Carnivore Restaurant, and above at Kazuri beads (Kazuri means little and beautiful... Jason's new nickname for Kiersten).

The best part of having Kiersten & Jason in Africa was that we remarkably became reacquainted in a way that would not happen in America. Without distractions, I remembered what a delightful little sister I have and what a joyful couple Kiersten & Jason have become. They were a blessing and encouragement to us. We will miss them.

Suggestions for fun in the Pacific Northwest

2010-09-21T07:30:00.005-04:00

We always enjoy hiking, biking, beach combing, shell hunting, kite flying and seafood when on Whidbey Island. But for our readers who live in the Pacific Northwest a few other ideas are the kangaroo farm in Arlington (yes, no kangaroos in Kenya) and the girls even ended-up on the Evening Magazine TV show, the Children's Museum in Burlington, and if you know my father or think you might like to know him a crabbing/shrimping/fishing trip is always fun. He's not really picky about who comes in the boat. I think his basic requirements are a license to harvest things out of the ocean, not too chatty (unless you want to talk fishing), non-smoking, and patience as he tries to find the perfect spot. Well, judging by the size of that crab he usually finds what he's hoping to catch. Too bad seafood doesn't travel well to Kenya.

Cousins

2010-09-19T07:13:00.003-04:00

Quite honestly we tried to get perfect, smiley pictures of the cousins, but in the end some of the best pictures were when they pulled silly faces. Looking at these pictures it feels like more than 8 days have passed since returning to Kenya. Since returning Amelia has resumed school, soccer, piano and started her car for the pinewood derby, Meredith has played with Claire each day, started preschool, decorated herself and room with stickers, and managed to cut open both knees, Malin returned to working at the dental clinic, playing soccer, running and reading apologetics, I was supposed to take this week to sort out our home lives but have ended-up delivering 4 babies at all hours of the day/night, seeing private clinic patients, attending a Bible study, arranging to resume teaching piano lessons, and (thankfully) some quilting and running. There are many good things about being here, at Kijabe, in Kenya, but we also believe that God is leading us to move again, this time to New Mexico by July 2011 for my fellowship. When and how this will happen we're still sorting out, but we trust in the provision of God.

Back

2010-09-14T04:30:00.002-04:00

Well the route wasn't direct Seattle-Phoenix-NY-Dubai-Kenya and US airways has to be about the worst carrier around (thankfully our longer flights were on Air Emirates), but we have arrived back. It's been great to have Kiersten and Jason visiting us the next two weeks. Amelia was thrilled to return to school and Meredith is back playing daily with her BFF Claire. Our house had new spider webs, spiders, and a few other bugs, but generally seemed okay with our extended absence. The fish, dog and bunny also were still alive thanks to our neighbors. For now our biggest hassle is a non-working modem which means no internet access at our house. Hopefully it will get going by this weekend! After enjoying such easy access to family and friends while in the States the loss of connectivity is particularly annoying.

Decision Time

2010-09-08T01:02:00.002-04:00

It's official; I become a fellow of pelvic reconstruction July 2011 at the University of New Mexico. This may be a rare interest in the world of medicine (although the statistics for the numbers of women with incontinence are staggering), but I'm excited. There's much more to write about this decision and how it all came about, but that will have to wait until we have finished laundry, packing, goodbyes, leave Seattle Sept 9th and arrive in Kenya September 11th. For now I can say that Malin is an amazing husband, there are a LOT of details to work out, and we hope the next "vacation" we take doesn't involve surgery or any major life decisions.

Cowgirl

2010-09-04T07:08:00.004-04:00

We've been in the States 5 weeks now and leave next week. The additional time here has allowed me to physically recover and provided Amelia and Meredith some opportunity for thrilling horse rides, kangaroo petting, multiple park visits, letter boxing (watch out for the barbed wire on the Whidbey Island clue), play time with cousins, and fishing and crabbing expeditions. There's more I could add, but the point is they've had fun. Malin and I also have taken a unexpected trip to Albuquerque, New Mexico (thanks Mom for the frequent flyer mile use!) because I was offered a fellowship position there starting July 1st. We need to give a decision by Monday and would appreciate your prayers as we sort out what is best for our family.

The importance of listening

2010-08-24T11:21:00.003-04:00

I prefer being the doctor, not the patient. After all I spent 8 years of my life learning to be a doctor, have practiced 2 years as a doctor and so it makes sense that's the role I know best. Having had 4 surgeries the past year though, I've learned a bit about being a patient.

This last surgery reminded me of the importance of listening to the patient's story. Taking the patient's history is one of the first skills acquired in medical school: you learn to ask open ended questions, focused questions, system specific questions, and learn to direct your questions based on what the patient is telling you. The patient's story should begin your differential diagnosis and in many times will make the diagnosis. Physical exam and testing should confirm what you already believe to be true. Granted there are times when things are unclear and we tend to blaim the patient as a "poor historian," but perhaps we're just not asking the right questions.

I left Crescent Lake certain of my diagnosis because of my history; I had not had a pregnancy test, ultrasound or exam. However, when seen by the doctor I felt I was convincing him that this was even a plausible diagnosis and should be considered on the differential. Maybe I was a "poor historian" from the pain I was in--but even that pain level points to a ruptured ectopic. As he started to talk about anovulatory cycles, thyroid dsyfunction and stress I finally fessed up that I was an Ob/Gyn and certain of my diagnosis. (Also, if some one shows-up in your office wearing yoga pants and a polar fleece when its 90 outside and hasn't showered for 3-4 days you better think something is seriously wrong!) While I still accepted his care plan and the right diagnosis was made I mostly wanted to know that I had been heard. That the testing was done because he believed me rather than to try to prove me wrong.

I'm finding that true with grieving as well. Sometimes the story just needs to be heard. So thank you to those that have offerred and willingly listened; it helps.

"Show your knees Sunday..."

2010-08-20T20:23:00.005-04:00

I'm not saying it's easy Sunday after Sunday to preach and speak truth, but sometimes listening to a pastor try to be funny I start to cringe in my seat. Take last Sunday when we visited a church in Bend and the pastor, at length, talked about why everyone was supposed to be wearing sandals this Sunday (something about trying to wear the shoes Jesus wore). I had on 3 inch black heals with blue trim and thought at least the open toes were probably similar to Jesus' shoes. So the pastor continued on to explain that people were asking him about dress code as he also had on shorts to match his sandals so he declared next Sunday "show your knees Sunday."

Well, having lived the past 2 years in a society were showing my knees is equivalent to showing my breasts in the West I spent the rest of the service thinking about dress codes, the Bible and whether or not God would find "show your knees Sunday" humorous. Needless to say I don't remember the sermon.

Flights

2010-08-17T11:40:00.002-04:00

If vacation had been as planned we'd be back in Kenya today. Thankfully we had travel insurance and were able to re-book our flights. However because of the class of tickets we had and because it's high-season the first available flight was September 9th. Our future plans remain uncertain, but we are using this additional month in the States to look at our options.

Amelia and Meredith have been able to participate in vacation bible school this week. Both have enjoyed meeting other kids, crafts, and attending with their second-cousins from Bend.

Water

2010-08-15T10:39:00.003-04:00

Some of you might know that Malin is an Eagle Scout. I don't know much about scouting but I'm pretty sure the motto is still, "Always be prepared." Well, Malin and his Dad decided to go on a long bike ride yesterday starting at the top of Mt. Bachelor going to Sun River and then splitting up; Malin going back up to get the car and his dad going on to Bend.

While Malin brought 2 bottles of water in 90 degree weather, heading straight up hill after 55 miles he found himself quite dehydrated. And with 6 miles left to go literally unable to go on. So he did the only sensible thing and hitch hiked. That's right he put his thumb out and the first truck that passed him stopped, put his bike in the back and drove him to the car. I still have yet to try hitch hiking although I have picked people up before.

Stuff Christians Like

2010-08-13T14:30:00.005-04:00

Jonathan Acuff author of the book "Stuff Christians Like" also maintains a popular blog at (http://stuffchristianslike.net/). An example of a few of his posts are: the youth minister who tries to talk like the kids, hand-raising worship-- 10 styles, wishing your testimony was more exciting, playing the G card, judging someone's faith based on their Bible underlining, always sitting in the same seat at church, and vuvuzelas at church.

July 10th Jonathan asked the blogosphere for a creative guest post. There were 7 things he was looking for this post to do:

1. The topic has to be unique to Christians.

“Hating to wait in line” is a bad topic to write about on SCL because that is not unique to Christians. Bipeds hate to wait in line. “Singing hymns while waiting in line” would fit however.

2. It has to be true.

Honesty is the cornerstone of humor. Blow it up, exaggerate it, expand it, but try to start with something that is true. Write about something that happened to you or something that is real in Christian culture.

3. It has to be fresh.

Use the google search bar above to see if we’ve already covered your idea. (And it has to be original and not already published on any other site.)

4. It has to have a twist.

Although it’s technically true that Casting Crowns are stuff Christians like, I will never write about that band. And not because I’m trying to get in good with NeedtoBreathe. There’s just no twist. Satire needs a twist. Everyone knows lots of people like Casting Crowns, the challenge is to find a different angle to write about.

5. It has to be satire, not mockery.

Don’t wound someone with your guest post. Don’t be a Christian jerk. Don’t take a shortcut to an easy laugh at someone else’s expense. Mockery is a great way to get laughs now but it removes the ability to speak love later.

6. It has to be hilarious.

Don’t send a Serious Wednesday post. Keep it satire.

7. It has to be shortish.

Aim for 500 words.

Spotting a missionary. (& Caption this photo)

Our blog was selected. The comments range from "say hello to Georgia the Giraffe" to "Dad why do we have to sit so close to that scary animal." Click on the Caption text above to see the guest post.

Reading

2010-08-13T12:04:00.003-04:00

Besides quilting and running, reading has also helped with the grief. A book can offer an escape to an alternative reality or in some cases something that's completely unrealistic, or a book can offer suggestions which I can choose to agree with or completely ignore and not have to explain why like I would in conversation, or a book tells a story that I relate too and provides words to the deep hurt I feel but find hard to articulate. So I offer-up my reading list for the past few months and a few brief comments on each book and welcome any suggestions on books you've read and really enjoyed.

Here if You Need Me by Kate Braestrup

-Her humor and grief made this one of my favorites

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

- unique plot and contains a lot about opera and love

The Reader by Schlink

- Can the worst crimes ever be forgiven or forgotten?

The Gospel According to Job by Mike Mason

- most helpful thing was the intro which said if you're grieving you should only read the parts of the book that speak to you and skim over the rest

When I don't Desire God by John Piper

- His book Desiring God was much better and the grand conclusion was to help others as a way to overcome the self-centeredness of grief

The Alchemist and The Zahir by Paulo Coelho

- his style of writing is like nothing else I've read and really detailed

Infidel by Ayaan Hirsi Ali

-since 25 percent of my patients are Somalian I found her story very interesting

Praying our Goodbyes by Joyce Rupp

- I'd just skip most of the book and go to the prayer section in the back

Just Do Something by Kevin DeYoung

- quick read, but probably better for someone less driven

Handle with Care and House Rules by Jodi Piccoult

- I loved her opening paragraph to Handle with Care about all that can break in life. House Rules was too predictable.

Call the Midwife by Jennifer Worth

- This is probably one of the few historical accounts I enjoyed reading.

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande

- We actually have his checklist at Kijabe, but it's only on the wall and not in use--that would probably make him crazy to hear.

When Helping Hurts by Corbett

-This book applies most to vacationaries (mission trips with vacation packages combined)

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

-most people with "gifts" have actually worked 10,000 hours to be elite... loved all the statistics

When Crocodile Eats the Sun by Peter Godwin

- Beautiful Memoir set in Africa

Blood Sisters and To my daughter in France by Barbara Keating

-Loved these stories and their settings

Secret Daughter by Somaya

- Starts with the tragedy of pregnancy loss in a female doctor and I almost couldn't read it, but identified with how the character's view of medicine and hospitals changed being a patient.

Evolving in Monkey Town by Rachel Evans

-Her writing is like talking to a friend about her faith and also pretty funny.

All the books of Marian Keyes, Sophia Kinsella, Janet Evanovich and Jennifer Worth. Really all I can say about these authors is that they are entertaining, but I hide their books on my shelves behind the ones with more literary value or return them to the shelf of my dear friend Jacqui (who has helped me explore British literature).

P.S. There are a few books I'll never admit to reading.

A few pictures from Crescent Lake

2010-08-12T12:25:00.006-04:00

Crescent Lake was filled with the usual activities: face painting, T-shirt painting, squirrel feeding, a bike parade, a talent show, water sports, and family meals. While I missed most of this, Malin and the kids had a fabulous time as the pictures show. Amelia performed her Dutch girl dance for the talent show and sang all the books of the Bible. Meredith was ready to swim at 7am every morning even though it was only 50-60 degrees outside. The girls were so excited to reconnect with their cousins. And while it took a little time for Meredith to keep the names straight she's now asking daily when they can play together again.

Gratitude

2010-08-06T10:36:00.002-04:00

Thank you for the e-mails, face-book messages, blog comments, calls and flowers this past week! Each brought a smile to my face as a reflected on some of the amazing people in my life.

My parents were able to come to Bend for 3 days so Malin could return to the girls and the rest of his family at Crescent Lake. Mom and Dad will leave today and Malin and the girls will return. I'm eager to see them. Until I'm medically cleared we will stay in Bend, Oregon.

It seems I've been the patient too often this past year. And I really don't enjoy resting, never have liked to nap and don't generally sit still. Television really is not that entertaining; I mostly find myself annoyed: that people get rewarded for having filthy houses (like in Clean Sweep), can talk about how hard it is to find the perfect home for 1 million (don't we all feel sorry for them), I certainly don't want to see 19 kids and counting, the news has had nothing on the constitutional election in Kenya, and my usual default--cooking shows, just makes me nauseated. But I will admit I'd still be happy to appear on What Not to Wear (who wouldn't want personal shoppers and 5000 dollars for new clothes).

So I'll keep reading, take some slow walks, and try to use the time to reflect on the past year. Or maybe I should try just to rest?

Enough

2010-08-04T13:23:00.003-04:00

I am publicly declaring I have had enough. Enough pregnancy losses, enough disappoint, enough grief, enough sadness and enough wondering why.

Our vacation with Malin's family at Crescent Lake, Oregon was interrupted Monday when I started having severe pain and bleeding. Even though I had a normal sonohystogram 1 week prior my medical knowledge made me worry of ectopic pregnancy (although I really didn't think I could be pregnant). We waited a few hours and then drove the 1.5 hours back to Bend. In the end I had an emergency laparoscopy that evening for a ruptured ectopic pregnancy. How I had hoped my diagnosis was wrong! While I received good care and am now recovering at Malin's parents home, it's been overwhelming. The doctor found no obvious reason for the ectopic and called it a "spontaneous, random ectopic." Do random things happen or does it all come from the hand of God?

Further difficult news came today when I learned I did not receive a fellowship position. While I still have plenty of options for the future it's still hard to have this option closed.

So the answer to the question, "What's next?" remains open. How do you navigate life in the midst of tremendous grief? How do you derive God's will or plan through pain? How do you decipher a divineness when the losses seem senseless?

For now, perhaps all I can say and believe with confidence is that God still loves me, still loves our family, and still has plans for us.

Vacation

2010-07-27T08:04:00.002-04:00

While in Kenya the past 20 months we've gotten 2 new nephews, 1 sister-in-law, missed 10 cousins' birthdays, 8 sibbling birthdays, parents birthdays and anniversaries, and major holidays with extended family. I don't write this feeling sorry for ourselves, just to say that the calender reminds us of what we are missing most: family. So when I asked Malin to plan our vacation time it was no surprise when he said we should come home to spend time with my family and to see all his family at their Crescent Lake Reunion.

Searching for the cheapest, missionary flight lead us to fly Nairobi-Dubai-San Francisco and then Seattle. Amelia and Meredith enjoyed all the new movies and TV shows on the 15.5 hour flight from Dubai. They also liked all the drink choices only managing to spill 6 of the drinks received! Amelia gasped in amazement as a toilet automatically flushed at the airport (Meredith thought it was a little scary). Both think Nana's hot pool is fabulous. Amelia was able to celebrate her birthday with a beach picnic and got to eat the shrimp and fish she's missed (yes, she has high taste and also asked for crab).

Tonight Malin and I are going away for a night to celebrate our 10th anniversary and the girls will be spoiled by Nana and Papa. We pray this time refreshes us, reconnects us with family, and allows us to solidify what God wants for our family in 2011.

Thanks to Christian Hospitality Network

2010-07-23T07:46:00.004-04:00

It's been a fun week. We were invited by Christian Hospitality Network to come relax and enjoy a Kenyan Getaway on them. After the 45 minute drive to Brakenhurst Conference center we were warmly greeted by Southerns (at least I think Tennessee is part of the south coming from Washington). There's something about a drawl, a warm hug and a huge smile that draws you in but what really got the girls was an enormous gift bag filled by families who don't even know them. The spoiling continued as Malin was taken golfing. Amelia, Meredith and I went to a tea farm, enjoyed a four course lunch and walk in the forest. Then there was the jewelry give away (you can see me telling the girls just one piece). And of course haircuts, massages, hand massages, physical therapy and a chiropractor all at our disposal. Sometimes being a missionary is rough and sometimes its just plain fun. We're so grateful for the many people, none of which personally knew any of the 150 missionaries there who freely gave us a time and place to rest and relax.

Who do you write like?

2010-07-23T07:30:00.002-04:00

Occasionally readers of our blog tell us they can't determine if it is Sara or Malin blogging (unless the blog title is Marvelous Molars or Lithotomy Position) of which case it becomes quite obvious. Sara and I think differently. I tend to use deductive reasoning (observations about the world). Sara is a stronger writer using inductive reasoning (observations within one's self). Sara's blogs often tell a story to convey an emotion; grief. My blogs are filled with statistics to lend power behind an argument; poverty. Ask me (Malin) to describe an Apple: red, round, about the size of a fist, hard. Ask Sara to describe an Apple: you can use it to make Apple Pie, Granny Smiths taste sour, in the Autumn they can be made into Apple Cider. It should follow that our writing styles would find our own voices. I thought I would put that claim to a test.

"I write like" (http://iwl.me/) is a website that claims to find which famous writer you write like. The process is simple. Cut and paste a story, blog, e-mail, or letter you have written and you will find your author-double.

As I clicked on the site I began to wonder who would be my author-double-ganger(Malcolm Gladwell--great sociologist, JD Salinger--recluse, Rick Reilly--humorous sports journalist). So I pasted 8 different blog entries into “I write Like” Five of those said Malin you write like Dan Brown (The Lost Symbol, DaVinci Code). I’ve heard literary gurus claim Brown is hack, but on the upside he’s popular, entertaining, but also hard to decipher between fact or fiction.

Sara's author double-ganger is split between Earnest Hemingway (novelist-A Farewell to Arms) and Mary Shelley (Frankenstein).

So who do you write like?

Amelia's Blog Interview

2010-07-21T05:35:00.004-04:00

1- What do you want to be when you grow up?

I want to be the first one to make dogs and cats dance.

2- What was the hardest part of 1st grade?

Meeting new friends.

3- What do you like best about Africa?

My friends all live close together.

4- What do you miss most about America?

I miss my cousins, aunts, uncles, grandmas, grandpas, and friends.

5- What is your favorite food?

fish and shrimp

6- What have you learned about God this year?

If I memorize my bible verses I get a trophy.

7- If you could change one thing about your little sister Meredith what would it be?

That she would not talk so loud in the morning.

Manners

2010-07-19T06:35:00.004-04:00

Meredith has a way about her that's all her own. Probably every parent appreciates the uniqueness found in each of their children and look at certain traits in their children and wonder, "Where did they get that?" or "What possessed them to do that?"

The other night Meredith got down from dinner stood near me with her hand raised and bowed as she said, "Queen mommy, may I please be excused from the dinner table." Last night she said at dinner, "Mommy, would you be so kind and please just get out the strawberries for me from the fruit salad?" I'm not sure what has triggered this fantastic and funny display of manners, but hope it continues!