Meeting with the governor

Today started with a meeting with the governor of Elgeyo-Marakwet county about developing sports medicine services in Iten. He was very happy to meet us and seems genuinely interested in providing what is necessary to develop a sports medicine center in Iten. It was encouraging to have a government official request to open a meeting with prayer and we happily obliged. This is not something that happens often in the USA.

We had another successful day of conference. 38 attendees and all were very excited to receive a certificate of attendance, except for one individual who was disappointed it wasn’t printed in color. Cerificates are part of protocol in Kenya.

It is hard to explain how busy this week has been. I brought 3 books to read thinking I would have some time to read in the evenings. So far I have read one chapter of one book and that was on the plane. Every day has been scheduled from 7:30 am until 9:00 pm and some nights later to prepare for the conference. We are exhausted at the end of each day. There is a big hole in the middle of my mattress so the sleep is not too restful either. I am looking forward to the weekend at Kapsowar to visit friends, relax and debrief after this week. We have had devotions every night in the book of James and tonight was a great finish in chapter 5. 

Except for the clinic and conference I did very little scheduling for this week. I can only give credit to God for all the connections we made. If we had a film crew with us we could have made great documentary on Kenyan running. Almost any important figure in the Kenyan running community we met this week. I also think Wesley Korir will be president of Kenya one day. Just my humble prediction.

Today at the conference I met an assistant coach from St Patrick’s school and he was so excited about our teaching that he said we must meet Brother Colm before we leave tomorrow. You have to read the book “Running with the Kenyans” if you don’t know about Brother Colm. We will meet him tomorrow at his camp at 9 am. 

More to come.

First day of conference

The conference went very well today. We had 38 Kenyan attendees which was more than expected. No one got up and left so I think it was well received. 

I had the opportunity to share from 1 Cor 9:24-27, which also inspired by the blog title, (shout out to my wife for that one.) Many will make immeasurable sacrifices for a perishable crown but sacrifice little to gain an eternal crown. Christ made the greatest sacrifice by paying the cost of our sin through his death and resurrection so that we could gain that eternal crown. All we have to do is believe. 

Our primary mission in Kenya is to transform hearts and to strengthen those who have already been transformed. Sports Medicine has been the vehicle to carry that message. 

Lunch after the conference 

This evening we met with Pastor Oliver and heard his passion for his community. He shared from Luke 10...the harvest is ripe but the laborers are few. Pray for the laborers. We prayed for God to equip him to meet the needs of his congregation and community. 

Pastor Oliver 

I will meet with the county governer tomorrow about the next steps for developing sports medicine training and services in this region. I am humbled by the connections that have been made this week. God has ordained all of these interactions. 

Enjoying the view of the Kerio Valley

Paragliders over the Kerio Valley

Quick update

Everyone is feeling better today. A little weak and dehydrated but better.  Thank you for your prayers. 

This is another busy day. Visited a training camp this morning, our sports medicine workshop 12-2 pm and then clinic 2-5 pm. Pastor Oliver invited us to visit his church and home tonight. 

More later.

Kenyan tradition to enjoy a cup of chai before being released by your host. This was at the running camp this morning.

More unexpected blessings

The last 2 days have been very eventful. The days have been filled with more unexpected blessings and God appointed encounters. Yesterday, (Jan 22), we arrived at Iten County hospital at 11:30 for a tour that was to be given by Dr. Mugalla after he had completed a commissioning ceremony for a new dialysis unit at the hospital. There were many local and county officials present for the ceremony including the Kenyan Ministry of Health cabinet secretary. 

Unfortunately the ceremony was delayed and as a result Dr. Mugalla was unable to give the tour. We were invited to join the ceremony and unexpectedly we were given a seat of honor with all the diplomates under the tent. At one point the cabinet secretary abruptly left the ceremony for an impromptu press conference. A few of us also left to use the bathroom, (these ceremonies are hours long in Kenya), but someone tracked us down and told us to quickly return to our seats. The cabinet secretary finally returned and asked us to stand to be recognized. He also briefly spoke about the need for a sports medicine center at the hospital and recognized our work as the initial step in this process. 

This was a complete surprise and I can only give credit to God as he works out his plan for us in Iten. I didn’t even want to go to the ceremony in the first place but God had other plans. This is a huge step for the future of sports medicine for Kenyan athletes in Iten.

This morning, (Jan 23), Wesley Korir, (the Kenyan Olympic captain, 2012 Boston Marathon winner, and former member of parliament), shuttled us to the track in Eldoret to watch a training session. There were so many elite athletes. All of them make running look effortless. They are so graceful and it is a pleasure to watch them run.

After the track workout Wesley had his driver take us to his home where we ate breakfast and met their family. We also learned about Transcend Running Academy that he and his wife, Tarah, started a few years ago. They have 30 needy students starting from 9th grade and they provide room, board, tuition and coaching for 4 years. As you would expect, part of the admission process is a race to see who has talent. They also disciple them and have plans to start a church that would include their students, (Wesley is also a preacher). They are both very gifted individuals.

In clinic this afternoon we were very busy. Yesterday we only had 2 patients and today started slowly with only 3 patients in the first 2 hours. It seemed that this would be another slow clinic day but 7 athletes showed up at the same time 45 minutes before the end of clinic. The 2 athletes we saw yesterday went and told their friends about the excellent care they had received and they all decided to come together today. Another unexpected blessing. 

We need more physical therapists and athletic trainers to help in clinic. We only have one PT/ATC to teach home exercise programs and give brief treatments. He was very busy today.

I also met with a local Pastor today who will assist us in our ministry to the coaches and athletes.

All the planning and preparation doesn’t seem to matter in Africa. Things just happen when they happen. It is definitely out of my control but I am confident God is at work. It is an exercise in patience and faith.

Jan 24 - We have 3 sick team members this morning. Fortunately I feel fine. Please pray for a quick recovery.

I am having technical difficulties with the blog. I have been trying to load this post for the past 24 hours. I will have more pictures when the connection is better.

First day in Iten

We are thankful to finally arrive in Iten. Our travel was wonderfully uneventful but still exhausting. After Dr. Mugalla picked us up at the airport he said he needed to give a friend a ride back to Iten. When we stopped to get his friend out walked Matilda, our friend from our first trip to Kenya in 2013. What an unexpected blessing to reconnect with her. She just completed her hematology fellowship in Australia a few months ago. Another example of God’s goodness in appointing this encounter.

This is our guesthouse which provided an afternoon to relax and a much needed nap.

This our group starting on the left, TJ, Chad, Daniel, Tracy, and Shane. After dinner we met with my friend Tarah and her husband, Wesley Korir, who was the captain for the Kenyan Olympic Team in Rio. She is a great runner too and just missed making the 2016 Kenyan Olympic team. She has been very helpful in coordinating communication with coaches and athletes last summer and also for this trip. I will see another coach, Cheromei, on Tuesday.

Please pray for ministry opportunities with coaches and athletes this week. I am also meeting with a local pastor tomorrow who can partner with us in ministry. We need someone to refer to for those who want to be discipled or reconnect with the church.

Praying for Josef  and Ellie to get better soon.

Jan 20, 2018

I left yesterday with some apprehension regarding this trip. I am not really sure of the reason of the uncertainty. Some of it is related to leaving without Christine and the kids for the first time on a trip to Kenya. Our three previous trips to Kenya have been as a family. (I don’t know how my dad and grandpa left for extended trips in the military.) I prefer to travel with Christine. Without her I feel like my right flank is unprotected. She is a source of encouragement and strength the God has graciously given to me. 

I am also apprehensive about the task at hand. We have a humanistic purpose in providing medical care for disadvantaged athletes but the missional purpose seems less defined. It is out of my control. I am sure that is God’s intention. I can’t help but feel inadequate every time I go to Africa. I think that is His intention too. I trust God will provide what we need to serve Him on this trip. 

I came across Isaiah 41:10 today. 

“Do not fear, for I am with you: Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”