Karibu

Karibu! This is a word I have heard many, many times since arriving in Kenya 2 days ago. It means welcome and the people here are more welcoming than most other places I have been. After LONG plane rides, I arrived in Nairobi Monday night. I arrived at the guest house I was staying at around 9:30pm and promptly took a shower and crashed. Then, it was up at 5:30 Tuesday morning to get ready. I then flew from Nairobi to Eldoret (a 30 min flight), which is the closest big city to Kapsowar. I was met by a worker from the hospital who took me shopping for food and necessities in Eldoret and then we began a bumpy 2 hour drive to Kapsowar. The first half was on paved roads and the last half was on clay dirt roads. I was very thankful that the mud from the rains the night before had mostly dried out!
The drive may have been bumpy, but it was so beautiful! This area is amazing. Very green, up in the mountains. We drove through a forest at one point which seemed like something out of a movie it was so perfect.
So, I finally arrived at Kapsowar around noon on Tuesday. I was shown to my house (yes, I have a whole house to myself) and met the house helper Mary, who is amazing and always has a smile on her face. I then was invited to one of the missionary’s house for lunch. Paul Larson is an FP here who has been doing all of the obstetrics. His wife and children lovingly welcomed me, including placing a handmade welcome sign on my door.
It was then off to tour the hospital and find out what my duties would be. It is a small hike to the hospital, but again beautiful. I am impressed with the work they are doing here with an extremely limited supply of resources. I am now in charge of the maternity unit and from what I hear it has been busy (in fact, right now we have 2 laboring patients and one laboring VBAC). I’m also in charge of doing ultrasounds. I am on call every other night during the week and all weekend both weekends I’m here. I am fine with this, though, as it gives Dr. Larson a much needed break.
This morning I went to a chapel service for all of the hospital staff. It was amazing to hear them lift their voices in song – I just wish I could have understood the words :)
So, things are going well here. I’ll write more soon. Still trying to figure out the internet connection, but hopefully I’ll be able to post pictures soon.
Keep praying!