What Christmas Looks Like in Kenya

As the holiday season approached, many people asked us to describe what Christmas looks like in Kenya.  Well, I guess how Christmas looks depends on the eyes of who is looking at it.  I'll try to describe a few perspectives, and provide some pictures to help you all back home know that there is Christmas in Africa this year!!

Christmas through Kenyan eyes:

The first interesting thing we noticed about how Kenyans celebrate Christmas is that they don't start the Christmas season at the beginning of December like most Americans.  Erin and I usually put up our tree just after Thanksgiving, start our holiday shopping on Black Friday, and get into the holiday spirit with continual playing of Christmas music.  However, we do argue about when we can start playing Christmas music in the house.  I'm a post-Thanksgiving person and Erin is a pre-turkeyfest player of holiday carols.  As I tried to understand the Kenyan culture, I asked some hospital staff in the OR if they listen to Christmas music.  When they said "yes" I then wanted to know their take on when we could listen to "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," "Silent Night," and "Grandma Got Ran Over By A Reindeer."  The nurses replied "Oh, a few days before Christmas."  Good thing Erin isn't married to a Kenyan.  No 101.5 FM The River continual Christmas music here.  Now that I think of it, in Kenya they don't have the same "triggers" in November that we do to signify the coming of Christmas.  There is no Thanksgiving to kick off the Christmas season, no cold, wintery days, and no hyper-intense commercialism begging you to buy the latest toys, Lexus, or Kay Jewelers jewelry.  I guess Christmas just sneaks up on them.  I like it better with a month of anticipation.

From our front porch we can see a little neighborhood of lower middle class/poorer houses.  We have gotten to know the kids from this neighborhood quite well, and they have become a resource to get to know the Kenyan culture better.  One boy named Kevin is 13 and his English is good enough for us to become friends.  When I asked him and his friends if they will get any Christmas presents, they all responded by saying "We get new Christmas clothes."  "Any toys?" I responded.  "No, just a new set of clothes that will last us the year."
On Christmas morning we passed Kevin, his brother, and their friends on the road.  They were all decked out in their new Christmas clothes and were wearing them proudly.  I was humbled as I remembered being 13 and tossing the clothes aside on Christmas morning to get to the "good stuff." Oh how spoiled I was.

Here are the boys playing bubbles with some of our neighborhood kids.  Their houses are in the background.

Christmas through the eyes of an orphan:

Tenwek missionaries have relationships with a few local orphanages, and each year they visit during the holidays to celebrate with the orphans and encourage them.  On Christmas Eve day our family joined in the ministry and went to help 68 kids without parents have a special holiday.  After a 35 minute journey down a bumpy back road we arrived to Kenduiwo Children's Home and were met with a line of smiling faces.

Kenyan Super-highway 

 Children out to greet their visitors.

Meeting room where we held our Christmas/ Jesus Birthday Party.

I was impressed at how well the kids are taken care of by their loving "father" Pastor David and his staff.  However, unlike the kids who live near our house, they would not be expecting even a set of new clothes for Christmas.  Christmas to them was a special day, but only because of the significance of Jesus birth. Other than reflecting on the miracle of God coming to earth as a man, Christmas would be just another Wednesday.  We had the pleasure of putting on a Christmas birthday party for Jesus and helping them have some fun around the holiday.  We had a good time, and as evidenced by the smiles on the kids faces, I think they had a good time too.

The Christmas tree at the orphanage. Not sure what kind of tree it is, but it isn't a pine.

Decorating for the party

Last year they tried to paint the kids toenails to help them feel special.  However, it was difficult due to the amount of dirt on the kids worn feet.  So, this year the orphans feet got washed first, then painted.  Thanks Ashleigh for the great idea and the organization of the whole day.

 Making some Christmas crafts.  I was impressed how even the teenage boys wanted to participate in everything...even in the finger and toenail painting.

 I just had to include this picture.  The babies here are always bundled up with winter hats and large sweaters even in 75 degree weather.  The winter hat here made me think of winter in Michigan.

Through the eyes of a missionary, far away from home:

"I'll be Home for Christmas"

I'll dreaming tonight of a place that I love 

Even more than I usually do.

And although I know it's a long road back,

I promise you

I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me.

Please have snow, and mistletoe,

And presents on the tree.

Christmas eve will find you,

Where the love light gleams

I'll be home for Christmas,

if only in my dreams.

This song took on a special meaning this year as we celebrated Christmas far away from our family and friends.  It was tough being thousands of miles from the ones we love and many tears were shed as we longed to be home during the holiday season.  However, thanks to our Tenwek family we were able to have a very special Christmas at our "home away from home."

One of the other missionaries had a table top fake tree we borrowed, and we were able to have some presents brought over by visitors from the States.  

 Everyone was excited Christmas morning to open gifts.

 If you know Cooper, you know that this Big League Chew Bubble Gum was the perfect gift.

Not sure what the hot gift was this year back in the States, but here at Tenwek the "big" gift was light sabers for all.  These are a hot commodity and once broken will be kept in circulation with layers of duct tape.  Also notice the beanie babies tucked into their pants. 

We really missed having a Christmas meal with family back home.  However, we celebrated with our Tenwek family and it was a special time.  Our meal of turkey, green beans, sweet potatoes, homemade bread, and yummy dessert was shared with Uncle Mike and Aunt Katie, Aunt Nancy, and Uncle Morris.

One of the highlights of Christmas day was that we got a little snow in Kenya!!  Our friends the Davis's had some "just add water" fake snow sent in a package from the US.  It was slippery, white and fluffy, making it surprisingly realistic, just not cold.

Snow in a bucket eventually turned into a snow ball fight...

...which eventually turned into "sledding."  At the end of the day I asked the boys what their favorite part of the day was, and in unison they replied "The SNOW!!!"  I guess they are still Michiganders at heart. 

The day finished up with dinner at the house of our friends Todd and Jen.  Other missionaries joined us in the quest to stay busy so we don't miss home too much.  The night ended around 8pm so we could all try to FaceTime our families.  Good thing the internet stayed on!

 Missionary Friends

Todd and Jen

Merry Christmas, Happy Boxing Day, and Happy New Year from Kenya.  We miss everyone back home, but are excited to be where God has placed us.

Running Up the Hill

Running Up the Hill

Turkey Trotters

So, I came to Kenya not sure how I was going to exercise and try to keep my girlish figure. At home I had my beloved treadmill that I spent quality time with every day, while my children slept.

Here, no treadmill. So I had to get creative. I started running around my apartment building 35-45 times every morning (literally). It wasn’t so, bad, I got to see the beautiful sunrise every time I came around the corner. I used this time to pray. However, there was a group of ladies who ran together a few mornings a week. They invited me to come along many times. There were two problems with this, however. #1. I don’t run with other people (mainly because I am very, very slow) #2. It is uphill the first half of the run. I declined many times. I used the excuse that I had to be back by the time Eric left at 6:50. They told me I would be. But I still declined. For those reasons I listed, but also because of fear. Fear that I would fail. That I wouldn’t be able to do it. That I would look foolish. That it would be hard. Then Thanksgiving rolled around. There was going to be a 5K Turkey Trot. 

I have done a few 5k’s so that sounded good to me. However, the run was up the hill. Hmmm. I knew I couldn’t just up and do this run the day of without having practiced the route. So I worked up my courage and joined the group a few weeks before the Turkey Trot. I was right. It was HARD. I couldn’t breathe, my legs hurt, I was SLOW. But I did it! I finished and felt good about myself. So, I did it again a few days later. It was a tad bit easier this time. (or at least I had a better idea of where the end of the hill was!) And I completed the Turkey Trot. In last place of all the runners, but I finished. (Bet most people can't say they came in LAST in a race :) 

This has become much more symbolic for me than just a literal run. As I was running today I was thinking about all the times in my life that I was afraid to do something, to take that next step. Moving to Ohio in middle school, going away to college all alone, moving to the Dominican Republic, leaving the Dominican Republic when the Lord said to go, even though I had no job, having a baby while my husband was in medical school, trying to recover from a life-threatening illness, moving to Africa, etc.

These things have not all been easy (just like running up that hill is not easy), but the Lord has been with me every step of the way. I feel like song Never Once by Matt Redman could be my theme song. I know I will encounter more trials, more challenges in my life journey. I pray that I will have the confidence to face my fears and do the hard things, because that is really living. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e02UNZRsdSQ: Never Once by Matt Redman

Within and Beyond the Walls

"Good morning Damaris, what've you got?" I say in a hoarse whisper, trying to not wake up Erin and the boys.
"I have a 5 year old here in casualty (Emergency Room) who was hit by a lorry (semi truck).
"At 1:30 in the morning?" I reply as I rub the sleep out of my eyes.
"No, it was earlier in the evening.  He is a transfer from Kisi hospital and he just got here.  So far he has been hemodynamically stable, but has a tire mark on his left flank and is complaining of abdominal pain.  His abdomen exam is soft and minimally tender.  I checked a trauma X-ray series and the chest X-ray looks like his stomach is in his left chest. I think he has a ruptured diaphragm and we need to take him to theatre (operating room).  All his other studies and labs are normal."
"Ok, I'll be up in a second to have a look at him and the X-ray.  You are sure that's all he has after being hit by a lorry?"
"So far.  See you when you come up the hill."

I arrived to casualty to find a cute little Kipsigi boy laying on a stretcher breathing a little too fast.  His dad was seated next to him looking concerned and a little overwhelmed.  Just then, the little guy turns his head and vomits on the floor.  My eyeball test told me that Damaris was right and that we were going to be operating soon.  I went and looked at the X-ray and sure enough, stomach bubble way up in the chest.

As is the custom here, we said a prayer with our little patient before he went to sleep.  As we bowed our heads, all you could hear was the "beep, beep" of the heart monitor.  "Lord, be with us during this operation and guide our hands and minds as we do your work here on earth."
Truly the Lord was with us in that early morning hour, and He had been with that small boy earlier in the evening too.  We found a ruptured diaphragm with his stomach, colon and part of his small intestine in his chest.  Fortunately, the tear had stopped just short of his inferior vena cava (the major vein that enters the heart), as an injury to this vein would have been fatal.  We also found a large tear in his pericardium (the sac that holds the heart) but nothing wrong with his heart.  Both were easily repaired and miraculously we found no other injuries.
God in his sovereignty was there and protected this little one as he was waking too close to the road with heavy traffic.
God was there when the health care provider at Kisi made the decision to send him to us at Tenwek. Often times these patients just get admitted to the district hospital and sit there for days until something terrible goes wrong.
God was there in the theatre guiding Damaris and I as we explored his abdomen and chest.
God will be there as the chaplains minister to this boy and his dad while he recovers in the hospital.
And God will be the with you as you continue to pray for the ministry of our family and of Tenwek hospital.

The story of our little patient is a great example of how Tenwek's medical ministry is paired with the spiritual ministry in order to provide complete healing.  However, the ministry opportunities here extend beyond the walls of the hospital, just like they do back home in the U.S.

We were sitting on our front porch talking about spiritual matters when I decided to pop the question, "Would you like to come over here every Sunday afternoon and study the Bible together so we both can grow closer to God?"  I posed this question to a young man named Moses, a 24 year old who we have come to know here at Tenwek.  He is a husband and the father of a one year old girl, and he and his little family live in a shed behind his brothers house.  Moses was born into some tough circumstances, and has also made some poor decisions in the past.  However, he claims to be a Christian and is looking to put his life back together.  His brother is letting him and his family live in his shed, and if Moses can hold down a steady job, he will be able to break the cycle of poverty and restore relationships, provide for his family, and fulfill his purpose of having a right relationship with God.

 Meet Jack Okumu.  Most people have to look up to see his face, and when you do, you immediately notice his big smile and warm personality.  You have to really listen when he speaks because his soft voice usually speaks words you want to hear.  Jack is a fourth year general surgery resident, is married to Damaris (a different Damaris) , and has a son named Adrian.  He is from the Luo people of Western Kenya, which is the same tribe that President Obama's father was from.  (Ironically all Kenyans were very excited when Obama was elected president of the United States, but now many have changed their opinion..including many Luo.)  I have had the awesome privilege of teaching (and learning from) Jack on a daily basis.  Besides being a very good technical surgeon, he is also a caring physician with a good heart who treats his patients well.
Jack decided to go to medical school after working in a hospital being a file clerk.  He initially studied accounting, but changed his mind when he observed the physicians in the hospital and how they were respected.  He wanted to be respected like that.  Many years later, Jack now has that respect, but not just because of his position, but because he has earned it through compassionate care and a Christ-like attitude.

In a year and a half Jack will leave the PAACS program here at Tenwek a fully trained, well rounded, extremely competent general surgeon.   If this truly is the next generation of Kenyan surgeons, the country is fortunate.  Once he graduates, he hopes to practice at a district hospital close to his family and take care of his people.  He will instantly become a leader in the community, and his impact will extend far beyond the walls of the hospital.  It is exciting for me to see that the time and energy invested in Jack by PAACS faculty will pay off and begin the process of reforming surgical care across the country of Kenya and the region of East Africa.


It is because of generous and prayerful people like you who are willing to support adventurous and able people like us to minister to patients with diaphragm ruptures, neighbors like Moses, and residents like Jack.

Lunch Conversations

I just had the most hilarious conversation with my children over lunch (Eric didn’t make it home)

It started by us talking about what Uncle Mike (one of the other missionary doctors and their friends’ dad) does if he’s not a surgeon. (What? they said, he isn’t a SURGEON??) 

No, I told them, he is an infectious disease doctor. What’s that? they wanted to know. So I tried to explain that he was a doctor who takes care of people with bad diseases. Like the flu? they wanted to know. No, like typhoid and malaria and AIDS.

Cole: What is AIDS?

Me: (in my head) Oh great, here we go.

Well, it’s an autoimmune disease that makes your body not work right. It makes your body not be able to fight off little problems like a cold or pneumonia.

Someone: Could I get AIDS?

Me: Well, you could but it is very unlikely.

Cole: (of course!) How do you get AIDS?

Me: (running through which of the options is the safest to discuss.....) Um, well, you could get it through doing drugs.

Cole: What is drugs?

(Didn’t they teach him about drugs in the two years he was in public school? What ever happened to D.A.R.E.??)

Me: Well, drugs are bad things that you put into your body that make you crazy. And some people like the crazy feeling it gives them.

Cole: Like drunk? (we just discussed this for the first time a few weeks ago)

Me: Yes. Very much like that.

Cole: I am never going to eat drugs- NO WAY!

AJ and Cooper: Me either!!!!

Me: You don’t “eat” drugs, you “do” drugs.

Cole: What does that mean?

Me: (Oh brother, WHERE is Eric when I need him???) Well, you use a needle, like getting a shot and put it in your arm

Boys: (Horrified looks all around, since they HATE getting shots) We’re never going to do that!! NO way! No drugs!!!

Me: That’s right, Say no to drugs!!

Cole: Where do people get them?

Me: Well, there are bad people called Drug Dealers who sell them.

Someone: They sell the shots?

Me: No, they sell the drugs that go in the shots.

Cooper: Hello, sir, what are you selling today? Drugs? No thanks, come back tomorrow? Hello again, what are you selling today? Drugs again? No thanks, come back tomorrow! Hello, what are you selling today? Food? Oh good! I’ll have some!

(I think he is picturing the people who come to our door selling vegetables)

Me: Okay, it doesn’t work that way. Never mind. You could also get AIDS other ways, like through a blood transfus....oh, never mind. Just remember, Say No to Drugs!!

Boys: Yeah!

Next up, a talk about the birds and the bees, coming before too long......Heaven help us. I think I’ll wait till Eric is home for that one.

And for good measure, a picture of us with a real wild, African Rhino named Queen Elizabeth

Ministry Opportunities

I had a neat experience yesterday. Theresa  (who is my assigned mentor here) invited me to come along with her to a local elementary school for a ceremony in which we would deliver new uniforms to the students. The money for the uniforms had been raised by people in one of Theresa’s supporting churches. I came along as the “photographer” and for support . J 

We arrived to about 150 school children swarming her van. After we navigated safely through the masses, we went into the church where the ceremony would take place. 

 It was about 1 ½ hour long, with songs and dances prepared and performed by the children. It was very sweet (and long). Then some of the teachers and school officials gave speeches. We finally, after about an hour and a half, went up on stage and we were expected to give greetings and Theresa gave a little speech. 

Then they gave us gifts. I felt undeserving since I was just along for the ride, but they gave us shawls (which I will use as a table runner) and cowboy hats for our husbands J. Hilarious.

 This is one of the teachers holding up the clothes while everyone clapped and danced around.

What a stud.

They then gave us soda and crackers and took our picture like the paparazzi. They clapped and clapped and were very thankful for the new uniforms. The kids were very cute and overall it was a good cultural experience!

Eric is off this week, so this afternoon we headed up to the hospital armed with some muffins to visit the kids on the peds ward! We’ve done this once before, and that time we took paper to make paper airplanes. I think overall the airplanes went over better, but we still enjoyed this time. 

I am so blessed by how the boys respond, they haven’t asked to leave or whined about going. They go and shake hands (a very Kenyan custom) and hand out whatever we’ve brought. They make sure no one is left out. They are being the hands and feet of Jesus and it blesses this mama’s heart. We were able to briefly chat and pray for these precious kids.  Oh, and we were able to give our cowboy hat to a little boy who was a burn victim to protect his head from the sun. ;) Eric will miss it, I’m sure! 

Eric praying for a sick boy (yes, a boy, even though he was in pink) 

Cooper sharing the muffin love

When we first got there Tucker was whining for a muffin, but then he took them and started handing them out too! It was soooo precious.