Being a funnel...if there is room.

"Be a funnel, not a bucket."  This was a saying that one of my teachers told me at the beginning of my general surgery residency.  "Make sure you distill the knowledge you gain and pass it down to others, don't keep it all to yourself."  Supervising and teaching residents here at Tenwek is one of the best parts of being here in Kenya.  As we all learn together, I have the privilege of investing in the next generation of African surgeons and seeing them grow in knowledge and skill.  Little by little the goal of PAACS (Pan-African Academy of Christian Surgeon)  is coming to fruition...to train Christian surgeons to impact Africa for Christ.

At Tenwek, residents like Seno (a Maasai third year with a leader's personality), Kanyi (a quiet but competent third year who is extremely thorough), Elijah (a chief resident with amazing technical skills), and Festo (a new ortho intern from South-Sudan with charisma and tons of potential) are being mentored by Christian surgeons in both medicine and the wisdom found in God's word.  Not too long from now, they will one day provide surgical care in Christ's name, and continue the legacy of Tenwek by teaching others throughout East Africa.

Not only are there surgery residents who are being taught within the walls of this established mission hospital, but also family practice residents, interns, and medical students from around Kenya.  In fact, there are 53 trainees currently at Tenwek, and with the new orthopedic residency, this number is expected to grow to 64 within the next 5 years.

General Surgery - 10
Orthopedic Surgery - 10
Family Practice - 6
Interns - 16
Medical Students - 12
Visiting Residents from other parts of Africa - 10

With all these residents, one problems has arisen...we are having trouble housing them here on campus. As opposed to life in the U.S. (where the residency directors just tell their residents to go find an apartment), residents in Kenya truly are residents...living at the hospital compound.  There are no apartment complexes down the street from Tenwek, and we can't expect them to live in a hut with no running water or electricity.  We have maxed out our current housing, and have even started putting two residents to an apartment.  Next year, if we don't have more housing, we won't be able to take new residents, and the possibility of future expansion is non existent. We are thrilled with the growth that God has brought, but face a challenge to construct housing for the expanded group of learners.

Currently there are plans drawn up for a new housing complex that will alleviate the current crisis and provide room to grow in the future.  We hope to begin construction soon on a three story housing unit that will house 44 students, interns, and residents.  The cost of this building is $800,000 and although we are on our way to raising the total amount, we still are in need of supporters to come alongside and support this project.

If you are interested in giving toward this housing unit, and therefore allowing the continued growth in education at Tenwek, you can mail checks made out to

World Gospel Mission
note: for Tenwek Housing Account #125-35006

Donor Services
World Gospel Mission
PO Box 948
Marion, IN  46952-0948

Please prayerfully consider what part God might have for you to play in this project.  This investment in the education of Christian physicians is really an investment in the future of Africa.