July 3- second work day

Dear All, I've finished day 2 and there is so much to tell, I don't know where to begin. But, I better start or I'll never get started. Reluctant because I know you want pix and, while I have taken some, haven't downloaded yet. Trip from Nairobi to Tenwek is 100 miles, 3 1/2 hrs on a good, two lane highway. Not nearly as crowded as India, b it the poverty is every bit as great once you get out of the city. Went from high elevation down to the Rift Vally which extends from Jordan to south of Kenya. It was about 35 miles wide where we crossed. Grassy plains with occasional herd of cows, sheep and goats led by Maasi, a semi-nomadic people. Got photos, honest, of zebra, baboons, and gazelle. Then, up a plateau to Tenwek, located in Bomet which is at 6500 ft., 100 mi south of equator. This is the coolest month with highs in the upper 70's and lows in low to mid 50's. In Jan., the hottest month, the highs are mid 80's And lows in upper 50's. So, as you can imagine, it's a green, beautiful place. The hospital has over 300 beds and is run by 15 full time medical missionaries (when they are all here), ~ 30 trainees, and a varying number of visiting staff like myself. There are at least 8 of us here now, most with families with young children. The facility has been here 75 yrs. starting with one small building and one doctor. There has been incredible growth over the last 30 yrs. Some highlights are a dam to generate power in 1967 to give reliable electric. Prior to last year the best water they had was from rain cisterns which had to be boiled. Now there's a single UV water purification system where you can get good drinking water- which conveniently happens to me in my building, the Guest Quarters. Photos, I hope, of all this later. And, the highlight, was the addition of a CAT scan machine last year. But, by US standards, the resources are limited. Patients are in open wards, including ICU, of 12-20 people with open curtains and lots of family members, no privacy. Most places have windows which are always open and no screens. Upper endoscopy with no sedation. As limited as the resources are, I'm told this is the best mission hospital between Cairo and South Africa. Beside the local population of > 300,000, people come from hundreds of miles, even bypassing Nairobi because of the reputation and relatively low cost. I don't want to bore you with a lot of medical details but do want to share with you the reality of medical care in this world of limited resources. Yesterday afternoon there was an auto accident involving a family of 5 which involved the car rolling (eerily like the Chism accident.) All 5 sustained massive trauma. Four needed to be put on respirators. But, in the 12 person ICU there are only 4 working respirators and two were being used. So, the staff had to triage as we're trained in combat casualty and make a decision on who would most likely make it. The other two, the father and a child, we're prayed over and let go to meet their Maker. Sad, but an all too regular part of life here. Just scoped a bleeder which I couldn't stop endoscopically. Called the surgeon at 22:30, a career missionary, who is on salary. He came immediately with a smile on his face and went to work. This is medicine delivered in Jesus' name as it should be! Much to learn, much to share but all for now. Please know the people of Kenya are praying for the US this 4th, that God would continue to bless us and that there would be revival. Blessings, Ed