During most days, I was thoroughly blessed to be in the clinic seeing patients who normally have little to no access to healthcare at all. Talking with many of the medical staff and assessing the patients who travel from far to seek medical attention for their ailments, I was gently reminded of the many treasures we take for granted on a daily basis. While healthcare costs may rise, there is access to quality healthcare nonetheless. Standing in a clinic within a community that, before it's existence, the community had no access to healthcare was a reality I could not ignore. Individuals walked (hiked) miles upon miles to reach the clinic that was their only access to medical personnel and supplies. The importance of meeting these patients and thoroughly assessing their complications was of the utmost importance.
Being called into the waiting room, I saw some faces I recognized: one of the teachers and a child from the public school. I followed the clinician into an exam room with the student. I learned he was a student at the public school, an orphan and border (he lived at the school as no family member would take care of him). Today he was brought to the clinic by his teacher for an assessment of the "pains" he was feeling. He had no shoes, clothes were very torn, and he was undeniably hungry. His teacher who had been observant and caring enough to notice the boy not feeling well, brought him to the clinic for further evaluation- his teacher was this young teenager's only caregiver and "guardian". After assessments, he was in need of medications and I watched as the clinic staff tried calling relatives of the boy to come and assist in caring for him and paying the bill. I was deeply saddened when I learned that no one was willing to come. I looked in his eyes during this situation as he humbly sat there knowing no one would come to help him, and I was broken. Knowing that this was one of God’s children and feeling that children deserve to grow up with love, and care, and toys… yet he had none of these.
Through support and donations the clinic is able to offer services at a very low cost, treatment and medications added to way less than $5… yet no one would pay it. I saw something wonderful and beautiful in that teacher as he stood up and offered to pay what he could, knowing that that teacher has sick and hurting children of his own at home, whom we had seen on previous days.
I can't explain what struck me most that day... that no family member was willing to step up and intercede for this young boy... to pay the less than $5 hospital bill, or that his teacher was empathetic and aware enough to the fact that something was wrong with this boy (Kenyans don't often "show" pain) and was determined to do something about it- to bring him to help and willing to cover the bill while he had his own hurt and sick children at home. Sure I could have easily paid the bill, the clinic could have easily waved it, but that was not the important lesson here, for me or for this orphan child, Thomas.
I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 as I saw the teacher care for God’s child as his own and interceded for him. I saw the love and hand of God in this situation as I watched this teacher choose to not ignore pain and suffering and yet give and love, without hesitation, out of the very little he had. It also reminded me of the story of the widow's mite when Jesus said, "for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44). It was a blessing to watch and see the beauty in that brokenness. Just like the widow's mite, this was a lesson in love and sacrificial giving I will not soon forget.
The sense of community and love in Kenya never ceases to amaze and inspire me. To love as He loves- it is the second greatest commandment: LOVE your neighbor. Jesus said "whatever you did for the least of these, you did for ME". This was pure religion in action indeed.
Through support and donations the clinic is able to offer services at a very low cost, treatment and medications added to way less than $5… yet no one would pay it. I saw something wonderful and beautiful in that teacher as he stood up and offered to pay what he could, knowing that that teacher has sick and hurting children of his own at home, whom we had seen on previous days.
I can't explain what struck me most that day... that no family member was willing to step up and intercede for this young boy... to pay the less than $5 hospital bill, or that his teacher was empathetic and aware enough to the fact that something was wrong with this boy (Kenyans don't often "show" pain) and was determined to do something about it- to bring him to help and willing to cover the bill while he had his own hurt and sick children at home. Sure I could have easily paid the bill, the clinic could have easily waved it, but that was not the important lesson here, for me or for this orphan child, Thomas.
I was reminded of Jesus’ words in Matthew 25 as I saw the teacher care for God’s child as his own and interceded for him. I saw the love and hand of God in this situation as I watched this teacher choose to not ignore pain and suffering and yet give and love, without hesitation, out of the very little he had. It also reminded me of the story of the widow's mite when Jesus said, "for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on" (Mark 12:44). It was a blessing to watch and see the beauty in that brokenness. Just like the widow's mite, this was a lesson in love and sacrificial giving I will not soon forget.
The sense of community and love in Kenya never ceases to amaze and inspire me. To love as He loves- it is the second greatest commandment: LOVE your neighbor. Jesus said "whatever you did for the least of these, you did for ME". This was pure religion in action indeed.
"Pure and undefiled religion is this: to care after orphans and widows in their time of need and to keep oneself unspotted from the world" -James 1:27.
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