The Day That Started with No Water and Ended with the Light

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An amazing feat - Dora can see much better!



As with a lot of mission trips, the unexpected can happen.  Sometimes it’s just a minor discomfort, like no water in the lodge where you are staying.  That is the case with us today.  It started with no water - but “Hakuna Mata” (no worries in Swahili).  That’s just a minor thing and we are all good friends now.  We were a bit dirty and didn’t smell as nice as we wanted - and our hair - oh well; The people of Mbuguni won’t mind.


Being Saturday, it was Market Day in the village and Laurence wanted us to experience what it was like.  Jacob, one of our bus drivers said “Welcome to the Mbuguni Walmart.”  Everyone goes to the market to get their food and wares, sells their goats, sheep, etc. You can pick out your goats and watch them slaughter, cut, and cook them over an open fire.  Not a sight we all want to see, but this is their way of living.   It was chaotic, busy, and dirty (to us), but a place to gather and make sure they had provisions for the week.  People walk for miles to the market.  Farmers walk their livestock for miles to get them to market.   They lined the dirt road all the way to the market.  (We had to do a lot of car honking on the way).  


We started the clinic at noon in case they needed to go to the market. However, upon our arrival at the school, there were a lot of people already waiting, much to our surprise.  We quickly got ready and started the clinic.  We did not have much time to think, we just started, and before we knew it, we were running it like a well-practiced team.   The Pastor welcomed and witnessed to each person, they were checked, tested, glasses chosen as needed, and fitted.   Our incredible translators helped tremendously (we will introduce you to them before we are done this week).


We served 63 people in the clinic ranging from 5-95 in about 4 hours.


There were many delights during the day.  There was one 12 year-old boy who we thought just didn’t understand the test and did not move his hand and did not read.  Just before giving up, they decided to put on really strong glasses - immediately he smiled a smile so huge!  He moved his hand and read (so he did understand!). He was a  negative-4, a very strong prescription for a 12–year old.


Same thing happened with a 35 year old woman, Dora, who you could just tell looking at her that she could not see.  It took a lot of time, trial and error, but once she could see, the expression on her face was priceless.


Next Life Foundation, with funding provided by St. Paul’s Lutheran in Hamburg, MI and Trinity Lutheran in Pinckney, MI and two other individuals, served 120 meals to the people coming for the clinic.  It was a healthy meal called Makende, made from beans and spices. It was so helpful to these people struggling to grow food and feed livestock because of the drought.


Jan’s evening devotion was entitled “Seasons of Light”. 


John 1:9 “The true light, that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. “


All of the people we served today witnessed the love of the school and love from us.  They heard about Jesus and were shown that “Light”.


The Market - lots of stuff


Clothes, shoes, produce and everything can be found at the market



Laurence working with an older gentleman - lots of education involved with this clinic


The students stopped by throughout the day


Laurence helping an older gentleman out - sometimes we cannot help, their eyesight is so bad


Penny and one of our interpreters, Emmy


Many waited in line for several hours - they were patient and appreciative


Lin and Emmy

Jan fitting glasses for this young girl

Jacob was not only our driver, but manned the instruction table

The babies captured our hearts

A meal was served - the children loved it



Humphrey was another interpreter and Laurence’s brother - he worked with Deb at the dispensing station



And what are the children doing at 5 pm on a Saturday?  Sewing of course - because they can and because they want to - what a blessing!

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