The Day We Built Each Other Up and Saw the Rainbow

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The Rainbow on the road from Mbuguni


As with any mission trip there are ups and downs.  There were so many people today that really wanted to get into the clinic there were some very loud discussions and a little bit of tension outside the clinic.  Our great hosts helped with crowd control and making sure there was communication on why the wait - but this was hard - we want to help as many as possible but realized today that it is not possible to help everyone.  Some will eventually have to be turned away.  Their hope for glasses and better sight might not be realized.  We can’t  even imagine how they feel especially after walking a long way to get to the clinic. Laurence said we could do another two weeks and still not get to everyone.

We served 118 people in the clinic today.  There were a lot of elderly and a lot of very young.  The oldest was 100 and the youngest that we tested was nine.  Several of the elderly do not know even their age.


More than 200 people were served the meal.  Mary, the very talented Director of the School, said many came hungry (“lots of mamas and babies hungry”) and they started to put just a little less in each bowl to make it last longer - and it worked out.  Reminded me of the “Feeding of the 5000”.  


So today was hard - good, but hard. On the ride home we saw the most amazing rainbow.  It rained in the distance and created a most beautiful sight.  How fitting it was!


At our evening devotions we took a lot of time in Kelly’s devotion building each other up. We all needed it for today but also in preparation for tomorrow. 


One of the verses she read was Hebrews 10:24-25 “24 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25  not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”


Why did God choose this team (us) to serve? We are a great team and couldn’t have hand-picked a better group.  God chose us.  Scripture prepared us for this work - we are not boasting, but being joyous that we can serve and we are together here - and doing it in glory of His name.   Each of us bring something valuable to the team and we work so good together. 


This is the kitchen area; they only use wood.  It takes all morning to cook a meal


Janet is one of the cooks - she is making the Makande for the masses


Charles and Janet cooking the pasta

Mary is serving our lunch - delicious!

Lunch under the shade of the very large Ficus Sycamorus Tree

At times the lines were long - but the team pulled together and helped each other

The man in the middle is over 90 years old - getting a ride home from the clinic on a bike


Several children got sunglasses today as they waited for their parents


Darling girl is so happy to get some sun glasses



Mount Meru - ~15,000 ft. Mountain we see each day


Another wonderful meal - this was the tilapia from Lake Victoria (like “St. Peter’s Fish”)


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