April 2003

Greetings from Kenya!

It was 7:00 p.m. at the Presbyterian Mission Hospital in Kikuyu. As we approached the dining hall we could hear people talking and a few children crying. A young mother with a baby on her back was gently swaying side to side comforting the child and lulling him to sleep. Another mother had stretched out a pallet in a quiet corner of the room where her baby girl lay peacefully sleeping. Children were toddling around and a few babies were being breastfed. All of the children had one thing in common. They were blind. The twelve parents had come from all over Kenya to attend a five-day seminar teaching them how to care for their blind children.

The leader of the seminar, Regina Kitau, speaking in Swahili and in English, asked for a volunteer to lead the group in a prayer of thanksgiving for the meal. Most Christians in Kenya are enthusiastic about their faith, so prayer is as natural as breathing. A mother volunteered, and with poise and dignity she stood in traditional African dress and headscarf and offered the grace.

As the tired parents and hungry children gathered to eat, we went into another room for our Wednesday evening Bible study. Ms. Kitau, a trained African teacher and counselor who is on the hospital staff, joined us. We inquired about her work. She began by asking us to remember her in our prayers. She said her counseling and teaching load was heavy and the grief she shared with the parents when teaching them to care for a blind child was at times difficult to bear. Yet she felt blessed to have the opportunity to help these families and make a difference in their lives. She explained that blind children need to have all five senses stimulated: they need educational experiences, interaction with others, toys, attention, and love or they may become developmentally delayed. The director wants to be sure all of the forty or so children in her care are developmentally ready by age six to go to school with sighted children.

These children by the grace of God were treated at the eye clinic at the hospital and referred to Ms. Kitau. A German group interested in mission service supplies funding for some of the work with the children. However, funds to travel to the homes of the children and see how they are doing in the home environment have not come in at this time. So, they are relying on the parents to come back with the children every three months for progress reports.

As Bible study ended, we could not help but remember Jesus’ words, “When you have done it unto the least of my children you have done it unto me.”

How humble and grateful we feel to be here in Kenya and see mission dollars at work. Christians all over the world make a difference when they join together to share God’s blessings.

Our love and greetings to you. Thank you for your prayers and concern. It means a lot to us. Also, please keep Regina Kitau and these parents and children in your prayers.

In Service to Christ,

Lyle and Terry Dykstra