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Kenya
 With the help of a microenterprise loan, Mr. Njerogi developed a business that improved the life of his neighbors and his family.
Stan and Mia Topple are medical doctors serving as long-term volunteers in Kenya. Stan is a surgeon and adviser at the Kikuyu Orthopedic Rehabilitation Centre in Kikuyu, Kenya. Mia has served as a dermatologist at Kikuyu General Hospital. In recent years, the Topples have been developing dermatological and orthopedic services in other mission hospitals as well as in Kikuyu.
Stan writes about the powerful combination of a small loan and an eager spirit.
“Tucked into the narrow warrens of Nairobi’s Kibera slum is an open, tin-roofed eatery with a nutritious, even savory meal for less than thirty cents. Cow’s head soup with a bread substitute of maize paste has been in growing demand ever since the bright entrepreneur received a microfinance loan about five years ago. The slaughterhouses of the city had little use for the heads of animals, and the population suffered from a protein-deficient diet. The resolution of the dilemma appeared in a soup slowly simmered over charcoal fires in 55-gallon steel drums.
“Now Mr. Njerogi has not only expanded his shop, he has taught friends how to set up their own businesses. He has been able to send his children to school and has become a member of a church that his family attends regularly. Not far away are neighbors who with microfinancing also have developed successful small businesses — making fish head soup, and setting up vegetable stands, dressmaking stalls, and a small electrical shop.”
PC(USA) People in Mission
Rev. Dr. Marta Bennett, professor, chair of post-grad leadership studies, National Council of Churches of Kenya
Rev. Phyllis Byrd, YAV site coordinator/associate pastor, United Church Board of World Mission
Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA): Irma de la Torre, nurse, Dr. Salvador de la Torre, HIV/AIDS consultant for Africa, Dr. Stan Topple, mission volunteer, orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Mia Topple, mission volunteer, dermatologist
Young Adult Volunteers, community development interns, PCEA: Rachel Brown, Henry Coates, Leslie Fuller, Robert Quiring, Shelvis Smith-Mather, Nancy Smith-Mather, and Will Wellman
PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Brian Brown, FDN
Rev. Jonathan Brown, GAMC
Sondra Brown, BOP
Lord we are humbled as we see what faithful women and men are doing with things that are common and despised. Help us to be wise stewards whatever our lot, bringing life and light to our neighbors and to the nations. For Jesus’ sake. Amen.
Ps. 116, 147:12–20 Ps. 26, 130
Isa. 54:1–10 (11–17)
Gal. 5:1–15; Mark 8:27–9:1
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