I am delighted to welcome you to our 4th issue of the Kijabe Pulse. As the date for marking our centennial approaches, we are humbled as we look back at the fascinating 100 year history of AIC Kijabe Hospital - it developed from its humble beginnings in 1915 to the current teaching, referral and specialty mission hospital, serving Kenya and its neighboring countries.

We pay tribute to those who came before us and dreamed up the vision and mission for this hospital and who worked hard over the years to make it a realization. Our role now, as the custodians of this dream, is to ensure that the legacy of AIC Kijabe Hospital and its mission to provide quality and compassionate healthcare, training and spiritual ministry for generations to come. This responsibility comes with challenges, but I am convinced that all of us, by God’s grace, are up to the task ahead, knowing very well that where God gives a vision, He gives provision.

Speaking of provision, the hospital has seen an exciting phase of tremendous growth and renewal in the last three and a half years in line with the implementation of a 10-year master plan. We have spent over Kshs 185 million (over US$2 million) on infrastructure and equipment upgrades within the hospital as outlined in the table of Capital Projects (below). In addition, Kshs 175 million will be spent by the time the new Bethany Kids of Kijabe Hospital’s Pediatric Wing (phase one) is completed. We have just signed a contract for the implementation of phase two of the Sanitation Project, which will cost Kshs 32 million, while over Kshs 25 million shillings is being spent on upgrading our radiology equipment with modern state of the art equipment and a PAACS teleradiology system.

Our accelerated expansion over the years has put a massive strain on existing infrastructure, and we are in the process of upgrading the medical gases unit, which will cost us approximately Kshs 50 million over the coming year. Our staff housing needs have also grown exponentially, and to support our medical education training needs, we are currently fundraising for the Elimu Housing Complex, which is expected to cost us over Kshs 50 million. To improve our customer care and internal efficiencies, we will also need to invest in a modern robust Enterprise Resource Planning System (ERP) that will ensure that we go paperless with Electronic Medical Records as well as improving our financial reporting and asset management functions.

Our profound gratitude goes to you, our donors, both corporate and individuals from all over the world for your sacrificial giving which has made, and continues to make, these essential upgrades possible. In addition, a significant portion of these projects has also been raised from within our own operation revenue, a feat that has been achieved without increasing patient fees in 3 years. This would not have been possible without the support of each and every member of staff who had to work within very stringent financial and procurement controls, which, thankfully have resulted in significant cost savings on operational costs. To all the staff of AIC Kijabe Hospital, thank you.

I trust that as you read through the stories of hope, healing, transformation and renewal that are taking place in Kijabe, you will find delight in the knowledge that God is at work in this healing ministry. We shall be honored to have you as one of our partners so please remember to check out our page listing our “Urgent Equipment Needs” on http://kijabehospital.org/make-a-difference/urgent-equipment-needs to get directions on how you can help or get involved.

WELCOME NOTE BY MR. SAMUEL MWAURA - AIC KIJABE HOSPITALFINANCE DIRECTOR

December 2014 - Issue 4

In this Issue:2 - 4-Star Lab, Security Update3 - On Labor and Love 4 - Staff Highlight, Kairos Course

5 - Sanitation Project, BKKH Community Service8 - KCHS, Volunteer Services, Thank You9 - Face of the Soul - Chaplain’s Story10 - How You Can Help, Merry Christmas

Kijabe Hospital - Capital Projects List 2013-2014

Project Total KH Funding Other Funding Donor Completion Date- ENT Building 7,722,903 3,286,058 2,436,845 ENT c/o Dr. Bove 2014- TB-HIV Clinic Building 5,954,705 2,684,895 3,269,810 CMBB through AIDS 2014- New Laundry Machines 4,935,529 4,935,529 - Relief Program- Portable Ultrasound 2,214,348 - 2,214,348 GE Foundation 2013 Machines- Purchase of Utility 3,380,559 3,380,559 - 2013 Vehicle KBW 119L- Various Computers 334,308 334,308 - 2013- CCTV Security System 3,686,649 3,686,649 - 2014 - 600 M3 Steel Water 15,909,632 11,386,522 4,523,110 SIMAID Trust 2013 Storage Tank/Piping- Water Supply Upgrades 1,268,124 1,268,124 - 2013- Casualty Remodeling 2,278,478 170,000 1,698,479 Dr. Marcel Toneli Ongoing

410,000 Robert D. Claud- Parking Lot and Roads 1,888,625 1,888,625 - 2014 Upgrade- Radiology/Teleradiology 25,000,000 - 25,000,000 Sam & Craig Jasmine Ongoing Upgrade Trust Australia

People and property safety is paramount for any institution as well as for a nation. A.I.C Kijabe hospital continues to be a leader in the provision of healthcare services nationally and in the region, and our security department has continuously been proactively engaged into mitigation measures to ensure our patients, staff, and the public within the hospital are safe.

As an institution, we are alert to the dynamic and fluid security situation in the country and the world over. The hospital administration, including the CEO and Hospital Leadership team, is committed to ensuring that our customers and all stakeholders are safe through commitment within policy framework, financial investment, and personal commitment. Their efforts have culminated in several milestones, including standardization of our security services and aligning it to our Core values.

As we celebrate the centennial year, we have challenged ourselves to continue working hand in hand with all stakeholders to realize a cohesive and harmonious relationship that fosters peace and integrity in all our contacts. We continue to change ad adapt in an arena where security problems mutate every now and then with new faces. In efforts to revamp security and promote safety, the department started corporate security training sessions for our security personnel to ensure that we are able to handle the complex operational needs of the hospital in terms of screening patients and vehicles, manning and controlling access points and still treat our clients with compassion. Currently all our security personnel have gone through this training and we plan to do this continuously to professionalize our services.

Kijabe Hospital is known for its provision of excellent compassionate healthcare to God’s glory regardless of patients’ background or religious affliation. Because of this, it is vulnerable to any acts of radicalism targeted at Christianity. Because of this, we are vigilant to be our brother’s keeper by reporting any suspicious incident/character to security officers, Chief or to the Police. For, as in medicine, prevention is better than cure. In the same way, I adjure all of us to be open eyed/minded as we serve at our various capacities.

In conclusion, personal security is an individual responsibility whereas institutions security is our collective responsibility.

Article from Victor Kibet; Security Manager (Security Hotline: 0738328139)

We Have a 4-Star Laboratory!

Message from Security Manager at Kijabe Hospital

Mrs. Mary Muchendu inspecting guards of honor

In the September issue of Kijabe Pulse newsletter, we highlighted the accreditation process that our laboratory department was undergoing under the mentorship of Center for Disease Control, CDC and African Field Epidemiology Network, AFENET to get ISO 15189. ISO 15189 is a standard developed by International Organization for Standardization specifying requirements for quality and competence in Medical Laboratories.An audit was done by Lead Assessor, Lilian Ouma; Assessor, Josephine Rioki and Mentor Agnes Munyalo from AFFENET in September on our laboratory to establish whether the laboratory’s quality management system is in compliance with the requirements of ISO/IEC 15189:2002, identify areas of improvement, and establish whether the laboratory documentation is in place.

Amazingly, up from a 1-star rating six months ago, the laboratory scored 88% with a 4-star rating. The scoring was done per the WHO/AFRO [World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa] checklist and the lab scored 228 out of 258. The audit was conducted through interviews, documents and records reviews on sampling basis and observation.According to the assessment report, the lab has done a commendable job in the process of establishing a quality management system. The laboratory has defined and documented the laboratory system in a quality manual, procedures, and work instructions, forms and data sheets.

The 4-star rating truly shows how determination, teamwork and focus can change things for better. Congratulations to the laboratory department - urge them to keep the good work. We would also like to thank Center for Disease Control for the mentorship we received during the accreditation process and funding our Laboratory renovations through African Field Epidemiology and Management Sciences for Health.

Stories of Hope: On Labor and LoveArticle Courtesy of Paradox Uganda, the blog of Drs. Jennifer and Scott Mhyre

http://paradoxuganda.blogspot.com

Sometimes one can wonder why babies come into this world at such a cost. There's a lot of loss, as untold numbers of conceptions end in miscarriage (some think 30% or more). There's grief, disappointment, dashed hope, tenuous chances.  Then when things go well, it is still far from simple.  There's what is euphemistically referred to as discomfort.  There's blood and pain and the absolute terror that the contractions will never end and one's body will split apart. There's indignity and soreness and inconvenience and bone-weary-blurry-tiredness and dependence. There are all those days of seeing one's mistakes with retrospective clarity.

It's been a few years since I last gave birth (16, actually) but I regularly stand at the very bed where I delivered a son, and hold the hands of moms doing the very same thing.  Tuesday night was a meconium fest.  Stressed babies, stressed moms, stressed staff.  One mom tried to bite me.  I know she didn't mean it.  It's just that hard.  I often stand there trying to fill their minds with encouragement and truth, trying to be a human presence in a rough spot.  Her baby was cone-headed and limp, breathless and blue.  I intubated his trachea and sucked out the green fluids, gave him breaths and dried him vigorously.  We took him to nursery to be sure he was OK.  He was.  Two hours later he was dressed up in his nice warm little outfit and hanging out with his mom, who was already probably forgetting the way she had been screaming.

It was a long night, followed by normal work the next day, and the usual flow of the week.  Things like praying with our department, fielding phone calls about transfer patients, examining labs, running rounds, researching protocols, organizing job charts and reviews, responding to anxious parents, looking at rashes.  So when I walked through the gates again at 8 Thursday morning, I was probably still a little tired.  I was barely in the door when my phone rang, nurses asking me to come to the neurosurgery ward for resuscitation.  I briefly tried to think if this was someone else's job, but no, it was mine. So I excused myself from the patient I had started to see and hustled over to help.

Baby A had been discharged the day before, after repair of his meningomyelocele (spina bifida). We are a world epicenter for spina bifida care.  Our ward is packed with tiny bodies and enlarged heads.  Babies who have spindly limbs and too many infections.  The excellent neurosurgical clinical officer had already taken several appropriate steps of evaluation and treatment.  We had a line, gave fluids, bagged breaths, checked blood, listened and examined.  His breathing was shallow and erratic.  I admit my first thought was:  does this baby really have a prognosis that justifies intensive care?  I confess some compassion fatigue, but it's a legitimate question in a place with very limited resources.  The surgeons who were his primary team popped their heads in the resus room.  Yes, they said.  So be it.  We moved him to the HDU until ICU could be prepared, gathered our resources, and I put a tube through his mouth and into his airway, and took over his breathing.  We got antibiotics, stat.  We got warm bags of IV fluid to pack around his cold little body.  We got a cot-warmer on wheels, portable oxygen, and headed to ICU. Xrays, tests, ventilator, monitors.

Later as I was signing him out to my colleague, I implored for all-out care.  Baby A had responded to our interventions.  I was hopeful. And I was invested. Because he was no longer just another spina bifida baby.  Those hours of intensely working on him created a bond.

Which is why I think babies are so much work.  They need a bonded, invested human being, and we are wired such that the more we pour in, the more we care.  Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Meet Margaret Karanja. In the last 20+ years, she has served in almost every area you imagine with exemplary Christian character. She is ever energetic, cheerful and willing to help, and has the strength and contribution of 1.5 persons.

Margaret Karanja came to Kijabe Hospital as a patient attendant from 1992. She first worked in Salome and Private ward. In 1998 she became the unit clerk for Pediatrics ward and Maternity. In this position she worked as a receptionist cum administrative secretary. Her passion and enthusiasm brought her a promotion to the receptionist at the hospital front office. Next, she moved to the

education department and finally to the Human Resource Department in 2009 as a personnel assistant. Currently, she is the Human Resource Staff Coordinator. Her journey has been that of humility and dedication to her job – growing from patient attendant to handling confidential administrative issues including HR with such confidence and consistency. We are so honored to have her daily serving at Kijabe Hospital!

Staff Highlight: Margaret Karanja

Kairos Course has come to Kijabe! It was exciting to get our first ever Kairos Course started in October 2014. We have 24 participants in the course, and everyone seems to really enjoy all that they are learning. But what is Kairos?? God’s purpose for this age is to gather for Himself a people from all nations of the world. Run in over 70 countries around the world, the Kairos Course is a nine-session, interactive course on world Christian mission, designed to educate, inspire and challenge Christians to active and meaningful participation in the global Church. We are privileged to have the National Director, Sam Ngugi, and his team as the Head Facilitators for this course. Kairos looks at the four main areas of mission concern which are the Biblical, Historical, Strategic and Cultural dimensions of mission. BIBLICAL- looks at God’s Purpose - to reconcile all the nations to Himself – and His Plan - to engage His chosen people in His world-wide mission of mercy. We discover from the Bible, that mission lies at the centre of all God’s concern. We study the Old Testament, and God’s dealing with the nation of Israel in His desire to fulfill His purposes through them. God wants to use Israel to bless and to be God’s priests to the nations of the world. As we look at the New Testament, we see that God’s concern for all nations is still His central purpose, with Jesus being the Messiah for all peoples.

HISTORICAL - looks at the expansion of the World Christian Movement. We trace the advance of Christianity from its beginning to the present day.

STRATEGIC - looks at Mission Strategy. We consider the place, value and nature of strategy in world Christian mission, when combined with prayer, the Holy Spirit and God's power. We look at the mission task remaining, who and where the majority of the unreached are, and what methods should be used to reach them.We explore modern strategies and approaches in missions today, and the need for the whole church to be involved as a team.

CULTURAL- looks at Cross-Cultural considerations, such as issues in communicating the gospel cross-culturally. We also look at aspects of church contextualization and its implications for seeing unreached communities of peoples discipled and won for Christ. The Kairos Course is designed to lay a solid foundation in the life of the believer and of the local church, in world Christian mission. From this foundation, exciting and meaningful missions endeavours can result.We hope to run the Course again in 2015. We are looking into which days and times will be most suitable for Kijabe people. Speak to one of the current participants to get an idea how informative and worthwhile Kairos is, then come and join the next course!Get in touch with us to give us your contact details, interest and desired timing. (Email on petersuebird@gmail.com, or talk with Rev Simon - AIC Church, or Rev Ndivo - KH Chaplain) "Kairos has given me a new perspective when reading my Bible. Now I see clearly God's mission all along, to bring us to Him." Beryl, course participant.

Kairos Course

BKKH Community Service Retreat

Wastewater Sanitation Project

Matthew 25:35 …For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

On 19th September 2014, the BKKH staff visited Joytown Special School in Thika, Kiambu County in line with our objective of giving back to the society. Our staff members are committed to not only transforming lives of patients in the hospital but also reach out to our neighbors through giving back to the community. It is amazing to see how staff have this deep in their hearts, from personal contributions every month the staff were able to raise 54,700/= towards this year's CSR activity.Why Joytown? Because most of the patients we see end up in this special school for their education needs when they are old enough. During our routine mobile clinic to the school, we realized that the needs of the children go beyond medical ministry - some of their facilities needed painting, their grounds needed mowing, and the children needed someone to just to talk and play. Achievements:1. We were able to buy essential items for the including Pampers, Sanitary towels, Inner wears and some food items like milk and cakes. 2. We carried our grounds men and the lawn mower and improved the grounds. The headmaster says never in the life of the school has something like that happened even among the many people who visit the school. We left it more beautiful.3. We painted a few of their most debilitated classrooms and gave these buildings a new look.4. We interacted with the children at a personal level by moving them, feeding them, and listening to their great touching stories which they long to tell anyone who will listen. They felt needed and appreciated the fact they are ‘abled’ differently after all. We also interacted with the Staff, just to find out their experience in caring for these children and indeed it is a special gift to agree to work with these special children.5. We managed to give free medical checkup for a few of them who needed to be seen by our great and experienced neurology nurses.The greatest achievement: We had touched lives, learned to work together as a team, and went home fulfilled. One staff commented “Let us visit Joy town every year”.

The existing sanitation infrastructure in the hospital is failing and the primary treatment system (septic tanks) is completely overtaken by the hospital growth. The secondary system (oxidation pits) are non functional while the transfer pipe which carries septic overflow to the oxidation pits is non functional and nonexistent in places. The burst pipes and failing oxidation pits mean there is now a high risk of contamination of water supplies for both the hospital and community downstream.

The hospital has invested in the upgrade of its capacity to treat the waste water in two phases. Phase I included the construction of manholes and a sewer line net work and was completed in March 2013. Phase II includes the construction of initial three waste water stabilization ponds and commenced in November 2014 with expected completion in April 2015.

The objectives of the Kijabe Sanitation Project include:• Provision of an improved sanitation system with sufficient capacity to meet the Hospital’s current and

future water demand;• Provision of a suitable treatment system in order to treat the waste discharge to a quality that meets and

exceed NEMA standards• To deliver the project within the set timelines and budget and adhere to best international engineering

design and project management standards

Groundbreaking at Wastewater Treatment Site World AIDS Day in Naivasha

Kijabe College of Health Sciences Gratuation

Pre-Centennial Staff Celebration featuring the Centennial Staff Choir and Mr. & Miss Centennial

Security Officer Training PassoutCommunity Health Worker Training Course

Dr. Hein and Dr. Katana atthe Nairobi Marathon

New G.E. Ventilators Kijabe College of Health Sciences training

Pediatric Team assesses a patient Community Health Worker Training

EarstoHear Hearing Aid Fitting

KCHS Graduates at Work

Kijabe College of Health Sciences, My Choice!KCHS is one division of Kijabe Hospital with a mission to provide healthcare training to God’s glory. Our core mandate is to train and mentor innovative committed Christian healthcare professionals who would go out and provide compassionate healthcare in Kenya and beyond. Currently, the college has three programs: Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing, Kenya Registered Nurse Anesthesia and Kenya Registered Perioperative Nursing. We focus on both the education and spiritual well being of our students.

Jane Mwihaki, a third year student in the Kenya Registered Community Health Nursing Program, knew she wanted to be a nurse. She sought a training institution where she could get the training as well as spiritual nurturing. “You can get high grades and miss out on the very important thing in life, a sound relationship with God,” she remarked. So after doing some research, KCHS, Kijabe School of Nursing was the ideal choice. Jane looks back at the last three years with a smile. “The way KCHS integrates studies and spiritual wellness is awesome,” she said. A fellow senior student, Evanson Njambi concurs with Jane and says that having to start each day by morning devotion is unique and very encouraging knowing they are doing it to the glory of God. “Every week I look forward to Wednesday morning chapel service with an expectant heart, I know this is not the case in all training institutions,” Evanson remarked.

KCHS is a hands-on healthcare training institution. Students first sit in for their block classes and then start rotations in the hospital, including the Intensive Care Unit as well as the community around this region. It allows them to put the knowledge they have acquired into practice long before graduating. The college provides help in terms of boarding, transport and meals while away from Kijabe Hospital. “Just knowing my work is to study hard in class and the other issues are taken care of is just rewarding,” Jane said. “We are able to concentrate on our studies without many worries.” The college is also well equipped with a medical library, cyber café with free internet, and well monitored practical classes. The views of the students are also well represented when it comes to decision making with a student body of elected leaders that works hand in hand with the college administration. The tutor and the staff also offer mentorship to the students. “Tutors are so friendly and they show us the way, they are full of compassion and talking to them is like talking to a friend,” Evanson remarked.

With classes, hands on experience, the expertise that the students acquire is top-notch molding a student into a qualified nurse. Seeing nursing students graduate with not only the necessary knowledge to be a nurse, but as healthcare professionals with sound character enables Kijabe College of Health Sciences leave a legacy in all healthcare institution they go out to in Kijabe, Kenya, and beyond.

To adequately serve and at our mission to provide compassionate healthcare to the needy to God’s glory, Kijabe Hospital relies on visiting doctors, long term/short term to make this possible. I would like to thank all the sending agencies and thank all the doctors who have given their time to this noble service.

Many thanks to the following visiting doctors who have been a blessing in this last quarter of 2014.

Dr. Niyonkuru Francine Dr. Faith NixdorffDr. Lee Demester Dr. John KatanaDr. Carola Dietsel Dr. Li-Ping Chew

Dr. Allan NorthcuttDr. Nicolette Myers Dr. Roy MyersDr. Gillian Myers Dr. Lynn TeagueDr. John Creasy

Thank You!Dr. John Anderek Dr. Rufus Van DykeDr. James O’Neil Dr. Douglas BarnhartDr. Samuel DexterDr. Daniel Curry

Dr. Lesley Woodard-Knight Dr. Lidya DonolughueDr. Carola Sandora

I believe that the soul has a face, a face that knows no tribe or culture, a face that is neither white nor chocolate neither black nor red; A face that is beautiful - a beauty beyond all expressions.The face of every soul carries a smile. Though the events of this life can carry a lot of pain and bring the heart into times of great grief and despair, although at times the heart forgets love and the soul forgets peace, we cannot forget that every soul has a face! A face that is able to radiate a lot of love and peace to its beholder.I have just met my friend, Rest, at the end of the day. Tired, I walk into the house. At last, I will rest. I have waited for this time since morning.. At ten o’clock tea, I was meeting these relatives of the patient who has been at the ICU for the last two weeks? The doctor called his condition, a cerebrovascular disease… (I hope I did not miss on the spellings, let alone the fact that I could not understand what this scary vocabulary meant).I remember the look on the deceased’s wife. I remember how she wept. I felt the pain with her as she screamed. The son to the departed man held his sister; he could not hold the tears anymore. They sank into a harmony of pain. This is what I took for ten o’clock tea. I shared in their song of pain and sank with them into the depths of this calamity. Hoping, hoping that at the end of the day, they can find their smiling souls back. I did my best – I listened and held them. They accepted this mysterious gift of pain. I left and I met Rest outside the conference room. He delivered a great message from my folks. I really wanted to hear how mum was doing, if my father had come back from the clan meeting held at MbuiNzau. I wanted to hear if my brother had found his missing goats and one bull. I wanted to have lunch - then a knock at the door. A man with a keenly focused eye walked in and asked, “Pastor, can I have a moment with you.”? Sure, I answered, take a seat next to my friend, rest. This man narrated to me how his daughter has travelled to many hospitals without success. He shared with me that he is a Christian, but life has been so unfair to him. Though he is a clinician himself, he feels as if God has left them to struggle alone. His wife left him since the daughter was eight years of age. “It’s been nineteen lonely years Pastor,” he said, “and I have raised this child alone. I have been her father and mother. She is all I have left. And soon, she will be no more. I am fed up with God.” I wanted to help him to weep -I was almost breaking down with him! I looked into his eyes and so how wrinkled the face of his soul looked… I wondered how I would make him more radiant again for almost two hours, I listened to him empty his disappointments in life. Then, we walked into the ward a made a prayer for the daughter together. This was the most rejuvenating experience for the day, for she gave her life to Christ. This man had never imagined that his child would at any time give her life to God. He said that he always kept threatening her about hell and how it would be if she is not saved; but this time, in the sight of God’s love for her, she gave her heart to Him. And this man changed his perspective about God. As I looked again into his eyes, I saw the once wrinkled face of the soul now smiling and full of anticipation.As I went past the theatre, I found a young lad so troubled. I moved close and requested him to share his grief with me. He told me that His mother was in surgery whose name he could not remember. I wanted so much to share God’s love for both him and the mother, so I requested that we share a bench at the waiting area. He was ripe for harvest. In less than five minutes, he crossed over from death into life. I prayed with him and left the waiting area smiling and convinced that God had put together a beautiful day for me.As I walked out of the waiting bay, I realized I was running late for a Bible study. I really wanted to hear God’s word, I needed to be refreshed. I went down to the basement and there were colleagues with great refreshing testimonies over how God has dealt with them through the week. I looked at them and all of them were filled with great hope. Probably they all had their own issues weighing them down but Gods love still stood out for them. I knew this was a team that I needed so much; what a refreshing time this was for me. At eight in the evening, I left for my house. I felt drained and tired, but encouraged and very satisfied. I had no debt left for the day. I called my good friend and soon enough, there he was, ready to walk me home. Ready to share with me about the too much I wanted to know. On the way, we bought some sukuma wiki, half a piece of onion and a piece of meat cut into small piece just to make sure that we cook really fast and get to eat as we share. Within no time, dinner is ready, and so we get to seat, and we pray. I serve a generous portion thinking to myself, did I even get to eat though the day? Then, the phone rings again. The lady we prayed for wants to talk to a pastor. I am the one on call; I will go see her; I may be her last hope for her to hear that God loves and cares about her. . . my night for rest just became a day to someone else.

I love what I do. I seek for the face of the soul, and point it to the source of its radiance. I seek for the broken soul and point it to a God who is able to fix its shape. For, I believe that the soul has a face, a face that knows no tribe neither culture, a face that is neither white nor chocolate neither black nor red; A face that is beautiful; a beauty beyond all expressions; a sight so wonderful for me.

Written by Pastor Benjamin Mutuku: Staff Chaplain

The Face of A Soul: A Chaplain’s Diary

I believe that the soul has a face, a face that knows no tribe neither culture, a face that is neither white nor chocolate neither black nor red; A face that is beautiful - a beauty beyond all expressions.The face of every soul carries a smile. Though the events of this life can carry a lot of pain and bring the heart into times of great grief and despair, although at times the heart forgets love and the soul forgets peace, we cannot forget that every soul has a face! A face that is able to radiate a lot of love and peace to its beholder.I have just met my friend, Rest, at the end of the day. Tired, I walk into the house. At last, I will rest. I have waited for this time since morning.. At ten o’clock tea, I was meeting these relatives of the patient who has been at the ICU for the last two weeks? The doctor called his condition, a cerebrovascular disease… (I hope I did not miss on the spellings, let alone the fact that I could not understand what this scary vocabulary meant).I remember the look on the deceased’s wife. I remember how she wept. I felt the pain with her as she screamed. The son to the departed man held his sister; he could not hold the tears anymore. They sank into a harmony of pain. This is what I took for ten o’clock tea. I shared in their song of pain and sank with them into the depths of this calamity. Hoping, hoping that at the end of the day, they can find their smiling souls back. I did my best – I listened and held them. They accepted this mysterious gift of pain. I left and I met Rest outside the conference room. He delivered a great message from my folks. I really wanted to hear how mum was doing, if my father had come back from the clan meeting held at MbuiNzau. I wanted to hear if my brother had found his missing goats and one bull. I wanted to have lunch - then a knock at the door. A man with a keenly focused eye walked in and asked, “Pastor, can I have a moment with you.”? Sure, I answered, take a seat next to my friend, rest.

100 Donors required @ USD$6,000 each, to construct the Elimu (Education) Housing ComplexWould you, your church or an organization you know of consider blessing AIC Kijabe Hospital this Christmas?

This summer, our housing will be at maximum capacity.  This unfortunately means that we will be unable to:1. Take on additional residents, interns, or sub-specialty fellows.  The training programs at the hospital are of utmost importance

when it comes to raising up the next generation of Christian Healthcare leaders in Kenya and beyond.  This training and discipleship ministry is one of the cornerstones of the hospital where, according to the World Health Organization, Kenya has only one doctor per 10,000 residents.  

2. Accept anymore long-term missionary families coming to serve here – it is the missionary doctors who come here having raised their own support back home, which allows the hospital to keep patient fees as low as possible.

3. House short-term doctors - visiting doctors are essential to ministry of Kijabe Hospital, bringing with them energy and enthusiasm, and allowing long-term doctors to take a much-needed break.

How can you contribute?1. Pray that God hears our cry for support and rallies the necessary resources to break

ground.2. Share this video http://kijabehospital.org/make-a-difference/fundraising-events with

your church, via social media, and with friends and family to spread the word3. We have raised $100,000 towards our educational housing! We need only 84 more

donors - will you consider a tax-deductible donation of $6000 so we can start the project in early 2015?  Please email Ann Mara for details at: resmob.kh@gmail.com

Our Vision? To rely on the body of Christ to construct the Elimu Housing Project, with each donor’s name surrounding the entry way of this building, with the Latin phrase Soli Deo Gloria, meaning Glory to God alone.

How Can You Help?We invite you to discover new opportunities for involvement at Kijabe Hospital. You can help in any of the following ways:

• PRAY for the hospital’s staff, leadership, board of director’s, general operations, patients and resource mobilization (RM) efforts.

• Be an AMBASSADOR for Kijabe Hospital to your church, friends and family – show the videos found on our website to tell the story of what God is doing in this place.

• ENCOURAGE friends / colleagues to consider a short or long-term volunteer medical assignment at Kijabe Hospital.

• Make a FINANCIAL GIFT to meet the urgent needs at the hospital. A list of equipment can be found at http://kijabehospital.org/make-a-difference/urgent-equipment-needs. Or consider a contribution to theElimu (Education) housing project.

All of us at AIC Kijabe hospital wish you a wonderful Christmas and invite you to join us in this season of “waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing and glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.” Titus 2:13