IT IS FINISHED!

The time has finally come. The long awaited graduation. It has been a long and rewarding internship as well as training process. Though we as a family faced many challenges to thought patterns, life style change and cultural disturbances we have grown so much closer to each other and the Lord. December 1st marks the day of completion. Not just of the internship but the entire clinical officer training process thus qualifying me as a Kenyan clinical officer.

This is the building we have been living in the last year. Currently we are in the process of moving to another house for the remaining couple of months we are here.

Surgery was one of the most demanding services I rotated in. It had me up before 6am everyday and home after 6pm. It was also a lot of fun because it was so hands on. This poor guy had a major fracture needing a special plate screwed in.

Every service I was on gave me an opportunity to be in an outpatient setting. This was a little more challenging in terms of communication, but God's grace is sufficient.

This is most of the interns that were at Tenwek for the year. In all there were 8 clinical officers and 8 medical officers. At one point the medical officers went on strike leaving the rest of us to pick up the slack for almost a month. It was a difficult time and also rewarding as God daily gave us the strength to rise above.

One graduation gift was a trip to the Masai Mara. We were the first group to ever have such an experience. This is the group in front of a huge pond full of hippos.

Graduation day was great. It was a little anti-climactic because I still was on call the whole next day. This is a group shot of us and some consulting doctors who were involved in training us.

Family Adventure

We recently went on a safari to the Masai Mara. God bless those who payed for our trip. It was an amazing experience coming face to face with the animals in their front yard. Tekoa was brave yelling at the sleeping lions to wake up. Eliza was most excited about the bumpy roads that tossed her back and forth in the vehicle. Fun was had by all. Unfortunately for you I took mostly video and very few good pictures, but we will share what we have. Here is Tekoa ready for adventure with camera in hand

Our humble abode for one night. It was a big canvas tent, but had running water with a hot shower and flush toilet.

This was the vehicle that we traveled in. The kids loved it.

Samuel was our youngest adventurer. He loved it as well.

We saw a lot of giraffe and were able to get much closer then this picture depicts.

We saw so many lions which was so incredible. I wish I could send you videos.

Samuel Update

We wanted to show some pics of Samuel. They aren't in any particular order but just to give an idea of how he is growing. As of yesterday he weighed 22 pounds at about 4 1/2 months.

Tekoa's Pics

This is another display of Tekoa's artistic side. He loves his little fisher price camera. Although still learning he shows promise. This first picture is Betty. She has been such a blessing helping Rachel around the house and with the children.

Tekoa liked this picture because it shows his Auntie Michelle talking to him on skype.

Dr. Dad

The neighborhood from our front door.

Mom at work.

The Last Couple of Months

We had to say good-bye to the Schmidts. As usual they were a tremendous blessing but there is a time for everything. The six weeks they were here flew by.

This was us enjoying a meal at the guest-house Bill and Jessie slept in. It was the first time they weren't able to stay in our home, but nobody wanted to try it with the size of our current place.

We took a trip to Eldoret and joined the Tumaini clan for a few days. Always delightful.

It's meal time. Can you pick out the little white kids?

We had an opportunity to speak at a rural church recently. This was one of the memorable moments; get a flat tire on the way. It took three people to change the tire and nobody was dirty at the end of the experience.

This was breakfast at one of the church members house before the service. It gave Tekoa a chance to make some friends.

Here are some random pics of the kids. Samuel is getting so big.

Tekoa's camera

This is Tekoa Jeshi Leister. He is three and one half years old. With a very outgoing personality and exuberant laugh he tends to make a scene where ever he goes. But now he has been given a digital camera and loves to use it weather you're ready or not. Still a work in progress but showing potential. Below are a few pics he has taken since his papa, nana, and aunt have arrived.