The Tenwek Phenomenon: Sandals in the Sun

I spotted these colorful sandals drying on a bench in the sun by the hospital canteen between cases mid-week.
It seemed like someone had lined them up just for me, so I had to take a few shots....

Partner With Our Team... Sponsor the Tenwek Compassionate Cardiac Surgery Fund

Tenwek Mission Hospital is a financially self supporting Kenyan institution (except for the American staff who raise their own support). As such the cost for each cardiac surgical case charged to each family is between $600 to $800 dollars.

With the average annual salary in this region of Kenya being between $200 to $300, many families cannot afford the cost of surery even with the help of their villages.

During our maiden voyage to Tenwek hospital in 2008 we operated on 9 patients in 5 days. The total number of pediatric cardiac surgeries done the prior 112 months in Nairobi was 8. On our 3rd trip to Tenwek Hospital in may 2010 there were over 150 patients waiting for our team to arrive, desperately hoping that we could operate on their loved one(s).

The most difficult part of making this trip to Tenwek Hospital each year is not being able to operate on every patient who needs our help. Many of the patients are so sick, they may not survive until our team returns the following year.

Even if you are not able to support an entire surgery, please give what you are able so that together we can help these precious families in Kenya.

Financial support can be sent to:

WORLD GOSPEL MISSION

PO BOX 948

Marian, Indiana 46952

Please designate the following account on your check: Tenwek Compassionate Surgical Fund #125-35224.

If you are donating to this worthy cause as a result of this blog, please not this blog address (Tom-at-Tenwek@blogspot.com) on your check. Thank you so much for all your help and support.

Responses from Friends & Loved Ones:

Tom, I can't wait to hear about the trip. May God challenge you, keep you safe, and bless you deeply as you extend the same to those you encounter. DM

Tom, Just had to write again as I just finished going through your blog. It truely brought me to the brink of tears. What a awesome blessing you and the team are to these people and I am so glad you will have 2 weeks to impact even more people. I know God will give you strength and I look forward to going through the blog once you are there. Take care. EK

May God bless you and your work. You are truly an ambassador to Christ! I will keep you and your mission in my prayers. JM

Hi Tom, I'll be praying for you and your mission. Thanks for doing what you do. MS

What a selfless, awesome thing you're doing, Tom. I hope it's a fruitful and rewarding trip for you. I will pray for you! JM

Tom, I can't tell you how humbling it is to hear the work that God has called you to. When I think of my petty complaints here in the comforts of Nashville, others are suffering and seeking medical attention in places that they are desperate for it. Thank you for what you are doing. I just sent up a prayer for the Holy Spirit to guide you and protect you and to provide healing for the people of Africa. God bless and we look forward to hearing about it when you return.
In Christ, MB

Tom, That's great brother, we will pray for you. Post lots of pictures. SV

Hey Tom, I have been thinking about you the last couple of weeks an now here you are. I am thrilled to hear you're back to Tenwek. I LOVED your spontaneity, shot off the hip humor, along with the emotional thread that wove through your stories. I will forward your email to people and look forward to hearing about this trip.
Be safe and God bless YC

I know you do not have time to read a long email but I truly feel blessed to be a part of your remarkable journey. The things that you are doing are incredibly admirable. While you are saving lives in Africa, you have also succeeded at making 200 + Americans more aware and enlightened through your daily emails. My thoughts and prayers will continue to be with you. Keep up the great work and don't stop being the camera man! I cant wait to hear more and wish you all the best.... ~Love, JK

Oh, my gosh.... I am just IN AWE!!!! It's the first thing I do when I get home from work... look to see what Tom has experienced today. What an experience... He should be so proud... as I know you are of him, too. Can't wait to see the pics!! Wish we lived closer!! ~Love, BB

I can’t get enough of them!!!!!!!!! I can actually hear Tom’s voice telling these stories. It is the most wonderful thing to feel like I am right there with him. He is doing an awesome job taking the time to document all this. I just hope he gets enough sleep!! I just got done sending him a reply, ending with “MORE MORE MORE PLEASE!!”. I can’t wait to read the next entry! ~Love, SN

Hi Uncle Tom, Yesterday I anxiously printed all of your emails and spent my evening reading them. Like you said, Wow!! Your stories are fascinating, breathtaking, and incredibly inspiring. It was like a great book--I could not put them down and even re-read them to make sure I didn't skip a beat. I shared them with my co-workers today and everyone is in agreeance that you need to write a book or heck, even a movie :) !

WHAT!! You are too old for this stress.... Just kidding , if anyone can pull this off it is you. I will be calling today to donate and will pray daily for you and the team. What an opportunity, I would take it as well. Your my hero Much love, DA

... I am absolutely amazed and wowed by what you are doing. I am reading every single word you write with great anticipation. I feel like I was right there in that OR with you last night. Unbelievable story. Can’t wait to get the next email from you.

Dear Tom, Susie has been so diligent to share all your emails with us...and we have loved hearing how your God-given gifts have been used in such an amazing way. We can hear the excitement in your voice which is a testimony of the fulfillment that comes from doing God's work.....how exciting to remember that when you are called to give something special, God gives back in ways beyond human comprehension!

We are excited to see your pictures and would love to open our home to any other Pasadena folks who would like to hear your story. We will pray for safe travels as you wrap up your time and process all that has occurred these past couple of weeks. ~SB

Hi Tom, OK I have tried to resist writing you as I know it takes much time to read the emails,let alone the power needed, but I just have to tell you what a blessing this is to have the eyewitness account of your God-journey! Susie has graciously forwarded your writings and I love hearing how the Lord Himself is showing up in these cases. I am praying for your work, your health, your patients and the team! God bless you and DON'T let go of that camera! ~GS

oh my gosh... I'm so excited for you, Tom. I eagerly anticipate following along on your journey. You should be so proud. I know I am, of you. Thank you for writing. ~Love BB

Tom: What an amazing experience you are having. I cannot wait for you to get home and tell us in person, all the you have seen and done. I am praying for you to witness miracles so you can come home and encourage the rest of us. The Vandy game last night against Florida State was brutal.....they might as well have been using the "wife beaters"....... ~TE

I love hearing about this! How wonderful to travel abroad - and to a place that needs your expertise and help. Congratulations on being a part of such a wonderful experience. Keep sending the emails!
and I cant wait to see pictures. ~LK

Dearest Tom! I have finally found a quiet moment to sit with every single word you have written about your adventure in Kenya. Part of me feels like I've just finished a race, a mad dash for my very life and am now sitting under the quiet of an exotic tree with only the sounds of Africa to savor. I can see the greenery. I can feel the mud between my toes. I can hear the rain and sense the humidity. I can hear laughter and I see so clearly bewilderment and fear.

What a gift you have brought. Your skill, your compassion, your caring spirit, your camera, your brilliant smile, your curiosity, your openness, your awe, your respect and admiration, your humility and lest we not forget your whiteness, and your red hair, which must be enormously be-witching! The memories you will bring back to us and those you'll leave behind will remain mostly unknown to you. That's the part I find most intriguing. Those school boys and the little girl with the cast searching for their 'high-fiving' camera yielding Tom! How you will be woven into their stories is such a magnificent thing!

Obviously, your experience has awakened your readers to a deeper sense of humility. The place that reminds us that we live in a land of plenty, of more than enough, and that our woes could be so much worse. Even in my own set of circumstances, it is so clear to me that I may have some seriously rough goings-on but there are plenty of people with far, far greater darkness in which to contend.

I have devoured every word and I'm grateful, so very grateful that after putting in such long demanding hours you have the strength to share your day with us. I'm celebrating you. I am of course keeping you in the light of my good thoughts, hopes and prayers. I extend that to all those you encounter and I pray that your trip home is safe, reflective and sweet!

Much love and rest to you! ~j

Tom, You really have found ANOTHER TRUE CALLING... your stories are captivating!!! You paint such a clear picture... I am totally engrossed. It's the first thing I do when I get home from work -- is to get online and see what you have to share about your day!!!

We are saying special prayers for your little 10 year old boy -- with the big crocodile tears.... a future of big smiles, we are praying!!

Your efforts are truly having a very far reaching effect. BIG HUGS and prayers for you.... keep those mosquitos away! ~Love, BB

holy cow dad. you're incredible. i think i've created a monster out of my camera-man! i do believe your groupies would have forgiven you for not capturing the birth of "goo-in-the-uterus" baby since you did such a spectacular job of giving us the exact details of the moment (as with all your stories)...we truly feel like we're standing there witnessing these things right next to you. (i'm not surprised in the least that you ran the 100 mile dash for the camera though--you're so dedicated!) i love you dad--i'm so glad you're finally waking up after 48 yrs! xxoo Meg

Hi Honey, I have to say that I was a little concerned when you didn't leave a post yesterday, but I figured you had just crashed. It sounds as if you have been on an incredible high since have been there.

It is so amazing for me to see how God is working in your life and the others that you are with and those at Tenwek. What an incredible place. I guess I really had no idea what type of place you were going to.

I don't think that you have any idea how many lives you are touching with your stories. I think we would be shocked if we actually found out how many people were reading these journal entries. Like someone said, your stories make us feel as if we are right there with you. They are so captivating and descriptive. And I tell you they are addictive. We all want to hear more, and we hate for each blog to end. You really did leave us empty yesterday by not being able to write!!!!

I am praying for Kip that he pulls through the night and turns a corner by morning. It must be so very difficult for you to be developing relationships with some of your patients since this is not typical for you. I know that there are so many prayers going out for you and your team and this sure keeps any form of "worry" at a minimum for me.

As much as I miss you here, it is so exciting for me to see what you are doing and the lives you are saving and I am truly going to hate to see you leave Tenwek as I am sure you are going to hate to leave.
I love you honey and I am so proud of what you are doing, and I can't wait to see what God has for the future as to where this is going to go from here, because He is definitely in control.
Have a good day tomorrow and I wait with anticipation for tomorrows email. ~Love you much,
SK

Tom, I bet Susie is saying "where's Tom?" right about now. We all miss you but your emails make it seem like you are right here telling us the stories. You might be the biggest poster child for medical missions thus far. How can anyone read this and not feel compelled to go over there and help? Of course, this kitchen lady and cartoonist would be useless in the hospital, but we can pray for you guys. And we are. ~BR

This is so exciting for you!! What an incredible opportunity. We are keeping you and your team close in our thoughts. Good luck to all of you. ~SN

Tom, I started to e-mail you at 3pm, then 4pm, then 6pm, to make sure you hadn't stopped forwarding to me...I left this morning after rereading yesterdays, of course I was crying when I left, then felt like I was on withdrawal all evening needing another blog to read...so now I'm really excited...got to go read this one! ~JC

You have unleashed "the beast".....now we will ALL have great expectations of Camera Guy and his vivid retelling of stories.....next best thing to being there!! Would love to plan a small group mission trip.....don't you want everyone (especially your family) to truly FEEL this? Why does it take getting us outside ourselves to really see the hand of God and his awesome creation? Maybe we can find ways to bring that reality to the everyday lives we muddle through.....PERSPECTIVE....easily lost....But God persues us with an unrelentless Love...can't wait for the firsthand account...we already have dinner plans around Camera Guy! ~Bless you, J&T

I am just in awe of what you are doing and experiencing!! I am loving reading about your experiences! You make it very real, when I can't even imagine what it must be like to be actually LIVING it. YES, YES... please keep me on your list to receive your emails. I will read and keep you in my prayers every day. Miss you too! Take care! ~Love, BB

I am so glad to hear you are sharing one of your life's blessings in Kenya. Love reading your emails.... My prayers are always with you each and every day. What a chance of a lifetime to be able to share and do what you are doing right now...i am so proud of you. Keep those emails coming! Take Care ~MS

GREAT to hear from you!!!!! I am LOVING your stories from Kenya. I have a friend who is a RN who said she has always wanted to do what you are doing now. I have some other friends who are medical people as well who I am forwarding all your e-mails to. What is funny is that people always say they live vicariously through me when they read my blog...................... now I am living vicariously through you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Keep Writing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ~Y

Okay Tom, you had all the kitchen ladies praying for you today. Susie was worried when she didn't get your daily report, as was Andrea (school nurse). A wise kitchen lady suggested that maybe you were just getting the sleep that you needed and missed the previous days. I am so thankful that was the case. We prayed for your ministry there. We prayed for the kids that you were touching (medically and otherwise). Don't use your computer time to reply. Just know I am still praying and praising. ~BR

Hey Hero, We hear abt these insults to women in other countries but never really understand how disposible they are.

This truely is a lifetime experience. Thanks for sharing it with all of us. Stay healthy and watch your self. Keep clamps in hand. ~Love DA

Rest assured you and your surgical team will always be in my prayers, Jesus will always be with you. I am just so amazed you and your team are in Kenya! Stay safe and keep smiling

God Bless you always. ~Take Care MS

I am in awe, Tom. I had no idea you were in Africa. This is a life changing event for you. We all say our prayers of thanksgiving for you. Our lives get so full of busy-ness and garbage, that we lose our way. Your experience reminds us to live life with joy and simplicity. God speed! ~AM

I just wanted to let you know that I am praising the Lord for His work through you and your team. You are an incredibly gifted writer, painting a very good visual for me through your words. It also lets me know how to pray. Thanks for putting us on your list. ~Your friend BR

I love to hear your stories. I have a “Tom’s Stories” folder now in my inbox. I’m going to save all of them. We LOVE to read every word you are writing. Keep them coming. I am going to forward all of them if you don’t mind. It is really amazing to hear how poorly women are treated there. It is very hard to understand the mentality. Do the husbands and wives even form any sort of emotional attachment to one another? Is that case you described below an isolated incident? I read the part about the epileptic seizures and thought of Susie, too. Can you imagine what her life would have been like if she had been born on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean $150 would wipe a family out over there, and the other day a friend of mine brouht a pair of jeans for me to try on that she thought would fit me well. How much did they cost? Yeah, you guessed it - $150. Unbelievable. (I’m not spending that kind of money on jeans, but I can certainly think of plenty of things I’ve wasted $150 on, like a nice dinner out for example.
You’ve really got a gift for illustrative writing, Tom – thank you so much for taking the time to detail your experience for all of us. Love it! Take care, can’t wait to read more… ~SN

Wow... it pays to have FAITH, huh??!!! What an experience!!! I am in awe. How terrifying and exhilarating it must have been!!! Good luck with the Downs baby tomorrow. Our prayers are with you... thinking of you constantly! ~Love BB

Tom, You e-mails are amazing!! I am loving them and so are a lot of my friends. This last one brought tears to my eyes, made my laugh and made me smile. (which brought a lot of attention to myself while reading it in line on my blackberry at Trader Joe's)! keep the e-mails coming............. ~YC

hi, tom! susie has been forwarding your emails . . . just wanted to drop a note to let you know that we're praying for you. it has been great to hear about your journey so far! blessings to you & the work that you're doing. ~love, t,j,a,b & e

I have to say this is the most amazing series of emails I believe I have ever received. Thank you for including me in these emails and I look forward to the pictures when you get back. I think it's very cool what you are doing. I hope we can see each other soon and you can tell me all about this. Much love to you. ~AO

Tom, Omg, I thought I would split a gut with the vision of you RACING RACING RACING home to get your camera, and then SCREECHING to a halt to casually walk through the dining room (while trying to squelch the panting – I’ve run across a parking lot in the Colorado Rockies so I know what that feels like) and then RACING RACING RACING to grab your camera and then casually walking back through the house and then RACING RACING RACING back to the hospital to take a picture of the beautiful baby and then CRASH, SCREECH! HALT!!! No baby. I thought I would cry when the baby wasn’t there. What a downer. But then….there she was!!! Woo-hoo!!!

MORE MORE MORE PLEASE!!! ~SN

Tom, your stories are fantastic, and you are seriously a wonderful writer. What's awesome and unique about your writings, is the humor and humanness you inject into the stories, and the humility with which you write. You write with evident authority about the medical procedures, but you put it in a point of view that we non-medical people can empathize with. Truly a gift, and we readers are the glad recipients of your gift.

I'm not sure I will be able to survive viewing your pictures when you get back, as incredible as they may be, I'll probably faint on the spot, but I will try.

Love you Tom, and miss you. ~BR

Hi Tom!!! These updates are awesome!!!! You write so specifically and so detailed, I feel like I am "seeing" it all for myself. I will look forward to seeing the pictures, when you get back. Me and my girls will be praying for you, especially for tomorrow -- for your first day of surgery. Keep writing... we are all thinking of you!! ~Love, BB

Little did I know you had the gift of the written word!! Your personality is evident in every line! I feel as if I am right there in the village exploring it all with you!! Your excitment and enthusiasm is contagious and we can't wait for the pictures and all the captions to go with it! We will continue praying that God reveals himself in miraculous ways.....waiting with eager anticipation for each days adventures....God Bless the work of your hands and heart! ~JE

Wow... I wish I could say something more profound, but…wow. That’s all I can think of to say. Good luck to you in the OR in the morning. 3 1/2 hours and counting. I’ll be thinking of you all. Take care. ~SN

WOW….love the stores. Keep up the great work! ~GK PS Don’t pet any of the big yellow kittys!
Yes, Tom's adventures are amazing. His "groupy" list is growing quite large. There are some people who I know who have gotten caught up in this movement and have been enthralled by his emails. One person who I have been letting read his emails has almost been begging me to continue forwarding his emails to her. She travels the country giving support for medical software and she would like to do a medical mission trip so she has been reading Tom's emails with great interest. I think some people are living their dreams through Tom's adventures.I will continue to pray for Tom and his team. ~DK

Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Sandals in the Sun

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Partner With Our Team... Sponsor the Tenwek Compassionate Cardiac Surgery Fund

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Responses from Friends & Loved Ones: