October 29, 2011 - Celebrating 2 years at Tenwek

Please join with us this month as we celebrate completion of our first two years of service at Tenwek Hospital! The return of the purple jacaranda tree blossoms will always remind us of our October 2009 arrival in Kenya. As we have said to some of you recently, at times it feels like it was just yesterday that we arrived here in Kenya and at other times (in a very good way!) it feels like we've been here for a third of our lifetime. Truly, we feel blessed to be here and we are excited to have supporters and friends like you partner with us on this incredible journey.

Jacaranda trees in bloom

       

Steve & Alene at Tenwek Falls

Celebrating a new CT scanner!

In September, Tenwek Hospital celebrated the answer to many years of prayers with the commissioning of a new CT scanner. This will greatly enhance the quality of medical care that we will be able to deliver at Tenwek and spare patients and families excessive travel expenses and delays in care to obtain CT scan services elsewhere. We have already witnessed the value of the CT scanner in the diagnosis of some brain and abdominal tumors. The Toshiba Company and many other key donors made substantial contributions to help make this possible, but there still is need for some additional funds, so let us know if you are led to contribute to this. Tenwek Hospital was honored to have the Kenya Minister of Medical Services come here to dedicate the CT scanner and he toured the hospital and the Endoscopy Unit. We from the Endoscopy Unit were honored for the rest of the day to have him wear our cap promoting the STEP Study, which evaluates patients for early pre-cancerous esophagus abnormalities.

                            

 Tenwek Hospital's new CT scanner 

Kenyan Minister of Medical Services (on right) in the Endoscopy Unit

Dr. Spriegel & the Minister at the CT scanner

Minister of Med. Services proudly wears the STEP Study cap

Celebrating two new automatic endoscope washers!

 It has taken over one year to complete the remodeling and installation of the two new automatic endoscope washers. As a part of the process we removed a wall, moved sinks, installed a new countertop (heavily reinforced to handle the equipment), installed a ventilation fan to remove chemical fumes, and installed a pump to provide more water pressure. We encountered some hurdles in the process: One part of the scope washer was damaged in shipment from USA and had to be replaced and a new water supply had to be devised to provide cleaner water before the water would even reach the 2-stage water filter system. The Endoscopy Team has been very patient, but was delighted to start successfully using the scope washing equipment in October. We are grateful to the Minntech Company for providing the equipment at a reduced price and we look forward to using the equipment to better serve our patients.

         

BEFORE: Manual scope cleaning            

           

DURING: Construction of new reinforced countertops

AFTER: New automatic scope washers are installed!

The Endoscopy team eagerly learns to use the equipment

Celebrating partnership with supporters!

What a joy to celebrate with so many of you in partnership with us! Two prayers have been answered before they were even spoken: 1) a supporter has provided a vehicle for our use during the entire 8 months of our Home Ministry Assignment in 2012 and 2) a different partner has offered us the use of part of their home during the time we are in Colorado. We are so very grateful to them, but also for the many, varied ways that so many of you have partnered with us. Here is an example of some, but not all, of the manner of gifts we have received:

Monetary - monthly, quarterly, annual, one-time, anonymously

Assistance - printing & mailing newsletters, handling financial affairs in USA, handling correspondence in USA, storing belongings in USA, sharing frequent-flyer miles, vehicle use, housing, sending hospital supplies, sewing items

Visiting our parents - in Minnesota and California

Coming to Kenya - bringing supplies, providing medical or mission services

Encouraging us - visits to Kenya, letters, email, phone calls (& Skype), mailed packages.....and most of all PRAYERS OF SUPPORT!

Endoscopy team with scrub caps sewn by Barb Schleiger in USA

We are very grateful for your monetary support. This can be easily arranged online at: www.wgm.org/burgert  and just click on the "Donate" button or by mailing your support to: World Gospel Mission PO Box 948 Marion, IN 46952 [Attn: Burgert Ministry Acct#02273]

Thank you very much!....Asante sana!

Celebrating with missionaries across the globe!

We of World Gospel Mission enthusiastically invite you to join the celebration of blessings on many other mission fields in USA and all around the world by reading the free quarterly WGM publication, "The Call," either online at: www.wgm.org/call or by signing up for a free subscription at the same weblink or by mail: "The Call" World Gospel Mission PO Box 948 Marion, IN 46952

Celebrating answered prayers and prayers yet-to-be answered!

Praises for:

¬ Both of Steve's parents getting the extra nursing care that they need in the same care facility where they have resided.

¬ Family members helping Steve's parents' move out of their independent-living apartment.

¬ Safe travels by our personal vehicle across the border and back to visit the family of chaplain student, Pastor Julius, in Tanzania with the opportunity to enjoy eating fish daily!, which is not readily available at Tenwek.

¬ Many physicians confirming their willingness to provide endoscopy coverage during our Home Ministry Assignment in USA during 2012.

¬ The generous support, encouragement and prayers of partners in our ministry.

         

    

 Pastor 

Julius and his family in Tanzania 

                     

   

Pastor Julius with tilapia fish being dried

Prayer requests for:

¬ Safety and peace within Kenya.

¬ Safety for Steve and two other physicians from Tenwek Hospital in their travels to an African cancer conference in Cairo, Egypt from November 28 to December 5th.

¬ Final confirmation of coverage for the remaining gaps in endoscopy physician coverage at Tenwek during 2012.

¬ Smooth transition for the national church, Africa Gospel Church, to assume an increasingly active role in Correctional (Prison) Ministry in Kenya.

¬ Blessings on the four chaplain students in their ongoing studies.

¬ Continued faithful and new support for our missionary service here at Tenwek Hospital.

Thank you for joining in our celebrations! 

We pray that you and your family will enjoy a blessed celebration of Thanksgiving this month.

--Steve & Alene

August 2011 - Coming & Going

Here is the August 2011 newsletter, which can be viewed via our website: www.wgm.org/burgert and link to the "Prayer Letter." We had some internet access and electricity issues that have delayed this posting on the blog.

"Coming & Going" - August 2011

“Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord Himself will go ahead of you. He will be with you; He will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Deuteronomy 31:8

We watched the storm roll in from our grass-roofed tent at Lake Baringo Island Camp. Lightning, thunder, and gusty winds were threatening to dampen our get-away and our spirits. During this personal retreat, we had been discussing the next few months’ preparation to leave Kenya for 6-months of Home Ministry in the US in early 2012.

Mixed emotions had surfaced: Where would we feel at home? How much will family and friends have changed? Have we done what we could have (or should have) since we arrived in Kenya? Will others take over our tasks with a sense of blessing or resentment in their hearts?

Dejected, we picked up books and binoculars to move inside when we realized that only a few feet behind us was a view of the other side of the island - the sun was shining gloriously on the water, and not a single exotic flower or songbird was being disturbed by the rain and wind battering the opposite side of their little kingdom.

It’s always a matter of perspective. A slight adjustment can mean the difference between discouragement and joy. Instead of being focused on the problems and challenges, we need to look up and remember that the Lord has been with us and will continue ahead of us. Pray for us to maintain a (big “K”) Kingdom-view as we anticipate what’s ahead and trust what has been left behind.

Birds and flowers were not the only colorful companions we had at Lake Baringo. This pretty friend was about 12” long.

Some long-awaited updates...

Final dedication of the Colorado Work Team projects was celebrated on the last Sunday in June at Kalyet Church in Mugango with worship, singing, and blessings over each phase: church office, water tank, generator housing, raingutters, and the beautiful wooden cross sent from the team (and made by a team member) as an expression of continuing fellowship after their return home.

Peter Kipngeno marked one year since he committed his life to Jesus Christ in prison, and has also completed his first term at Kaboson Pastor’s Training College with good reviews from the faculty and eagerness to continue. He is spending his term break helping on the family’s farm and partnering with local pastors in prison ministry.

Prayers are being answered regarding doctors needed to cover Steve’s furlough from Tenwek Hospital during 2012. Several Gastroenterologists have committed to serve for some of the months needing coverage. For anyone interested, please contact wgm@wgm.org.

The STEP study on esophageal cancer continues with patient #175 this week. The goal for Steve and his endoscopy team is to screen 300 patients by the end of 2011. The recruiting continues in outlying villages around Tenwek.

Tenwek Chaplaincy College has 4 new students. Alene was teaching Ministry to the Dying and Bereaved last term (May thru July), and will return to courses on Prison Ministry and Aftercare Ministry from Sept thru Nov.)

Bomet Prison Medical Outreach - After weeks of preparations, a team of 38 medical staff and pastors from Tenwek Hospital and Bethesda Church visited the local Bomet Prison for a one-day medical camp, providing treatment and counseling for inmates as well as officers and their families from the prison and Bomet Police departments. We are thankful for the welcome we received from the prison administration, and the opportunity to express the love of Jesus Christ in visible ways to this part of our community.

“When no one was visiting me, I saw the church come.

When I needed soap and tissue, the church came.

Now when we need medicine, the church has come again.

I think that when I am released,

I will have to visit that church.”

-- Shared by Bomet Prison Inmate with Pastor Elijah

Greetings when our team arrived at the prison

Steve improvises an exam table

Dental clinic in one of the tent

Our vehicle functioned as the dispensary staffed by pharmacist, student nurses, and prison nursing officer

Pastors did one-on-one counseling

Teaching sessions on drug and alcohol abuse

Please pray with us:

• For more partners in prayers & finances for our work, and planning for our Home Ministry in US in 2012

• For more physicians to respond to need for Endoscopy coverage at Tenwek while Steve is in US in 2012

• For adjustment for both of Steve’s parents as care needs have increased, as well as for wisdom in decision-making by family members & care-givers

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For comforting visits from dear friends from US

• For those physicians who have volunteered to help with coverage for Steve while we are home

• For God’s faithfulness in caring for Steve’s father after hip fracture & replacement through help of family, friends, and medical staff

• For faithful partners in prayer, service, & finances, including those who give anonymously.

Kenyan Birthdays & More

June 4, 2011

We want to share with you a bit about Kenyan birthdays and some recent updates from Kenya!

Blessings to you!

Kenyan Birthdays

We have learned that the Kenyans in this area (who are mainly of the Kipsigis tribe) traditionally have a different concept of birthday celebrations. First of all, most of those over age 30 or 40 have no idea what month or season in which they were born and often they do not know in which year they were born. It used to bother me (Steve) when I would see a Tenwek patient with a stated age of 60, who on a return visit in a few weeks was now 50 years old! They try their best to figure out the year based on a national event. Although they may not know their year of birth they usually know what time of day they were born! A child's name is based on the time of day - such as "when the cows were coming in"- and other variables such as whether it was raining or whether visitors were present. It is not the parents, but rather the women in attendance at the delivery who actually name the child. So based on my birth between 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. on a sunny day with no visitors, I know that my Kipsigis name would have been "Kipkoech." (Boys have the "Kip-" prefix and girls have the "Chep-" prefix.) Based on her time of birth, Alene's name would have been "Chepngeno."

Our Western influence has encouraged the practice of children around the world celebrating their birthdays each year. Alene's sister and husband, Paula and Rich, adopted two young children, Guy and Geordanne, in Haiti in the late 90's. After some x-rays to confirm his age, it was evident that Guy was actually a year older than the orphanage had indicated. Guy was judged to be 6 years old and had only been in USA a few months, but he knew enough to ask his parents if he could have a "catch-up" birthday party!

Our dear friend and partner in ministry in Kenya, Pastor Wesley Koech, honors us as his "parents" and is probably about 43 years old. He saw people, including his wife and children, now celebrating their birthdays, but he had no idea on what day he was born. We had an inspiration on how to address our son Wesley's concern and checked our prior daily journal from our May 2006 initial visit to Tenwek Hospital. We learned that we first met Pastor Wesley and were welcomed into his home on May 20, 2006. That was the first day that he came into our lives, so we celebrated his "5th" birthday this weekend! We must say that he was just like a little kid blowing out his five candles and eating some

cake with frosting! So Wesley now shares the birthdate of May 20^th with my brother, Mark.

Pastor Wesley (on the right) and his cake for his "5th" birthday!

We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14) and it is great to celebrate our birth and the life that the Lord God has given us. However, too often our focus is on the gifts that we will receive at our birthday celebrations. As Christians, we rejoice in different gifts: we have a new birth (John 3:1- 21, 2 Corinthians 5: 17) and a new life in Christ (Galatians 2:20). We are to leave behind our prior life, receive salvation, and live a new life worthy of our calling in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:10-14). We are adopted into God's family. "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" (1 John 3:1). We pray that you have accepted a new life in Christ and can also joyously celebrate your own spiritual birthday.

Former prisoner, Peter, starts Pastor's College

We give praise to the Lord that Peter has been able to start his studies at Kaboson Pastor's Training College this month. Peter is enthusiastic to be equipped to serve as a pastor to prisoners and former inmates. Please continue in prayer for his studies and future ministry.

Peter (2nd from the left) at Kaboson Pastor's Training College

Chaplain School Resumes

The second group of students has begun classes at the International Chaplaincy College at Tenwek and Alene is teaching a class on "Ministry to the Dying and Bereaved." The school is living up to being international as one of the students, Julius, is from Tanzania. Please join us as we pray for these new students and their teachers.

New Chaplain students with instructor, Pastor John Langat (Center)

Tenwek Endoscopy Team

The endoscopy team had a great safari day-trip for team-building in April. This was the first opportunity for most of these national Kenyans to see the wildlife for which their country is famous. We had time to share about functioning as a team and working together for a common purpose. We focused that purpose on Tenwek's mission statement: A Christian community committed to excellence in compassionate health care, spiritual ministry, and training for service.

Tenwek Endoscopy team safari

Lions, cubs, zebras, and Thompson's gazelles at the Maasai Mara

Endoscopy STEP Study research team with our new caps

Chaplain Elijah Bii presents a Bible to a new believer in Christ.

GI Endoscopy Services in 2012

In 2012, we will have about 9 months of Home Ministry Assignment (furlough) in USA. This time will be devoted to reconnecting with our family, friends and supporters and confirming our support base for long-term, career mission service.

I (Steve) want to ensure that there will be continuity in our delivery of endoscopy services at Tenwek Hospital even when I will not be present. We are in the process of arranging for coverage during my absence. If you know of anyone providing endoscopy services that might be interested in serving at Tenwek, please let us know. Please join us in prayer for the continuation of excellent endoscopy services in 2012.

Thank you!

Steve & Alene Burgert, Missionaries with World Gospel Mission

Tenwek Hospital - Bomet , Kenya

EASTER GREETINGS

Please enjoy a blessed celebration of Easter!

You can check out our latest newsletter and Easter greetings at this link:

http://www.wgm.org/document.doc?id=1443

He is risen, He is risen indeed!

Peace and love,

Steve & Alene