Journeys in Kenya, in USA, and back to Kenya!

Coming & Going - March 2015

 “See what love the Father has for us, that we should be called His children - and so we are!” 1 John 3:1

On a recent visit to a Maasai village (about 2 hours away from Tenwek) we found this aged warrior enfolding one of his beloved grandchildren with evident joy, while maintaining a posture of protection and mentoring the youngster on how to behave with the visitors. It was a soul-warming glimpse of our heavenly Father’s heart. His readiness to embrace us and be near us in times of trouble or confusion is a grace that is portrayed to us through fathers and mothers, grandparents, teachers, coaches, pastors, village elders, and others. In every culture, in every part of the world, the Lord reveals His heart for His children. Jesus came from this Father, and died to give us the legal claim to adoption as the Father’s cherished sons and daughters.

To those who believed in Jesus’ name, He gave the right to become children of God -children not born of natural means, but born of God. (John 1:12-13) Have you claimed YOUR adoption yet?

A little further up the same hill...

 

Walking with Timothy in 2008

Walking with Timothy in 2015

Looking through some recent photos taken with our Kenyan family, we enjoyed comparing some shots (on the same path) from our earlier years here. It was interesting to note that this dress is still Alene’s favorite for such hikes, and that Timothy (son of Pastor Wesley and Charity) is now 7 years older - and HE is the one carrying the pack, while we have opted for smaller loads. Maybe it shows that we have become more comfortable in our local community, and less burdened by what we thought we needed when we first arrived. Maybe it shows that the Lord still has lots more for us to learn -hills yet to climb. As we finish this term and prepare for our break in the USA, we are happy to report that it remains a joyful journey! We see some progress (mostly in how WE have changed) and we recognize that through the Lord’s grace, with the love and support of our partners, we are just a little further up the same hill, hallelujah. Can’t wait to share some stories and photos with you while we are in the states, but we also can’t wait to return to Kenya. (See our USA schedule below.)

A few more photos...

An unexpected visit to Tenwek Hospital with service by Steve's Mayo Medical School classmate (Class of 1979!!), Dr. Rick Peterson (Cardiac Surgeon), and his wife Julie. It was a delight to share time with them.

Endoscopy Team Building in the Maasai Mara recently after a game drive....Tying the knot of grasped hands... untying as we work together ("Don't give up! Listen to each other!")...celebrating untying the knot!

Strategic Planning Retreat for Correctional Ministry

Chaplains review and categorize their varied Ministry activities

Chaplains pray and brainstorm about future directions for the Ministry    

Carolyn & Michael Visit us in Kenya

It was a blessing and privilege to host Steve's sister Carolyn and her husband Michael for their first visit to Kenya. They jumped right in with our activities and friends ...

Learning how to pick tea with Pastor Wesley

Getting mobbed by the local kids as they explored the Mugango area

Making friends with Twiga ("Giraffe" in Kiswahili)

Making friends with the Maasai villagers

They said their favorite part was meeting our Kenya family - Pastor Wesley, wife Charity, and son Timothy, who hosted us in their home. (Pastor's two daughters were away at boarding school.)

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For the well-appreciated December outreaches to Narok Prison (300 inmates served at the one-day medical clinic) and Bomet Prison (for Christmas fellowship with chai and homemade chapatis)

• For progress in the fight against the Ebola outbreak in the countries of west Africa

• For Kenyans assuming more of the leadership and ministry roles at the hospital, Correctional Ministry, and our other areas of service while we will be on Home Ministry Assignment in the USA

• For the opportunity for Steve to work at the hospitals in Loveland CO and update his practice credentials

• For good health, safe travels, & strength for service

Please pray with us:

• For our current term of service to close well in April, including times for goodbyes

• For additional endoscopists to fill-in the remaining coverage gaps at Tenwek while Steve is in the USA from April to September of 2015

• For good preparations and productive time during our Home Ministry Assignment in the USA from April to September 2015 before returning to Kenya

• For the Lord’s provision for our needs while in the USA - prayer partners, finances, and a vehicle to use while working at the hospitals in Colorado

• For intentional, effective times of refreshment, and discernment about future directions in our service

Hippo Highway... Hippos follow the same path (a "Hippo Highway") night after night as they go many kilometers up out of the river to distant grazing areas.

Here is where our trails will go in the next few months...

Burgert Home Ministry Assignment Schedule (Overview) 2015

Please let us know how we can connect with you while we are in the USA - we are eager to meet with you on one of our stops!

Please contact us directly or call or send an email via WGM Headquarters [765-664-7331 or wgm.wgm.org]

April

14 Tuesday Fly Nairobi to London

15 Wednesday Transfer through London, to Denver, arr 6:30pm

15-21 Loveland, CO (stay with church friends)

21 Tuesday Fly Denver to Monterey, CA

21-25 Personal break time

25 Saturday Fly Monterey, CA to Mariposa, CA

25-30 Mariposa, CA - Stay with family

30 Thursday Fly Fresno to Seattle

30 to May 7 Seattle area - Stay with family

May

7 Thursday Fly Seattle to Rochester, MN

7-11 Rochester, MN - Stay at Charter House

11 Monday Fly Rochester to Philadelphia, PA

11-14 Havertown, PA (near Philadelphia) Stay with family

14 Thursday Philadelphia to Washington, D.C. area

16-19 Attending Digestive Disease Week Conference (DDW)

21 Thursday Fly Washington, DC to Charlotte, NC

21-25 Shelby, NC - Stay with church friends

24 Sunday At Shelby Presbyterian Church

25 Monday Fly Charlotte to Denver

25 May - 20 July Loveland, CO for Steve’s hospital work for 8 weeks. Ministry partner visits in Colorado on weekends

June

TBD - Trip to Spokane WA - Presentation at First Pres Church

July

21 Tuesday Fly Denver to Indiana

22-31 Marion, IN attending WGM Headquarters Sessions

31 Friday Fly Indianapolis, IN to Denver CO

August

1 - 18 Loveland, CO - TBD

19 Wednesday Leave Loveland CO to France for family wedding

20 - 28 France

28 Friday Leave France to Athens, Greece

28 Aug - 7 Sep Attending Greece/Turkey Biblical History study tour

September

8 Tuesday Leave Istanbul, Turkey to Nairobi, Kenya

Sunset in the Maasai Mara

We need and cherish your support in whatever ways you are able.

Contributions Online - www.wgm.org/burgert

Contributions by mail - World Gospel Mission, 3783 East State Road 18, PO Box 948, Marion IN 46952 (account 02273-Burgert)

Blessings to all from Kenya! May we see you or speak with you very soon!

Steve & Alene Burgert

Christmas Greetings and New Year's Blessings

Christmas Greetings and New Year's Blessings!

"This first Christmas away from home is going to be really hard!" one of our newly-arrived missionary colleagues recently shared with us. We nodded our heads, with memories from our arrival in Kenya 5 years ago flooding back. But the memories are joyful ones - we remember how many of you from the US sent cards and care packages and photos. We also remember how Kenyans included us in their celebrations and worship, shared food from their gardens, and invited us to their homes for a cup of Christmas chai. So we answered our friends, “Don’t worry - by next year, you will feel like Kenya is home - because the Kenyans will not let you be lonely!”

We are also thankful for a Father in heaven who will not let us be lonely - and who sent His Son to forgive, heal, and fill our empty souls. We are thankful for a Savior who could leave heaven and be at home in a dirty manger, or an imperfect heart, and who died on a cross to make it possible for us to welcome Him. Have you made room for Him yet? Jesus says, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock...” (Revelation 3:20)

First Christmas in Kenya celebrated with Charity & Wesley Koech, 2009

Correctional Ministry sharing its vision with many new Kenyan churches

Every prisoner transformed by the love of Jesus Christ and welcomed back to his or her home community, supported and mentored by a local church and pastor - this is the vision of Correctional Ministry chaplains as they work in the prisons. They also work with youth offenders with the goal of giving them hope and new direction before they become adult criminals. Recent opportunities to speak about this outreach have come through leadership meetings of the Africa Gospel Church of Kenya (the denomination which helped to launch the Ministry), as well as numerous other denominations and independent churches. What a joy it is to see the larger Kenyan Body of Christ respond to His call to visit the prisons, and offer a hand in fellowship and reconciliation to those who want a fresh start with their families, churches, and communities.

Presenting the Ministry, left to right: Chaplain Geoffrey, Chaplain Wesley, Ministry Administrator George, & Assistant Chaplain Peter (ex-prisoner)

“ If you want to go fast, go alone.

If you want to go far, go together. ”

African Proverb

Many thanks to each one of you for partnering with us that we may go far together. There are many ways that you have joined us and encouraged us in our journey: through your prayers, notes of encouragement, financial support, gifts, service in USA, service here in Kenya, offering hospitality, and inspiring others to also partner with us, to name a few. We say to each of you, “Asante sana.” [“Thank you very much” in Swahili.]

We had a practical example of “going far” together with the delivery and installation of a super-cold freezer (minus 80 degrees Celsius!), which is needed for storage of our Endoscopy research tissue samples. The freezer was purchased with funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in USA [THANKS!] and weighed 704 pounds plus the additional weight of the shipping crate. The freezer in its reinforced crate was delivered to the basement level at Tenwek Hospital and we had to transport it up one story, around the Theatre (Surgery) Building, across sidewalk drains, through hallways and doorways with low ceilings and finally into the Endoscopy Suite. Let’s allow a few photos to tell part of this story of GREAT teamwork! Thanks to all, from donors to movers.

 

 

 

 

 

    First there were three......then five.......but every new obstacle brought more hands, more muscle, more helpful strategies.... (even a jack from the hydroelectric dam project!)...until at last, the job was done and the team could celebrate going far together!

 

End-of-year giving
We know that for some of you, it is convenient to make extra, charitable contributions now at the end of the year. Please note this information for one-time or ongoing contributions. THANK YOU!

Online: https://www.wgm.org/burgert   Then just click on the "Donate" arrow.

By mail: You can send a check made out to "World Gospel Mission" and on the memo line state "Burgert ministry - 02273" and mail it to: World Gospel Mission,  PO Box 948, Marion, IN 46952.

Please thank the Lord with us:

• For Kenyans assuming more of the leadership and ministry roles in Correctional Ministry, including the new Ministry Administrator, George Odhiambo, who is really helping Alene!

• For the opportunity to share about the esophageal cancer research at a Nairobi cancer conference in November

• For approval of 2 more esophageal cancer research studies to be conducted at Tenwek

• For sufficient support to permit us to purchase a “newer” 2007 vehicle for use in Kenya

• For continued health, strength, and safe travels within Kenya

Please pray with us:

• For the December outreaches to Narok Prison (for a medical clinic) and Bomet Prison (for Christmas fellowship)

• For our current term of service to close well in April

• For good preparations and productive time during our Home Ministry Assignment in USA from April to September 2015 before returning to Kenya

• For additional endoscopists to fill-in the remaining coverage gaps at Tenwek while Steve is in the USA from April to September of 2015

• For the many patients, healthcare workers, and their family members affected by the Ebola crisis in the countries of west Africa

BLESSED CHRISTMAS AND A JOYOUS NEW YEAR!

With love from Kenya,

Steve and Alene