Good morning from Kenya!! The dust is swirling all around station today as the winds gush and blow. Even in the relative shelter of the house, I feel a slight grit across my cheeks. Few birds and animals appear to be around the area. The valley is a vague, hazy outline instead of its usual early morning sharp features. Time for a coffee inside today.

Many people ask about visiting here in Kijabe, Kenya. I hear a lot of the same questions:

• Do I have to be a doctor?
• I don’t preach. Does that matter?
• I could never do what is being done in the operating rooms.
• Do I have to eat goat?
• I work with computers, would that be of help?
• I just want to see the big animals, can you take me?
• Will I get AIDS and die?
• What food is usually eaten in Kijabe?

I thought I would share my thoughts of short term volunteers — their benefits and their costs.

For the CURE Kijabe Hospital, I divide volunteers into medical and non-medical. We will start with the medical volunteers since I know this best. The first and foremost requirement for a medical volunteer is their attitude. We at CURE seek those coming to serve. They must respect the Kenyan culture and people. They must not appear or send out the unspoken message they are the ‘grand expert’ coming to save the poor Kenyan. First, little lasting change will occur within a short term trip. You will not save the world or change Kenya in a couple of weeks. Sorry. Second, often the expert deals with problems we may not see and has ultrahigh technology that is not available in the developing world. Many of these surgeons are overwhelmed by the deformities we treat and equipment we use. A level 1 trauma orthopedist expecting the same technology here in Kijabe as at home will be disappointed.

The second requirement is they have a skill and knowledge helpful to our ministry at CURE. We are primarily an orthopedic rehab hospital. Orthopedics in Kenya encompasses many deformities treated by plastic surgeons in the US. Cleft lips and palates are done by special ENT teams coming from the US. Although an invasive cardiologist would have many options where to serve in the world, CURE Kijabe is not one.

Third, we ask that each medical volunteer prepare and give a few lectures during their time here. We will assist in selecting topics. CURE Kijabe is not about just doing surgery but, more importantly, teaching residents and staff about caring for the children. Drs. Kim Augustein and Virginia Nelson, for example, are rehabilitation specialists (PMR physicians) here currently. As part of their time, they will care for patients and assist us in that fashion. Likewise, they will teach the residents about neuromuscular disorders. They work closely with our physical therapist to improve his knowledge. We are thankful Kim and Ginny will lead a two-day teaching conference for our CURE staff and other therapists, nurses, and orthopedic technologists in the region. These doctors have been making trips to CURE Kijabe since I first came in 1998. CURE Kijabe has grown greatly in knowledge due to their efforts.

The first trip to CURE Kijabe for orthopedists is often one where they learn about what it means to serve in Kenya and what types of cases we treat. We will not leave a new surgeon alone to care for a patient. He/She will not do surgery the CURE Team is not able to safely care for post-operatively. We do not experiment on our patients but care for them as if they are our own flesh and blood. Some surgeons come in and thrive on the challenges inside and outside of the operating room. Other surgeons never feel comfortable. That is not a bad outcome for the trip. You learned you have to use your gifts in other fashions. Sometimes God will use a short term experience to grow your heart in a special manner or direction. A large percentage of long term missionaries started out as short term volunteers. I am one.

Short term volunteers can, in reality, be a lot of work for our staff. The visitor must remember we do live and work here. We can not take off and go shopping as you may desire. We can assist with side trips to the Mara to see animals, but you should realize these trips take time to organize. Asking for assistance prior to the trip makes the work easy. We can make many suggestions for you to consider. Local information is generally better, gets cheaper rates, and is more reliable than internet scheduling. Trips to Nairobi can e fun, but gasoline is between $5-6 per gallon. Oil changes are $150. Missionaries cannot afford to spend funds in this fashion on a routine basis. Assisting with costs would be a nice gesture. Short term trip costs are more than the cost of a plane ticket. The cost of lodging, food, sodas, hot water, and the cleaning people’s time all add up. If the hospital was to pay for these costs, there would be less money to care for the children. The bottom line is this: we are here to transform the lives of the physically disabled; the kids come first.

Short term volunteers can be a huge benefit for our staff as well. The visitors bring a fresh face and a smile to our hospital. Short-termers can bolster the spirits of the staff. Encouraging words are welcome to all!! Kids on the ward enjoy visitors from overseas. Your funny accents, clothes, and enthusiasm often baffle them. Simple gifts such as balloons, Matchbox cars, and crayons create mega smiles.

Short term volunteers can act as ‘mules,’ raising funds to purchase and carry over medical supplies to offset the costs of those we purchase. We especially covet children’s chewable multivitamins, surgical suture, cloth reusable OR gowns, and orthopedic surgical appliances (plates, screws, wire, pins, etc.). Maybe you are called to short term missions not by going but rather by fundraising and procuring needed supplies. No jet lag in this calling!! Africa, South America, the Middle East, and the Far East are not for everyone. But we all can help others who wish to serve in these places.

Some volunteers plan to raise funds to sponsor a bed for a year as their group goal. Others bring orthopedic equipment we are in need of replacing. Visitors buy carvings, paintings, and other knick knacks, which assist the local artisans earn a living.  So in summary, medical volunteers come to teach first, then to serve by doing, and finally to learn about developing world medicine and about themselves.

Nonmedical volunteers carry a wide spectrum of skills to CURE Kijabe. We seek specialty assistance in computers, lab, business, and others. Someone coming for six months or longer to create a computerized record and teach CURE staff to use it would be a dream! Short-termers can assist with evaluating our practices and making suggestions for improvement. People with maintenance and building skills are welcome to come and assist in the many needed repairs and breakdowns in the hospital and the staff houses. Once a Mr. Fix-it man came with a couple of action packers full of screws, knobs, parts, and whatever, volunteering to repair items in houses all over station. What a gift! We have a group called the A-Team from Pennsylvania composed of mentally challenged adults and their traveling friends who come to serve. They are some of the best volunteers we have had. They have planted trees. They have cleaned the hospital compound. They have colored with the kids for hours in the playroom. The A-Team watched the baboons for hours on end. They shared their stories. Parents realized disabilities affect people all over the world; they are not alone. The A-Team did whatever they could to help. Again attitude is key!

Jana and I also have a special group of friends who come as ‘volunteers.’ Bev and Mel have come and stayed with us many times over the years. Bev and Mel come primarily as our special support group. Mel is an engineer and also now a Stryker cast saw repair specialist and a teacher who always has projects to do. Bev serves where needed and leads Bible studies on station as well. Sometimes they baby-sit so parents with young children can get away. Sometimes they work at school. Both are very special to Jana and me; quiet talks, house projects, cricket killing contests, and laughter mark their visits. I could not imagine our time without their visits.

Jeanne is a quilter among many other gifts. She and Jana design, create, and teach quilting during her visits. She, too, is a special friend and welcome guest for us. Jeanne has made friends among the Maasai, who ask for her continually. Jeanne’s husband, Jerry, likes to think he is a family practice physician, but I showed him he is much more than that alone. No rest for that man here! Living in a different culture far from your old home can be stressful at times. We will never be Kenyan, always visitors no matter how long we live here. Being spoiled with visits of special friends is a grand gift!

The Spiritual team has volunteers come and share their stories and teach our patients and staff. Despite language barriers at times, a caring posture and true concern are a universal language appreciated by all.

Short term volunteers will never take the place of full time dedicated staff at any missionary effort. Too much depends on long term relationships and experience. Short term volunteers coming with a servant’s heart open to whatever is needed will always be a welcome addition to the work. Together, long term and short term, we can accomplish much, much more and be better than either working alone. We can serve the people together as we serve in His grip.

P.S. No, you do not HAVE to eat goat, but you MAY enjoy this food if you wish!!