Mikinduri Children of Hope

At least once per year a team of volunteers pay all their own expenses to travel to Kenya as part of our medical team missions. Typically the teams consists of nurses, doctors, a dentist, teachers, social workers, farmers, pharmacists, business people, students, and ordinary lay folks who have a desire to make a difference by serving the poor in Kenya.

Our first mission departed in 2007. Our fifth mission trip will depart in February 2011. We will be conducting medical, vision and dental clinics, serving literally thousands of poor who normally would not get treatment of any kind. We will also visit schools and orphanages. Part of the reason for these trips is to build a relationship with our partners, and to check on our ongoing projects, which is mandatory in order to verify to our donors that their generous donations are being well and truly utilized.

Our long-term goal with this program is to establish, with local Kenyans partners, a community based health care system which will provide a healthcare security net for needy patients as well as preventive education.  The model provides for a network of trained health care workers, elected by the various remote communities to act as their healthcare leaders. These leaders will be provided with special education in the area of hygiene, nutrition, basic healthcare, maternity, as well as women’s rights. We estimate it will take 5 years to get this program fully operating but we are encouraged by the reception we have received from potential partnering organizations in Kenya.

Anyone wishing to take part in a mission trip is welcome. Please contact us.

Here is a success story of young Joyce

Here is an exerpt from a participant of the 2011 trip:
“While working in the vision clinic, a volunteer had translator Christine assigned to him. Christine works with the Good Shepherd Sisters. The busy pace of the clinic did not permit for many visits, however, during their time together, they bonded. He taught Christine many of his clinic tasks and empowered her to work semi-independently. When they parted, he reminded her to keep her faith and to not give up hope for an education. After returning to Canada, he inquired more about Christine and her desire to continue her education as a mature student. She is 30 years old. To make a long story short, Sister Nancy and Christine drafted up an educational/financial plan for the volunteer to help her get an education. She has begun the social work and community development diploma program, part-time in the evenings, at NTTI in Meru. She wishes to pursue her degree (maybe Masters) at university in Meru thereafter. The volunteer is encouraging her to take a computer course to help her both now and in the future. She is realizing she cannot live/work without computer skills. Christine shared with us, that she started a Novena on Feb. 2/11 for 3 months. Every morning upon awakening and every night before falling asleep, she recited this prayer, ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ Within the first 2 weeks of her Novena, the volunteer entered her life. She considers it a miracle and her prayer is answered. Divine intervention allowed their paths to cross. Still, not a day goes by that MCOH or Chalice is active in his life.”