Bringing You Up To Date
July 27, 2008
Wow! It seems like just yesterday that I spoke at the weekend service for my brother (remember the banana photo?)! It’s been a whirlwind ever since. We left the following Tuesday with four of our children to spend the next ten weeks at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya, East Africa. God granted us safe passage—all of our flights were on time, all connections made without problems and twelve bags (yes, I said 12!) arrived without any problems. What a blessing!
We spent 3 nights in Nairobi getting over our jet lag, gathering supplies for our prolonged stay and seeing some of our friends. We then drove 4 hours across the Great Rift Valley where we saw a herd of wild zebras! We have now comfortably settled in to our home away from home for the next two and a half months.
All the staff here has really made us feel welcome. Jenn has done an admirable job making our small apartment have the warm feel of a home. You may not know this—but Jenn is an amazing cook. She can take the local vegetables and fruits that are available here and combine them with what we bought in Nairobi and produce some pretty incredible meals. Rachael Ray has nothing on this lady! The kids have really enjoyed re-connecting with their friends here at the mission compound. Jackson has so enjoyed seeing his Kenyan friends—the Bii’s. If Jackson is missing, all we have to do is find the Bii’s and we will have located Jack!
The children started back into their home school studies this week. Georgia is in the 7th grade; Olivia the 6th, Sophia the 5th and Jackson is in pre-school. They spent part of Saturday helping sort out medications that a visiting team brought to the hospital. It’s really great to watch them volunteer to help however they are needed.
It’s been an easy transition back into the world of surgery here at Tenwek. I didn’t realize how much time and energy it took last time we were here just learning the physical layout of the hospital, the drugs that are available, the way the clinics run and the routines of the different departments.
I’ve completed my first week and the very first patient I saw had been gored in the chest by a water buffalo. The rest of the week was filled with a conference on the current treatment of malaria in Kenya, lots of endoscopy, two cases of typhoid fever with intestinal perforation, and a case where we resected the entire esophagus and replaced it with the colon. The case took a little over eight hours! Trust me, I slept well that night.
Yesterday (Saturday) morning, I operated on a newborn little girl named Rose who was born with her intestines outside of her body (gastroschisis). Her surgery went well, but it usually takes about 2 weeks for the intestines to be completely replaced into her abdomen and begin functioning well enough so that the child can eat. Supporting the child nutritionally is critical during these two weeks. In the States we have a special IV fluid (called TPN) that can give adequate nutrition until the child can take milk. If a child with gastroschisis receives TPN (a great majority of the time) they will survive. If they don’t the survival drops considerably. Even though little Rose’s surgery went well, unfortunately, that special IV fluid isn’t available here.
As I thought about this little girl, I thought about all the children around the world that don’t have the one thing they need to survive into adulthood. That ‘one thing’ may be enough food, or clean water or a mosquito net or a vaccination or dose of antibiotics or an available doctor to perform a simple life-saving operation.
If you think about it this week, remember to pray for little Rose. And remember to pray for all the other little Roses all around the world.
Keep us in your prayers.
Paul
So glad to have an update from the Osteen family! Seems like just yesterday that we welcoming you home from your previous trip to Africa. Time has passed so quickly and our time together was too little! We miss you and love you very much!
Looking forward to many more posts about God’s activity in and through you and yours.
Love,
Steve, Holly, Austin, and Tyler
Hey Paul and family,
Glad you guys made it safely and are settled in to where your staying. Just to let you know, your grass looks great! So we’ll keep watering your grass here at home, you keep watering souls there. We already miss ya’ll and we keep your names on our lips in our prayers.
Be Blessed, The Smiths
Hi Osteen Family –
I am so excited for all of you to be back in Africa – following God’s will, wherever He leads us, is always a satisfying and rewarding adventure! Even though I haven’t gotten to meet all of you yet, please you are in my thoughts and prayers (and I look forward to the day when we can finally meet!). My younger brother, Douglas, and I thought of you as we sat in the Nairobi airport for many hours traveling to and from Zambia. I’m sure you are having a wonderful time and serving so many people. Thank you for laying down your lives for the call to follow God – you are living examples of not only sharing the good news of the Gospel but also demonstrating the love of God in kindness that will surely bring many to salvation.
Please do not hesitate to let me know if you need anything :)
Grace to you –
With affection,
deborah williams
Dr. Paul, Wow ! what an awesome report, and Baby Rose. She is in His Hands for sure.
Much Prayers and Love to yall,
Gary and Nancy
Hi, Osteens!
We are so glad you made it safely to Africa! It is so nice to read the blog and get a little insight into what things are like for you there. Please say “Hi” to Jenn, Jackson, and all the girls! We are so glad for the great things you are doing in Africa! We miss you all and wish you our best! You are in our prayers!
Love,
Travis, Allison, Mason, and Hudson
The Osteens….
Glad to hear that you have arrived safely and that you are back in ‘Dream Land’!
Joshua 1:3 & 6 “I WILL GIVE YOU EVERY PLACE YOU SET YOUR FOOT”………”Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them.”
Praying for all of you and for the people of Kenya that they will inherit the kingdom of God in their hearts. Keep the blogs coming!
Yours & HIS,
Lesli
hey paul,
we were glad to hear ya’ll made it safe and sound. just wantd you to know we
were thinking of you and have you in our prayers every day. we love the pictures \ and the blogs too. tell jen and the kids hello. we love ya’ll, tamara
I’m praying for little Rose!
K.D. Carter
Hi, Paul and family, left message on Georgia’s blog comment. The Lord is truly blessing you ’seed.’ Verda
Dr. Paul and Family
We are so excited for you all. In Africa, doing HIS work. Thank you for being obediant to the call to serve. Each one of my family has been assigned one of your family to pray for on this trip. It is already growing in to a fun topic of family conversation at the dinner table. Trey and Rawlin prayed that Jackson would get to ride on an elephant and preach the name of Jesus to all theboys and girls.
Dr. Paul, I am very excited to show you a new section in the bookstore that Steve Austin and I are working on. The “New Believers” section that was your idea a long time ago will be waiting here for you when you get home.
We pray for your safety, your health, and your message. May God use you all mightyly for His kingdom and glory.
Dr. Paul, Jennifer, Georgia, Olivia, Sophie, and Jackson
We are thinking of you all and praying for you on your second journey with your family. Let Georgia know that everything God has placed on her heart will come to pass, it’s just a timing thing. Georgia, don’t forget our talk we had before you left. I believe in you and know God is going to use you in a powerful way in the future. God’s just refining you to have the right focus in thinking of other’s dreams and in turn God will take care of your dreams. Greatness is within you! I wanted to let the kids know we had an incredible Youth Night with Christine Cain. She was off the hook! I’ll have to get you all a video of the evening. It was cool watching youth serve as prayer partners, ushers and the energy in the church was awesome. We also just finished Camp Kidslife with John Trent. We had over 12,300 kids and adults experience the three days of camp. We closed it out with the Family celebration where John Trent led all the parents in blessing their kids and then he had all the kids bless their parents. J-Life did an increidble human Video and we also introduced the strong families small groups for potential hosts who are interested in hosting a family life group. We had 75+ cards turned in to be a part or host a family life group. Praise God! We are beginning to see Faith at Home come into action. We love you all and miss you very much. Sophie, I’m working on using that song from the newsboys for our next Kidslife Worship Experence in October. That was your idea! Good Job! Olivia, everybody is waiting for you to get back to be on the drama teams for the weekend services. Jackson, stay away form the Water Buffalo. I can just see your adventurous self chasing some animal and having no fear. Jennifer, I’m thinking some of the staff need to try some of your famous dishes coming up. (haha)Rachal Ray Huh? Pretty impressive! Dr Paul, the yankees are playing decently but we just picked up Pudge Rodriguez from the Tigers. Hopefully that will help replace Jorge Posada who is out for the year. The Astro’s are being the Astro’s. They need alot of prayer. We need an Astro’s/Yankees World Series. I know, I know, but I can dream can’t I? We just took Cory and Courtney to the airport for the Honduras Missions Trip. Please pray for them and the entire youth teams as they go to Mexico and Honduras. We Love You!
Keep Dreaming Big!
Craig, Sam, Cory, Courtney and Connor
Just want you to know that this is the first blog I have ever written; don´t know if that is good or bad but it´s all your fault :) Glad all is well! I have been meaning to write for a week now. I know you are having fun getting your hands all bloody although I personally prefer the golf course. We miss you, love you and appreciate you. Naki and family.
Hi,
We miss you in Arkansas. Hope you are alright. May God Bless you and keep you safe.
Love,
Aunt Kalah
Natalie
Dr. Paul, Jennifer and Family:
May God Continue to Bless each one of You and have a hedge of protection around all of you at all times. My prayers are with you to accomplish all of your goals of helping others and to return safely home. (Your Mother is praying for You & Your Family many times a day too !)
My Best in His Name,
Craig Keeland
Miss seeing ya’ll but grateful for all that you and your family are doing to make the world a better place. My thoughts and prayers are with ya’ll.
Safe Return
Harlan Glover and Family
Dear Ones, I am ashamed that I’ve not written to let you all know how proud we are of the sacrifices you all are making to share His love and to minister to those in such desperate need. We thank God that your dad and mom heard and answered the call so many years ago and that you all are doing exactly what He planned all along. What awesome blessings your “little ones” (Georgia, Olivia, Sophie & Jack are to the children of Kenya. Mom says little Raeleigh is beautiful and doing great.We love you all so very much and are forever in our thoughts and prayers. I am thinking of baby Rose. Much love from Aunt Tommie & Uncle Wallace, too. Deb
Dear Paul, Jennifer and beautiful kiddos!!!
Pray for you lots and lots every week. I loved reading all your reports of what is happening. The girls have such a wonderful way of describing the events they are reporting on. Jenn just makes me want to come and help her get all those orphanages taken care of and needs met. I am so thrilled for you both, admire and honor all that you are doing. I know the GRACE of God has been on you to do the mission HE has put in your hearts to do. HE gives the desires to us and then HE fulfills them His way too!!! You are missed greatly, certainly by Dean and I. I sent you a report in an email so you will need to check that. Our new class Foundations will FINALLY begin this Sunday. We are ready, happy and so looking forward to fulfilling your vision in a way that will bring fruit both in hearts and numbers. We’ll be married 40 years this month……… hard fought!!! ha ha, sort of! My love, prayers and applause for all you, Jenn and family are doing. Renee’
Dear Paul and Jennifer
My family and I are praying God to bless you and your family in this ministry, and the angels of God stay around you and your family at all times, we miss your blessing message on Wednesdays but we know that God’s way are better than our way, God bless you.
IAN & LUZ MOSCOSO
I’m the son in law of Mrs Esperanza, we were praying for her some months ago.
Dear Paul and your family,
The time past so fast since you were here in Kenya last year. I am so excited to hear your brother Joel Osteen and his ministry are coming to Kenya in October. I just pray I can come and hear with my family (all members of family) where ever you will preach and have service (I hope).
God bless you and your family !
Lots of Love from Kenya.
Noriko