My arrival to Karungu.

I made it to Kenya! Traveling here, all 25 hours of it went fairly well. The whole process could have started off on the wrong foot when I was supposed to fly from Duluth to Minneapolis but found myself in a car rushing 160 miles south. I spent 2 ½ hours driving with Diane, who was in the same situation. We had a great ride and I made it to my gate just as people were boarding.

Father Julius picked me up in Nairobi and we spent the night at the St Camillus Seminary. The next morning we headed to Karungu, my house for the next year. I used the word “home” at first but was quickly corrected by locals that “home” means where I am from. Father Julius said we should get on the road by 8:30am but true Kenyan style we didn’t leave Nairobi until 11am. We really did have some errands to run before leaving though. So off we went on our 8ish hour journey.  I say 8ish because it is 8 hours if all goes well…

The drive started through the beautiful rift valley and a stop for my first Kenyan meal. We finally made it to the last lag of our trip- the dirt road. Father Julius warned me that it was bumpy but I wasn’t prepared. Not only was it REALLY BUMPY you were dodging motorcycles, vans, people, cows, donkeys and other various animals. Have the image in your mind? K, now think even BUMPIER. The thought went through my head that it was amazing that we didn’t have a flat tire up to this point. Well, wrong thought because shortly after the left front tire was out of commission. Father Julius and I were working on getting it changed but the jack would not go high enough to lift the car. Problem. Eventually we found some help… and some more help…and some more help. Finally we had the jack on a rock that was on a piece of wood that then lifted the car. An hour later off we went. So 9ish hours later we arrived in Karungu.  

So I made it to Karungu and my last thought until next time… It will take some getting used to driving on the left side of the road! 

I'm going to Kenya!

I can't believe how fast this summer has gone! I head to New Jersey for orientation in a few days and then to Kenya on September 23rd. After graduating from St. Ben's in the spring of 2010, and passing the nursing exam I was accepted into the Catholic Medical Mission Board's (CMMB) medical volunteer program. CMMB began in 1912 and has since been working to help save lives throughout the world through the distribution of medicine and medical supplies, and the placement of volunteer medical professionals.

CMMB has assigned me to Saint Camillus Mission Hospital in Karungu, Kenya. Karungu is located on the shores of Lake Victoria, the second largest freshwater lake in the world. During my year's stay in Kenya I will have the once in a lifetime opportunity to serve people in the greatest need of healthcare.

With my departure date quickly approaching I am excited and nervous for my journey ahead. Thank you to everyone for your generous donations and all of the support. I will post has often as I can to keep you updated on my experience.

The following are CMMB and St Camillus Mission Hospital's websites:
http://cmmb.org/
http://www.karungu.net/

Thanks again and I'll keep you posted!