Keiths November Journal

Nov. 2006

Nov 1
Ellen, Leah, Alex and I are still sick. Ellen and I are having a lot more trouble than the kids. This has been going on since mid September. We are both exhausted and losing a lot of weight. Dr. C has been checking on us and Verle has been helping as well. Clair called and wants us to go to Nairobi for a couple of weeks. I am not thrilled about this because we have commitments in Nairobi starting Nov 23rd. So if we go now we would most likely need to stay for the whole month. That will get very expensive since Nairobi is very expensive. Clair and I are talking about timing and whether we really need to come.

Nov 4
Left for Nairobi about 7:30 am. It had rained during the night so the 40 kilometers out to the paved road was difficult but over all we had a good trip. We had some waiting time at the border because it was very busy. But otherwise we made the trip in about 10 hours. The hot shower was luxurious. Funny how something so simple can be such a treat.
Nov 7
Gerry’s Dentist appointment was this morning. The spot we thought was a cavity was actually a natural colored filling he had gotten in the states a few years ago. All the tea he drinks here caused it to discolor. He really likes the dentist. She is a very nice lady and is really good with the kids. She is also very high tech and has all the latest stuff. We have joked that she is better equipped than our dentist in America and also much better. But then her charges are more than our dentist in the States also. The saying you get what you pay for applies in this case. After the appointment we walked over to the Sarit center and got lunch. Gerry was so happy to be hanging out with just dad. I was happy to be hanging out with him. He wanted a burger so he got a burger from Wimpy’s and I got a pizza. We had fun together. Then we went back to the Guest House. I took the kids out to the YAYA center and we window shopped. Alex found this big hunting knife he really wanted but there is no way he is getting something like that. It is about half the size of a machete. But then it seems dumb to not get him one because both the boys have a machete in Shirati. A machete seems much more like a tool than this hunting knife does.

Nov 9
Emails
Hello Chet, Peter and Clair
I know there is a MST meeting tonight so we wanted to give you an update of our current health situation so you will know what is going on and how to pray. First of all we had a very good trip from Shirati to Nairobi. We made a couple of stops and still made the trip in about 10 hours. Since then we have run a few errands but for the most part have just been resting. Gerry and I ate lunch out on Tuesday after his dentist appointment and we all ate Lunch at the food court of the Sarit Center today in between doctor visits. No one had much of an appetite. Everyone one except Gerry is still having stomach and diarrhea trouble. Sharon Yoder arranged appointments with a physician here in Nairobi. We spent today being poked, prodded and tested. Being in the health care system in Nairobi feels pretty much like we were at home except we did not have to wait nearly as long to be seen or for our tests. It is a far cry from the world of Shirati. So here is what is going on so far. After talking with us the doctor order a complete tropical work up for each of us. This included quite a long and impressive list of lab work to rule out most of the stuff known locally but never heard of in the U.S. We all got the same lab work with the exception of Gerry. The doctor found Gerry has a heart murmur. He said this can sometimes be caused by a strep throat infection or rheumatic fever so he wanted to do all the lab work at the same time to rule out other potential causes for the heart murmur. Gerry was referred to an American Heart Specialist here in Nairobi at Nairobi Hospital for an appointment this afternoon. His test was in the normal range. The doctor explained that sometimes the murmurs are caused by growth spurts which Gerry is certainly in at the moment. Alex has been having severe allergies with his medication no longer providing relief. The doctor ordered a CAT scan to rule out a deep sinus infection. Alex had this done late in the morning today at MR Shah Hospital. Results will be in on Monday. The doctor also ordered chest x-rays for Alex, Gerry, Ellen and I because of coughing and chest congestion. Leah seemed ok. He also ordered extra x-rays of Keith’s head to determine what if anything is causing his severe head aches and light sensitivity of the past few weeks. Keith has had another severe round of head aches the past two days. They do not present as migraines or sinus related. The x-rays were done at a local diagnostic center also this morning. The doctor will have the results for our Monday follow up. Finally, Alex has lost 9 lbs since July, Ellen has lost 10 lbs since July and Keith has lost 20 lbs. We are not sure about Leah and Gerry’s weight since we do not know theirs from this summer. We think Gerry has stayed about even and Leah has lost a little bit of weight, but not much. So we have a follow up on Monday which will hopefully give us some answers.
We know we are in God’s hands. We thank you for your love, care and support. Keith and Ellen

Nov 11

Today may be a new low in my time here in East Africa. I am still sick, my stomach is in really bad shape, and it is difficult to eat without getting sick and nauseous. I am still exhausted; I suppose a lot of it is from the weight loss and problems eating. Anyway this morning we went over to the Sarit Center to deliver some samples to the lab. Alex went with the Yoders for the day to watch soccer games so we took Leah and Gerry along to spend some time at the mall. We walked around the mall for a while looking at stores and window shopping. We were also looking for shoes for Leah for the wedding she is in at the end of the month. Then we got some ice cream. As I watched Leah and Gerry I began to see what a great time they were having. I began thinking about how much the kids have had to give up. Kevin and I had talked about this on Friday morning as part of our discussion about where I am at the moment. I think the kids have paid the heaviest price for us to be here. While Leah and Alex are still not feeling well they are still having a great week. Gerry is just beaming. I was really struggling with having to be so careful with money and not being able to buy the kids stuff. Maybe that is the hardest part of our time here in East Africa, dealing with the change from being a CEO and all that comes with that life style and income to being a missionary on a support allowance. I started worrying about the kids and what the long term effects of them spending this time in Tanzania might be. I realized that at this particular point in time I really want my old life back. Being here in Nairobi makes the issues much more noticeable. The kids have been having a lot of fun with their American friends here. Also Nairobi has most things that are available in the US, they are just more expensive, and so you are really reminded of how little is available Shirati and what we are missing. Yes we have had more time as a family but there is a cost. So how do I reconcile the fact that I want my old life back with the sense that God is not done with us here in East Africa.

Nov 13 (Mon)
Email extract
Hello Everyone
When I got this email, I read it to Ellen and the Kids. I asked the kids how the email made them feel.
Alex- that’s really cool
Gerry-joy
Leah-happy


Hello to the Hummel Family -

I'm here in the church office and our MST meeting has just ended. Sorry about you all being under the weather. Hopefully they'll soon know what to give you to chase the bug away. I wasn't feeling well on Sunday and that was long enough. You can soon feel real lousy all over when you are physically sick. Good health is something I seem to take for granted until I don't have it.

Anyway, as a result of our meeting, we decided it's time to give you all a big hug and allow you to pamper yourself a little with the $250.00 that we sent along with Peter to place in your account for you to use as you please. Go out to eat or whatever. Just be sure to spend it on yourselves!!!! Be sure to enjoy every minute and penny of it!!!Love you and praying for you and for good health to return quickly! Miriam (Mim) Zimmerman, Treas.
(Our response)
I want to tell each of you the love, concern and support you have continued to give to the Hummels evokes emotions that are not easily put into words. The isolation and harshness of life in Shirati is difficult. Knowing our friends care about us makes it possible to continue. The gift of the money is appreciated and we will enjoy a couple of meals out once we can tolerate and enjoy food, but it is the love and concern that is behind the gift which really lifts the spirits. As I sit here at the Guest House putting down these thoughts, thinking of you and your work on our behalf it brings tears to my eyes. I continue to experience a sense of humility and guilt as we are blessed by the communities that support us as we serve in Tanzania. My daily prayer is that I serve God faithfully and that we are a blessing to those who support us here.

Nov 14

Email extracts Medical update
Hi Keith;

Thanks for the update. I've been wondering how the tests will turn out. Sounds like a clear treatment plan is in place.

Wanted to let you know also that the MST meeting on Thursday evening went well - to a certain extent. Clair updated us on the services provided in Nairobi, etc. Peter and I talked afterward and both felt that the financial picture of what it will cost you to be there is unclear… the MST is supportive of you staying at Nairobi until past Thanksgiving as you and I had discussed with us picking up the expenses that may not be covered by EMM. I believe that we would also consider support for doing a "vacation" type thing while you're there. Again, you will need to let me know. This is no time to be modest. What would be most helpful for you from now to post-Thanksgiving in terms of facilitating a good time of R & R?


Chet

* Mr. Big Buck is visiting your orchard at the farm. Last week I noticed some humongous scrapes at some of the trees and Ken Becker says his boys have seen a non-typical 10 pointer coming down past their barn. Maybe I'll do a lottery at church with the hunters to see who wins the privilege of going after him. $100.00 a crack from half the church would make a tidy sum!
(our answer)
Hi Chet
Thanks for the affirmation. Sorry the MST did not go as well as you had hoped. I am also very sorry that the Hummels health and finances have become an issue. I feel as if the issues should be the hospital and people of Shirati not personal missionary issues. We have spent a good deal of time with Kevin and Sharon Yoder who are the country reps for Kenya. It has been very good for Ellen and I. We spent all afternoon with Kevin and Sharon and laid out a general outline of what the Hummels need to survive the next 6 months in Shirati and how to transition well from Shirati. Kevin and Sharon are going to type it up and Email Clair and copy us. We are all feeling better after more than a week here and after 1 day on the new meds stomach problems have calmed. We are optimistic. I am not really sure what would be helpful with the R & R we still are not 100% so enjoying anything extra is tough. We have not gone out to eat except for pizza once because no one is really up for it. Just spending time with other Americans and our friends here has been the most helpful at the moment. Also we are looking forward to seeing our friends at Tenwek 4 hours from Nairobi over Thanksgiving. That will be somewhat of a vacation in itself. We are back to Nairobi on the 27 or 28 for follow up test and then for a wedding on Dec 2. Then back to Shirati. We heard Alex laugh last night for the first time in months as he played with some friends we met in Language school who live at the Baptist Mission here in Nairobi. It made both Ellen and I cry when we talked about it later. Sometimes you just get smacked in the face and then realize how much we have asked from the kids. God has his purpose but this has been way tough. As to the buck go for it. Use the money for the youth group bus. I saw you still need 1500.00. I am getting very tired of being on the receiving end it is a very hard place for me to be at.


From: Keith Hummel
Subject: Medical update

Hi
Update after today’s follow up doctors appointments.
Gerry is healthy, no problems other than a slight elevation of the white blood cells
Leah is on 7 day treatment for amoeba and Giardia. She has an elevated white blood count but the doctor is not concerned at this point
Alex has severe sinusitis, amoeba and Giardia. Starting a ten day treatment and anti-biotic treatment
Ellen has brucellosis (from milk). This is an infection and she is having additional test on Thursday to determine whether levels are increasing or decreasing to determine treatment levels. Treatment is three weeks of meds. She also has a low hemoglobin count (weak blood).
I get to do the same treatment program as Alex minus the sinus meds. X-rays also showed a problem with my neck with pinched/bulging disc that is causing the head aches. Doctor wants physical therapy. I also have an inflamed colon and the doctor is waiting for additional test results.



I keep wndering what to do next. Ellen continues to think I should pursue …for now. I am still looking at the Turkey hill 11 to 7 shift just make sure the coffee is hot. No stress no hassles spend a lot of quality time with the kids be poor and happy…Still a sense Africa needs or wants us but then maybe…fills that. God knows and he will send the Elephant.


Nov 20
Hi Everyone
I sent this to the entire MST so you would all be aware of our progress. Thank you for your prayers, love and support. We have been getting lots of rests. Our friend’s the Gandi’s who are with the Baptist Mission here in Nairobi took the Kids on Friday afternoon and will have them until tomorrow. They have kids Gerry and Leah’s age. This has been a blessing for us and the kids. It has allowed Ellen lots of alone time for rest. I am starting to get stir crazy.
We returned from the doctor just before lunch today. Ellen’s brucellosis test came back with an increased positive. However Dr. Dogra is reluctant to start treatment at this point. He wants to have another round of labs drawn on Thursday to track if it increases again. He called a colleague and asked for his opinion which was also to do another set of labs. This is because the treatment is apparently very harsh on the body. Discussion is a 3 week course of doubled anti biotic not sure which one or ones. We talked a little bit with Jo today at lunch and she thinks it is combination of drugs and agreed it is a difficult treatment. At any rate we will discuss more with Kevin and Sharon also our friends the Spreigels at Tenwek later this week. John is an MD internist. We are pleased with Dr. Dogra and trust him. Ellen is very tired and still not feeling well but has a little better appetite. The rest of us are doing much better. Alex, Leah and I stomach problems and diarrhea has mostly cleared up. Still having some stomach discomfort and nauseousness but that is one of the side effects of the medicine. Our treatment finishes on Wednesday so hopefully by Friday the side effects will be gone and we will all feel healthy again. I have gained 7 lbs in the past two weeks. Alex is still struggling with the sinus issues but is doing better. Dr. Dogra said it could be another 4 weeks until all the drainage and inflammation is totally resolved. Dr. Dogra also mentioned today that it may not be wise for Ellen to return to Shirati on Dec 3rd as we planned. He wants to see how she is doing on Dec. 1st. So if that is the case Ellen most likely will stay here in Nairobi and I would take the kids and return to Shirati. The Guest house seems more like an infirmary at the moment, there are 3 MCC folks here recovering from health problems and we met an acquaintance at Dr. Dogra office who is in from Turkana (Northern Kenya) with similar symptoms as Ellen. He was to travel to Egypt the end of the week but is having to cancel his vacation. All that to say misery loves company and we are not feeling alone in our health problems at the moment.

Nov 21
I am feeling better day by day. I am going crazy sitting around here not doing much but I realize how much I needed the break. Being sick and needing a break makes me feel like such a weak person but then in other moments I get clarity or a stabilization of emotions and I realize that the last 1 1/2 years probably have been the most difficult of my life and to still be standing in itself is a major accomplishment. I am struggling with the financial issues because we have money at home I just don't want to spend it. I feel so overwhelmed and guilty that people are providing so much support. I realize how much I am used to being the one that is giving support and hence am really uncomfortable with receiving other people’s gifts. I keep thinking of people at home that are giving up something to send money and then we get to go out for a nice diner. Or we are here in Nairobi comfortable and well taken care of but everyone we know back in Shirati are struggling to just survive another day. Where is the justice in all this? Where is God? It is a state of my current mood and emotional state but I have been mostly scared to call you or Floyd. I feel like such a pest and I can't remember the last time I ever felt so insecure, unsure and unworthy about myself. Chet and Floyd have made our lives easy here and without them leading the way, our time here would be much different. Everything continues to be about me and the family. Maybe that is all part of being a missionary and what we give is to the local people on the mission field. Maybe I was never supposed to be a missionary and this whole thing was a mistake. God needed some humor in his day. We just finished another meeting with Kevin and Sharon Yoder the country reps for Kenya. They are wonderful people and we are blessed to know them. We are definitely leaving Shirati no later than July 31st with or without EMM's blessing. I think the only way that would change would be if the MST would ask us to stay longer. We developed a draft schedule for the next 7 months. It is to be flexible. Kevin and Sharon will email Clair and copy us. We have plugged in a tentative trip to the US from mid Feb to mid March if the MST is still open to having us come on a speaking trip. We all feel that we are still called to be in Africa longer, we just don't know in what capacity. Since there is so little to do in Shirati, we end up buying lots of books while in Nairobi. The kids have all developed a real love of reading which is a great blessing and will serve them well throughout their lives. However books are very expensive here since almost all of them are imported. …Ellen and I are very clear that providing for the Hummels needs is what the MST feels called to do. We accept that, but please know that as you review what we have spent so far, please do not feel a need to pay for it all. Ellen and I will graciously and thankfully accept whatever the MST feels led to provide.
Last evening we went out to a very nice restaurant called the Carnivore, they serve mostly meat, including camel, crocodile, ostrich which they carry around on spears and carve at your table. Alex wanted to go there for his birthday and take along a young missionary couple we know who are like a big brother and sister or maybe a young aunt and uncle to the kids. We used the $250 the MST gave us. Everyone had a great time. We all laughed and laughed and the staff came out with a piece of cake with a big sparkler on it and sang happy birthday in English and Swahili with drums and lots of dancing. Ellen and I are sure it is a birthday we will all remember forever. Alex wants to send a note of thanks to the MST.

Nov. 25
We are at Tenwek with our friends the Spreigels. We had a challenging trip here as it rained most of the way here making the road to Narok treacherous. We hit a patch of the black mud or whatever it is called; it was worse than ice, we did a 180 and almost flipped in the process. After that I drove the rest of the way to Narok doing less than 40 k so the trip was very long. Ellen did not weather the trip well. She said she can not imagine having to make the drive to Shirati in her present condition. I agree. She has been resting most of the time since our arrival at Tenwek on Wednesday afternoon. We have spent time talking with John about the Brucellosis. He affirmed the course of action Dr. Dogra has taken. He says the diagnosis process is usually 4 weeks because the standard is a 4 fold increase in the titer over two weeks and then to check again before treatment. Course of treatment is a daily shot along with the double dose of antibiotic. John also agreed that if she does meet the criteria for positive test it would be best for Ellen to stay in Nairobi for treatment or come stay with them in Tenwek. He would handle treatment from here including the shots. Our friends the Gandi’s also want us to stay with them if we need to stay in Nairobi. Both the Spreigels and Gandi’s also want Ellen to stay with or without the kids if I return to Shirati. Ellen seems ambivalent at this point and does not want to impose on anyone. She also is tired of lying around and being sick. I have told her she is my priority and I will stay in Nairobi if that is what is needed or if she just would feel better with the company. Sharon is planning on going with us on Dec 1 to Dr. Dogra’s to provide another set of ears and questions. Kevin, Sharon, Ellen and I are planning to meet after that and discuss options and decide what to do next.

The boys had a sleepover at the Manchester’s last night. Nick Manchester is Alex’s age and it was his birthday. They just got back this morning. They are all smiles and happy. They are just shining and beaming being able to spend time with other American kids. Leah spent most of yesterday playing with some of her friends here at Tenwek; she even was invited to go to pre-school in the afternoon. She is beaming also. I told Ellen last night I don’t know how I can take them back to Shirati. The guilt is just overwhelming as a parent. Seeing the difference having other American kids (culturally similar) around has made in their health and appearance is amazing. Every day I realize more and more what amazing kids we have. They have adapted and followed mom and dad with little complaint even as they struggled to adjust to the massive changes that the move to Shirati made in their life. We have spent much time talking with them about next steps. They all want to come back to the states for a month visit but then they want to come back to East Africa but not to Shirati.

All the missionaries got together for a thanksgiving meal at 1. Then we went and played American football. It was all the kids against the dads. We had a great time, boy am I out of shape. I probably won’t be able to get out of bed tomorrow. After the game everyone went to the Chupp’s house for desert. What a contrast from Shirati. In the evening Joel and Leah watched a movie and the rest of us played a board game called Settlers of Katan. We had a wonderful time together.

Nov. 26
I did not sleep well last night. Leah is sleeping with us and she was all over the bed. I made waffles for breakfast. Gerry has been wanting waffles very much but we do not have a waffle iron in Shirati. We got ready and went to church. It is an English service held in the hospital chapel. The message was delivered by a Kenyan woman who works at the hospital. She and two other employees were selected to tour WGM donor churches in the US. She had never been there before. It was very moving to hear her experience. How she saw things that are normal to us. She talked about the store that only sold pet food and how Kenyans would never understand that, She was afraid if people at home saw her buying food for pets they would think her crazy. She talked about the supermarket which is as big as the hospital and it has one entire isle of bread. She talked about how when you eat at a restaurant you get a book to order from. But then she talked about going to school and being told they could not talk about God and she did not understand that. She talked about how Kenyans have opportunities to do missions right here in Tenwek and it does not take much money. She said Kenyans need to do things for themselves and not rely on missionaries. In all it was a very meaningful service.

I was also thinking during the service about where we are at as a family and where I am at personally. I keep getting this image of being in the bottom of a pit so deep I could not see the top, no light or anything. I was thinking about when you can see the light at the top or at the end of the tunnel it keeps you going, but at the moment I can’t see anything, even what is in front of my face. I am just hanging on with finger tips trying to find the next hand hold. I know if I keep climbing long enough I’ll see the light and then maybe I’ll get energized again. It is cold and rainy here at Tenwek as it has been in Nairobi. The heat is about the only thing I am looking forward to on our return to Shirati. I have no idea how I got to this place. Things were going so well in Shirati until mid September and then everything just collapsed, personally, not at the hospital. The hospital is doing very well, but the Hummels are a mess. I suppose it is from illness and exhaustion but I have been resting since Nov 5 when we got to Nairobi and I am still very tired. Maybe I need to hibernate for six months.

Nov 27
ChaCha text messaged me last night. Says he is missing me. Really made me feel guilty for not being there. Sitting around doing nothing is hard. If I was at least doing something I think I would be doing better. I have never done well sitting around without something to do. Too much time to think. I sent him a reply that I miss him and being in Shirati which is true. Being gone for almost a month proves to me that they really can get by without me. I have talked to ChaCha at least once a week and they have everything well in hand. Or at least that is what they are telling me. They got the new OR lights last week and they are installed and working I assume. I found out in an email from Friends of Shirati. That speaks volumes in itself.

Nov. 28
Got this email from Mark at the US embassy today that has me walking on cloud nine? I can’t say it any better about how the hospital leadership is working. Sorry for the long delay since our last meeting but we needed to coordinate our efforts with other members of the Embassy community. We are moving forward with the Airstrip proposal that you sent and to tell you honestly, everyone that has seen the proposal has been very impressed with the level of detail and the very well thought out plan that was included. With the information you provided, we were able to get the country team’s concurrence on submitting this plan to higher authority for funding. While this does not mean that it has been approved and will be done, it does mean that is has overcome a very major hurdle and is moving towards approval.

What I would like to get from you are the next set of proposals that you have discussed with us such as the Water System and the building upgrades. I would like to be able to propose these to the country team at our next meeting which should be after the first of the year, but the earlier we have them the better since we will need to review them and get them ready for presentation.

Congratulations on getting over the first hurdle and especially for the very professional presentation you provided to us…it really did make a world of difference when presenting it to the board.
Mark