My last days............

The feeling of breathing again..........

Dear Friends,family and to Einar:
Since my last letter I visited a number of clinics and hospitals in the Khwisero community that were recommended by members of the community as the most needy in terms of the quality of care provided at these istitutions. They were very happy for my visit since I distributed some supplies that was given to me by the Bozeman Montana community in the United States.We also discussed possible solutions to some problems that they are experiencing.We all know that it will take time to 'heal' but I believe they can do it if they just have faith in themselves because they have the capacity to do so. Also,over the past 3 days I managed to hold 4 CPR(Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation) training sessions. It was a close call becaues it was cutting my time really close to my departure date which was 3 days later. But I am happy to say that everything worked out. All of the teachers in the various schools showed alot of excitement in learning CPR and in the future they would like to present the material to the children in the schools. This was the greatest news I could have received since this was my intention for the children and so the adults of the future will be able to carry out and pass on this knowlege.

In the little time I had in between my recent activities I managed to also organize 2 sets of meetings: one of them between the special needs children in one of the schools and a doctor who has kindly provided a means by which these children can access free advice and examination. The other meeting was set between members in the Ebushibungo community and a couple of professors who intend to develop a youth driven malaria integrated vector management program. With these meetings in place it is my hopes that after my departure from Kenya their will be a constant flow of progress in the community. So I can now say that I had a great time in Kenya and it is a nice feeling to be returning home knowing that so much of what was planned was successfully accomplished.

Now I would like to use this last note to thank everyone that supported me both before and after I started this trip to Kenya.Thanks To:


-Dr. David Mclaughin & Professor Florence Dunkel from Bozeman,Montana who spent an entire semester training me on the aspects of Malaria that proved pertinent to my projects.

-Professor Richard Mukabana from Nairobi,Kenya who spent many hours reviewing my plans for troubleshooting my Malaria Integrated Vector Management project in the Khwisero Community.

-Dr. Michael Johnson and his wife Mrs. Kay Johnson for taking care of me on my arrival to Kenya and ensuring that I was never discouraged along the way.

-Dr. Richard Bransford for helping with obtaining medical attention for the special need children of the Khwisero community.

-All of the Maasai people who took me into there homes and hearts; Kakuta, Letitik, Sammuel,Brian, Kwenia, Mama Kakuta andall of the people of the Merrushi Maasai village.Particular thanks to Letitik who took care of me when I was a bit under the weather and who accompanied me safely both to and from the village.The memories I hold with the village with the people will always remain a most memorable part of my life.

The Mvuno village missionaries; Dan, Bethany and Tim Tanner* for teaching me about local methods for purifying water which the Khwisero community was very happy for.

The following Bozeman, Montana community sponsors:

-Northern Lights Trading for donating insect repellent for our team which came in really handy in the villages.

-A&D Auto Body and ACE Hardware for their donation that made the CPR testing kits available for this trip.

-AMR(American Medical Response) Bozeman, Montana for their donation of the CPR mask and gloves to give to the clinics in the area that really needed it.

-Dr.Mark Wilton and Mrs. Carol Kelly for their donation of vaccinations and malaria prescriptions to ensure that had a safe travel.

-My parents:Fletcher and Marjorie Orie and my siblings: Terranova, Irina and Shaana all of who supported me through out my life and kept in close contact through out my journey in Kenya.

-And lastly thanks to Einar for all his support and belief in me. Just hearing his voice every day over the phone give me motivation to do what I came to do especially the times when I was alone.

I am very fortunate God gave me the opportunity to be in the presence of such mighty people and I humbly say thank you...See you when I get home.

Sincerely Yours:
Renee Orie