I went with some colleagues recently to visit a woman, J, who lives about half an hour from Tenwek.  Her story is hard.  She grew up in a loving family, but extremely poor.  In order to try and make money, J, made choices that cost her dearly.  In her young 29 years of life she has become a single mother, infected with HIV.  Complications with her health have left her blind.  Having heard her story before going to her home to meet her, I knew already that she couldn't see.  To get to her house from the main road, we walked a treacherous road that was hard for me to navigate.  It would be impossible for someone who couldn't see to be able to pass through.

Linda and Peris, who have been leading and teaching the Tabitha Bible Studies for years, knew J and had been involved with her and her family for some time.  We were going on this day to check in and see how she was doing.  Since she is blind, she can't read or study the bible at home on her own.  A few years back Linda found a device that could play a recording of the New Testament in Kipsigis for J. Linda asked if she still had it and whether or not it was still functioning.  One of the kids ran to get it and handed it to J who felt around for the buttons and then turned it on.

It started playing in the book of Matthew.  Her lips were moving along with the words being spoken.  She pressed stop and then continued to recite the next verses....until she quoted all of chapter 25.  Peris took out her Kipsigis bible to follow along and see if she was quoting correctly.  She was. I was speechless.  Her faith and joy in Jesus was palpable.  She said when she could see, she was blind.  But now that she is blind, she can truly see. 

"I know when I am sitting down or walking or laying down, God is with me.  God is not like us. He can do anything we ask.  If someone asks you to do something, you can't.  But God is faithful." -J

Tenwek is kind of out in the middle of nowhere.  The closest town to the hospital is about 5K away, Bomet. Here you can do some shopping in between trips to Nairobi for supplies.  I'm impressed by what is available now that wasn't when we lived here 8 years ago. 

The main supermarket has most of the basic staples.

Plants for sale

Shoes for sale

Right around the hospital itself there are a lot of little shops with so many things.