Safari Njema (Safe Travels)

This past summer I had to take many driving trips in the US and it highlighted for me how I feel about driving in Kenya vs. the States. Driving in the States is so easy and enjoyable compared to driving in Kenya.  As someone who doesn’t really love being in cars, has no appreciation for the machine itself, and has some driving anxiety, I don’t really appreciate the driving experience at home or in Kenya. I do like to travel and enjoy being able to see the scenery wherever I am, so it is a bit of a conflict. In Kenya,  the conflict persists because not only does driving into the unknown often cause a sense of unease,  there’s also sometimes  the physical discomfort of having your teeth practically bounced out of your head or your head racked on the ceiling of the car. Yes,  driving on some of the unpaved  roads here is both good and bad because there are so many opportunities to experience Kenya in a way one normally would not.

On trips in the US, I always go prepared, which is essential for any trip, but frankly, the level of preparedness is all relative. In the states, for instance, you can have a roadside emergency card, like AAA and feel confident that that will work. Also you can get maps that are accurate, or mostly, and you now can, of course, use GPS if you are smart enough to have it (which I am not apparently!).  The nice thing also in the US is that there are roadside stops where you can take a break, stretch your legs, go to the bathroom, and look at a large wall  map (yes, I like maps). Of course, from my perspective, there is way too much garbage on the side of the road and very little variety; too many fast food joints, cheap hotels, lighted up byways, and big billboards, making the highway driving rather unappealing from an aesthetic perspective. But, honestly, the highway system in the US is a wonder and makes long drives so easy. The signage, the lane delineations, the shoulders,  the safety aspects, like guardrails and warning signs, the lighting,  the roadside stops, the convenient coffee and food, hotels and parks; all of these make for such simple driving, you can almost do it with your eyes closed !

I recently had  a hairraising trip home from Montreal by myself after dropping Jeannette there in August. It was not supposed to be a difficult drive because Windsor, Ontario, where the international bridge is, is a straight shot from Montreal on one road. However, I had a heck of a time finding a hotel and ended up driving sort of incessantly, getting more and more frantic and I felt I was in an Alfred Hitchcock movie as I couldn’t see anything except the car in front of me. Unlike in the US, not every town in Ontario has a selection of hotels off the highway, it turns out. And bless those Canadians, their exits are not even very well lit up. It’s actually really  dark in Ontario at night! And their signage is different too….since they are not promoting many businesses off the highway, there are not a million signs forewarning you when a hotel or restaurant is coming up. They do have these roadside “oasis” things, that have a coffee shop, a Tim Horton’s, and bathrooms (they are also LEED certified which is remarkable), but they are not that frequent and there are no hotels at those stops. So, needless to say, I ended up driving and driving and driving into the night, getting more and more tired, a little freaked out, and finally, when I got to Windsor, where the international bridge is, I stopped, thinking I would find a hotel. However, turns out there was a big baseball tournament and a lot of construction too, making access to the city a bit confusing, at 2 am.   After checking probably 6 more hotels, and finding no rooms available, I got directions to cross the bridge, got quite lost looking for it again, and then  I  ended up driving to Dearborn, MI and getting a hotel there. 13 hours later! Not my idea of a fun day or drive but I did learn a valuable lesson or two. I’m just glad I didn’t run into any moose on the road as the many  signs were forewarning me!

I recently returned to Kenya and was immediately immersed into the world of driving again because Michael picked me up in Nairobi and the following day we drove the 6 hours back to Eldoret. One never knows what one is going to find upon the roads here, but fortunately we had good luck and the highway which is in much better shape than it was 2 years ago, was actually somewhat clear.

Then, last weekend, Michael and I took a drive  to the Masai Mara, a large nature preserve in Kenya, bordering Tanzania. We have a small older Rav 4 with 4 wheel drive which we have fixed up and it runs pretty well. I call it the “blue bomb.” Michael has a penchant for taking the road less travelled, or the back way, partly because it’s “part of the adventure” but also because we  see and run into interesting things/people.  However, instinctively, by now, we should know that this is not always a great idea. We left Naivasha, where we had camped on Thursday night, and headed to Narok, which is sort of the gateway to the Masai Mara, by back road. We were told that the road was “ok” and that with our 4 wheel drive, there should be no worries (hakuna matata!). Well…suffice it to say it was not anything like driving on a back road at home. Not even in Brown Co, where the signage is not all that good. First of all, the road was really not built for cars and this we deduced after we noted that we were probably the only vehicle on the road…everyone else was on a small motorbike, much better able to maneuver on this very rutted, very bumpy track. There was no shoulder, and of course no signs or bathrooms or rest stops. We did have snacks with us, and plenty of water. Fortunately, we had 2 large bottles of water because the car began overheating as we climbed up and up into the hills. On the plus side, it was a beautiful region, covered in small farms and huge wheat fields, and something we would never have seen had we taken the main road. We stopped multiple times to let the radiator cool off so we drew a fair amount of attention from passersby and were continuously reassured by people on the road that where we were going was, in fact, quite far.

The funny thing is you really have to be careful who you ask here for directions or travel  information. For one, many people don’t drive so they don’t really understand distances. In fact, most people will tell you that the road is good and that wherever you are headed is far. Very reassuring, except that usually the road is not good and where you are going is not very far, kilometers-wise, but seems far, because  with public transport, there is a lot of waiting around and the vehicles are not in good shape, and the roads are terribly bumpy so they take a long time to get through! So, it really does not pay to ask. It was a lovely dad, at first, but soon enough we could see large billowing rain clouds forming and feel that the light rains were about to begin. The road got a bit better and there was more truck and car traffic, as we got closer to Narok, and then it started raining.  Because of the rain, it became very  slick and sticky. A bit of a cross between peanut butter and molasses with a deep dark rich hue. Since I was wearing sandals and knew I would not be very helpful if we did get stuck,  I found myself “praying” that we wouldn’t.  Thankfully, my hubbie, Michael “let’s take the back way” Greven, is a great driver and was able to get us all the way to Narok safely. There,  we found a mechanic who happened to have the fan that we needed for our Toyota. Not only that, we were able to convince him to give us a good price rather than the price for “ wazungus” so we did not end up paying an arm and a leg for it. Soon, we were on our way to the Mara , happy in the knowledge that our vehicle would not overheat again.

We spent a lovely day in the Mara the next day, seeing lots of wild animals and enjoying what is simply one of the most beautiful places on earth. The Masai Mara Reserve is surrounded by conservancies and we continued our day long drive into the next conservancy, having decided to go out of the western side and drive again through the countryside towards Eldoret.  Instead of staying the night on the conservancy, we left around 5 pm, thinking we would find a place to camp or a small hotel nearby the gate. We also needed fuel at that point and we were told by the people at the gate that we could find fuel nearby. Not so. In fact, we drove on this dirt road for about 5 kilometers after exiting the gate only to be surrounded by small Maasai villages and the only other thing on the road were herds of cows and their shepherds. It was a nice enough road, aside from all the cows that we had to drive behind, but then, as it began climbing, it became more and more bumpy. Nightfall was approaching and there was nary a guest house or campsite in view. I was becoming a bit anxious but didn’t say anything because I knew my super driver would take offense and/or just reassure me that we would find something soon.

We began to wonder where we were and if we had missed a turn. We had a map but it was difficult to say if we were on the road to the big main road, which we were seeking. The map has different colored lines, like most road maps, but they don’t really seem to indicate anything specific. Finally, we started seeing a few signs for campgrounds and then a few safari vehicles, one of which we stopped. Noone seemed to have heard of the town that we were heading to in our search for fuel. It definitely could have been our pronunciation, or it could have been that these people were driving from Nairobi and weren’t that familiar with the small villages either. The safari vehicle driver got out, wearing a big friendly smile, happy to help us. His English was good and he indicated that we should take the next  left and continue straight on that  road as it was a short cut to the big road, in 35 kilometers, he reassured us.  He was very confident seeming,  especially when  he said it was a good road. So, we bombed on up the hill; the road was more stone than dirt and I personally was fearful for the underside of our vehicle. There were many holes, ditches, gulleys, and large puddles filled with black water,  which were a bit difficult to traverse, but MG did it. We commented a few times how pleased we were that we had gotten the car fixed in Narok, as this driving would have been killer on our radiator.

We got up onto a rise above the Masai Mara just as the sun was setting and we stopped to check the level of moisture in a particularly difficult passage. I was amazed by the surrounding beauty and at the same time wondering where in the heck we were gonna end up! We continued on driving driving driving, plunging over large pot holes, through mucky puddles and narrowing passageways, where there was no one around. I said to Michael, “ well, we could probably set up a tent around here and just sleep rather than driving at night. “ I’m not sure he heard me because he did not respond and then a couple of minutes later I saw an extremely large warthog by the side of the road and thought, “well, actually, camping out in the open maybe isn't such a great idea!”  So we kept on. And on. And on. It definitely was not 35 kms and even MG was exhausted and frazzled by the stress of driving in such conditions and with little fuel, not knowing where we were going to find any. 

Once we got a bit closer to the town where the big road supposedly was, there were people all over the place too…bicycles, children, people carrying stuff, motorbikes, etc. And it was pitch dark. Not even the little shops on the side of the road had any lighting.   We were startled several times by people hawking vegetables in the dark and found ourselves wishing the roadside was wider at each turn. We did finally find the main road, took it to the next small town and got some fuel, then on about 12 more kms on another pitch dark but fortunately paved road to a bigger town that actually had a real hotel and a cold beer for the driver! So, another lesson learned….driving at night here  is not easy nor is it safe especially when you don’t know where you are and you can’t be sure to get help! No AAA here for sure. We do have plans for many more driving trips over the next 8

in the hills above the Rift Valley

no getting around this guy as he was slippin' and slidin'

first down truck we saw

Masai village

sunset over the Mara

tea fields near Nandi Hills

months, so learning this lesson now is important and we definitely will be better at planning our overnight stays so we don’t have to sleep with the warthogs or in any other unsavory or unsafe situations.

July 6th Talk at UUCCI Our lives and work in Kenya

Why we are there? AMPATH

In December of 2011 Michael and I signed a contract with IU/Kenya, which is a medical school partnership, to oversee the building of a new chronic care facility in Eldoret, Kenya.

 The public hospital in Eldoret, the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, has been home to the IU/Kenya partnership and the larger consortium of North American Medical Schools called AMPATH for about 30 years. In the midst of the AIDS crisis, back in the early 2000’s  IU/Kenya AMPATH shifted its focus to HIV testing and prevention and support of HIV positive patients. They built about 60 clinics out in the countryside of western Kenya, and their efforts there have made great strides in the prevention and treatment of AIDS in that part of the world. In fact, AMPATH  has now moved into a new phase where they are dealing with a lot of other medical issues, some of which are the results of AIDS. There is a growing cancer rate in Kenya, and heart disease and diabetes are bigger issues than before. A Hoosier donor, someone who has some passion for the medical work being done in Kenya, donated a lot of money and wanted to get this medical facility built. It will not only be just the second cancer care center in Kenya, it will be the only one in western Kenya and it will serve people from all over the west, plus Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Sudan. It’s a complex project because of the many doctors who have collaborated on it, including IU’s Dr.  Bob Einterz and Dr. Loehrer from Simon Cancer Center in Indianapolis. It is also complex because of the space needed for both care and research and the high end equipment which will need to be installed. There are no chemotherapy or radiology facilities in this part of the world. So, in a lot of ways, it is a whole new ball game.

We got involved with AMPATH many years ago when we were engaged in a local group here called AIDS ACTION. AIDS ACTION held events each year with the goal of educating the public about the realities of the global AIDS crisis and also to raise some funds for various organizations who were on the forefront of the battle. AMPATH is one of those groups so one year we donated money to them, Dr. Einterz came here to the UU Congregation to speak, and our relationship with them was forever solidified. Several years later Michael was asked to come to Eldoret to consult on the construction of a new facility, the Mother and Babies hospital, funded by donors at  Riley,  which is now a mainstay of the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, and prevents thousands of deaths by providing prenatal care and healthy deliveries  for women and post natal treatment for babies in western Kenya.

With this new contract, Michael started going over to Eldoret once a month for the first 8 months, as well as organizing  the building project from here. He is not the General Contractor, but rather, represents IU in getting the building right and also making sure that they get their money’s worth. He is also, as a green builder, very focused on the energy efficiency of the building and saving the hospital money in the long term. As a public hospital, you can imagine that their funding is not great or stable.

He made several trips that spring, and met with architects, builders, doctors, and solar providers while getting the project underway before they actually broke ground.

As a family we decided it would be both interesting and challenging to go live in Kenya for a couple of years. It has been both, no question, but there is so much more to it, that one cannot even imagine from afar,  that we have experienced and that we have learned. I am going to try to describe some of what we do but mostly focus on AMPATH and the project so that as Hoosiers, you can learn about it and also tell people about it because it is something all Hoosiers should be proud of.

As I say, as a green builder, Michael has focused a lot of his energy on the sustainability of the building, both energy wise and equipment wise. Strangely, to us, solar power is not used as often as it might be in East Africa. Mostly this has to do with the fact that people hesitate to invest money in solar energy because of the costs, earlier, but now maybe due to instability in the region. Michael has lived in Africa before, and he feels strongly that there has to be some risk taken in order to move things along. Not unlike how the folks who started and continue to push the AMPATh organization operate.

The new building, which I will show you some pictures of soon, will have a lot of features thanks to Michael Greven, which it probably wouldn’t have otherwise. Not only is there not a lot of creative thinking around buildings in Kenya, there is also not a lot of knowledge about what can be done differently. Also, of course, money is always an issue. Fortunately for us, the woman who donated the majority of the money for this new building also has an interest in energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, so she was very pleased to have someone managing the construction, who is also focused on those aspects.

Some of the sustainability features which Michael has insisted on, and really made a focus for the hospital, engineers, and architects are:

v  Solar photovoltaic generating 405.8 kw saving 14,355,000 ksh yearly

v  Solar hot water for lavatories

v  350,000 litres of captured rainwater for irrigation and flushing of toilets

v  High efficiency toilets and faucets

v  High efficiency lighting controls

v  Low to zero volatile organic compounds in paints

v  Focus on natural ventilation and lighting

v  Minimum usage of timber and no use of endangered timber

v  Tinted glass to reduce heat gain

v  Selection of finishes based on durability and sustainable maintenance

v  Locally sourced materials to the greatest extent possible and a focus on products “Made in Kenya”

There are some pamphlets available in the Fellowship Hall for those who would like to read more about the construction project. I am going to show some photographs now of the project so you can get an idea of the construction work itself, the size of the project, and how it has progressed over the last year and a half.

SHOW PHOTOS HERE

As we adjusted to our new lives, it became clear that there could be a million opportunities to get involved in one way or another, yet we were uncertain for awhile of how to engage. Michael had his work of course, but the pace of work is not as intense as it is here, so he has more free time than he has ever had I think, since we’ve been married. That has been nice for us, in a lot of ways, as we have time to be together, visit on things that have happened, debrief about activities and things that are befuddling to us, and support each other more. We decided, early on, that there was only so much we could do, as visitors, and a lot that we didn’t understand, so our motto became,
“Be Kind, Don’t Judge, Don’t Assume, and Be Generous.”  This has basically served us well and has enabled us to focus in on things that are important to us but also helpful to our surrounding community.

One of the mysteries that we faced upon our arrival in Eldoret was how life would be for Liam and me. Liam’s story is quite interesting because he did go to school there for a term, but he also ended up hanging out with a lot of interesting young medical students, residents, etc, who came through to do their rotations and studies. However, as you know, he did end up finishing his HS diploma online through the Indiana Virtual Schools and then felt like he really was ready to come home and be on our property here and make some money so he can “move on.” So that is what he is doing. I will go back in early September to join Michael for the final 10 months of our contract, so our life will be quite different without Liam there.

The most difficult aspect of moving away from here for me has been not having work of my own. I have had to create and recreate, over and over again, work  for myself. I have to say it has really helped me understand better what I like to do, what I can stand doing, and what is important to me. Kenya is a place that has an enormous amount of challenges, many of which you know about, just because it is a developing country in Africa. I had been in Africa as a young person, but in a very different area and country. A lot of time has passed since then, and Kenya has been through a lot in the last 30 years including the AIDS crisis, which I consider to be sort of the fundamental reason for other ongoing issues they have. As I mentioned before, AMPATH has been instrumental in minimizing the rate of AIDS in western Kenya and increasing treatment and care. It’s such an inspirational organization and filled with really amazing people. I have benefitted a lot from meeting many of them. I had not thought about exactly what I would do but I did know that I like to DO. Michael and I are alike that way, which is good. Not being a medical person, and not having a lot of background in any of the work being done at the hospital, it became clear over time that my focus would need to be on children. I have always been interested in the well- being of kids and had thought that might be where I landed, I just wasn’t sure how.

Fortunately there are some organizations already set up in Eldoret, associated with the hospital and AMPATH in which I have been able to pour some energy and time. Sally Test Pediatric Center is one of the most important things happening in Eldoret, in my opinion, and I have great respect for the people who are involved there. One of the early doctors to come to Eldoret with IU/Kenya is Dr. Joe Mamlin. Joe is an incredibly smart and committed doctor and he and his wife Sarah Ellen have now lived there consistently for 13 years. They do an amazing amount of work revolving around the hospital, the students who go to the US and Canada, and the clinics. SarahEllen has been heaven-sent for me because she also is all about children’s health and welfare and knows everyone and everything. The hardest thing for me, coming in as a new person, and not being a medical person, was finding my niche. The Sally Test Pediatric Center made this somewhat easy because there are children there all the time who need attention, care, and love.

 I say it was easy, but it was most definitely NOT Easy to start volunteering there. AS I mentioned, since I’m not a medical person, I did not used to be all that comfortable in hospital settings. This hospital is particularly not pleasant, between the unsanitized sensual experiences, and the lack of privacy for patients, and just the incredible horrifying injuries and diseases that you see children suffering from there. Not to mention the fact that abandoned babies are left at Sally Test as well. I started going regularly in September, soon after arriving. There were days when I could hardly drag myself in. Once I got there, after winding my way through the very open spaces of the hospital wards, passing lots of unpleasantness along the way, I was ok. The babies and small children who were abandoned were suffering from all sorts of neglect, abuse, and physical maladies. In fact, I had never held a badly malnourished or disabled or sick baby before. Hard to believe, but it’s true and I know now how privileged I have been. One of the important things I learned quickly, is that with a bit of love and correct health care and nourishment, these kids can survive and thrive. I held  a lot of sick babies over  the last 20 months, and although I can’t say it was always enjoyable, it has always been  worthwhile. What more could a baby or small child need than just to be held, snuggled and smiled at by a loving adult? These babies to me are the most important people that I can touch because their needs are so basic.  Having this place and these kids has been a life saver and a real distinct and solid way to use my energies and talents to their benefit. I can’t say that I  always feel like going in, because sometimes the eyes of those kids just gets to me too much, but I know that the caretakers there are very dedicated and well trained and I am grateful for their work and I do go  in to see them and lend a hand when I can. Our efforts around the community have expanded beyond the building and Sally Test at this point and we are always trying to find a balance between helping and not burning out.

The Sally Test Pædiatric Centre (STPC) has four primary goals:

1.    To prepare hospitalized children and their caregivers for medical procedures by explaining WHY and HOW they will take place and provide a variety of positions for comfort and other coping techniques.

2.    To be a catalyst for a positive change in attitude toward children, women, and families as important participants in medical decision-making within the local and national medical communities.

3.    To provide a safe place for children to play, grow, and develop while they are hospitalized.

4.    To give the highest quality care for abandoned infants, toddlers and all children, providing stimulation and love that ensure each child reaches his or her developmental potential while awaiting placement.

The Facts

·         Child Life Health Workers provide intense counseling, medical play and procedural preparation for 60-100 children and families daily from among 200 children on the wards or visiting clinics.

·         The Centre creates a variety of activities for between 20-30 ambulatory children daily.

·         Annually between 25 and 50 abandoned children receive loving attention.

·         Five times a week the STPC Outreach Team reaches 25-50 children and 25 parents in each of 5 rural settings.

·         Parent classes are presented twice weekly to approximately 25 parents by visiting medical students, residents, faculty and MTRH staff.

Your Support Can Provide:

·         $25 - Disposable diapers for 1 week

·         $25 - Procedural distraction toys

·         $100 - Juice and biscuits for Outreach Clinic kids for one quarter

·         $100 - 20 stuffed dolls for medical play made by Imani Workshops

There is so much need in Kenya, that when you are there long term, you have to find your path for helping people without becoming the local ATM or drowning in sadness. Michael and I have chosen to help several children who have no one and adults who have no means, and to support organizations, like children’s homes, which are working towards becoming more sustainable. We are hoping to get our IRS not for profit status any minutes so we can continue this work through the upcoming year and thereafter. Whether it be sponsoring orphans to go to school, teaching kids and adults about global warming, helping farmers learn to better use their property with fewer chemicals and more production, or planting trees, building gardens, etc, for those who are either unable to do so or need a hand, or lending a hand at the local street children drop in center, we are happy to be able to  help and we have made some headway in several projects.

There have been several opportunities that we have promoted where folks here at UUCCI  have been supportive and we do appreciate all the support. We are constantly amazed by the generosity of this congregation and it just shows that where there is a will there is a way to make a difference.

Aside from all the need, living in East Africa is both intellectually and emotionally stimulating. Yes, there is a lot or poverty. There is also a lot being pushed forward that will one day result in that country making its way forward as a more developed country, and hopefully, all of its citizens will benefit. The struggles they face are not uncommon in the developing world, or even here, for a lot of people. In fact, greed and corruption, tribalism and old rivalries do  still exist, but there are lots of good folks working hard to break barriers and help the society in general move forward. It’s a complex place and we feel strongly that there is a lot to learn and understand about its history, geography, culture and development which we are just getting a small taste of by living there these three years.

I want to touch a little bit on the adventure side of our life there because it is not all just work and helping people and facing the realities of this nation which is struggling to move forward. Kenya is situated on the equator, it has a long coast on the Indian Ocean, and Eldoret, where we live is, in the Great Rift Valley. The Great Rift Valley is an enormous geographic phenomenon, which runs from the ME all the way through East Africa. It’s quite stunning to see and quite a lovely place to live.  Eldoret is 8500 feet in elevation, so it has a nice temperate climate, where all the flowers that you purchase at your local nursery in the summertime grow wild, and there is an abundance of all kinds of vegetables and fruit all year round. The Great Rift Valley is an incredible offering in terms of natural beauty. The valley is actually several “rifts’ connected together caused by heaving of tectonic plates and volcanic eruptions thousands of years ago. The North end of the Great Rift Valley, in Kenya, is bordered by Escarpments which are quite picturesque. We have taken some wild and interesting trips through the valley and over the valley as well. They are wild, mostly because you are never sure what to expect, except that you will be surprised. Generally, the roads are not good, and often hazardous, but nonetheless, if you put your seatbelt on and try to relax and enjoy, despite the flat tires and bumpy roads, it is usually fun and always interesting. Not only have we seen people living in the countryside in ways that one never sees here, we have also seen amazingly beautiful biological diversity, whacky birds and wild animals, and we have been warmly welcomed on our path by people from all the 42 tribes of Kenya, living their lives as pastoralists, farmers, teachers and children’s home directors, as well as doctors, engineers, nurses and “mamas” selling their wares in the market, or taking care of children who have no parents. We have been lucky to make acquaintances with a large number and variety of Kenyans, which has helped us learn more and better understand just how complex this country is.

We have also had several visitors, including our adult children and some of their friends, and I guarantee you, their visit to Kenya has been a highlight of their young lives and something they are never going to forget. After 20 months, although we know we will never be insiders, or natives, we do feel comfortable and at ease and like it is our home for the time being. Since most of the what the media has to say about Africa and there is plenty of bad news coming out of Kenya I think it’s important for folks here to understand how much beauty there truly is, both in the people of Kenya but in its natural environment as well. There really is so much more to it than I can possibly express. We have a large house there and welcome visitors, so if you are ever so inclined…..As we say in Kenya, KARIBUNI! (Welcome)

Reading I: WHAT has been said about AMPATH in the World of GLOBAL HEALTH.

Nominated multiple times for the Nobel Peace Prize; featured in The Wall Street Journal, National Public Radio, BBC and other international media.

"Of all the HIV/AIDS programs that have received funding from The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) none has been more effective than AMPATH.  Its focus on training Kenyans to treat Kenyans is extraordinarily enlightened in its potential for genuine sustainability."

-Randall L. Tobias, Former United States Ambassador and Founding United States Global AIDS Coordinator

"It takes money to lessen poverty, food to lessen hunger, medicines to lessen deaths from AIDS, operating suites to address obstructed labor, and so on.  But it also takes passion and, above all, vision, and that is what the leaders of this program allow to flourish and encourage in others."

-Dr. Paul Farmer, Founding Director, Partners in Health

"This Indiana-Moi partnership is a model for how to tackle the huge challenges of HIV/AIDS and poverty in general, and one of the most inspiring examples of humanitarian partnership I have ever seen."

-James Morris, Former Executive Director, United Nations World Food Programme

"AMPATH goes far beyond providing 'just' healthcare - strengthening livelihoods and also working with the local community to take away some of the shame and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS."

-George McGovern, Former U.S. Senator from South Dakota

"The people working on this program are public health heroes.  They are doing things that many people thought could never be done, and it is going to have a huge multiplier effect."

-Dr. Tim Evans, Former Director of Health Equity for the Rockefeller Foundation

Closing Words
Some sources say that the words below were written on the wall in Mother Teresa's own room.  In any case, their association with Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of Charity has made them popular worldwide, expressing as they do, the spirit in which they lived their lives. 

They seem to be based on a composition originally by Kent Keith, but much of the second half has been re-written in a more spiritual way.  Both versions are shown below.

___________________________________________

1. The version found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta:

              People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.  Forgive them anyway.

            If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.  Be kind anyway.

            If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.  Succeed anyway.

           If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.  Be honest and sincere anyway.

            What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.  Create anyway.

            If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.  Be happy anyway.

            The good you do today, will often be forgotten.  Do good anyway.

         Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.  Give your best anyway.

         In the final analysis, it is between you and your God.  It was never between you and them anyway.