KMO Experience 2008 -- Testimony  Jerry Loughrey

                          My First Trip To Africa

It all begins with a call, clarion or soft. The greeting could be Jumbo,
regardless, it seems to be very clear and the sense of drawing seems
to be deep in the spirit. There is a natural response at first, resistance-
soon resistance begins to yield to interest, interest then becomes
desire. Then a sense of adventure, without warning NO becomes
GO. The GO of Matthew and Luke...

Suddenly, as so often happens in the Faith Walk, you're there. Right
in the center of God's will. You know it full well. Sometimes tears.
You wouldn't want to be any other place on earth.

The story begins, but not with "once upon a time", rather (once upon
a Yes God time) whether your first time or your many times, you
desire to share the story with words and pictures. How empty
they seem. The depth of the story is one that Grace and Obedience
alone can teach. You just had to be there!

The privation taught me thankfulness, the travel over the roughest of
roads taught me thankfulness, the poverty of the people redefined
Blessings. the warmth and acceptance of their station in life put me
to shame. My hands have been too large -- "God give me smaller
and smaller hands."

KMO -- was founded the same way every work of the kingdom
was founded -- one vision planted in one heart, of a field ripe unto
harvest. A call in the night when all was quiet and on obedient Yes.
"Here I am send me."

I am so thankful that I had the opportunity to glean in a corner of
Boaz's fields with eleven friends of God.

To pick out a single place of date would be impossible. The total
abandonment to service was pronounced in every member - medical
- they handled everything from colds to a young man with a deep
wound to his knee, to saving a young woman great with child -
except for fast action she and her baby would have surely died.

Dental - extractions by the dozen, cleanings, surgery and fillings no
stop - yet see the time teaching and encouraging all of us to be part
of the work...even to pulling my first tooth.

The dedication didn't stop with the setting sun...

Scene - John's home, 7:00 p.m. total darkness, no electricity - out
of the shadows a young woman with her husband - had been walking
for miles - needed a tooth removed - she was great with child.

Never a thought to turn her away - the entire team found flash lights -
found the tools - found a chair - and by flash lights on an open patio
under the stars and in full sight of a pleased Father - Dr. Bill led
Dollie through her first extraction while others witness to them of
the love of God - John fed them and they walked back into the night.

Praise our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit

Forever -

                 Jerry

From Theresa Cloete

Going to Kenya on a dental mission opened my eyes to the living conditions of East Africa.  The poverty seems unable to be escaped. 

Certain things I will always remember:  seeing all the excited school children wearing their worn and torn uniforms, running on the cliffs and rocks with bare feet unfazed and at greater speeds than I ever could run on level ground; old, old women walking without any shoes in the cold of the winter; children without diapers; people living without running water; the schools with smart pupils and very little resources – dirty old books, broken windows and cows for plowing; the traditional dances and poems in English put on by the school children; the look of love on a woman’s face who gave me her own earrings out of gratitude.  She was planning on selling the earrings to help make a living. 

I remember the joy of women who came together for us to take a picture of their three generations selling mangos and sugar cane; the absolute wonder and awe on some of the children’s faces who saw themselves on a digital camera or touched straight blond hair for the first time; roasting fresh corn on the campfire singing songs and exchanging gifts with the local people.  I had a fabulous time learning about the culture and even the vast differences between the two main towns where we spent time.  As an aspiring dental hygienist, I will always have a unique story to tell about the first time I cleaned someone’s teeth. 

The Bible is full of scriptures on the poor.  “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will also cry himself and not be answered.” and “The righteous is concerned for the rights of the poor; the wicked does not understand such concern.”  Looking back on my trip, I realized that I never even knew that this kind of poverty is possible on a daily basis.  How could I be concerned if I did not know? 

The whole team had unique and wonderful gifts and talents to offer.  We all came together in different ways to offer what we had to the community and to each other.  Sometimes just making someone smile or laugh was well worth the trip.  I thank God for the opportunity to experience and participate in this kind of mission, and I thank Dr. Bill and Sheila Williams for the invitation to join them as part of the team.