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| Full moon over Indian Ocean Mombasa |
Many years ago when I worked in Kitale, Kenya Russ Brine, another Maryknoll Lay Missioner, came to our hospital with a request. He overseas the Bosco program for rescuing children from the streets and he had a boy named Ben who wanted to be a doctor. Ben was from Turkana, north of Kitale, a very arid desolate land of people who herded cattle. Bosco rescued him from the streets of Kitale and sent him to school. He graduated first in his class. So Russ asked us if Ben could volunteer at the hospital and we found him to be a very kind and gentle young man. Next Russ found a donor for school fees but they were only enough to be trained as a physician assistant. Russ remembers me saying under my breath...I hope he goes back to Turkana. Well, he did!
Last month I received an email from Fr. Tim in Sudan asking me about a medical problem for a young girl from Toposa in Sudan who was studying in Turkana. I needed someone to examine the girl and wondered how I could contact Ben. A few days later, just by chance, I received a text message on my phone from Ben asking me about a medical problem. I now had contact with Ben and between the phone and the email the girl has gone to the hospital where Ben works and we have been working to solve her problem.
Never in my wildest dreams could I have envisaged practicing medicine using technology to assist a young health care worker in a very remote place. I am so happy to see younger people caring for one another in this way. The Toposa and Turkana are historically enemies who raid each others cattle. But now they are helping one another to heal their illnesses and go to school.
On Friday 24 May we will see another full moon. Look up at the sky and enjoy the beauty of our world and thank God for the good people who are trying to make life better for others...each one of you included!
