Jimmy and Chase Miller- Serving Kenya since 2011

But Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.  I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it."  Luke 18:16-17 The many parentless children here in Kenya rely and begin to trust the caregivers of these homes.  The caregivers then begin to teach the children to put their trust and faith in God, He is our Father.  They are like sponges soaking everything up and I see many that truly love the Lord and are so thankful for their large family.  Each home has various needs, such as electricity, another milking cow, more beds, one home may need another latrine dug, but they ALL need clean water to drink - that is the common and most important need. Please know that I come to these places as an extension of Trinity Communion Church and am brought to tears of the great needs.  So many things we have and take

"Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth" Psalm 46:10 As we began morning rounds I was urgently called to Casualty for an airway emergency.  34 year old female with mass in the pharynx.  She presented in crisis and her condition was acutely worsening.  We brought her to the OR for intubation and tracheostomy as indicated.  It was a difficult airway which the anesthesiologist was able to stabilize.  Her lungs were full of frothy secretions indicative of pulmonary edema.  Her blood pressure was not palpable and her oxygen saturation was low.  As we worked on her we prayed, Lord have mercy.  Slowly she began to stabilize.  A look at her larynx revealed a large tumor obstructing her airway.  She will be watched overnight as I seek the Lord on her further treatment.  34 year old woman with 4 children.  Treatment will most likely be laryngectomy (removal of her voice box). We praised the Lord for this new day and ho

This weekend we took a much needed rest on safari.  As we drove out of the hospital compound my heart was breaking as I left the patients and those still working.  How I have grown to love Tenwek Hospital.  I am truly seeing God's protection and healing. Buffalo.  We have seen 2 patients this year with severe buffalo injuries Masaii warriors Blessings, Chase and Jimmy 

Each morning as I hike up to the hospital the song "Jesus is my rock and my deliverer" flows from my lips.  I praise Him for His protection and mighty help.  I continue to be very busy with operating room cases and a steady stream of patients that filter through casualty or the outpatient clinic.  The magnitude of the problems remains remarkable. Today I removed a large parotid tumor in an elderly female 54 years old.  That is elderly for Kenya.  I examined the airway on a 17 month old who has been having respiratory problems.  Unfortunately her airway is very narrow and she will likely succumb to a tracheostomy while I am here.  Please pray for her as a tracheostomy here is almost impossible to care for because of the lack of electricity for adequate suction equipment.  I also repaired complex facial fractures on a man who was hit by a tractor trailer.  The work was long but God was present strengthening us and showing us the way. Below are a few photo's of some of t

"Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.  Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."  James 1:26-27 It was a blessing to visit the Kitoben (orphanage) center and see the commitment and dedication by the couple, Samwel and Alice Langat, that own and run this center.  The Word of God is intermingled in all that they do and teach throughout the day.  There are 60 children ranging from 3 years old up 18 years of age.  The children are on a break from school, but still receive teaching in the orphanage and will wear their designated school uniforms.  They sang us songs and recited some of their Bible Memory verses.  It was a humbling experience to see what little they have, and yet they are so thankful for what they have. They do not have

Psalm 112:7  Surely he will never be shaken, a righteous man will be remembered forever.  He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord. As I keep my eyes focused on the Lord I see his fingerprint on every event.  Each patient that comes to me is brought in His timing.  A busy day is followed by a quiet day.  A sleepless night followed by a night of rest.  As I care for a difficult patient I conviently run into a collegue that I need to discuss care issues.  It seems each of my steps is measured by the Lord.  He is literally carrying me from patient to patient.  I am so thankful for His help.  I am learning not to allow the busyness and difficult problems to shake me.  I am learning to lean on Him and cast my eyes on Him as I move from decision to decision. Thyroid cancer metastatic to lungs   This patient presented with a large neck mass referred from outlying hospital.  She had no funds and could only afford one study in her evaluation.  We p

Isaiah 41:10  So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. The diseases we see here are so advanced it is hard to make any impact.  We are caught between our compassion for these patients and the complexity of the problems.  Although Tenwek Hospital is fairly advanced for 3rd world hospitals there are many problems that just are beyond my abilities.  But we know that no problem is to great for our Lord.  Below are just a few of the things that are presenting to me.  Please join me in prayer for these patients.  We need miraculous healings! 17 year old with large facial AV malformation Newborn with anterior encephalocele In Christ, Chase and Jimmy Miller

I continue to be amazed in the strength of the Kenyans.  They are not complainers.  They move forward each day despite the trials of living a harsh life.  Although I do not see abundant joy in those I am working with, I do see strength.  God has been working with His people to lean on Him for all their needs.  As I look inward at the struggles I have, I wonder am I able to work in His strength day by day or do I fall back on my own abilities? As Paul would say in 2 Corinthians "I do not want you uninformed of the hardships we endure."  Exhaustion and endless work press upon us but these things cause us to rely on God and not our own strength.  "Our hope is in God and we know He is our deliverer.  As you help us with your prayers we know that in the end many will give thanks for the answered prayers." Lefort 2 facial fractures from motorcycle accident As we lean on Him and learn to walk at His pace we find contentment.  1Phillipians 4:12 "I have learned

As I push through the mounds of work I see the Lord's touch on every detail.  I am so grateful for His protection.  His timing is perfect in every situation.  He causes my path to cross those I need to talk to about patients. Nothing is left for chance.  Yesterday we fixed a mandible fracture on a young man that was assaulted by a blunt object.  We removed a large fungating mass from a man's outer ear.  And I saw about 30 patients in clinic.  I have told 3 patients they have unresectable terminal cancer but thankful have covered each with prayer.  One of these patients was a young 17 year old boy with a large mass from his sinuses eroding intracranially.  I am believing for a miracle here. 17 year old with unresectable tumor of sinus/eye large fungating ear mass Massive thyroid goiter we removed today.  It was the size of a cornish hen! Trust in the Lord in all your ways and lean not on your own understanding.  Acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight.   Blessi

Habari! (Hello, in Swahili) I was getting my Swahili lessons while driving with a group from the Community Health Development out into a Maasai territory yesterday.  Chase has been thrown back into a very busy schedule, but with praise and thanksgiving on her lips!  I went out with the Community Health Development (CHD) group yesterday morning for a day-trip into a Maasai territory about 2 hours from the hospital.  We arrived a bit late and the line was already 30 deep with mothers and their babies waiting for vaccinations and well-baby check-ups.  I put together the syringes, handed out Vitamin A supplements, and prayed.  They ended up seeing about 32 babies and this was a light day!  They typically will vaccinate up to 50-60 babies at a clinic.  Many of these mothers are so young with sick babies and quite a distance from a hospital.  The CHD does their best to help and provide medicine and prayer for them.  It was a privilege to go out and work with them. I was spotted by some Maa

Easter in Africa- what a treat.  We awoke early Easter morning and joined the missionaries for a 6am sunrise service.  We felt the darkness of death as we silently awaited the rising sun.  We felt the resurrection of life and the victory over death as we watched the sun rise in the distance.  We joined together and adorned a wooden cross with local flowers.  The beautiful presence of our Lord was so near.  We joined the locals in a celebration of the risen Lord in the local church.  There were many from regions of the world- USA, Kenya, Germany, Canada what a blessing to worship with them. Today is a holiday in Kenya but it was the start of hospital work today.  Almost every Dr I ran into in the halls had something to pass on.  The full time missionaries are all leaving today and tomorrow for retreat for 2 weeks.  I am joining several other surgeons to fill in for them as they go.  We are leaning on the Lord as we face many situations that we have never handled before.  There are ma

We are praising God that we have arrived at Tenwek, luggage and all!  The flights were long but routine.  We stayed in the Mennonite Guest House last night.  What a santuary we found here. As we prayed and sought the Lord this morning His peace was present.  He has every detail cared for.  As we step out in faith, despite our weakness, He will move.  2 Cor12:9 My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. When we are weak, He is strong.  He loves to just bless us with His touch.  He knows every detail of our wants and desires.  As we glanced to the side we saw a flowering tree with abundant yellow flowers.  God smiles at me in yellow- it is how He shows me His pleasure in me. As we arrived at  Tenwek we were received with many hugs.  It felt good to walk the path to the surgical theater and I wait expectantly for all God has for us.  So many in need.  Lord receive your vessels for your good pleasure.  Use us as you please.  May we be instruments of your bl

2 Corinthians 1 :3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.  For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. Why some are healed and others are not we do not comprehend but we know that Our God is trustworthy and that our sufferings are for a reason.  He is our source of comfort in these times of suffering.  Gods footprint in our lives each day leaves an undeniable impression that He knows our pain and is present making a way for us through to the other side.  This daily touch builds trust and faith, strengthening us along the way.  As we encounter those with similar sufferings we can encourage them in a confident way.  My own sufferings are teaching me to lean on Him in a greater way.  In fact the daily activities of liv