Greetings from Tenwek!
Over the last few months, I’ve started writing this update several times—but I wasn’t quite sure where to begin. Now that July is just around the corner and people are asking how things are going, I realize I also need your prayers and support—and that only happens if I take the time to share. These past months have included both challenges and joys, and through it all, I’m thankful that God has walked with me, with our community, and with the hospital.
To catch you up, here’s a quick look at the highs and lows from the year so far:
January
We started the year with a big project—removing the roof from our main hospital building due to asbestos and new Kenyan regulations. This is the building that houses most of our patients, so we had to shuffle people between different wards and ask other hospitals to take in more patients. It was a hectic weekend, but the teamwork was incredible. At one point, we had 50 feet of oxygen tubing going out a third-story window, threading across buildings to reach a patient who needed it—creative solutions in action!
I also had some very special visitors: my dad and some friends from Holland. It was a joy to show them the beauty of Kenya—and to enjoy lots of delicious cheese!
February
February was quieter. I spent more time at the hospital with patients and in meetings. One major challenge for the hospital has been financial. Many of our patients have government insurance, but the government has been slow in reimbursing us. At one point, the hospital was owed nearly 4 million dollars, creating serious difficulties with paying staff and suppliers. Things are improving slowly, and I’ve been able to help in small ways by purchasing some essential supplies with donated funds.
March
In March, I visited a few other mission hospitals for teaching and encouragement. It was refreshing to see how others do things and to exchange ideas. As my responsibilities grow—both at the hospital and within the missionary community—this change of pace felt like a much-needed rest.
April
April was a tough month. A family who had been serving with us had to leave suddenly. It created ripples across our community. Thankfully, our WGM missionary retreat happened around the same time. It was a gift to be with others who understand, and to have counselors on hand—both for my own processing and to help guide our community through the impact of that departure.
May
May kicked off our usual season of goodbyes. Between May and July, we’re saying farewell to several families who have served for a year or two. Along with the emotional goodbyes, there’s also a lot of logistical work: collecting house keys, putting away remaining items, and preparing for new arrivals. I met one of our new families in Nairobi and helped them get phones, groceries, and settled in.
May also brought more teaching! I had the joy of reconnecting with the same students I taught last September. After a few months of practicum, they’re back in the classroom—and it’s been fun to see their growth.
June
This month has been full—preparing for new missionaries, finishing up teaching, and handling hospital work. The medicine ward has been especially intense, and just yesterday we lost three patients in the ICU. Please pray for our staff—it’s been emotionally and spiritually heavy.
A bright spot for me has been intern Bible study. This group has been here since August, and we’ve been focusing on practical Christian living. We’ve covered budgeting, dating and relationships, and in the coming weeks we’ll be discussing moral injury, burnout (I’ve got more experience there than dating!), and God’s calling. It’s been incredible to see these young professionals grow in faith over the past year.
So that’s a snapshot of the past few months. It’s been busy and stretching, but God is teaching me a lot—especially about humility and forgiveness. I’m grateful the hospital is now on slightly firmer financial footing, though we’re still being careful. And I’m deeply thankful for the chance to serve here.
Looking ahead, I’ll be taking a short trip to Alberta at the end of July:
Taber & Taber CRC: July 26–28
Edmonton: July 29–31
Kananaskis Country: August 1–4
Back in Taber: August 4–8
I’m excited to reconnect with family and friends—and to enjoy some sweet corn, peaches, and other treats we don’t see much here!
I truly appreciate your prayers and support. My work is split between the hospital, teaching, and supporting the missionary community. As “station coordinator,” I help with logistics, housing, and other needs of our community. This year we’re thrilled to welcome Nick and Jessica Laster and their two daughters. Jessica will be teaching with our MK school co-op, and Nick will support our community in other ways. They’re still looking for a few more monthly donors so they can come before the school year starts. Would you consider supporting them? (Canadians: sadly, donations go through WGM USA so there’s no tax receipt.) I know this family—and our whole community—will be greatly blessed by your support. You can give here:
https://wgm.org/missionary/
Thank you for your prayers and support,
God Bless
Annette Lievaart
