Dave & Dr. Suzie Snyder - Newsletter - March 2003
Afghanistan
Dear Friends and Family,
Since our last official email update was in September 2002, some of you have not heard from us in a long time. You may have thought we had fallen off the face of the earth or, at worst, succumbed to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome. But neither is true. Have we been busy? Let's just say God has given us many opportunities for ministry in the last 6 months!
Since our last update, our family of four has gone to Afghanistan and returned safely. The trip was a memorable and very positive experience for our girls, but from it we concluded that moving our entire family there for long-term service is not feasible at present... for 3 main reasons: We feel it is critical for us to "finish well" in the ministry in which we a recurrently involved here in Kenya before considering a move to another field. Secondly, the schooling options in Kabul are presently not adequate for our girls, and thirdly, we feel the region is still too insecure for families.
Staying in Kenya
So we are "staying put" in Kenya for now, but we told the church which had sponsored our trips to Afghanistan that we'd still be willing to lend a helping hand if there is any task to which we can give assistance during short-term trips. To this end, Dave went back to Kabul in November to attend a National Health Assessment Seminar and I went for two weeks in February. Dave's trip was particularly interesting. Since the flight from Dubai to Kabul was full, he ended up flying into Peshawar, Pakistan, then taking the 9-hour land route through the Kyber Pass into Kabul.
During the last trip to Kabul, I went intending to work in mobile clinics and to attend two community health education (CHE) seminars, but ended up TEACHING in the seminars instead when one of the main facilitators wasn't able to get into Kabul because of snow. God has a sense of humor!... and a sense of purpose. Teaching in the seminars was certainly a learning experience for me. I am also eager to see how God will use this new experience in the future. Our own team has made some steps to implement the CHE program in Maasailand and in Nairobi, and now I am better prepared to help the process.
Christmas
We had a wonderful Christmas season and New Year with my mom and step-dad visiting us for 9 weeks from Thanksgiving through mid-January. They were able to experience daily home and school life... and helped out in MANY ways. We had some great family times with short vacations to a game lodge and to the coast.
In January, we had a wonderful visit with 4 folks from Nashville/Vanderbilt. One of the guests was my "boss" ...Dr. Sandi Moutsios, the section chief for Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at Vanderbilt. It was a privilege to host her and to show her our world... where she has been sending medical students and residents over the last 2 years! The group were real troopers as we didn't let any grass grow under their feet.... they worked in 5 clinics, attended a Maasai church service, went on several game drives, shopped in Nairobi and had a 4 day vacation at the coast.... all in two weeks! Last I heard, they all survived the experience!
At Home
On the home front, Rebekah turned thirteen last month..... watch out, there's a teenager in our midst! She continues to make great grades, progress on the violin and has thoroughly enjoyed some after school art lessons this term.
After working with her for 6 months, Lauren's resource teacher believes that Lauren has a mild learning disability in addition to her ADD. Fortunately, this teacher has 16 years experience with an educational therapy program and was willing to offer it to Lauren. When it meant getting a 2 year reprieve from Swahili class to take these individualized lessons during the school day, Lauren was ecstatic! She has been very positive about her "Discovery" program and her classroom teacher has already noted improved writing and spelling skills. We praise God for the resources that are available to the girls here in Nairobi. Over and over I have felt God's confirmation that He moved us out of the bush in His timing.
CMF Nairobi Office
Dave continues in the CMF Nairobi office as the field business administrator. Of the four of us, he deserves the most prayer. This job is incredibly demanding and stressful. We knew that filling this position on top of our existing ministry of overseeing the 8 Maasai bush clinics was going to be a stretch. We were right! Dave has been the unfortunate one, caught in the middle of finding some major financial glitches. Most started before he took the job but now he's the one left to sort through the mess and find solutions. As he nears the one year mark on the job, we hope the routine will become more familiar and stable.
Of course, the war with Iraq is on the forefront of everyone's mind. We too have been following the CNN news coverage from our living room. Even though we are very grateful that the predicted terrorist reprisals targeting Americans here has not come to pass, we have sensed a significant anti-American sentiment. We are grateful for the added security at the girls' school, including a visibility barrier along the perimeter fence and vehicle inspections at the first gate, and we continue to be cautious as we go about the city. We appreciate your prayers for our safety in these uncertain times.
Looking forward, we anticipate three medical student interns for the month of April. I also have an invitation, along with our Maasai clinic administrator, to go to Ethiopia April 22-26 to present our work at a wholistic health conference. We are glad for the opportunity to share on the successes God has given to the Maasai health care ministry.
Prayers
Please rejoice with us on:
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Safety and lack of violence here in Kenya
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The girls' successful school year.
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Lauren's chance to participate in a specialized educational therapy program within her school
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Safe travel to and from Afghanistan
Please lift up in prayer:
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Dave's health and stamina in a difficult job role
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Safety in upcoming travels to the bush clinics and to Ethiopia for Suzie
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Safety for the girls, especially as they attend a Christian international school
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Continued growth of the Maasai churches as they take on more responsibility for evangelism within their communities.
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That God would grow the seeds planted in Afghanistan
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