Trouble plagues the Westergren's journey to Kenya, but all is well

Catherine went to the airport Saturday evening to pickup her son Eugene and Uncle Henry who had been in the States for Eugene's high school graduation, which I also attended last week.  Pictures of that great event are here: Eugene's graduation

She was also there to pick up Pastor Kevin, Tammy, Jack and Ben, who had gone to London a little early as family time and were hoping to join us for Sunday worship in Kibera, where we will serve this week.  British Airways had a catastrophic worldwide computer crash and they were caught in the middle of the mayhem.  Here is a BBC account of yesterday's problems: British Airways Computer Meltdown

We have been in touch with Kevin and they were able to get a hotel room until this all blows over.  Just another adventure in international travel!  If necessary, we will be able to get the clinic up and running with the three of us that are here.  Kevin's big concern was that we would have registration cards and other essentials to be able to get started.  I'm sure we do and that our team of experienced local volunteers will step up to the task at hand. To put everyone's mind at ease, I essentially have an all-star team here to help us, many of whom helped our team of only three from Redeemer last fall to see nearly 2800 people in Waithaka, with 82 of them coming to Christ in the process.  A partial list of them includes:

Gloria Sauck, a veteran missionary, nurse and dear friend who has conducted clinics in remote areas of Kenya ALL BY HERSELF!  She can perform any task in the clinic other than those performed by the local Kenyan eye doctors.

John Karanja, our friend and evangelist who has been gifted by the Holy Spirit with an incredible ability to share Christ's love with one and all.

Pastor James Tengencha and his evangelists, who do the initial presentation of the Gospel in tents outside the clinic before our patients come in for treatment.  He is a dear friend and is a force of nature when it comes to witnessing for Christ.

Our friends and wonderful Doctors, Milliam, Lilian and Chris, plus maybe one more player to be determined later.  We have worked with them many times and I can't wait for a joyful reunion with them.

Edwin, our driver, who has helped in many clinics in many locations before.  We are very blessed to have him this time, when multiple teams are here, he is gobbled up quickly, since he is one of the best workers in our incredible pool of very able drivers and he is a good friend as well.

Our friend and local project coordinator Catherine Wangari will also be able to put in some time with us.

Add to this impressive list the many local volunteers that have helped us in Kibera and other locations, and my mind is at ease that things will go well until the rest of the team can join us.

Our thoughts and prayers are with Kevin, Tammy, Jack and Ben for travel mercies as our adventure continues.  Never a dull moment!

I will provide updates as I can, hopefully by noon Austin time we will know how the British Airways travel problems are sorting out.  Stay tuned and thanks for your thoughts and prayers for us and the team as we get ready to do the work He has prepared for us to do.