6 September 2008
Dear Friends and Family,
“1The Lord is my light and my salvation; I will fear no one. The Lord protects me from all danger; I will never be afraid. 2 When evil people attack me and try to kill me, they stumble and fall…… 5 In times of trouble He will shelter me; He will keep me safe in His Temple and make me secure on a high rock……..13 I know that I will live to see the Lord’s goodness in this present life. 14 Trust in the Lord. Have faith, do not despair. Trust in the Lord.” Psalms 27
Linnet’s door post, Zaburi means Psalms
Yesterday Bill and I had the extraordinary experience to visit Linnet in her home near Chuka, which is about 2 hours from Maua. This trip was possible thanks to Mrs. Rahab, a Kenyan woman who is from Maua but now lives with her husband in Embu. On a visit to Maua several months ago, she heard about Linnet and visited her in our hospital. She told me that she immediately felt that God had called her to help Linnet and she has visited and taken care of Linnet in amazing ways. Mr. Mung’athia, our Acting Administrator at Maua Methodist Hospital, also went with us. He and Rahab were so helpful to us during our visit.
Perhaps I better back up a bit! On Thurs. 20 Sept. 2007 Linnet, a 24 year old mother of two, was brought into the hospital by neighbors. She had been found lying in the bush near her home. The night before her husband had come to their home, dragged her out and using a panga (machete) had cut her 25 times. He cut off both hands and her right foot was dangling. He cut her back, legs, chest, face, and had left her for dead. After admission to our hospital, our surgeon was able to save her leg. After many surgeries and physical therapy, she was discharged from the hospital in mid-November 2007 and went home to live with her father and step-mother.
Linnet had become our friend during her stay in the hospital and for months we have tried to figure out a way we could find and visit Linnet. We had talked to Mr. Mung’athia about having Linnet work at Maua Methodist Hospital a few days a month. We felt she could talk to women’s groups and help them see the need to purchase NHIF (the national health insurance) and to talk about abuse and other gender issues.
Then miraculously, Rahab visited Mr. Mung’athia at his office. They met with Bill, plans were made and we traveled to Chuka together. We had been so impressed with Linnet’s spirit, her joy, and her constant smile. As the four of us drove to Chuka, Rahab talked about Linnet. She asked her once if she could forgive her husband. Linnet quickly stated she had already forgiven him.
Since we last saw Linnet much has happened. Her father died, her step-mother “ran away” to her parents with her young daughter. Linnet’s five and one year old sons were taken by the near-by Catholic Sisters to raise as without the help of her father and step-mother, Linnet could not care for them. About one month ago she fell and broke her right leg. It is in a cast and will be so for a month or longer but the doctors are hopeful it will heal. Linnet lives on her father’s land (10 acres) with her two younger brothers, aged 10 (Loyd) and 20 (Boniface). Rahab is arranging to take the Loyd to school in Embu.
We arrived at their home around 11am. Linnet was sitting outside at a table drinking some porridge. Her aunt had bathed her and was fixing food for all of us. Her uncle and aunt are supposedly taking care of Linnet and her brothers but they are infrequent visitors and Rahab said the last time she had visited Linnet; she had not been bathed in many days.
Shortly after we arrived, Rahab called the Assistant Chief to come visit with us and he came immediately. He has helped Linnet and her brothers in many ways and was eager to help in any area he could. When we asked Linnet if she had any friends or age mates who would be willing to come and bathe her every other day, she immediately said “The Assistant Chief’s wife.” She went on to explain that the wife came and helped her and was so very kind.
Boniface, Rahab, Mr. Mung’athia, Loyd, Linnet, Mr. Mung’athia, Linnet, Bill and Jerri standing
Bill, the Assistant Chief, Linnet’s aunt
The aunt served us tea, porridge and rice with sukuma wiki which were very good. We were all amazed how resourceful Linnet is. She drinks from a cup and showed us how she is able to do that. She cannot use traditional crutches with her hands so they had improvised a rather amazing crutch she could use.
Linnet drinking her porridge Linnet with her crutch standing by Rahab
She writes and we were amazed at her penmanship. Her brother brought us her notebook where she has written Bible
verses.
Linnet writing A sample of what she wrote
As we went into the small house where the three children sleep, there written in chalk on the door post were the words, Zaburi 27: 1….. Zaburi is Swahili for Psalms. We asked who had written that and Linnet said her father had when he brought her home. Rahab read part of the chapter to us and we sat in silence and awe as we felt there couldn’t be a more appropriate Bible passage for Linnet because of how she has suffered and what we hope her future holds. We all were drawn to the 5th verse which says, “In times of trouble He will shelter me; He will keep me safe in His Temple and make me secure on a high rock.” The vision of Linnet and her brothers kept safe and on a high rock greatly comforted all us.
Rahab reading Psalm 27 Bill feeding Linnet
Bill and I have wanted to help Linnet since we met her. Our goal is to do something that would allow Linnet to be independent and self-sustaining. As we all talked we were so thankful for Rahab and Mr. Mung’athia who know just what it will take to make that a reality.
Linnet, Boniface, and Loyd are living on their father’s land. They recently learned that their grandfather had made a loan against the land. The Assistant Chief was asked to get all the information and then go to the Minister of Parliament for their area and ask him to see if the loan can be forgiven. The land will need to be divided between the step-mother and perhaps some of the uncles. The land is 10 acres and they felt the three children should receive at least 2 ½ acres which if planted could feed and help support them. The Assistant Chief said it was possible to be connected to water but that usually cost Ksh. 30,000 ($430). He was asked if the committee would waive the fee since it is an orphaned family and the oldest child has a disability. The Assistant Chief agreed to do all he was asked. Those matters must be settled before any long lasting decisions can be made. However, now is the time to prepare the land for the rainy season. Boniface was asked if he could either hire some workers to help him prepare the land and plant crops or find a job and hire workers that would prepare the land and plant. He said he would look into both and make a decision. He also told us that he fixes their food and helps Linnet in all ways except bathing her. (Traditionally this would not be allowed).
Before we left we went into the small house where the three children live. With no windows it was so dark, hot, and
for me, depressing. It is divided into two rooms. Linnet sleeps in the room and bed where her father lived. She is quite proud of her room. Hanging on nails behind her bed were three shirts and two pairs of pants. Mr. Rahab asked if those were her father’s and she said, “Yes”. Rahab recommended she give them to her uncle and Linnet agreed.
Their rickety latrine is not safe for Linnet to use but otherwise their home is good by rural Kenyan standards. The Assistant Chief has agreed to provide the labor to build a new latrine.
As we prayed together before we left, we felt we were in the presence of God. What an incredible joy it is to see Kenyan’s like Rahab, Mr. Mung’athia and the Assistant Chief who want to help others and are doing it in the name of Jesus Christ. (We are fortunate to know and work with so many other at people Maua Methodist Hospital who spend their time, money, and energy on others.)
As we left, we knew with very little help from us, Linnet was going to ‘be kept save and secure on a high rock.” To have any part in this amazing young woman’s life is such a blessing to us. But isn’t that just like our loving God, when we reach out to His, He blesses us up one side and down the other.
Many thanks to those of you who sent greetings and prayed for Bill. This past week he said, “He felt normal physically and he couldn’t remember the last time he had.” We are so thankful for your prayers and God’s goodness.
In His grip,
Jerri & Bill Savuto
savuto@maf.or.ke
Maua Methodist Hospital
Box 63, Maua 60600
Igembe, Kenya
“A friend knows the song in my heart and sings it to me when my memory fails.” ~Donna Roberts
