Outreach and Missions

Pasadena Presbyterian Church Kenya Mission: Update #1

As you read this, son Dan and I should be in the sky somewhere between Amsterdam and Nairobi.  During the last few days before our departure last Friday, I finished up preparing lectures for the Kenyan nurse anesthetist students.  These consist of PowerPoint presentations and hard copy handouts of notes.  I have done five and Dan a few more than that (I like to think I did fewer because I am more thorough, but Dan would probably not agree).   Topics include the uptake and distribution of inhalation anesthetics, along with the pharmacology and practical use of halothane, propofol and nitrous oxide.  We will leave digital copies of the lectures in Kenya so they can be used for future classes.

In my checked baggage, I am bringing obstetric anesthesia texts - one for each student.  Maternal morbidity and mortality is atrocious in Kenya, and it is important that the Kenyan nurse anesthetist students are particularly proficient and skilled in this area.  Anesthesia is particularly hazardous during pregnancy because there are two patients, the mother and the fetus.

On arrival in Nairobi, we will be met by Dr. Mark Newton, the director of the Kenyan nurse anesthesia program.  We will overnight at a guest house, pick up food and supplies the next morning, and make the one hour drive to the hospital.  Along with being eight time zones from Florida, we will also be staying at 7200 feet altitude, so I expect we will need to acclimatize a bit.

I hope this will not be my only report to you while I am away.  I plan to make every effort to e-mail regular updates to Pastor Crawford, and, hopefully, these can be distributed to you.   These plans are, of course, subject to the vagaries of communication from a third world country.

I am excited about representing the congregation of Pasadena Presbyterian Church in the mission field.  You have supported me beyond my wildest dreams by providing all of my travel expenses.  I am grateful to God and to you for the opportunity to care for those less fortunate than us.

Dr. Mike Nahrwold