I first encountered the organization Serge in 2017, at the Global Missions Health Conference in Kentucky. I had already signed up for the post-residency program and had been assigned to Kapsowar, but I spoke with a few recruiters just to get a feel for other long term "sending agencies." As I remember it, Serge stood out from others in their team approach - sending not individuals or single family units, but teams of people to complement each other's activities (for example, doctor + engineer + pastor). It intrigued me enough to NOT unsubscribe from their emails. Their name also intrigued me, as it always brought to mind the Serger that I remember my mom getting when I was young. A Serger is a special type of sewing machine that creates a seam and has a blade that automatically trims the excess fabric off, creating a smooth edge. I do NOT sew (except for a button now and then) but I do remember my mom creating some pretty great Hammer pants, headbands, and even scrunchies with that machine! Four years later, as Kris and I were starting to explore ways to stay in Kapsowar, I found my old emails from Serge's recruiter (the one I had met back in 2017) and went to their website.
Serge has spent a lot of time thinking through their name, tag line, and the explanation of their mission and vision, so I'll just copy their explanation here. Suffice it to say that although I'm not a seamstress, I do consider myself to be a bit of a crafter, as well as more than a bit of a "frayed" human, so this really resonated with me:
So, long story short, in early March our family headed to Pennsylvania for an interview and orientation with Serge. It was a quick 9 days in the US, and we were so grateful that my parents could meet us there and take care of Dominic during our 5+ days of interviews and meetings AND do all the driving for us so that we didn't have to navigate an unfamiliar area with jetlag. We are happy to be joining an organization that aligns closely with our beliefs and values, AND that they are willing to work with us in Kapsowar! This doesn't mean thay we'll be getting a whole group of teammates joining us right away, but it does give us hope that we will have a team to help with the work here, eventually.
We will continue working in Kapsowar through mid-May, and then after some meetings and vacation in Kenya and Spain, we'll begin our first "home leave." Our schedule is still being worked out, but it will likely involve time in Washington, Montana, Utah, Michigan, Ontario, and British Columbia...and maybe beyond! It will also involve my long-awaited OB/Gyn oral board exam.
Here are some pictures from our adventures in Philadelphia!
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| Getting in line at the airport - first time leaving Kenya in over 2 years! |
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| About 2 days into our time in the US, we walked into a Travel Plaza off the tollway. Dominic took one look at the Burger King, Nathan's HotDogs, and Dunkin Donuts and declared "Oh yeah! THIS is America!" |
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| At CVS for his first covid vaccine! Dominic was very brave, and the pharmacist was very patient when suddenly Dominic remembered that vaccines come from an injection. |
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| Dinner with friends in Philly |
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| Signing the Declaration of Independence |
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| Independence Hall... |
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| ...where your service dog OR service minature horse are welcome, but your service potbelly pig will still face institutionalized discrimination |
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| Liberty Bell |
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| Flying out of NYC, we were all exhausted after a quick trip! |
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| Kris and Dad had already finished their Philly Cheesesteaks by the time I took out my phone to get a picture. Mom had some other meat sandwich that was equally as messy. |
We're looking forward to many more travel photos in the months to come!
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