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In Strength Not Our Own: Caring for Kenya’s Children
Georgie Orme established a childcare centre in Kenya for the rehabilitation for children with mobility problems. Most of her original patients had suffered from polio and, left to their own devices, hauled themselves along the ground, seal–like – dragging their useless lower limbs behind them.
Seeking out anyone who would teach them anything, Georgie and her team stretched affected tendons through many hundreds of hours of pain–staking and painful physiotherapy until children’s limbs were straight enough to be strapped into very basic home–produced splints.
Many children were encouraged to do the apparently impossible – they learned to walk. Daniel, also a polio victim, joined the team. A shoemaker, he went to South Korea for a short training programme in orthotics and prosthetics. He soon put his newfound skills into practice. Amazingly, the Centre at Kajiado started producing its own artificial limbs.
Children who were born without feet, or had traumatically lost their feet, were fitted with Kajiado–produced limbs and enabled to walk for the first time. The work had extended way beyond the original need Child Care Centre. God used a very ordinary Scottish missionary to do a most extraordinary work. Becoming mobile was not an end in itself, Maasai children were enabled to attend school, learn a trade and become independent. Many who saw Christian love in action became Christians.
Seeking out anyone who would teach them anything, Georgie and her team stretched affected tendons through many hundreds of hours of pain–staking and painful physiotherapy until children’s limbs were straight enough to be strapped into very basic home–produced splints.
Many children were encouraged to do the apparently impossible – they learned to walk. Daniel, also a polio victim, joined the team. A shoemaker, he went to South Korea for a short training programme in orthotics and prosthetics. He soon put his newfound skills into practice. Amazingly, the Centre at Kajiado started producing its own artificial limbs.
Children who were born without feet, or had traumatically lost their feet, were fitted with Kajiado–produced limbs and enabled to walk for the first time. The work had extended way beyond the original need Child Care Centre. God used a very ordinary Scottish missionary to do a most extraordinary work. Becoming mobile was not an end in itself, Maasai children were enabled to attend school, learn a trade and become independent. Many who saw Christian love in action became Christians.
224 pages, Paperback
First published March 25, 2008
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About the author
Irene Howat
85 books34 followersIrene Howat is an award-winning author who has many titles, for adults and children, to her name. She is married to a retired minister and they have a grown up family. She is also a talented artist and now stays in Ayrshire, Scotland. She especially enjoys letters from children and replies to all of them!
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 27, 2021
4 1/2 stars
April 8, 2013
A bit choppy in parts, but altogether an inspiring read. I had to get passed her use of 'wee' in describing the children she worked but recognized it for her Scottishness coming through. I was a bit teary in reading the last chapter--a hard life lived as a missionary...but a non-regretted one for sure.
On a side note: I think people who live in this affluent land of Canada who refuse to vaccinate their children (for example for polio) should read this book to fully understand how blessed we are to not have to watch our children live with the effects of preventable diseases.
On a side note: I think people who live in this affluent land of Canada who refuse to vaccinate their children (for example for polio) should read this book to fully understand how blessed we are to not have to watch our children live with the effects of preventable diseases.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews