“Then He said to the disciple, ‘Behold your mother!’ And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.” John 19:27

Home Is…

Part 2

Richard and Mercy come from Baringo County, a remote semi-arid area of Kenya, which is about a six-hour journey by road to Kimbilio Hospice. After Richard completed University, Mercy’s health began deteriorating and he decided to bring her to stay with him in his small rental room. He took her to a hospital in Eldoret, where our Patient Care Director, Daniel Morogo, does rounds with their Palliative Care Team once a week. Richard stayed with his sister day and night, caring for her at the hospital. As her health deteriorated further, she could no longer walk. When the doctors discovered Mercy’s condition was no longer treatable, they counseled Richard—no other family showed up to support him. That is when Richard describes: “I didn’t know what to do. How would I continue taking care of Mercy? I have no job. I was just doing odd jobs to earn some money for our food and rent. I left the hospital that morning and sat on a rock in Eldoret town, from morning until evening. Just thinking. Though I knew God was with us, I felt hopeless. Shortly after that day, I was introduced to Morogo. God sent Morogo. And through Morogo, I was able to bring Mercy to Kimbilio. I am so grateful for Kimbilio. Thank you for taking care of my sister. She was so happy here. I have a home in Baringo, but I now have another home. Kimbilio.”

I asked Richard, “What will you remember most about your sister?” His reply, “Mercy was a survivor. So loving. She didn’t despise anyone. Despite the way people treated her, she loved everyone and would always ask about them.”

And finally I asked him, “If someone was deciding whether or not to take their loved one to Kimbilio, how would you advise him/her?” “God created Kimbilio. Love. Kindness. Joy. Trust. Support. Home. The word home describes many things. A living home. Giving inspiration. Giving hope. Please share our story – our story could be someone else’s story.”

“Father, help us to make our homes a place of love, kindness, joy, trust, and support, and may we welcome both strangers and friends. Amen.”