Leroy has been telling the story of Kisamoi (kee-sa-mo-a) for many years. I first heard it when he recounted the stories and testimonies of his first missionary journey to Kenya, some 25 years ago. Kisamoi was a young boy then from one of the most distant villages Leroy visited. He took a particular liking to the big White man and tried to follow him around. This was difficult, because Kisamoi had contracted Polio and his little legs were bound up under his body so that all he could do was drag himself across the floor. Whenever he would find Leroy, he would wrap his arms around his ankles and hold on for dear life.
Eventually Leroy took Kisamoi home with him and tried to clean him up. It took four tubs full before the water wasn’t brown with dirt. Kisamoi had never had a bath, and loved the water in Leroy’s big tub. In the African bush, it is difficult for any child, but a child who cannot walk, a child who will have to be taken care of by begging and relying on the care of others was a particular burden to a village. Kisamoi’s life looked bleak indeed. And it touched Leroy to the core.
Leroy asked Kisamoi’s family if he could take the boy to Nairobi with him and see if there were any doctors who would help the boy. Though they felt it was a lost cause, they eventually agreed and off they went on the long trip to Nairobi. Along with another missionary named Cash, Leroy sought out a doctor who was said to be the only one in the hospital who had the skills as an orthopedic surgeon to help this boy. But, day after day they were told this doctor was not available and there was no room in the hospital for a poor Pokot child with no family, and no money to help him. After several days, Cash told Leroy they would have to go home to West Pokot, the money was almost gone and Nairobi was expensive. Leroy looked at little Kisamoi, with his crippled legs and trusting smile, and asked Cash if they could pray and just give it one more try. So they bowed their heads and asked God to help them.
Please Lord, help us find help for this crippled boy, Leroy prayed. They then went back to Kenyatta Hospital one last time.
As They entered the lobby, a doctor walked around the corner and as he approached them, Leroy could see from his name tag it was the very doctor they had been looking for – the Orthopedic surgeon! Excitedly they explained the problems of Kisamoi. Touched, the surgeon grabbed the entry nurse and said -
get this boy a bed . -
But doctor, she said, -
I’ve already told them there are no beds, none at all in this hospital for this boy.
You don’t understand me nurse, he said firmly,
I don’t care if you have to go buy a bed, I want this child in this hospital! And so Leroy left Kisamoi in the Nairobi hospital with the best orthopedic surgeon in Kenya.
Because little Kisamoi was covered in scabies that had to be cured, and the surgery left risk for infection, the surgeon told Leroy is would be several months before he could come back to get the boy, but they would call him when Kisamoi was ready to come home.
Several months later, Leroy got the call – Kisamoi was ready to come home and when he finally found himself waiting in the lobby at Kenyatta Hospital, Kisamoi came down the hallway towards him walking with his crutches. It was a miracle indeed!
Later, Kisamoi’s father , who was a warrior, ran down Leroy’s truck in the bush to thank Leroy for what he had done for Kisamoi saying –
My son used to crawl on the ground like a dog…but now he walks upright like a man..
I have never heard Leroy recount this story without seeing tears in the big mans eyes.
It is not me…. It is God who has looked out for Kisamoi, Leroy will say.
He heals in many different ways.
The story of Kisamoi is one of desperation, hope, salvation, intervention, persistence, healing and ultimately one of God’s love for each one of us, no matter what it takes - or who we are. It is the story of one little crippled boy in the forsaken bush country of Africa, but also one of us all, in whatever condition we find ourselves. It is the story of redemption.
We went to find Kisamoi when Ruthann & I were there. We traveled rock and dirt roads, over the mountians to the farthest village away and eventually found Kisamoi along side the road. When he saw Leroy he almost knocked him over and there were hugs and tears for some time at this amazing reunion.
Life has still not been easy for Kisamoi. Both of his parents have since died, leaving him alone. His legs are still crippled and because he walks on crutches, and cannot really work in this agrarian culture, he cannot marry. He is having increasing difficulty getting around and needs a bicycle with hand controls, and a wheel chair for times when his arms are so tired he cannot carry his weight. But….. he is still alive, still has a smile on his face and still remembers the big white man who cared enough to take a crippled Pokot boy who walked on his hands and drug his body all the way to Nairobi to find the one doctor who could help him.
Leroy with God's hlep, is again helping Kisamoi. He has brought him to the Bush house where he and Mary stay in Kamaketto. Kisamoi has a job! – he is the assistant to the old man who watches Leroy’s mud hut when Leroy and Mary are gone to town. He has respect again, and he has his big missionary daddy back.
“..For you see your calling breathren, that not many of the wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called, But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise, and God had chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things that are mighty; and the base things of the world, and the things that are despised, God has chosen, and the things that are not to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence.” 1 Cor 1:26-29
We want to extend personal thanks to all of those who have supported our ministry here in West Pokot, Kenya. Who would have ever believed that God would allow us the great privilege of serving the wonderful Pokot people again. We are so grateful to our many friends and the Churches who have come along side and shared the vision with us. Please know that you are all in our prayers. Things are not always easy here...in fact it is frequently difficult and frustrating, but through it all, our Lord has shown us many miracles -both small and large, and His hand is evident in all of our steps.
.JPG)
