(Mary was a member of GBHT’s U.S. medical mission team (in partnership with Mercy Road Church Northeast, Fortville, Indiana) to travel to Kenya in August, 2025, to conduct GBHT’s first medical mission camp at the Hope Center in Kibagare. Mary, the President and CEO of the Community Foundation of Hancock County, Inc. (Indiana), was joined by her daughter Emily, an RN, who also served on the team).
A Journey of Service: Reflections from Kenya
by Mary Gibble
Before I share more, I encourage you to read Cheryl and Jeff Heck’s beautiful blog, “Lessons Learned in Nairobi“, which sets the stage for our mission and the incredible work of GBHT and MeMA.
How It All Began
My journey started last December with a simple question to a friend about some Facebook photos his wife, Dr. Meg Fitzsimmons, had posted. He explained that they were in Nairobi exploring a long-held dream of joining a medical mission trip with Kevin and Jayme Harvey. Intrigued, I visited the GBHT website and learned about the nonprofit founded by Katie Harvey and her husband, Sonny Ouma, in Kigabare.
Little did I know that this curiosity would lead to a mission trip with my daughter Emily. But the Lord knew. The Holy Spirit moved Kevin and Jayme to recognize that Emily, a registered nurse, would be a valuable member of the team. Though not a medical professional, I was assured that my service would be appreciated. If Emily and I joined the trip, the group would include three mother-daughter pairs—a beautiful and unexpected blessing.
Though life threw obstacles our way, each barrier was moved from our direct path, making it clear that we were being called to serve. Saying “No, not now” was not an option. I now realize that the lessons from this experience were already unfolding long before we boarded our flight to Nairobi. We are God’s instruments, and He uses us in His time, not ours.
The Experience That Changed Everything
This was my first mission trip outside the United States. Many shared how such experiences had changed them. I thought I understood what they meant—but I didn’t. It’s impossible to explain. So instead, I’ll simply say: If you’re ever given the opportunity to serve outside this incredibly blessed country, please do so.
The People Who Inspired Me
GBHT Staff
The incredible teachers, social worker, operations staff, founders/fundraisers, food makers, food servers, and many more…love for a living. They teach, clean, feed, visit homes, preach in the streets, raise money, clear old buildings, build new classrooms, sing and dance praises. I witnessed all of these things—and yet I’m certain I didn’t see nearly what they do during the short time I was there. They are saving lives through guidance, social service assistance, and prayers for and with the children and their families. They help people like my daughter Emily and me sponsor children. Their servant lives are both overwhelming and humbling.
MeMA
The leadership of this organization was incredible! Together with GBHT, they turned a small complex of school buildings at the bottom of a steep hill into a hustling, bustling, efficient medical center. Paper signs marked tent and classroom entryways as Registration, Height, Weight, Triage, Examination, Consultation, Lab, Women’s Health, Dentist, Counseling/Prayer, and Pharmacy. Volunteers from across Nairobi answered MeMA’s call and, together with our U.S. contingency, administered care to over 1,600 people in three days.
Our Team
Organized by Jayme Harvey and Dr. Meg Fitzsimmons, Emily and I came to know and deeply appreciate Kevin, Jeff, Cheryl, Ben, Caroline, and Jenna. Smart, funny, and talented, we transitioned from strangers to fellow servants.
Vincent
While I was in awe of the aforementioned, I worked side by side with Vincent, a GBHT volunteer, for all three medical mission days. Together, we took the height and weight of almost every patient and developed a system—a partnership, really. We had only two scales, one of which quit working on the second day. Height was measured using a pencil-numbered masking tape adhered to the steel-sided classroom. Vincent instructed patients in the native language of Swahili what to expect at our station while I smiled, called each person by their Christian name, and asked patients to step on the scale. He held babies so mothers could unswaddle their children, helped the elderly step up onto the slightly elevated scale, showed patience when I messed up metric math, and made sure I stopped to “take tea.”
Emily
What a joy it was to see God work through my daughter’s service. While a very reserved person, administering care and working with children brings out the very best in her. I got to witness both. We’ve spent a lot of quality time together of course, but this unique experience was such a gift to me and one of the greatest blessings of the trip.
The Children
These precious little people are so loving and, when at GBHT, full of joy. Led by the GBHT staff, they sang of Jesus’ love. They raised out of their small plastic chairs doing motions to the songs. They were so very polite when given dishes of food, and many saved some to take home to their families. They were generous with their hugs and smiles. They fill one’s heart.
A Mission Worth Supporting
Whether or not I am blessed to return physically to GBHT and the community of Kigabare in Nairobi, I will continue to support this organization and its benefactors both spiritually and financially for the rest of my life.
GBHT’s mission is to save these children from starvation, provide education, teach the love of Jesus, keep them from leaving their families as they grow older, and ultimately prevent them from living a dangerous street life. Seeing the benefactors of this God-directed work firsthand has influenced me to provide ongoing support.
Emily and I ended our time in Kigabare visiting two households that had only a handful of food, void of nutrition. Both families, with young children, are served by GBHT at GBHT’s cost. We were blessed to help both the organization and these families by purchasing and delivering household and food staples that would last most Americans only a week. For very little cost, those same supplies sustain each household for a month. As a result, we felt it appropriate to sponsor children in both homes. Sponsorship covers the cost of school supplies and the food the child receives while attending classes. In addition, each household will receive a box of food staples on a monthly basis. Please visit GBHT’s website (here) to learn how you can participate in this critically important program.
