Returning to a Legacy of Care in Kenya
For Dr. Suzie Snyder, serving in Kenya is more than a short-term mission trip. It's a return to a community she has loved for decades.
Suzie, who previously served with CMF as a missionary physician among the Maasai people, recently traveled back to Kenya with a team through Fellowship of Associates of Medical Evangelism (FAME), a long-time ministry partner of CMF. Together, they served alongside Community Health Partners (CHP), the Kenyan-led healthcare ministry that grew out of medical work originally established by CMF.
"Thanks so much for your prayers, support, and contributions to our Kenya Medical Mission," Suzie shared after returning home. "You are most certainly one of our most important team members. We couldn't do this without people like you walking alongside us."
The trip blended compassionate medical care with opportunities to encourage and strengthen local healthcare ministries. At the Ewaso Ngiro Clinic, a young expectant mother arrived after a motorcycle accident. An ultrasound confirmed that her unborn baby was healthy, providing reassurance in the midst of a frightening situation.
Other cases were less common but just as important. One young boy found relief after a dead cockroach was carefully removed from his ear. Team members helped provide vaccines during a period when government healthcare workers were on strike, ensuring children received care they might otherwise have missed.
Throughout the outreach clinics, patients not only received medical attention but also heard messages about health, hygiene, and faith from local Maasai leaders. Joshua, manager of CHP's Aitong Clinic, connected with those waiting for treatment, offering practical teaching and sharing about Christ.
For Suzie, one of the most meaningful moments was reconnecting with longtime friends who have dedicated their lives to serving their communities. Among them was William Koya, who has served with CHP clinics for 40 years and is preparing to retire.
The team's impact was strengthened by the diversity of gifts represented. Eye doctors, pharmacists, first-time international travelers, longtime supporters, and even children served together, demonstrating how God uses people with different skills and experiences to bless others.
The trip also highlighted the lasting fruit of ministry partnerships. Dr. Jeanne, a supporter of the Maasai clinics for more than 30 years, joined the team for a second year after experiencing the ministry firsthand.
The medical ministry among the Maasai has changed significantly over the years, but one thing remains the same. Through partnerships like those between CHP, FAME, and CMF, lives are being touched with both compassionate medical care and the hope of Christ.
And for Suzie, it is a privilege to be part of that story once again.