Interview with Shara Cunningham

Below are some questions and answers in regards to the recent LCMS Mercy Medical Team visit to Kenya. The questions were posed to fellow LCMS career missionary Ms. Shara Cunningham, who works closely with us here in the LCMS East Africa Field Office as our Area Volunteer Coordinator. Praise the Lord for Shara’s good work and for the opportunities opened up in the midst of the Mercy Medical Team clinic here in Kenya!

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(Interviewer) How were the gifts of both lay people (medical professionals) and pastors/missionaries vital to the mercy work accomplished by the MMT in Kenya?

(Cunningham) The pastors/missionaries in the field are able to help guide the lay people and serve as a liaison between the two cultures. The Kenya field staff does an orientation with the MMT when they arrive and serve alongside the team to be able to answer questions and give guidance during the clinic. Lay people come with an eagerness to serve, a willingness to learn and a desire to share the love of Christ with all of the people that they meet and provide medical treatment to. The gifts of the lay people and pastors/missionaries allow for support of our partner church, that we can help them with outreach and proclamation of the Gospel.

(Interviewer) How great are the medical needs where the MMT served in Kenya? How rare is the opportunity for the kind of medical care provided by the MMT?

(Cunningham) The medical needs are great. Some areas are so remote that people walk for days to the nearest dispensary. Sometimes the dispensary don’t have the medications or provide certain services. We have hosted three MMTs and have seen between 1200 and 1900 people. People walk for for hours and days and stand in line for hours to be treated. In the locations that we have hosted a clinic it was the first time and fairly remote so I would say that it can be quite rare in some places. The MMT provides a service that is desperately needed and unavailable.

(Interviewer) What were the Kenyans’ responses to this care? Do any comments or reactions from Kenyans who were served stand out in your mind?

(Cunningham) The Kenyans are extremely happy with the care from the MMT. People receive treatment and medications right away. They are often amazed that the clinic is free. Many people respond with hugs, smiles, God bless you and thank you to the team. The clinics are very well received and we are often asked if we can stay longer or come back again.

After the recent MMT in June a former village chief said that in all his life he had never seen anything like a MMT and that it was wonderful to have such a service to the community. He wanted the team to stay longer.

During the first MMT, there was a mother whose child was very sick and after being examined by the doctor we found out that there was nothing that could be done and that they child would die. The team was heartbroken but we gathered around the mother and child and prayed for her. She came back again for the next two days and was embraced with prayers and hugs and love. She was very happy to be around people who cared about her and her child.

There was an extremely malnourished child that came to the clinic and he was immediately taken to the hospital. He was admitted and received care for several months. We also found out that his brother was malnourished and we took him and the dad to the hospital where he was also examined and treated for a much shorter time. We followed up with the family until the first child was released. The father was very thankful and started going to the local Lutheran church.

(Interviewer) What do you consider this team’s main accomplishments in Kenya?

(Cunningham)

1. To support our partner church through capacity building and outreach.
2. Providing a service that is otherwise unavailable.
3. It is a demonstration of Christ’s love as they tend to physical and health needs.
4. It is an opportunity to share the Gospel.
5. It is an opportunity for teams to build relationships within the church.

(Interviewer) You are a career missionary serving in Kenya, correct? How long have you served as a career missionary? How long have you served in Kenya?

(Cunningham) Yes, I am a career missionary. I started my service with the LCMS as a GEO serving in South Africa from July 2009 to April 2012. I transitioned to a career missionary in June of 2012 and have served in Kenya for 2 years now.

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Learn more about the work God does through Shara's hands and explore ways to support her on the LCMS website: Ms. Shara Cunningham