Birthday season, a big launch, and the nicest cabinets in Kapsowar!

My mom (affectionately known as Grammy) came to visit us for two weeks! You can tell from the kids’ smiles just how much we loved having her here—and I definitely appreciated the extra help!

Happy Fall, Ya’ll! 🍁

To be honest though, the only hint of fall we get here on the equator is the pumpkin-scented candle burning in our living room, ha!

Life here in Kapsowar continues to be full. Between the daily chores of homeschooling, cooking, endless dishes, and three little ones, our days feel like a blur. On top of that, we’re both busy with hospital responsibilities and a handful of new projects. So, here’s a quick fly-by of what’s been happening the past couple of months:

Introducing Friends of Kapsowar!

I’m so excited to share this one: after nearly a year of preparation, Friends of Kapsowar is officially launched!

This is the first-ever U.S. 501(c)(3) created specifically to support Kapsowar Mission Hospital. It means we can now receive and manage donations directly, without needing to route them through another organization—a big step toward efficiency and impact.

These past few months, I’ve been pouring my time into building our website, setting up systems behind the scenes, and crafting newsletters to help supporters truly see what’s happening here in Kapsowar. I’ll now be leading the organization as Director—a new chapter that shifts my focus but keeps me rooted in what I love most: telling stories that connect resources in the West to real, tangible needs here.

You can explore the new site here: www.friendsofkapsowar.org.

(And if you currently give to us through Serge, please know—your gifts not only support us but also help meet many of these needs at the hospital.)

Cabinet Renovation

If you know me (Regan), you know I can’t resist a good renovation project. There’s always something that needs fixing here! During one of my visits to the Newborn Unit (NBU)—where Jack spends much of his time—I noticed how deteriorated the cabinets had become. They were rotting, attracting cockroaches, and most drawers could barely open. All this made it difficult to keep the space sanitary for our tiniest patients.

Thanks to a connection in Eldoret, I was able to bring in a local carpenter to build brand-new cabinets from scratch. I was a little nervous since it was my first time working with him, but they turned out amazing!

The space is now cleaner and far more functional—the nicest cabinets in all of Kapsowar, if I do say so myself. And truly, this transformation was made possible by the generosity of those who support us. Your giving creates tangible change here—one cabinet, one newborn, one life at a time.

Most of these drawers wouldn’t open.

These cabinets were rotting from water damage and falling off.

The after!

We have functional drawers now!

Water Projects

Clean water is something most of us rarely think twice about—but here in Kapsowar, it’s rarely guaranteed. There have been many days when the hospital’s tanks run dry, making it incredibly difficult to care for patients. And even when water is available, it wasn’t safe for drinking.

Thanks to the generosity of one of our donors, we were able to replace and enlarge several kilometers of piping from the main water source in the nearby forest to the hospital, ensuring we had consistent water to the hospital.

They also helped install a new filtration system at the hospital so that patients have access to clean drinking water—a simple but life-changing improvement for our community.

All of the water for our community comes from a spring in the forest, so here are the men digging up the pipes to replace them.

Patients can refill their bottles here — and soon, every ward will have a dispenser with drinking water.

The inside of this cistern holds the water filtration system.

Family Updates

August and September are birthday season in our house—everyone but Sage celebrated a birthday!

Judah turned one!
Micah turned six and had a SpongeBob SquarePants party (yes, we managed to get a custom piñata sent all the way from Nairobi—small joys!).
In true Jack fashion, he didn’t tell a soul it was his birthday and opted for a quiet dinner and cake with the family.
For my birthday, Jack organized a Kenyan meal with friends that ended, as many Kenyan celebrations do, in a lively conga line.

We’re so grateful for another year together here in this place we love.

It’s safe to say Judah enjoyed his cake!

Micah and some of our crew here in Kapsowar! We played games and ended the party with a pinata!

Kenyan dance party! I’ve really come to love our social work team—Edwin, Dorcas, and Bowen. We wrapped up our locally made take out feast with Kenyan music, dancing, and they surprised me with a local dress.

Last but not least…

We’re excited to share that we’ll be back in the States for the holidays with our families! We’ll be in Monterey from November 20 – December 17 and in South Florida from December 17 – January 5. As you can probably tell from our updates, life in Kapsowar is full and often nonstop, so we’re especially grateful for this chance to be with family and recharge before the new year.

It’ll be a full six weeks, but if you’re nearby and would like to connect—we’d love to see you!

New Blog Post

It’s easy for our newsletters to focus on everything that feels “newsworthy.” But so much of God’s work happens quietly— in the small, unseen moments of everyday life. Below is something I’ve written from the heart, a glimpse into how God’s been shaping me in this season.

Tue, Oct 14

The Paradox of Ordinary Days

Our longtime friend Rebecca, a pediatric ER nurse, spent two weeks serving with us. On one village visit, our car got stuck in the mud, and we ended up waiting out the rain under a tiny porch—surrounded by a crowd of curious schoolkids.

On Sundays, while the adults meet for Bible Study, Jack and I get to teach the kids a Sunday School lesson — complete with songs, activities, and a craft!

Sage loves roasted maize — a popular local snack here (not to be confused with sweet corn!). She’s becoming quite the local!

Out for a walk and stumbled upon a group of kids playing… and somehow mine became the main attraction. One of those moments here that’s both sweet but also stretching for us all at the same time.

Sage just decided one afternoon she was ready—and taught herself to ride a bike. I guess that’s what happens when you’ve got an older brother to keep up with!

Thanks to your support, our social work team now has two new computers! These will help them write timely patient reports and register patients into insurance systems more efficiently — they were absolutely overjoyed!

Our friend from residency in San Diego, Maggie, came to visit us in Kapsowar and work alongside Jack!

Prayer Requests

Trip back to the States — This may be our most challenging trip yet, traveling with three little ones — including one who could start walking any day and wants to move constantly! Please pray for patience, safety, and endurance on that 16-hour flight. And while Jack is away, we’d also appreciate prayers for the hospital and the team continuing the work in his absence.

Teammates – Our new Serge teammates, the Borkerts, are arriving in early November! Jack is excited to have John as a partner at the hospital, and we’re so looking forward to welcoming their family to Kapsowar. Please pray for them as they navigate this big transition and settle into life here — for smooth adjustments, encouragement, and a sense of home in this new season.

We also have two other leads on Med/Peds doctors who may be considering a move to Kapsowar! Please join us in praying that God would make their path and calling clear, guiding them in this important decision.

QuickBooks Help — Setting up our accounting in QuickBooks with our bookkeeper has been one of the hardest parts of launching our new nonprofit! If you have experience with QuickBooks and would be willing to offer a bit of guidance or a tutorial, I’d be so grateful for your help.

There is always so much more to share - but this newsletter is long enough! As always, many thanks to each of you who stand with us in this work—month after month through your prayers and support. We truly couldn’t do this without you!

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