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Adam Loves CURE

a teen from the US with a rare medical condition volunteers to serve at CURE Kenya

By CURE International

December 3^rd, 2018

“I’m not sure if it’s the excitement of everything, but I really feel like God is calling me back here,” said Adam enthusiastically after spending some time at CURE Kenya. Now, there’s something you should know about Adam. He’s not just like any other eighteen year old. Adam is a living testament to the goodness of God.

Adam and one of the cleft lip and palate patients who were around CURE Kenya when Adam was there.

Adam was born with a rare metabolic disorder called cobalamin C deficiency. It affects his vision, energy levels, and other things. From what he shared, when he was born in 1999, he was the third oldest person (known) living with his condition. Now, he told us, between the US and Europe, there are 200 known cases. Adam wasn’t supposed to live past a week. Clearly, God had different plans and is not finished with him yet.

Adam bows his head in prayer as one of his team members prays for a patient and his mom.

Adam visited CURE Kenya with his dad, Gig, and two other gentlemen from the States. He made friends and fell in love with Kenya at the same time: “I’m telling you, there’s something about them. I just love the people here. I love Abednego—there’s something about him.”

Abednego and Adam paint lines in our new parking lot.

Abednego (above, with Adam) is on our maintenance team and Adam got to work with him. When we asked what he did while on the maintenance team, he told us: “As you know, I’ve been painting those lines in the parking lot,” and “I’ve been moving boxes for the maintenance team.” That wasn’t all. For a lot of the time that Adam was visiting, we had our cleft-lip and palate kiddos around for surgery and Adam would visit them in the ward. “I’ve been praying with people,” he told us. The group he came with also donated color crayons, bubbles, notebooks, pens, and office supplies to help us out.

Adam not only fell in love with people and Kenya but also the CURE hospital, in part because of the community: “So, nice part is, I’d be in a Christian community… Everyone keeps an eye on each other.” He enjoys our chapel too. “You don’t have that in every job,” he told us.

Naomi (above, with Adam) helps lead our maintenance team, and she and Adam adopted each other. He calls her “Mom.” He’d love to come back to Kenya and work on the maintenance team. He wants to be Naomi’s assistant. Our maintenance team needs to build a new workshop: “I told Naomi when I come back for awhile, I wanna see that building get built!” His tender heart is also concerned for the maintenance team’s tender toes. He wants to bring steel-toed boots for the maintenance guys to ensure they don’t get hurt on the job!

Pastor Philip and Adam enjoy worship in the pediatric ward before Adam shares his story.

Now for Adam, it’s a bit trickier to travel to Kenya with his medical needs—both in regards to medication and to doctoring. His family is also really good about being practical and open. “In my family, they said they’re not gonna put me in a bubble and hide this from people,” Adam told us. “My parents basically said that ‘they’re gonna let me do what I put my mind to!’” Even his siblings treat him like anyone else, and this has helped foster independence for Adam. Adam has already been to places like the UAE, Italy, and Cambodia, and now he can add Kenya to his list.

Adam shared a bit of his story with everyone before having cake.

When we asked what he would say to encourage someone who is thinking about doing something hard (since he’s considering it), he told us: “First of all, pray about it, and as I’m praying, God’s speaking to me more about really looking into coming.” He would also encourage people to have a plan. Clearly you can see that he’s got a plan and he wants to come back!

The two candle blowers cut cake, along with Adam’s dad, Gig.

While Adam was here, he shared his testimony in the ward, and we even celebrated his (almost) 19th birthday along with another patient from the ward. We’re thankful to celebrate someone so worth celebrating, both for his heart and for the life God has given him. Let’s see what’s next for Adam and if it includes visiting CURE Kenya again anytime soon!