Posted by Bob Perkins on Dec 07, 2017
We had some special guests at the Dec. 7 Rotary Club of Edina meeting. Moses Mwaura and his uncle and aunt, David and Subira Waithaka, visited us from Kenya to give us an update on how Moses is doing, all these years after he first visited Minnesota to have his eyes fixed and work his way into the hearts of so many Minnesotans. Rotarians Tim Murphy and Sandy Schley told us all about Moses and our club's connection to him in a program titled, "A World, a Way, the Story of Moses." 
 
There were some local media in attendance at the meeting to also check in on Moses. To read the story from the Star Tribune, click here.
 
To watch the video of KARE 11's story on Moses, click here.
 
To read the story from the Edina Sun-Current, click here
 
 
Past President Paul Mooty described the subject of the program as a “Modern Day Miracle." He introduced the presenters, the “Moses Miracle” team of Past District Governors and Past Club Presidents Sandy Schley and Tim Murphy. Tim and Sandy briefly outlined the history of this wonderful story. Our initial connection to Kenya started back in 1985 when John Schwarz and his wife, Babby, founded a school in Nairobi while teaching there at Daystar University. While in Kenya, they met David Waithaka who was their translator. Years later David helped found the Inspirations Youth Center where Sandy Schley first met three year old Moses while touring the Mathare Valley Slum during a visit to plan a public restroom project, later completed by our club. 
 
The following year, after a program where Tim Murphy mentioned Sandy’s interaction with young Moses, Charlie Barer suggested his associate, Pediatric Ophthalmologist Dr. Jafar Hasan, perform corrective eye surgery if we could get Moses here. After a lengthy process of obtaining a much-needed birth certificate, a passport, a visa, and donated airline tickets, Tim escorted Moses to Minneapolis in 2010. The corrective surgery was performed by Dr. Hasan at Fairview Southdale Hospital. Brad Beard arranged for the hospital, nurses, anesthesiologists, translators, and all other services to be donated.  
 
After the presentation, our guest of honor Moses Mwaura was introduced and answered questions from Tim and club members. Moses is now is in Standard 6 (6th grade) at Green Garden boarding school in Kikuyu, Kenya. His education and activities are supported by a trust fund set up by Paul Mooty and funded through the generosity of Rotarians and friends of Rotary. Moses will celebrate his 13th birthday on Tuesday Dec. 12, and at a party with donors on Friday. Moses is an active child. He plays many musical instruments and loves to play soccer and hockey.  (Editor’s not—for more info and pictures, see page B-1 of the Sunday Minneapolis Star Tribune).