Success

Today for lunch, I made a quesadilla and guacamole. It turned out MUCH better than my tacos. Avocados are huge and cheap here. Jane, our cook in Sudan, has a sister named Esther who knows how to make tortillas. She came over today and made them for me. While she was here, I interviewed her cousin Mercy to see if she wants to come and cook for us in Sudan when Jane finishes in August. She accepted the position and will fly back with me in three weeks. Earlier Rose came over again and I got another massage. I know...life is rough! This evening, Gordon and I walked around and headed to Yaya which is a mall not too far away. We split a burger and each had a milkshake. I had to make good on my bet! We took a matatu home because we were so full.

I am feeling so much better. After being sick for a long time, I am surprised how quickly I am improving. The doctor said if it was the right medicine, I would see a difference in 24 hours and he was right. It almost feels too good to be true. I am almost back to normal. Thank you for all your prayers.

Funny Story: I went to a clothing store yesterday and found some great capris for Sudan. They were so comfy that I would have gotten more if they had different colors. When I put them on today, I was surprised to see "Baby on Board" on the tag. Then it hit me, I bought maternity pants!!!! No wonder they fit so well in the waist. It doesn't matter. I am not too proud to wear maternity pants!

Questions

Have you ever received an email with a bunch of questions about yourself? You answer all the questions and send it to your friends. It's really fun. Some people hate them, but I LOVE them and am always willing to fill them out and send them around. I haven't received one since I have been here and Amy sent one specifically for me and Tonj. I thought you might like to see some of the questions and answers.

What is your favorite food item in Tonj? Without a doubt - Hamburgers. That's our Saturday lunch. One time Jane didn't use enough meat and our patties were the size of a silver dollar. It was so funny. Now she has gone the other way and we all get giant quarter pounders! I'm not complaining.

Do you let them hang your underwear on the line to dry? HAHAHA! Yes. I love Mabior because he doesn't judge me on my giant granny panties. Many of the other women wash their own though. The clothes line is right by my room so I grab them as soon as they are dry.

Are there less distractions in Tonj or is that just a myth? There are less distractions on Tonj for sure. In America, we are so busy all the time. I have lost my ability to just sit in silence or rest. I was always cramming my day with stuff to do and when I was at home, the TV or music was on. That's not to say there is nothing to do. I am actually quite busy, but it's different than in the US. I am bummed we have the DSTV. I hope that it leaves when the World Cup is over. Because the internet sometimes works only a few hours a day, I don't find the computer or being online as distracting as it could be.

What is your least favorite noise? The stupid roosters that don't know when to crow. 1:00 pm, 8:00pm, 3:00am. They do it ALL day.

Does the spiritual warfare seem stronger or just more obvious? I think it is stronger, but maybe not as obvious. I think it's stronger because once we take the leap to leave our comfort zone, we are prey to the enemy trying to discourage us. It's hard and he knows it's hard. I find myself being more anxious about issues that I don't need to be worried about. I say it's not as obvious because we get used to it and maybe don't always see it for what it is. At home, I could tell right away when something was out of the norm and could link it to spiritual warfare. Here, there is so much out of the norm, I forget to call it what it is... the enemy waging a war against the Lord's work. Although spiritual warfare is NOT fun, it gives us a chance to grow closer to God. We have two choices: 1. Give in to the enemy's lies and suffer emotionally or 2. Chose to trust God and grow closer to him as a result of the hard times.

What has been your best memory of this last year to date? This is tough because there are so many stand out moments. Mark and I had enough funny moments to fill a book. Since I love to laugh, I think of those often and fondly. However, there was a special moment with Mabior that I won't forget. I was having a bad day and really hated being in the kitchen. Without asking, he came in and helped me cook. Men in Sudan never cook, so it was especially touching that he did. We ended up singing and laughing and having a great time. I will always be thankful for that day. It was a reminder that God provides comfort when needed and it can come from the most unexpected places.

What one food item do you crave that you can not get in Africa, anywhere? Doritos and Dr. Pepper

Is is hotter in Tonj or Palm Springs? Hmmmm, that's hard. I have only been to Palm Springs once and it was Africa hot there (before I knew I would get to experience African heat). I declared I would never return (and haven't!). I think I will go with Tonj because there is no escape from the heat. There is no restaurant or hotel with AC. You must endure it.

If you could listen to any Bible teacher, who would it be? Matt Tague

What is your favorite Dinka word? Isal a tol tin? This is spelled so wrong, but it means "do you have diarrhea?" Mabior taught it to me and everyone laughs when I ask them.

What is your favorite time of day? Between 5 and 7 pm. Work is winding down, the internet is usually on and I usually get to relax in my room and shower before dinner.

Do you sleep with ear plugs or without? Without, unless there is a party happening somewhere nearby and I can't sleep. I am used to all the other noise now.

If you could stay at Safari Style or in Nairobi, which would you pick? Nairobi 100%. Safari Style is wonderful once you have been in Tonj for a while. The pool and AC are so refreshing. But, it still is Sudan. People in Rumbeck thought it was funny we came to Rumbek for a vacation. It's like going from Ramona to Vista. A slight improvement, but nothing grand. Nairobi is a true escape from the harshness of Sudan and really allows you to rest and enjoy civilization again.

Terrific Tuesday

Yesterday Gordon and I took a matatu to town. Matatus are vans used for public transportation. They are kind of crazy. I have seen the crazy drivers weaving in and out of traffic and now I know what it is like to ride in one. They have no mercy. I was only halfway in when the driver took off. I'm surprised I didn't fall out! I am not comfortable taking one by myself, but I feel safe with Gordon. Once we got to town, we walked all over and ran errands. Downtown Nairobi reminds me a lot of downtown San Diego/Balboa Park area. There are tall buildings, hotels and a big park. There are also lots of trees. The weather was perfect and I really enjoyed walking around. In the evening, we went out for pizza since it was buy one get one free. They call it Terrific Tuesdays. It was really yummy. I hope to have pizza at least one other time before heading back to Sudan.

8 Month Update

This update will be pretty short since the month of June has been relatively uneventful. Everything has been routine for the most part.

The clinic has carried on as usual. We have a new clinical officer on our team, Caleb, who has done a great job. I have still been doing the pregnant mother health talks and have been attending the Saturday morning classes. I even got an A on my first test which was about equipment in the clinic.

The pastors school finished their last term of their first year. Joe and Nancy Losee finished their one year commitment and have returned to Kenya. We are looking for people to come teach the pastors. If you know of anyone who might be interested, please let me know.

Sabet came back from Nairobi and we are still waiting for exemption papers to come through before the truck can leave. We are getting closer to that happening and are praying the truck leaves this week.

My biggest battle this month has been my health. My stomach problems returned with a vengeance. For the past four weeks, I have been struggling. That is one of the reasons I am writing this update from Kenya. About two weeks ago Suzy asked me if I wanted to take my break when the next flight came in. Although I wasn't desperate for a break, I decided to go so I could see a doctor.

The flight brought in ten visitors. Some are staying for a few weeks, others for one month, two months and one for two years! I was bummed to miss time with the team, but knew I needed to get my stomach problems figured out. I'll be going back to Sudan when the plane goes to pick up some of the visitors on July 22. I won't be doing anything grand while I am in Nairobi. Just resting and doing free and cheap stuff around Nairobi.

I saw the doctor today for my test results. He is a little confused about what is going on with me. Most of the routine tests came out normal (thyroid, cholesterol, blood sugar, liver function, etc). I tested negative for malaria, typhoid and other common diseases here. I did test positive for a bacterial infection which the doctor thinks is masking something else like giardia or amoebas. He also discovered swollen lymph nodes behind my ears and on my neck after I complained of pain there and thinks there is an infection there too. So, he put me on four different medications which will hopefully help.

Praise Reports:

1.Stephanie Williams, a midwife from the US, has joined us. She will be staying two years. I am very excited to have a new friend.
2.With the team came a box of supplies from home! It was very much needed and fun to get.
3.I got to go to Rumbek (about four hours from Tonj) with the Kuj family for a three day vacation. We got to swim and enjoy air conditioning.
4.I am very thankful for the time in Nairobi to rest, relax, have fun and get better.

Prayer Requests:

1.Our truck needs to leave and clear the border.
2.Without me there, Suzy will be busy handling my tasks along with her busy schedule (logistics, homeschool, managing the clinic and compound) and deal with a team. Ask God to give her strength.
3.Teachers for the pastors school are needed. The next term is scheduled to start in August.
4.Healing for my body.

This month I have felt God teaching me about rest. I am not good at resting. I feel if I am resting that means I am not helping. Often I busy myself so much I that I don't spend time dwelling in God's presence and goodness. Then I end up making myself stressed, worn out and sick. Even being in Nairobi, I feel guilty about resting and not being in Sudan. However, maybe my sickness is a blessing in disguise. It could be God's way of forcing me to rest. After all, He knows my needs and He allowed me to be in Nairobi right now. Matthew 11:28,29 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”

As always, thank you for your prayers and support. When I have had a hard day, someone sends an email that strengthen and encourages me. God has blessed me with a great team back home which enables me to do what I do while I am here.

Donation Information:

1.Go to www.indeedandtruth.org. Click on donate and you'll see a my name listed and can designate a donation to me.
2. Mail a check to: In Deed and Truth Ministries, PO Box 51253, Colorado Springs, CO 80949 Please don’t forget to write my name on the memo line. Donations are tax deductible.

Until next month...

---Stacie

Dinner A La Gordon

Tonight, Gordon cooked a traditional Kenyan meal for us. We had fish (talapia), sakuma wiki (cale) and ugali. Since it was a traditional meal, I ate with my hands. It took some getting used to, but I managed. It was really yummy!



(Gordon eating it the right way)



(To my Hurley friends... check out his shirt!)



(Me attempting to eat with my hands. It's harder than it seems!)







(Fish head anyone?)

Doctor Update

I saw Dr. Chunge today and got my results. Unfortunately he is not 100% sure what is going on. The good news is that most of my results were normal. He checked levels on thyroid, blood sugar, cholesterol, liver function and others and they all were ok. I tested negative for malaria, typhoid and other common diseases in the area. I tested positive for a bacteria infection. Since I have all the symptoms for giardia, it's possible I have that or something else (amoebas) that is masked by the infection. Within the last two days, I developed pain behind my ears and neck. He discovered swollen lymph nodes there and said I have an infection there too. While in Sudan I was given medication that didn't work so he had to try some other, stronger ones. He gave me a combo of four medications that he hopes will work. If they do, I should start to feel better in 24 hours. I will go back on Saturday to drop off another sample for testing. I would appreciate your continued prayers.

Oregano & Paprika Taco Meat

In Nairobi, we have a nice stove and other accessories that make cooking easier than in Sudan. One would think that would mean I would be a better cook here. That is not the case. Today I found taco shells in a grocery store and bought everything I needed for tacos. I spent two hours in the kitchen preparing vegetables and other food items for the week so I could quickly through stuff together. I chopped lots of tomatoes, onions, cilantro, lettuce and grated cheese. I even cooked bacon so I could have bacon, lettuce, tomato and avocado sandwiches during the week. I know, I am so domestic. Then I decided make the meat.

We don't have taco seasoning so I looked up recipes online. We didn't have all the items listed by the recipes so I decided to just put in what we had: paprika, oregano, salt, pepper and onions. It looked ok as I cooked it. When it came time to eat, I spread out all my taco components and served myself a generous helping of tacos. My first error was that I burned the taco shells. Yes, they are the pre-made ones that only need warming in the microwave. It's pretty hard to ruin those. Apparently, they can be burned. So I had to throw them out and heat new ones. Once I assembled the tacos, they looked delicious. I took the first bite and thought, "hmmm...that's odd." Maybe it's the cheese that is throwing off the taste. The cheese here tastes different than the cheese in the US. I kept eating, but it didn't seem right. I just was not enjoying them. Then I tasted the meat on it's own and realized, that's the problem. My meat came out terrible. I think the oregano was terribly overpowering. It could have been the paprika. At that point, I just decided to stop eating. I was very disappointed in myself, but not surprised that I messed it up. I couldn't bear to throw it away. Before I knew it was bad, I offered some to Gordon. He's Kenyan and they don't cook Mexican food here, so he won't know what it is supposed to be like. I heated up the meat (after telling him it was questionable) and asked him to try it first. He looked at it and said "I think I'll pass." Bummer. I guess I will still have to eat it.

Despite the problems in the kitchen, I had a nice, low key day. Gordon and I went to church in the morning. The worship was great as was the sermon. The pastor talked about trusting God with our future and used the story of Jacob and Esau to illustrate his point. God had already chosen Jacob to lead his brother, but his mom manipulated the situation to make sure that would indeed happen instead of trusting God to bring it about. As a result, they created problems for themselves. We need to always to the right thing and trust God to take care of our future. Even if the situation seems impossible, God will still prevail.

After church we stopped by the grocery store and headed home. I watched a movie and then worked in the kitchen. I ended the day by watching the Argentina/Mexico game. While I really don't care who wins, I feel compelled to root for Mexico for a few reasons: everyone else here is going for Argentina, Mexico is my neighbor and I like their food (unless tacos are made with oregano and paprika).

Relaxing Day

Today I had a restful day. Rose, a friend of Suzy's, came to the house for a pedicure and a massage (for only $20!). It was wonderful. Then I spent the afternoon napping and reading. In the evening Dan, Laura, Gordon, Jeff (Gordon's friend) and I went to see Toy Story 3. It was so cute! We made sure to get home in time for the US/Ghana soccer game. Even though everyone said there was no chance the US could win, I was still hoping for an upset. The game was really tight and we came close, but the US did lose. I was also a loser. Gordon and I bet on who would win. He was for Ghana and I was for the US. The loser had to buy the winner a milkshake from Java House, which has the best milkshakes in Kenya and anywhere else the in the world, actually. Enjoy your milkshake Gordon! We'll revisit the bet in four years.

My stomach problems have gotten worse since Friday. Please pray that I will get some answers when I see the doctor Monday afternoon. Thanks!

Getting to Know Nairobi

My previous visits to Kenya have been with the Kuj family and Mark (In January/February) and Matoch, the medical evacuation (in March). Now that I am here alone, I get to explore Nairobi a little more. While I am here, I am staying at a house that is rented by a friend of Sabet and Suzy's. He offers it to missionaries and others here on break. The Kuj family stays here whenever they are in Nairobi. We just chip in on the rent and utilities. Right now, in addition to me there is Karen and a couple, Dan and Laura, who work in North Africa. Gordon, our logistician also lives here.

Gordon has been great and is showing me different areas of Nairobi. Yesterday I went to a memorial service with him for a friend of his, Joseph, who died earlier this week. It was held in a Calvary Chapel and was a really nice service. There was worship, a great sermon and people sharing about Joseph. Later we watched the second soccer game of the evening. It was a really nice day. It was neat to get a glimpse of Gordon's life here. Like any big city, there are places that are not safe and some that are not. He makes sure to take me only to places that are safe.

Earlier that morning, I hung out with Laura. We went to Java House for drinks (coffee for her, tea for me) and dessert. Then we walked around a did a little shopping. We found a cute charity shop and I bought two shirts for 200 shillings (about $3.00). Since I have lost some weight and have no clothes for colder weather, I had to do a little shopping. Darn. Before my doctors appointment on Thursday, Gordon and I went to Toi Market, the giant second hand clothes market. I have to brag about my bargaining skills. This is what I got: two jackets (really cute ones!), two sweaters, three jeans, 11 t-shirts and three capris for $70. It's pretty much the only place I will shop at. They don't have cheap mass produced clothing (like at Target or Wal-Mart) so everything in the malls is very expensive. The bummer is many places you can't try things on. So half of the t-shirts, two of the jeans and the capris don't fit. But, it's ok I will save them for next time I am in Nairobi when I am hopefully smaller!

Slowly I am feeling myself relax and feel rested. It's strange to go to sleep at night in such silence. I am used to hearing frogs, crickets, donkeys, roosters and people singing as I try to fall asleep. I am loving the weather here. It's cold, but not freezing or raining. Sleeping with blankets again is wonderful!

Taboo Subject

(Warning: this blog contains material some consider inappropriate to discuss. If you don't like bathroom humor, don't read this one.)

This is very un-American, but I am going to do it anyway. I am going to blog about poop. Since I try to be as transparent as possible and show you what life is like here, I have decided to clue you in on this part of being an African missionary. Yes, I know, we don't like to talk about it. I'm sure I am not the only one who has gone to the doctor and when asked what the problems are are may have said “abdominal pain, vomiting (and then whisper) and I have diarrhea.” Oh no... the dreaded “d” word.

Now that I have been in Africa, I am used to talking about poop. People talk about it all the time. They have no hesitation to ask for prayer during devotion for their diarrhea or hemorrhoids that are severely swollen. Before we left for our first trip, Mike gave us the poop pep talk “tell someone if you haven't gone for three days or have gone too much in three days.” When I first got there, it was awkward, now the “d” work flies out of my mouth at the drop off of a hat. The first time I had a problem with diarrhea, I was so embarrassed to talk to our clinical officer. He assured me it's nothing to be embarrassed about.

Today I saw the tropical disease doctor aka the poop doctor. In preparation for my visit, I was given a container to put a sample in. The container is a small tube with a lid that has a small spatula attached. Since I had never done that before, just looking at it brought up all kinds of questions. So, when Suzy called me last night, I quizzed her:

1.Do I go and scoop it out of the toilet?
2.Do I hold the spatula and pray some falls on it?
3.Do I go in a bucket and scoop it up?
4.How much do they need? I didn't want to be the freak who brought in a cup when all they need is a teaspoon.
5.How fresh does it have to? Can it stay overnight?

You see the confusion? She laughed, answered my questions and said “it's a messy job, but someone has to do it.” Unfortunately, I wasn't able to “go” on command so I had to go the appointment without the needed sample. Dr. Chunge was really nice and told me to bring the sample in when I could. My abdomen was really sensitive when he examined me and he thinks I have some foreign visitors in my intestines. In addition to the sample I will bring later, they tested blood and urine. I will go back on Monday to discuss my results. I'll let you know how it goes.

I hope no one is offended. Just felt like sharing an issue that comes up frequently here! We have to find humor in these things. I debated for a while whether or not to post this one, but decided someone will find it interesting/humorous!

Made it to Nairobi

Well, I made it to Nairobi safely. We had a long day of flights with three stops before reaching Nairobi around 5:00pm. I was a little tired and cranky during the day, but once we landed I felt energized. Gordon picked me up and we stopped by Nakumatt so I could do a little grocery shopping. I picked up the essentials like bread, milk, cereal, eggs, fruit and snickers. You know, the basics! It was nice to be in a big store and I wish I could have stayed for hours just walking around. After we stopped by the house to drop off the stuff, Gordon and I went to town where we picked up some movies and then ate yummy chicken and chips (fries). Pretty soon, I am off to bed, but not before I go through the box of supplies and goodies from home that was brought by one of the team members. Christmas came early!

Heading Out

Today a flight is coming with a team of ten. Tomorrow it goes back to Nairobi and I will be on it. This will give me a chance to have some R&R, see the doctor and help Suzy with ministry needs in Nairobi. I'll send you updates as I can while I am there!

Bambi

At Safari Style, they have a few wild animals who have made that their home. They have George, a giant goat, Gypsy, a deer and Rambo a little dik-dik. A couple weeks ago, some one brought them two dik-diks who were abandoned by their mother. Cathy offered Suzy one and she said yes! So, “Bambi” came home with us. She has a few medical problems, but we are hoping she will thrive with a little TLC.



(George)

Tonj Sweet Tonj

Friday came quickly and we were back in Tonj. We had a really nice time in Rumbeck. We spent most of the mornings and afternoons hanging by the pool. Then we headed back to AfEx (the place we were staying) and relaxed in our air conditioned rooms until dinner. Cathy, a missionary who helps out at Safari Style sometimes, really saved our vacation. She helped us find accommodation and gave us a ride to and from the pool everyday. She also took Suzy and I to the market on Friday morning. Rumbeck is a much bigger town than Tonj so their market has a lot more selection than our local market. We had fun walking around and shopping. Sabet was surprised when we came back with a ton of stuff. Once Awad and Dabu arrived to pick us up, we headed back to Tonj. The ride wasn't too bad, about three and a half hours. We put a mattress down in the back and were able to lay down the whole ride home. Even though we were only gone for three days, it was nice to reunite with everyone when we returned.

While we were in Rumbeck, there was a big conference going on. The British Ambassador to Sudan was staying at Safari Style along with his security detail. We talked with him for a bit and he was really nice.



Health Update: I am still having some stomach issues, but I am so much better than I have been for the last ten days. My cold is completely gone too. Maybe it's the healing waters of Safari Style! :)

Vacation

Today we headed to Rumbeck for a vacation at Safari Style. The tiny six seater plane picked us up in Tonj. It was such a fun ride. I got to sit in the front with the pilot and wore headphones with a microphone. Halfway through the flight, he asked if I wanted to fly the plane. Absolutely I did! For about 15 minutes, I was in charge. It was a blast... and although he was in control, I was still a little stressed! It was my Top Gun moment. I had “Danger Zone” running through my head. After 40 minutes, we landed in Rumbeck where Sabet was waiting for us.







Unfortunately, Safari Style made a mistake and didn't have room for us. Fortunately, we found accommodation elsewhere and were able to go to Safari Style to swim. We had a relaxing afternoon and the kids and I enjoyed a pre-dinner showing of “The Little Mermaid” in my room. Right now I am lying in a freezing room enjoying the AC.

Getting Better...

I am feeling much better today (Monday). The fever is gone and so is the headache and cold symptoms for the most part. I did break down Saturday night and cried for about 10 minutes in the bathroom after the pain medicine the doctor gave me didn't work and he said there was nothing else he could do. Then I went to Suzy and she prayed for me. Without the cold, I can function again. My stomach issues are still present, but are not so bad when I only have that to deal with.

Tomorrow I am going to Safari Style with the Kuj family for a short break. This is the place we went in December and really loved. There is a pool, AC and yummy food. Sabet is flying into Rumbeck tomorrow and the plane will come and pick up Suzy, the kids and me and take us to Rumbeck. It saves us a four to five hour bumpy road trip. Then the car will come on Friday to pick us up. The Kuj family has been apart quite a bit over the last three months so it will be nice for them to enjoy family time before the teams arrive and things get hectic. I am looking forward to the plane ride. It's a tiny five seater and will be the smallest plane I have been on. Since it's only forty five minutes away, it should be fun. I'm excited to have time to rest and recuperate. I may not have internet access so I may not be able to post an update until I get back to Tonj on Friday. Until then, please pray for safe travels, the compound to run smooth while we are gone and continued healing of my body.

Not Feeling Well

I would appreciate your prayers today. For the last few days I have had some stomach issues that are not getting better. I have had to make frequent visits to the bathroom during the night (as well as throughout the day) and have not had much sleep lately. I was still able to function with that going on, but today I developed a cold/sinus problem. Although I have had a lot of time to rest today, I have not been able to sleep because of a very bad stuffy nose, ear ache and headache, despite taking medication. The addition of the second problem has gotten me down. I feel really discouraged. I have had stomach problems on and off for the past two months and am just really tired of feeling sick. I feel like I am on the verge of tears. I'm sure that is from the lack of sleep. If I could get sleep, I'm sure I will feel better. Being sick here is not fun. And I feel guilty about not being 100% for to help the ministry.

It looks like I will be going to Nairobi for a break on June 23rd. There is a team flying in that I will take their plane back to Nairobi. I am bummed I'll be missing time with a team, but some will still be here when I return. The good thing about me going now is I will be able to see a doctor and have tests done to see if I have any problems. It's possible I have an amoeba that just needs medication to get rid of. So, please pray that I will get better so or that June 23 comes quickly. It seems so far away and I really want to see the doctor so I can feel better.

I just re-read this and I sound like such a baby! I'll be fine, but I could use your prayers so I won't feel so discouraged.

Items in the Clinic

Today Caleb (our new clinical officer) taught a class on the items found in the clinic. He thought it was important that the Sudanese staff knew how to spell them correctly. As people called out items, he had them come to the board and write them. Then he would have other people challenge the spelling if necessary. They did pretty good but there were a few errors that made us laugh. My favorite: the item was Ringers Lactate, John wrote Ringers Lactato!

World Cup is Here!

Sabet is in Nairobi trying to get our truck here so our World Cup outreach is on hold until he gets here, hopefully early next week. So, the rest of us gathered to watch game one. After about 2 minutes I had my fill so I left. Some prefer soccer (seriously... who watches soccer?) and some prefer to take silly photos.






Tonight is USA vs. England. Otherwise known as me vs Suzy! Chances of a USA victory are slim, but I am still holding out for an upset.

Grieving Families

For the last two nights, I have been called to the clinic to help families deal with the loss of their relatives that have died in the clinic. Two days ago, we had a man here with severe alcohol poisoning brought in. He was in a coma and not responding to any treatment given to him. Later that night he died. I could hear yelling at the clinic and didn't know what was going on. Then Dennis informed me the man died and asked me to pray with the family. I went over there and offered my condolences. Then the family allowed me to pray for them. Shortly after, more family members arrived, including the son and the situation became a little chaotic. Fortunately Suzy came over and helped get the situation under control.

Last night, after I went to bed, Pritty knocked on my door and asked me to come to the clinic. A baby had just died from severe pneumonia and an intestinal obstruction. By the time they brought the baby in, there was nothing we could do. When I got there, I saw this precious little child, around 6 months old, bundled up in his grandmother's bag. His mother had died and the grandmother had been taking care of him. Along with the grandmother, was the baby's sister who was around eight years old. Both of them were quietly crying. I just hugged the little girl while she cried. I felt so bad for her. She lost her mom and now lost her sibling. I reassured the grandmother that she had done all she could and it wasn't her fault.

No matter how many times I deal with situations like these, it never gets easier.

Trip to the Vets... in Wau

Today I went to Wau for the second time because Oochie needed her last vaccination. Since Sabet wasn't here to take her (he is in Uganda working on items for the truck), Suzy sent me with Dabu and Awad. I had a really nice time. The road is very bumpy, but Dabu made it there in two and a half hours. For most of the ride I was able to lay down in the back and rest. I decided that it was going to be a day of listening to my favorite singer, Richard Marx. So I went to artists on my ipod, found Richard Marx and selected “play all.” It was bliss. I didn't quite make it through all 70 songs, but I made a good dent! The ride was stressful on Oochie. Because of all the bumps, she had a hard time relaxing and getting comfortable. She even got sick once. Let me just say, dog vomit is way nastier than human vomit!

We left at 9:30 and were racing the clock. The vet closed at 12:00 and usually the drive takes three hours. We made it there just in time and Oochie got her shots. After we headed to the market to pick up all the items on the shopping list. I was the laughing stock of Wau. Everywhere I went, people laughed at me and Oochie. NO ONE has a dog as a pet. Here dogs are dirty and vicious. No one caters to them; certainly no one transports them in a car, feeds them good food or walks them on a leash. When dogs get close to people, they are quickly chased away with rocks. So when people saw me in the car with Oochie they couldn't believe it. They were even more shocked when they saw me lead her with a leash. It's just crazy to them. A few people asked me if she was for sale.

As we were walking around, much to my dismay, she started to go to the bathroom in front of one of the shops. The boys in the shop were outraged and started yelling at her. Then they started to throw their shoes at her. I shouted “sorry!” (in Arabic) many times and quickly pulled her away. Unfortunately when I pulled her away, she landed in a pile of lentils that were for sale. Once again they started yelling at her (me, really) and again I was shouting my apologies. After that, I decided Oochie and I were better off in the car. So, Dabu and Awad went to lunch, but brought me chicken that I ate in the car while Oochie ate her lunch. The chicken was from the place with the yummy smoothies, but they didn't have to go cups so I had to miss out this time. It's ok, the chicken was yummy enough.

I wish I could take photos in Wau. There is so much to see that I wish you could see it too. It's a bigger town than Tonj. The market is huge and there are lots of people and cars. There is a mix of culture too. Because it is North of Tonj, there is more of an Arab/Islamic presence. Here everyone looks the same. It's nice to see different types of people there. As I was sitting outside a shop waiting for the sorghum to be grinded, a funny kid across the street caught my eye. He was probably six years old and was carrying a Fanta soda. He took off the label and put it over his eyes like a blind fold. Then he ran across the busy street, blind folded. He's lucky he didn't get run over! When he reached the other side he peeked to make sure he wasn't in danger and then continued walking down the street blindfolded, laughing, having a great time. In the States people would freak out if they saw that. Here, kids are very independent from a young age so I am used to seeing little ones walking alone.

On our way out of town, we stopped by the hospital to pick up a patient we had taken there for treatment the previous week. She was all better and ready to go home. I asked her if she had eaten and she said no so I gave her the bread that came with my lunch. Later on the ride home, she saw me give Oochie some water and asked for some. I filled up an empty bottle and gave it to her. A few minutes later, she tapped me on the shoulder and gave me a piece of candy. It was so sweet. I knew she was poor and didn't have much, but she wanted to give me something to show her gratitude. I didn't do anything that needed thanking, yet she was so grateful. I didn't want to take her candy because I'm sure she didn't often have treats, but it would have been insulting to decline so I took it and she was pleased. It was a really special gesture that I will never forget.

We left Wau at 3:30 and got back by 5:30. Crazy Dabu made it in two hours! Even the rain couldn't slow him down. Oochie got really hot so we sat up front so she could feel the AC. She did much better up there. She didn't get sick at all and just sat next to me until we got home. It was a fun trip and I even made it in home in time for movie night!

Jogging in Tonj

Recently Suzy and I have been exercising together. She has a book that teaches you how to go from walking to running. Each week you increase the amount of time you run and decrease the amount of time you walk. We started in Nairobi running one minute and walking three minutes. We did this seven times three times week. The next week you increase to eight times and the following week it's nine times. Then you start running for two minutes and walking for two minutes seven times, then eight, then nine. The first time we did it, I barely could run one minute. It was a struggle and was hard to do it seven times.

When Suzy stayed in Nairobi and I came back to Tonj at the end of March, she continued but I didn't. When she came back, I picked it back up with her. At that point she was running for two and walking for two. The first time I joined her again in Tonj, my body was hurting. Running for two minutes was so hard! However, we kept at it and now we are running for three minutes walking for one, eight times. I am surprised by my body's ability to adapt. Now running three minutes is easy. The first set is hard because my body does not want to do it, but once we get started, it gets easier. I discovered I was making it harder on myself. Suzy has a timer so we know when to start and stop running. Each time she started the timer, I would try to count the seconds in my head so I would know when we would be done. If we were running for two minutes, I would count to 120. Running is challenging so I desperately wanted each running section to end quickly! The depressing part occured when I would get to 120 and the timer didn't go off. I did this for a while, then one day I didn't count and found it so much easier. If I didn't keep track, the time seemed to go by faster. I had been torturing myself unnecessarily. Since I stopped counting, running has become more enjoyable and not so difficult. Suzy and I have improved and can now carry on a conversation while running. Keep in mind, when I say run, I actually mean a slow jog! Today Suzy and I decided to see how long we could run non stop. We got to ten minutes before stopping. Ten minutes!!!! That's huge for me. Not long ago, one minute was very hard.

We have had a few funny things happen to us while running. The first is, people we pass, point and laugh at us. They aren't discreet about it either. They will come right up to us, look, talk to each other and laugh at us. Many people have even join us for a short while. We usually run when kids are going to school so some of the school kids will start running with us.

Another funny thing is we almost got ran over by a truck. The road is being worked on so that particular day there was a portion of the road that was very narrow with piles of mud on both sides. There was just enough room for one car. On our first pass through, Suzy said “I hope a truck doesn't come!” We were ok the first pass, but on our way back, we were about halfway through that section when we heard a truck coming. Suzy said “run!” and we started sprinting to the end. We were trying to avoid jumping over the big piles of mud. We almost made it but decided to jump when it got a little too close for comfort. I think we could have made it, but it was better to be safe than sorry! We both were hurting after that sprint. I don't think I have ever run that fast!

The other funny thing is the interesting people we come across on the road. One time Suzy saw a man from the cattle camp carrying a spear and she talked him into selling us his spear for Garrett to take home. Today was quite the exciting day. When cars or motorcycles come by, we have to move. They will not go around us. There was one heading towards us today so we moved to the side. Unfortunately this guy decided to be a punk and zoomed right at me. He came within a couple inches of me. Another lady we met today was a little intimidating. She was with her neighbors when we ran by and decided to put on a show for them. She was a very tall lady and had a big stick. She ran next to us for a bit and then went behind us and was swinging the stick like she was trying to whip a horse to make it go faster. She did it behind Suzy first and Suzy scooted out of her way. I didn't want her to think this was a game we were going to play so I continued at the same pace. She swung her stick and I could hear the whoosh as she whipped it really fast in the air. She got really close to me and then Suzy told her “no” and it wasn't ok. She left after that. Most of the people are funny not scary!

Things happen while running in Tonj that would never happen in the States. Never a dull moment.

Ugali Pancakes

Add pancakes to my list of kitchen disasters. We have a cook (Jane) now so it's surprising that I am still able to have kitchen disasters. I try to make pancakes at least once a week. Suzy has an amazing recipe which I haven't written down so I usually use a simple recipe Jane found. On Saturday night, I decided to make the batter since I wasn't sure if we were running on Sunday morning. After dinner I headed over to the kitchen to make the batter. We are having electrical issues so we had no power in the kitchen. It was almost dark and I had trouble seeing. I thought I had enough light to make batter if I was fast. I made the batter and stuck it in the fridge. The batter was a little thin so I added a little extra flour. The next morning, as I began cooking the pancakes, things didn't seem right. The texture of the batter was ok, but the pancakes were coming out thin and rubbery. I didn't know what was wrong so I finished making them. I figured it was the little extra flour I added. When I sat down to eat them, I knew something went horribly wrong. They were very dry and no matter how much syrup I added, they were horrible! Suzy told me back when I had my first disaster (I believe it was the chocolate cake that you could pick up an entire piece with a fork) that people will still eat it. And they did. Those poor people ate those nasty pancakes. A few hours later, I asked Jane if she ate the pancakes and she started laughing. She told me I had used ugali flour not the regular flour. In the low light, I didn't see she had two types of flour and I evidently grabbed the wrong container! Next time I will use a flashlight or wait until morning!

Spring Cleaning

Sorry about the delay in posting... our internet has not been working very well lately and I haven't been able to get online to blog.

Today we cleaned out one of our storerooms. Even though we are not technically an inpatient facility, we inevitably have people who need to stay the night. We also have moms who have just delivered that need to stay for observation. Our small clinic is running out of space so we cleared out one room in a two room store that we'll use to put patients in until the new clinic is finished. When Rancho del Rey came in November, we organized the store. With just a few of us, it took several days. This time I was pleased with how quickly we finished. I thought we were going to take out some stuff and store it in the pharmacy. The rest we would just put it in the other store. However, I was surprised to see the contents of both stores outside and the floors being swept and mopped. It was a huge undertaking but we had twelve people working on it and we were done before lunch. The stores were cleaned and organized as was the pharmacy and the new “in-patient room” had beds in and was ready to use. We began at 9:30 am and finished at 12:30pm. I was so proud of the efficiency, organization and leadership of the clinic staff.