Benja and Kevin

I brought these two guys home this afternoon to play. I think their favorite thing was taking a bath - at the orphanage they are given quick baths in a small sink, so they love being able to play and splash around in the tub at my parents' house. I had to make them get out because they were shivering when the water got cold. Benja has a HUGE head and crazy personality. His favorite thing to say is "bye bye" with a little Miss America wave. Kevin is more subdued than Benja, and even though he is older he hardly ever talks. He loves to cuddle, and when you can get him to smile he lights up the room. I'm going to miss these guys when I go home!

Thank you Kristi & Ken!

Kevin and Gary wearing new shoes thanks to my friends Kristi and Ken. The babies are always needing socks, shoes, and diapers, so thanks to Kristi and Ken's donation I was able to buy new shoes, socks, and lots of diapers for all the boys.

Church at Nazibula

This morning my parents took Mark, Michele, and I along on an outreach to a village church at Nazibula. On the weekends they take groups of college kids out to various churches to give the college students experience and encourage the churches. My parents had never been to this church before - it was started in August of last year. It took us 3 hours of driving on a very bad dirt/sand road - we never made it out of second gear. Just when we were about to turn around because we were sure it was too late and we had already missed the church service (it was almost 11:00) and we were literally in the middle of nowhere, we pulled up to the church. They had heard we were coming, and so hadn't started yet. They quickly cleaned out and prepared the classroom where church was to take place. There were over 85 in attendance - a good number for such a new church. We enjoyed some very spirited singing and lessons from Mark and my dad. Midway through the 3 hour service, some women left the church. Pretty soon my mom could see them (out of the window of the church) plucking the feathers off of chickens, and then cooking them to serve us for lunch. So after the service we were served very fresh fried village chicken, along with samp (hominy - the Zambians eat it with sugar and sour milk - no thank you!) and nshima (dried corn that looks like mashed potatoes when cooked but has no taste). After church I introduced the children to a digital camera - they loved seeing themselves on the screen. Mothers were running up to have me take pictures of their babies, and then would laugh and get very excited when I showed them the picture.

I Passed!!

A few days before I left for Africa, I took the middle school math certification test for Texas, and I just checked my scores online and I passed!! Big relief! Many thanks to Michele Broadway who tutored me - couldn't have done it without her!

Quick Update

I know, I've been a terrible blogger lately. But really haven't had much going on. I guess the best news is that I'm feeling a lot better, and would be back to 100% if it wasn't for this cough that won't go away. It probably won't go away til I'm back home and out of all this dust! Its terrible! Mom and I ended up feeling better on Monday and went out for the last two clinic days of the medical mission. I think the total of people that we saw during the medical mission (six days of clinics) was 16, 423. THat's a lot of people considering we only had 4 doctors and about 8 nurses! That number includes people who saw dentists and went to the eye clinic too though. There were also 100 baptisms.
Today I got back from Livingstone after spending one night there with the medical mission team. We went on a sunset cruise and stayed in a nice hotel and I got to take a real shower, which made the whole trip on the bumpy road worth it! When I got back I was missing the boys, so mom took me up to get Jason and George for the afternoon. They were so much fun. I just love listening to them talk to each other in Tonga. I wish I knew what they were saying. I showed them the Aggie t-shirts that David bought them and the next thing I knew they had their shirts off and the Aggies shirts on. They were a little big, but they'll grow into them. I'll post pics later when I find my card reader.
Tomorrow Mom, Dad, and I are going on a quick trip to Lusaka to see some of their friends. I'm just along for the ride. Its always fun to go to the capital city though. Hopefully I'll get to do a little shopping.

Yesterday the medical mission group arrived back at Namwianga for some much needed rest and relaxation before going out for the next set of clinics on Saturday. I came back a little earlier than the rest of the team because I got sick yet again with a fever and really bad cough and congestion. I will not be going with the group for the next set of clinics, which is disappointing and frustrating when I know there is so much that I could be doing. But I wouldn't be much help in the state that I am in.
All in all, the mecial mission has been very successful so far and we have seen thousands and thousands of patients. I'm not sure what the exact numbers are, you can check the medical mission website for that info if you're interested. I hope you enjoy the pictures below from the clinics.

As we arrived at our third clinic at Kapaule, a group of women greeted us with clapping and singing to welcome us and thank us for coming.

I worked in the pharmacy filling prescriptions. Here, a Zambian nurse pats the swollen belly of one of the many malnourished children that came through the line. Every patient was given a pack of vitamins and a worm pill, along with whatever other medication was prescribed by the doctors.

The children all gathered around us wanting to have their picture taken. I love their smiles!

Simalundu Sunset

www.zambiamedicalmission.com

Tomorrow afternoon we are leaving on the medical mission. Our first stop is Simalundu, a very poor and remote village that we have visited in the past. We will be camping out in the bush until Thursday, so I won't be able to post for awhile. You can follow the medical mission's blog for updates on what we are doing while we are there.

Church at the Basic School

This morning I woke up feeling much better, after staying home and not feeling so great all day yesterday. The rest of the medical mission team arrived safely Saturday night. My dad led a group of the Americans to a church that meets at the Namwianga Basic (Elementary) School this morning, and I went along. After communion, a lady behind me tapped me on the shoulder and said, "You come with us." Not exactly sure where I was going, I followed her out of the church, followed by all the children, which clued me in to the fact that I was probably going to be teaching a Sunday school class. My mother has gone around to the churches in the area and trained the women how to teach the children, and given them a children's Bible to use. So I used that to teach the story of David and Goliath. Then I taught them a few songs, and they taught me some too. Then the regular teacher, Angela, led the children in a game of "Jesus Says, which I figured out was the church version of "Simon Says." At the end of class, all the children recited the Lord's Prayer by heart, with their hands together, eyes closed. Even the littlest ones knew it perfectly.

Sick

Inevitably, every year when I come to Africa I get some kind of sickness. This year my diagnosis is a sinus infection. I've had a sore throat ever since I got here, and tried to keep it away with allegra and mucinex, but the doctor told me yesterday with my weakened immune system it was a matter of when I would get the sinus infection, not if. I think we caught it early enough that its not going to be a big deal, and I'm glad I'm getting it now instead of next week when we are out in the bush. Little Jason is also sick, so he and I are staying at the house together and being taken care of by my mom (whom he calls "Nana"). Its so nice to have a mom around when you're sick! So keep us in your prayers - Jason has a 104 degree fever and is just plain miserable. We will take him to the clinic tomorrow to get tested for malaria. My fever is only 100, so I'm not too bad. The big group of Americans for the medical mission arrive tomorrow, and then Monday we will leave for the bush, so hopefully with antibiotics and some r and r we will be well by then.

For the Longhorn fans (sorry Aggies, I had to be fair!)

This is George saying "Hook 'em Horns!"

Zambian Avocadoes

For David (and all you Aggie fans)

Trip to the Clinic

Kevin, one of the little two year olds has been sick all week. Yesterday I brought him home for the afternoon to get some rest away from all the other boys and he seemed to be better by the time I took him back. This morning one of the aunties told me he needed to go to the clinic, and since he wouldn't go to anyone but me, I told her I would go with her. She had to bring one of the other boys too, so she helped me tie Kevin into a chitenge (a strip of bright colored fabric that the women use as skirts and baby-carriers) on my back for the walk to the clinic. Zambian women must have really strong backs, because by the time we got to the clinic I thought I was going to fall over. I had to hold Kevin while the nurse gave him a shot, which he was not happy about, poor thing, but he didn't squirm at all- just cried a little and soaked his cloth diaper which leaked all over me. Thankfully the auntie said I didn't have to carry him on my back for the walk back. :)

Memories of Foster Middle School...

Fun with Chalk

I brought some sidewalk chalk with me today for the boys to draw on the concrete basketball court with. Instead, George, Musa, and Jason drew on each other. They were pretty proud of themselves. So cute!

Me and the Boys

This week I'm helping with the two year old orphans at Eric's house - an orphanage for boys. There are eight 2 year olds, and then George who is 3, and Jason who is 4. My mom took this picture right as I got there this morning.

Checking In

There hasn't been much to report the last couple of days. Saturday I woke up with a sore throat and stayed in bed and slept most of the day. My parents and I had a very un-fourth of July - Dad spoke at the Namwianga lectureship and mom and I stayed home, drank tea, played cards, and stayed close to the fire. It has been really really cold here! And since my parents had their house painted last week, we have had to keep the windows open to let the paint fumes out. I've had a blanket wrapped around me at all times, which will not surprise any of you who know me, because I do that even in the middle of summer back home. Anyway, this morning (Sunday) dad woke up sick with a stomach virus which has been going around the mission. I felt better than I had on Saturday, so Mom and I went to church (it lasted for 3 and half hours and most of it was in another language!). Tonight we are doing more of the same - sitting around the fire, Mom working on her laptop, and me reading a book by the fire(I built the fire all by myself since Dad is sick, pretty proud of myself!). Tomorrow should be more eventful - I'm going up to the orphanage to work with the 2 year olds, and the early team of Americans for the medical mission will arrive sometime in the afternoon.

Unpacking

When we got to my parent's house after a bumpy 2 hour ride from Livingstone, I let the boys open up a bag I had packed with goodies for them in it. It felt like Christmas morning with the boys tearing through the bag and pulling out each item with excitement and then rushing to the living room to open them up and play. At one point they even climbed inside the bag. I think their favorite item was some little toy trucks that cost $1 at Wal-Mart. It doesn't take much to make these boys happy. :)

Dinner in a Dutch Oven

My parents are having their house painted this week, and today was the kitchen's turn, which meant we had to find another way to cook dinner. So my dad, savvy outdoorsman that he is, decided to cook a chicken (along with potatoes and carrots) in a dutch oven. He placed the coals in a ratio of 2 to 1, with double the amount of coals on top as on bottom since heat rises. Then he had to make clockwise and counterclockwise turns of the pot and lid so that it would cook evenly. I was pretty impressed. Haven't tasted it yet, but it smells delicious!

I'm here!

I arrived in Zambia right on time on Thursday. All my luggage arrived along with me, which is pretty much a miracle since I hadn't laid eyes on it since Austin, and had taken 3 different flights and spent the night in Johannesburg. When I came out of baggage claim, my parents were there to meet me, along with JASON AND GEORGE!!! They are so big now, but as cute as ever. The picture is of George and me outside the Livingstone airport with some traditional African dancers who were performing (Jason was too scared to go anywhere near them and George clung to me for dear life the entire time).

Extended Forecast

When people hear that I'm going to Africa for the summer, they automatically assume I will be experiencing the same heat we have been suffering here in Texas. But since Zambia is below the equator, it will actually be the winter season, which is also their dry season. So I'll be escaping this oppressive 100 degree heat and enjoying highs in the upper 70's, maybe low 80's, and lows in the 40's and NO HUMIDITY. Which is good since most places don't have air conditioning or even ceiling fans. So don't feel too sorry for me while I'm in a third world country. I'll probably be a little more comfortable than you (at least when you're outside).

Counting Down

One week from Tuesday I depart on my 8th trip to Zambia! After not making the trip last summer (I was going to start grad school, but for some reason that didn't happen :)), I cannot wait to be reunited with my Zambian friends and especially the babies I took care of back in 2007 who are 4 years old now (oh yeah, and my parents-excited to see them too, but i saw them a couple of weeks ago!)! My mom says Jason still remembers me, and points me out in pictures around the house. I can't wait to see how he's changed and hear him actually speaking in sentences now. I'm sad that several of the babies I grew close to won't be there (Bernard, Adrian, Cynthia) because they have been taken home by family members, but so glad they are being taken care of.
I'll be starting up the blog again when I leave, so stay posted for this summer's adventures. Keep those comments coming!