Thursday

We’ve finally gotten into a good groove (right at the time we are leaving). Today we saw about 300 people at the community center while rotating 4 people out at a time in order to do home visitation. This morning we all got settled in at the community center, a little more organized than the day before. After we got set up, Pat, Dan, Jean, and Shirley left for home visitation where they got a chance to see how some of our patients live. Later in the afternoon, the other two groups (Alice, Casey, Jim and Teresa/ Deb, Clay, Godi, and I) got a chance to visit other homes in the area. This was probably the most eye-opening experience any of us could have. While working at the schools, churches and centers you see people in a controlled environment and don’t quite grasp the extreme living situations that they face every day of their lives. Today we actually walked in the neighborhoods and people allowed us into their 1 room homes and showed us where their 4 children would sleep in corners on the floor. It is hard for me to grasp living that way, but I have definitely realized just how much of a surplus we have in America. Casey and I spend most nights before sleep talking about what life would be like for us here in Zambia—do they even realize what else is out there? Do they care? It is amazing to me how people can adapt and survive… and have deeper faith and hospitality than most Americans I know. We have much to learn.
After our day of work, we went out for a traditional African dinner at a local restaurant. We were first offered an African welcome drink, which was basically a corn milkshake. Clay gagged and I couldn’t even bring myself to actually drink it at all. After that we chose from a buffet of warthog, oxtail, coconut chicken, wild eggplant, pumpkin leaves, etc. After we had been served dinner, our traditionally-dressed and face-painted servers brought us ice cream or custard doughnuts for dessert. We saw some live entertainment, which basically consisted of something reminiscent of a rain dance and a funny version of “The Lion Sleeps Tonight.” After the performers finished, several of us jumped on stage with the African dancers to do the electric slide and everyone from the team joined in for a crazy congo line. Godi showed us some dancing that looked more like Kung-Fu… Casey almost got kicked when dancing with him! We danced horribly, laughed hard, and had a fantastic time!

We miss you all and are looking forward to seeing you soon… although, I have to admit, most of us are trying to figure out how we can stay in Africa a little longer! 

Amanda
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Good morning NC and other folks from this gray African morning. Yesterday at the clinic it rained so hard that inside the tin roofed clinic we could hear someone talk who was right next to us. We had only a handful of adults and mostly children, school age kidos. We docs each saw a few “fascinomas” when we compared notes at the end of the day. I won’t bore the readers with those details, but it was simply great to be here and give needed and basic health care.
Jean and I strolled near the school while we wait for a couple of folks to return from an off site visit. We saw a Zambian chicken coop—a 5 foot deep hole in the ground with a few sticks to cover so the chickens don’t escape. The chickens here are truly “free range” and wander about. We wondered how folks know which chickens are theirs, but I guess they do. Families in this neighborhood have their own gardens, with green beans, peas, lots of tomatoes, potatoes, and onions. We later did a quick visit to the market after a brisk 25 minute walk to it. Again it was a bargaining adventure! Trading for pens, sweets, and t-shirts is popular. Until my next computer availability, adios! Alice Finnell
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Good morning, Jean reporting in to all my family and friends.
I have been working in the pharmacy delivering medications per physician orders. I put my respiratory knowledge to work teaching use of inhalers……spacers were ordered with each inhaler. Well a spacer is a new item here…….well there are many ways to make a spacer first you need an empty toilet paper roll and some duct tape and a bit of time. I created several until I ran out of toilet paper rolls then I used an empty water bottle and even the empty box for the inhaler. Oh what we can do when we put our thinking caps on. This is an awesome experience and each of us are blessed every day. May God bless each and every one of you and keep us in prayer.
In Christian Love, Jean Hedrick signing off.
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I can’t believe we are so close to the end of our journey!!! I continue to be amazed by all the people I’ve met here. The children beg to play! I will never call a lollipop that again, it’s now a “sweet.” I have a box of Dum-Dums that I give each child after I take their temp. Yesterday we had our largest # of patients. Today will probably be more.
I have had very bad luck with technology here. I blew a break by plugging in a fan & charger. My 2 camera batteries are dead (fried??????), I have only had internet access a few times. One day it took me 35 min. to read 2 emails, reply to 1 & TRY to reply to another. Yesterday I couldn’t get access to the blog or to yahoo.
Shopping has been fun!!! We barter for things. Yesterday a tube of plastic tooth picks was a huge hit. As well as Nabs…. For those of you who aren’t Southern that’s Lance PNB crackers! Teresa & I seem to be the only ones who know that term!
The BEAUTIFUL skirts I bought for the trip turns out Teresa has 2 of the same ones. Watch out when we come to church Sunday!!!!!!!
Gotta run start the day! KEEP PRAYING. God is doing good things here.
Shirley