Monday, November 10, 2008

Chicken and Shima

We have returned to Namwianga Mission. Finally... Although we have been back here since Oct 18 this is just one of many times I have tried to start this blog. We had to reconnect our internet, it had been turned off while we were gone. Then power has been very erratic. I got the whole thing typed and the power went off. It is early morning here and the sky is cloudy and a cool breeze is blowing. We are at the beginning of the rainy season. It has been very hot and dry and dusty. Everything is brown. The clinic has had many changes since Feb. An organization that is church sponsored here called CHAZ has chosen the clinic to be a site for treatment of HIV patients. They have enrolled 138 people already and the goal is 400. Chaz has provided equipment and people to gather the data they need and it has changed the face of our clinic. Of course we already saw around 2000 to 3000 people each month and now this number will increase. There is a devotional service each AM prior to opening of the clinic for any patients who are here and staff. Different men take turns offering the message. Unlike the U.S. Zambians depend on God first because they have no where else to turn. Don is busy with budgets and audits at the business office. We have already been out on outreaches to the villages with students from George Benson Christian College. They are so much fun. Worship at its best. Enthusiasm and friendliness among the people. Graciously the church provided us the best of what they had to eat, chicken and shima. Fellowship and hospitality of the best kind. I have been working hard on getting the wards ready to open for inpatient. But nothing ever goes easy here . But it is still so worth it. More later
In HIm
Don and Laura