First month in Africa

Hi to all of you makuas (white person) out there in the states. That is what we are called here. We arrived in Zambia on Feb 7 and have had many adventures since then. we are living in the home of Ellie Hamby, one of the directors of the yearly medical mission. It has been very comfortable even in the heat and rain. We have fans to run at night and we sleep under mosquito netting. Although we take anti malarial medicine each week , nothing is 100% foolproof. Don has been adjusting to things done on Zambia time, meaning very indirectly and slowly. I have also been trying to get some order in the hospital storage area. I spent 2 weeks moving all of our supplies into catergories and having shelves built. Simple huh? Not here. The workers used the wrong supports for the shelves which were very expensive and they all fell off the wall when I touched them. So its back to the drawing board. You have to remember to preserve the relationship even at the cost of efficiency. We have gone on an outreach to the Kolomo High School in town last Sunday. It is pretty incredible. They have 1200 students, most of them boarding, as is the custom here. Without any adult supervision or direction many of them meet regualrly each Sunday for a worship service. We went and were welcomed warmly and one of the missionaries, David Gregersen, preached. But they had a student who taught the sunday school lesson, and one to lead singing and do the commmunion table. It does seem a little different to take communion from one cup. It was all they had. But they were so joyful and welcoming to us. One of their traditions at most of the churches is for a small group or indivduals to come up and sing after worship is over. They did that and then insisted that the 4 visitors come up and sing 2 songs. That was a first for Don. As we left they stood in a line in order for all of us to shake their hands and wish them Mobuka Boti.

We do plan on starting an outreach on aids testing, counseling and treating as soon as the vehicle is ready. Nothing is close by us. Aids is devastating all of Africa and we hope to be part of the work prepared to teach and treat the people.

I have to take the national nursing exam in June in order to work legally at the clinic. So I have been studying each day. Unlike the U.S. exams, these are essay not multple choice. It has been 20 years since I graduated and I haven't done any obstetrical or pediactric nursing since school. I have two nurse-midwife types here who are coaching me. We met with the builder today with plans to enlarge the current home availble f or us to live in while we are here. The kitchen here is often outside over an open fire. So when this house was built the inside kitchen is about the size of a closet with a minature stove and refrigerator. We are excited to be able to have a place to settle in finally. I am cooking from scratch and we plan on starting a garden when we get moved in. My mother would be amazed. I never wanted a garden when I was younger and certainly didn't ever expect to be making meals from scratch.

Whenever we need supplies the shortest trip is 2.5 hours over potholed roads. You tell everyone you are going in order to see what anyone else may need. Gas for the car is @6.50 a gallon. So no trip is taken lightly.

We have adopted a student, a ninth grader, who walked in the pouring rain over 30km, to get a place to go to school. Both parents are dead and he was shaking from fear when he approached us about helping him go to school. He needs fees and tuition money and uniforms. These are all essentials here. We will tell you more about him on another blog. Sorry I have rambled but we haven't been able to get online until now. So more later

Leza Amulikie, Amen




Don and Laura