So, a childhood friend, Daniela Ando arrived on Satuday! She is a nurse and has come for the week to do some work in a local clinic.
I was unsure about getting to the airport so I enlisted the help of a freind but we were both running late and then we had to go through two police checkpoints so I was SO scared that we'd be late and she'd be there worried and confused but it turned out that we got there JUST as she was walking out so it was perfect timing. We spent the day relaxing and letting her get her bearings, and of course- catching up on the last 10-15 years!! I was feeling a little "off" but I thought it might be the excitement and business of running around and getting ready for her arrival.
On Sunday, we went to church and during the morning service I started to feel sick. I got up and sat outside for a bit, and then felt better but as soon as I went back in, I was feeling sick again. I just felt nausiated and dizzy. After the service, my friends Corry and Tickey escorted Daniela and I to a clinic near church to have me checked out but they were closed, so I decided to tough it out and we went back for a church lunch and evening service. On the way home, I knew I wasn't feeling right so I went to the 24 hour clinic (which happened to be the one Daniela would be working at) and asked for a malaria test. When I saw the doctor he ordered a slew of tests including blood and urine. Turns out I have malaria, as well as a UTI and my hemoglobin is extremely low which has been accounting for the dizziness.
I am really disappointed because this is bad timing with Daniela here- I wanted to be feeling 100% so I could be taking her around and spending more time with her and for her- but instead I feel like laying down all day.
Today was her first day of work, and I decided to take today and tomorrow off. This morning I woke up and did my laundry and then cooked breakfast and immediately started feeling awful. I had overdone it, yet again... it's so frustrating to be worn out from making eggs. I also took my pills (of which I have 13 per day to take.... 13!!!) before eating so I immediately got sicker.
I am really struggling with disappointment right now. I had so many plans of making this a great week for Daniela and being able to take her around places and spend time with her and I feel miserable. Honestly- the irritation is making me feel worse than the actual sickness. I keep trying to tell myself it's in my head but when I stand up and walk around my head starts to pound and my body just wants to sit. I know God has a reason for this and it all works in His plan, it's just far to easy to be angry that I'm sick!!
I plan to take tomorrow off as well- and Wednesday I will just have morning class with the boys, and then in the afternoon we will shop for some food. On Thursday, we plan to have a "Family Lunch" with all the kids and I am SO excited for it. Daniela will be coming along for the day and will get to see the kids and where I work. On Friday she leaves (SUCH a short trip!!) but she has already been a huge blessing and encouragement to me. I am VERY thankful for her being here!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
" Why else would you be here?"
Today has been a good day. School with Protasho and Patrick went really well- not so much that they blew me away suddenly knowing English or anything... but we had fun and laughed and I could FEEL them learning things. I have learned to make everything.... EVERYTHING a competition for those two- and it tends to be quite humorous. The victor cheers himself out of class, and then the next day it's the other one and so on....
Also, we will be building soon for our ministry house. That may seem like a little thing but talking about it today Maureen, Fanny and I just cried! It has been stressful having some boxes piled in my house, boxes and bags at the Williamsons, and trying to do school out of two houses disruting their days... this ministry house is SUCH as huge answer to prayer. I am more than excited about it... just to have a small building that will be common ground (and to stop tripping over piles of books in my room!)
Tomorrow we take Wisdom to start him on his life long daily medication. We had his Cd4 count (white blood cell) count taken, and he was at 250. He should have been on medication when he got anywhere near or below 300- so this low number accounts for his frequent illness. It was a struggle to get his results (the first place lost his results and lied about it for 2 months, and the next place had "technical difficulty" but 3 tries later we are getting him settled with that tomorrow. )
This morning I was driving to work and in a roundabout, or circle, this woman- who was white- pulled right out in front of me out of turn and I slammed on the brakes and so did she cause she got scared so we were blocking traffic. To the man behind and the woman beside her, both Africans, she mouthed "sorry" and made a sad face while they beeped at her. When she turned to me, she got a smile on her face and waved. I thought this very odd. It was like she felt because we were both white we had some sort of secret comrodary. I was irritated (and also beeping) and she got almost a look of offense that I was not smiling and waving back. I was baffled. I have been thinking about it since. Should I have had some sort of connection to her? Honestly- I don't think so. I didn't see colour, I saw wreckless driving. I would have beeped if she was chinese or arab or made of skittles it didn't really matter.
It's weird to think about these things. On saturday I went with my freind Chanda to an art exhibit at the Swedish Embassy. Every single white person we saw smiled and said "hiiiii" to me like we were long lost freinds, but ignored Chanda. The only person who said anything to Chanda was one of the workers who greeted him in Nyanja but ignored me. I think this is still kind of racism. It may not be hateful or vengeful but it is classification due to race. Why can't the worker say "muli bwanji" to me? He has no idea if I've lived here a week or my whole life. Why should I determine my interaction level with someone based on race. In the states you say hello to people you know and not to people you don't. Imagine if someone went around greeting only the people of their same race in the US- it would cause an uproar.
It's just funny to me how people assume here. There are men who sell CD's on Cairo Road in town. They come to your window and say the names of the CD's they have. The other week, one guy was walking toward us and shuffled his collection then when he got to the window he said "Madame, Gospel??" Chanda laughed, and I asked why he was laughing and he said it was because he purposely put all the gospel in front of the rap and all the other stuff, because he knew I was a missionary.I asked... "What? How on earth could he know that??" And he said "Why else would you be here."
God is working in my heart as I deal with missing home and some relationship issues here. I caught myself feeling sorry for myself a bit and missing life as it was before- but that never seems to last long. I still feel a bit blue and I'm having some insomnia issues... but God has a plan and He's working it out His way. Thank goodness for that. I am considering this trial joy- it is producing endurance.
Also, we will be building soon for our ministry house. That may seem like a little thing but talking about it today Maureen, Fanny and I just cried! It has been stressful having some boxes piled in my house, boxes and bags at the Williamsons, and trying to do school out of two houses disruting their days... this ministry house is SUCH as huge answer to prayer. I am more than excited about it... just to have a small building that will be common ground (and to stop tripping over piles of books in my room!)
Tomorrow we take Wisdom to start him on his life long daily medication. We had his Cd4 count (white blood cell) count taken, and he was at 250. He should have been on medication when he got anywhere near or below 300- so this low number accounts for his frequent illness. It was a struggle to get his results (the first place lost his results and lied about it for 2 months, and the next place had "technical difficulty" but 3 tries later we are getting him settled with that tomorrow. )
This morning I was driving to work and in a roundabout, or circle, this woman- who was white- pulled right out in front of me out of turn and I slammed on the brakes and so did she cause she got scared so we were blocking traffic. To the man behind and the woman beside her, both Africans, she mouthed "sorry" and made a sad face while they beeped at her. When she turned to me, she got a smile on her face and waved. I thought this very odd. It was like she felt because we were both white we had some sort of secret comrodary. I was irritated (and also beeping) and she got almost a look of offense that I was not smiling and waving back. I was baffled. I have been thinking about it since. Should I have had some sort of connection to her? Honestly- I don't think so. I didn't see colour, I saw wreckless driving. I would have beeped if she was chinese or arab or made of skittles it didn't really matter.
It's weird to think about these things. On saturday I went with my freind Chanda to an art exhibit at the Swedish Embassy. Every single white person we saw smiled and said "hiiiii" to me like we were long lost freinds, but ignored Chanda. The only person who said anything to Chanda was one of the workers who greeted him in Nyanja but ignored me. I think this is still kind of racism. It may not be hateful or vengeful but it is classification due to race. Why can't the worker say "muli bwanji" to me? He has no idea if I've lived here a week or my whole life. Why should I determine my interaction level with someone based on race. In the states you say hello to people you know and not to people you don't. Imagine if someone went around greeting only the people of their same race in the US- it would cause an uproar.
It's just funny to me how people assume here. There are men who sell CD's on Cairo Road in town. They come to your window and say the names of the CD's they have. The other week, one guy was walking toward us and shuffled his collection then when he got to the window he said "Madame, Gospel??" Chanda laughed, and I asked why he was laughing and he said it was because he purposely put all the gospel in front of the rap and all the other stuff, because he knew I was a missionary.I asked... "What? How on earth could he know that??" And he said "Why else would you be here."
God is working in my heart as I deal with missing home and some relationship issues here. I caught myself feeling sorry for myself a bit and missing life as it was before- but that never seems to last long. I still feel a bit blue and I'm having some insomnia issues... but God has a plan and He's working it out His way. Thank goodness for that. I am considering this trial joy- it is producing endurance.
Monday, March 28, 2011
I shall not want.
Wow. It has been quite some time since I have blogged. Time keeps passing in this whirlwind of activity I tell myself I will update and then all of a sudden two weeks has gone by. I have been busy busy with the work here.
I am still regularly teaching Protasho and Patrick- they are doing so well, and are almost reading. Today Protasho spelled "apple" without any help! It can feel slow at times, but they are even communicating with me, or trying to, in english now. When we started "hello" was about all we could say to one another and now we are singing songs, playing games and reading books. They call me "Madam Mommy" (Mommy and Auntie are very respectful terms here) and once a week they buy me a fritter (which usually are covered in dirt and I can feel the sand gritting in my teeth when I eat them- I am sure they will be the death of me but I have yet to find it in my heart to say 'no thanks', so I muscle them down every week.)
Things with the other kids are going well. Teaching and tutoring can be tiring, especially with so many kids and so many different ages and ability levels, but I am soldiering on and praying for fruit. We have still had a few coming down with sickness here and there but thankfully nothing serious.
I am really looking forward to next week. A freind of mine, Daniela Ando, from when I was little and attending Albany Baptist Church is coming for the week to volunteer at a nearby clinic. I am really looking forward to having a girlfriend come and getting the opportunity to catch up and reconnect with the States.
I have been a bit down of late. I am really missing home and my family and freinds from the states. I don't have many close girlfriends here- whereas I was in a sea of gabbing girlfriends and sisters at home. I am more than grateful for the many freinds (who I honestly have to call family) God has blessed me with here- two in particular have really kept me happy and strong and smiling every day- they are the most wonderful people in my life and I would be lost without them.
It is a weird feeling I have. It's like an inner turmoil. I don't want to go back to the states. I know that's hard for my stateside family and friends to hear but I really and truly have found my home here in Zambia and I have no intention of leaving. I sometimes with I could just teleport back for just a week or two to see my family and kiss my neices and nephews and shop at walmart... the little things. I have plans to come home for Christmas but it's weird to think I have not seen my family and freinds for 7 months and won't see them for another eight months.
I really... really wish I could dance with my neice Cora or hear my Mom's "I am way too tired but I love my family" laugh and hug my sisters and my brother.... You really do not know what you had right at your fingertips until you live in a place where it's not possible to see them.
I think a mix of stress and work and anxiety about the future etc has got me in some sort of blue funk but luckily it usually only gets me for a few hours before I get a text or message from a freind here reminding me of the many blessings I've been given.
I keep getting asked how on earth I left a place and lifestyle like what I had before to come here and live how I am now and do what I am doing for no pay.
I love my work. I love these kids. I love that I spend 7 days a week thinking about them, planning for them, helping them, ministering to them ... living 7 days a week for 21 other poeple (not including my freinds and "family" here who I also live and breathe for) can be stressfull and exhausting and challenging and scary but I would not trade it for my old house and car and bank account for the world. I made my choice and God blessed it every step of the way, I know He won't stop now.
Psalm 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My heart may be missing home, and my flesh may be tired and weary but HE is my stregnth and HE can never fail... therefore neither can I.
I am still regularly teaching Protasho and Patrick- they are doing so well, and are almost reading. Today Protasho spelled "apple" without any help! It can feel slow at times, but they are even communicating with me, or trying to, in english now. When we started "hello" was about all we could say to one another and now we are singing songs, playing games and reading books. They call me "Madam Mommy" (Mommy and Auntie are very respectful terms here) and once a week they buy me a fritter (which usually are covered in dirt and I can feel the sand gritting in my teeth when I eat them- I am sure they will be the death of me but I have yet to find it in my heart to say 'no thanks', so I muscle them down every week.)
Things with the other kids are going well. Teaching and tutoring can be tiring, especially with so many kids and so many different ages and ability levels, but I am soldiering on and praying for fruit. We have still had a few coming down with sickness here and there but thankfully nothing serious.
I am really looking forward to next week. A freind of mine, Daniela Ando, from when I was little and attending Albany Baptist Church is coming for the week to volunteer at a nearby clinic. I am really looking forward to having a girlfriend come and getting the opportunity to catch up and reconnect with the States.
I have been a bit down of late. I am really missing home and my family and freinds from the states. I don't have many close girlfriends here- whereas I was in a sea of gabbing girlfriends and sisters at home. I am more than grateful for the many freinds (who I honestly have to call family) God has blessed me with here- two in particular have really kept me happy and strong and smiling every day- they are the most wonderful people in my life and I would be lost without them.
It is a weird feeling I have. It's like an inner turmoil. I don't want to go back to the states. I know that's hard for my stateside family and friends to hear but I really and truly have found my home here in Zambia and I have no intention of leaving. I sometimes with I could just teleport back for just a week or two to see my family and kiss my neices and nephews and shop at walmart... the little things. I have plans to come home for Christmas but it's weird to think I have not seen my family and freinds for 7 months and won't see them for another eight months.
I really... really wish I could dance with my neice Cora or hear my Mom's "I am way too tired but I love my family" laugh and hug my sisters and my brother.... You really do not know what you had right at your fingertips until you live in a place where it's not possible to see them.
I think a mix of stress and work and anxiety about the future etc has got me in some sort of blue funk but luckily it usually only gets me for a few hours before I get a text or message from a freind here reminding me of the many blessings I've been given.
I keep getting asked how on earth I left a place and lifestyle like what I had before to come here and live how I am now and do what I am doing for no pay.
I love my work. I love these kids. I love that I spend 7 days a week thinking about them, planning for them, helping them, ministering to them ... living 7 days a week for 21 other poeple (not including my freinds and "family" here who I also live and breathe for) can be stressfull and exhausting and challenging and scary but I would not trade it for my old house and car and bank account for the world. I made my choice and God blessed it every step of the way, I know He won't stop now.
Psalm 73:26My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
My heart may be missing home, and my flesh may be tired and weary but HE is my stregnth and HE can never fail... therefore neither can I.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
physical to spiritual... (one of the best days I've had in a long time)
Where to even begin. Megan and I left around 7:30 AM and drove to Fanny's to meet up with everyone. On the way, I was still mentally preparing myself, forming the usual sheild of "Belke strength". When we got there we had to wait a bit for the bus and it was getting nervewracking... there was just a nervous and unsure air about the kids. Only one, Geofrey, did not come (he is brand new to the program and was very hesitant as he doesn't really know anyone or how we operate quite yet). Even Mrs. Tembo came along to support her kids.
We already knew that Wisdom and Memory were HIV positive. I was not there when they went to the clinic and found out, (it was before i moved here) and I have heard from both Megan and Fanny how difficult and emotional that was- and I was very nervous.
When we got there (the receptionist is a member of my church I didn't even know she worked there!) they had everything pretty well ready for us and they did a great job interacting with the kids, who were OBVIOUSLY nervous, and getting things done quickly and efficiently for us. We had them come in one at a time and they had a finger prick of blood taken and then they were sent back to the waiting room. After the last of them (22 total, because Geofrey was missing but 2 of Maureen's kids came) was tested we all sat in the waiting room for less than ten minutes and then they called us back for the results. Only Megan and I went back and I was starting to get a lump in my throat already. The man had the result paper in his hand and I was quickly scanning it trying to figure out what the 0's and 3's meant when he said OK... we need to see Memory and Wisdom for retesting, they are the ones who had a positive result. Megan litterally said "are you sure?" and he was like.... yea... she said "that's all, I mean... they are all negative?"
Every one of them was negative. Statistically- that's a miracle. One in four Zambians is HIV+, and yet we had 20 all negative....
Keep in mind that these are children who: most of them at least one parent died from or is living with HIV, and they are more vulnerable to the disease due to their heredity, family life, surroundings, upbringing.... so many factors. God.... our God is a God who answers prayer.
Afterwards we brought them all back home for pizza and cookies as well as games outside, a devotional led by Pr. Pizzino, swimming and a movie. It was honestly a day full of blessings and joy- and the kids left here with full bellies and HUGE smiles on their faces... what a day full of positive memories for each of them to have. Wisdom did seem dissapointed that his results had not "changed" but he has been a 'man' about it and has been mature beyond his years. It was great to watch him laugh and run around with the other kids having a great time. I can honestly say he left here a very happy boy despite God's plan of having him suffer from this disease. Memory is not old enough to understand what it means that she is HIV+, so she had fun regardless (she is one of our more shy girls so it took her some time but she finally opened up and played with the other girls).
It is a big and beautiful family we have, and I am proud to be a mother to each and every last one of them. God is so good to us. He has saved them all physically through the prayers of His people. Now please let's pray that he heals them each Spiritually- even all in one day. Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing.
We already knew that Wisdom and Memory were HIV positive. I was not there when they went to the clinic and found out, (it was before i moved here) and I have heard from both Megan and Fanny how difficult and emotional that was- and I was very nervous.
When we got there (the receptionist is a member of my church I didn't even know she worked there!) they had everything pretty well ready for us and they did a great job interacting with the kids, who were OBVIOUSLY nervous, and getting things done quickly and efficiently for us. We had them come in one at a time and they had a finger prick of blood taken and then they were sent back to the waiting room. After the last of them (22 total, because Geofrey was missing but 2 of Maureen's kids came) was tested we all sat in the waiting room for less than ten minutes and then they called us back for the results. Only Megan and I went back and I was starting to get a lump in my throat already. The man had the result paper in his hand and I was quickly scanning it trying to figure out what the 0's and 3's meant when he said OK... we need to see Memory and Wisdom for retesting, they are the ones who had a positive result. Megan litterally said "are you sure?" and he was like.... yea... she said "that's all, I mean... they are all negative?"
Every one of them was negative. Statistically- that's a miracle. One in four Zambians is HIV+, and yet we had 20 all negative....
Keep in mind that these are children who: most of them at least one parent died from or is living with HIV, and they are more vulnerable to the disease due to their heredity, family life, surroundings, upbringing.... so many factors. God.... our God is a God who answers prayer.
Afterwards we brought them all back home for pizza and cookies as well as games outside, a devotional led by Pr. Pizzino, swimming and a movie. It was honestly a day full of blessings and joy- and the kids left here with full bellies and HUGE smiles on their faces... what a day full of positive memories for each of them to have. Wisdom did seem dissapointed that his results had not "changed" but he has been a 'man' about it and has been mature beyond his years. It was great to watch him laugh and run around with the other kids having a great time. I can honestly say he left here a very happy boy despite God's plan of having him suffer from this disease. Memory is not old enough to understand what it means that she is HIV+, so she had fun regardless (she is one of our more shy girls so it took her some time but she finally opened up and played with the other girls).
It is a big and beautiful family we have, and I am proud to be a mother to each and every last one of them. God is so good to us. He has saved them all physically through the prayers of His people. Now please let's pray that he heals them each Spiritually- even all in one day. Nothing is impossible with God. Nothing.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
...and THAT is how I know that God is real.
Well, the trip to Ndola this time around was (mostly) a success! First of all, big news- I finally got my visa! It was a hassle, but it is officially in my possesion, and I am free and able to live and work until February 2013. We left early on Friday morning... much to the sorrow and dismay of my Friday students who took it as a personal attack that we didn't have school that day. The trip was... mostly... uneventful. There were something like 9 police checkpoints that I had to go through, and it was the second to last one where they stopped me and told me I had to pay a fine for not having reflectors on the front of the car. They are built in in the back, but not the front. He told me it was 170,000 Kwacha (which is almost 40 dollars) but "graciously" let me pay 54,000 Kwacha (something like 10 bucks). (PS, I went with a friend to pick up reflectors at the auto shop... they are 15pin... which is about 3 dollars.) I then continued on and for miles and miles there was no speed limit sign. It was free and open fields so I assumed it was 80 (as it is most of the trip) well... it wasn't. I was fined 180,000 Kwacha for going 80 in a 65 (I was supposed to have guessed the speed limit better). So 50 dollars (that I don't have to be throwing around) later- we made it safely to the lodge and checked in.
We met with about 4 of the kids before it started getting dark so we called it a night. Saturday we met with the rest of the kids as well as having a mini update meeting with Lister on our way to and from each place. Sunday Morning we went to the Sunday School with the kids and then to church at Grace Baptist, where the ministry runs out of and Kabwe Kabwe preaches. After that, we headed home and , thank the Lord, only went through 3 checkpoints and weren't stopped once. (I have 6 months to get a Zambian liscence from when I get my passport stamped and... lucky me... they stamped my passport February 24th when I got my work permit/visa, so starting from then I have 6 months to get the liscence. It is just another hassle of lines and cues and red tape and corruption and money that I don't have to spend.... a major headache basically.)
Most of the kids are doing well. They are almost all performing below average because of poor living conditions, bad health, poor nutrition and other environmental and emotional issues. There are, as always when dealing with teenagers and children, some challenges such as drinking, cheating, ungratefulness etc- and I suspect serious mental problems with a few of them, and one in particular, named Esther.
She has a very bad attitude and is extremely rude and disrespectful. She has become increasingly bad in the recent months and tells her mother to "shut her mouth" when she is speaking with us. On this visit, she was asked to show us her notebooks (we check their progress this way) and she told us she had none because we don't take care of her and we buy things for everyone except her. (This is, obviously, untrue). She did not recieve her uniform yet due to a shortage (along with 4 of our other kids), and so she got the uniform reciept, threw it at Lister and told her to go get a refund because she probably stole the uniform from her anyway. She then began crying and pounding her fists and we asked her what was wrong and she said she know that we are giving the other kids more than her and "stealing" from her. Her Christmas bag was one of the ones that ripped open in transit, and she thinks that we have taken things out of it and given them to the other kids. She was raising her voice, rolling her eyes and calling us "liars" and "thieves". Her performance in school is terrible and she blamed this on us as well- saying we "owe" her more food and school supplies. She even said "I didn't ask for this but now you are here, so why can't you do anything for me?". I suspect from my backround in psychology that both she and her brother Patrick are suffering from severe mental disorders. She and Patrick both have moodswings as well as physical ticks (banging the hands against the legs, heavy blinking and unprompted bursts of laughter or noise). She needs a lot of prayer and we encouraged her to attend church (which she does not). She also has a letter that she wants to send her sponsors, but she refuses to let us have it because she doesn't want us to read it. She keeps asking us to give her the money to send it but we have a strict policy against that and she again began to cry and tell us we were cheating her. I told her we are here to help her and not hurt her and that we are praying for her. We walked out of the house to the car and she gave me a big smile and hugged me saying "see you next time!". It was a very emotional and sad visit.
These kids of situations, and others like our issues with Morgan and the Tembos, can prove to make this work very challenging and stressful- but I am thankful for the training God gave me in mental illness, psychology, child and adolescent development, family studies and education. I can see how he was preparing me for this work.
If you are interested in hearing the updates on the rest of the kids from Ndola (or Kabanana), I can forward you the email I sent their sponsors. I know that sometimes people aren't sponsoring but like to include one of the kids in their prayers each day. You can email me that request at katryn.belke@live.com.
On Tuesday we went around to all the schools within Kabanana to get updates and reports on them. Overall, I was pleased with the reports and didn't hear anything I didn't already assume or know. We are having issues with school attendance for some of the kids in Kabanana. We plan to address this at an upcoming meeting with kids and guardians because we, as a ministry, can't pay school fees for kids who aren't going to school. There are litterally scores of children jumping to take their place and we need to stress that to them.
On Saturday, we will be taking all the kids for HIV testing. I have been praying about this- that God will cause all of them to be negative, and if that is not His will that we will be emotionally strong and able to help the kids cope with these things. I am trying to mentally prepare myself for this.... These have become my own sons and daughters and I get a physically sick every time I think about hearing "positive" about any one of them. Unfortunately, the only child who will not be coming with us is Richard- and he is a. my special favorite and b. the one I worry has it the most. He has gone to stay with an auntie in Kabwe for a while and will be the only one not tested. In one way, it's a relief (I know, that's strange, but when I think about Richard being positive it actually HURTS inside) and on the other hand I want to know so he can be properly medicated.
Another Saturday this month, I have asked some of the older guys from my youth group to come and talk to/hang out with our boys in Kabanana. They see Maureen, Fanny and I every week- but none of them have any positive male role models- I know they have questions and things they struggle with and I want them to have older (but young enough to be relevant) guys to talk to and confide in.
I have been feeling really tired and overwhelmed lately. This week I took Monday off because I was feeling sick (I have had a flu since before I left for Ndola) and took a freind, Corry, to start the process of getting his passport. He doesnt have a birth certificate or the death certificates for either of his parents, so we ended up running around all day picking up forms and keys and getting information etc, without getting much accomplished. Tuesday we did school visits all morning in Kabanana and Chipata and then I met with someone from the Ministerial College in the afternoon to give him a tutorial on the finance record keeping programme I use, and then from there went to Bible Study and afterwards caught up with freinds from church that I didn't get to see over the weekend. I was still feeling sick, so I took Wednesday off and went with Corry to drop off his forms for his passport. It ended up taking from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM (This is Zambia, remember) so... it wasn't much of a day off. Today I have been at the computer since 8AM writing reports, filing out profiles and making phone calls to get information etc. If I have a day with nothing to do (which I haven't for a long time) then I feel like pulling my hair out because I am stir crazy, but when my days are packed I go to bed frazzled from trying to pack so much into one day. It's as if there is no happy medium. I have been here now 6 months and the work gets more and more ivolved daily. I would like to take a short holiday to give my brain and emotions a break but money is something I cannot throw around with fuel prices (I have to pay somewhere near 70 USD a week in gas with all the traveling I do to and within Kabanana, Lusaka, Chipata and Chilanga) That may be less than a lot of people, but when you don't have a stable paycheck- it's a fortune.
I am very appreciative of the prayers of the people in the US and UK who read my blog, know of me or are related to me. I can feel God working in me and shaping me into the woman he wants me to be. I have been so blessed the past six months it is almost unbelievable- but nothing should shock anyone when we are talking about God's work.
Because of God's love and sovereign plan, I was born to my parents. Because of His sense of humor- I was a handful and a rebellious headache. Because of my parents firm and unconditional love, I was forced to remain in a Christian college when I wasn't a Christian. Because of my past experiences I decided to study Psychology and Education. Because of that college and my chosen field of study, I went on a school trip to Zambia in 2007. Because of that trip, I decided I wanted to live in Africa. Because of that decision, I went again in 2008. Because of my experiences in that trip, I was saved by the blood and love of Jesus Christ. Because of graduating, I moved to Kentucky to be near my sisters. Because of that move, I met the Williamsons who were planning to move to the very country I visited twice. Because of their move, I was encouraged and inspired. Because of a terrible experience at my former job in KY- I was renewed in my faith and reminded of the calling I felt so clearly before. Because of that calling I prayed, knew God's approval of His plan, packed my things, sold what wouldn't pack and moved to Zambia. Because of the quick and passionate spirit God gave me, I made the decision and moved very quickly. Because of that quick timing, I was able to be here during a time when Megan and James were overwhelmed with issues in their life and ministry and needed help the most. Because of the extra hands on the field with my being here, we have increased the amount of children we help, love, minister to and sponsor from 11 to 21 in Kabanana and from 23 to 25 in Ndola. Because of the love and generosity of a church in the US, I have a car. Because of that car, children get to the clinic when they are sick, go to church and school and meetings where they learn about the Lord. Because of people sending money for me to sustain myself, I am able to stay here and tutor, minister to, counsel and love nearly 50 children. Because of my training in Education, there are two boys, who did not qualify for traditional schooling, who are now learning English, math and science and doing devotions with me before school when they would otherwise be in the home of their alcoholic street walking mother, or walking the streets themselves. Because of this ministry and the people I work with and go to church with here, my faith is stronger now than it ever has been and I am growing in the name of my Father in Heaven, and because of my growing faith I am able to be a better friend and minister back to those ministering to me here in Zambia.
Every choice we make and every road we take- every interaction starts a chain reaction. We are each affected when we least expect is and it's all in God's plan.
When I hear people say God isn't real... I am dumbfounded.
We met with about 4 of the kids before it started getting dark so we called it a night. Saturday we met with the rest of the kids as well as having a mini update meeting with Lister on our way to and from each place. Sunday Morning we went to the Sunday School with the kids and then to church at Grace Baptist, where the ministry runs out of and Kabwe Kabwe preaches. After that, we headed home and , thank the Lord, only went through 3 checkpoints and weren't stopped once. (I have 6 months to get a Zambian liscence from when I get my passport stamped and... lucky me... they stamped my passport February 24th when I got my work permit/visa, so starting from then I have 6 months to get the liscence. It is just another hassle of lines and cues and red tape and corruption and money that I don't have to spend.... a major headache basically.)
Most of the kids are doing well. They are almost all performing below average because of poor living conditions, bad health, poor nutrition and other environmental and emotional issues. There are, as always when dealing with teenagers and children, some challenges such as drinking, cheating, ungratefulness etc- and I suspect serious mental problems with a few of them, and one in particular, named Esther.
She has a very bad attitude and is extremely rude and disrespectful. She has become increasingly bad in the recent months and tells her mother to "shut her mouth" when she is speaking with us. On this visit, she was asked to show us her notebooks (we check their progress this way) and she told us she had none because we don't take care of her and we buy things for everyone except her. (This is, obviously, untrue). She did not recieve her uniform yet due to a shortage (along with 4 of our other kids), and so she got the uniform reciept, threw it at Lister and told her to go get a refund because she probably stole the uniform from her anyway. She then began crying and pounding her fists and we asked her what was wrong and she said she know that we are giving the other kids more than her and "stealing" from her. Her Christmas bag was one of the ones that ripped open in transit, and she thinks that we have taken things out of it and given them to the other kids. She was raising her voice, rolling her eyes and calling us "liars" and "thieves". Her performance in school is terrible and she blamed this on us as well- saying we "owe" her more food and school supplies. She even said "I didn't ask for this but now you are here, so why can't you do anything for me?". I suspect from my backround in psychology that both she and her brother Patrick are suffering from severe mental disorders. She and Patrick both have moodswings as well as physical ticks (banging the hands against the legs, heavy blinking and unprompted bursts of laughter or noise). She needs a lot of prayer and we encouraged her to attend church (which she does not). She also has a letter that she wants to send her sponsors, but she refuses to let us have it because she doesn't want us to read it. She keeps asking us to give her the money to send it but we have a strict policy against that and she again began to cry and tell us we were cheating her. I told her we are here to help her and not hurt her and that we are praying for her. We walked out of the house to the car and she gave me a big smile and hugged me saying "see you next time!". It was a very emotional and sad visit.
These kids of situations, and others like our issues with Morgan and the Tembos, can prove to make this work very challenging and stressful- but I am thankful for the training God gave me in mental illness, psychology, child and adolescent development, family studies and education. I can see how he was preparing me for this work.
If you are interested in hearing the updates on the rest of the kids from Ndola (or Kabanana), I can forward you the email I sent their sponsors. I know that sometimes people aren't sponsoring but like to include one of the kids in their prayers each day. You can email me that request at katryn.belke@live.com.
On Tuesday we went around to all the schools within Kabanana to get updates and reports on them. Overall, I was pleased with the reports and didn't hear anything I didn't already assume or know. We are having issues with school attendance for some of the kids in Kabanana. We plan to address this at an upcoming meeting with kids and guardians because we, as a ministry, can't pay school fees for kids who aren't going to school. There are litterally scores of children jumping to take their place and we need to stress that to them.
On Saturday, we will be taking all the kids for HIV testing. I have been praying about this- that God will cause all of them to be negative, and if that is not His will that we will be emotionally strong and able to help the kids cope with these things. I am trying to mentally prepare myself for this.... These have become my own sons and daughters and I get a physically sick every time I think about hearing "positive" about any one of them. Unfortunately, the only child who will not be coming with us is Richard- and he is a. my special favorite and b. the one I worry has it the most. He has gone to stay with an auntie in Kabwe for a while and will be the only one not tested. In one way, it's a relief (I know, that's strange, but when I think about Richard being positive it actually HURTS inside) and on the other hand I want to know so he can be properly medicated.
Another Saturday this month, I have asked some of the older guys from my youth group to come and talk to/hang out with our boys in Kabanana. They see Maureen, Fanny and I every week- but none of them have any positive male role models- I know they have questions and things they struggle with and I want them to have older (but young enough to be relevant) guys to talk to and confide in.
I have been feeling really tired and overwhelmed lately. This week I took Monday off because I was feeling sick (I have had a flu since before I left for Ndola) and took a freind, Corry, to start the process of getting his passport. He doesnt have a birth certificate or the death certificates for either of his parents, so we ended up running around all day picking up forms and keys and getting information etc, without getting much accomplished. Tuesday we did school visits all morning in Kabanana and Chipata and then I met with someone from the Ministerial College in the afternoon to give him a tutorial on the finance record keeping programme I use, and then from there went to Bible Study and afterwards caught up with freinds from church that I didn't get to see over the weekend. I was still feeling sick, so I took Wednesday off and went with Corry to drop off his forms for his passport. It ended up taking from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM (This is Zambia, remember) so... it wasn't much of a day off. Today I have been at the computer since 8AM writing reports, filing out profiles and making phone calls to get information etc. If I have a day with nothing to do (which I haven't for a long time) then I feel like pulling my hair out because I am stir crazy, but when my days are packed I go to bed frazzled from trying to pack so much into one day. It's as if there is no happy medium. I have been here now 6 months and the work gets more and more ivolved daily. I would like to take a short holiday to give my brain and emotions a break but money is something I cannot throw around with fuel prices (I have to pay somewhere near 70 USD a week in gas with all the traveling I do to and within Kabanana, Lusaka, Chipata and Chilanga) That may be less than a lot of people, but when you don't have a stable paycheck- it's a fortune.
I am very appreciative of the prayers of the people in the US and UK who read my blog, know of me or are related to me. I can feel God working in me and shaping me into the woman he wants me to be. I have been so blessed the past six months it is almost unbelievable- but nothing should shock anyone when we are talking about God's work.
Because of God's love and sovereign plan, I was born to my parents. Because of His sense of humor- I was a handful and a rebellious headache. Because of my parents firm and unconditional love, I was forced to remain in a Christian college when I wasn't a Christian. Because of my past experiences I decided to study Psychology and Education. Because of that college and my chosen field of study, I went on a school trip to Zambia in 2007. Because of that trip, I decided I wanted to live in Africa. Because of that decision, I went again in 2008. Because of my experiences in that trip, I was saved by the blood and love of Jesus Christ. Because of graduating, I moved to Kentucky to be near my sisters. Because of that move, I met the Williamsons who were planning to move to the very country I visited twice. Because of their move, I was encouraged and inspired. Because of a terrible experience at my former job in KY- I was renewed in my faith and reminded of the calling I felt so clearly before. Because of that calling I prayed, knew God's approval of His plan, packed my things, sold what wouldn't pack and moved to Zambia. Because of the quick and passionate spirit God gave me, I made the decision and moved very quickly. Because of that quick timing, I was able to be here during a time when Megan and James were overwhelmed with issues in their life and ministry and needed help the most. Because of the extra hands on the field with my being here, we have increased the amount of children we help, love, minister to and sponsor from 11 to 21 in Kabanana and from 23 to 25 in Ndola. Because of the love and generosity of a church in the US, I have a car. Because of that car, children get to the clinic when they are sick, go to church and school and meetings where they learn about the Lord. Because of people sending money for me to sustain myself, I am able to stay here and tutor, minister to, counsel and love nearly 50 children. Because of my training in Education, there are two boys, who did not qualify for traditional schooling, who are now learning English, math and science and doing devotions with me before school when they would otherwise be in the home of their alcoholic street walking mother, or walking the streets themselves. Because of this ministry and the people I work with and go to church with here, my faith is stronger now than it ever has been and I am growing in the name of my Father in Heaven, and because of my growing faith I am able to be a better friend and minister back to those ministering to me here in Zambia.
Every choice we make and every road we take- every interaction starts a chain reaction. We are each affected when we least expect is and it's all in God's plan.
When I hear people say God isn't real... I am dumbfounded.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Caught in the crossfire
I really need to get more consistant with this blog. It is so hard because when I am finished work for the day the last thing I want to do is write it all down. I have been doing much better health- wise. I am sleeping again and the headaches are gone. I am still extremely tired and feeling worn out all the time, but I have come to find that is par for the course.
School is going well with the kids. Protasho and Patrick are improving slowly but steadily and they are learning quickly. The others are doing well also, and starting to really losen up and feel free with me- whihc makes my job so much easier. They love riding to and from "school" in my car and have been singing at the top of their lungs and dancing and everything- I want to video it one day.
The kids who were feeling sick have improved. Maggie is 100% healed although she has been left with some unfortunate scarring. Felix is doing much better and is back to school. Alot of the kids have flu and colds right now because our weather has been very strange (raining and cold one day and then 100 degrees and burning sun the next).
Things with Morgan have been touch and go. As many know, he was quite abusive to his mother, ran away and then came back and got in a fight with his sister wherein they again were physically abusive to the mother. He has since come to ask for forgiveness but we are between a rock and a hard place figuing out how to deal with the situation. Please keep us and them in your prayers.
This weekend, Maureen and I will be traveling to Ndola to see our kids there. It's my first time traveling that distance here, so keep us in your prayers for that as well- for both safe travel and a fruitful trip.
I have been thinking about how much my life has changed and how far I've come. It is truly amazing the paths that God takes us down. I was chatting with Fanny and her husband today about how things that were so "different" at first when moving here are so normal now. Sometimes (in fact, two weeks at a time) I have no hot water for showers. In the states I would have been in an uproar not having hot water for just one day and yet here on day 7 of an icy cold shower I am not even thinking that it's strange enough to complain about! I coexsist with cockroaches and spiders and grasshoppers... things that would have made me run and call an exterminator and now I just walk around them. I am always sweaty and have just adapted to carrying a cloth around to wipe my face with rather than complain about no fans or breezes... I don't have so many of the ingredients and things I am so used to for cooking, and yet I have made up some new dynamite recipes. I used to see something in a store and say TWO DOLLARS? that's a steal!, Now I see something that costs two dollars and I am appalled at how expensive it is. It is really funny to think about how perceptions on every single thing in life change.
Today, on my way to go teach Malama, I was stuck in traffic behind a white car. Behind me was a pickup truck, and behind that a bus (*shutter*). The bus was annoyed that the white car in front wasn't going around the block in traffic (which was a little boy pushing a wheelbarrow WAY over full of bottles of beer accross the street) and so He pulled into the other lane and overtook all three of us- not knowing that in the white car were two armed soldiers. WELL- needless to say the soldiers didn't take kindly to this and started screaming at him. They got past the block and swerved back around in front of the bus sideways and blocked both lanes. One of the soldiers got out, with his gun pointed and started screaming at the busdriver. It was very obvious that the soldier was drunk (this was 9AM) and they were yelling and spitting at eachother. It is common practice for a busdriver, when caught doing an offence like that, to be pulled in the street and publicly beaten as an example to the people around. The bus driver refused to get out. Seeing that it was going to be an issue, the soldier turned and motioned for me to go around the car on the other side to keep traffic moving. I slowly crept around just in time to see the busdriver pull around the other side and come parallel to me past the white car. At this point (with children and people EVERYWHERE around) the soldier started to open fire on the bus. I could not pull away as there were kids on the right of me so all I could do was step on the gas, but unfortunately the busdriver had the same idea so as this drunk soldier is shooting at the bus that is inches from me, people are scattering away and kids are crying- it was absolutely insane. I let the bus overtake me and when I saw which direction he was going I pulled off and went the other way as the soldiers were now chasing him down the road, with the one leaning out of the widow with his gun.
Now..... please do not think we see this every day. There are solders and police patroling ewith VERY large guns all over the place, but I had never actually seen one use it or been that close in proximity to a situation like that. Usually, like I said, a driver would just be publicly beaten in the street for such behavior. When I got to Fanny's I had sweat through my shirt- it really shook me up! God was protecting me, and the people around. Noone was hurt and hopefully it ended well- I didn't stick around to find out.
I am hoping to get some rest this week in preparations for travel and work this weekend in Ndola. (hoping...) I will update as soon as I get back!
School is going well with the kids. Protasho and Patrick are improving slowly but steadily and they are learning quickly. The others are doing well also, and starting to really losen up and feel free with me- whihc makes my job so much easier. They love riding to and from "school" in my car and have been singing at the top of their lungs and dancing and everything- I want to video it one day.
The kids who were feeling sick have improved. Maggie is 100% healed although she has been left with some unfortunate scarring. Felix is doing much better and is back to school. Alot of the kids have flu and colds right now because our weather has been very strange (raining and cold one day and then 100 degrees and burning sun the next).
Things with Morgan have been touch and go. As many know, he was quite abusive to his mother, ran away and then came back and got in a fight with his sister wherein they again were physically abusive to the mother. He has since come to ask for forgiveness but we are between a rock and a hard place figuing out how to deal with the situation. Please keep us and them in your prayers.
This weekend, Maureen and I will be traveling to Ndola to see our kids there. It's my first time traveling that distance here, so keep us in your prayers for that as well- for both safe travel and a fruitful trip.
I have been thinking about how much my life has changed and how far I've come. It is truly amazing the paths that God takes us down. I was chatting with Fanny and her husband today about how things that were so "different" at first when moving here are so normal now. Sometimes (in fact, two weeks at a time) I have no hot water for showers. In the states I would have been in an uproar not having hot water for just one day and yet here on day 7 of an icy cold shower I am not even thinking that it's strange enough to complain about! I coexsist with cockroaches and spiders and grasshoppers... things that would have made me run and call an exterminator and now I just walk around them. I am always sweaty and have just adapted to carrying a cloth around to wipe my face with rather than complain about no fans or breezes... I don't have so many of the ingredients and things I am so used to for cooking, and yet I have made up some new dynamite recipes. I used to see something in a store and say TWO DOLLARS? that's a steal!, Now I see something that costs two dollars and I am appalled at how expensive it is. It is really funny to think about how perceptions on every single thing in life change.
Today, on my way to go teach Malama, I was stuck in traffic behind a white car. Behind me was a pickup truck, and behind that a bus (*shutter*). The bus was annoyed that the white car in front wasn't going around the block in traffic (which was a little boy pushing a wheelbarrow WAY over full of bottles of beer accross the street) and so He pulled into the other lane and overtook all three of us- not knowing that in the white car were two armed soldiers. WELL- needless to say the soldiers didn't take kindly to this and started screaming at him. They got past the block and swerved back around in front of the bus sideways and blocked both lanes. One of the soldiers got out, with his gun pointed and started screaming at the busdriver. It was very obvious that the soldier was drunk (this was 9AM) and they were yelling and spitting at eachother. It is common practice for a busdriver, when caught doing an offence like that, to be pulled in the street and publicly beaten as an example to the people around. The bus driver refused to get out. Seeing that it was going to be an issue, the soldier turned and motioned for me to go around the car on the other side to keep traffic moving. I slowly crept around just in time to see the busdriver pull around the other side and come parallel to me past the white car. At this point (with children and people EVERYWHERE around) the soldier started to open fire on the bus. I could not pull away as there were kids on the right of me so all I could do was step on the gas, but unfortunately the busdriver had the same idea so as this drunk soldier is shooting at the bus that is inches from me, people are scattering away and kids are crying- it was absolutely insane. I let the bus overtake me and when I saw which direction he was going I pulled off and went the other way as the soldiers were now chasing him down the road, with the one leaning out of the widow with his gun.
Now..... please do not think we see this every day. There are solders and police patroling ewith VERY large guns all over the place, but I had never actually seen one use it or been that close in proximity to a situation like that. Usually, like I said, a driver would just be publicly beaten in the street for such behavior. When I got to Fanny's I had sweat through my shirt- it really shook me up! God was protecting me, and the people around. Noone was hurt and hopefully it ended well- I didn't stick around to find out.
I am hoping to get some rest this week in preparations for travel and work this weekend in Ndola. (hoping...) I will update as soon as I get back!
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Sky is the Limit
It's been about two weeks since I've blogged... or had a moment to rest! (Or so it feels like!!) I am now tutoring full time. The way my schedule was worked out and what's REALLY going on is, as usual, two different stories. Saturday (the 29th) we had our monthly meeting and this time had a devotional and then an HIV awareness/education meeting. We will be taking all of the kids for testing soon so we wanted to make sure they were all up to date and informed. It went very well and the kids learned a lot and seem to be ready for this, which is good
Last week on monday I tutored Protasho and Patrick in the morning then got news that Felix wasn't feeling well so I cancelled afternoon classes with four of the others and took him to the clinic. He was put on injections (for 5 days) and other medications, but thankfully now it seems he is doing much better. He is supposed to go this week for a follow up (if he isn't better, it could be TB and we will have to get him to a hospital for chest XRAYs.)
The rest of the week and the tutoring went well, the kids seem excited and motivated with this extra help and I pray I will be able to assist them and boost them in their education. .It seems so funny to me to read this back and think of how it must sound to others, it doesnt seem like much- but the amount of driving and clinic visits and hours tutoring and talks and plans with Fanny and Maureen, then the lesson plans and purchasing food and bags and shoes and visiting families in between all that... It's insane. At the end of every day I am almost limping from exhaustion- only to go back and do twice as much the next day (because something ALWAYS comes up. Then I come home from a full day tutoring and doing these other things and answer emails and update spreadsheets and file reciepts.... The work is never done. Almost always I am waking up to a text of something more that we need to do, or as I am driving away to come home one of the kids will name another need they have. It's a constant stress headache. This is not to complain but rather explain my exhaustion- the work is litterally 24 hours. It's like I am mothering and teaching 19 children.
Protasho has a twin sister who we do not sponsor because she has stated she is uninterested in getting an education. He came to us telling us that she had sores and her skin looked like it was burned. I got to his house to take her to the clinic and went inside. My heart just filled with pain for them. She looked as though she had leaprosy. She was disformed with raised boils and sores all over her including her face and eyes, and was just laying on the solid ground wrapped in cloth.
She had gone to a nearby clinic when it started, but the only thing the mother could afford was the pain killers, so she had not been treated for the actual disease. She was diagnosed with small pox- which is a term they refer to any kind of "pox" but she has a bad case of it. She has been on injections 4 days now and seems to be doing much better. The boils have turned to mere bumps, but some of them unfortunately are leaving scars.
This morning I took her for her second to last injection, then picked up Kaumba, Richard, Mwansa and James and brought them to Mount Makulu (my church). They had a good time and seemed to get along with everyone, and are already asking to come along next week.
Next week will be just as full, if not more so, as this week. In addition to teaching and clinic trips, We have two more kids to enroll into school and I am making preparations for our Bible Study/ hygiene meeting and also my upcoming trip to Ndola with Maureen at the end of the month.
Next week also marks 5 months in Zambia. Almost half a year- it's hard to believe! This work of raising 19 children is challenging and exhausting and stressful and at times even frustrating, but there is nothing more rewarding than hearing Protasho read a sentance or Christian say the alphabet or seeing Maggie recover from a potentially fatal or disfiguring disease so quickly. I am here for a purpose that is so much bigger than me- and I am so thankful to have been designated by God to be put in this position. I know it's only through His strength and power that anything gets done, but I am telling you this- He is moving mountains in this place, one day at a time.
Last week on monday I tutored Protasho and Patrick in the morning then got news that Felix wasn't feeling well so I cancelled afternoon classes with four of the others and took him to the clinic. He was put on injections (for 5 days) and other medications, but thankfully now it seems he is doing much better. He is supposed to go this week for a follow up (if he isn't better, it could be TB and we will have to get him to a hospital for chest XRAYs.)
The rest of the week and the tutoring went well, the kids seem excited and motivated with this extra help and I pray I will be able to assist them and boost them in their education. .It seems so funny to me to read this back and think of how it must sound to others, it doesnt seem like much- but the amount of driving and clinic visits and hours tutoring and talks and plans with Fanny and Maureen, then the lesson plans and purchasing food and bags and shoes and visiting families in between all that... It's insane. At the end of every day I am almost limping from exhaustion- only to go back and do twice as much the next day (because something ALWAYS comes up. Then I come home from a full day tutoring and doing these other things and answer emails and update spreadsheets and file reciepts.... The work is never done. Almost always I am waking up to a text of something more that we need to do, or as I am driving away to come home one of the kids will name another need they have. It's a constant stress headache. This is not to complain but rather explain my exhaustion- the work is litterally 24 hours. It's like I am mothering and teaching 19 children.
Protasho has a twin sister who we do not sponsor because she has stated she is uninterested in getting an education. He came to us telling us that she had sores and her skin looked like it was burned. I got to his house to take her to the clinic and went inside. My heart just filled with pain for them. She looked as though she had leaprosy. She was disformed with raised boils and sores all over her including her face and eyes, and was just laying on the solid ground wrapped in cloth.
She had gone to a nearby clinic when it started, but the only thing the mother could afford was the pain killers, so she had not been treated for the actual disease. She was diagnosed with small pox- which is a term they refer to any kind of "pox" but she has a bad case of it. She has been on injections 4 days now and seems to be doing much better. The boils have turned to mere bumps, but some of them unfortunately are leaving scars.
This morning I took her for her second to last injection, then picked up Kaumba, Richard, Mwansa and James and brought them to Mount Makulu (my church). They had a good time and seemed to get along with everyone, and are already asking to come along next week.
Next week will be just as full, if not more so, as this week. In addition to teaching and clinic trips, We have two more kids to enroll into school and I am making preparations for our Bible Study/ hygiene meeting and also my upcoming trip to Ndola with Maureen at the end of the month.
Next week also marks 5 months in Zambia. Almost half a year- it's hard to believe! This work of raising 19 children is challenging and exhausting and stressful and at times even frustrating, but there is nothing more rewarding than hearing Protasho read a sentance or Christian say the alphabet or seeing Maggie recover from a potentially fatal or disfiguring disease so quickly. I am here for a purpose that is so much bigger than me- and I am so thankful to have been designated by God to be put in this position. I know it's only through His strength and power that anything gets done, but I am telling you this- He is moving mountains in this place, one day at a time.
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