24 Hours

A couple weeks ago I had a pretty rough 24 hours. I vented about it on Facebook when I was actually trembling from accumulated stress and the expenditure of adrenaline.

My week had actually been going alright. Because Tom was out of the country I took the opportunity to have two of the little girls, Queenie and Theresa, accompany Kathrin and I to Mansa for our regular bi-monthly shopping trip. We got a room with two twin-sized beds and had a fun day of running errands, eating pizza in a restaurant, and then got a good night sleep before our shopping the next day.

Everything was wrapped up in a good time the following morning, and after enjoying a relaxing lunch with a missionary friend, the four of us got on the road at a reasonable time. This made me happy because I don’t enjoy driving this particular stretch of road as the sun lowers in the sky. Not only is it harder to see as we drive toward the setting sun, but the roads begin to fill (even more than usual) with people and animals all heading home.

We were about an hour from home when I saw a convoy of government vehicles coming our way in the opposite lane. I recognized them. They had passed us the previous day going in the opposite direction. I get annoyed whenever I see these convoys because it epitomizes one of the things I dislike most in developing countries. Here were $80,000 vehicles driving, through a terribly impoverished province, in a convoy with only two – three passengers, in cars designed to carry 5-6, and in a country where gas costs over $7 a gallon. It’s a colossal waste of money!

The previous day as I was passing them, one of the vehicles tried to pass the lead vehicle which put it directly in my lane. Only by pulling off the road did I avoid a collision. 

So, here they were passing us again. And the lead vehicle was riding the center marker! I flashed my lights making sure they could see me. They didn’t move over at all. They kept coming at a high rate of speed. I immediately pulled off the road--my heart pounding. As I’ve told this story to friends here they nod their heads knowingly, “Sweepers”. Apparently it’s normal!

We were fine, the car was fine, and the rest of the drive was uneventful.

We got home, finished putting away groceries, and then we all worked together on making French bread pizzas for dinner. 

Dinner was nearly ready when Sarah came running up out of breath and said she needed help. A staff member was leaving for the day, and during the routine security check something odd had come up. I walked down to reception praying that it was a misunderstanding. I had gotten to know this particular person quite well. I was sure there was an easy explanation. 

Arriving at the entry way I dismissed everyone and just had a quiet chat with the lady. She immediately confessed that she had stolen sausages. She reached into the front of her pants and pulled out a package of four sausages. My heart sank. 

I couldn’t even deal with it. I told her she was on immediate suspension. She went home. I had just found out that I was going to have to drive the 12 hours down to Lusaka on my own so I was leaving the very next day in order to do it over two days. I had no time to figure out how to take care of an employee who had broken our trust. 

She had her excuses. One was that she thought we fed the kids too much food and so it was better that she take it home. So ridiculous. And yet, she felt completely justified. Or, she said she did. 

I was sick to my stomach the rest of the evening, but I had absolutely no time to dwell on it. I had work to do to get ready for my week in Lusaka starting with the drive the next day. I had to pack. Had to leave everything ship shape for those helping out in my absence. Had to finish up work so that deadlines wouldn’t be missed.

There was one large job hanging over my head. Our dog, Simba, had been having behavior issues for some time. We tried to find him a new home, but it didn’t work out. Then. A terrible accident. Somehow he got startled and he bit Sarah on the face. We had no choice. He had to be put down. 

With no vet anywhere in the area, I called the police. I will spare you the details, but it was truly horrific. Tom asked me later why I was present for the whole thing and I told him I felt I owed Simba the dignity of not being alone. I don’t know. Maybe it was a mistake. 

I had asked the police to come in the morning, but they only showed up late in the afternoon. I was supposed to be on the road so I didn’t have to drive in the dark. Recently some friends of ours had an accident that resulted in a little girl losing her life. Also, previously in our large Landcruiser, while hitting a goat or pig was unpleasant, at least it wouldn't demolish the car. In our new, small car this is not the case. I wanted desperately to drive during daylight hours.

However, by the time everything was taken care of and the car was packed up and Troy and I could drive out the gate, it was nearly 5. I prayed desperate prayers for safety and pulled out of our driveway. Thankfully, Troy and I made it safely to Mansa where I was able to collapse into bed and try to process the previous 24 hours and all they had contained.

I sent out an urgent Facebook message and immediately kind thoughts and prayers flooded my way. I felt loved. It’s wonderful that an ocean or a continent is not too much distance to feel the prayers of loved ones. 

I know that God is always with me, and part of the way he takes care of me is by sending so many of you, my friends, to my aid. Thank you for all your kind words and prayers all the time. They mean so much to me!

The next day we were back on the road by 6 AM. And that day held yet another adventure. But that’s a story for another day.

Exactly Three Years Ago: This Adrenaline Stuff is Gonna be the Death of Me. 

Poor Babies

I should have published this yesterday. So, I'm just going to pretend I did. 
 
Well, it was bound to happen. With all these children it was only a matter of time before a 'childhood' illness swept the ranks.

Funny thing though. It was a grown up who brought it to our doors. Lizzie (one of our youngest nannies), was diagnosed with a serious ear infection back in July, which caused her face and especially the jaw area to swell terrifically. With no real reason to doubt the diagnosis, we gave her the allotted five days off work and that was that.

One of our volunteers did suspect mumps, but we thought that was too far-fetched.

Well....Zeger, you were right.

A couple/few weeks later, Troy had swollen glands and Naomi had quite a swelling on one side of her face. I showed Naomi to the village medical officer and asked if it could perhaps be mumps. He quickly pooh-poohed that idea and said it was most likely an ear infection.
Since she didn't seem to be suffering or running any type of fever, I let it go for a day and she was just fine.
To be safe, I confined Troy to his bed because mumps (while a pretty benign illness) can have a bad side effect in adolescent males.

Two-three weeks later, guess what?? Two of the children have swollen glands and jaws. We took them to the clinic and the same officer now diagnoses them with mumps*. Huh.

And, to further boost our confidence in him, he prescribes antibiotics. For a virus.

So, mumps is now making its way through all the children. Poor Beauty is the latest victim.

From this picture you can't really tell much is wrong unless you know her really well.

But, here. Look at that swelling.

The main way to treat mumps is plenty of liquids and bed rest. Most of the kids don't feel very sick at all so it's been challenging trying to get them to rest.

I just hope it gets over and done with quickly. If it drags out with a few 'victims' every 2-3 weeks we could still be fighting this at Christmas time.

*To be clear, all of our children have been vaccinated. I'm not sure why mumps has made this sudden appearance.


Exactly One Year Ago: Witches Brew--No Need for Eye of Newt (how I combat other illnesses)
Exactly Three Years Ago: Just Another Ordinary Day
Exactly Four Years Ago: A Hospital Visit (what's with this time of year?)

Challenge Accepted

Yesterday I finally got a chance to bake Troy a birthday cake even though his birthday was back in August. He and I celebrated it while down in Lusaka. Now he needed a cake.

I saw the one below online several weeks ago and Troy said he wanted that one for his birthday.

It was featured on Cheezburger.com. (Open that link at your own risk--not necessarily safe for work) as a failed project. The original cake looked wonderful.

http://cheezburger.com/6345239808

I was pretty sure I could do better than the attempt below.

http://cheezburger.com/6345239808

Last time I was in Mansa I stocked up on KitKats (worth their weight in gold and nearly as expensive--Yikes!) and Smarties (like M&Ms-NOT the same at all!). But, since I can't throw a party for my kids and invite all their friends over, I throw my efforts into cakes.
(I guess my kids can work out their food issues with their therapists in the future...ha ha)

I baked our regular chocolate cake in two layers with strawberry jam in between, and did a simple vanilla buttercream frosting. Then it was assembled with KitKats around the outside and the top was covered with Smarties.

It worked! I ended up with exactly the right amount of KitKats. Whew!

Troy was happy! That's one of the most important thing. And, it so happened that yesterday was Jasmine's birthday so she got to have a picture of a cake. I'm sure this lovely picture was just as good as the real thing, right?


Exactly One Year Ago: Another Edition of Seriously?!?
Exactly Three Years Ago: We're Always Trying to Be Different

Precious Kids

One of my favorite television shows these days is Call the Midwife. Set in the late 1950's, Call the Midwife is about a group of midwives working in East London out of a convent: Nonnatus House.You can read a wonderful review of it here on Pioneer Woman Entertainment. It was how I originally discovered it. Then I devoured every episode of season one online while in the States this past spring.

I was sad to leave it behind when the time came to return to Zambia. However, just after I returned, season two started on our TV service here! Sometimes I'm extra sure God loves me.....

My TV passion is not the real reason for this post though. Hang with me....

At the convent there lives an older nun (Sister Monica Jones) who has worked as a midwife and now, in the twilight years of her life, suffers from touches of dementia. You never know what she'll do or say next.

In an episode I watched recently, the community has come together to raise money for Nonnatas House. As part of the event they are having plays, races, and a baby beauty contest. The entire neighborhood is working together to help a home that will allow their wives and mothers to deliver safely.

Sister Monica Jones looks around at all the preparations and remarks, "When did babies become precious?? It wasn't too long ago that they were playing in dirty gutters, or being carried on the backs of siblings not much bigger than they. Is it because they now survive that they have value, or is it because they now have value that they survive"?

She could have been describing Zambia! This is exactly what we face here. Every day we see tiny toddlers wandering the dusty roads of Kazembe completely alone. Or watch itty bitty children struggle with the load of a baby on their back.

Life here is more about survival day by day. Babies die. That's a daily fact. Some die from infection, from diarrhea, from injury, from malaria, from dehydration. I had a conversation with one of our young nannies the other day. I asked her how many mothers she knows personally. She said 10. I then asked how many have lost babies. She said 5. That's half!!
 
It would take me a while to even recall any friends of mine who have lost babies. Obviously it happens, but not as often as here.

When living in a society where babies die on a regular basis, I can hardly blame mothers for not creating strong bonds with a child that might not survive. Why invest emotionally?

So, how do we help people to learn to value, protect and cherish their children? As Sister Monica Jones said: Do we help to teach them how to care for the children--good health practices? nutrition? hygiene?

Or, do we teach them that every baby is a child of God? If they saw each child as a special treasure, a responsibility granted to them by God, would they be more careful to follow good hygiene, nutrition and safety rules?

I don't really have the answers. All I know is that I will continue to do my part. I'll try to set a good example of love and care for babies here at Kazembe Orphanage. Perhaps those who work here will not only use the practices we teach here, but will use them in their own homes too. Maybe it won't be today, or tomorrow, or even this year, but one day the seeds that we plant each day will grow and flower. I hold on to this hope.


Exactly Three Years Ago: Total Randomness

Flashback Friday

I'll begin sharing photos each Friday from the past few months that I haven't had a chance to post before now.

On our way to the States in March, Jasmine and I visited Zeger and family in Belgium. These pictures are from our sightseeing trip to Gent where we toured a real castle.

It was so cold. As so often happens during my travels, just before we arrived Belgium they had a cold snap with the largest temperature drop in 100 years. There was even snow on the ground when just the week before the temperature was much more spring-like.

The staircases were so narrow. I guess people were either smaller or less prone to claustrophobia.

 Zeger brought some wooden swords along and challenged Jasmine to a fight. She held up pretty well.

I tried my hand at it as well, but I think the large purse pretty well ruins the illusion.

 Jasmine looks awfully comfortable in that throne. Future husband, beware!

Exactly Two Years Ago: I Wish....
Exactly Three Years Ago: Sunday's in My City--Ntumbacushi Falls
Exactly Four Years Ago: Our Kids--Jennifer
(Almost) Exactly Four Years Ago:  Adventures in Baby Care

Just Another Day in Paradise--No Big Deal

Early this morning, just as our work day was starting, Tom received a call saying there was a black cobra sighting in the village and they needed his help. Grabbing his snake tongs as he ran out the door, Tom hurried quickly down to see what he could do.

When he arrived he found a large crowd gathered around a pit latrine (outhouse).

 Unfortunately, before he arrived they had started a large fire in the pit and so there was nothing he could do until the smoke cleared.

This toilet belonged to a young, widowed mother. She had been redoing the grass roof when the snake was discovered.

 The men dug around for a while trying to see if they could find anything but, as Tom pointed out, there were too many holes where the snake could be hiding. It wasn't safe to do any more digging.

Tom was disappointed that he wasn't able to help find and eliminate this dangerous snake. He also felt badly for the poor woman who had her toilet torn down in the search. He has offered to pay for a new one to be built.

Like I said, just another day in the life.


Exactly One Year Ago: Best Ending to a Difficult Day
Exactly Two Years Ago: Guess the Secret Ingredient
(Almost) Exactly Three Years Ago: Where Everybody Knows Your Name

I Yam What I Yam

Whew! It's been a long break. I certainly didn't intend to be missing for so long. Isn't that a common refrain here? Maybe it should be my tag line: Now You See Me, Now You Don't

I headed south to Lusaka over two weeks ago for a special training session. I originally thought I'd have evenings free and that I'd be able to do blogging and crafting. Not so much. I'll write more about this exciting 'back to school' adventure later.

When I was in the States this past spring I visited with one of Tom's uncles. The topic of my blog came up and I commented (partly joking) that i was falling behind in my writing. "Yes, I've noticed," he said, "I guess you've run out of things to talk about". Not at all! I have so many backlogged adventures I could be writing forever.

Those who follow me on Facebook saw my drama-filled statement that as I headed down to Lusaka I was wrapping up one of the worst 24 hour periods of my life. A friend commented that since I've faced some real doozies in the past, this must be serious. And, it was....in a way. In another way it was just a lot of stuff crammed into a short time period. I promised to write a post about it, and I truly intended to--still do, but I didn't have internet. I apologize if I frightened anyone. I'm OK, and I will tell the 'rest of the story' soon.

Tom was out of the country for the first three weeks of August. Since I had to travel down to Lusaka for the previously mentioned classes I was only alone for one week. I wasn't even that alone because a little bitty mouse lived under my bed. During the dry, cold season field mice tend to move indoors. I called our dog in (Harley's a great mouser), but the tiny mouse eluded her.

Another mouse lived (OK, still lives) in our living room. One night as Troy and I watched TV (while Tom was away), we saw the mouse climb up on the coffee table. It looked around and twitched its little nose in the air. It was kinda cute. I began to wonder if I was not actually frightened of mice after all. I had existed for a week with one in my room (not that I could do anything about it, and I didn't have anywhere else to go, but still) and now there was one in full view in my living room.I was a little fascinated by it.

Then Troy touched my arm.....

.....When I peeled myself off the ceiling and my heart was beating normally again, I realized that I actually am afraid of mice after all.

I would love to be someone who is brave in the face of creepie crawlies.

I would love to be someone who blogs come hell or high water, or power failures, or lack of internet access.

I would love to be less of a drama queen.

But, I am what I am.




(Almost) Exactly One Year Ago: Road Trip Adventures
(Almost) Exactly Three Years Ago: Moments of Panic