Your Questions Answered!

Since asking for your input last week, I'm so happy to have so many great questions already submitted.

Your questions are very important to me and will be answered in the order in which they were received. Thank you for playing!

CardiffScott wrote: Will your kids at the orphanage go to out to school in the community or will you do school in house when the time comes?

We already teach the kids a lot using Montessori and other preschool educational tools and so we will be continuing to teach them at 'home'. Sadly, there are no good schools in our area. The only schools in our area are poorly run government schools. The schools don't have good books, the classes are over crowded, the English being spoken is poor, the teachers have very little training--I could go on and on. It breaks my heart not to be able to do more for the schools.

  I often say that if I were cloned into 5 or 10 people I would still stay busy with all the passions I have for helping Zambia. There are the schools, the needs of the antenatal (prenatal) women, the needs of the new mothers, the youth who have no direction, the local clinic which is not worthy of the name. But, God has given me these 16 (and counting) children and our staff and I have to keep my eyes on my primary tasks.

Sorry, I got carried away! Back to the question:

The goal is that we will be setting up a Christian school within the orphanage using a variety of teaching styles and books. The main curriculum we're planning to use is ACE--School of Tomorrow which uses a PACE system so each child can be studying at a different level and a teacher or two can supervise a whole room of children at different grade levels. 

I also want to supplement this with several labs such as a science room, an art room, one on one spelling and reading practice and hands on mathematics activities as well as educational games on the computer.  And, of course, oodles and oodles of books!

I'm a firm believer in the fact that each child is unique and learns in a different way. Keeping our school small and simple will enable us to give the kids the best possible education. Our vision for the children in our care is that they are going to grow up to be the future leaders of Zambia. We are going to do everything in our power to give them the tools for success.

Now, the question that many will ask is what we will do about socialization. I'm not so worried about that because we are going to have so many children growing up together as well as visitors from all over the world that they are going to be well used to interacting with people from every walk of life. Already, visitors comment on how well adjusted the kids are. We have volunteers coming through, others stopping by for a tour and the kids just walk up and say hello. There is no fear or timidity.

In the future, when our kids are a bit older and we're more settled and well-staffed, I'd love to do a community Sunday School where we could invite each church in the area to bring a selected number of children on a Sunday (or Saturday) morning for Bible stories, songs and activities. This will allow the children in our care to reach out and give back to others.

 I hope this answers your question, CardiffScott. 

I look forward to even more questions. Leave them here in comments or email me at amymorrowinafricaATgmailDOTcom.

 

Fab Friday Foto(s) XXIV

 Or: Everything is Not as It Seems

This is a typical market stall in our village. They sell anything from pots and pans, shoes, children's toys and stuffed animals to clothes. Everything is draped over the bamboo or laid out on blankets on the ground.

 The other day we had to take care of some errands so we were passing through the marketplace and I spotted something I thought Tom would love.

Tom loves lions and so I just knew he wouldn't pass up the opportunity to own a towel with a lion on it. Gifts is also his love language so I was going to score big on this one.

 But what is that behind the lion--on the other half of the towel?

 Tom's day just got better and better.

Physician, Heal Thyself

Being so far away from good medical help means we have to become fairly proficient at reading symptoms, determining treatments and deciding what is serious enough to merit a trip to a (unsatisfactory) nearby medical facility or a (better, yet) more distant clinic or hospital.

We have a good clinic set up, medicines at hand—even IV medicines that a visiting doctor or nurse can administer—and reference books that help us to research and know the best course of action.

Aside from medicines, and medical books we also use as many natural remedies as we can: herbs, essential oils, good old fashioned salt water, whatever it takes to get a result.

When a child or loved one is sick or injured I am usually pretty good about keeping a level head (one of the few times I ever lost it was when my daughter was diagnosed with small pox—but that is a story for another day) and I can assess symptoms with a level head, look for solutions and lay out a treatment plan—working as much as possible with local medical personnel.

But, when I am the one who falls ill this all flies out the window. How can I logically and accurately assess my symptoms when I’m flailing around on the bed in pain while simultaneously trying to hold still because all movement causes intense nausea?

When I got sick this past weekend with horrific stomach cramping and all that goes along with that, I wasn’t sure what to do. Tom tried to be helpful but like most men, when he couldn’t fix me, he preferred to stay away.

I got on the internet and attempted to figure out what was wrong and what I should do (all of this being done from a prone position, I might add) but most websites suggested you talk to your doctor and he could prescribe an antibiotic.

I diagnosed myself with salmonella based on a questionable piece of meat I ate on Friday but once I tracked down the suggested antibiotic I had no way of checking if we had that antibiotic available in our clinic. Jasmine brought me one that I thought might work but at the last minute I chickened out of taking it (pun completely unintentional).

Even though I was writhing in pain I hesitated to take any pain medicine because I didn’t want to upset my stomach even more. Again, with any other ‘patient’ I would have been rational but I was not thinking clearly at all.

This was all taking place on a Sunday so I didn’t want to call our doctor friend in the capital city. Finally, I endured the pain long enough and on Monday morning, called our doctor and she suggested an antibiotic that could be taken in injection form. I grabbed it out of the clinic and Tom drove me down to the rural health center where we very rudely jumped the line (or queue as it’s called here) and got the medical officer to jab me.

Holy Mother of All Things Good and Pure!! Those two! injections hurt like the dickens. At least my mind was off the stomach pain and on to whether I would be able to ever use my limbs again. I was pretty brave and let out barely a whimper (I may have called out for God’s mercy at one point, though), limped out of the office, rode home in a fetal position, and crawled back into bed.*

The good news is that the injections worked like magic and I was feeling much better by the evening. Tuesday (yesterday) I was able to walk around a bit and eat a couple things. I still broke out in a cold sweat if I did much at all but at least I was nearly pain free.

Today, I’m still not 100 % and my arms are both bruised but life is beginning to look up again. I have no idea what malady befell me but I learned that while I may make a good makeshift doctor or nurse,  I’m a terrible patient.

*Lambaround, I didn't even get a milkshake out of the deal.

Holla If You Love Surprises!

Do you hear that sound? That's me not holla'ing because I hate surprises with a passion.

But, this isn't about me. It's about you! And I promised I'd share a special surprise with you.

Why the special journey to lose 17 pounds in 17 weeks (now down to 14 pounds in 16 weeks. Yay, me!)?

No, I'm not renewing my vows. That would be fun though. 

Ok, I won't drag it out anymore. I had to delay by one day already because I was knocked over by a nasty bug--the stomach kind. More about that tomorrow.

So, the big news is.......

We are traveling to the U.S for a 2 week trip in late January / early February!

For the first time in nearly nine years our family will be traveling together to Texas and Alabama. Troy is thirteen and the last time he was in the States he was 4 years old. What a crazy ride this will be for him!

We will be attending a 3 day missions conference in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The rest of the time we will be in Houston, Texas visiting family (my babies!) and friends.

Where do you all come in to this? I really hope I'll be able to see many of you during our short and hopefully sweet time in the States. To that end I'm trying to plan a big ol' party (we'll be in Texas so I had to use the vernacular) so we can see as many people as possible. 

Any ideas? Should it be a dinner where everyone can eat while we stand up and talk and answer questions? Should it be more of a free for all cocktail (not really) and finger food time so people can come in and out and look at displays and get to chat with us one on one? Should it be a combination of the two or something completely different.

Tom is a bit nervous about organizing this type of gathering. And with good reason, poor guy. 

When Tom was a missionary in Bangladesh, he and his colleagues organized a special Christmas pageant. The hope was that they could sell tickets which would go a long way toward raising their annual budget and would also get the Gospel message out. They booked a conference room at a fancy hotel, sewed costumes for the performers, organized food, practiced again and again, sent out invitations and finally the big day arrived. The drama group and singers gathered nervously in the hall waiting for the invited guests to arrive.

And they waited and waited and waited.

No one showed up! Finally someone in the group invited three of the hotel guests who were waiting in the lobby to come sit in. Now there were three attendees (non-paying though they were) so the show had to go on. The entire pageant and concert was put on for three people!

Handsome Tom and his guitar. He was 20 years old.

Fast forward to 15 years in the future. We had come to the end of our planning and preparation for our move to Africa. We decided to have a send off meeting where we could do a formal presentation. We booked a room at the local library, Tom spent hours putting together a Power Point slideshow that would be shown on the large wall screen. We printed up programs, sent out 200 invitations and covered a long table with delicious cakes, pies and finger foods. We practiced the songs we performed as a family and were ready to go.

The gang's all here. This was May, 2001

The evening came and to Tom's horror (he had been dreading a repeat of his past) ,only 6 or 8 people came. We went ahead with the whole program and everyone had a good time (they all got to go home with armloads of food) but it wasn't the big shindig we had envisioned.

Why that trip down memory lane? Because we do not want history to repeat itself again! What can we do to make this upcoming event a success? What tips would you have for us?

I would so love to see each and every one of you this coming February. I'll post early and often about any dates, times, etc as I know them, so anyone reading this can come out for the fun.

P.S I had some adorable photos to add to this post but Blogger and/or the internet are not cooperating!!! I'm really sorry. If I can get them added later I will and will post an update asap. Thank you for your patience with my African life. Update: Photos done. Blogger conquered!

I Can't Believe It's Not September

Can it really be October? But just two days ago it was September and I distinctly remember writing the Happy New Year post so I canNOT believe we are nearly upon Halloween. Heaven help!

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Since it is just three tiny months until a new year it's probably good that I try yet again to get back into shape. So! I have started a journey to lose 17 pounds in 17 weeks. Why 17 pounds? 'Cause. That's why. And why 17 weeks? Ah, that is a surprise. I will tell you all about it on Monday. It is exciting news and I am going to be needing your feedback to please put your thinking caps on.

Anyway, I have cut out most simple starches and sweets (except for Sunday when I then consume enough sugar to power a small village. Ahem) and I am walking 3 miles 4-5 times a week. I'll also be squeezing yoga in as much as I can.

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Yesterday both Jasmine and I suffered chauvinism and found we were not fans. I was in a government office trying to get something done and they said they needed to see the 'big guy'--meaning my husband. When I said I'd be more than happy (and able) to answer any and all questions, I received a blank stare at which time I picked up my phone and called for Tom to come to my rescue.

   Jasmine was told by her karate teacher that (despite being the best student in her level) she could do an easier version of the pushups since 'she's a girl'. The look she gave me when relating the story was priceless. And, I have to say, her biceps are looking FINE!

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Now, not that I'm running out of material by any stretch of the imagination--snakes and monkeys live at my house for crying out loud--but I wanted to mix things up a bit. So, I have decided I want to open the floor to your questions. Ask me anything. I can answer any question although some answers may sound more like a politician's version than others.

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Finally, I'm participating in Elizabeth Esther's Saturday Evening Blog Party today. She has a cute little button advertising this party, but either the internet or Blogger is letting me down and it won't load. My submission is about the adrenaline overload I suffer on a regular basis. In case you missed it the first time around I think you'll enjoy it.

Monkey Business

I would normally have a Fab Friday Foto feature here but I couldn't get internet to work yesterday so you'll get some fab photos and a post today. Cool? Okay!

I've written about our pet monkey before. He is still a challenging little animal. He is so human-like at times it is hilarious. He can open doors, and escapes all the time. He loves to have Tom sit with him in the afternoon and he searches for treats in Tom's pockets.

He has decided that he needs his own pet. So, he broke into the guinea pig cages next to his and kidnapped (pignapped) a little guinea pig.

He cuddles him, play bites on him and grooms him. Aside from a few squeals when he's bitten, the guinea pig seems surprisingly okay with the whole arrangement. 

 The other day, Kanono was dirty so Tom thought the best solution would be to throw him in our new pool.

We had no idea how he'd react or if he'd be able to swim. We positioned ourselves around the pool in case we needed to rescue him.

He ended up being a very good swimmer.

It was funny to see how he swam directly for his 'daddy'. He looked so childlike as he reached out to be lifted from the pool.

A dripping wet monkey. That water drop on my lens happened to blur just the right spot.

Poor tucked out little monkey took a nap on our couch.

P.S I misspoke the other day when I said that gaboon vipers were endangered. Tom told me later they are extinct in some countries where they used to live so they are diminishing in numbers but not yet labeled endangered. Thanks for your good questions and comments. I appreciate and value every single one.

Comments Regurgitated

(or how I got you to write a post for me)

Many times people ask questions or make comments about things I've posted and they are really good. I don't know about you but I don't always make it back around to see what other people have commented on blogs I enjoy reading. So, here are some comments highlighted and some questions answered. Thanks for making my 'job' a joy!

  

On Saturday, I wrote about things I was working on teaching the nannies with regard to feelings and how to express and handle them. Raven wrote a very nice comment on that post. I've been very grateful for Raven's take on things since she spent four years working as a Peace Corps volunteer here in Zambia and even married a Zambian man.

"I can definitely understand your frustrations with the cultural emotional block. My neighbors in the village were shocked that I knew the names of each of the 45 kids that came to my house every day. That individualisation isn't something they do with children. And the kids loved me for it. (The worst talala moment I saw was at an under 5. The kid was scared of me and the mom's answer, in Bemba, was "stop crying or the white lady will eat you." I wonder why she was scared of me?)

However, just to play devil's advocate, I also see a bit of why they tell the kids to stop crying. By the age of 9 in the village, those kids would be expected to take care of adult chores and other kids. No one has time to cry or dwell on emotions, as they have to work so hard for survival. When a mother loses a child (or husband, etc), she has 3 days to grieve. She rolls on the ground and wails and screams and cries. Then, on day 4, the crying is over and she is back to work. There is no time to waste on emotions.

Joshua is often so confused by his overly emotional American wife. I cry when I read a good book, watch a movie, think of a sad memory, etc. I am very emotional and he is just not used to women being like this, even after 4 years with me. So, don't get too frustrated if the nannies don't get it right away."

I understand and I do get it. One of my nannies in just the 10 months she's been working here has lost her son and her mother. How people keep going day after day is beyond me. But at the same time, I do see many health issues that are directly related to not being able to get feelings out in the open and know how to deal with them. It's sad.

The other issue is that the kids we are raising are not going to be carrying adult loads at the age of nine years old. They are going to have the opportunity to have regular childhoods, finish their education and enter a world that is very, very different from a village. For that reason, I have to continue to set my sights high and expect more from my staff. 

I appreciate Raven's encouragement to not get discouraged. It is a hard road and the sweet ladies I work with are making incredible, albeit slow, progress. 

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On Sunday I wrote about Tom working on his snake habitat. Many of you had questions about this--whether it was a hobby, questioning his sanity, etc. First of all, let me say that Tom was extremely flattered to have been considered insane. To be normal and ordinary would be a terrible thing for him. 

  The snakes are partly a hobby and partly a community project. Zambians are quite frightened of snakes (and rightly so) so that they kill first and ask questions later. Tom tries to educate them about the different types of snakes and the role they play in our environment. Right now he only keeps Puff Adders and Gaboon Vipers. He has started with these 2 particular species of snakes because they are beautiful and not so aggressive. Eventually he would like to have all the different species that are native to this area. 

  He's able to keep these two different snakes together because they are from the same family. We had cobras before (so scary!!) and they fought with the Adders and Vipers.

  Another reason he is interested in the Gaboon Vipers and why he was so excited about the babies is that they are an endangered species. He believes he can sell them in the States and Europe for a fair amount of money. Can you imagine being the UPS delivery guy holding that box? The skins are also quite pretty and could make nice belts and hat bands.

The habitat is well thought out and very safe. The glass usually has chicken wire in front of it unless Tom is showing the snakes at that moment. That prevents the snakes from getting out should they happen to break the glass. Tom has been bitten before (you can see the list on the left hand side bar) and has learned plenty from the experiences. Perhaps not enough, you may say, since he still keeps snakes but......what can you do........such is the life of an adventurer.