Almost 3 months down!

Weather: It has been cooling down here in Rundu.  I think I am beginning to have African blood. ;)  I am cold walking to work when is only like 60 degrees.  It is interesting how your body adjusts to the climate and the weather.  I do not think I would be wearing a parka or anything anytime soon but a jacket for sure.  The mornings and evenings are cool and the days are warm enough to still wear shorts and flip flops.  We do not have any heat or air conditioning so I will be wrapping up in a blanket.  

Good times: We had the bible study girls over to make cookies and play some games.  It was a good time of fellowship and just hanging out.  I think its good to show them that we want to be a part of their lives and not just about teaching a bible study.  It was fun to do something together and teach them something.  It is about living life together and learning from each other.  The girls loveto sing the songs from church and do the dances.  It is fun to watch them worship the Lord in our backyard.  

        Melissa and I had a joint birthday party last night.  It was amazing how many people can show up when you only invite a few.  There were people from Kaisosi, Ndama, neighbors and peace corp girls.  Mostly they were teenagers and young adults.  I think at the peak of people we probably had about 50 people here.  We played games, ate cake, made s’mores by the fire and had some dancing.  We had made a playlist of songs we thought would be fun to dance to but it ended up the didn’t really want to dance to that.  Even when we played some Namibian dance music only a few people danced.  It was not until they started just singing acapella and dancing in a circle did people join in.  It is funny what we thought they would like was totally not.  All they wanted to do was sing their songs and do their kind of dancing.  It was fun to have bunch of Africans singing and dancing in a circle in my living room.  It was almost like church in our home.

Hospital: Work has been overall a better experience lately.  The first few months were really hard on me.  I did not feel like I was a help or even needed.  But I realized that I am working in a new place, new culture, new people and new hospital.  Things are not always going to be easy in the beginning. I think the people on my unit have finally accepted me and know how I can be useful to them.  It is nice to go to work and know I will be able to help in some way.  

Life: As I was sitting in church on Sunday I realized that this now feels like home.  I do not remember really what my life was like in Seattle. It was a weird realization but I think its a good one.  It means I am settled in and comfortable with my life here in Africa but then it also means will be hard to go.  The past three months have gone by quickly and I am sure the next three will go by quickly as well.  I am happy to have the opportunity to come here and serve and work with these people.  It has been an honor and I have meet some wonderful people.  

Birthday girls

Me and some of my coworkers at the May birthday party

Making cookies with the girls

Dancing in our living room

The girls singing in the backyard

High Care party people :)

Prayer Requests and Praises: I would like continued prayer that I am a light and example to my coworkers and patients.  Also for patience at work with language barriers and cultural differences.  Thank you for being able to serve with Peggy and Sarah for the past 3 months and prayer for safe travels back for them to their homes.  Lastly, prayer for the interactions in the village as we teach and disciple young men and women.  

Good times in Africa!

Choir conference: We went to Kasosi village to see the choir competition. There were many choirs who came from all over to perform.  They were from Angola, Windhoek and other parts of Namibia.  It was amazing to see this plot of land transformed into tent city.  There were changing rooms made out of sticks and tall grass,  large tents for multiple people to sleep, 2-4 man tents and bathing areas.  It was fun to see all the girls doing their hair and boys shining their shoes to get ready for the competition.  It reminded me of the days of show choir and our saturday competitions.  The girls changing and putting on makeup and fixing their hair in anticipation of what was to come.  

It was supposed to start around 2 but of course we are on Africa time so it did not start till almost 4.  It was narrowed down to five groups in the final competition.  They each did a number from a bible verse in Isaiah. They were all very serious. Each group sang acapella and did sign language to go with the words.  They all did a wonderful job.  

Teaching at the school: Melissa and I taught at the nursing school a few weeks ago.  We spoke on spinal cord injuries and traumatic brain injuries.  The students did a very good job answering questions and listening.  We each spoke for an hour and did some case studies.  Who knew I was going to be a nursing instructor while I was here?! I had no idea I could talk for an hour about something but I did. :)  It felt good to be able to pass on knowledge I have gained over the years. We are going to continue to help sister Jane and lecture next on coronary artery disease and myocardial infarctions. It is going to be fun!

Muhango Park: For my birthday weekend we decided to go camping and see African wildlife. Three of us got the joy of riding in the back of the buckee because there are only two seat belts in the front of the truck. We spent the next two hours being beaten by the wind in our face and the sun on our legs.  I got an awesome knee burn. :)  There are many campgrounds around the park but we decided to stay at Nunda Lodge.  It was a great location right on the river with a good pool and decent size camping spots.  We set up camp then went out the see the animals.  We were able to see zebras, warthogs, antelope and a giraffe the first night.  Plus we got the joy of watching the sunset as we drove out of the park.  I love african sunsets! They are wonderful.   The colors come alive in the sky. I know people always talk about them but there is nothing like experiencing it for yourself. 

The second day we got an early start and went into the park just after the sun rose.  The dew was still heavy in the air.  As we drove through the park I could feel God surrounding us.  It was chilly but it was so quiet.  It was a perfect morning.  We drove by the swamp lands and saw many birds getting their morning bath.  We kept driving and as we came around a corner to see a giraffe standing posing in a clearing.  It was almost as if he was waiting for us to come to take pictures of him.   As we drove on we saw buffalo and then another pack of zebras surrounding the watering hole.  The sun was now shining down on us and we were able to take off some layers of clothing.  Next , we headed to the buffalo park.  We still were eagerly awaiting to see some elephants and hippos. We had high hopes for seeing them as we drove along the river.  Melissa, Anna and I stood in the back of the truck keeping our eyes peeled for animals as we drove.  Eventually we came to the end of one of the roads and we stopped to turn around and in the distance we saw elephants along the rivers edge.  We got our wish!  We continued to drive along because we still needed to see hippos.  By this time we have been out for about 5 hours with minimal food and drink in our bellies.  We were not planning on being out all morning.  But we were determined to find the hippos.  Again we pull into a clearing to get closer to the river and across the river we saw hippos and water buffalo hanging out.  :)  We ended up staying out for almost 7 hours, but it was worth it.  

Prayer Requests: Anna and I have started two bible studies out in the village and would like prayer for wisdom and guidance as we teach these young adults.  In addition, I would still like prayer for courage and patience at work in the hospital.  It can be frustrating at times and I am doing my best to have a positive attitude. 

It's been a month!

       The weather: So its been pretty hot here in Rundu in comparison to Windhoek. Plus we get the pleasure of walking since we have no car. There is sand everywhere! It gets in your shoes, on your clothes and your skin. One of my favorite things is how the taxis pass you on the road going 100 km/hr and make a huge cloud of dust only to get more dust on your sweaty body. Love it!  We walk to and from work which means we are sweaty each way, fun times. But on the same token it does cool off a night which is a blessing. My favorite time of day is dusk.  It is cooling off and the sun is going down, its a great time for a walk. The sunsets are beautiful here. 

Conference:  All of the AIM missionaries from Namibia came together for a time of fellowship and learning along with some international guests as well.  We learned a great deal about personalities and behavior styles.  In our team from Rundu ,we learned that we are all a little different and deal with conflict in different ways.  It was good to talk about it and be up front and honest and hopefully not have too many conflicts. ;)  It was uplifting and good for us to hear about the mission fields in the other regions of Namibia as well as the southern region of AIM.  There are some amazing things happening all over Africa.  It encourages me to hear about how God is working in other places and drives me to want to serve here in Rundu.  I want to make a difference and watch God work through me.  I am still wondering how he will do it but I am a willing servant.  

Home stay: We had the opportunity to stay in one of the villages surrounding Rundu.  Anna and I had the privilege of staying in Ndama. We were lucky and we were honored to stay in one of the mud homes.  It is not a hut but a home with three rooms. There is the main room which is where we hang out and eat, the sleeping room and the storage room. We did get to experience going to the African “bathroom” and taking a African “shower.”  These people only eat once a day because it is all they can afford. They eat a large meal for dinner and that is all. I can tell that the children are hungry.  It breaks my heart. 

Living in the village is hard work. There is lots to be done and it takes time to do everything. There is no microwaves, refrigerators or ovens. All cooking is done over the fire. The women have to gather the wood, chop it, build the fire then cook the meal. For the traditional dish of pap the meal is gathered, ground up, sifted, laid out to dry then it could be cooked.  This is a process that is not easy.  In addition, all the clothing is washed by hand in large basins.  And of course all the dishes are washed by hand. :)  It was an adjustment when coming from a culture with some many amenities. 

Overall Africa is starting to feel like home but I am still feeling very overwhelmed. Everything takes a little more time and effort. It can be exhausting. I go to bed every night tired and emotionally drained.  They tell you that living in another culture is hard but until you completely experience it, there is no way to explain it.  Every conversation takes concentration, walking in the sun on sandy roads is physically hard in addition to carrying all your groceries, learning a language takes practice and trying to adjust to a different hospital environment are just a few of the things we are dealing with daily.  But God is greater than all of that! And I thank him for that. He has been faithful to me. Thank you for all of your prayers. 

Prayer Requests: Continued guidance in the hospital and learning my place there and how to be a help to them.  As we start our ministries, which include bible studies with the girls in the villages and campus crusade, give us wisdom and discernment. 

       Pictures: First of the pictures is me making some pap, a traditional African food.  The second is of the lion Mufasa at the place we stayed at conferance. The last is me with the children in the village for my home stay. 

Langauge learning, Rundu and the Hospital first impressions

We have been through a lot in the past week and a half. We have meet many more people and finally made it to Rundu. Last week we went to Otjiwarongo for a language learning course. We went to this area of town called “the location” every day to practice our newly learned phases. We would walk the streets and greet people. They were very welcoming. Most would let us practice and laugh at us but it didn’t matter because we laughed at ourselves. We learned that language learning is ministry. We can build a relationship with language learner as we attempt to learn their language and that is what it is all about, building relationships.

We got to Rundu on Thursday afternoon after driving for about four hours with 4 of us crammed tightly in the backseat of the “bakkie” or pickup truck. We traveled true african style! :) My first impressions of Rundu were that is was a lot more rural than Windhoek. We crossed the divide and suddenly there were people living in mud huts and in mini villages. We were told most of the villages are divided by family and usually surround a water hole. Thus the reason there can be miles we go without seeing any huts. This felt like Africa or at least my perception of it. As we got up to Rundu we saw a “city” surrounded by mud huts. There was such a contrast. You can walk just outside the city and walk into a village of mud huts. It seemed so bizarre going from one way of life to the other within steps. I was not sure how to handle it. But the people in the village we went to see were very friendly and welcoming. It felt safe. The people are genuine in their interest in you and your life.

The hospital is very different than in the states. They are lucky to have a good number of doctors who care about the patients and want to help them. They also have a good supply of medications which helps give good nursing care. Although, there is going to be a large learning curve with trying to do paper charting. I have never done it. It is going to take some time to learn but I am sure I can figure it out with the other nurses help. :) They do not have IV pumps so I am going have to go back to math and learning to count the drops. It is going to take some getting to used to. I will be working in High Care which is their version of ICU. I am going to have to do some studying up on pediatrics and neonatal because we take care of those patients as well as adults. I think it will be a good experience overall.

On Saturday night we went to choir practice. There are three choirs: the sunday school, youth and women's choir. We were a part of the youth choir. It is both men and women split up into sections. They are taught by first listening, then repeating and then adding the other sections. After, they add the dance moves. This was one of my favorite parts. I love to watch them move. It is so fluid and natural. It appears to take no effort on their part. All of the woman were very welcoming and kind as well to us. They opened up their arms to us without any hesitation. If only we were as kind and open to everyone we met back at home. It is a good lesson and something I want to take home with me. I want to be more trusting of people.

Prayer Requests: I would like guidance on where to serve and how to get involved outside the hospital. I also would like to lift up all the people we have meet in the past 2 weeks and their families. Lastly, I need prayer for peace while working at the hospital and finding my place there.

Enest and his home

Kasosi Village

Sunset from Kavango Lodge in Rundu

First days in Africa

As the plane landed in Windhoek I could not believe I was finally here. We traveled for 36 hours and we made it! I had almost no emotion, which might had been lack of sleep ;), but I knew I was about to start a great adventure. I know that God had brought us here to do his work and I was excited to see how.

Our first few days have been filled with meeting lots of wonderful people, get adjusted to the time difference and orientation. Our unit leaders Rob and Alisa have been great and very hospitable. They have a large family with 7 children who are all kind and a joy to be around. They are wonderful examples of our life being mission. Melissa, Anna and I have now meet our other two roommates Sarah from Australia and Peggy from Oregon. They are both doctors who have come to serve with us in Rundu.

We met one women that truly inspired me. I will not go into all the details of all her life but it is one of Gods faithfulness to her and her faithfulness to him. She has been through many trials in her life but yet she lives with hope. She is a women to admire and look up to. I thank her for the courage to share her story with us and to continue to follow Gods plan for her life.

We went for a tour of the city and as we drove through the different neighborhoods it was amazing to see the stark difference between the rich and the poor. Namibia has the greatest disparity between the rich and the poor in the world. It is referred to as the gap or the gini co-efficient. This was evident as we drove through the city. The rich are separated from the poor. The rich stick together. There was very little merging of classes.

My prayer is that I am able to not harden my heart towards those things. It is so easy to see those and to forget or even ignore what I had seen. But I need to remember that God loves these people and he created them just like me. I do not know how I can help them in a positive way but I do know I can pray. I can pray that God works in their hearts and they can come to know him. They are free in Christ. He is the ultimate provider. If they accept him it does not meanthat everything will get better. But it does mean they can have communion with their creator each day and have a reason to live!

More pictures to come!!

Melissa and I at Zeka and Anitas home

Corrie and Anika with children in front of their home

Online Support

Friends and Family,

Thank you for all of you who have already sent me checks and supported me. I wanted to let you know that if you do donate online I would love to know. The way the system works is there is no way for me to check my donations online. Therefore, I have no idea who gave the money. So please email, call or text me if you donate online so I thank you personally. :)

I can not believe it is less than 2 months away. I feel ready but in so many other ways I am not ready to leave. There is so much to do! Thank you in advance for your prayers for my sanity during this stressful time. I know I serve a good God who has plans for me. He will not give me more than I can handle. I thank him for that. Much love to you all!

Updates

I thought I would give a little update on my situation on going to Africa. I have an official leave date of April 1st. This date leaves me excited and nervous at the same time. It is now less than 2 months away and I know those will go by quickly.

I found out in the past week I will be living in a furnished house with my two friends from Spokane, who I applied to the program with, and another doctor from Australia. I am excited we will be able to live together and be able to support each other emotionally, physically and spiritually. I know there will be hard times but we can be each others strength in times of struggle. We will be about 20 minutes walking distance from the hospital where we all be working. It is the regional hospital with 350 beds and specializes in Surgery, Medicine, Pediatrics, and OB/GYN. They are fortunate to have a good supply of medical supplies and meds. I have no idea what to expect in the hospital but I know God will work through my weakness and the unknowns.

I hope most of my friends and family have received my letter of support. If you did not receive a letter and would like to, please email me your address. I have until the 1st of March to raise support. Thank you in advance for your support and prayers! God bless you!