Medical Training

Teresa and I taught a 2 day medical course based on the book "Where there is no Doctor" for the new teachers with Children's Cup. We taught them basic human anatomy, how to identify simple illnesses like scabies, and how to help us identify which children may need HIV testing.


Teresa and I had a wonderful time tag teaching and getting to know all the new teachers. It was such a great experience to learn more about Swazi culture and I was able to get a glimpse into their experiences with HIV in the community.


All the teachers where quick learners and I appreciated getting to know them all. I loved sitting with them and listening to their stories. A part of me feel as if I got just as much knowledge from them as they got from the course.

THINGS I LEARNED DURING THE MEDICAL CLASS:

1. The Swazi Heimlich Maneuver for a boy who is choking is to hit him in his privates until he coughs up whatever he is choking on.


2. Dirt is it's own food group...people eat it all the time.


3. If someone is bleeding and you don't have any gloves then you should use grocery bags to protect your hands instead.

Here is the class of new teachers Teresa and I taught the medical course too.

We had class in the waiting room of the clinic.

I have officially taken over the clinic. I have appreciated Teresa's help and input...I will be able to call her for help and wisdom. She may regret letting me know I can call her cause I'll be calling her a ton with questions! ;)

Thanks you Teresa for your help and for continually being there as someone I can call and talk with about anything. I know you have been there and appreciate your support and encouraging words. God bless you! Love ya Teresa!

Gogo Sanmaria

A couple of weeks ago Gogo Sanmaria came to church with her neighbors Solomon and Precious. Solomon and Precious had just moved from South Africa and had befriended this gogo (grandma). She had been fighting an ear infection for a couple of weeks so Zinty and KB went with me after church to her homestead. I had already given Solomon a weeks worth of antibiotics earlier that week to help with her ear infection.

I brought my medical bag with a blood pressure cuff, otoscope, and Tylenol to assess Gogo Sanmaria. Zinty, KB, and I drove down some steep dirt roads and came upon her homestead. She was sitting on the ground as we came up to her with her grandson clean dishes on a metal sheet that was modified to work as a sink sending the water down the hill.

I did my nursing thing discovering that her ear infection was still present. I gave her some Tylenol for the ear pain and her constant arthritis. I instructed her through Zinty to continue to take the full dose of antibiotics that Precious was helping her take daily and to take the Tylenol once in the morning and once in the afternoon for pain.

There wasn't much I could do medically to help her BUT I could love her and show her she care and mattered. The fact is that I can't do much on my own BUT the Lord comes through and shows His love in a mighty way when we obey what He has called us to do.

Gogo Sanmaria now complains of no more pain and I'm hoping her ear infection has gone away. Gogo Sanmaria is a light in this community feeding kids who go without food when she can.

This is one of many stories of the experiences I'm having in Swaziland. As I continue to get on my feet and settle in what I'm doing I'll be sharing more of my experience with the Swazi people and the Lord.

Thanks for all your love and support and prayers!

I could not be here without you!

Love ya all!

Clinic Days

Every Tuesday and Thursday Sarah and I hold clinic.
This Wednesday and Thursday we are holding a medical class for the new teachers at our care points. Dr. Beyda has written us ciriculum based on the book "Where there is no doctor".

I hope to soon tell you my experience in admitting a child to the hospital with pnemonia and nephrotic syndrome. It took 9 or so hours with many interesting experiences! I kept track of the day as a timeline so you will know what a day would intell when I need a kid admitted to the hospital.

Love you all!

Sarah and I at the care point!

Hlabelela!

One aspect of the Swazi culture I greatly enjoy is how much they enjoy to sing and dance.

It seems to be a way they can freely express themselves and to have a fun time!

One of the songs I've been learning in Siswati is called Bonga. It becoming one of my favorite songs so far so I thought I'd share it with you!

The words are a little tricky to say but I'm getting it.

These are the words to the song Bonga:

Bonga (Praise) x4

Njenge nyoni enhle (Like a beautiful bird)

Hlabelela (Sing praises)

Ukuhlabelela (Singing praises)

Kuyamthokozisa (Brings joy)

Odabuki leyo (to the grieving)

Hlebelela (sing praises)

I love how this song reminds us that even as we grieve and are sad we can still experience the joy of the Lord when we praise Him. What an amazing God we serve!

Here are a couple of pictures from our time at the clinic. The clinic building is at a care point. They were passing out Christmas Boxes from Operation Christmas Child on afternoon after I finished with clinic. It was so much fun to see them get the boxes and open them up!

For a couple of years along with my youth kids we have filled these boxes in Denver. How exciting to see my kids receive this blessing!

We have not been given a spirit of fear but a spirit of power and love and selfcontrol.

Mozambique

Sorry about the noblogging!

Heading out to Mozambique for the week so I'll be catching you all up on life in Swaziland when I get back!

Love you all!

The rainy days of Swaziland

HELLO EVERYONE!


I arrived safely in Swaziland on Thursday!


Went straight to the clinic from the airport to get ready to hold a mobile clinic on Friday. Clinic went well and I've been having a grand time getting to know everyone with Children's Cup in Swaziland!


Some Swazi highlights:


1. Within 5 minutes of being in the country I saw a man peeing on the side of the road...literally...just right out in the open.


2. I saw 3 elephants during my first sunset in Africa...amazing I know!

3. In my first mobile clinic I heard a 6 year old who has a very irregular heart beat and ran a couple strings of V fib (aka ghost holding hands...not a very good thing) while I was listening to his heart.


4. I finally started feeling normal...more myself...when I was able to participate in vocal worship practice after church on Sunday.



5. I've now learned how to kiss my teeth...a form of expression or input in a conversation...no idea when to use it though.

Love and miss you all!
I'll be writing an update soon and a prayer email update as I continue to get settled.

Love ya!

Just hangin out in Heathrow

Hello family and friends!

I'm sitting in the Heathrow Airport in London, England, waiting to board my flight to Jburg, South Africa. For lunch I bought some fish and chips with a cup of tea...which I thought was the proper thing to do when waiting in the London airport.

Took a short one eye open nap on the bench while laying on my back pack...so refreshing. Did what I could to get refreshed and smelling pretty so that those around me aren't repulsed.

Here is a quick photo journal of my amazing 7 hour layover in Heathrow:

Oh my goodness! 20 pounds for shower?! That's $40USD!!!
I'll use the wonderfully free sink facilities in the toilet thank you very much.

What gate are we supposed to go to? It's said "Please wait" for 30 minutes and we leave in 1 hour!

Ready for another kick you in the pants hysterical 9 hour night flight?!

You betcha!


Here's our plain and we're ready to board!

Day 1 of Forty Days of Prayer with Children's Cup!

Come join us as we specifically take time for the next 40 days to pray for the work Children's Cup is doing! Join us on the web at http://www.childrenscup.org/v2/fortydays/ . It's also not to late to order the booklet if you haven't gotten one yet in the mail.

Come join us as we go before the Lord to seek His heart and pray for those we are reaching!

Psalm 10:17-18
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.

Day 1:

Jesus, we ask that you do something OUTRAGEOUS…AIDS is such a huge problem, especially in Africa. We are asking for you to heal people from this disease that, for man, is incurable. It is too big for us to handle, but nothing - ABSOLUTELY NOTHING - is too difficult for you.
Do this your way, for YOUR GLORY.
In Jesus’ name, AMEN