Busier & Busier

Angela asked me to post for her again. It sounds like she is doing some really interesting and tough stuff. Make sure you are praying for her. - Luke

Today we changed our location once again and are staying at the GO Center which is a fellowship place run by the church here. It is mostly nice but another adjustment. After returning from Livingstone we were staying at the Makeni Guest House which was nice. I shared a room with Maria and it had a bathroom with running how water. Since being here I have now taken three showers with hot water. It is great. During our stay at the guest house we were working with the Circle of Hope Clinic which is an HIV clinic and offers all of its services completely free. This is possible because of the Bush initative(I am embarrasses to admit that I don't know anything about that). So, testing is free, medications, checkups literally everything. I did lots of observations(vital signs) and then followed patients through the cycle, seeing the doctor, going to the lab to have CD4 counts done or other blood work, back to the doctor to go over the labs and make changes to the plan of care and then to the pharmacy. Also, there is a counselor there that goes over the treatment options with each client and answers questions. It is all very organized. During the second part of the afternoon we made home visits to clients that are doing better. There are over 800 of them in the small community of Manda Hill. We were only able to see 5 in two days. I will describe a typical home here. First the roads in the housing areas are mostly dirt with some amazing potholes. It was like being on a roller coaster but not as fun. A house would be made of brick with a tin roof. A sheet would be what covers the door and there are communal taps and latrines. Inside that homes, the floors are made of dirt and it get very hot inside because of the tin roof. Some homes are two rooms with multiple families sharing the space. It is very different from anything I have seen in America though similar to things I have seen in Romania. While visiting the clients, we ask how they are doing and if they are having any problems and then we take vital sigs. We then pray for the families and try our best to encourage them. The last client we saw yesterday, looked like Don Cheadle, was doing much better but has been unable to gain weight because the ARV's make him ill. His wife and 4-year-old son are also taking ARV's(antireto viral medication). It is so different here. Almost every patient/client I met has HIV. There are people who are taking action to help and to educate. Clients from Circle of Hope that are doing better have asked to make home visits and to check on those are still very ill. They have said that because Circle of Hope has done so much for them, they want to give back to those that are in need. It is encouraging to see. Suprisingly, because there are so many people here with HIV, it still carries a stigma and many people choose not to share their status. Though that might hinder more than help.

Today we are going to a local orphange. I am very excited and I think it will be a highlight of my trip. I hope to take lots of pictures. I am not sure if I will be able to blog again before coming home so I will summarize what we will be doing. For the rest of our time here we will be working with the Christian Health Evangelism group. On Friday we are going to a village about an hour from here. We will do two health teachings and one spiritual. I think we will teach about Malaria and then I am not sure what else. On Saturday we have a day off and will be going to an arts and craft festival. It is when vendors from all over Zambia and neighboring countries come to sell their wares. I have become and excellent barterer and so I am exctied to see what things I can purchase. On Sunday we will be going to a different village to attend church which lasts three hours(a very long time for me). Then we will make home visits to the people there. On Monday we will be doing more health teaching and will have a half day so that we can come back and prepare to leave bright and early on Tuesday. We fly to London where will stay the night and arrive back in Seattle on Wednesday.

I have learned a lot while being here and have seen a lot of different things. Some of which I have still not processed through. Though I have moslty enjoyed my time here( it has its moments) I am excited to come home and see my family and friends. And of course Luke!

If I do not post more before coming home I will post after I return so that I can bring closure to my trip and also post my pictures.