So this is a funny one...Laura, Sam, and I took a little trip to the city this afternoon. It was all to pick up an important letter Laura needed, but we also ate a good dinner and had wonderful chats. But all of that is for another post...this one is reserved for the CRAZY, totally out of place, hysterical car we saw on the way home.
On first glance Sam or Laura said something along the lines of, "Wish we could ride behind that car the whole way home!" This was in reference to the VERY large picture of a man in military uniform with the insignia, Ranger, on the spare tire cover hanging on the back of the car. That was funny enough.
Then we did some investigating. Turns out the driver was the guy pictured on the back of the car...hilarious. And there were tv/dvd players in the back of the headrests...ok this might be somewhat normal to you who live in the States but I have only ever seen one other car with tv's in it and that was in South Africa! Then we read on the top of his front windshield that it said "Rick Ross" in HUGE letters. Next we ended up almost behind him again and read that engraved on the back above the license plate it read "The Boss" in gold letters! Then we notice the rims...HUGE sliver rims...where does he think he is?? Then, we see that in his side view mirror it also says "Boss"...so every time he checks for traffic he's reminded he's Boss. Too funny!
As we discover each of this funny items we keep getting death stares from the lady in the passenger's seat...what do you expect woman? You are riding with Ranger Rick Ross the Boss with your music BLARING in a car that would draw attention to itself in America not to mention here! We did discuss getting his autograph at one point but decided the passenger might lose her mind due to jealousy.
Too funny...it brought us all a good laugh and made the terrible traffic on our way home a bit more bearable! Oh and I failed to mention that all of these little additions were on a Mitsubishi...too too funny!
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Oh What a Weekend...
So...I have worked for the past 4 days and had the on call phone over night for the past 5 nights. I'm not complaining...I did it to myself. Other people offered to switch days with me but since I love a consistent schedule I declined the offers and each time I work the weekend (once a month for Jan-Feb and then every 3rd weekend after that) I'll work Thursday night through Tuesday morning.
Anyway the point of this is to tell you about some of the CRAZY things that happened over this weekend. It certainly wasn't a simple, straight-forward, you can work 4 days in a row kind of weekend...instead...
#1- I spent Friday morning attempting to diagnose 2 little babies with HIGH fevers...turns out one had a urine infection and the other had a cough/cold/sinus infection. Let me just say, trying to get urine from 2 little babies can prove WAY more difficult than you would ever think!
#2- A little girl in the girl's area fell in the shower Friday afternoon and split her head open. Praise God for our Mozambican nurses who wrapped up her head and were calling for a driver to bring her to hospital before I got to the clinic. She now has about 8 stitches in the back of her head, but all is well!
#3- I was summoned to the clinic again about 7:00pm (when trying to finish up giving out meds in the baby house and nursery and controlling all the fevers before leaving them for the night). One of the boys had split his nose open...I'm pretty sure a sling shot and rocks were involved because Rebecca (another nurse) pulled a piece of rock out of the wound. Anyway, I ended up bringing him for stitches. Thank you Tracey for driving us since ALL the other center cars were being used. It took 5 of us to hold him down...5...including the guard from outside the clinic. Seriously out of control! Before we left he wouldn't even walk properly and wouldn't open his eye...when we pulled back into the center he wanted to go watch the movie that is always on Friday nights. And...when asked who did that to his nose he answered...the hospital! Gotta love the jokesters!
#4- Saturday ran relatively smoothly...saw too many kids to count and checked in on all those who had been sick on Friday...plus covered the Baby House where crazy kids were choosing not the eat and having random fevers and things of that sort. And by the end of the day was called to the girl's area because one little girl had injured her foot...it was swollen, tender, and she wouldn't walk on it...but she could wiggle her toes and honestly I couldn't face sending her to hospital. So a little ice and ibuprofen was all she got from me...I'll be back in the morning I said and I'll check on it then.
#5- Sunday morning was again OUT OF CONTROL...before 10am I had seen at least 5 center kids...one with a high fever and groin pain...one who had sliced his hand open and could really have used stitches but I steri stripped it together instead...one with strep throat...and I couldn't even tell you what else. Oh my friend with the foot injury was a bit better...no hospital was a good choice!
#6- Sunday afternoon brought a gross abscess under someone's arm, a community woman with extreme abdominal pain (I have no idea what is causing your abdominal pain I wanted to say!), one girl with a strange rash on her face, a girl in the girl's area with a serious chest infection (she had already been on antibiotics for 4 days but was still having fevers...fever treated...will check again later), fever and groin pain from the morning is better, dressing changed on our friend with the stitches in the back of her head, and the discovery that our friend with the stitch in his nose has pulled it out...yep that's right...he told me it dried up and fell out...biggest load of you know what I've ever heard...oh well I told him...if it opens up again and your nose falls off don't come crying to me! And our director called me about another kid with a terrible wound under his arm...changed that dressing, changed his medication, and am praying it improves. I'm sure there were 14 other things I dealt with that I couldn't even begin to remember...
#7- Back to the baby house...one of our little friends has vomited twice...I pick him up and discover he is breathing 56 times a minute, retracting to his back bone, and nasal flaring (for all you non-medical people out there...that means he wasn't breathing well at all!). After 4 puffs of salbutamol he was a bit more under control. I put him down to give out meds...was back an hour and half later and he looked about as bad again...more puffs of salbutamol. Came back again at 10pm...after puffs he didn't improve...nebulizer with salbutamol...finally sounding better. Came back at midnight...another nebulizer and I decided he'd be ok until 6am. 6am Monday morning rolled around VERY quickly...more salbutamol puffs...back to sleep for an hour before the day starts.
#8- In the midst of breathing issues I received a text from one of our pastors about a lady who lives at the Bocaria (city garbage dump) that was very ill and needed to get to the hospital. After several phone calls and attempting to figure out what was going on, where they were, and who to send...I handed our ambulance keys to a driver and sent him to pick her up and drop her off. An hour or so later I find out they didn't have the money for her to be seen and now our driver is stuck in the middle of all the decision making...nothing is ever simple. I call him and say...you are not to stay with them for the night...if they want to be brought home, bring them, but you come back to the center. If he has to be out all night for a good reason that is one thing...but seriously it's not safe...I feel like a mom...but seriously! Come to find out he didn't get home until 11:30 even after my instructions.
#9- Monday brought about more problems of it's own...the girl's tias came to me about the girl with a chest infection (she wasn't looking good at all...I said if she spikes another fever she's going to the hospital). One of the girls in the baby house had an allergic reaction to who knows what...eyes and mouth swelled up. Our friend with the terrible breathing was finally looking better and controllable Monday night. The babies in the Bercario were actually quite well minus a terrible diaper rash...yuck! Oh and needing to start one of them on antifungal treatment for her thrush that won't disappear! Plans were made for all the consults of the week...Sheri brought me coffee...Praise the Lord! Rebecca helped me prepare meds...I would have never made it to our weekly staff business meeting if she didn't. Then it was found out that one of our newest little boys might have chicken pox...you've got to be kidding me. He got isolated into the clinic, a substitute tia was called in, he had a high temperature by the end of the night. I still had notes to write, charts to update...and finally got to the birthday party of one of our missionaries as the tables were being put away.
Oh what a weekend it was...today was much better...just a trip to the grocery store...a long nap...administration work for the milk program...and now I'm off to dinner and movie watching with a few of the girls here at the center!
I'll just add in the 2 funniest non-medical things that happened as well...
#1 has to be the stunt that Adilson (one of our oldest baby house kids) pulled Sunday before dinner time. Before every meal the babies wash their hands. They do this by the tias pouring soapy water over their hands into a bucket. Well, while most of the babies were getting their hands washed little Adilson needed to go potty. So instead of waiting 2.5 seconds for someone to be able to take him he pulled his pants down and weed all over the place...in the clean hand washing water, on the other babies...I know you're probably laughing...and I've had a few good laughs about it too...but seriously his behavior is out of control...please be praying for us and the tias!
#2 would be the experience I had with a HUGE centipede in the bercario (nursery). It appeared out of the laundry room and was going straight for all the babies. One of the tias leaped for the insect spray while the other stood frozen. The spray was not even beginning to stop it, so I started kicking it toward the door as the tia continued with the spraying. Finally the other tia springs to action...thinking the broom was the best choice. By this time I have already attempted to step on it but it didn't die...it was a resilient little thing. Finally it was swept outside then they wanted me to call for a boy to come kill it...instead I took the broom and started whacking it...it still didn't die. Finally in desperation I stomped on it, twisted my foot a few times, and then had to wipe it's guts off my shoe...GROSS! But at least everyone was safe from the HUGE centipede with large pinchers on the front that had attempted to attack our precious babies!
Anyway the point of this is to tell you about some of the CRAZY things that happened over this weekend. It certainly wasn't a simple, straight-forward, you can work 4 days in a row kind of weekend...instead...
#1- I spent Friday morning attempting to diagnose 2 little babies with HIGH fevers...turns out one had a urine infection and the other had a cough/cold/sinus infection. Let me just say, trying to get urine from 2 little babies can prove WAY more difficult than you would ever think!
#2- A little girl in the girl's area fell in the shower Friday afternoon and split her head open. Praise God for our Mozambican nurses who wrapped up her head and were calling for a driver to bring her to hospital before I got to the clinic. She now has about 8 stitches in the back of her head, but all is well!
#3- I was summoned to the clinic again about 7:00pm (when trying to finish up giving out meds in the baby house and nursery and controlling all the fevers before leaving them for the night). One of the boys had split his nose open...I'm pretty sure a sling shot and rocks were involved because Rebecca (another nurse) pulled a piece of rock out of the wound. Anyway, I ended up bringing him for stitches. Thank you Tracey for driving us since ALL the other center cars were being used. It took 5 of us to hold him down...5...including the guard from outside the clinic. Seriously out of control! Before we left he wouldn't even walk properly and wouldn't open his eye...when we pulled back into the center he wanted to go watch the movie that is always on Friday nights. And...when asked who did that to his nose he answered...the hospital! Gotta love the jokesters!
#4- Saturday ran relatively smoothly...saw too many kids to count and checked in on all those who had been sick on Friday...plus covered the Baby House where crazy kids were choosing not the eat and having random fevers and things of that sort. And by the end of the day was called to the girl's area because one little girl had injured her foot...it was swollen, tender, and she wouldn't walk on it...but she could wiggle her toes and honestly I couldn't face sending her to hospital. So a little ice and ibuprofen was all she got from me...I'll be back in the morning I said and I'll check on it then.
#5- Sunday morning was again OUT OF CONTROL...before 10am I had seen at least 5 center kids...one with a high fever and groin pain...one who had sliced his hand open and could really have used stitches but I steri stripped it together instead...one with strep throat...and I couldn't even tell you what else. Oh my friend with the foot injury was a bit better...no hospital was a good choice!
#6- Sunday afternoon brought a gross abscess under someone's arm, a community woman with extreme abdominal pain (I have no idea what is causing your abdominal pain I wanted to say!), one girl with a strange rash on her face, a girl in the girl's area with a serious chest infection (she had already been on antibiotics for 4 days but was still having fevers...fever treated...will check again later), fever and groin pain from the morning is better, dressing changed on our friend with the stitches in the back of her head, and the discovery that our friend with the stitch in his nose has pulled it out...yep that's right...he told me it dried up and fell out...biggest load of you know what I've ever heard...oh well I told him...if it opens up again and your nose falls off don't come crying to me! And our director called me about another kid with a terrible wound under his arm...changed that dressing, changed his medication, and am praying it improves. I'm sure there were 14 other things I dealt with that I couldn't even begin to remember...
#7- Back to the baby house...one of our little friends has vomited twice...I pick him up and discover he is breathing 56 times a minute, retracting to his back bone, and nasal flaring (for all you non-medical people out there...that means he wasn't breathing well at all!). After 4 puffs of salbutamol he was a bit more under control. I put him down to give out meds...was back an hour and half later and he looked about as bad again...more puffs of salbutamol. Came back again at 10pm...after puffs he didn't improve...nebulizer with salbutamol...finally sounding better. Came back at midnight...another nebulizer and I decided he'd be ok until 6am. 6am Monday morning rolled around VERY quickly...more salbutamol puffs...back to sleep for an hour before the day starts.
#8- In the midst of breathing issues I received a text from one of our pastors about a lady who lives at the Bocaria (city garbage dump) that was very ill and needed to get to the hospital. After several phone calls and attempting to figure out what was going on, where they were, and who to send...I handed our ambulance keys to a driver and sent him to pick her up and drop her off. An hour or so later I find out they didn't have the money for her to be seen and now our driver is stuck in the middle of all the decision making...nothing is ever simple. I call him and say...you are not to stay with them for the night...if they want to be brought home, bring them, but you come back to the center. If he has to be out all night for a good reason that is one thing...but seriously it's not safe...I feel like a mom...but seriously! Come to find out he didn't get home until 11:30 even after my instructions.
#9- Monday brought about more problems of it's own...the girl's tias came to me about the girl with a chest infection (she wasn't looking good at all...I said if she spikes another fever she's going to the hospital). One of the girls in the baby house had an allergic reaction to who knows what...eyes and mouth swelled up. Our friend with the terrible breathing was finally looking better and controllable Monday night. The babies in the Bercario were actually quite well minus a terrible diaper rash...yuck! Oh and needing to start one of them on antifungal treatment for her thrush that won't disappear! Plans were made for all the consults of the week...Sheri brought me coffee...Praise the Lord! Rebecca helped me prepare meds...I would have never made it to our weekly staff business meeting if she didn't. Then it was found out that one of our newest little boys might have chicken pox...you've got to be kidding me. He got isolated into the clinic, a substitute tia was called in, he had a high temperature by the end of the night. I still had notes to write, charts to update...and finally got to the birthday party of one of our missionaries as the tables were being put away.
Oh what a weekend it was...today was much better...just a trip to the grocery store...a long nap...administration work for the milk program...and now I'm off to dinner and movie watching with a few of the girls here at the center!
I'll just add in the 2 funniest non-medical things that happened as well...
#1 has to be the stunt that Adilson (one of our oldest baby house kids) pulled Sunday before dinner time. Before every meal the babies wash their hands. They do this by the tias pouring soapy water over their hands into a bucket. Well, while most of the babies were getting their hands washed little Adilson needed to go potty. So instead of waiting 2.5 seconds for someone to be able to take him he pulled his pants down and weed all over the place...in the clean hand washing water, on the other babies...I know you're probably laughing...and I've had a few good laughs about it too...but seriously his behavior is out of control...please be praying for us and the tias!
#2 would be the experience I had with a HUGE centipede in the bercario (nursery). It appeared out of the laundry room and was going straight for all the babies. One of the tias leaped for the insect spray while the other stood frozen. The spray was not even beginning to stop it, so I started kicking it toward the door as the tia continued with the spraying. Finally the other tia springs to action...thinking the broom was the best choice. By this time I have already attempted to step on it but it didn't die...it was a resilient little thing. Finally it was swept outside then they wanted me to call for a boy to come kill it...instead I took the broom and started whacking it...it still didn't die. Finally in desperation I stomped on it, twisted my foot a few times, and then had to wipe it's guts off my shoe...GROSS! But at least everyone was safe from the HUGE centipede with large pinchers on the front that had attempted to attack our precious babies!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Our God!
So since I was home I have been OBSESSED with a certain song entitled "Our God" by Chris Tomlin. It's not just a small obsession...it's an every time I turn on my brand new ipod (thank you mom and dad!!!) I listen to it at least once if not on repeat. It just reminds me how small and insignificant the little frustrations of life are in comparison to our God. Just read through it and remember how upset you got about the little things of today...
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
I can't help but stop and thank Him for his sovereignty, grace, mercy, and love when I listen to this. I can't help but adjust my thinking. I can't help but dream HUGE knowing He is with me! That is my prayer for these next few months...that I would learn to live out of the belief that my God is for me and with me in every moment as I follow his call for my life! For now I continue to listen and continue to be changed by Him daily!
Water You turned into wine
Open the eyes of the blind
There’s no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There’s no one like You
None like You
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
Into the darkness you shining
Out of the ashes we Rise
There’s no One like You
None like You.
Our God is greater, our God is stronger
God You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer, awesome in power
Our God, Our God…
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
And if Our God is for us, then who could ever stop us
And if our God is with us, then what can stand against?
What can stand against?
I can't help but stop and thank Him for his sovereignty, grace, mercy, and love when I listen to this. I can't help but adjust my thinking. I can't help but dream HUGE knowing He is with me! That is my prayer for these next few months...that I would learn to live out of the belief that my God is for me and with me in every moment as I follow his call for my life! For now I continue to listen and continue to be changed by Him daily!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Tchau Mana Emily :( e Ate Logo Mana Fiona
And, the second was a very sad goodbye to Emily (on the right above). She is now back in Australia to start university studying economics. I am very excited for her and all that God has planned for her. She was an amazing blessing to all of us here, working in hospitality with our visitors and in the girl's area. She also was a great support system and friend to all of us. Emily, know I am praying for you and already miss you. Several times I have gone to text you only to remember you are no longer skipping around the center. And we had chicken salad for dinner last night and I couldn't help but miss your amazing herb bread. What will we do without cinnamon rolls? This place won't be the same without you! I do pray one day we are brought together again soon (even if it is for your tour of the States...we'll do our best to plan our weddings close together)!
Thank you Fi and Emmie for being great friends! I love you both!
Playing with Lion Cubs!
The pictures you have all been waiting for...yes I did play with lion cubs, and they were adorable!
And one day these little guys will look like him...FIERCE!
The Lion Park!
So after my few days in London, I took off for Johannesburg. Sam (a close friend and fellow missionary) was staying with her family there for a week, and I joined them for the weekend. It was such a blessing to be able to have a few days of rest and good sleep before coming back to the center. Her family is fantastic and welcomed me with open arms into their home and life.
But, by far the most exciting part was a trip to The Lion Park. This is a place Sam has been telling me about since we met. And I was very blessed to be able to spend a day there. Amazing enough it was feeding day as well. So we got to see all of the lions get fed, which happens twice a week. The rangers drive through in a truck and throw meat out the back...then the lions fight over which piece they want or what piece they think they deserve. Check it out!
Then, we went to go see the rest of the place. We saw cheetahs and hyenas first!
And we also got to see the adolescent lions...ok, well really they are about 1 year old and almost ready to be released back in with their prides! But they are still quite cute and cuddly with all the rangers.
Then we did my favorite part...we got to play with lion cubs!!!! I will share those pictures in my next post because otherwise this will go on forever.
After that we went on a little game drive. There was a gorgeous zebra that came trotting up and nicely posed for us!
And then there were the giraffes. The first one didn't want us to enter the reserve area. She was nicely guarding the entrance. Hilarious! The second was in search of food and stuck it's head in our car and LICKED me!
Honestly, it was a once in a lifetime experience that I am very thankful for! I'm sure I'll never be that close to these African animals ever again. So my trip back went from chilly London to humid Johannesburg...from The Lion King to The Lion Park...it really was a great time filled with fun, laughter, and memories! A wonderful close to a great 6 weeks in the States with all of you!
But, by far the most exciting part was a trip to The Lion Park. This is a place Sam has been telling me about since we met. And I was very blessed to be able to spend a day there. Amazing enough it was feeding day as well. So we got to see all of the lions get fed, which happens twice a week. The rangers drive through in a truck and throw meat out the back...then the lions fight over which piece they want or what piece they think they deserve. Check it out!
All while only this far from the car!!!
Then, we went to go see the rest of the place. We saw cheetahs and hyenas first!
And we also got to see the adolescent lions...ok, well really they are about 1 year old and almost ready to be released back in with their prides! But they are still quite cute and cuddly with all the rangers.
After that we went on a little game drive. There was a gorgeous zebra that came trotting up and nicely posed for us!And then there were the giraffes. The first one didn't want us to enter the reserve area. She was nicely guarding the entrance. Hilarious! The second was in search of food and stuck it's head in our car and LICKED me!
Honestly, it was a once in a lifetime experience that I am very thankful for! I'm sure I'll never be that close to these African animals ever again. So my trip back went from chilly London to humid Johannesburg...from The Lion King to The Lion Park...it really was a great time filled with fun, laughter, and memories! A wonderful close to a great 6 weeks in the States with all of you!
London Holiday!
So here we go...I am going to attempt to catch you up on all my many adventures before I arrived back in Mozambique. And in case you were wondering I have used the word holiday in the title because all my English friends use it when referring to vacations, and I think I might just adopt it into my vocabulary!
Ok...so I left the States on Jan. 3rd; arrived in London on Jan. 4th! This was only after packing...and when you are packing for Mozambique for 6 months along with London for 4 days things get a bit dicey. But, I made it back with no extra baggage charges and nothing stolen!!! Thank you for all your prayers!
So day one Chris (good friend who used to work here in Moz and now is in nursing school in London) met me at the airport. We didn't do too much after dragging my luggage through the tube...ok I take that back there is one amazing picture of me in TK Maxx (England's version of TJ Maxx). We went to buy me shoes. When I left Mozambique in November I didn't contemplate the fact that I was leaving all my closed toed shoes here. I knew I wouldn't need them in the States (because I had left my favorites there) but didn't consider the frigid rainy weather of London. Oops!
Anyway this little oversight meant a fun trip to TK Maxx where we tried on almost EVERY hat in the place. One was furry and basically the same color as my hair...hysterical! Chris has the only photo and I'm happy to keep it that way! After this little trip came a wonderful dinner of roast chicken with Chris's great roommates. It was great to get to know them a bit!
Day two we decided was to be filled with London things! We dropped off my passport to get my Mozambican visa...and expectantly were told to come back a few hours later! Then we took a flight on the London Eye. That's right...they call it a flight! Made me laugh...out loud! Next came a trip to Soho and China Town. China Town was great...squid, ducks, and any other type of meat you can think of hanging in the windows...and an amazing lunch that I made it all the way through using only chopsticks! And, we took a walk through Soho because when I was in London when I was 15 I have this distinct traumatizing memory of walking through Soho after a show late at night...the sites to be seen were mind blowing for a 15 year old girl from South Carolina. Anyway, Chris wanted me to see it wasn't nearly as out of control as I remembered in my minds eye.
Then we headed back to the Mozambican consult to pick up my passport...with a 6 month visa in it!!! Praise God all worked out and now I can officially stay in the country through June and only have to leave every 90 days (instead of every 30 like before)! Thank you for all your prayers once again!
Next we jumped back on the tube (which I love by the way) and popped up in Camden (not South Carolina) and took a walk through the open air street market. We had a blast looking at all the crazy things and just making fun of the people around. It was great! I had my last Starbucks coffee for awhile and savored every minute of it in the cool rain that was falling as we walked around.
The day ended with The Lion King! Chris had asked if I wanted to see a show while I was there. And of course I agreed but didn't really know what we should go see. I was completely swayed in the right direction because The Lion King was amazing! It was seriously breathtakingly amazing! I sat during the first scene with a HUGE smile on my face, eyes welled up when Mufasa died...honestly it was just spectacular! What was my favorite part you're wondering? The costumes, hands down. I wasn't sure how they were going to make people into African animals...being that I have seen African animals up close and personal and they are HUGE! But I was stunned at the creativity and intricacy of all the costumes...indescribable really!
Day three...we planned to take a day train ride out to Cambridge. Little did I know that would mean I would get to get on a train on platform 9b at the King's Crossing station...if you're not following my thinking...this is where Harry Potter runs through the wall on his way to Hogwart's on platform 9 3/4...if you ask me a train on platform 9b is as close as you can get without getting a concussion hitting a brick wall! Exciting stuff!
Before I get ahead of myself and tell you about Cambridge, I'm not sure I can express my excitement about traveling through a bit of the countryside. All I wanted to see were sheep! Little white fluffy sheep standing in fields being adorable. But it was raining...and cold...and apparently sheep stay indoors on days like these. All except for one lone field of sheep!!!! And in this field there was the token black sheep...made me giggle! So cute! Ok...now in Cambridge we spent most of our day walking around taking in the sites. My constant line was...that building is older than my country. And it was true! The colleges are just beautiful and the city very quaint. I loved it!
Then we went punting on the Cam. I know, I know...you're thinking...what the heck does that mean?? I wasn't quite sure either but Chris assured me it was something you just had to do when you're in Cambridge. So we went punting. In American terms this is getting in a wooden boat that sits right on top of the water. The punter stands on the back and uses a long pole to push you down the river. And the Cam is the river that runs through Cambridge. So basically we went boating down a river...yes, it was cold, but we did have blankets. And we got told all about the buildings we could see along the way. Most of the colleges (there are 31 colleges that make up Cambridge University) back up to the Cam and most were built before America began...amazing if you ask me! If you are curious like us, you'll enjoy this fact. We asked the guys how often people fall in because you can rent a punt and tour on your own down the river as well. They told us probably 1 person a month in the winter but 6-8 a week in the summer...made us laugh. Thank goodness we had an expert punter with us!
My last day it was back to packing again after a quick trip to run errands at the mall. And then one last adventure on the tube and trains to get to the airport once again. And I was off for a second time in a week...next adventure was had in Johannesburg...much closer to the final destination of Mozambique.
Ok...so I left the States on Jan. 3rd; arrived in London on Jan. 4th! This was only after packing...and when you are packing for Mozambique for 6 months along with London for 4 days things get a bit dicey. But, I made it back with no extra baggage charges and nothing stolen!!! Thank you for all your prayers!
Anyway this little oversight meant a fun trip to TK Maxx where we tried on almost EVERY hat in the place. One was furry and basically the same color as my hair...hysterical! Chris has the only photo and I'm happy to keep it that way! After this little trip came a wonderful dinner of roast chicken with Chris's great roommates. It was great to get to know them a bit!
Day two we decided was to be filled with London things! We dropped off my passport to get my Mozambican visa...and expectantly were told to come back a few hours later! Then we took a flight on the London Eye. That's right...they call it a flight! Made me laugh...out loud! Next came a trip to Soho and China Town. China Town was great...squid, ducks, and any other type of meat you can think of hanging in the windows...and an amazing lunch that I made it all the way through using only chopsticks! And, we took a walk through Soho because when I was in London when I was 15 I have this distinct traumatizing memory of walking through Soho after a show late at night...the sites to be seen were mind blowing for a 15 year old girl from South Carolina. Anyway, Chris wanted me to see it wasn't nearly as out of control as I remembered in my minds eye.
Then we headed back to the Mozambican consult to pick up my passport...with a 6 month visa in it!!! Praise God all worked out and now I can officially stay in the country through June and only have to leave every 90 days (instead of every 30 like before)! Thank you for all your prayers once again!Next we jumped back on the tube (which I love by the way) and popped up in Camden (not South Carolina) and took a walk through the open air street market. We had a blast looking at all the crazy things and just making fun of the people around. It was great! I had my last Starbucks coffee for awhile and savored every minute of it in the cool rain that was falling as we walked around.
The day ended with The Lion King! Chris had asked if I wanted to see a show while I was there. And of course I agreed but didn't really know what we should go see. I was completely swayed in the right direction because The Lion King was amazing! It was seriously breathtakingly amazing! I sat during the first scene with a HUGE smile on my face, eyes welled up when Mufasa died...honestly it was just spectacular! What was my favorite part you're wondering? The costumes, hands down. I wasn't sure how they were going to make people into African animals...being that I have seen African animals up close and personal and they are HUGE! But I was stunned at the creativity and intricacy of all the costumes...indescribable really!Day three...we planned to take a day train ride out to Cambridge. Little did I know that would mean I would get to get on a train on platform 9b at the King's Crossing station...if you're not following my thinking...this is where Harry Potter runs through the wall on his way to Hogwart's on platform 9 3/4...if you ask me a train on platform 9b is as close as you can get without getting a concussion hitting a brick wall! Exciting stuff!
Before I get ahead of myself and tell you about Cambridge, I'm not sure I can express my excitement about traveling through a bit of the countryside. All I wanted to see were sheep! Little white fluffy sheep standing in fields being adorable. But it was raining...and cold...and apparently sheep stay indoors on days like these. All except for one lone field of sheep!!!! And in this field there was the token black sheep...made me giggle! So cute! Ok...now in Cambridge we spent most of our day walking around taking in the sites. My constant line was...that building is older than my country. And it was true! The colleges are just beautiful and the city very quaint. I loved it!
Then we went punting on the Cam. I know, I know...you're thinking...what the heck does that mean?? I wasn't quite sure either but Chris assured me it was something you just had to do when you're in Cambridge. So we went punting. In American terms this is getting in a wooden boat that sits right on top of the water. The punter stands on the back and uses a long pole to push you down the river. And the Cam is the river that runs through Cambridge. So basically we went boating down a river...yes, it was cold, but we did have blankets. And we got told all about the buildings we could see along the way. Most of the colleges (there are 31 colleges that make up Cambridge University) back up to the Cam and most were built before America began...amazing if you ask me! If you are curious like us, you'll enjoy this fact. We asked the guys how often people fall in because you can rent a punt and tour on your own down the river as well. They told us probably 1 person a month in the winter but 6-8 a week in the summer...made us laugh. Thank goodness we had an expert punter with us!My last day it was back to packing again after a quick trip to run errands at the mall. And then one last adventure on the tube and trains to get to the airport once again. And I was off for a second time in a week...next adventure was had in Johannesburg...much closer to the final destination of Mozambique.
Goodbye London...hope to see you again very soon!
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Back to Work it is...
******Valter is home and looking much better! We are still keeping a VERY close eye on him and treating him, but he's on the mend. Praise God and thank you for all your prayers!
As for me I went back to work today. That is only after 3 days of cleaning mold out of my room and stealing short moments to spend time with the babies (who can stay away)! If I haven't mentioned it I returned to my entire room being covered in mold. No one is sure what happened but it wasn't the most inviting homecoming. Ok...let's be serious...it was terrible! It reeked! I didn't dare to sleep here the first night. I dropped my stuff off and headed to another house for the night. Tuesday I did my best to start cleaning. I made it through the bathroom and then Sam (another missionary and close friend) was a saint and helped me scrub the walls. We stood on a latter with bleach water and attacked every last mold spore that was clinging to my gorgeous recently painted walls (if you don't remember that adventure...look it up...June/July of 2010)!
Tuesday also found me discovering that my fridge had been unplugged. Well in my infinite wisdom everything I wanted to keep while I was away I had placed in my fridge. There were things like jelly, syrup (American syrup that you can't get here), ketchup (all the way from south africa), curry paste (amazing stuff from World Market in America), and other delightful treats (including a few frozen girl scout cookies that were from my last trip home!). Anyway, EVERYTHING is gone now. They were all BLACK/GREEN/RED/YELLOW and majorly SLIMY. Absolutely disgusting does not even begin to describe it. Well after 4 scrubbings it is finally plugged back in and home to all my food at the moment (oh I failed to mention this a tiny dorm sized fridge) because our kitchen fridge is on the fritz because of power issues. This place is out of control I tell you!
Wednesday was also full of cleaning and a fun adventure to the city movie theater to see Toy Story 3. I will soon share this with you including photos (after the adventures of London, South Africa, and all the many many changes/new children I have come back to). This weekend I will be a blog writing machine...promise! Anyway, point being today I went back to work.
I spent my morning with Gracie (a 4 year old daughter of some of our other missionaries). We have craft time every Thursday morning (thanks to Rebecca who filled in for me while I was away!!). I brought her a few things from the US to decorate, cut, paste, and glitter and we had a blast together! Then I went on to milk program (which Jannie has been covering for me while I was away...you're amazing!!!). We are still in the midst of training up the Mozambicans who one day will run it themselves. But in VERY exciting news, our funding was doubled for 2011!!! Praise God for his faithfulness! This means that as I dreamed before I left we will be able to provide full replacement powdered milk to 40 babies who are in need this year! I am so excited! Next came a catch up meeting with Sheri (the nurse who is over me). She filled me in all the happenings of the last 7 weeks. SO many things happen while you're away...it's amazing how quickly things change around here. Anyway, next came a great dinner with friends and then church. Which, I will admit I have missed the dancing and crazy children of our Thursday night church services!
And for the big finaly of my day...I was given report and now am on call for my first night since being back. Tomorrow I'm working in the Baby House and am hopeful to get to know all the new little ones better and find my footing again in the job I love here on the base! And...are you ready for this one...I have decided to start P90X. That's right! I was graciously given the dvd's while I at home and Sam (again close friend and fellow missionary) and I have decided to start the 90 day intensive work out Sunday...pray for us in our new love affair with Tony Horton (if you don't know that name...look it up and be amazed!)
Until next time...God bless you!
As for me I went back to work today. That is only after 3 days of cleaning mold out of my room and stealing short moments to spend time with the babies (who can stay away)! If I haven't mentioned it I returned to my entire room being covered in mold. No one is sure what happened but it wasn't the most inviting homecoming. Ok...let's be serious...it was terrible! It reeked! I didn't dare to sleep here the first night. I dropped my stuff off and headed to another house for the night. Tuesday I did my best to start cleaning. I made it through the bathroom and then Sam (another missionary and close friend) was a saint and helped me scrub the walls. We stood on a latter with bleach water and attacked every last mold spore that was clinging to my gorgeous recently painted walls (if you don't remember that adventure...look it up...June/July of 2010)!
Tuesday also found me discovering that my fridge had been unplugged. Well in my infinite wisdom everything I wanted to keep while I was away I had placed in my fridge. There were things like jelly, syrup (American syrup that you can't get here), ketchup (all the way from south africa), curry paste (amazing stuff from World Market in America), and other delightful treats (including a few frozen girl scout cookies that were from my last trip home!). Anyway, EVERYTHING is gone now. They were all BLACK/GREEN/RED/YELLOW and majorly SLIMY. Absolutely disgusting does not even begin to describe it. Well after 4 scrubbings it is finally plugged back in and home to all my food at the moment (oh I failed to mention this a tiny dorm sized fridge) because our kitchen fridge is on the fritz because of power issues. This place is out of control I tell you!
Wednesday was also full of cleaning and a fun adventure to the city movie theater to see Toy Story 3. I will soon share this with you including photos (after the adventures of London, South Africa, and all the many many changes/new children I have come back to). This weekend I will be a blog writing machine...promise! Anyway, point being today I went back to work.
I spent my morning with Gracie (a 4 year old daughter of some of our other missionaries). We have craft time every Thursday morning (thanks to Rebecca who filled in for me while I was away!!). I brought her a few things from the US to decorate, cut, paste, and glitter and we had a blast together! Then I went on to milk program (which Jannie has been covering for me while I was away...you're amazing!!!). We are still in the midst of training up the Mozambicans who one day will run it themselves. But in VERY exciting news, our funding was doubled for 2011!!! Praise God for his faithfulness! This means that as I dreamed before I left we will be able to provide full replacement powdered milk to 40 babies who are in need this year! I am so excited! Next came a catch up meeting with Sheri (the nurse who is over me). She filled me in all the happenings of the last 7 weeks. SO many things happen while you're away...it's amazing how quickly things change around here. Anyway, next came a great dinner with friends and then church. Which, I will admit I have missed the dancing and crazy children of our Thursday night church services!
And for the big finaly of my day...I was given report and now am on call for my first night since being back. Tomorrow I'm working in the Baby House and am hopeful to get to know all the new little ones better and find my footing again in the job I love here on the base! And...are you ready for this one...I have decided to start P90X. That's right! I was graciously given the dvd's while I at home and Sam (again close friend and fellow missionary) and I have decided to start the 90 day intensive work out Sunday...pray for us in our new love affair with Tony Horton (if you don't know that name...look it up and be amazed!)
Until next time...God bless you!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Valter Update
I don't have much of an update on Valter, but one of our missionaries did go see him at the hospital today. His breathing was a bit better but not wonderful. According to the tia (Mozambican who works for us that is staying with him) that was with him, he had treatments of oxygen during the night. I'm pretty sure they were actually nebulizer treatments. We all are pretty sure he is an asthmatic (hence the breathing issues 2 weeks in a row) and will do our best to determine treatment/a long-term plan for him as soon as he comes back to us.
Please keep praying for him and our team who are all in emotional turmoil through this time due to the vivid memories of our precious Dino one year ago today. Thank you for each of your prayers and the many e-mails I received full of encouragement. May God bless each of you!
Please keep praying for him and our team who are all in emotional turmoil through this time due to the vivid memories of our precious Dino one year ago today. Thank you for each of your prayers and the many e-mails I received full of encouragement. May God bless each of you!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Urgent Prayer Request...
I would love your prayers for a little boy named Valter tonight. I haven't been back on the base long enough to really be involved in the medical world yet, but have found out that he is on the way to the hospital having trouble breathing. He does have several underlying medical issues. One of our missionaries and a nurse are with him in the car now.
To add to the stress (and therefore prayer request) it was one year ago today that I rushed our beloved Dino having trouble breathing to the hospital with this same missionary and struggled through the process to find out the next day he had joined our Father in heaven. There are so many why's floating through my head tonight. I couldn't begin to articulate what I'm feeling.
Please join me in prayer...
To add to the stress (and therefore prayer request) it was one year ago today that I rushed our beloved Dino having trouble breathing to the hospital with this same missionary and struggled through the process to find out the next day he had joined our Father in heaven. There are so many why's floating through my head tonight. I couldn't begin to articulate what I'm feeling.
Please join me in prayer...
Monday, January 10, 2011
Back Safe and Sound!
I am safely back in Mozambique. I had a lovely trip to London/Cambridge (will tell you all about it soon) and Johannesburg! But for now I'm off to spend time with Emily (one of the missionaries who leaves to go home to Australia tomorrow). Know I miss you all and love you! More on my adventures and all that I have returned to soon!
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
The Travels Begin...
So I left yesterday afternoon from Charlotte...thanks so much Dad for bringing me to the airport! Only after a stop off at Best Buy thanks to the broken ipod I got in the mail from e-bay...darn internet ordering! Anyway my amazing parents made sure I was able to leave with an ipod...which I'm super pumped to start using!
Now I'm in London...just found Chris! Here goes the adventures!
Now I'm in London...just found Chris! Here goes the adventures!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Monthly E-mail Updates! (and a little on funding)
Hello All...I just e-mailed out a December/January update. If you didn't receive it and would like to be added to my list let me know! E-mail me (meghann.s.glenn@gmail.com) or just leave a comment with your e-mail address, and I'll get it sent right out!
Also...if you check out the bottom of this page I'm still close to $3,000 short on funds for the next 6 months. Please pray about supporting me and this ministry! You can donate through paypal on the right-side of this page or you can e-mail me for other options!
Lastly, please be praying for travel mercies, favor for my visa, my friends and family, and a fun few days in London and then Johannesburg before I'm back at the center in Mozambique January 10th. I fly out of Charlotte January 3rd...so if you want to chat before I leave call soon!!! ;)
Also...if you check out the bottom of this page I'm still close to $3,000 short on funds for the next 6 months. Please pray about supporting me and this ministry! You can donate through paypal on the right-side of this page or you can e-mail me for other options!
Lastly, please be praying for travel mercies, favor for my visa, my friends and family, and a fun few days in London and then Johannesburg before I'm back at the center in Mozambique January 10th. I fly out of Charlotte January 3rd...so if you want to chat before I leave call soon!!! ;)
Oh the US of A...
So I thought it was appropriate to write a list of all the things you notice about the US once you've been gone for awhile. This should make you all snicker and realize just how blessed all of us Americans are...here we go!
1- Toilet paper is SERIOUSLY soft these days! I'm reminded again every time I use the restroom...it's more like a lotiony puff than TP...not even a hint of roughness...luxurious even!
2- Smart phones are taking over the world, or America at least. If you don't have an iphone or blackberry you just aren't connected. We wouldn't want to have to wait until we're home to check our e-mail...nope, it should come to us like it's a text. I will admit though that while watching a movie being able to look things up on imdb on your phone is pretty clutch at times! Maybe one day I'll take the plunge and get connected like the rest of America.
3- After Christmas sales might be the best thing since sliced bread! No, I haven't bought a thing but I can promise you that whenever I live back in the US for Christmas next I'll be at Target, Walmart, and everywhere else buying up the Christmas decor and anything else that is almost free the few days after the holidays!
4- It's too bad college football can't last ALL year long. I know, I know...there is NFL and there is basketball but they just don't entertain me like college football. I LOVE it! I love the hype; I love the spirit; and I just love the game!
5- The grocery store is the most overwhelming thing EVER...there is an entire row of cookies...just cookies! I started to hyperventilate and had to walk away when mom asked me to pick out cookies for the family...chips on the other hand, I always know which ones to go for...Ruffles Chedder and Sour Cream! LOVE them!
6- It is almost unheard of to not be able to get what you want. It may take money, but it's possible. The world seriously is at our finger tips...just type it in google and order with your favorite piece of plastic...that's all it takes! Go to sleep and if you picked overnight it will be on your doorstep the next day! Or you can jump in your car, drive 2 minutes and pick almost anything you need up at your local store...it's honestly amazing.
7- Interactive video games are truly fun with your friends! I've had the opportunity to play wii and xbox kinect since I've been home and through laughter, sweating, and even needing a bottle of water I've loved every minute of it (Thanks Denny's!). If you haven't tried it don't knock it! You can get your exercise in and have lots of laughs all at once! I hope this helps the littlies of America stay a bit more healthy!
8- American coffee is just good! Be it Starbucks, Dunkin' Doughnuts, or whatever you picked up out of the 8,000 choices at your local grocery store...it's good...period!
9- Puppies are adorable and A LOT of work! It's seems as if everyone I know has gotten a puppy while I've been away. Ok that is an extreme exaggeration but still I want one! I want "man's best friend"...I want a white little fluffy puppy!
10- Things work out...I don't think we realize how simple things are. You make a plan and those things happen. For example...Hey Mom I'm going to run to the bank, stop by the grocery store, and then I'll be over at a friend's. See you for dinner. And on 9 out of 10 days you will be able to do just that. For me...the planner...I love it! I love knowing that things will work out. I love making a plan and following it!
So in conclusion...America is such a blessing! I have been very blessed to get to spend the holidays here with family and friends, and I've loved every minute of it.
1- Toilet paper is SERIOUSLY soft these days! I'm reminded again every time I use the restroom...it's more like a lotiony puff than TP...not even a hint of roughness...luxurious even!
2- Smart phones are taking over the world, or America at least. If you don't have an iphone or blackberry you just aren't connected. We wouldn't want to have to wait until we're home to check our e-mail...nope, it should come to us like it's a text. I will admit though that while watching a movie being able to look things up on imdb on your phone is pretty clutch at times! Maybe one day I'll take the plunge and get connected like the rest of America.
3- After Christmas sales might be the best thing since sliced bread! No, I haven't bought a thing but I can promise you that whenever I live back in the US for Christmas next I'll be at Target, Walmart, and everywhere else buying up the Christmas decor and anything else that is almost free the few days after the holidays!
4- It's too bad college football can't last ALL year long. I know, I know...there is NFL and there is basketball but they just don't entertain me like college football. I LOVE it! I love the hype; I love the spirit; and I just love the game!
5- The grocery store is the most overwhelming thing EVER...there is an entire row of cookies...just cookies! I started to hyperventilate and had to walk away when mom asked me to pick out cookies for the family...chips on the other hand, I always know which ones to go for...Ruffles Chedder and Sour Cream! LOVE them!
6- It is almost unheard of to not be able to get what you want. It may take money, but it's possible. The world seriously is at our finger tips...just type it in google and order with your favorite piece of plastic...that's all it takes! Go to sleep and if you picked overnight it will be on your doorstep the next day! Or you can jump in your car, drive 2 minutes and pick almost anything you need up at your local store...it's honestly amazing.
7- Interactive video games are truly fun with your friends! I've had the opportunity to play wii and xbox kinect since I've been home and through laughter, sweating, and even needing a bottle of water I've loved every minute of it (Thanks Denny's!). If you haven't tried it don't knock it! You can get your exercise in and have lots of laughs all at once! I hope this helps the littlies of America stay a bit more healthy!
8- American coffee is just good! Be it Starbucks, Dunkin' Doughnuts, or whatever you picked up out of the 8,000 choices at your local grocery store...it's good...period!
9- Puppies are adorable and A LOT of work! It's seems as if everyone I know has gotten a puppy while I've been away. Ok that is an extreme exaggeration but still I want one! I want "man's best friend"...I want a white little fluffy puppy!
10- Things work out...I don't think we realize how simple things are. You make a plan and those things happen. For example...Hey Mom I'm going to run to the bank, stop by the grocery store, and then I'll be over at a friend's. See you for dinner. And on 9 out of 10 days you will be able to do just that. For me...the planner...I love it! I love knowing that things will work out. I love making a plan and following it!
So in conclusion...America is such a blessing! I have been very blessed to get to spend the holidays here with family and friends, and I've loved every minute of it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
