The class I shouldn’t have dreaded quite as much as I did….

So let me just say that I am not overly excited about teaching English classes to the seminary/Bible students up here on my compound.  In fact, I’ve even considered moving off this compound so that I don’t have to be obligated to do it.  And that’s saying a lot, because I really like my house.  Other reasons also factor into my thinking, of course, but that is a big consideration.  Does that mean I’m wimpy?  Or don’t trust God to take care of it?  Or am disobedient?  Or don’t care about these people?  I don’t know.  I’m still in the considering process.  Anyway, I’ve always loathed being up in front of people, and something about being the only person up in front of 100 students who can’t understand what I’m saying doesn’t appeal to me.

Yesterday’s class, however, made me think that maybe it’s not so bad.  Mary gave me the idea of a “junk box.”  I altered it slightly so I have “junk envelopes,” but still the same idea.  I have a bunch of things in 20 different envelopes, and the students are broken up into groups.  Each envelope has random stuff like a match, a toothpick, a puzzle piece, a rubber band, a seed, a paper clip, and a colored shape.  Last night I wrote all of the items, the shapes, and the colors up on the board, and the students got to check out the contents of their envelopes.  (Then, of course the power went out for 20 minutes, so we worked by the light of flashlights and cell phones for awhile.)  They learned vocabulary (items, colors, shapes), commands (“Hold up the toothpick,” etc), and prepositions (“Give it to the person behind you,” etc).  Next week we’ll work on tenses with them.  Anyway, it was so fun to see all of these grown-ups get excited about a bunch of junk in envelopes!  They were so proud of themselves when they knew the correct colors or shapes.  They thought they were clever when they folded their envelopes into squares instead of rectangles.  Basically, I enjoyed it, and they learned quite a few basic words/concepts in a fun way!

So maybe if I continue to have fun ideas given to me (ideas that don’t involve lecturing, which is what everyone expects me to do!), it won’t be so bad.  Maybe I’ll be able to continue to live at my house with my wonderful gardens and room for visitors….  We’ll see….

Of polio and pertussis

I’m wiped out after clinic today.  We saw 40 patients, plus the 20-some returning patients from other weeks.  Despite the busyness, though, we saw some fascinating cases.  Malaria season is slowing down considerably with the end of the rain, so the blue-light special seemed to be the cough.  We diagnosed 3 cases of pertussis (whooping cough), and sent multiple other patients to the nearest hospital for chest X-rays.  These reported coughs that present with no obvious symptoms are mystifying—no rapid respirations or abnormal breath sounds, even.  Maybe some of these patients will come back with diagnoses of tuberculosis.  Mary has decided that she will start treating tuberculosis patients who live close to the clinic.  TB is the cause of death in so many people in this community—both young and old—so it will be exciting for them to have treatment available to them.  Now she is trying to figure out ways to disguise the medication (or make it unpleasant) enough that the poorer people won’t be umm…relieved of their medication.   She’s also concerned that it will be sold to those who can pay a bit more for it, as it’s apparently a hot commodity on the black market.  She has some fun ideas, and it will be exciting to see if it works.

A toddler was brought in with the chief complaint of “cough,” and Mary found a heart murmur and crackles in the lungs.  After some careful questioning, she found that he has a history of sore joints—generally the chief complaint of those with rheumatic fever.  This disease weakened his heart enough that it can’t pump blood effectively, and it’s backing up into his lungs–so this toddler is in congestive heart failure!  We are still doing some brainstorming about the best way to help him.

Another little guy was brought in with an active case of polio—something that I’ve never seen since it’s virtually extinct (is that what happens to a disease—extinction?) in the US.  Instead of affecting the arms, lungs, or eyes; polio in Africa affects legs.  This little guy was probably about 5, and one leg is visibly shorter than the other, and slightly deformed.  Mom said that it just happened, and he has trouble walking.  We can’t do anything to stop the progression of the disease, and just have to wait to see how much it affects this little one.  It’s pretty crazy.

Another condition that we’ve diagnosed 6 times in the past 3 weeks is typhoid.  Talk about a nasty disease!  After diagnosing a couple cases, I can almost just look at them and know what’s wrong with them.  They are so ill, and their eyes have this particular “I’m miserable!” glazed-over look to them.  It was so gratifying today to see one of our typhoid patients from last week.  When we first saw her, she could hardly stay awake, let alone walk, and looked terrible.  Today, she walked to clinic to show us how well she was doing!  It’s so fun to see the difference in their lives resulting just from an injection and a few pills.

We also got to do a couple interesting procedures involving abscesses and ulcers.  We saw a poor woman who has an abscess on her back that goes from the top to the bottom on one whole side.  Unfortunately it wasn’t quite “ready” to be drained, so she has to live with that for another week.  The poor thing is so miserable.  Since I just recently recovered from a couple of abscesses, I have great pity for these patients.

What a crazy day, huh?  It’s so amazing to be in this place, and learning about all of these things from such a wise and patient teacher as Dr Mary.  We definitely make our share of mistakes, and forget almost as much as we remember—but we struggle through.  And we are able to touch the lives of these people who are precious to the Heavenly Father.  That’s pretty awesome.

Some jumbled-up thoughts

It’s been pretty quiet around here the past few days.  I haven’t been out to CHE all week for one reason or another.  Mostly, the guys have been at trainings put on by the numerous forenges in town right now.  I’ve spent most of my time at home.  I’ve been cleaning, studying, reading, and memorizing.  Becca and I are keeping each other accountable for a couple things, and my project for the moment is memorizing Romans 8.  I’m through verse 26.  That chapter has such good stuff!  Becca is learning the Amharic fidels/letters—not a fun process.

I’ve also gotten down to town a time or 2.  I spent much of yesterday with Becca and her kiddos.  We took a walk into town.  I had (almost 2 year old) Nathan on my back, and he got all sorts of attention.  He even got to enjoy a peanut or 2 (given by kids on the street) while Becca and I weren’t paying attention!  I’d forgotten how much work it is to carry 25 pounds of kid on my back, and was happy to take the pack off when we got back.  I’m definitely enjoying that family.  They’re precious, fun, young, and love the Lord.  And they have little kids!  It doesn’t get much better than that

Another development that makes me quite happy has to do with my motorcycle.  I finally figured out how to start without killing the thing!  Kebede didn’t know how to help me, and kept saying that I was letting up on the clutch too fast.  I knew that wasn’t the problem, but didn’t know what I was doing wrong.  Well, I apparently wasn’t giving it enough gas.  It’s amazing how much less scary intersections are when you know how to go without killing it in 10 feet into your journey.  Something about Isuzu trucks coming at me while I was stalled in intersections made me a bit leery of driving it.  And yes, Mom—I still wear my helmet!

Little Sophie came to stay with me yesterday evening so we could go to clinic today.  She gets happier and more fun every time I see her.  It’s so great!  For a couple weeks now, she’s been very chatty, but it ramped up considerably this last week.  Now she’ll look me right in the eyes and will talk and coo for several minutes at a time.  She particularly likes it when I talk back to her.  She has great inflection, and I know that she knows what she’s saying.  And of course she has lots of smiles thrown in there, too.  She has sweet little rolls on her arms now, and I showed them off with a sleeveless outfit today.  Her daddy liked her “very nice, American clothes.”  It’s such an amazing blessing to be a mommy to this little one!

Please continue to pray for my uncle.  He started chemotherapy this week, and seems to be tolerating it.  His kidney function has been borderline, and temporary dialysis is an option if his kidneys can’t handle the toxins.  They learned yesterday that the cancer isn’t in the bone marrow–a huge praise for that!  Their family has lots of support, and great trust in the Great Physician—no matter what the outcome.  Still, please continue to pray for them, and for the rest of us as we are still reeling from the news.

In conclusion, the words of the hymn playing on my computer right now, reminding us how blessed we are to be the recipients of the amazing Grace of God:

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,

Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt.

Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,

There where the blood of the Lamb was spilt.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,

Freely bestowed on all who believe.

You, who are longing to see His face,

Will you this moment His grace receive?

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.

Grace, grace, God’s grace,

Grace that is greater than all our sin.

The big city

I just got back from less than 24 hours spent in Addis, and was reminded why I didn’t go there for 3 ½ months!  It’s so big and stinky and….city-like!  I did have success shopping, however.  I got a little bit giddy when I walked into a super market with 4 rows of kitchen gadgets and appliances.  I kind of felt like I was walking into Ikea after spending my whole life shopping at Walmart!  Not that the Friendship supermarket is at all like Ikea, but it’s a whole lot better than what Soddo has to offer.  So I spent a bunch of money on things like a drying rack and cheese and a pie pan and butter a pizza cutter; things that I don’t need, but I have wished for a time or 2.  I spent the last hour re-organizing my kitchen to fit all the new stuff—until the power went out and I couldn’t find my flashlight.  That put a damper on kitchen organization, as I was walking around my house with my hands out in front of me, hoping I didn’t step on anything with my bare feet.  I did manage to find my way to my computer that has a battery in it, though, so now I’m happy.

Besides shopping, I had a nice time hanging out with Paul and Becca and their kiddos.  Nathan now runs to me with his arms up when he sees me (yaaay!); and another friend was quite impressed when I swaddled Lydia up, put her upside down, and patted her backside—and she stopped crying!  I like being an auntie-type person.  It makes me not quite so sad to be away from my own little ones at home (one of whom just turned one and is now walking!  She walked to me the other day when I was video-chatting with her mommy and sisters.  It wasn’t quite as satisfying as being there and kissing her sweet little nose, but it was nice).

I also met a couple other American guys who are in town to do some vision-casting-type activities with the hospital.  They were very interested in what I’m doing, and have some cool ideas of things that I could do—particularly with CHE—to impact more people.  I look forward to the discussions I’ll have with them next week. 

And now the power is back, so I’m going to close this and get back to my organizing.  Happy Monday!

The last few days in pictures

Well, I picked up this little stinker on Wednesday so she could see her daddy on Thursday at clinic…

She was happy like this until Thursday afternoon, when she started feeling quite bad.  She had a fever and tummy problems that evening.  Friday was much better, but we laid low, and did lots of this:

Wondering, hoping, praying that the bug was finished.  Then, I learned that she likes to suck her 2 middle fingers, like this:

(Yes, she’s on the counter…with her head on a hotpad.  It’s her happy place.  Leave me alone!)

Today, she really decided that life was good again, and she did lots of this:

And a little bit of this:

Until we both decided that it was too hot and sunny.

We visited our friends at the hospital, then delivered her back to her other family (Hanna and family), who was/were very happy to have her back!

Now, as I type this, these 2 sweet girls are cooking tortillas and crackers in my kitchen:

Well, what they’re actually doing is trying to make tortillas out of cracker dough.  We’re still learning how to do this.  Not sure how it will all turn out.

Tomorrow morning, I will be making my first-in-3-1/2-month trip to Addis for some shopping.  I’ll be traveling with Paul and Becca and their kiddos.  It will be nice to get away, and shop in a supermarket again!  Oddly enough, I’ve been craving Walmart.

I hope that your weekend has been pleasant, and I’ll catch up with you again in a couple days!

 

 

 

 

Head over heels

Hanna was planning to bring little Sophie over here this evening so that I could bring her to clinic tomorrow.  Kebede and I were on the motorcycle heading back from town, so I figured we could just pick her up on the way home to save Hanna the trip.  As Kebede directed me to the house, I was amazed at how far away she lives.  She’s way back in the residential area of the little suburb of Soddo where I live, and at least 1 mile from my house.  It made me feel pity for her when I thought of the many trips that she’s taken to my house, carrying the baby and the stuff–especially in the mud!  Yesterday she was hurrying home from my house as the rain was starting.  She must have gotten drenched!

When we arrived at her house, we found that she was at the market, but her husband was watching Sophie and their 3 little boys.  It was so fun to see their house (Kebede said that it’s a rich person’s house) and meet her very sweet husband.  He speaks minimal English, but was very happy to meet me and really wanted us to stay for tea.  Kebede was in a hurry to get to school, but I assured him that I would stay for tea another time.

When he went to get the baby, she was asleep, and not at all happy to be woken up.  She was groggy, with snot on her face, and no diaper.  She only had a little cloth under her backside.  That’s very common around here, and diaper rash is virtually non-existent.  I don’t think I’m that tough–I’m pretty proud of myself for using mostly cloth diapers!  Hanna’s husband brought out a diaper and fumbled as he tried to put it on (upside-down and backwards–such a dad!), and then hurried to round up the clothes I had given them.  I had obviously caught them off-guard.  When I assured him that I had everything that I needed at home, he offered to give me an umbrella for the ride home to keep the sun off of the baby.  I showed him how I would zip her into my jacket.  He looked a bit dubious, but sent us on our way.

As we ride home, I was thinking about how much I love this kid. I hadn’t seen her since last Thursday, and I was a little bit overcome when I saw her today.  She’s just so stinkin’ cute–even though she was crying with boogers all over her face!  I don’t work until next Wednesday, so I might keep her for a couple extra days.  I’ll see how she sleeps tonight before I make that call, though.

It makes me confident that she is getting good care when she’s still so mellow and happy.   She’s more smiley than ever, so I’ll try to get a couple good smiling pictures. 

Yeah, it feels good to be a mommy again

There’s no place like home

When I walked into my house this morning after being away for 2 days and 2 nights, I realized how much it is starting to feel like home.  I love it.  I had to go through every empty room and greet it.  I was even happy to see my very empty refrigerator!  It was good.   And yes, Tseganech is going shopping for me today.  No need to worry about me starving over here.

I’ve stayed at the hospital for the past 2 nights because Paul was out of town, and his wife Becca wasn’t too excited to stay alone with the kiddos.  I’ve been in the mommy role a lot in the last 3 months, so it was fun to feel like the auntie again.  She has a little guy who will be 2 in December, and a baby girl who is 5 days younger than little Sophie.  They’re fun kiddos.  It’s also fun to have some more friends around here!

The head CHE people (working at the main office in Addis) were in Soddo for the past couple days, and it was wonderful to have them around.  We have lacked management and direction since I started, and I think it was given to us.  Some of my gut feelings of, “This isn’t right!” were validated, and correction was given.  Johannes and Eyasu will be heading to CHE training in Dilla for the rest of the week, and will hopefully get some more good insight.   I’m staying here because I don’t want to abandon Mary for clinic.  I will, however, being going to Dilla for a week at the end of November for a different CHE training.  It will be kind of nice to get out of Soddo.  I can’t believe I’ve been here for 3 ½ months and haven’t even been to Addis.  I guess I like it….or I’ve been tied down with babies or something….

Speaking of babies, little Sophie will come over here this evening and will stay until after clinic on Thursday.  That’s the plan, anyway.  Mary and I are still deliberating about childcare options at clinic.  We are down a person, so it might be hard to still have the baby come with us.  But I want her to be able to see her daddy!  The hard time is in the morning before her daddy gets there.  Anyway, so we’re still trying to figure out how that will work.

So I’m sitting here in my little house on a Tuesday morning.  Tseganech is washing dishes.  Amarech is singing as she washes clothes.  Zenabu and Dawit are playing in the dirt.  God is good.  And I’m happy.

The cover and title page

For as long as I can remember, I have always loved the Chronicles of Narnia.  I love that they are beautiful allegories of God’s story—the story of sin and redemption.  I love that they are full of exciting adventures done by kids.  I love that these kids are just normal kids who are brought to do extra-ordinary things.  Most of all, though, I love Aslan.  He is such a beautiful picture of Jesus.  He sacrificed himself for a traitor—just like our Redeemer did for us.

Well, I found the series in a couple different homes occupied by missionary families, and have read all 7 books in the last couple weeks.  Last night, I finished The Last Battle, in which the world of Narnia comes to an end.  As sad as that was, the hope that prevails in the story is inspiring.  Yes, Narnia came to an end, but then life really began for the children (who had died in a train accident in England) in Aslan’s country–Heaven.  I found myself crying as I read the last paragraph:*

….the things that began to happen after that [their introduction into Aslan’s country] were so great and beautiful that I cannot write them.  And for us this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they lived happily ever after.  But for them it was only the beginning of the real story.  All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.

Even though I have read it at least 10 times before, I got chills when I read that paragraph.  I was, of course, thinking about the realities of life here and at home—realities of the ending of life here on earth.  I was reminded that this life isn’t real life:  it’s only the cover and title page to the Real Life in heaven.  And I got very jealous of people who are quickly approaching that Life, and I wanted to be there.  I wanted to go to my Real Life because this one is really hard, and I want to see people who are already living that Life. 

But then God gently reminded me that He has a purpose for my life here.  Yes, I am correct to be longing for my Real Life, but He has placed me here for a purpose.  He wants to use me to comfort and draw more of His precious children to Himself.  People who might otherwise never hear about the Redemption and Forgiveness given as a free gift through Jesus.

So, here I will stay until I am called to live my Real Life—and I can hardly wait!

*C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle.

House pictures

A few people have asked if they can see my house now that I’m settled in and really living in it.  So, I took a bunch of pics today, and you get to see it in all its glory….or….something….

My cute house.

The is the view I see as I walk in my gate.

This very cool tree is in my front yard.

I walk on this little path to get from my gate to my door, next to the great rose garden.

Some of my tallest trees and the gorgeous sky

The limes on my tree :)

These beautiful flowers are just outside my door.

The messy kitchen.

I laughed when I saw my pathetically empty frig today….water, ranch, and margarine. What else can a girl need, right?

Before you feel too sorry for me, though, know that my freezer is very well-stocked.

And the very yummy banana bread I just got out of the oven

My dining room. Appliances have to be on that table because I only have one functioning outlet in the kitchen.

My living room with all borrowed furniture–a very uncomfortable chair and a small table. I’m hoping for a couch someday…

The scary, gaping attic trapdoor in my hallway

It’s not quite as scary when it’s open….not quite…

The wiring for the whole house…

Clotheslines in the attic

The baby’s bed. One end for sleeping, the other for changing.

So there ya have it.  I also have 2 other bedrooms and a little entry way, but you don’t get to see those.  So now you know what it looks like after I’ve moved in! 

An analogy of grace

As we were getting set up to do a pelvic exam today, Mary said, “You know, I think our relationship is an analogy of grace.”  Really, I thought?  Now, as we’re getting ready to cause pain to this poor woman for the second time today?  Grace? 

Here’s her view of it:   Imagine if, in exchange for my coming to clinic, she wanted to pay me.  Imagine she wanted to give me a lot–1 birr (about 8 cents) per hour.  What would I think about that payment?  Well, I would be completely insulted.  I want to give this gift of my time and myself—a huge gift—and she was saying that it wasn’t worth any more to her than 10 birr a day.  That’s taking away the value of the gift.

OK, I was following.

This is what some of us do with God.  In return for Him saving us, we say 3 Hail Mary’s.  Or put a dollar in the offering plate every now and then.  Or say a bedtime prayer with our kids.  Or go to church on Easter.

Imagine how God could respond to that.  “Is that all that you think of My sacrifice for you?  Is that all it’s worth to you?”

I had never thought about it like that.  What do YOU think that our response should be to such an amazing gift as salvation?