Tuesday PM continued
AND DAY 8 & 9 – 1/14 & 1/15
I was feeling not so good about an hour into the meeting. I stuck it out for the first half and heard KT and Keziah’s part, then I went to the bathroom and sat outside feeling nauseous and very overheated. I was a little fried from yesterday. Then I got a ride home from a nice Indian brother and his Kenyan wife and mother. I got home, lied down for awhile, and was feeling better. The girls came home and made some rice which I ate and then went to bed, thinking I would be fine. NOT! I woke up at who knows what time, probably like 5:00AM and ran to the choo and bafu (toilet and bathroom) to vomit the rice. I felt much better after that and rested, but I was very weak. I continued that routine about 7 more times about every 40 minutes like clockwork. I was very dehydrated and I couldn’t keep anything down. It was also hard for me breathe. The girls had left for service in the morning and the cleaning lady was at KT’s. I was a little worried by now thinking I should go to the hospital to see if I had anything wrong. I was a little panicky because I didn’t know what to say in Swahili…..and I felt like I was dying. By now I absolutely had nothing left in my stomach. I said a little prayer and then a little while later in walks Kathy, my lifesaver. She was out in service and got a call from Kaishu saying he wasn’t feeling good either, so she just happened to come check on me too. I was sooo weak, but I changed my clothes and got in the jeep to take the rough ride to the hospital. I was apprehensive about going to the hospital because the day before Rebekah was telling us which clinic or hospital to go to and this wasn’t it, but this one was the closest. I didn’t throw up in the car, but I was waiting to see the doctor and projectile vomited the water with fizzy electrolytes I had tried to sip on. It was quite the site. I was sitting on the bench just after I had filled out the form. I quickly stood up and tried to find something to hydrate with my stomach bile, I could only find the tile floor just below me. I went around the corner and down a little ramp and saw a bush, so the second projectile vomit went in there. Then the male helper tried to say in broken English come with me, like I’d be the next one to see the doctor. It turns out I had to go sit on another bench and wait awhile to see the doc. Kathy was such a help through all of this. The doctor took my temperature and told me to go down the hall to the lab to get my blood tested for malaria. He phoned the lab and said something about “Mama mzungo,” which would be Kathy. That added a little smirk to my face. She could be my mother, she has blonde curly ringlet hair I wish I had. When I got up enough energy I tried to walk to the lab. I was too exhausted and had to sit on a bench in between. This was probably only 100yds to walk. The lab was air conditioned and felt soo nice. They pricked my middle finger and put some blood on a plate of glass. The nurse did not have gloves on and held a cotton with purple stuff on it, then I took over (I’d rather have my own germs on my finger)…..I was hoping the purple stuff was alcohol! Then I had to pee in a cup in a hole in the ground toilet with no tp and walk down the hallway to wash my hands, luckily the sink had water AND soap, Kathy said lots of times there isn’t any soap or water, or very little water pressure. They wanted me to rest so they could check my results, so after a cold sip of water and resting on the bench I tried my best to walk up the two levels of stairs tripping a few times because I was terribly weak like never before and the stairs were crooked, Kathy even said so. : ) I went into a room with four other people lying on beds, looking just as sick as I was. I was wondering why they were here and what kind of germs I was exposing myself too. Here comes the needle pokes! I was getting an IV of rehydration salts, so a man comes in and ties my arm with a rubber glove (I would rather them wear them then use the gloves to do that) to find a vein, he did a nice job and WAS wearing gloves. They also gave me some drug to help stop the throwing up, which I guess KT says their drugs are not as strong, so I ended up throwing up again. I was extremely tired so I told Kathy I was going to go to sleep and she said it was a matter of minutes before I zonked! The doctor came with the results: I had one malaria bug in my blood. Because I had thrown up after the drug they gave me another IV, after they had taken the other one out! A young nurse came and tried it this time and it was a little more difficult for her and painful for me. She tried down by my wrist. The needle ended up trying to come back out of my wrist, then she tried in my upper arm, about the same part the other guy did and it worked ...for the most part! She connected the tube and I got more salts. I still don’t know if she did it quite right and I had a couple drips come out if I didn’t hold my arm a certain way. Mind you, she did all of this without gloves! All the while Kathy is trying to see about Kaishu, too. Many brothers and sisters came to visit me, including Naomi and her husband Rory, Katelyn, Brother with his german accent (they thought he was my Dad), Annette, Frank, KT, and Rebekah. They were so loving and asked if I needed anything. Frank brought some pineapple, which I sucked the juice out of, Kathy made some porridge with cinnamon and vanilla and sugar, but the texture was too much for me. She also brought apple juice, which I diluted like old times and sipped on. Katelyn brought some bread, almonds, and love. I ate a little and was feeling better. Eventually, Rebekah and the girls took me home, I was still weak and feeling hot. She and KT have this theory about this hospital: they tell lots of people they have malaria to get money. I am thinking I was dehydrated bc the day before we walked a couple miles in the heat of the day down to the giraffe hotel while I was wearing dark brown heavy capris from Katelyn (b/c you can’t show your knees here). Then I had a soda at the hotel and some curried veggies and rice and not much water. Also, Matt was feeling the same way just a few days ago and they said he had food poisoning, or a bug. I’m thinking I had the same bug. Who knows, I’m feeling better today.
Monday - DAY 10 – 1/16/09
After a day in the hospital I woke up today feeling much better so I am writing in my journal. The first thing I did this morning was floss and brush my teeth! I don’t know if they will feel all the way better until I use my electric toothbrush at home. Then we all lounged around. I wanted to go out in service today, but the girls said it’d be better if I relaxed my stomach and body, and they were all tired. We got our home situation figured out…sort of, after half of my time here, but I just keep thinking TAB and be happy for the experience and no regrets! Kaishu and Matt went next door and we got there place adjacent to Katie's. Katelyn and I are in a room next to mama Mary, who snores and wakes up early with her alarm with Swahili music or the news. Well, I’m off to bed. We are getting up at 5:30 to paint the stadium.
Qwaheri rafikis (means goodbye friends) and sweet dreams!
SUNDAY - 1/17/09
WOW!! We had a great day baking in the sun and painting teal on cement all day. We are whooped! Now it’s time for dinner at a nice restaurant called Mediterrano with Rebekah, Crispie from Kenya, Katie, Matt, Kaishu, and the girls. The restaurant is at a nice hotel. It was a beautiful garden scene walking back to the ocean. The pool had lounges set up with comfortable couches and candles, and there were chairs to sit in and hear the ocean while waiting for the table to be set up. There was a band playing all sorts of good oldies and many Beatles songs….yay! I miss my music, I thought it would be a good test. I’ve been reading more and I’m almost finished with the yearbook for 2009. Samoa is now a place I definitely want to visit. I was looking in a National Geographic book and there were two beautiful pictures. Kaishu knew a couple in the yearbook, which was nice.
MONDAY - 1/18/09 – DAY 11
I was the first one up today and studied on the porch with a nice cool morning breeze. It was our first day out on our own. We took a bihjaj – like a carriage with three wheels to Shoppers Plaza, which has a bookstore where all the Mzungos hang out. We got coffee and I got iced hot chocolate. Now we were all ready for the day! We shopped for the essential groceries that we will be needing for the coming weeks, and we got a water boiler, so we won’t be needing to fill more landfills with plastic bottles. While riding in the bihjaj I saw more piles of trash up close and the rank smell was a little closer to my nose, so that was more intense. No wonder the water wasn’t clean in the river – imagine the soil! We also bought some Amarula to kill the bugs in the water – it tastes like Bailey’s: ), some veggies, tea, curry, and food. They also have some ice cream with cardamom, pistachio, almonds, and something else that I must try before I leave Africa! Then we were on our way to slipway for our next shopping experience. That was a little rushed because we wanted to get back before dark, so I didn’t get to take my photos. Next time! We ended up leaving a little late, so we took a taxi home. It worried me a little that he had to ask for directions, and rightly so, because we got lost. He didn’t know English, but we had a map and tried our best to show him. Eventually we got home safe and sound, just a little later then we thought.
The stars were amazing tonight! I looked up and saw thousands. It reminded me of Coldplay – Yellow - “look at the stars, look how they shine for you, and everything you do.” I wish I knew more about astrology and the planets.
Well, goodnight! Tomorrow is a study/beach day.
Wednesday, January 20th – DAY 13
I had an AWESOME day in service today! In the early morning when we were on the way to Lorraine’s to met for service I was lagging a little behind the girls about 150 yards, so I was hurrying up the road. A young man asked me where I was heading… probably because I was walking fast… I pointed ahead to the girls and said I was going with them to do a volunteer ministry work to teach people about the good things from the Bible. He said, “Well, why don’t you start with me?” and then he said he wasn’t sure he believed in a creator. I thought, wow, was a coincidence! We just talked about that last night! I remembered some of the simple questions and illustrations from the Great Teacher book and told him to look at the house we just passed, it no doubt had a creator or architect and some people to build it, then to look at a piece of fruit or a flower – it has just as much design and intricacies as the house and it had to have a designer or creator, then we talked about God for a little bit. Then I reached my road to turn down, so I had to go. It was such a nice conversation to begin the day! That was a little shocking at first, something like that doesn’t happen too often back home. After the meeting for service we went down to the petrol station to do some informal witnessing. I was hoping to find Simon….at first I didn’t, and I talked with another security man and gave him some magazines and a tract in Swahili and was able to tell him where the kingdom hall was. Then a little while later Simon walked up to me. I had a nice talk with him again and was able to give him the magazines on death of a loved one, the Bible Teach book, and his very own Swahili Bible. He was really excited to get them and said he would begin reading them tonight! I introduced him to Matt and told him that I would be leaving, but Matt could continue the study with him. We’ll see where it goes – only Jehovah knows and can read hearts and draws people to Him.
After that I worked with Kathy – my mama : ) We had two very nice discussions with men that spoke English well. That took up our whole morning from 9-12ish! The first man was Muslim, so we were able to talk about the Bible and Jesus with him and placed the Bible Teach book with him. He was younger and seemed interested in God’s purpose for the earth and had some good questions. The second one worked with a witness in the past and had some nice discussions, but now he works out of town more. He was working on construction of a house on his property and was trying to get his car started – the battery was giving him trouble. Despite that he still invited us to talk! That’s what I love about the people there- they are so down to earth and hospitable, they don’t dare to be rude and shoo us away or say they aren’t interested. We were able to sit down for quite awhile and chat about the good news that God’s kingdom will bring. We talked about the worlds governments and how they are not going to bring about the changes we all need, that’s where the kingdom government comes in. We shared Psalms 146:3, Daniel 2:44, Psalms 37:9, 10,and the like. He is trying to teach his little girls how to grow up with Bible principles and how to be good people. I met one named Beatrice who was about three and was very shy, but so sweet once she got more interactive. I showed her some animals from the Awake and she was so happy. We are going to go back and give them a Bible story book and a Learn from the Great Teacher book in English. His housemaid Kristina was so sweet, too. Kathy was able to talk to her in Swahili and she wants a Bible Teach book, too! : ) She made some of the most delicious tea I’ve ever had…it was lemongrass flavor with milk and cane sugar. I will definitely have milk in my tea back home, that’s something I’ve never had. The last sip is usually the sweetest with the most sugar in it….mmm. I can still taste and smell the wonderfulness of it all. : ) After that Catherine and I had a nice afternoon…we walked all around to some of her calls. I met a man and his wife in their 80’s who really, really didn’t look it at all. They invited us into their home, even though they were eating lunch….once again – very hospitable. We talked with there gate keeper he spoke English, so I gave him the special tract “Would you like to know the Truth?” He read it intently and I told him about the offer for the book on the bottom back. We decided to come back again when they weren’t eating to talk some more, and when we were leaving the gate keeper asked Catherine where he could get the book and learn more! They of course were talking in Swahili, so being curious asked Cathy what they said…when I found out I was very excited! What a nice way to end the day. After that we had some delicious pineapple like nothing I’ve ever tasted back home. It was only 100Tsh. (about 10 cents) for about a fifth of the pineapple! Delicioso!! Then we walked down many dirt roads, bought some colorful kangas, looked at some of the clothing shops, and found a park so I could use the Choo(toilet) in the middle of a neighborhood. I was totally lost b/c of all the streets and turns. I usually have some source of direction, but not here. THANK YOU Catherine!!! That was an amazing day.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Monday, February 2, 2009
"Honey, I'm home" : )
Back in fresh winter smelling Michigan. Oh joy. I say that truthfully. It's good to be home, but I have mixed emotions. I didn't want to leave and I know now I want to go back. Afterall, I didn't get to try the orange ice cream with pistachios, almonds, cardamom, cinnamon, and saffron, and probably some more tastey things! No, seriously, the people there are so kind and they really want the truth...and talking to them about God's Kingdom has strengthened my faith. Seeing firsthand how they live made me think how much more so we need Jehovah to take action so we can clean this place up and make it beauty-full again!
Africa was full of adventures yet to be taken and lessons learned. We all learned to not expect anything to happen smoothly (TAB - That's Africa Baby) that way you won't be let down in the end, no regrets. Also to take the good with the not so good and run with what you've got. It's not about what you want it's about what you've already been given. Jehovah provides what you need. Life is a lot more simple when you think of it that way. In this part of the world we are sooo bombarded with advertisements and constant "needs" that are not that important in the long run. We are also very spoiled and have so much excess that gets wasted and thrown away. Some people probably have enough food in there trash cans to at least feed a family.
I visited homes that had barely nothing in them, but they were filled with life and love and happiness. The people are what make them that way.
I've been doing a lot of reflecting on what I want to with my life.....who knows what the future holds.
I had my green salad I'd been craving for the longest time from Panera and a vanilla Chai from lovely Chels, went to Target, and I think I got all the paint out of my hair : ) from the high pressure shower so it's off to bed for me.
I think I'm doing okay with this whole jet lag thing...we'll find out tomorrow!
Goodnighters,
~Jillian
p.s. - my proofreading Mom told me I had some dates messed up and sure enough she was correct - those September dates were quite awhile back, just pretend they say 1/the correct date/09 mmk? : )
I'll update the continuation of my trip later. following the meeting Tuesday night there were many adventures, like going to a third world country hospital, the dedication, visiting the Tanzania branch, & Zanzibar!!! The photos are coming, too.
Africa was full of adventures yet to be taken and lessons learned. We all learned to not expect anything to happen smoothly (TAB - That's Africa Baby) that way you won't be let down in the end, no regrets. Also to take the good with the not so good and run with what you've got. It's not about what you want it's about what you've already been given. Jehovah provides what you need. Life is a lot more simple when you think of it that way. In this part of the world we are sooo bombarded with advertisements and constant "needs" that are not that important in the long run. We are also very spoiled and have so much excess that gets wasted and thrown away. Some people probably have enough food in there trash cans to at least feed a family.
I visited homes that had barely nothing in them, but they were filled with life and love and happiness. The people are what make them that way.
I've been doing a lot of reflecting on what I want to with my life.....who knows what the future holds.
I had my green salad I'd been craving for the longest time from Panera and a vanilla Chai from lovely Chels, went to Target, and I think I got all the paint out of my hair : ) from the high pressure shower so it's off to bed for me.
I think I'm doing okay with this whole jet lag thing...we'll find out tomorrow!
Goodnighters,
~Jillian
p.s. - my proofreading Mom told me I had some dates messed up and sure enough she was correct - those September dates were quite awhile back, just pretend they say 1/the correct date/09 mmk? : )
I'll update the continuation of my trip later. following the meeting Tuesday night there were many adventures, like going to a third world country hospital, the dedication, visiting the Tanzania branch, & Zanzibar!!! The photos are coming, too.
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