Making a Small Differnce

These are the most recent contacts with Shosho and Sana, the founders of AILC. So nice to know I made a difference, though I feel it was a very, very small difference. My humanitarian efforts each day in East Africa sort of reminded me of the Starfish Story.

"The Starfish Story"

One day a man was walking along the beach when he noticed a boy picking something up and gently throwing it into the ocean. Approaching the boy, he asked, “What are you doing?”
The young boy replied, “Throwing starfish back into the ocean. The surf is up and the tide is going out. If I don’t throw them back, they’ll die.” “Son,” the man said, “don’t you realize there are miles and miles of beach and hundreds of starfish? You can’t make a difference!” After listening politely, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish, and threw it back into the surf. Then, smiling at the man, he said…”I made a difference for that one.”

*****

My Rafiki (freind) Lauri;

I can't tell you how good it was to see you in my inbox! I must admit it was a bit difficult dropping you off at the Kenyatta airport and watching you all getting all you luggage checked in.
You are an amazing woman Lauri! Over and over again I marveled at the beautiful, adventurous, strong woman that you are and how blessed we are as an organization to have a part of you with us. This LIFE CHANGING experience will never end and neither will the lasting friendship that we have kindled over the past few weeks.

Sana and I re-entered the world of abundance with excitement on our wings to round up our little flock and get all our pictures together but especially to get all our hearts connected back together again.

Thank you Lauri for being a part of us and for all you did while you were in Africa. I remember walking down the hall of the hotel in Nakuru with my arm around you and feeling of your strong character and emotional stability. I felt so thankful to know you and for the privilege to walk beside you for a moment in Africa serving those beautiful people.

Hope all is well with your family. I loved meeting all of them. Can't wait to see you.
Call me if you get a free minute. I miss you!!

Living the work;

Love, Shosho
Africa Is Life Changing

*****

Hi My Dear Lauri:

What a woman of courage and adventure. I don’t think I know of another person that could pack more into three weeks than you did. I can only imagine as you lay your head down on your soft pillow here in America the memories that flood your heart.

Thanks for your email and your Welcome Home it meant the world to me. We know the hard transition it is to return and fit back into the routines that call us each day. I find that family helps in this re-entry. I went with my daughter on Friday to a Kid’s Fest at the Sandy Expo Center and my mind was spinning as I walked past all the safety and awareness programs that they were teaching the children. Even the practical demonstration on buckling up when they are in a car caused me to stop and think of the children I had just left behind in Africa that walk everywhere they go. My daughter looked over at me and said this must be hard, and I said it gives me a deep appreciation for what my granddaughter has and a commitment deeply within my heart for the lost child in Africa.

Thank you for your steadiness in your service each and every day. It was your skills in medical that helps us through the trying experience of the young child. Mike talked often with me about how you went into such a discipline life saving mode that day. Your years of training no doubt came together when you carried that baby through the field to the clinic.

I also love the relationship that you formed with the women in crocheting and quilting. How they loved you being in there with them and sharing with one another. You always seemed to light up as you were coming out of that building, and I know they felt your love very strongly. Your hands and heart have many levels and I felt you give it ALL every day.

Love your heart so,
Sana

We Are So Blessed!

On the last leg of the twenty-two hour flight, I found myself thinking so much about the last three weeks. I had so many emotions, so many photos in my mind that will never be erased, not to mention so many butterflies in my stomach. I just kept thinking over and over again, "WE ARE SO BLESSED!" I was also thinking how sad it is that we take so much for granite, waste so much and simply have life so, so good. We Americans seem to have everything, and we're always wanting more, yet we appreciate very little. The Africans have nothing, want just the basics, yet they appreciate so very much.

Coming in to Salt Lake, I remember seeing the Wasatch Mountains and thinking, "I am home." I was so excited to see my family, that I, wearing my T-shirt that says " I Climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro" ran to the waiting area waving my flag. They were a blessed sight. Buck and TJ had grins from ear to ear, Mom was crying with joy. Brykn, came running and jumped in my arms, saying "you home from Asrica!" Tiff, was so glad to see me and whispered in my ear, I Love You Mom!" What a welcome home.....it doesn't get any better than that!!!

Yesterday, was my first shift back at MV-ER, it was so nice to be back with those co-workers who I care so much about. Everyone wanted to hear all about my adventure. It was funny as everyone had been following my blog daily. Kathy Sparrow, called me on the phone just to say, you're truly a woman. I and so many admire for your bravery to follow your dreams, your willingness to learn phone technology just to keep us all in the loop, and to do it all with some very unordinary health issues. I love that I have so many friends in many different areas of MVH, and to hear Kathy's compliments was very touching. Dr. Egbert gave me a high five and said, " Great Job, but what will we do now for daily entertainment?" It was so fun to pull up the blog and see what you were doing each day! Though I have yet seen all my friends in the ER I will this week, I can't wait to share my life changing journey with each of them.

Now that I am back I have chosen to transfer all my journal notes and many photos into my blog. However, I will be putting them in chronological order, so if you choose to read all about "My Life Changing Journey," you can do so by starting on January 27, 2009 with the Party, Party entry.
Thank you to all who prayed for me, text & e-mailed me and those who followed my journey through my blog. I love ya all. A special thanks to my best friend, my daughter, Tiffany who made sure my blog was updated daily and put all the photos on the blog. Love ya Tiff. I am so thankful for such a great family and the best friends and co-workers ever.

Strangers, Roomates, & Freinds

Before going to Africa, I had met two of the fifteen team members. Emily and Ashley were part of the group who climbed Kings Peak last summer.

The other twelve I had never met until we got together to pack our humanitarian supplies. It was at that time that I met a stranger by the name of Marilyn Stewart. She was a nurse mid-wife and a case manager for the LDS Church.

There were so many differences between us. She has two masters degrees, I most definitely don't. She is LDS, I am not. She is sixty-five years old, I am fifty-five. She has six children, I have two. She is divorced, I am married. She had been to Africa before; I had not even really been out of the country. However, the first night in Kenya at the gross hotel, Shosho paired team members up. Marilyn and I became roommates from then on. As we sat on our beds we talked and giggled like a couple of young school girls. Marilyn told me all about her family, her job and why she wanted to return to Africa. I in return did the same. We both seemed to have so many differences, but yet so many similarities.

It was in the hotel in Nakuru, that we really became close, as there was one room for two people not a big deal, but there was also only one FULL sized bed for two people. It was a good thing we were both so tired that we were both glad to sleep closely on that full sized bed.

I will always have so many fond memories of the days and nights I spent with Marilyn in Africa. I got such a kick out of the faces she would pull at the thought of eating another PB&J sandwich. I cringed at the sound of her gasping when she was taking a cold and I mean cold shower. After being a mid-wife for forty years, she ran around naked a lot. She said she had seen enough women's parts, that it didn't bother her. ( I suppose she didn't think it bothered me either, after all if you have seen on butt, you've seen them all!) I will never forget her trying to ban-aid the window in the hotel shut so the mosquitoes didn't come in. There she stood on the bed in her garments with twenty ban-aids on the window. Needless to say it didn't work. So together we "Jimmy Rigged" it shut with my camera electrical cord.

Though Marilyn and I started out as strangers, ended up being roommates, and it two weeks, in a third world country we became really good friends.

St. Catherine's School

Our last day at St. Catherine's School was unlike any day I have ever spent in a classroom in the USA. We spent the day teaching ALL school aged children about HIV, though I am convinced those children probably knew more than we did. HIV is so wide spread in Africa, that twelve million school aged children have lost one if not both parents to AIDS. Women also account for sixty-five percent of adults living with this deadly viral disease. HIV, is the leading cause of death in Africa. While teaching there was not one child who had not been affect by AIDS, either in their family or a village member. Many children are raising their siblings as their parents have died from this deadly disease. While teaching my heart ached for these innocent children, as they never really have a chance to be a kid, as the kids in the US do. No matter where one lives, life at times doesn't seem fair, however, fairness in the US really has a different meaning than in Africa.

After teaching I had an opportunity to tell the smaller children all about my Lil' Buddy and how much I love him, just as their Grandmothers love them. Before going to Africa I choose to buy books to donated to children who might not have any. The best part was Brykn went with me to pick out the books. I thought a variety might be nice, but Brykn wanted ones with horses on them, imagine that. As I presented the books to the children, not one child had ever seen a horse, boots, or a cowboy hat. Funny that is Brykn's daily wardrobe, because as he says, " me is a cowboy." It was fun to have Brykn's help me with this project, and it was fun to see the smiles on the faces of children a world away.

These children love school, and were so cute as they sang "One Little, Two Little Three Little Kenyans." actions included. I had taken Smarties to share with the children, some held on to them for dear life, while other ate them like they it was candy!

*****

2/16/09
From Mom: This afternoon we went back to St. Catherine's School to finish up some of the projects that we started a week ago. We also did age appropriate HIV teaching, which is so prevalent in Africa. After the teaching, I was able to show all the children under 12 Brykn's picture and tell them how much I love him. I then gave the kids the books that he helped me pick out, of course, they had horses on them. I got to explain how Brykn has his own horse and wears his boots, and cowboy hat. They giggled and loved his picture and the books. I miss you all and yes, I am excited to get home. Love ya!

Sunday Service

February 15, 2009....This was our second Sunday to attend church at the Fountain of God Church, in an extremely poor village near Navashi. Pastor Joel, a friend of Mary's, officiates over the services and he takes his commitment very serious. When I decided to go to Africa, I was determined to experience it all, and this included attending church. However, little did I know these church services would encompass singing, beating drums, dancing, and praising the Lord for three and half hours. OH MY!!

Pastor Joel, who preaches in Swahili to the congregation, also has an interpreter to translate in English. Pastor Joel, blessed, blessed, and reblessed everything and everyone. A quote we all got a kick out of was, "You must give or be taken." What that meant no one was really sure. There were so many times the group was asked to stand and praise the Lord a bit similar to the Catholic Church. Like the Catholic Church there was of of course an offering basket.

Pastor Joel, explained to us they only have the sacrament four times a year and only on special occasions. However, because we were there it was considered a special occasion so they broke out the bread and wine. As the bread was passed around you had to break your own piece of bread, and even though it was cheap wine, never the less it was wine in those little silver cups. YES... after three hours I need a good stiff drink, I just wishing, however the cup was a bit bigger. I wondered how all the Mormons would handle the situation, but they handled it with grace and drank it all down. Why some even had a smirk on their faces. Afterwards they all joked about the fact that God, would forgive them, because after all Pastor Joel, had blessed the wine at least ten times.

This church service was nothing like I had ever seen before. Pastor Joel, was all dressed up in a suit, yet so many of the villagers had no shoes and were dressed in rags. The children ran in and out of the tin church and a goat and donkey even wanted to join the worshiping.

On the bus ride back to the lodge, I started laughing and all I could think was oh hell, give me one of those half-assed, long winded Mormons any day of the week. I was glad I went to church and was able to experience it, but I really don't want to go back anytime soon!

*****

From Mom: Well, today was the second Sunday we went to Fountain of God Church. I was hesitant about going and considered staying at the lodge, but decided to go to church with the group. Three and half hours later the Pastor shut up. Oh my! He blessed and re-blessed everything! Then, the congregation would stand and beat the drums until I thought I was going to scream. There was so many "Amens!" and "Praise the Lords!"

The church is in the center of a VERY poor village and is just a little shack with bench's and dirt floors. Today, in the middle of the service, a goat came to the open door and started baaing as if to say, "Okay, enough!" But, the Pastor just kept right on going. This is for Andie and Kristina...Okay, so give me a half-assed, long winded, Mormon any day of the week!!!!

From Andie: So, I can expect you in church with me on Sunday? Maybe we can see what Dr. Vizmeg is doing, he might could go with us. Ha Ha!

From Kristina: I knew it wouldn't be long before you were on board with us! This post made my day! Love ya, Kristina.

From Mom: I'll be there as long as I can bring a goat! With Love and miss you all!

Where's the Maytag?

Every woman, and I suppose and a few men, in America hate doing the laundry. However, we Americans have it made with our multi setting Maytag, washers and dryers. In Africa a Maytag washer consists of a tub of cold water and foot power, your own foot power. As far as those multiple setting you can choose from, well it just depends on your own leg power and how tired you are. Then there is the rinse and spin cycle, it also depends just how many times you want to rinse and wring and rinse and wring out your laundry. As for that matching Maytag dryer with several settings, there is none. You have to hang it on a makeshift clothes line out in the dust or "Jimmy Rig" a line from bed post to bed post in your room. Then one hopes it will dry within two days. I shared a room with six others from the team, and we always had underwear, socks, bras and "TG's" (temple garments as they call them) hanging everywhere.

Wash day and stomping on my laundry sort of reminded me of Lucy & Ethel stomping on the grapes for wine. Lucy and Ethel at least had a finished product they could enjoy. My laundry was not any cleaner after I stomped on it, but it did smell better! As for most of my clothes I left them there for someone who doesn't have clothes, as they don't mind if they aren't spotlessly clean, or neatly pressed.

African Traffic Jam!~~Molo's Mountain Village

Traffic jams in the US, are simple compared to the ones in Africa. Sitting on I-15 is a piece of cake compared to sitting on a two lane highway/dirt road in Africa. In Africa, traffic jams cause road rage at its best. Coming back from Molo, there was a police check point, where officer took a gentleman's license away. Oh hell this caused a major traffic jam and caused people to lose patience. There were people driving off steep embankments, some of who I thought would roll for sure. Others were driving in the bar pit, and driving four a breast, weaving in and out of cars, buses and trucks. All in an effort to get past the police check point and to get where they were going a little faster. I really wanted to yell out the window, "CHILL OUT, and we'll all be better off. After an hour of this mayhem, we were moving again and everyone seemed to get where they were going.

I wondered how Africans would drive here, and what they would think of our system. Obviously they'd be confused as the steering is on the right side of the car and they drive on the wrong side of the road. One thing is for sure they couldn't drive or act they way they do in Africa or they'd be sitting in the slammer!

Molo's Mountain Village

From Nakuru to Molo was a two hour ride, but I really enjoyed the sights and finally the road was paved, well was for the most part. The mountain village above Molo was very green, the fields well groomed, and the sky a crystal blue, with an elevation of 8800 feet. As the villagers saw the bus coming they ran to the church where we would be doing the medical, dental and vision screening. These people were extremely grateful for any thing we could did and most all left saying "Praise the Lord you helped me." Unlike the village above Nakuru, not one person got upset, angry or anxious. Over all they also seemed healthier than those in the other villages. The children were had the prettiest, whitest, teeth. They also laughed, smiled and were happy about everything, they as they don't any other world but their own small village.

Here in the US, we have such a complex medical record system, and you must sign a release form to get any of your own medical information. Also every thing is documented in detail, not only for the you as the patient, but to protect any health care professional. However, in Africa each individual carries their own medical record. It is a small piece of card stock with very little in formation on it.

My interpreter for the day in Molo was a young mother of three little boys. Joyce spoke very good English, she had a great sense of humor and was a very attractive women. Each village we went to I was amazed at the commitment of the interpreters to their people. Joyce was so enthusiastic about the day and was sad we did not have more villagers to see. Me on the other hand I was a little relived, as this gave me time to take some great photos of these gracious people.

While in Molo, we seen no tragic things. However, just two days before we came there had been a tractor-trailer carrying gasoline rollover, spilling gasoline all over. Hundreds of Africans ran trying to get free gas, when one of them lite a cigarette causing a massive explosion. The explosion killed several hundred, and burned countless others. The fire was so hot they had a mass grave for over two hundred fifty people, who were essentially cremated. We wondered if we would see any mild burns, or those who might have inhaled fumes, but we did not.

The day in Molo was very pleasant and we were finished by about three in the afternoon. We then had time to place a few games with the village children. These kids had never played Tag, London Bridges, Baseball, or jumped rope. Some of the kids got the hang of the games and some preferred to sit on the side lines and watch.