This is a long blog...

Well…it seems as though that the internet probably only works 70/30 of the time. 70% no. 30% yes. At least we get 30% right? Anyways, that is the frustrating part of my day so far. Boo hoo. It’s funny to think about that is my biggest worry today when I can look out my window and know that there are plenty of people struggling with their daily chores at their home, their health, their sick children, where is their next meal coming from and so many more things…. Shouldn’t I have this mindset when I am at home in the States too? There are plenty of people that have the same struggles here and at home.

Anyhoo…This week has consisted of madness as well. Normal African madness though. On Monday, we traveled to Lusaka and the main reason we were driving that far (5 hours) was to get my nursing license. Ba Halale was going with us to help because I have to do some kind of “interview”. Of course, we left late because there was some immigration issue and Ba Phiri had to help get things figured out . Well, we arrived at the Nursing Council around 1500 and the lady who does the interviews wasn’t there and wasn’t coming back till Thursday. They hadn’t even opened my file. Possibly typical, but mostly frustrating. Good Friday is a holiday and so is Monday b/c of Easter so I wouldn’t even be able to interview till Tuesday, but they wouldn’t set up an interview. So, maybe I will be traveling to Lusaka on Tuesday, but maybe not. Who knows? The rest of the trip was pretty fun, but also exhausting. Donald, our friendly Zambian driver, dropped us off at this shop center and we ate a really nice meal for around 10-15 US dollars and watched Step Up 2 for some entertainment. We pretty much wanted to dance the rest of the night after that movie. It wasn’t half bad, but kind of. The movie was only around $2.50 for a “new” movie. Crazy huh? Also, everyone looked pretty nice at the movies. We didn’t b/c we had been traveling all day, but pretty much everyone else had on their best. We spent the night at the Baptist Mission that night and left around 0830 in the morning. Tuesday morning: we spent our time at an internet café catching up on emails since the internet is faster there; went grocery shopping; made copies; Louisa order meds from CHAZ for Northreach; and so many other errands. I got to talk to Mom and Dad the night before b/c I couldn’t wait to use my phone. I felt as though I had been deprived and the minutes were burning a hole in my pocket. It was really great to talk to them and actually feel as though we had a decent conversation b/c half the time you either get cut off unexpectedly or you cut in and out. They called me the next day and I got to use up some of their minutes. Talking over here…if you call me it doesn’t cost me any minutes, but if I call you then it will cost me over $1 a minute. I thought that was expensive and is it?
My number over here is:
My address is:
I wanted to thank everyone who has sent messages over Facebook or on my email. It had been nice to hear from you!
The journey back home was uneventful except that you have to know that we stopped for schwarma on the way home. It is the this wrap with pickles, a chicken mixture, and a dressing. It is so good, but the next morning Louisa was sick all day! We like to say that she got schwarmaaad! We also had an interesting time in the market in Lusaka…it was dirty and nasty, but did get some pretty material. The next couple of days were a blur. I was soooooooo tired on Wednesday and went to bed around 2100. If you know me well, you know that I never do that and I either have to be almost dead or sick to do that. I slept well, but just have felt kind of tired all this week. I think just getting into the swing of things and traveling so much had caught up with me. Baby Paul came back to Haven 1 on Thursday after Meagan traveled to Macha half of the day to get him. He had been discharged that morning and we were all just confused on why they would just discharge him after saying that he would probably stay a couple of weeks and may not make it. Meagan called us and said that Dr. Mann verbalized that they couldn’t really find out why he was wasting. They thought he had congenital HIV even though he tested negative or he could have CMV or something else. All the tests they performed came back negative. They have a really great lab and hospital at Macha. I was told that Johns Hopkins gave them a lot of money to do malaria research. They have come a long way with just their research at that one hospital. So, Paul is back and we really don’t know what to do with him. We are changing his formula and hopefully it will help him gain weight. Keep Meagan in your prayers…she was stuck by Baby Paul’s needle a couple of weeks ago and was on ARV’s, but isn’t now since he tested negative…we are still a little worried.

Saturdays are usually typical lay around days and catching up on emails. I am typing on Meagan’s computer since the internet is not working again and will copy all of this over when it is working. That is typically why I can only write once a week!

I hope you all have a wonderful Easter! Us girls will be going over to the Gregerson’s, another missionary couple here at Namwianga, to dye eggs and such. I am very appreciative to them and it should be quite fun! Bernard and Jason (some of the cutest babies at Haven 2) will also be coming. I keep promising pictures and hopefully they will be coming soon! Hope all is well and kind of miss the madness at the hospital…kind of. I love you my family and friends and will be back before I am ready.

“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

Hello my fellow americans!

Kamwaamba!

First, I would like to explain the naming of my blog site. As most of you know, I do lots of impersonations and one of them is a Mexican voice and it is called Juan Carlos. So, some girls from my bible study said that I had to name my blog site juancarlosgoestoafrica and I agreed. I am holding to my word even though most will not get it or think that is hokey. I’m sure my mom is thinking that I could have named it something a little easier even though I promised.

Secondly, this blog will be much longer than I am hoping the upcoming ones will be. It was a crazy week by getting acclimated here (getting thrown in) and the Harding Academy high school kids being here. We did some of their activities with them and I’m sure it made the day busier than usual. So, I wanted to give you a full update of my first week even though it is much a blur.

I am here in Zambia after too many flights and cat naps. I was welcomed in Lusaka, the capital city, by my friends Spencer & Louisa from school after they waited over an hour after my flight had landed. I had the luck of every time they started a new line, they would start with the person directly behind me…uggh! Kind of humorous, but not really. My first day was pretty low key in the sense of that I had a 5 hour truck ride back to Kalomo where the mission is located. I had my first road side bathroom experience on my first day. We pulled over to get some bananas and so we decided to use the bathroom in the 6 foot bush all around and then buy some baskets all in the same place. We also stopped on the side of the road at a “restaurant” named Tooters and got chicken and chips (fried chicken quarters and French fries) for about 15,000 kwacha which is about $3.75 in U.S. dollars. The exchange rate varies, but it is approximately K3700:US1. We arrived safely at Namwianga Mission about 2100 and sat down with the Academy group for them to reflect.

The next couple of days were spent in getting to meet different workers (such as aunties that are care takers for the orphanage, cooks, medical staff, and so on) and going to do different errands that needed to be done. You have to understand that errands are no small task and take much longer than expected. Haven 1 (the orphanage for the babies) and Haven 2 (orphanage for the toddlers-usually 1-2 years) were visited by the Harding students and I for the first couple of days. It was nice to see all the younger adults just jump in and take care of the babies like they were their own. On Tuesday night, the Harding girls took 5 babies home with them to spend the night. I’m sure it was an experience and they were definitely tired the next day.

The biggest event happened on Wednesday when Whitney, one of the smallest FTT babies, went to heaven. Her and Paul, which I will tell you about soon, have been losing weight and no one could figure out why since neither were HIV+ and were eating. She died as we were talking to Kathy Merritt, the overall caretaker and she started Haven, about taking Whitney and Paul to Macha, who has the capability to take care of these babes. Before Whitney passed, we had gone to town to get some medicine for one of the HIV babies and took two orphans with us. It is weird to think that we just decided we were going to take the babies, put their shoes on, and left with them. Their was no sign out process, no red tape. We just took them. I just thought while we were driving with the babies that it almost takes an act of Congress to get a toddler out of Sunday school if you do not have their tag that matches your tag and it is color coded just right and so on. The kids just go with anyone at the mission as they please. They belong to no one really and so they can get love from everyone. Side note: I’m already in love with one baby named Bernard. Later, I will explain more about the orphanage and how it is run. We took Paul home with us to start IV fluids after Louisa and I went over to “pronounce” Whitney. I started my first IV in Africa on my first try after many prayers going up to the Lord for help. Paul is so small (2 kg) and we had to do something. Thanks to whoever donated the 24g IV’s in the Kenya box. The two I have left, I hope will also be helpful. I also would have paid $100 for a 6Fr or 8Fr feeding tube the other day to also start on Paul.

This is a very long story…but short and sweet….Paul stayed with us overnight (long night), Kathy took care of him the next day while we went to Victoria Falls with the Harding group, woke up at 0530 to get back here to take him to Macha, got to Macha at 1500, Paul was admitted after I got to help with the spinal tap, drove back and got home at 2100. What a couple of days….

We have had a lazy day today…just reading, writing, sending emails and such. I hope this finds you all well! I am doing well and just a little tired, but nothing that a nap couldn’t fix! I love naps! Keep in touch even though I won’t always be able to write back….

All my love….

Leaving.

So... it is crazy to think about getting on a plane in less than a week to go back to Zambia to do nursing. All I know about nursing is what I learned here in the PCCU...chest tubes, ventilators, mediastinal incisions, ECMO, etc... They don't have that there. I'm sure some of the things that I learned in nursing school will come back to me.



I'm looking forward to seeing the blessings that God has put in the Zambian's lives and also my own. Pray that I will be of help and if I am, the glory always be to Him.