A+

A great blood type for a teacher, I think.  Yesterday I gave blood for the first time ever.  Sad I know... in college I did tried to donate blood.  I confess my motive was some free t-shirt or subway sandwich.  But I was rejected because I had lived in Niger for several years as a kid.  Rejected for life!  While I was disappointed that I could not get the free sandwich, in some way I was a little relieved.  I have never really liked needles.

In Africa the standards are a little less stringent for blood donation.  I also must confess that I probably would not have been motivated to give blood in Africa either if not for the encouragement of my team mate Jessica.  (Jessica had just given blood to one of her patients, who was in desperate need of blood after her c-section.)  I guess it was a good idea, but as I have said I don’t do well with needles, and a total wimp when it comes to even minor pain.  I had a flash backs to a year ago when I had to get a mere vile of blood drawn for some tests.  The nurse who was a student, information I would have preferred not to know, kept plunging the needle into my arm in search for a blood vessel.  She finally hit one which failed to produce enough blood.  When she left the room I started to feel light headed at the thought of a repeat artery diving experience.  Another nurse walked by and suddenly exclaimed, “You are going to faint!”  She quickly instructed me to put my head down and led me to the bench where I could lie down for the other arm.  My right arm was more cooperative in blood giving and I managed to get out of there with out passing out.   

I put all this behind me and reminded myself it was all in my head.  The nurse at Kijabe Hospital expertly drew a quick vile and I passed with a hemoglobin of 13.5.  The nurse had pricked me in my right arm for this initial test, so I decided to use my left arm for the donation.  At this point I wish I had been thinking a little more about my near fainting experience and how the right arm worked so much better, but I had pushed that memory far from my mind.  I sat in the chair with my feet up, pumping my hand like crazy as the nurse looked down at my arm with a wrinkled brow and stated that I had very small veins. I began to worry a bit and give myself another pep talk.  She released the truncate and called someone else.  The other guy managed to get the massive needle in my tiny vein and the blood letting began.  It was so slow going, so slow that some needle gouging was done to try to get the process going.  Eventually they gave up as the blood in the bag started to clot.  And I hadn’t even produced1/2 a pint.  The nurse asked me if I wanted to try in the other arm.  I thought to myself, “Are you crazy?”  but some how my mouth must have agreed and Jess was there to second this and remind me this could save someone’s life. 

Praise the Lord he hit the vein on the first stick and we were in business.  And I did it!  I gave up a whole pint of my blood.  It is pretty amazing that my blood can actually be put into someone else’s veins and be used to carry their oxygen and nutrients through their body.  One last confession.  When I stood up I could feel that tingly feeling returning and I had to sit back down and have my bitter lemon soda be brought to me.  But hey, I got something for free, sustained only minor bruising the next day, and I had the hope that my A+ blood might do someone some good. 

"Smile Loud"

In Uganda the dental care options are limited and honestly kind of scary.  It has been a year since my last cleaning and that was when I was in the US.  The Kijabe Hospital in Kenya has a dental clinic, and last week Jessica and I both too advantage of this service.  I usually like going to the dentist... love that smooth, clean teeth feeling.  Jessica had a very thorough cleaning done by a hygienist named Millicent. In fact Jessica had to take Ibuprofen because the pain in her gums was so intense. Millicent... sounds a bit like that character in Sleeping Beauty... What was her name?  Naturally I was a little less enthusiastic about this visit, especially since I had a years worth of plaque to chisel off.  When I arrived in the clinic things were pretty western looking.  There was a waiting room where we all sat on cement benches.  Music was playing in the background.  Christian music, because this is a mission operation.  Point of Grace, I think... something from when I was in middle school.  The reading material was also a little outdated. It appeared that the only choices were National Geographic from before I was born.

I eventually was called back and ushered into a little room to wait for the hygienist.  Again, pretty normal, a dentist chair (only a few cracks in the vinyl), and appropriate looking tools.  No artwork or dental licenses on the wall or garfield posters on the ceiling.  I sat in the chair, which was kind of awkward because it was still reclined. I tried sitting side saddle, but this was weird too with the arm rests.  I turned around spying into the other rooms to see how other people were sitting.  In one room the chair was up.  Well that was unhelpful, since I wasn’t about to push buttons or levers on this thing.  This other guy was straddling the chair, sitting kind of hunch backed while he read his National Geographic.  So, I attempted to do the same while reading my book.  

The hygienist did finally arrive.  I quickly asked what her name was.... Hannah... phew!  The first thing she did was take x-rays.  She pulled x-ray machine down and made a ton of adjustments moving it all around my head, inserted that cardboard film thing, and told me to, “smile.”  I thought this was funny for multiple reasons.  The first most obviously being that this was an x-ray which would going right through my soft tissue.  The second was because I remembered Jessica telling me that Millicent had asked her to, “Smile loud” before she took her x-ray.  I was smiling at this point, even suppressing laughter which, by the way, makes those cardboard things even more uncomfortable.

After this Hannah laid a crispy sun dried hand towel over my chest and started to work on the plaque removal.  Thankfully she was gentle on the gums, but her method was definitely hands on.  At one point the palm of her hand was resting in my eye socket and my hair was a mess by the end.  After the cleaning came the polishing.  Little bits of the gritty polish started flying in the air and I closed my eyes.  At this point I was getting a good bit of saliva build up, and I really wanted her to use that suction thingy.  When she did I could see why she had waited so long.  It was just an open tube with A LOT of suction that kept getting stuck to my my cheek and tongue.  She also started using that little water sprayer.  It too had a lot of power and my face became covered with heavy mist.  I closed my eyes again and tried to keep from laughing as parts of my mouth kept getting sucked up and Hannah apologized for the water and dabbed my face with the crispy towel.  

One last thing to do... the flossing and of corse the final examination from the dentist. He came in, greeted me and began holding my x-rays up to a rather dim light bulb... good thing I smiled.  I am happy to report that, despite my lapse in cleanings, I have no cavities and healthy gums.  And Hannah had done great... no pain.  And the whole thing cost only $16! 

Longonot Adventures

 

From my porch at RVA I look out at the the Great Rift Valley.  On a clear day I can see Mt. Longonot, a dormant volcano, in the distance. I see Mt. Maurgret, a random blip on the flat valley floor that some believe to be a mass of earth that was displaced by one of Longonot’s violent explosions.   I am told that about once a term a group of high school students from RVA leave campus on foot (at 4 am), descending to the valley and walk to the base of Longonot.  Then they make a trek to Longonot’s highest peak (about 9,000 ft.). From the base up and around the rim of the massive crater it is an 11km journey. Sometimes they camp out and then they walk home. Last weekend I had a Longonot adventure of my own.

You can be sure that I did NOT leave at 4 am.  Jessica, our new roommate Susan, and I took a taxi to the base of the mountain.  Our driver also doubled as our tour guide, instructing us on what to pack, offering to hike with us and telling us about a local muchomo joint where we could get roasted meat after our hike.  The day was absolutely perfect for hiking the sun kept appearing from behind the clouds to keep us warm enough at the high altitude.  It also occasionally went behind the clouds which was nice since we were soon gasping for air and hot as we made the steep ascent to the rim.  As for the climb I will let the picture testify that it was incredible! 

As we came off the mountain we kept saying how perfect a day it was and wouldn’t it just be amazing if we saw some giraffes in the valley or something.  About that time Susan pointed out a herd of animals grazing. I thought they were cows or, the very prevalent in Kenya, donkeys.  Above the herd on the hillside I could see something that looked like it was eating leaves on a tree.  Could that be a giraffe?  I decided to use my camera with the super cool zoom and get a little closer.  It was moving so much in the view finder that I still couldn’t tell so I snapped a picture and sure enough, it was a giraffe!  And on further inspection I saw about 3 giraffes.  And those “donkeys” were some kind of antelope with curvy horns.

Arriving at the base Philip was very glad to see us.  We had taken longer than he expected.  We were covered in dust and dried sweat and as Philip predicted, very hungry!  I couldn’t wait to get some of that chewy goat meat. Philip had us take off our shoes and beat out clouds of dust.  I also noticed he had covered the floor of his car with news papers. We were pretty gross.

 Philip drove us to the nearest town and pulled up to a little strip of dukas that were alternating butcher shops and restaurants.  The one we went to I think was called the “U and I Restaurant” right next to the “U and I Butchery.”  We walked in and Philip inspected the ribs and other hunks of meat on the grill being basted with salt water.  He didn’t like anything so he asked the guy to put something else on.  We proceeded into the little eating area and sat at a table next to some lacy curtains that are pretty standard decor.  In the corner was a TV playing Nigerian music videos with women and men in cowboy hats doing some kind of dance moves involving hip action that I am pretty sure would cause me to dislocate something.  Upon my reflection of my inabilities, Philip assured me that with lessons I too could posses these skills... I am skeptical.  Especially since most African children under the age of 3 have more rhythm than I can ever hope to have.  I was happy when after this song the latest hit came on... something in the lyrics about “sawa sawa”.  I really like the song but itunes isn’t up on the kenya top 40.... or top 2.  Philip said he would get me the CD.  Our kilo of meat finally arrived on a cutting board with some little piles of salt for dipping.  The “chef” or meat roaster person cut it up into piece small enough that if you couldn’t manage to chew, you could just swallow it whole.  And Susan and I set in on devouring it.  I think Philip was surprised at our ability to put the meat away.  He even order some ugali (something kind of in between corn bread and oatmeal) to supplement. It was great!  I really love going to local places. It was a great finale to our Longonot Adventure.

A great day at Wasini Bay... (a vacation reflection)

I have been waiting my whole life to go snorkeling! As I think back, I can’t believe I have waited this long, because I love the beach and water. Three weeks ago I was on vacation, we were at the Indian Ocean in Kenya and my time had finally come.

The Masso family, Bethany, and Caleb from the Sudan team and Jessica and I started out pretty early in the morning. We all piled into the Masso’s little white pick-up truck two people lying on cushions in the bed. I hadn’t even had time to eat breakfast, so I munched some peanuts I had brought with me as we headed down the road. About 30 minutes in we were stopped at a police check point. Gaby and Caleb tried to hide under the cushions, but the legs hanging out somehow gave them away... the police man actually laughed. And was pretty quick to send us on our way. We arrived at the dock and were escorted out to the boat that we would be taking. Right away they gave us tea, fruit and mandazi (kenyan doughnuts) Which I also gobbled down (in retrospect this was NOT a wise choice). The crew were quick to tell us to put lots of sunscreen on our Muzungu skin and also passed out pills for seasickness. At this point I only had one memory of being seasick, which was when I took a ferry to Ireland in an all out storm and even then I didn’t actually throw up. It was a sunny day and I didn’t want to be drowsy, so I turned them down... another bad choice.

It was so beautiful as we set out across the blue water to make our way around the island to the marine reserve. But despite the sun the water was choppy and we were doing a lot of up and down motion. I started to wish hadn’t eaten all those peanuts... and mandazi... and fruit. I fixed my eyes on the horizon, even moved to the back of the boat but it just wasn’t helping. I did eventually loose all those morning snacks and I will not be eating peanuts in the near future, but the good news was I felt a lot better and we soon reached the place where we were going to do our first snorkeling stop. I donned my flippers, mask and snorkel and quickly jumped over the side before the seasickness plagued me again.

The view under those beautiful blue, choppy waves was incredible. I dove down over and over and was swimming through schools of colorful fish, staring in awe at all the incredible coral in various shapes and colors and sizes. After swimming around for about 2 hours our guide beckoned us back to the boat. When we had almost almost reached the boat we saw a pair of fins surface and then disappear. Our guide called out, “Dolphins!” I swam back out and looked down and saw the out line of about 6 dolphins, young and adult ones swimming below me. We followed them around for a while. At one point I turned around and a dolphin was right behind me, swimming up next to me. I could see scars on its back, I wanted to reach out and touch it, but I got scared. Later I was swimming behind a mother and a baby and even got to seen the baby nursing. So amazing! I could have stayed with them for a long time, but it was time to go, because some people were actually hungry.

We climbed back on the boat and made our way to the lunch spot on Wasini Island. About halfway there the motor started to smoke, I was starting to feel sick again and the smoke inhalation wasn’t helping. The motor eventually died. This didn’t seem to phase our captain very much and soon they were attempting to put up the sails. As the large wooden beam began to swing around I was not feeling very positive about this plan, but what do I know about sailing? They did get the sail up, but just as we were starting to move forward the sail ripped. Our plan B had just failed. And I was wanting to get on solid ground as soon as possible. Our captain radioed for another boat to come and get us and let us jump out and swim, because there is considerably less up and down in the water. Eventually another boat did arrive and we transferred all out stuff to the more sea worthy vessel to complete our 3 hour cruise. Upon nearing the Island we had to get into little canoe and eventually wade to shore. When we got there a lunch of freshly caught crab and fish was awaiting us. Fortunately, I had regained at least some portion of my appetite. After a tour of the island we headed back, tired, salty and sunburned. What a great great day. Who cares that the boat died, I threw up, and was sunburned. I had swam with dolphins in the Indian ocean. Thank you God for creating such a beautiful place full of amazing creatures!

RVA

It is a 15 minute walk up the hill and A LOT of steps from where I am staying to the campus of Rift Valley Academy (RVA- A Christian boarding school started by African Inland Mission, over 100 years ago). Despite having walked this route for 2 weeks at least twice a day, at almost 7,000 ft I am STILL huffing and puffing by the time I get to school (but finally warm... warm enough to take off the top of my 3 layers). Just before I round the corner to ascend the last flights of stairs, I change out of my tennis shoes, into something a little more professional, but my calloused feet that have been wearing nothing but flip flops for almost two years protest as they squeezed into the second hand shoes I had bought at the market. But I felt like I fit the part... I actually look like a teacher.

For the past two weeks I have been substitute teaching for Ryan Dahlman, as he was in the US for his sister’s wedding. It has been great fun to be back in a traditional classroom with 105 student in my 9th and 10th grade World History and 11th and 12th US Government, going to ball games, hanging out with other teachers... even grading papers. These kids, having ethnicities from all around the world and homes all over East Africa and beyond, form a culture all their own. Something that has stood about them is their attitudes of gratefulness. Every day I have multiple students who on their way out the door from class say, “Thank you”... and not in a teachers pet, suck up kind of way. Just simple thanks. Saturday was an outreach day where students went out to serve and love people in the surrounding communities doing everything from planting trees and painting murals to playing soccer in prisons and visiting orphanages. In chapel on Monday during open mic time, student after student stood up expressing how their experiences (among other things) made their hearts thankful for the blessing of God in their lives.

Another thing that has struck me about this place is a commitment to prayer. Once a week there is an optional 15 minute prayer chapel... that a good number of kids actually choose to come to. I sat with 2 middles school girls as they prayed for unity among the students at their school various other things. Also every day the staff meets for Chai and Prayer. Yes warm, sugary, spiced, milky, delicious tea... (and snacks). I could for sure get used to this! But over this refreshment staff share prayer requests for the school, specific students, etc. And we pray!

I am thankful for this place and how it has impacted and continues to shape the lives of missionaries and future missionaries. It has been a blessing to be here!

Truffle... ( a Bundibugyo reflection)

Late at night, head lamp on under the mosquito net I often find myself laughing out loud as I have been reading James Herriot’s “All creatures Great and Small”. I have always been an animal lover, but I am far from a farm girl and my experience with animals other than dogs and cats, has been somewhat limited. But living out in the bush of Uganda has broadened my experience as I now ride the bus with chickens. Goats and cattle roam the streets and sometimes our yard. And three dairy cows now share half of our school yard. I have to say, that despite the fact that they continually break though our fence and as Buligi puts it, “Abuse my garden”, I love those cows and I have become particularly attached to Truffle.

When the cows first came to RMS it was Truffle that would come to the window and stick her big nose up to the screen to see what we were doing. One time I was quite alarmed at the frantic knocking at the door. Upon going to see who it was, Truffle had her head through the screen door and was banging the door back and fourth by moving her head up and down.

I do remember a time were I was even a bit afraid of these huge animals. Most of the time when I walked through their grazing area I wouldn’t get too much of a reaction. Maybe they would look up from the clump of grass they were currently chomping. However, one time I came in with the milking pail. The particular one that was carrying has a lid that doesn’t fit tightly and rattles rather loudly when you carry it. The moment I came in the cows perked up and started to follow me to school. They were moving more quickly than usual with kind of a curious look in their eyes. (A look that I now know to be one that is expecting maize, something special that they get to eat when they are being milked). I put the pail down where Buligi had been milking and walked back across the yard to leave. When Truffle realized that I had not delivered the maize and was nearing the gate she started to gallop (yes cows can gallop) toward me. I also started to run hoping to reach the gate before this very large animal with horns did. I quickly squeezed out and flung the metal gate closed behind me just in time. Two of our neighbors looked at me about to burst into laughter... explaining didn’t help.

Since then I have grown more accustomed to these animals and their habits. Truffle also is quite fond on nibbling on my skirt when I go to pet her. She also gets very excited and will come running for cucumbers from the garden. I guess that cows do normally run but some other things that Truffle does are definitely out of the ordinary. Truffle gets up on her hind legs like a goat to munch on leaves of tree branches that are out of normal cow reach. A few weeks ago we were having trouble with them pushing down the fence to get to greener grass on the other side. The day after we had fixed it, Lilli and I were working the cows when I heard munching in a place that should be a NO MUNCHING zone! I ran outside just in time to see Truffle down on her front knees crawling in between two of the lines of barbed wire. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Due to the recent intrusions, cow wrangling has become a new past time at RMS that I never expected to be doing. The first time they broke in I was determined to get them out away from my garden Lilli handed me the yard stick and out I went. But even with my yelling and butt smacking, I managed to get out DMC and Oreo but Truffle does what she wants.

Despite all this, I love this cow and even volunteered to be her second milker. And several times a week I get to herd these three across the mission back up to their milking pen with Buligi, and I like it. I have finally built up the hand muscles to produce a pail of milk without getting hand cramps and we left for Kenya, when I get back I know a lovable frisky little cow who will be waiting.

Snickers... truffle's calf

Randy and Rachel come to visit... it doesn't get much better than that!

I couldn’t believe that the time had come as I gave final hugs to Randy and Rachel. The tears just started to come. I hate goodbyes. But as a missionary they are a part of life. I have learned that despite the pain... they are worth it and this goodbye was no different. Because goodbye meant that I had said a hello. Randy and Rachel gave me the best gift ever this past August... coming all the way to middle of nowhere Uganda to see me. Now that is awesome! And we had a great time together!

A few of the highlights...

Being serenaded by Randy as he learned to play his mountain dulcimer (the body of which is made of cardboard and Randy brought with him on the plane in a plastic bag) I love my musical brother!

Having Rachel hang out with me at school... being a part of my every day life.

Many great meals together, with lots of longs talks and catching up on life.

Hanging out with Friends and sharing jack fruit!

Motorcycle rides!
Hiking through the jungle to Nyahuka falls in Bundibugyo!

A hike at one of the crater lakes in Fort Portal.

Swimming in the lake at the bottom of the crater... bathing suits are over rated.

Public transportation adventures on the way to Queen Elizabeth National Park. In which were dropped off in the pack on the side of the road, whisked quickly to a waiting Matatu, and crammed inside (me still carrying around Randy’s cardboard dulcimer in the plastic bag). Then another time waiting in the rain while we served as entertainment for local children. After 2 filled to the brim passed the third one had room for us and apparently a lot more. (there were 6 grown men at one point in a row meant to seat 3!)

Seeing lions at Queen Elizabeth!

Rafting the Nile!!