While I continue to try to process all that has happened in the last 4 months, I thought I'd share some random thoughts and insights.
Before I left Kenya, I got my hair cut shorter than it's been in some time. I was telling everyone it was easier to manage- and it is. It's cooler and easier to manage.
The truth is, I haven't felt "pretty " enough to have short hair in years. My very round body made me feel like I needed to hide behind all that hair.
The good news is that while we were in Kenya I lost about 25 pounds. I started to feel better - more comfortable in my own skin. And as I felt more comfortable I thought - go for it.... Cut that hair.
And now it's shorter... and I am less round ( with additional roundness to shed)... Yes, eating better and less has been great. Moving more and walking more has made me feel so much better.
There is still stress... but I find it easier to rely on God now... and I am diggin' my short hair.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Gladys continued...
I have thought and prayed about whether or not I should share this video clip. I think that while it was a very personal conversation between me and Mama Gladys, sharing it will help others to understand what it is like - the work that we do here.
Gladys is the lovely girl I have posted about before. Her mother is sweet and fairly young. Apparently, the Mama has some alcoho problems and doesn't always provide a safe place for Gladys to live.
Yesterday, the new boarding students ( including Gladys) came to the school to receive their uniforms and other items required to begin school. We spoke with each of their guardians to explain that this is a partnership. We only wish to help, not replace parents where children have them.
Glady's mother Ann, was visibly upset . It was hard to tell if she was happy or sad. I believe she too was overwhelmed. She just kept saying God Bless you.
Peter, my brother, got the conversation I had with her on video. I was not aware that he was filming. This was a special conversation between me and Ann. But I'd like to share, because I hope you will be able to follow the story of Gladys and Ann.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_E4qgfyM5Ko&feature=g-upl
Gladys is the lovely girl I have posted about before. Her mother is sweet and fairly young. Apparently, the Mama has some alcoho problems and doesn't always provide a safe place for Gladys to live.
When we asked Gladys if she would like to be a boarding student at Holy Trinity her eyes were filled with both happiness and sadness. I think that to say that she was overwhelmed put things in perspective. Laughter turned to tears very quickly.
Yesterday, the new boarding students ( including Gladys) came to the school to receive their uniforms and other items required to begin school. We spoke with each of their guardians to explain that this is a partnership. We only wish to help, not replace parents where children have them.
Glady's mother Ann, was visibly upset . It was hard to tell if she was happy or sad. I believe she too was overwhelmed. She just kept saying God Bless you.
Peter, my brother, got the conversation I had with her on video. I was not aware that he was filming. This was a special conversation between me and Ann. But I'd like to share, because I hope you will be able to follow the story of Gladys and Ann.
As Ann and I were finishing, Glady came in and found her mother crying.
We went to the dorm and settled Gladys in... please pray for Ann and for Gladys
Friday, August 10, 2012
I am fearfully and wonderfully made
My relationship with the children and staff of Holy Trinity Academy is going to grow. It is my prayer that I will be able to spend a great deal of time with these special students - especially the 35 in our pilot scholarship fund program. Some require help with everything. Some are total orphans. Some have one parent. All of the children on our list are very very poor. Beyond total support monetarily, I am drawn to a few who need daily support. I want to remind them that they are created in the image of God. That they are indeed fearfully and wonderfully made.
I learn something from these children each time I see them.
For instance, when you look at this picture, what do you see? I see lily white fat legs. I see short fat feet and short fat toes.When I saw this picture of me a few weeks ago I cringed at the look of my legs and feet.
At the music festival this weekend, we had some time at night to play and talk with the children. I sat down with a few. The usual touching of my "soft" hair was going on. But then I noticed that two girls were looking at my leg that was peaking from beneath my long skirt. They took my calf in their hands lovingly and were rubbing them as if they were some sort of jewel. They just kept saying, so beautiful... so beautiful. Then in their own language they called friends over to touch my legs. There was dirt on them from the day. They brushed it off very gently as if I might break.
It made me think..... I am fearfully and wonderfully made... and I thanked God for these beautiful children.
I learn something from these children each time I see them.
At the music festival this weekend, we had some time at night to play and talk with the children. I sat down with a few. The usual touching of my "soft" hair was going on. But then I noticed that two girls were looking at my leg that was peaking from beneath my long skirt. They took my calf in their hands lovingly and were rubbing them as if they were some sort of jewel. They just kept saying, so beautiful... so beautiful. Then in their own language they called friends over to touch my legs. There was dirt on them from the day. They brushed it off very gently as if I might break.
It made me think..... I am fearfully and wonderfully made... and I thanked God for these beautiful children.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Spa shower- it's all relative
We had three "working" showers in our house. Now, don't get me wrong, there was hot water that came out of each. It is a crap shot to see whether or not you will have a trickle or even very hot water. Actually, all things considered they were all perfectly wonderful showers compared to this one we had in Kopanga.
Don't get me wrong. This shower was perfectly fine. It was a little cold , but you got used to it.
Now we have the "spa shower".
This used to be an asian toilet ( see the chamber leading to the porcelain hole in the floor.) The asian toilet is now simply the drain for the new shower . The pressure is super and the water is HOT.
Now we all love this shower. And you can still brush your teeth while you shower.
Monday, July 30, 2012
Coincidence.... SURELY not
So, since our little camping expedition , I have been having some issues with a rash. Most of the time I am able to cure this with a little ( or a lot) of gold bond or anti-monkey butt ( and yes, that IS what it is called.)
This time I was having a particularly bad experience. The rash just would not go away.
This weekend we went to Nairobi to pick up a visitor. While we were there I went by the chemist( pharmacy) to see if perhaps they had some Lotrimin or some such thing. They did not.
And so I walked away from the store. The minute I left, I felt compelled to FIND SOMETHING... anything that would work. I went back to the store. They had Whitfield's ointment.
Now, from my experience with medical clinics, I had seen this used a gazillion times but never knew what it was for. I read the little tube and it said "anti-fungal." Yep... that ought to work.
There was of course no price tag on the tube so since I was in Nairobi I expected to pay an exhorbitant amount ( in the same store, revlon nail polish was the equivalent of $25.
I went to the counter, asked for the tube and the lady said 40 shillings - WOW - about 50cts.
So I took my tube back to the guest house, used it that night and things seemed to be clearing up.
On Monday, we traveled home and stopped by an IDP camp to do a little follow up on water filters we had distributed about 10 days ago. We walked from house to house and from tarped tent to tarped tent.
We were there for about 2 hours or so.
As we were leaving the camp, a mama came with her child and asked if we had anything for her child.
By that she meant the rash on her head. I looked at the rash and recognized it as fungal ( from all my time in triage at clinics, some things you see over and over.) This rash looked like mildew.
Whitfield's - yep- you treat it with Whitfield's.
So now I knew why I had the compulsion a couple of days before.
And so we went to the van, got out my tube and gave the little girl her first does. Our visitor and I washed her head and then applied the ointment.
I pray she is better. Somehow, even without another treatment of my own rash, it seems to be clearing up as well today.
Somehow..... there are no coincidences and I just smile and say Thank you Lord.
s
This time I was having a particularly bad experience. The rash just would not go away.
This weekend we went to Nairobi to pick up a visitor. While we were there I went by the chemist( pharmacy) to see if perhaps they had some Lotrimin or some such thing. They did not.
And so I walked away from the store. The minute I left, I felt compelled to FIND SOMETHING... anything that would work. I went back to the store. They had Whitfield's ointment.
Now, from my experience with medical clinics, I had seen this used a gazillion times but never knew what it was for. I read the little tube and it said "anti-fungal." Yep... that ought to work.
There was of course no price tag on the tube so since I was in Nairobi I expected to pay an exhorbitant amount ( in the same store, revlon nail polish was the equivalent of $25.
I went to the counter, asked for the tube and the lady said 40 shillings - WOW - about 50cts.
So I took my tube back to the guest house, used it that night and things seemed to be clearing up.
On Monday, we traveled home and stopped by an IDP camp to do a little follow up on water filters we had distributed about 10 days ago. We walked from house to house and from tarped tent to tarped tent.
We were there for about 2 hours or so.
As we were leaving the camp, a mama came with her child and asked if we had anything for her child.
By that she meant the rash on her head. I looked at the rash and recognized it as fungal ( from all my time in triage at clinics, some things you see over and over.) This rash looked like mildew.
Whitfield's - yep- you treat it with Whitfield's.
So now I knew why I had the compulsion a couple of days before.
And so we went to the van, got out my tube and gave the little girl her first does. Our visitor and I washed her head and then applied the ointment.
I pray she is better. Somehow, even without another treatment of my own rash, it seems to be clearing up as well today.
Somehow..... there are no coincidences and I just smile and say Thank you Lord.
s
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Thoughts from our first day at clinic at Kopanga
We'll try something new tonight. Here are a few favorite or memorable moments of today.
For me , today I was in triage for the first time this year. I had forgotten what it is like to see so many people so closely. So many who are so sick.
For me today, the most memorable was a young mother who fell down while she was breast feeding . Her fever was so high that she started shaking. We took her inside and got her fever down. It took two blankets and me laying beside her to get it straight. Martha took her very young baby outside while we treated her. Most babies here do not wear diapers - particularly in the rural areas. Martha was christened by the wee thing... I had to say it was funny. We made a diaper for the sweet little thing and Momma was better and went home smiling.
Susan.
More later... rain is coming.
S
For me , today I was in triage for the first time this year. I had forgotten what it is like to see so many people so closely. So many who are so sick.
For me today, the most memorable was a young mother who fell down while she was breast feeding . Her fever was so high that she started shaking. We took her inside and got her fever down. It took two blankets and me laying beside her to get it straight. Martha took her very young baby outside while we treated her. Most babies here do not wear diapers - particularly in the rural areas. Martha was christened by the wee thing... I had to say it was funny. We made a diaper for the sweet little thing and Momma was better and went home smiling.
Susan.
More later... rain is coming.
S
Monday, July 16, 2012
Stepping out of my comfort zone
Most of you are fully aware of my fear of the dentist. Many of you share that fear. Dr. Tom ( our friend and dentist on this trip) and I had a long talk before we left the states about my fear. Dr.T is a wonderfully kind and loving man. I see it in all that he does. I see it in the entire Smith family.
On the first day of the dental clinic, a young girl was waiting to see Dr. Tom because of a tooth ache. She was a school girl. She had come to the dentist and needed to get back to school. When I took her hand, she was shaking and then I felt her chest and her heart was indeed pounding out of her chest.
And so, I took her to the dentist chair and promised I would stay with her until it was all over.
I held her hand and she opened her mouth wide. So... I am not a dentist. I don't even like to see the "instruments of torture" but God had me right in the line of fire. When she opened her mouth , I saw half of a tooth and a bunch of black. My "diagnosis" was that what was left of that tooth was going to come out in pieces and it wasn't going to be pretty.
We had no idea how afraid she really was. Wingate, Tom's son, came in and held her other hand and eventually we did to hold her down. The tooth did eventually come out. But there were a lot of tears. Poor child was basically hyperventilating, so Wingate and I taught her out to breathe in and out slowly.
There were so many patients so she needed to get up and get moving. She was still crying. So I sat her up and hugged her a bit. Then she walked around the chair and I offered my chair to her so that she could collect herself. When I said would you like to sit in the chair.... she said yes, with you.
So I held that sweet little 13 year old girl until she caught her breathe. She left with a smile , two pens and a pack of gum for later. And I left with a sense that my hands had indeed shown the love of God.
On the first day of the dental clinic, a young girl was waiting to see Dr. Tom because of a tooth ache. She was a school girl. She had come to the dentist and needed to get back to school. When I took her hand, she was shaking and then I felt her chest and her heart was indeed pounding out of her chest.
And so, I took her to the dentist chair and promised I would stay with her until it was all over.
I held her hand and she opened her mouth wide. So... I am not a dentist. I don't even like to see the "instruments of torture" but God had me right in the line of fire. When she opened her mouth , I saw half of a tooth and a bunch of black. My "diagnosis" was that what was left of that tooth was going to come out in pieces and it wasn't going to be pretty.
We had no idea how afraid she really was. Wingate, Tom's son, came in and held her other hand and eventually we did to hold her down. The tooth did eventually come out. But there were a lot of tears. Poor child was basically hyperventilating, so Wingate and I taught her out to breathe in and out slowly.
There were so many patients so she needed to get up and get moving. She was still crying. So I sat her up and hugged her a bit. Then she walked around the chair and I offered my chair to her so that she could collect herself. When I said would you like to sit in the chair.... she said yes, with you.
So I held that sweet little 13 year old girl until she caught her breathe. She left with a smile , two pens and a pack of gum for later. And I left with a sense that my hands had indeed shown the love of God.
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