Everything's gonna be alright (He's coming back just like He said He would)

Hey guys! So, it’s looking like I have quite a bit of updating to do. Oops. We have been busy, busy, busy! So busy, I didn’t even realize it was Thanksgiving in the US until the day was already over. Haha. Such is life in another country.

Two weeks ago we had Health Awareness week in preparation for World Aids Day. Agnes, the HIV/AIDS Coordinator and I went around the Health Complex and gave health and information talks about HIV/AIDS. We were also anxiously preparing for our big day, WORLD AIDS DAY, which was December 1, 2008. What was the verdict you ask? It was a HUGE success! Way better than years past or so people have told me. We started off the day with free consultations and testing. We gave a health talk to the patients who had come to the Health Complex that day, probably around 150-200 patients. The group was completely engaged and interested in what we were saying. They asked a ton of questions and really learned a lot I think. AND a lot of them came in for testing! Many other people from the community came in for voluntary testing also, which was really great because it is extremely uncommon here. Then, after counseling all day, we held a reception for the staff of the Health Complex. We started off the night with a brief program. Agnes, Dr. Blaauw, Dr. Tong and I all spoke and then the festivities began. We had a wonderful meal of pepe soup and soft drinks all around. The only thing I felt bad about was not doing anything for the patients. I am going to suggest that next year perhaps the staff provides a meal and drinks to the patients in the inpatient unit or something like that. It just felt wrong to be celebrating awareness as staff and not inviting the people we care for on a daily basis.

Overall, I am feeling very pleased with how the work is going here. The major problem with HIV/AIDS work here is the lack of infrastructure and therefore lack of ability to disseminate knowledge. Many of the villages are so remote that it is difficult to reach them by vehicle therefore they are neglected when it comes to HIV/AIDS work. The number of deaths in these villages due to AIDS (which keep in mind is PREVENTABLE) grows by the day. So, the only time to get the information to these people is when they come into bigger cities, such as Kumba, for market days or special circumstances, for example receiving medical care and treatment. However, Agnes and I are planning a conference to teach a few people from some of these small villages how to sensitize groups about HIV/AIDS. Then, the people who are known in the villages can go back and bring the information to their own people. Now, we are just hoping to find some funding . . . I really do think we are helping a lot of people though. The social group continues to be a great opportunity for our clients. We are having our big Christmas party this coming Monday. Agnes and I will prepare food and buy drinks for the group and we will discuss what direction our group will take. Very exciting.

Personally, things are on the up and up, per usual. I continue to have a strong social network which I am so thankful for. Things have been going well with life here minus a brief bout with shingles. Without going into too much detail, the shingles are on my right thigh, so it’s basically extremely painful to sit or move. However, last Sunday, I decided to suck it up, persevere, and go to church anyways. Well, I forgot that it was the Christian Women Fellowship’s rally day at Kumba Towne. There were thousands of women present. For some reason, I was seated directly in front of the congregation and right next to Chief Mukete (a HUGE honor!). Well, sitting next to the chief is nerve racking enough on it’s own, but just picture me sitting there, SO nervous, and constantly reminding myself not to cross my legs (even though the pain was unbearable) because crossing your legs in front of an elder, especially the Chief, is a HUGE sign of disrespect and a BIG nono! Luckily, Chief Mukete, is an extremely wonderful man, very engaging in conversation, so I could forget about the pain for at least some of the six hour long celebration. Haha, oh man, what a day to sit through church with shingles. Too funny. Other than that terrible day at church, things have been going really well. I’m happy to say the shingles are healing thanks to some medical attention from Dr. B, I don’t know what I would do without him here. He is heading back home for the holidays, but assures me he will return ASAP. Thank the Lord.

I should probably get going. It’s Saturday morning, market day, so I need to go get some food. I am preparing pizza for Maryann Mukete and her girls this Sunday which I am really excited about! I am trying to come up with some American foods that I can make for people here to show them some of my culture. Unfortunately, it’s kind of difficult to come up with foods that are “American” since we steal most of our foods from other cultures. I mean besides hotdogs I can’t really think of many and it’s not like I can really buy a package of Oscar Meyer wieners here. So far I have come up with spaghetti (Italian), pizza (also Italian), and burgers. Any other ideas? Keep in mind most people only have stove tops and not ovens. I would appreciate any help you can give me here. I’m going to attempt to make Christmas cookies at some point during the holiday season. I can’t believe it’s December already! Time has just flown by! I am very excited about celebrating the holidays here with my new family. I have given my parents a few things to buy as gifts for people here. What is topping the list? Obama t-shirts. Haha. That’s what everybody wants. Love it. Okay, for real, I need to go to the market before it gets too hot outside. I hope you are all doing well! Let me know how you are doing! I like getting updates from the home front. Peace and love.