Today marks the end of the Foundations for Health class for the pastors at our Bible school.  They are taking their final today. The only thing left for Christine and I to do is grade their final take home project next month.  We had a great time teaching.  We introduced them to the game of Jeopardy for the review session for the final.  Christmas cookies and soda rounded out the party for the last day of class.  Below are a couple fun pictures of teaching the Heimlich maneuver.  My stuffed moose have upgraded to "moosenaries."  (Thanks Uncle John).  They came in handy as pretend infants.  We also practiced splinting with available supplies to transport a person with a fracture to clinic.

 To celebrate Kathleen's birthday, we all gathered at Christine's house and learned about jack fruit.  The Sawka's taught us how to cut and eat it.  It's in the mulberry family and is the largest fruit that grow on trees.  They can be up to 80 lbs!  The flesh is mild flavored and sweet.  The seeds can be boiled, and Sue describes aptly as a cross between a macadamia nut and a boiled peanut.  Ken decided to be a fruity Santa. Can't accuse us of not having fun!

 Along the way this week I managed to see about 5 different patients for various housecalls in the afternoon.  My best payment yet--gingerbread cookies!  I also had my next govt meeting for Helping Babies Breathe.  Little more paperwork/letter obtaining and I should be set.  Please keep it in your prayers.   Looking forward to my equipment arriving and setting dates for the training.  To keep with the health and teaching theme, Sunday I was asked to talk to the youth for a session during their retreat this week.  Today I had a great time doing a question/answer period on HIV/AIDS that segued nicely into their next session on purity.  Love how the Holy Spirit coordinates things.  I didn't tell them my topic, and they hadn't told me the rest of the program.  We just "happened" to be ordered that way in a 4 day retreat.  The students were very energetic and open.  I was happy to share truths about HIV/AIDS (where it came from, how it's spread, how we can help stop it) while sharing my own testimony of purity.

Lastly, I wanted to share my newest neighbor in my yard.  A very cute chameleon.  He was not as excited to see me as I was him.  Those eyeballs followed me very closely.

You can tell how busy I've been by my lack of posting.  Much has happened already in the month of December.  

On the medical end the little anemic preemie unfortunately lived only another 3 days before passing away.  I saw a baby back for a follow up visit after I admitted her the week before with fever and jaundice.  One of those stretching times.  The bili lights worked but I had no bilirubin lab to check (the lab was out of distilled water so couldn't run a bili).  Running on averaging the time under the lights and prayer.  She looked great and mom was so happy-baby was alert and breast feeding well.  I left the hospital worrying about a 10 y/o boy who came in with sever malaria.  He was unconscious to begin.  Thankfully half way through his first quinine dose he woke up but was still not with it.  He was also very pale, Hgb 6.8.  He got transfused because his other numbers showed it was a quick drop, not slow decrease like the malnourished kids with hemoglobins that low.   I was grateful when the nurse called me yesterday to tell me he went home from the hospital just fine.  The girl with seizures and brain damage from Fringilla Clinic was able to find a home for handicapped children.  Sounds like a good place where they teach them at their level, and she will be well taken care of.  Thank you for the prayers.  

Saturday we had a Balm Clinic free screening day! We had 30 people! It was a good day of reaching out to the community. The patients seemed pleased so they can come back and tell others to come too. Dr. Nkole and the rest of the staff are so great to work with! (and the new sign started getting painted)

We've had several medical meetings.  The best was when we connected with the people at the Ministry of Community Development Mother and Child Health.  Christine and I visited a local clinic to see how they do cervical cancer screenings so we can do it right on our mobile medical clinic.  It seems like a simple thing to set up a meeting and see this but the number of factors that needed to align to make this happen are innumerable.  I was overjoyed that it all worked out, and we learned just what we needed.  I also connected with them about Helping Babies Breathe training.  They had me write a letter to the Permanent Secretary of that division which led to a meeting with the physician in that office which led to a different group I should contact which leads to another meeting next Monday.  Praying it all goes well.  The kits and instruction manuals are on their way from China!

This week and next week Christine and I are teaching at the Bible School.  Our Foundations for Health class for pastors has gotten off to a great start. I'm enjoying co-teaching with Christine and meeting a wonderful group of pastors. This lesson in the picture was on nutrition and health promotion. I had them divide all sorts of food into the food groups. The fun part was when they didn't know what cantelope was so we had a spontaneous tasting snack.

All smiles! I finally got to ride a bike. It's been more than a year. Thank you Pastor Stephen (pastor, gardener, mechanic, and all around guy with a great heart) and Paula! Glad Chris and Rob got me a little off road biking before I left Michigan...that's what all the roads I can safely ride on look like here. I promised Nancy and my mom I won't ride on the highway that is Great East Road.

Phew! Riding it reminded me how much I can't breath. Looks like a trip to Dr. Bastian for a bigger hole in my vocal cords when I get back to the States.

 The small things that make me feel at home here: On the way home last week I had one of those small but meaningful encounters. I was getting gas and ran into a person I know from one of the churches. So nice to know I've been here long enough to run into people randomly. Miss that small town feeling.

Lastly on the church ministry front:  Mike and Judy Santiago asked if I would do a session in their leadership seminar. (It was at the church I call home here: Oasis of Love). I was worried at first b/c I feel like a leader by default because of being a doctor but not someone who can lecture people on how to lead a church or business. The topic he gave me was on self-observation. All about being a person of character equals being a good leader. I felt good about that topic. Preparing for it, I got really into it. Presenting it went really well and people really responded to the message. I love how the Holy Spirit makes certain points stand out to different people. Amazing and humbling when the Holy Spirit moves.  

Our hearts were somewhat sad but excited as we sent Nancy and Archie off to Malawi this week.  They will be doing somethings still in Zambia but be living in Malawi.  I will miss having them so close but am excited to see the new things God is doing in Malawi and hope to join them for a visit later in the year.  

Here's some of the gang at our Camerican Thanksgiving celebration (four lovely Canadians joined us...think they just like the food since their Thanksgiving was last month).

These were my contributions.  The pies didn't look very pretty but were very tasty!

Interesting medical week.  Interesting in the medical world is not usually a good thing.  Mine was a mix of good and bad.  I had my first diagnosis of Guillan-Barre syndrome.   It's a postinfectious demylenating, ascending peripheral nerve paralysis.  It starts in the legs-paralysis and loss of reflexes and goes up the spinal cord.  The problem is when it reaches the diaphragm and breathing is paralyzed.  In the States people are put on ventilators for breathing support and IVIG can make the healing process faster.  Then it's just waiting several weeks for the nerves to regrow their sheath and work again.  Unfortunately at the little hospital there is no ventilator (unsure if sending her to the UTH in Lusaka would have helped-may not have vent available and the nurses have been on strike all week).  She came in labeled as meningitis but I only saw her that first day.  Friday, the nurse told me she passed away about 3 days later.  

I saw two different preemies.  Each only one day old.  One was born at 28 weeks by dates but looks about 30-31 by exam.  She is doing perfect besides being very small (2 kg).  The other was a little older, about 35 weeks but only 1.2 kg.  She is very pale likely due to a maternal placenta problem.  I tried getting blood for a hemoglobin and possible blood transfusion but failed.  Praying she can turn the corner.  

My other puzzle is why a 10 y/o boy became mostly deaf after being treated for meningitis.  Part of me was very happy to see his progress from last week.  He could only lay in the bed and was moaning.  This week he was up walking around and smiling.  The problem is he appears to not be able to hear anything.  The antibiotics used aren't ototoxic so I'm wondering if it was the meningitis itself.  Hoping the ENT doctor at UTH can help him.  

The last girl I saw in clinic.  She is school-aged, was totally normal until she had a fever and seizures and now has right sided weakness, can't talk, is incontinent, and has limited understanding.  She is so sweet in her disposition.  She made tears come to my eyes as I examined her and she would lay her head on my shoulder or take my hand to her face.  We need wisdom to know the best steps to help her medically and socially.  

In other news, I spent last night and will tonight playing in an orchestra!  I joined the Lusaka music society and we are putting on Handel's Messiah with the choir.  The orchestra is all comers with a neat outreach music program in a small town, Choma, in Southern Province.  It's an outreach of a Christian group there to help teach instruments to nationals.  We may not sound exactly professional (orchestra at least), but we are playing with all our hearts.  I still get goosebumps as everyone stands and we play the Hallelujah Chorus.  He truly is our King!

I had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day.  We had turkey and all the trimmings, including cornbread stuffing coming from the Mississippi grown missionary.  It was really good.  I'll share some pictures later.  I got to Skype into my family in Wisconsin's feast time. So in honor of my nephew, Rowan, this post is dedicated to bugs and other small animals around my place. (small is all relative)

 These are some of the biggest millipedes I've seen.

 Can almost count all of his one thousand legs.

 Mr. Snail from my driveway.

 Rowan will have to look this one up and tell me what it is.  I found him in Mongu, Western province of Zambia.

 Had to throw in one fussy one.  He was so nice to eat the mosquitos!

 Tiny frog from my yard.

Another challenge for Rowan.  Name that moth.

Last week was full of activity.  Lovemore, Christine and I spent time in Choma teaching on Moringa and hearing the wonderful successes of the hard-working CHEs there. Their group has more then doubled, helped people learn to build 500+ pit latrines, seen a church plant start 6-7 months ago and is at 60-70 people. It is so encouraging to see community development done by the people with hearts for spiritual development too.  

Friday I was at Liteta Hospital. Glad to learn the 3 y/o girl with pneumonia pulled through and went home Tuesday. Saw the variety again...minibus accident victims-scraped and likely few broken bones, thankfully no fatalities, femur fracture (dads carrying kids in chitenges is more dangerous then moms), spleen injury from mango tree fall, malnutrition/pneumonia, meningitis(puzzler b/c some lower limb paralysis), cellulitis, scalp wound and hip injury from cow stomping on patient...never a dull moment.

Just for fun:

The world's smallest "house" gecko. Found him perusing the walls tonight. I'd name him as a pet if I thought I could find him again; he's so tiny!

Yesterday was a great day. Morning service with a challenge to pray for break throughs in families the next 21 days. Be a David taking out Goliaths in God's power. Spent the afternoon with Nancy and Christine at a expo with local craft/retailers selling beautiful and yummy things for Christmas. Ended with a refreshing swim.

Today had a blessed morning. Christine has a work permit painlessly from immigration. We had two great contacts at the Ministry of Community Health for Mother and Child for Helping Babies Breath and the mobile clinic. Now just regular stuff--unpack groceries, clean house, work on classes.

I had a wonderful day at Bethel Clinic Thursday. Who couldn't love working at a place with such lovely flowering trees? (picture below) Milked another cow today-still have a lot to learn on how to do it efficiently. Then enjoyed a cheeseburger in the garden...cheese for me, burger for two kitties at my feet. Had a lovely conversation with the farmer owner and his wife. The best was having a waitress stop by and ask if I recognized her. I didn't b/c last time I saw her we were giving her IV fluids and almost carrying her out of the clinic. I was quite worried about her at that point. Now she was standing in front of me back to work and smiling. We treat, Jesus heals!

Had my excitement for the week as I was closing my laptop, ready for bed. Something caught my eye in the small area leading to my bathroom in the chalet. It was a thin gray patterned snake! Walked in my pjs to find a night guard (other clothes were too close to the snake). By the time the three guys are looking in my room, it was gone. Changed rooms and tried to identify it on the web. Failed to figure out what it was exactly.  I'm kicking myself for not taking a picture of it.  I was too worried thinking about the guards being offended of me wearing shorts.  It's okay for men but not women.  They laughed when I described the snake as "kind of pretty."

Liteta Hospital report: So happy to report the little malnourished boy went home on Monday...after 1 month in the hospital. The girl with nephrotic syndrome two weeks ago went home looking like another person-swelling all gone! And the newborn with respiratory distress pulled through and went home in a couple days.
Praying for another 4 y/o little girl with pneumonia to pull through. Lower respiratory tract infections are one of the leading causes of death in children of the world.

Today was a wonderful day at church. Bishop was on fire after returning from his time of rest and waiting on the Lord. New music leader energized the congregation and gave nice order to the worship time. Walked home from church with a few ladies who stopped to visit a woman newly widowed. Too many deaths here. Good time of learning and just "being". He was a young man who just finished his Bible/pastoral degree.  He leaves behind a wife and three young children (oldest is 10 y/o).  Here widows don't have to just mourn their husbands but have to worry about what his family will take in expectation.  I don't know all the details of this family-she mentioned one family made a point that they were Christian so won't do all the traditions.  Traditions can include taking clothes, furniture, appliances, even the house.  People come and stay at the house for the funeral proceedings that can take several days to a week.  The bereaved is expected to feed and house them for as long as they stay and often provide transport money for them to go back home.  There are some laws in place now to prevent land grabbing but I'm not sure how well-enforced they are.  

Then tonight I practiced Handel's Messiah with a mixed group of musicians who are part of the Lusaka Music Society.  So fun to be part of an ensemble again, read from sheet music, and play one of my favorite works. Concert in 2 weeks! 

I have been delinquent in writing last week for a very nice reason.  The team from Mississippi came to build three Tabernacles.  It was a successful week! Before I tell you about the work days, I must share an African cuisine story.  At the clinics, they make us lunch along with theirs.  It's usually nshima with some type of greens, maybe some chicken or eggs or hungarian sausage.  Last Tuesday it was chicken innards day.  So I ate heart, intestines and liver.  I love heart, gave the rest of the liver back and thought the intestines tasted pretty good.  They told me I didn't have to eat the chicken heads--only some Zambians even like them.  They aren't pictured below b/c my camera batteries died. (much to the relief of the cook).  Unfortunately an American stomach in Zambia 7 months is still an American stomach.  In case anyone was considering it, food poisoning is not the most pleasant way to lose weight.  

 I rested most of Wednesday and headed out with the team to Mungule on Thursday.  There I got my first try of mopani worms.  These are fried caterpillars.  I said, "Not bad" and a fellow missionary friend responded, "But not good."  No argument here.

The team put up one Tabernacle with each denomination we work with here.  I missed the building of the Chainda Grace Ministries church because of my food poisoning but was told the day went wonderfully.  While the men put up the Tabernacle, the women played with the kids and fellowshiped with the women and kept everyone hydrated.  It is hot!

Below is the church building the Mungule church was meeting in-outside and inside views.  About 120 people meet every week in that space.  The pastor is a woman from Lusaka who takes a minibus every Sunday 45 minutes north of the city and then walks about 45 minutes on a dirt road to get to this congregation.  Her husband pastors a church in a compound in Lusaka.  This is a church plant.  She has the sweetest spirit.  

 Below is the finished Tabernacle for Mungule PAOG church. The congregation will build walls, put in a floor, tile etc as they can afford it. I had a precious time eating lunch with the pastor as she shared, face glowing, how faithful God is.

 Below is the process of the beams going up in Kabanana A/G church.  The design of these newer Tabernacles is so much better then the old ones.  It goes up much quicker and safer.  Another day I'll share the story of the man behind the design, Bobby Smith.  He came also to help the team. The next picture is Bobby playing with the kids.

 Sunday we had three services to officially hand over the building to each church.  In the morning the team was split between Kabanana and Mungule.  Below is the service at Kabanana.  It was amazing to see they had already pounded in stakes and split wood for wooden benches for seats.  The roof sheeting around is from their old building that was falling apart.  The week earlier a storm had blown the tin sheet roof off.

 In the afternoon, we all gathered at Upper Room Grace Ministries church for their hand over service.  It was a lovely time of singing, dancing and praising God.  The guest of honor was a bishop in the United Church of Zambia that the pastor and our bishop are friends with.  He and the pastor from Mississippi both gave very good sermons.

 This is the road on the way to the Kabanana church.  Rainy season has arrived.

 Fun picture of the chairs going back from whence they came.

The team from Mississippi was 11 people from 3 different churches with each pastor coming.  They did an incredible job in hot weather---up on the roof.  They graciously tried all the traditional Zambian food made at the worksite each day for lunch.  Relationships were formed between church leaders and congregants from each side of the pond.  We are praying the changes made in people's lives and communities has a lasting impact on the Kingdom.

Friday at Liteta I was so encouraged to see the improvement in one of the little malnourished boys on the ward. I met him 2 weeks ago only 1-2 days into his stay. He is only skin and bones, about two years old and weighs about 12 lbs. He had that far off stare of a starving person. Friday he was up to eating regular porridge and foods. He looked alert and interactive and even tried pushing me away during my exam. I love that he is aware and alert enough to push away this strange muzungu. 

Saturday we enjoyed celebrating the life of one of our coworkers daughters.  She was diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma one year ago.  Through God's grace, many prayers, the perseverance and patience of Christine, John and her mom and dad, she is a vibrant eleven year old back at loving school and playing with her friends.

Exciting times coming this week as a team from Mississippi comes to help put up three tabernacles (churches) at the three sites we did the Holy Spirit conferences at.  Please pray for good connections to be made, the churches to grow and for safety as they put up the buildings.

Please also pray for one of the main missionaries leading the team.  Archie's mom passed away last night and he is staying here to see the project and people come together.  

One of our best pieces of news yet.  The medical mobile clinic doesn't have to be registered!  That is the timely advice we got from a local medical doctor/pastor.  Since Christine and I are both registered with the medical council as long as we connect to a local clinic and the district medical office where we go, we should be fine.  We planned on working with the local clinics anyway along with the local churches for our outreaches.  This means we can start getting supplies and readjusting a few things on the inside.  Neither of us thought we could go on a trip before our furlough next spring, but looks like we might be able to.

I've had two lovely evenings this past week at different pastors' homes.  So honored to be included in their events.  One was Bishop Simunyola wife's surprise b-day party and the other a thank you dinner at Dr/Rev Nyrienda's home.  Getting to know more people on a personal level is so encouraging.

Thursday was Zambia's Independence Day.  I had a quiet day at Bethel Clinic and Liteta Hospital.  Sadly the little girl with pneumonia passed away.  Amazingly enough she lived three more days after I left.  She was in respiratory distress for 5 days.  My consolation is that I tried everything I had available to me to help.  All the malnourished children I saw last week were still alive and doing fairly well.  I was glad to see them all still there.  My last patient of the day was a 3 y/o girl whose friend hit her head with a hoe.  The little girl was the bravest I've seen.  She only cried a little as I numbed (with unbuffered lidocaine) and stitched the laceration.

Today I joined Nancy, Archie and Christine for another Holy Spirit Conference at one of the churches that is getting a church building from the A/G soon.  It went very well.  We look forward to the conclusion tomorrow.

Today was one of those days that makes me stand in awe of what God has allowed the human body to endure and heal from and then kneel in tears when the body gives in and can endure no longer.

My sick little bronchiolitic from last week did miraculously well after one day of albuterol (inhaler with a rolled piece of paper for a spacer) and went home the next day.  The young girl with an allergic reaction (likely septra) took a major turn for the worse and passed away that night.  The little boy I was so mean to last time cleaning his ankle wound (fallen from bike) looked super...no worry about bone infection now looking at the wound..such nice pink new tissue.  He was running around smiling with only a slight limp.  He will be home in a few days.  Then 6 day old I saw in the morning being treated for sepsis/pneumonia, died before I could get an xray and start a different antibiotic. Felt inadequate in what I did, had available to do for her medically and then taking the grieving mom's hand and praying in English which she doesn't speak.  Death is such an enemy!

My last worry and prayer request is a little girl I spent most of my day treating.  She has pneumonia with prolonged respiratory distress. I am grateful God is not limited like I am.

The week in review highlights:  

Hospital follow ups. Man with the infected hand is slowing doing better. Still a long way to go. Two little girls with dehydration did beautifully and went home in a couple days. PTL! Got to suture and cast Friday at Liteta Hospital. Now know how pale an adult looks with a Hgb of 3.5 looks. These people are amazing.  The gentleman came in complaining he has some intermittent swelling of his hand/legs and some difficulty breathing when laying down and was a little tired.  With a Hgb of 3.5!  I didn't know you could still walk around (normal is 12).  In the U.S. people will say they are tired and come for a lab test and the hgb will be 9.  He should do fine after a pint of blood and some iron for home.  Was a little frustrated today. Outpatient clinic was so busy, and I wanted to help but can't speak the local languages. It was going to take the clinical officer more time to find a translator that stayed with me (one kept leaving to do other things) then to see patients himself. Wish I could suddenly speak Bemba or Nyanja.

Saturday/Sunday I joined Nancy and Archie and Christine for a Holy Spirit conference at a local church.  It went wonderfully. So enjoyed the fellowship with the Chainda Upper Room Grace Ministries church. What warm fellowship and believing for great things as they are empowered by the Holy Spirit to reach out to their community, Lusaka, Zambia, Africa and the world. Four young men newly baptized in the Holy Spirit.

Then my fun of the week on Thursday afternoon at Fringilla. 
What does a doctor in Africa do when clinic gets slow? Milk a cow of course!

This week I connected with Roger Cabe, Southwestern Medical Clinic Foundation director, to talk about my project Helping Babies Breathe.  They are going to be raising support for me to implement this neonatal resuscitation program for resource limited countries.  I'm hoping the link to the video works.  Sorry my voice sounds a little distorted at times (internet connections and bandwidths etc).
http://www.swmcf.org/index.php/swmcf-news/video-reports

     Have to give the update on the patients from last week.  The little boy with the hemoglobin of 0.9 is doing okay.  He was still in the hospital but his platelets and white count came back up on their own.  His fevers have gone away, and he is acting better.  In some crossing of communication (not uncommon here), the nurse said he is waiting to go to Kabwe for treatment for his retinablastoma (cancerous eye tumor).  Not sure that was diagnosed before or after I saw him.  So he still has a long road ahead, but I was so glad to see him alive. The little girl with sickle cell with fevers that wouldn't stop had her fevers stop after we stopped all her antibiotics for a day.  She went home three days later since no fever returned, and she was doing well. Her doing well certainly boosted my reputation...not that I can take credit.  "We treat, Jesus heals." is never a truer statement then here.  This week took care of two very dehydrated little girls.  Praying they pull through.
     Friday was a neat experience.  Christine was at Bethel Clinic while I was at the hospital.  I got a referred patient from her and Mr. Mutale each as I was working in the outpatient clinic at the hospital.  Love the team feeling and following up on patients.  The one she sent me was so in need of care.  An elderly man with an infected hand.  Two weeks ago a thorn lodged between his fingers.  He went to a clinic that gave him three days of some antibiotic.  It was not nearly enough.  He now needs cleaning and IV antibiotics.  I'm hoping it's not down to the bone.  He had a very gentle, non-complaining disposition.
     I also had a precious encounter with a woman in the outpatient clinic.  She was about my age and pregnant.  She has several other children.  Her first husband died and her second one recently left her for another woman.  She has almost no emotional support around her and great financial needs.  She came in with minor physical complaints but as I wrote up a lab order slip, she started sharing much of her story.  I felt impressed I needed to pray with her.  I had no medicine to give to help all of the problems or enough money to make them go away.  Normally I would pray with the patient after they get back from lab as we finish the visit, but I felt like I should pray right then and not wait.  After we prayed, she was in tears.  We just sat together for a little bit.  Her comment was, "God cannot leave me even though others might." She composed herself after a few minutes and went to lab.  By the time she returned, I was swamped with 2 different patients plus family members in the room--mild chaos.  I wrote a prescription for her in the middle of the melee and sent her on her way.  So glad I had the opportunity to pray with her first with plenty of time otherwise the opportunity would have been lost.
     On the lighter side,  I was asked if I wanted to help milk the cows at Fringilla on Thursday (has been a goal of mine).  The milking parlor is right next to the clinic.  I had to decline because I was the only one in the clinic and couldn't leave it empty (and open sandals and a light colored skirt).  Next time!  I'll make Uncle Dan and David and Mark proud.  (my Wisconsin dairy farming cousins)

I am sitting in a courtyard, stomach full with a yummy cheeseburger, listening to the bats chirp back and forth thinking I'm one of the most blessed people on the planet.  I just finished a well-paced day at Bethel Clinic at Fringilla Farms.  I saw a number of patients and had a precious time of sharing with Mr. Mutale about God's grace in our lives.  I also got to meet his wife and new 2 week old baby, Thumbiko, which means blessing.  Tomorrow I will head to Liteta Hospital for my second week of seeing patients on the pediatric and newborn wards.  Last week was an enjoyable challenge.  I am looking forward to follow up on the patients I met last week.  Cutest was a 28 week preemie born at home a few days earlier.  She is breathing and feeding well. Just needs to gain some weight.  Difficult cases of an 8 y/o boy with low white count, hemoglobin and platelets who was in a lot of pain.  Young lady with sickle cell (pain crisis resolved) but continuing to spike fever despite multiple antibiotics.  Little girl with bad burn on her leg and foot when she bumped water heating in a pot set on stones over charcoal on the ground.  Child waiting for several days in the hospital while family collects money for a CT scan to rule out/in a brain tumor.  I enjoyed working with both of the two new doctors there.  Dr. Ngongola has moved to Lusaka to do his surgical residency.  Very exciting!  He'll make a wonderful surgeon.
    I've had two good times of prayer with patients this week also.  One after testing him for HIV.  Worked to encourage him to turn back to his faith and find accountability people around him.  He was grateful for the word of prayer.  Tears in his eyes after we prayed.  I can be a little cynical about his pledges that I changed his life etc but am glad to point him back to God.  Another was an elderly woman with abd pain who we sent for further testing.  Was thinking it was gall stones.  She was worried b/c a friend died after gall bladder surgery.  She had a level of peace after prayer.
   Sunday I enjoyed impromtu time and dinner with a group of single girls from church.  Started working on my intern class with Nancy for my license to preach this week.  Enjoyed surprisingly cool weather while I weeded my garden Monday.  Thanks for all the thoughts and notes responding to my e-newsletter.  So grateful for everyone of you!

Somewhat quieter week...only me and the dog in the house (a little too quiet sometimes:)  Last night was a good reminder of the amazing team I get to call my Missionfield Fellowship.  Our area directors Billy and Sue Burr are retiring and Lance and Mindy Hines are taking their place.  Last night Billy, Lance and Mindy joined our team for a braii (cookout) and time of fellowship. Many encouraging words were spoken.  I was reminded of how God's timing and placement are perfect. I was reminded of the legacy I stand on and of the people who have made my path possible by all they are given of their lives before me.  Such a joy to serve here!

I realized I forgot to give a very positive update from a past prayer request.  I previously asked prayer for a little three y/o boy with seizures in Nkoloma.  When we visited with my parents, we saw him.  Instead of limping around, barely talking or interacting, he is now at a full run, smiling, talking to me and giving high-fives.  We gave him a referral to the local health clinic.  His family took him and he started on seizure medication.  He is now having only about 1 seizure/week down from daily.  Praise the Lord!

On a sad note, I had to take the ministry center cat to the vet today to meet his Maker.  I will miss his constant meows as he walks across the center to greet me ( but not his claws).  Unfortunately something went wrong in his brain, and he had started attacking people randomly. RIP

Monday this week we went to Special Hope Network.  I followed up with a few medical issues of the children there.   Dad helped two guys attach carseats on to wheelchairs for kids who have stability problems in just a chair.  Dad said it's amazing to see the ingenuity of the Zambians working with what they have.  Pretty nice various wheelchair with random donated carseats of all types and a bag of old straps and seatbelts.  They carefully talked to the moms and helped fit the seats to the children's physical needs.  Mom helped out with reading and sensory lessons.  In the evening they got to meet Bishop Simunyola and his family over dinner.  It was a lovely time.  

Tuesday we met two missionaries working with CHE and Healthcare Ministries.  The McConnels are here for a week to see CHE working on the ground before they begin to train people in the States and around the world.  We went to the Nkoloma CHE group.  They always amaze us with their forward thinking and actions.  Below is one of the goats getting her picture taken (not willingly).  The second picture is the "goat house" where they sleep at night.  Multiple benefits:  they stay dry during rainy season, preventing disease, they have some protection, and the dung collects in one place and can be used for fertilizer.  

 This group showed us a test plot of maize.  They used purchased fertilizer on half and chicken manure on the other half.  They will see which one does better.  I encouraged them that even if they are equal, that is a success because they didn't need to spend money on fertilizer if chicken manure does just as well.

This is mom and dad with the village headman.  Dad was disappointed he took off his cool fedora hat for the picture.

 Tuesday we met with Pastor Malembeka and she blessed mom with two chitenge as a thank you for her teaching the GEMS girls' class.  Everyone is so generous!  Below is the children's meeting area outside in the church yard.  It's great with the breeze coming through in the hot weather.

 We then got together with one of my Michigan partners.  Mike Chupp and his wife Pam met us for lunch.  He is a surgeon with me at Southwestern Medical Clinic.  He serves at Tenwek Hospital in Kenya.  It was wonderful for my parents to meet them and to catch up.

 Wed night we have missions prayer group.  We had supper together so mom and I tried our hands at different papaya dishes.  I made green paw paw thai salad, and she made paw paw kuchen.  Both were good but hers was best.  Below is the whole group of missionaries.  Such a privilege to work with all of them.

Tonight I sent mom and dad off to Amsterdam and then home to Wisconsin.  It was hard to say goodbye, but God blessed our time together.  I got to show them so many things, and they got to meet everyone I really wanted them to (not a small miracle).  It feels so good for them to know in such a tangible way what I am doing and who I'm working with (Zambian and American).

Last week I drove my parents on the long road down to Livingstone from Lusaka.  I didn't realize how dry Victoria Falls is during the dry season.  Someone correctly called it "Victoria Rocks."  The huge cliffs are still impressive but not as fun as getting completely soaked by the spray.  We enjoyed walking down to the Boiling Pot at the base of the Zambezi River after the Falls.  It was beautiful and cool down by the riverside.  The only scary part was the baboons along the path.  They made us take a very quick accent back up.  We also took an elephant back safari.  Amazing to be riding on such a large animal in the quiet of the bush.  Mom loved it!

Sunset at Vic Falls

Mom on the elephant.

Dad feeding his elephant after the ride.

 Victoria Falls in dry season.

The Boiling Pot.

Last week Thursday I drove with my parents, Lovemore, and Pastor Gabby to Mungule, Kabwe, and Kapiri Mposhe for our feeding program.  We dropped off two months worth of high energy protein supplement (HEPS), groundnuts, cooking oil and money for local veggies.  I also gave a lesson on  planting and harvesting moringa trees and gave a seedling and seeds for them to plant. Mom and Dad got to talk with people at the home of the pastor in Kabwe.  Mom swapped garden stories with the ladies. The drive was very long but successful.

Mom and Dad with Kapiri CHE group. 

Last Saturday Mom and I went to the girls GEMS group at Oasis of Love Church. We had a nice time with Grace and Pastor Malembeka who run the program and about six girls.  This Saturday Mom and I got to teach the lesson with the girls.  Just over thirty girls came ranging from four years to about twelve years old.  It was a great time talking about how we can show mercy and health lesson about water.   Here's a picture with all of us at the end of the day.

Today we enjoyed church in Liteta with Pastor Zulu and his congregation.  

Below is the wonderful staff at Balm Clinic.  We visited this week and brought a supply of medications I had my parents bring over.

I have been keeping up a full schedule for my parents.  Last week we spent three days at South Luangwa National Park in Eastern Province.  It was their first safari game drive.  Over the few days we saw so many animals!  The regular elephants, giraffes, impala, zebras, hippos, crocs, birds, cool plants (baobab trees etc).  Then we were blessed to see a lion and two leopards (rather amorous even). My other favorite was seeing a newborn giraffe-born just that day-still wobbly on his feet.  It was while we were on a walking safari so we were able to be quite close.

Elephant parade.

 Classic African sunset: impala, elephants and brush.

 Mom and Dad's first game drive.

 Gotta have zebra!

 Mom's favorite bird here, the lilac-breasted roller.

 Teenage lion.

 Baby giraffe only hours old with one year old and mamma.

Mom holding the fruit from a sausage tree.  Don't want one of them landing on your head!
Stay tuned for ministry day and Victoria Falls.