Malaria Monday!

Monday was a great day. I slept so well that I pushed snooze and slept for an extra twenty minutes. Sleep for a lot of our group is hard to get because of the drugs we are taking and the noises in the night. I would ask that you pray for some of our group that really need some sleep! We had a pancake breakfast and then we packed Kaki Jakie with all the baby clothes donated (thank you) and then walked to the Havens. Ian showed us a short cut to the Havens rather that walking on the main roads. This short cut involves lifting part of a barbed wire fence if you are not small enough to fit through the little gap in the fence, and who better to lift that barbed wire fence than me? So I got to touch the awesome rusty barbed wire fence, and then Kara got a picture of me holding it and it looks like I’m striking a pose. Perfect. This “short cut” also involves us walking through the bush, which is exciting and a little frightening all at the same time. Lucky for us we make it to the Havens just fine. We first got out all the clothes and separated them in to piles of the same age group. Something new I learned today, baby clothes have sizes based on months and years. Who knew? I just thought baby clothes were baby clothes. After sorting we presented the clothes and tools to the works there at the Haven. They were so excited and thankful. They also got new scrub tops to wear.  Once everything was in its place we started working with the babies there at the Haven 1. (The healthy babies) We all grabbed a baby and starting working with them seeing what they can and can’t do and telling Dr. Weaver if they are fitting into their developmental mile stones. Since I have had less experience with babies, and fewer classes than my peers in graduate school it is a challenge to keep up, but I’m am learning quick, and I’m very thankful for the help and knowledge I am learning from them. After working with the babies we walked back for lunch, this time we stuck to the main roads. Lunch was great! Lenard made fried chicken and rolls. It was very good and much needed after all that walking back and forth and energy spent with the babies there. After lunch we had a short break and then headed back to the Havens to work in Haven 3 (Sick babies). At first I was a little nervous working with babies that had TB and HIV, but then once we all saw them and started working with them, most of the group forgot about it and worked great with the kids there. In the morning and afternoon we assessed the babies by seeing if they could crawl, walk, sit, hold their head up, babble, say one word or two word utterances, and some swallowing observations. Working with the babies was very fun and it was extremely rewarding to get them to babble and smile at us. I look forward to tomorrow working with in Haven 2 (toddlers). After working with the babies we walked back and most of us took cold showers and prepared for dinner. After I was finished with my shower there was a group of African girls and some of our group playing soccer, so I joined that group and had fun learning their names and interacting with the girls. We had dinner and then the group hung out and slowly split of into smaller groups, I watched the stars for a long time on top of Kaki Jackie. I can’t get over how beautiful the stars are here. God really has created a wonderful word full of many beautiful things. Babies and stars are what I enjoy most right now. I guess that’s all for now.

Thank you for all your prayers. We have had few illnesses so far and no injuries. Continue to pray for our health, sleep and our ministry to the people here.

Thank you.

Ben