Hey everyone. Life keeps moving on. The kids are loving their new clothes and shoes. Such a blessing! One of the best parts about being here for Kami and I is just to be on the viewing end of all the support and love people from other countries are showing for these kids. And especially to see the support from our families and friends has been made this such an affirming time in our lives. So Thank-you. Everyday we are here teaching gets easier. Our students understand us better, and we get to know them more. (They are finally getting my jokes.) Let's just say American and Ugandan cultures are as different as the accent we speak the language in.
This weekend we took trip to Kunungu in Southern Uganda. The beauty was unreal. At 6:30 AM, on one of the mornings, Kami and I climbed to the top of a mountain and watched the sunrise over the sweeping green hills covered in tea leaf fields and banana palm trees. I don't really have words to describe it, so I'll just say it was pretty sweet. We drove to the edge of the Impenetrable Forest where all the mountain gorillas live. Unfortunately, we didn't see any. (All the moms back home just breathed a sigh of relief) but we did get as close as we could. We didn't know you have to pay money because its a national park and so when they started crossing the path we were on, the person with us said we had to turn around. Man, I was bummed. We did see some pretty cool monkeys though. The kids are all healthy and happy. Every night they thank God for the sponsors in their prayers so know you are being prayed for. Thanks for all the prayers on the other end. We love you, and miss you.
Friday, February 29, 2008
Friday, February 22, 2008
Sickness, Recovery and Sticks
Hello Everyone. It's another beautiful day in this place of perpetual summer. Everyday the high is 75 and low is 55. Not a bad way to spend your days after 4 years in Portland rain, and then 5 months in the Alaskan Rain forest. (At least for me...Kami saw more sun.)
There has been a pretty big gap since the last time we wrote, but its been for good reason. A few weeks ago I was playing football with some of the kids and fell into some bushes. I developed a rash on my chest that over a few days spread to my arms, then my legs, then my feet, my hands, my back and my neck. It was like having Chicken Pox again. I started getting really weak and then couldn't go to teach anymore. At night I had really high fevers. After a few days we went to a clinic where Sam knows the doctor from family friends. Unfortunately, in Africa, clinics like the one I went to diagnose people so they can make money and stay in business. So, after checking my blood and urine, they told me I had both Typhoid fever and Malaria. (I couldn't believe and was a bit rude, demanding to see the sheet the nurse was reading off of and telling here I didn't think she was telling me the truth.) Eventually I conceded though and spent the rest of the day, the night and much of the following day in the hospital with a malaria drip and Typhoid fever injections every 6 hours. After a day of thought though, I realized something. Typhoid fever can only come through drinking the water here. Kami and I only drink bottled water, and I did not have any of the symptoms of Typhoid fever. So, I pulled the IV out, picked up my stuff and walked out. A few days went by and although I started feeling better, I still fluctuated a lot, felt weak at night, and the rash wasn't leaving. So, we did what we should have done the first time and will always do if something turns up in the future. We went to the best Hospital in the city: the International Hospital of Kampala, and the doctor (who was very helpful and explained about the way clinics do business here) told me it was a common happening when foreigners come in contact with plant life here in the Bush. An allergic reaction takes place, the blood of the body is drawn to the surface and away from the muscles, and as a side effect, the body feels weak and has a temperature when fighting off the reaction. He diagnosed some medicine that has cured the reaction, and I am back to full strength and teaching again. Valuable lesson learned about the health system in Uganda. Kami and I continue to work everyday at the schools. And, big news for everyone at home, the teachers in primary school use a stick! They are required to and its the normal procedure that children react to in learning here. So, despite the disbelief, Kami now uses a stick while teaching math. And its quite affective! I don't have to do anything of the kind with the High schoolers and am really enjoying getting closer to my students. I was welcomed back very warmly by all of the school after being sick.
We're headed to Kunungu this weekend to visit the other school and Sam's home village.
Also, supplies, shoes and clothes have arrived for the children, brought over from out visitors form Oregon! Thank-you for everyone who have helped...especially you Mom!
We love you all. We're on a proper adventure here.
There has been a pretty big gap since the last time we wrote, but its been for good reason. A few weeks ago I was playing football with some of the kids and fell into some bushes. I developed a rash on my chest that over a few days spread to my arms, then my legs, then my feet, my hands, my back and my neck. It was like having Chicken Pox again. I started getting really weak and then couldn't go to teach anymore. At night I had really high fevers. After a few days we went to a clinic where Sam knows the doctor from family friends. Unfortunately, in Africa, clinics like the one I went to diagnose people so they can make money and stay in business. So, after checking my blood and urine, they told me I had both Typhoid fever and Malaria. (I couldn't believe and was a bit rude, demanding to see the sheet the nurse was reading off of and telling here I didn't think she was telling me the truth.) Eventually I conceded though and spent the rest of the day, the night and much of the following day in the hospital with a malaria drip and Typhoid fever injections every 6 hours. After a day of thought though, I realized something. Typhoid fever can only come through drinking the water here. Kami and I only drink bottled water, and I did not have any of the symptoms of Typhoid fever. So, I pulled the IV out, picked up my stuff and walked out. A few days went by and although I started feeling better, I still fluctuated a lot, felt weak at night, and the rash wasn't leaving. So, we did what we should have done the first time and will always do if something turns up in the future. We went to the best Hospital in the city: the International Hospital of Kampala, and the doctor (who was very helpful and explained about the way clinics do business here) told me it was a common happening when foreigners come in contact with plant life here in the Bush. An allergic reaction takes place, the blood of the body is drawn to the surface and away from the muscles, and as a side effect, the body feels weak and has a temperature when fighting off the reaction. He diagnosed some medicine that has cured the reaction, and I am back to full strength and teaching again. Valuable lesson learned about the health system in Uganda. Kami and I continue to work everyday at the schools. And, big news for everyone at home, the teachers in primary school use a stick! They are required to and its the normal procedure that children react to in learning here. So, despite the disbelief, Kami now uses a stick while teaching math. And its quite affective! I don't have to do anything of the kind with the High schoolers and am really enjoying getting closer to my students. I was welcomed back very warmly by all of the school after being sick.
We're headed to Kunungu this weekend to visit the other school and Sam's home village.
Also, supplies, shoes and clothes have arrived for the children, brought over from out visitors form Oregon! Thank-you for everyone who have helped...especially you Mom!
We love you all. We're on a proper adventure here.
Pictures Below!
Sorry it's taken so long to get some of these up guys. The below pictures are some of the kids at play, the house we live in that the Acosta Family donated money to be built, the Jungle scenery off the path that I walk to school on, a pic of how we prep for school each night by lamplight, and just Kami and I here.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Albums!
We have created an album and more pictures are to come.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dorcaschildrenshome/Africa
Check it out and we love you.
http://picasaweb.google.com/dorcaschildrenshome/Africa
Check it out and we love you.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Donating Shoes or Clothes!
With shipping costs and theft on the Black market Kami and I have been praying for a way for those of you who want to help in donating shoes or clothes to these kids can make it happen. And we have found a solution! A couple is coming from Oregon on the 22nd of this month. They can bring a couple extra trunks with them. So if you have shoes to donate, or clothes, please send them to
King Medical Supply
431 W 13th Avenue
Suite 4
Eugene, OR 97401
as soon as you can. Then the couple will bring them on their flight over here, and we will be on the other end when they arrive. Thanks to all of you who have expressed interest to help. These kids are certainly worth it.
King Medical Supply
431 W 13th Avenue
Suite 4
Eugene, OR 97401
as soon as you can. Then the couple will bring them on their flight over here, and we will be on the other end when they arrive. Thanks to all of you who have expressed interest to help. These kids are certainly worth it.
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