Sunday, July 6, 2008
Day 14
After eating breakfast we made our way to the Livingstone airport. Our flight leaves around 1:30 to Johannesburg, a four hour layover in Jo’burg, then a ten hour flight to Frankfurt, Germany, followed by a four hour layover there, and then the 8 and a half hour flight to Detroit. We arrive in Detroit at 1:30 Monday afternoon. There is a six hour time change. We’re all anticipating a serious case of jet lag for several days after arriving home.
Day 13
Saturday. Departure day. We loaded all our luggage into one of two vehicles, piled everyone into the other. Then drove to Livingstone.
The road had acquired a few new potholes in the past week. It also generated opportunities for some of the poor and desperate with entrepreneurial spirits. Quite a number of people living along the roadway had figured out that if they dug up dirt from near the side of the road and used it to fill in some of the potholes, then stood by the side of the road asking for money, some of the drivers would stop long enough to express their appreciation with a few coins or dollars.
They weren’t doing this when we first went through two weeks ago but this had clearly become a growth industry in the interim. The road was noticeably less painful. Dr. Kari said the people living along a similarly ruinous rod between Cancun and Yolosocha had discovered this same means to supplement their families’ meager incomes on her first mission trip in Mexico five years ago.
We visited the open-air market to look for souvenirs, met up with Mark and Diane, checked into our hotel and then went for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we got picked up to take a sunset river cruise on the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls. The cruise followed the shoreline of an island in the middle of the great river where we could watch for wildlife. We saw baboons and impala at a distance but were able to get close to quite a few hippopotamus feeding and frolicking in the river. As we sat there enjoying the scenery, we also chatted with some of the other passengers on the cruise. Some were other missionaries. One was production manager for motion pictures who had just finished work on the film “Australia” which stars Nicole Kidman and many other famous Australian actors and actresses. It is due out in December. Dr. Kari chatted with her for quite a while. At one point, Larry suggested to Dr. Kari that she should describe the story Anna had told us. We thought it would make a great movie. Larry was curious if this woman in the industry would agree. Dr. Kari summarized much of what Anna had told us and this woman was quite taken by the story and Anna’s commitment to now trying to find ways to improve the lives of other women and orphans in Zimba. The woman gave us her name and address so we can send her a copy of the videoed interview. She has worked in script development previously and has many contacts in the film industry. Wouldn’t it be terrific if a Hollywood film producer wanted to buy the film rights from Anna and she could use the money to make a profound impact on Zimba and the widows and orphans in particular. Perhaps the confusion in our departure days that led to our taking this cruise and this chance meeting with this film production manager was a God-thing as a part of plan to turn Anna’s tragic story into a great blessing – turning lemons into lemonade.
It was a very nice relaxing way to end our trip to Zambia and brace ourselves the 34 hours of travel home that begins tomorrow.
The road had acquired a few new potholes in the past week. It also generated opportunities for some of the poor and desperate with entrepreneurial spirits. Quite a number of people living along the roadway had figured out that if they dug up dirt from near the side of the road and used it to fill in some of the potholes, then stood by the side of the road asking for money, some of the drivers would stop long enough to express their appreciation with a few coins or dollars.
They weren’t doing this when we first went through two weeks ago but this had clearly become a growth industry in the interim. The road was noticeably less painful. Dr. Kari said the people living along a similarly ruinous rod between Cancun and Yolosocha had discovered this same means to supplement their families’ meager incomes on her first mission trip in Mexico five years ago.
We visited the open-air market to look for souvenirs, met up with Mark and Diane, checked into our hotel and then went for lunch. Later in the afternoon, we got picked up to take a sunset river cruise on the Zambezi River above Victoria Falls. The cruise followed the shoreline of an island in the middle of the great river where we could watch for wildlife. We saw baboons and impala at a distance but were able to get close to quite a few hippopotamus feeding and frolicking in the river. As we sat there enjoying the scenery, we also chatted with some of the other passengers on the cruise. Some were other missionaries. One was production manager for motion pictures who had just finished work on the film “Australia” which stars Nicole Kidman and many other famous Australian actors and actresses. It is due out in December. Dr. Kari chatted with her for quite a while. At one point, Larry suggested to Dr. Kari that she should describe the story Anna had told us. We thought it would make a great movie. Larry was curious if this woman in the industry would agree. Dr. Kari summarized much of what Anna had told us and this woman was quite taken by the story and Anna’s commitment to now trying to find ways to improve the lives of other women and orphans in Zimba. The woman gave us her name and address so we can send her a copy of the videoed interview. She has worked in script development previously and has many contacts in the film industry. Wouldn’t it be terrific if a Hollywood film producer wanted to buy the film rights from Anna and she could use the money to make a profound impact on Zimba and the widows and orphans in particular. Perhaps the confusion in our departure days that led to our taking this cruise and this chance meeting with this film production manager was a God-thing as a part of plan to turn Anna’s tragic story into a great blessing – turning lemons into lemonade.
It was a very nice relaxing way to end our trip to Zambia and brace ourselves the 34 hours of travel home that begins tomorrow.
Friday, July 4, 2008
Day 12
Today is Friday, the 4th of July. No fireworks. No picnics. Nevertheless, it is a day to celebrate our independence as a nation. Without leaving the U.S., it is difficult to comprehend what it really means to live in a nation that operates for the most part based on the rule of law. Sure, we often complain about our government, politicians, and bureaucracy. But unless you spend time in a third world country, you probably can’t fully appreciate the competence, efficiency, and yes integrity of our governments. They may not work as we would like them to all the time, but they do work, and, for the most part, in the collective interest of the populace. It seems there is only a casual pretense of that in these third world countries.
Yesterday, the president of Zambia died of a heart attack. We are told that his administration was widely regarded as corrupt. We see how poorly funded the hospital is, how poorly maintained the road from here to Livingstone is. We understand his official residence had become palatial. We don’t see much sadness in the faces or voices of the local Zambians because of his passing. It seems to be unremarkable.
Early this morning, Mark and Diane were able to take an unplanned side trip to Chobe National Park about an hour south of the Zambian-Botswana border. All of the other members of the team who have been to Zimba previously have been to Chobe at least once. It contains the confluence of three rivers, so in the dry season, it represents the only really substantial water hole for wild animals for many kilometers. Consequently, the animals travel there to feed and drink in great numbers. In the past we’ve seen elephant herds, hippos, impala, kudu, monkeys, Roan antelope, crocodiles, giraffe, and lots of different birds. It’s a very cool benefit to making the trip. We’ll join up with Mark and Diane tomorrow in Livingstone.
Meanwhile, Glen and Joan drove north to Choma and Monzie. Joan had business there and they were to pick up Drs. Dan and Joan Jones from their language study course to return to Zimba to work. Glen went to check out the hospitals that have been constructed in these two towns. In Choma, he was to stop at World Hope Zambia to gather additional information about providing assistance to orphans.
Dr. Kari, anesthetist Barb and nurse Ann spent most of the day providing patient care and giving away gifts we’d brought from home for the nursing staff (pens, sanitizer, etc.) and patient (baby clothes). Earlier in the trip, Diane had given out many, many beany babies she been given to give as gifts to children in Zimba.
Bud and Larry worked at finishing up the rest of the little projects remaining on the list of construction related tasks. In the late afternoon, Larry met with Mr. Khondowe, the hospital administrator, to let him know what we had been able to accomplish, what things were not quite finished for lack of critical parts, but assured him we would be trying to get the missing parts delivered to the next mission group coming from a Tennessee church in about a month. We also made a couple of suggestions about how we might develop a better work list to be more helpful and to help mentor several local workers so they are better able to make repairs and fixes in our absence as well. Mr. Khondowe expressed his appreciation for all we had done as did others on the hospital staff during chapel in the morning. At the close of that service, they prayed for our safety as we travel and made their formal farewell to us, including many more hugs than we experienced on previous trips.
Late in the afternoon, a young boy was brought to the hospital from Kaloma about a half hour north. The boy, age 8, had had an accident several days ago that resulted in a serious laceration. For whatever reason, the medical staff at the hospital in Kaloma did not treat the injury at all except ibuprofen and antibiotics. After several days in that hospital getting no treatment, he was referred to Zimba. Dr. Kari and Barb immediately decided to give him antibiotics and to sew up the laceration. Barb gave him an injection of anesthesia to numb the area. Nothing happened. She gave him another injection, and nothing happened. She had to give him another and another. Finally, she and Dr. Kari concluded the batch of anesthesia was bad. Barb went and got a whole new batch and gave him yet another (the fifth) dose and finally the boy went to sleep. Dr. Kari sewed him up and repaired the injury. It is hard to explain why the Kaloma staff did not treat the boy. Dr. Kari, Barb and Ann joked later that it must have been quite traumatic for the young boy surrounded by a bunch of white women with very sharp objects pointed at him.
In the evening, Pastor Sichongwe stopped by to say goodbye and to pray for us on our travel home. He brought with the superintendent of the Wesleyan churches in all of Zambia. He was visiting the community for a conference of pastors in the Zimba district of Zambia.
Most of the remainder of the evening was spent packing for the trip home. We had thought we were flying from Livingstone on Saturday the 6th of July. Thursday evening, we figured out that this was only half correct. Re-examining our itinerary from the travel agent clearly indicated we were flying out on the 6th, but that happens to be Sunday rather than Saturday. That discovery created something of a problem. Joan had been told we would be leaving Saturday morning and, consequently, had agreed to house another group Saturday evening. That group would have 17 so there clearly wouldn't be enough space for both groups. Joan and Janet had teamed up to locate lodging for us in Livingstone for Saturday night so we plan to leave Zimba in the morning as we had thought.
By the way, we've received word that the president of Zambia didn't die afterall. Apparently, the president of South Africa was misinformed when talking to the press at a conference in Paris. Apparently, the Zambian president had collapsed and is recovering but is still alive.
Yesterday, the president of Zambia died of a heart attack. We are told that his administration was widely regarded as corrupt. We see how poorly funded the hospital is, how poorly maintained the road from here to Livingstone is. We understand his official residence had become palatial. We don’t see much sadness in the faces or voices of the local Zambians because of his passing. It seems to be unremarkable.
Early this morning, Mark and Diane were able to take an unplanned side trip to Chobe National Park about an hour south of the Zambian-Botswana border. All of the other members of the team who have been to Zimba previously have been to Chobe at least once. It contains the confluence of three rivers, so in the dry season, it represents the only really substantial water hole for wild animals for many kilometers. Consequently, the animals travel there to feed and drink in great numbers. In the past we’ve seen elephant herds, hippos, impala, kudu, monkeys, Roan antelope, crocodiles, giraffe, and lots of different birds. It’s a very cool benefit to making the trip. We’ll join up with Mark and Diane tomorrow in Livingstone.
Meanwhile, Glen and Joan drove north to Choma and Monzie. Joan had business there and they were to pick up Drs. Dan and Joan Jones from their language study course to return to Zimba to work. Glen went to check out the hospitals that have been constructed in these two towns. In Choma, he was to stop at World Hope Zambia to gather additional information about providing assistance to orphans.
Dr. Kari, anesthetist Barb and nurse Ann spent most of the day providing patient care and giving away gifts we’d brought from home for the nursing staff (pens, sanitizer, etc.) and patient (baby clothes). Earlier in the trip, Diane had given out many, many beany babies she been given to give as gifts to children in Zimba.
Bud and Larry worked at finishing up the rest of the little projects remaining on the list of construction related tasks. In the late afternoon, Larry met with Mr. Khondowe, the hospital administrator, to let him know what we had been able to accomplish, what things were not quite finished for lack of critical parts, but assured him we would be trying to get the missing parts delivered to the next mission group coming from a Tennessee church in about a month. We also made a couple of suggestions about how we might develop a better work list to be more helpful and to help mentor several local workers so they are better able to make repairs and fixes in our absence as well. Mr. Khondowe expressed his appreciation for all we had done as did others on the hospital staff during chapel in the morning. At the close of that service, they prayed for our safety as we travel and made their formal farewell to us, including many more hugs than we experienced on previous trips.
Late in the afternoon, a young boy was brought to the hospital from Kaloma about a half hour north. The boy, age 8, had had an accident several days ago that resulted in a serious laceration. For whatever reason, the medical staff at the hospital in Kaloma did not treat the injury at all except ibuprofen and antibiotics. After several days in that hospital getting no treatment, he was referred to Zimba. Dr. Kari and Barb immediately decided to give him antibiotics and to sew up the laceration. Barb gave him an injection of anesthesia to numb the area. Nothing happened. She gave him another injection, and nothing happened. She had to give him another and another. Finally, she and Dr. Kari concluded the batch of anesthesia was bad. Barb went and got a whole new batch and gave him yet another (the fifth) dose and finally the boy went to sleep. Dr. Kari sewed him up and repaired the injury. It is hard to explain why the Kaloma staff did not treat the boy. Dr. Kari, Barb and Ann joked later that it must have been quite traumatic for the young boy surrounded by a bunch of white women with very sharp objects pointed at him.
In the evening, Pastor Sichongwe stopped by to say goodbye and to pray for us on our travel home. He brought with the superintendent of the Wesleyan churches in all of Zambia. He was visiting the community for a conference of pastors in the Zimba district of Zambia.
Most of the remainder of the evening was spent packing for the trip home. We had thought we were flying from Livingstone on Saturday the 6th of July. Thursday evening, we figured out that this was only half correct. Re-examining our itinerary from the travel agent clearly indicated we were flying out on the 6th, but that happens to be Sunday rather than Saturday. That discovery created something of a problem. Joan had been told we would be leaving Saturday morning and, consequently, had agreed to house another group Saturday evening. That group would have 17 so there clearly wouldn't be enough space for both groups. Joan and Janet had teamed up to locate lodging for us in Livingstone for Saturday night so we plan to leave Zimba in the morning as we had thought.
By the way, we've received word that the president of Zambia didn't die afterall. Apparently, the president of South Africa was misinformed when talking to the press at a conference in Paris. Apparently, the Zambian president had collapsed and is recovering but is still alive.
Day 11
Today is Thursday. Earlier in the week, Ann agreed to conduct the devotional this morning at chapel. She had been in a mild panic as to the topic and scripture she should discuss. Each of us offered encouragement and suggestions, but she faithfully continued to pray and wait for God’s leading as to what she should share. She arose about 4 this morning to make her notes, confident that she had received the direction she’d been waiting for. She thinks she isn’t a public speaker. She thinks she too easily breaks into tears and chokes up. She did great. Her topic was on obedience. The outcome was a wonderful testimony on the importance of emptying ourselves of our selves and waiting on the Lord to fill us for his purpose. She was congratulated by nearly everyone, was greatly relieved, and looked forward to a nap.
After chapel, the construction team finished hooking up the float based automatic shut off for the water tanks. We tested it and it worked (hooray). This was a much bigger job than several of had expected it to be.
Once that was accomplished, we fixed a couple of other things at the towers, especially adding a piece of flashing to deflect dripping water away from the metal tower frame and platform, as well as the wooden support beams we had added. Once we are gone, some of the local workers will cover the wood supports with a pitch like substance to protect the wood from both water and termites.
Later in the afternoon, Bud (and Larry) installed two new light fixtures in the sterilization room next to the old operating room. Then they joined Mark and Glen who were busy fabricating metal countertops for Janet (missionary) in her kitchen. She has been a great help to us. Making the countertops and attaching them seemed like a very small task for us to do to return a favor to her.
Dr. Kari had invited Anna to have dinner with us. Anna is a former nurse at the hospital who had to retire a year ago. Dr. Kari and Barb got to know her on the team’s first trip to Zimba and they’ve employed her as a translator on each of the last two trips which we did this trip as well. She is a very strong, active Christian. At dinner, she described some of the activities she and women from several churches in Zimba are engaged in to relieve the plight of women and orphans in the community. Also, when asked how she had acquired such strength to deal with the challenges she faces, she unloaded an amazing life story that would make an inspiring motion picture, although many would probably not believe it to be true. It’s a story of death, wrongful accusations of murder, of ostracism, ridicule, contempt, theft of children and property, of depression, of resilience, of perseverance, struggle, of reconciliation, of reunions, salvation, and recovery. We were able to capture most of the conversation and story-telling on video. If it turned out well, it should make for incredible viewing.
After chapel, the construction team finished hooking up the float based automatic shut off for the water tanks. We tested it and it worked (hooray). This was a much bigger job than several of had expected it to be.
Once that was accomplished, we fixed a couple of other things at the towers, especially adding a piece of flashing to deflect dripping water away from the metal tower frame and platform, as well as the wooden support beams we had added. Once we are gone, some of the local workers will cover the wood supports with a pitch like substance to protect the wood from both water and termites.
Later in the afternoon, Bud (and Larry) installed two new light fixtures in the sterilization room next to the old operating room. Then they joined Mark and Glen who were busy fabricating metal countertops for Janet (missionary) in her kitchen. She has been a great help to us. Making the countertops and attaching them seemed like a very small task for us to do to return a favor to her.
Dr. Kari had invited Anna to have dinner with us. Anna is a former nurse at the hospital who had to retire a year ago. Dr. Kari and Barb got to know her on the team’s first trip to Zimba and they’ve employed her as a translator on each of the last two trips which we did this trip as well. She is a very strong, active Christian. At dinner, she described some of the activities she and women from several churches in Zimba are engaged in to relieve the plight of women and orphans in the community. Also, when asked how she had acquired such strength to deal with the challenges she faces, she unloaded an amazing life story that would make an inspiring motion picture, although many would probably not believe it to be true. It’s a story of death, wrongful accusations of murder, of ostracism, ridicule, contempt, theft of children and property, of depression, of resilience, of perseverance, struggle, of reconciliation, of reunions, salvation, and recovery. We were able to capture most of the conversation and story-telling on video. If it turned out well, it should make for incredible viewing.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Day 10
The x-ray was posted to allow one of Dr. Kari's colleagues in Battle Creek to give her a second opinion.
We’ve had a day or so of poor/no internet service so we weren’t able to load the last two blog entries as promptly as we would have liked. The days are relatively full of work-related activity, even if it’s only walking back and forth to the mission house, the tool and storage shed, the worksite, etc., trying to locate individuals, tools, materials, water, and other necessaries. The evenings are occupied by dinner, cleanup and devotions, so getting quiet time to write the blog is somewhat sporadic.
Today is Wednesday. We recovered from the party and resumed work on our projects. The medical team performed several more surgeries today. One was a fairly complicated hysterectomy made more challenging because of fibroids. Diane was invited to observe the surgery. Glen recalls that when they were first married, Diane once passed out when he cut himself and it began to bleed. Nevertheless, Diane worked up the courage (since her son Kyle had observed a surgery two years ago on the mission trip to Zimba) to scrub, gown and watch the procedure. To Glen’s amazement, there was no fainting. Diane found it fascinating and has a much different appreciation for the work of surgeons, and the rest of the surgical team. A mission trip changes people in unexpected ways.
With the additional wire picked up in Livingstone yesterday, the construction team was able to finish running wire and conduit from the junction box to the water tanks and up the side of the tower and tank to where the float switch mechanism will be installed. We went back and glued all the conduit couplings, sealing the wires in a waterproof casing. The remaining problem was getting to the top of the tanks to install the control mechanism and insert the float into the tank. The extension ladder we have is 26 feet long, the top of the tanks is about 30. We had been expecting to be able to drive the hospital’s lorrie (a truck with a flat cargo bed) as a platform or stage. We would drive the lorrie across the lawn, park it beside the tanks, and then stand the ladder on the truck’s bed. While we were still laying the last of the conduit, the hospital sent the lorrie to a distant city to pick up construction supplies for the 5-in-1 building. It wouldn’t return until late afternoon. We took our lunch break to consider the options.
After lunch, Glen laid down to rest (as several of us do occasionally), dozed off, and awoke with a wholly formed plan how to get the ladders to reach the top of the tanks. We would build stilts for the ladder.
We constructed the stilts out of 8’ 2x6 boards, secured the lower 4 feet of the ladder inside the top 4 feet of the boards, leaving an additional 4 feet of the boards for the ladder to stand on once raised. The ladder was nailed into the board structure. Then we added crosspieces, and rungs for the lower 4 feet. When we raised it up, it was both solid and more than long enough to reach the top of the tanks.
The rest of the afternoon for some of the construction team was spent watching Glen work on attaching the float switch mechanism and holding the ladder to make sure Glen didn’t descend faster than he would find comfortable. He was not finished when the afternoon ended but it can be accomplished tomorrow.
The medical team invited two of the Zambian clinical officers they’ve gotten to know to join us for dinner. As usual, the meal was great, the conversation lively and the humor dry. We enjoyed talking with our guests and learning more about the medical system as it relates to the hospital.
After dinner, as has been the case for several evenings, Purity came by to visit. She is the 14 year old young lady Diana S. and Ann had befriended during our last trip in October. She is a delightful girl with a terrific smile and personality. She is active at school and on the worship team at church. She especially loves Christian music and dancing and it takes little encouragement to get her to dance for a crowd.
We’ve had a day or so of poor/no internet service so we weren’t able to load the last two blog entries as promptly as we would have liked. The days are relatively full of work-related activity, even if it’s only walking back and forth to the mission house, the tool and storage shed, the worksite, etc., trying to locate individuals, tools, materials, water, and other necessaries. The evenings are occupied by dinner, cleanup and devotions, so getting quiet time to write the blog is somewhat sporadic. Today is Wednesday. We recovered from the party and resumed work on our projects. The medical team performed several more surgeries today. One was a fairly complicated hysterectomy made more challenging because of fibroids. Diane was invited to observe the surgery. Glen recalls that when they were first married, Diane once passed out when he cut himself and it began to bleed. Nevertheless, Diane worked up the courage (since her son Kyle had observed a surgery two years ago on the mission trip to Zimba) to scrub, gown and watch the procedure. To Glen’s amazement, there was no fainting. Diane found it fascinating and has a much different appreciation for the work of surgeons, and the rest of the surgical team. A mission trip changes people in unexpected ways.
With the additional wire picked up in Livingstone yesterday, the construction team was able to finish running wire and conduit from the junction box to the water tanks and up the side of the tower and tank to where the float switch mechanism will be installed. We went back and glued all the conduit couplings, sealing the wires in a waterproof casing. The remaining problem was getting to the top of the tanks to install the control mechanism and insert the float into the tank. The extension ladder we have is 26 feet long, the top of the tanks is about 30. We had been expecting to be able to drive the hospital’s lorrie (a truck with a flat cargo bed) as a platform or stage. We would drive the lorrie across the lawn, park it beside the tanks, and then stand the ladder on the truck’s bed. While we were still laying the last of the conduit, the hospital sent the lorrie to a distant city to pick up construction supplies for the 5-in-1 building. It wouldn’t return until late afternoon. We took our lunch break to consider the options.
After lunch, Glen laid down to rest (as several of us do occasionally), dozed off, and awoke with a wholly formed plan how to get the ladders to reach the top of the tanks. We would build stilts for the ladder.
We constructed the stilts out of 8’ 2x6 boards, secured the lower 4 feet of the ladder inside the top 4 feet of the boards, leaving an additional 4 feet of the boards for the ladder to stand on once raised. The ladder was nailed into the board structure. Then we added crosspieces, and rungs for the lower 4 feet. When we raised it up, it was both solid and more than long enough to reach the top of the tanks.
The rest of the afternoon for some of the construction team was spent watching Glen work on attaching the float switch mechanism and holding the ladder to make sure Glen didn’t descend faster than he would find comfortable. He was not finished when the afternoon ended but it can be accomplished tomorrow.
The medical team invited two of the Zambian clinical officers they’ve gotten to know to join us for dinner. As usual, the meal was great, the conversation lively and the humor dry. We enjoyed talking with our guests and learning more about the medical system as it relates to the hospital.
After dinner, as has been the case for several evenings, Purity came by to visit. She is the 14 year old young lady Diana S. and Ann had befriended during our last trip in October. She is a delightful girl with a terrific smile and personality. She is active at school and on the worship team at church. She especially loves Christian music and dancing and it takes little encouragement to get her to dance for a crowd.
Day 9
Going from the mission house to the hospital for morning chapel, we were relieved to find that the water towers were still standing. The repair seemed to be working.
After chapel, Diane went with Janet to the Sons of Thunder orphanage near Livingstone. The facility provides a home and care for 52 children under the age of five who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Those of us who have been to Zimba the two previous trips have visited the facility which is located on what had been a farm. It has a really nice guest house, a building they use for a school, a building with a couple of large dormitory style bedrooms for the kids, and a developing clinic. The facility has hundreds or thousands of acres of land and there are several small clusters of family-like compounds around the grounds that are supposed to raise crops for themselves and surplus to sell in the market to support the facility. There is a fair amount of teaching necessary to change the agricultural practices to make them efficient, productive, and self-sustaining. Diane stayed there most of the day while Janet ran a couple of errands picking up supplies in Livingstone.
The two young men we hired to dig the trench for the conduit from the well house to the water tower finish the trench in the early morning. While Bud and Glen worked on the plan for running the wire, Mark and Larry bolted the metal support bracket we had made for the window air conditioner in the new O.R. When that was finished, Bud, Mark and Glen began stringing out the five wires so they could be pulled through the conduit. After puttying in a wooden sheet to seal off the opening above the air conditioner and the bottom of the window frame, Larry joined the others to pull the five wires through each successive 13’ piece of conduit. Since the wire wasn’t long enough to span the full length needed, we had to construct a junction box about two-thirds the way from the wellhouse to the tanks. By then we figured out two things: we didn’t have any cement with which to glue the couplings joining the conduit (and the building inspector had stopped by to insist on the gluing), and we needed more wire.
The medical team had four surgeries scheduled but only three showed up. All three went quite smoothly with nothing unusual arising. Consequently, Dr. Kari and anesthetist Barb felt able to chat more casually with the two local members of the surgical team, David and Siabowa.
Because they ran out of material, the construction team concluded the work day around 4. The medical team finished up for the day around 5. The surprise was planned for 6. It gave us all a chance to get cleaned up and ready for the surprise.
July 2 was Glen and Diane’s 25th anniversary. Glen had planned that on that day, he would be responsible for the devotional. Unlike most days, he wanted to conduct the devotional before dinner. He had asked all but Diane to be co-conspirators in his surprise for Diane. As a part of the conclusion of the devotional he had chosen (1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter on love), he wanted to get down on one knee and propose to marry all over again. Inviting the other women to be co-conspirators meant that Glen immediately lost control of the event. The plans grew in intricacy and scope. It was decided that since Barbara is a licensed pastor, the re-marriage ceremony should proceed immediately after the proposal (assuming Diane would say yes). Then, of course, the wedding dinner and reception should follow. Some of this Glen was privy to and some of it came as a surprise to him as well.
Diane returned from Sons of Thunder as planned. The devotional began as planned. As Glen turned, dropped to one knee, and proposed again, Diane gushed her consent – and the party was on.
Diane was whisked away to put on the fancy white silk top the women had borrowed from one of the women on the hospital staff and a veil. She was handed a bouquet of poinsettias cut from the plants in the yard. Then she was escorted by Bud up the makeshift aisle (sidewalk) in the front of the mission house to where Glen was standing, and Barb was positioned to conduct the service. It was a wonderful re-marriage service with culturally appropriate hooting and yipees.
After giving away the re-bride, Bud became the official photographer, Larry the videographer, and Dr. Kari the pianist. Ann had baked a special apple pie for the occasion and Joan and Edy had prepared a special dinner with grilled chicken, potato salad, grilled sausages, other treats and of course the anniversary cake in addition to the pie. The chilly evening air caused us to move the dinner indoors rather than on the picnic table as planned, but the floral arrangements of poinsettias and bougainvilla (sorry, I butchered the spelling on that) cut from bushes in the yard followed the gathering indoors as well.
It was a really nice evening and service of re-commitment. Diane and Glen were both pleased with their surprises – and Glen was greatly relieved that she said yes again.
After chapel, Diane went with Janet to the Sons of Thunder orphanage near Livingstone. The facility provides a home and care for 52 children under the age of five who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Those of us who have been to Zimba the two previous trips have visited the facility which is located on what had been a farm. It has a really nice guest house, a building they use for a school, a building with a couple of large dormitory style bedrooms for the kids, and a developing clinic. The facility has hundreds or thousands of acres of land and there are several small clusters of family-like compounds around the grounds that are supposed to raise crops for themselves and surplus to sell in the market to support the facility. There is a fair amount of teaching necessary to change the agricultural practices to make them efficient, productive, and self-sustaining. Diane stayed there most of the day while Janet ran a couple of errands picking up supplies in Livingstone.
The two young men we hired to dig the trench for the conduit from the well house to the water tower finish the trench in the early morning. While Bud and Glen worked on the plan for running the wire, Mark and Larry bolted the metal support bracket we had made for the window air conditioner in the new O.R. When that was finished, Bud, Mark and Glen began stringing out the five wires so they could be pulled through the conduit. After puttying in a wooden sheet to seal off the opening above the air conditioner and the bottom of the window frame, Larry joined the others to pull the five wires through each successive 13’ piece of conduit. Since the wire wasn’t long enough to span the full length needed, we had to construct a junction box about two-thirds the way from the wellhouse to the tanks. By then we figured out two things: we didn’t have any cement with which to glue the couplings joining the conduit (and the building inspector had stopped by to insist on the gluing), and we needed more wire.
The medical team had four surgeries scheduled but only three showed up. All three went quite smoothly with nothing unusual arising. Consequently, Dr. Kari and anesthetist Barb felt able to chat more casually with the two local members of the surgical team, David and Siabowa.
Because they ran out of material, the construction team concluded the work day around 4. The medical team finished up for the day around 5. The surprise was planned for 6. It gave us all a chance to get cleaned up and ready for the surprise.
July 2 was Glen and Diane’s 25th anniversary. Glen had planned that on that day, he would be responsible for the devotional. Unlike most days, he wanted to conduct the devotional before dinner. He had asked all but Diane to be co-conspirators in his surprise for Diane. As a part of the conclusion of the devotional he had chosen (1 Corinthians 13 – the chapter on love), he wanted to get down on one knee and propose to marry all over again. Inviting the other women to be co-conspirators meant that Glen immediately lost control of the event. The plans grew in intricacy and scope. It was decided that since Barbara is a licensed pastor, the re-marriage ceremony should proceed immediately after the proposal (assuming Diane would say yes). Then, of course, the wedding dinner and reception should follow. Some of this Glen was privy to and some of it came as a surprise to him as well.
Diane returned from Sons of Thunder as planned. The devotional began as planned. As Glen turned, dropped to one knee, and proposed again, Diane gushed her consent – and the party was on.
Diane was whisked away to put on the fancy white silk top the women had borrowed from one of the women on the hospital staff and a veil. She was handed a bouquet of poinsettias cut from the plants in the yard. Then she was escorted by Bud up the makeshift aisle (sidewalk) in the front of the mission house to where Glen was standing, and Barb was positioned to conduct the service. It was a wonderful re-marriage service with culturally appropriate hooting and yipees.
After giving away the re-bride, Bud became the official photographer, Larry the videographer, and Dr. Kari the pianist. Ann had baked a special apple pie for the occasion and Joan and Edy had prepared a special dinner with grilled chicken, potato salad, grilled sausages, other treats and of course the anniversary cake in addition to the pie. The chilly evening air caused us to move the dinner indoors rather than on the picnic table as planned, but the floral arrangements of poinsettias and bougainvilla (sorry, I butchered the spelling on that) cut from bushes in the yard followed the gathering indoors as well.
It was a really nice evening and service of re-commitment. Diane and Glen were both pleased with their surprises – and Glen was greatly relieved that she said yes again.
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