This past week Dale got official tours of both the government hospital and the Catholic medical clinic.  However, it seems that we don’t have to go far from home to find our first few patients on the Islands…

Our youngest son, Josiah has been the toughest to keep mosquitos off of…so naturally, even while on weekly malaria prophylaxis, permethrin impregnated clothing and mosquito repellent sprayed on him daily, he would be the first to get Malaria. It is most dangerous in children under the age of 5.

Malaria rapid test kit! Josiah’s showed that he was positive for p. falciparum.  (Need to get some more test kits from Kenya…)

We started him on treatment as soon as possible, but Josiah was febrile periodically for two nights then had a relentless fever for the next 24 hours along with protracted vomiting, fatigue, malaise and dehydration. Those of you who get our newsletters, emails and talked to our Father about him –we thank you!!!  A full day after his last dose of malaria treatment, he turned the corner and now appears that he has made a full recovery!  He is back to his busy 3 year old self!  PTL!

Josiah taking a nap while recovering from Malaria.

Yesterday morning, as Josiah was taking a nap (above), however, our house help friend, Anita sliced the palm of her hand at the base of her thumb.  Yes, it was deep.  I rushed to get big Dale and thankfully we had all the necessary supplies (thanks to physician friend in Quebec) to numb her up and suture her wound.

Anita smiling as her anesthesia is working nicely. Apparently here at the government hospital, they don’t use local anesthesia! YIKES!

Finally after what seems like already a full week:

Today, Abigial has had her third day of fevers.  It appears to be viral, but since she is only 8 months old we tested her the day before and yesterday for malaria.  (Some team members have graciously shared their home test kits.)  She was negative for p. falciparum each time.  And this afternoon broke out in a macular papular rash.  The rest of her exam seems normal and when she is not febrile is acting like her normal self…but she is still having fevers.  Sigh.  Would you talk to the Father about her too?  Thank you again again.  We know that He is sovereign and worthy.

We all know that when exercising, stretching is just as important as running or weight lifting…but, let’s be honest, stretching is slow, sometimes painful, takes patience, and discipline.  Needless to say, moving our family to Africa has been stretching!  But with stretching, comes flexibility, and with flexibility, healthier, stronger muscles, that are less inclined to be injured…

Here in Africa, one must be flexible.

[I am reminded of the toy figure Gumby (made out of clay).  While I (Grace) was a pediatrics intern in the Navy, my program director would point to the toy figure on his desk when he wanted to emphasize how “flexible” we must be: “like Gumby…” he would say.  As a Navy family, we quickly learned how to be flexible as we lived in 5 different states within 7 years.  However, if anyone wants to learn how to really be flexible, join us here on the Islands!]

Even more than the daily rain while trying to dry clothes on a line, or the frequent  power and water outages, or the unexpected visitor while your toddler is having a breakdown…the day before yesterday was a lesson in flexibility.  You may have heard in the news in recent weeks, along with the anniversary of 9/11 there has been some backlash surrounding a recent movie trailer.  Seeing that it was a Friday, where on this side of the world, the men all go to their place of worship to gather, we were told that there was going to be some organized protests.  Here on the Islands, the people on the whole are quite warm and welcoming, and even during their times of public expression, things rarely get out of hand, nevertheless last Friday we were advised to stay out of the street and remain at home from 12 to 4pm.  This week, however, we were called by our team leader to be sequestered at another team member’s house just outside of the city.  A (trustworthy) national military friend was not taking any chances of violence.  He wanted us out of the city, in one house, so that he could send soldiers to protect us.

This seemed a little out of the ordinary, but not knowing what would happen, after a few minutes of processing the phone call at 11:45 am, we left our house a little after 12 noon and got to our friend’s house at 12:15pm.  For the next 6 hours, about 10 armed soldiers duly stood in front of the house.  The occasional truck with people chanting drove by.  A crowd of children and adults walked by holding signs.  We stayed inside, ate, talked and sang… another Friday came and went.  It wasn’t how we expected to spend our Friday, but we are being stretched and learning to be flexible.  I wonder what this Friday will be like…

Abigail helping with the laundry!

Mark and a baby lizard that was living in our bedroom

Coming to Africa, is almost like stepping back into time (a hundred years ago)… Each night we take baths in tubs where we pour in heated water from the kitchen.  Laundry is hung outside on the line.  We buy fresh bread (without preservatives) from the bakery and fresh vegetables from the market… Sounds simple…quaint even…

Until, I am reminded that a hundred years ago, when things seemed “simple” there also wasn’t a sanitation department, running water, or reliable electricity… And then, I wouldn’t call Africa simple any more…

We live in an area of the city where we don’t need to draw water from a cistern and can get running water in our kitchen…until the water stops working (for no known reason and for an unknown length of time) and then we realize that perhaps those that have deep cisterns are the “lucky” ones indeed!

One of the most challenging and perhaps least fixable, most frustrating things (as Westerners we love to fix things…) is the garbage or lack of waste management.  Here, there is garbage everywhere!  In front of our house, in the streets, on the beach…everywhere.  Please don’t ask us what we do with our garbage, because we are still trying to figure it out!

On a happier note, school is going well for the kids!  Josiah potty trained himself on the first day of school!  Little Dale finally got all his books that he needed and Mark’s friend (team member from Scotland) was able to join his class!

Mark and Daniel lining up for class

Dale lining up for class

Our much appreciated hot water heater for baths! (and the occasional cup of tea)

Abigail is now 8 months old!!

Bat flying over our courtyard…one of many!! These are daytime fruit bats!  Some can reach 4 feet in wing span.

Josiah calls them the “yellow headed” bats…Can you spot him upside down in this tree behind our house?

Teamday cake for Josiah!

It has been just over one week since we have moved into our house on the islands.  We have to admit, it has been hard…with so many transitions and so many differences.  But, we are settling in, the kids are starting school, and it’s finally beginning to feel like home.  Some of the highlights of our week as been the two packages that arrived!!  Thank you Aunt Sarah and Uncle Josh!  They sent us some needed supplies like socks and underwear for the boys (in the first package) and a amazing assortment of chocolate and goodies in the second package!  Woo hoo!

The boys heading off to the French school on their first day.

Waiting for the school gates to open

Front of our house

Abigail waiting for the boys to come home from school…to eat some French bread!                  (School is from 7:30 to 12:30pm)

Our first package to arrive!!

Kitchen with water filtration system

2nd package to arrive!! Yay! Beef jerky (Beef is very expensive here and difficult and sketchy to buy…)

Bathroom with water bucket reserve (for when the water goes out…)

Yum!

Abigail (now 7.5 months old!)

Courtyard