Saturday, November 11, 2006
"I like this place." X 2
Blog up date:
The blogging time in the email cafe can be rather stressful. It is just one of several "must-do" errands. The last blog regarding the visit of our Canadian donor was one such time when I was rushing. I wanted to conclude that Phillip had done a wonderful job in keeping us all together and seeing that things got done and got done on time. Not only did I not give him the credit, but I reverted to the short-hand name I use for him which is Ph. Anyway belated kudus (these are African Kudus of course) to Phillip and his good work.
Speaking of Phillip, he was suppose to do last week's blog and had it all ready on disk. This blog was to include pictures. We have been trying to include pictures almost from the first blog. We have not made it yet. Since its was to have been mostly pictures, the text was not too meaningful by itself, so no blog.
Just like with the hard-to-see forest because of all those trees, sometimes Chishawasha is hard to see because of all the children. For example I had spent a good part of an evening caring for the foot of one of the boys who had stepped on something and had a gash in it, not too fresh, but it did not look infected. So sat him down with a bucket, some detol disinfectant and lots of hot water for a good soak. Of course he had to sit there longer than he wanted, which I hoped would remind him to keep his shoes on more. However, the next day I looked out of the van and saw him racing us full tilt down the driveway in his bare feet!
So sometimes its good to get other people views on this place. But first...
Building up-date:
The footings, foundation and pad are complete on the two new houses and the footing and foundation on done on the 3rd new building, the clinic.
In January, Dr. Robert Garrett (Dr. Bob) is coming (with Mary Hotvedt, Ph. D. & chicken fancier) to establish a clinic and see if he can staff it with volunteer Drs. So we need and will have a building to house that effort.
Dr. Mathews Simfukwe of the SOS school (where our hi-schooler go) Clinic has agreed to work with Dr. Bob and to sponsor him via their clinic (Zambian legal requirement). Dr. Mathews has treated some of our kids via SOS. As a start to this colaberation, he is coming out and doing medical histories chart on each child. And this has meant regular visits here on week-ends.
Dr. Mathews is one of Zambia's treasures. A rarity, not because he is a doctor, but because he chose to stay in Zambia. He has a wonderful warm smile, is out-going with a good sense of humor. For example, as my stay here grows short, he has changed my name from Weeks to Sam Days.
Puzzled by why a man who sees children all day at school and does community work as well, would chose to spend a day off seeing more children at Chishawasha, I put it to him. "Sam," he says with the warmest smile, "I like it here. I like what you are doing."
But the good doctor does not come by himself. He is accompanied by his three sons ages of about 5 - 9 years old. After having been here for most of the day, the youngest Simfukwe confidently announces to me in such a direct manner as to leave no discussion, "I like it here and I am going to spend the night!"
So there you have it from the oldest to the youngest (who did not get to spend the night) Simfukwe.
Blog pressing out of Africa
Sam
The blogging time in the email cafe can be rather stressful. It is just one of several "must-do" errands. The last blog regarding the visit of our Canadian donor was one such time when I was rushing. I wanted to conclude that Phillip had done a wonderful job in keeping us all together and seeing that things got done and got done on time. Not only did I not give him the credit, but I reverted to the short-hand name I use for him which is Ph. Anyway belated kudus (these are African Kudus of course) to Phillip and his good work.
Speaking of Phillip, he was suppose to do last week's blog and had it all ready on disk. This blog was to include pictures. We have been trying to include pictures almost from the first blog. We have not made it yet. Since its was to have been mostly pictures, the text was not too meaningful by itself, so no blog.
Just like with the hard-to-see forest because of all those trees, sometimes Chishawasha is hard to see because of all the children. For example I had spent a good part of an evening caring for the foot of one of the boys who had stepped on something and had a gash in it, not too fresh, but it did not look infected. So sat him down with a bucket, some detol disinfectant and lots of hot water for a good soak. Of course he had to sit there longer than he wanted, which I hoped would remind him to keep his shoes on more. However, the next day I looked out of the van and saw him racing us full tilt down the driveway in his bare feet!
So sometimes its good to get other people views on this place. But first...
Building up-date:
The footings, foundation and pad are complete on the two new houses and the footing and foundation on done on the 3rd new building, the clinic.
In January, Dr. Robert Garrett (Dr. Bob) is coming (with Mary Hotvedt, Ph. D. & chicken fancier) to establish a clinic and see if he can staff it with volunteer Drs. So we need and will have a building to house that effort.
Dr. Mathews Simfukwe of the SOS school (where our hi-schooler go) Clinic has agreed to work with Dr. Bob and to sponsor him via their clinic (Zambian legal requirement). Dr. Mathews has treated some of our kids via SOS. As a start to this colaberation, he is coming out and doing medical histories chart on each child. And this has meant regular visits here on week-ends.
Dr. Mathews is one of Zambia's treasures. A rarity, not because he is a doctor, but because he chose to stay in Zambia. He has a wonderful warm smile, is out-going with a good sense of humor. For example, as my stay here grows short, he has changed my name from Weeks to Sam Days.
Puzzled by why a man who sees children all day at school and does community work as well, would chose to spend a day off seeing more children at Chishawasha, I put it to him. "Sam," he says with the warmest smile, "I like it here. I like what you are doing."
But the good doctor does not come by himself. He is accompanied by his three sons ages of about 5 - 9 years old. After having been here for most of the day, the youngest Simfukwe confidently announces to me in such a direct manner as to leave no discussion, "I like it here and I am going to spend the night!"
So there you have it from the oldest to the youngest (who did not get to spend the night) Simfukwe.
Blog pressing out of Africa
Sam
