April 28, 2004
Greetings All,
Hope things are well in your various cities of residence.
We have had a quiet week until yesterday when we got a new cat,
which promptly ate the mouse we were trying to catch, then caught
another small mouse this morning in the kitchen. We also got the
car we had been hoping to get. The car is the same as the Toyota
4Runner available in the United States. It is 10 years old but
in great condition. It drove extremely well in spite of me driving
it after being used to an automatic transmission for the last
decade, and having to drive from the “wrong” side
of the car with my left hand changing the gears. We tried to take
a different, smoother road home due to the unhappy cat. We got
lost and ended up in the front yard of a very nice family which
understood my budding Chichewa enough to tell us we were not headed
to Nkhoma. So, traversing a small ditch which demonstrated well
the abilities of the 4-wheel drive, we got back on the right road
without further problems, where we commenced being the envy of
all the other missionaries. I have to reiterate that this is an
extremely great, safe, roadworthy and well-maintained car that
is nothing like anything else available at the price we paid.
We are very fortunate to have use of it and want to say big thanks
to everyone who contributed towards its purchase. All the seat
belts work fine, Anna can ride in her car seat again, and there
is even an antitheft device that hopefully will keep us in possession
of the vehicle. We celebrated with orange Fanta for all (except
the cat) at 25 cents a bottle.
Workwise, the wards continue to be very full, about eighty kids
on peds this week, most of them with malaria. One can identify
easily the most careful and informed parents since they arrive
with their children's charts, have usually kept up with vaccinations
and well-child checks, and often sleep under mosquito nets. It
is so frustrating that in spite of their best efforts the children
still suffer the effects of this devastating illness. This morning
I saw a 2-year-old who seized for about 12 hours with her last
bout of malaria, leading to a stroke that weakened the right side
of her body. We only transfuse the truly urgent cases due to the
risk of transmitting HIV, so many children with anemia so severe
that it will hamper their growth and development will not receive
blood. If they suffer repeated bouts of malaria, as many do, they
never catch up from the standpoint of health or development. From
another standpoint, the cost of hospitalization for such a child
is about five dollars, which includes emergency room evaluation,
all labs, IV quinine, blood transfusions, and medicines needed
on discharge. This is about a fourth of the monthly salary of
many of the working people in our area, so many receive charity
care.
I have heard from Nancy Dimmock that Ginnie Stevens, Billy Wilson,
and Tom Kilgore are working on a missions trip to Malawi which
I think would be fabulous. There is a lot here that could be very
usefully done, but hopefully people will be prepared for all manner
of the unexpected when they get here. I was considering returning
to the United States sometime next summer, but I would want to
be here when people visit. The numerous instances of problems
related to poor communication give new meaning to the phrase “having
ears but hearing not.…” Most people have had conversations
with isolated others about almost any important event or issue
so when you speak to them everything is filtered by what they
already know or think, and even at the end of apparently thorough
hashings out of plans the parties may have big misunderstandings
of what people want or think.
Well, back to work! And more of the usual...
You know you are in Africa when:
- You keep your artwork in the freezer for a few days before
hanging it, to kill the bugs.
- Your cook knows how to treat malaria as well as you do and
gently inquires if the dose of Fansidar you've just prescribed
for her daughter is high enough.
- Road signs, distances, and directions are props needed by
only the novice.
- Toilet paper comes in packages of 40 rolls.
- A friend asks if she can send anything from the United States,
and you want dishwashing detergent and aluminum foil.
- No one can pronounce your name so they decide to call you
“Bible.”
- A visiting OB/GYN is happy to be consulted about your lizard
that has laid eggs.
Peace to all,
Barbara
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