tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-305156012024-02-28T07:17:26.093-06:00annieSonshineannieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-83248184855625052422011-04-24T22:29:00.007-05:002011-04-24T23:25:24.611-05:00Oh Glorious Day<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">Today is probably the most important day to me, as a Christian. It is the day that we recognize as the day our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, rose from the grave. It is the day that He claimed victory over death and secured our place in heaven for all of eternity... if we choose HIM.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I chose to accept Jesus as my Savior and God's grace January 11, 1971. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';">I will write more later. I just wanted to make sure the day did not end without proclaiming God's promise and saying thank you for saving me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'lucida grande';"><a href="http://youtu.be/VXp6xcY5IqU">http://youtu.be/VXp6xcY5IqU</a></span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-5164207764681455312011-02-26T19:02:00.006-06:002011-02-26T19:55:10.025-06:00NEW TO US<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzqIkZFQKx99iJiXSqWZQMYrC9XLrtpgRRoLtI8DMNhF4ZqK3dhVwFqOq2PCzpUZOGsQuvk4MKnDu_yUd1AXUveADQ4UhVrgowP7gPGGqCTHkZ0pB-80_aCbfoGOgl56ihxdhiA/s1600/IMG_0030.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GJ8kPbp_XinBXbJi4YJ8l1hkWoZKLBRFhyin1x7-C7YPcDcoq4ZmBQTiTlyEu8JNGjV6I2igMt-S_cpXos3wXqy_30qX2vXdkbee9ISZIJhEpN8XbaNTy7VF69cvBnDrkZx8jw/s1600/100_8850.JPG"></a><br />Well, it has certainly been a long time since I have written anything in this blog. I was looking at one of the blogs that I follow and noticing how cute it is. I thought it is about time that I changed up the look of my blog a bit. I hope that you like it. I had a "wee bit" of trouble getting it done. <div><br /></div><div>There is another change that has taken place this weekend. Doug bought a new truck! Well, it is a used truck, but it is new to him. It is a fire engine red Nissan Titan quad cab V8. The back seat is huge and the engine is bigger than his other red truck so it feels more powerful. It rides nicely and Pearl likes her seat in the middle. Doug was planning on giving his truck to Ally, but now it might be going to Michael and Michael's truck might be going to Ally. No Ally isn't driving yet, but it won't be long at all until she is in Driver's Ed. She likes Michael's truck better and it won't hold as many people... and it has a huge grill guard on the front of it. Watch out drivers! Then if Michael and Michelle take Doug's truck, there will be room for their dogs when they go to Illinois.</div><div><br /></div><div>What do you mean who is Pearl? Last summer, on her way here to visit, Nichole nearly ran over a little dog. After she saw the dog nearly get hit two more times, she decided to put it in the back of her pickup and bring it here with her. This little - and I mean about 5 pounds - dog appeared to be a really shabby, Yorkshire terrier. It's hair was really long and unkept. She had areas, mostly around her rear end, that had almost no hair. Her toe nails were so long that they had grown almost into the pads on her feet. She had the stinkiest breath... and body odor that I had ever smelled on a dog. AND THE FLEAS!!! I could see the fleas on her from three feet away. I was afraid to touch her. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6GJ8kPbp_XinBXbJi4YJ8l1hkWoZKLBRFhyin1x7-C7YPcDcoq4ZmBQTiTlyEu8JNGjV6I2igMt-S_cpXos3wXqy_30qX2vXdkbee9ISZIJhEpN8XbaNTy7VF69cvBnDrkZx8jw/s320/100_8850.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578179631654645554" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); ">We fed her and gave her some water, but we left her in the back of the truck that night. Nichole dipped her - twice and sprayed her for fleas on top of that. We took her to a vet that we found open on Saturday morning. She had no identification and no microchip. The vet said that almost all of her teeth were rotten and would have to come out, but not until she had been on antibiotics for a while. She also said that she was probably between five and 10 years old. She said that she was malnourished also, but she was worth saving. So then we took her to the dog wash for another bath. Nichole bought her a bed that she promptly crawled in and went to sleep.</span></span><div>Nichole took her home for a couple of weeks and then we had to baby sit her. Nichole had named her Pearl because it is an "old lady" name and she is an "old lady" of a dog. Doug and I didn't really like the name Pearl, but by the time we got her back, she was used to the name. Nichole wanted us to keep Pearl because her dog, Piper, didn't really like her too much. I didn't want her to go to a shelter and maybe be destroyed after all we had done to save her. We decided to keep Pearl and so we took her to our vet, Jack Callan. Jack said Pearl was much closer to 10 years than she was to five. A few weeks later, he anesthetized her and pulled her bad teeth. A few weeks later, she got her shots and then we could take her to be groomed. We got her a "teddy bear" cut and she looked like a whole new dog! </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzqIkZFQKx99iJiXSqWZQMYrC9XLrtpgRRoLtI8DMNhF4ZqK3dhVwFqOq2PCzpUZOGsQuvk4MKnDu_yUd1AXUveADQ4UhVrgowP7gPGGqCTHkZ0pB-80_aCbfoGOgl56ihxdhiA/s320/IMG_0030.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5578180357265213074" style="float: left; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; cursor: pointer; width: 239px; height: 320px; " /></span><div>Pearl is a "daddy's girl". Oh she loves me, but she adores Doug! She likes to ride in the car (and truck). In fact, if you say the word GO or pick up your keys, she can beat you to the door. She is quite vocal. She barks when she wants to eat, potty, go, sit in your lap and when she is ready for bed. She sleeps in the bed with us. She has beds on the couch, by the front door and in the breakfast nook. The groomer says that she has been groomed in the past, because she stands perfectly still for them and doesn't mind anything they do. I don't know what their secret is, but she doesn't like it when we bathe her. I am sure that she must have traveled with her previous owner because she is so much at home in the car.</div><div>I don't know what her previous life was like, or if they miss her much, but I can't imagine life without her. She is the best dog that we have ever had. <b>Thank you Nichole for bringing Pearl to us!!!</b></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-80970412866821378772010-07-17T06:25:00.004-05:002010-07-17T06:32:37.477-05:00I wish I was in Zambia<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was in Zambia right now.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was counting and packing pills - getting them ready for our first clinic in 2 days.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was having team meetings with Allan Neese and the nurses.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was helping get equipment ready to load on the lorries to travel to our first clinic.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was packing my overnight bag and rolling up my sleeping bag to get ready for clinic.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was visiting with my friend Mrs. Moono.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was enjoying the organized chaos of 200 people with one mission in common.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I wish I was in Zambia instead of being in Abilene and "on call".</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:medium;">I miss being in Zambia this year.</span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-26126178879943074042010-01-29T20:08:00.003-06:002010-01-29T20:45:57.044-06:00I Dream of Jeanie<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Do you ever watch the old reruns on TV? I Love Lucy, The Andy Griffith Show or maybe Bewitched or I Dream of Jeanie? Well, every once in a great while I get on a old show kick. I Dream of Jeanie is one of my favorites.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>You know that there is no way that any of that show could ever be true! I mean a genie in a bottle that grants wishes... well, one could only <i>wish</i> for something like that to happen to them. And the ridiculous situations that Jeanie gets "Master" and Major Helee (sp.) in... and what about Dr. Bellows. It makes me laugh sometimes just thinking about all of the things that the good Dr. saw and then didn't see and thought he was going nuts - and he a Psychiatrist! </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Well the funny things that happen when Major Nelson (Master) and/or Major Helee say, "I wish..." I guess it is a good thing that we don't always get what we wish for... although.... If I could cross my arms, nod my head and blink my eyes and make my wishes come true what would my world be like?</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>First of all, I would not be overweight like I presently am. That aside, I think my house would be clean. I can picture it now. The clothes are washing, drying, folding and putting themselves away. The dishes are washing themselves and stacking neatly in the kitchen cabinets. All of my mail would be sorted - with no junk mail laying around. Well, it would be fun just watching.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Beyond the housework... I would never be late to work because I could either freeze the clock or make it go backward until it was at the time I wanted. If it looked like my surgery room was going to be running late - I could just make the surgeon work faster. (Of course, no one would realize this was happening except for me.) There would be enough nurses to staff around the clock so there would be no call. I could pick my assignments. I could make them give me a day off or vacation whenever I wanted it. I wonder if I could make someone decide to take a sabbatical or even retire... I wonder.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>If I didn't like the weather... well you get the idea. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Now as far as how things would really work out, I just don't think that I want to know how horribly wrong things would go. Jeanie sure blinked up some big ol' messes. I would rather imagine everything through my rose colored glasses. Until then... I'm overweight with laundry and dishes to do - and a Christmas tree that still needs to be put away.</span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:arial, serif;color:#330099;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-35865987670224168872010-01-23T19:40:00.005-06:002010-01-23T20:07:07.739-06:00What to say... what to say<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I don't know why it is so hard for me to blog. I read other people's blogs everyday. Most of them don't really have anything to say - they are just blogging about what they do everyday or other random thoughts. I seam to have a hard time doing that. I thought that maybe if I change the picture on my header, then I might find something to say... maybe not.<div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I am trying to find great words of wisdom or something witty to say... but I am coming up blank. Why you say? I talk all the time at work you say? I talk to myself sometimes, why can't I find anything to say to this computer and you people out in cyberspace? Maybe there is too much distraction around me.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Doug and Michael (my youngest) are playing ping pong on the wii - loudly. The dogs are scratching on the back door because they want in. (I would let them in and will in a little while, but their feet are muddy because it rained here today.) The laundry room door is open and the washer and dryer are running. I am surrounded by noise. I guess I do not have the gift of great concentration... at least when I am writing.</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Doug would take exception with that notion when I watch TV. He says that the house could and would burn to the ground around me before I would turn my attention away from the TV. Most of the time that is what I hear when he wants my attention. "... and then the house burned down!" Well he is a fireman, what else is he going to say?</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>It's just that there is some good stuff on the TV, you know? I think that I would probably die (from disappointment) if I didn't have a DVR so that, when I am away from home, I can record the shows or movies that I want to see. I am a regular watcher of - o.k. I am addicted to - Heros, House, Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice and Ghost Whisperer, not to mention the HGTV channel's Divine Design, Color Splash and Dear Genevieve. Occasionally I watch shows about cakes. </div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>I have my DVR set so that I can watch on show and record another. I go back and watch them when there is nothing else on TV. I erase them after I watch them, so it's o.k. Doug could do the same thing if he wanted to, or if he knew how to, I don't know which. I just know he gets mad if I have something recording on both DVR channels because then he can't go in our bedroom and watch anything else. The grandkids know how to record because sometimes after they go home, I find 10 shows of Hanna Montana or some other kid show on the DVR. Oh, well...</div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span>Supper is ready, so I am going to stop writing now. We can eat... as soon as we can turn off the wii!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"> </span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-14309653241207456162009-10-04T22:34:00.003-05:002009-10-04T22:57:14.960-05:00Time to Post Something<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms';color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I was talking to a friend at work on Friday when he said that he looks at my blog sometimes and was wondering if I am ever going to update it.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I know it has been a while since I have blogged anything, but I just haven't known what to blog about.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I could write about Africa and how great the medical mission was this year, but how we spent a lot of time texting back and forth with our daughter to check up on Doug's mom. We were so afraid that she might die while we were gone, but we had made our decision earlier in the year and Maui really wanted us to go. So with Doug's sister Jayne and our daughter Nichole taking excellent care of Maui, not to mention our other two Bryson and Michael, our daughter-in-law Michelle, Bryson's girlfriend Katie, and niece Brooke helping... We took off for Africa.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">When we got back, Maui was still alive and had been anxiously awaiting our return. She then began a quick and steady decline and we said goodbye to Maui on August 10th near midnight.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">We miss her very much. She suffered so much - so much. But she taught us all so much by the way she lived. I will write more about Maui at another time. She was a remarkable woman that I love, loved, will always love.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I could write about Michael and Michelle's wedding and our trip to Illinois. I could write about their reception, which we had just two weeks ago.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I could write about several other things, but I will do that in a day or two because right now it is bedtime... and I have to work tomorrow.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I just thought that if I could get a few words down then I will have blogged something and that will make it easier to blog something in a day or two.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">My hat is off to those people who blog every day or at least every week. Their lives may be more interesting than mine or maybe they just blog instead of talking to themselves. You know get the thoughts out in cyberspace. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:'trebuchet ms', serif;color:#000066;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Well, enough for now. I will be back. Soon. I promise.</span></span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-43732073053131321212009-07-17T06:05:00.001-05:002009-07-17T06:07:15.375-05:00Back from the Bush<div>We got back from three days in the bush last night. We were treated to a Mexican meal at Eric's House by several mission hosts. It was delicious! The best things though were the warm bath water provided by Mrs. Moono (our host) and sleeping in a real bed!!</div> <div>The people at Simalindu were very needy and combined with the Kapaulu clinic, the medical team saw almost 5000 people. Thankfully, most of the people were not acutely ill and we did see many fat, healthy babies.</div> <div>Doug and I are both healthy, although Doug's knees are bothering him a lot, they were better this morning. Today is a "down" day, where we can relax and do fun things. There is a soccer game this afternoon and a few tours around the mission for newcomers.</div> <div>Tomorrow We set out for two more clinic sites and three more nights in the bush.</div> <div>Please continue praying for us and the people that we will be treating.</div> <div>Also, please continue praying for Doug's mother and her caregivers. We will be back to Abilene soon and so hope that she will be there waiting for us when we return.</div> <div>Love to all,</div> <div>Anne</div> <div>**Nichole please pass this on to PaPa and Momma Dot</div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-71701263747931455162009-07-11T04:41:00.001-05:002009-07-11T04:43:10.385-05:00In Zambia<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; font-size: 13px; ">Hello,<div>we finally arrived at Namwianga Mission about 9:30 last night. We are staying with the Moono's (where I stayed in 2004). I had a good night's sleep. Doug slept better,but still needs more to catch up. Breakfast was at 8 am and then I went up to the hospital to look at some needs for L&D. They need a new incubator for all of the babies that have been born lately - 18 just last week! The incubators can be bought in Lusaka for only $3500 and are perfect for Zambia. I will have pictures later. Also, they only have enough clamps for 6 packs to be sterile at one time. They only need 1 Kocher and 1 peon. </div><div>We will have lunch soon and then the big team will arrive. Jan and Katie, Jill and Blaine will be here and we will be all together. Hopefully, their luggage will arrive with them:) We will get a group picture for you, Maui. Church tomorrow and then Monday we leave for Simalundu and our first clinic.</div><div>More news later. Pass this on to everyone.</div><div>xxoo,</div><div>Anne</div></span>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-12296549800961146362009-07-03T15:34:00.003-05:002009-07-03T16:20:26.134-05:00Getting Ready for AfricaIt has been a long time since my last post. Since then I have been to Peoria and Chicago for Michael's and Michelle's wedding. It was a fun, but a busy time. The wedding was beautiful and sweet, and very much Michael and Michelle. I will post a few pictures once I have some to post. We will be hosting a reception when school starts back up. I will have pictures and video there.<div><br /></div><div>I have also been spending a lot of time with Maui (my mother-in-law). Maui has been fighting ALS for a long time now and her time with us is getting short. Jan and Jill (my sisters-in-law) and Doug all take turns spending the night with her and the days, too. I have only been there one night, but I go in the afternoons following work. My contribution to her physical care is miniscule compared to those three. The other sister, Jayne, comes when she can. She has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and is fighting her own battles now.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today I have been gathering my katundu (Chitonga for stuff) so I can pack later. I want to get the packing done and not wait until the last minute. I am ready to go back to Zambia and to the Medical Mission. It has been three years this time - the plan has been to go every two. </div><div><br /></div><div>I was supposed to go last year, but we were afraid to leave Maui. Looking back, we should have gone last year instead. We had no idea... none. Maui was doing good last year - not so now. You know what they say about hindsight being 20/20... if you could have seen then what you know now, it wouldn't be called hindsight. </div><div><br /></div><div>Doug is on the fence right now. Tuesday, he didn't know if he was going. Wednesday, he knew he was going for sure. I don't know about yesterday and today it seems again as if he isn't going. I don't know what the answer is for him. I feel as though I must go. We only have four physicians going and five or six nurses. That is about 1/3 to 1/2 of the number we usually have. Seeing between 15,000 and 18,000 patients total in all of our clinics, it is going to be very difficult with so few medical personnel. We will be able to do what God has planned - though it seems almost impossible to me - we just have to trust and be ready to act!</div><div><br /></div><div>I am still excited to go, but now I have a sense of heaviness in my heart. A gut feeling that when I board my plane on Wednesday, that I may really be alone - without Doug. That makes me very, very sad. But God is in control and there is still time. I will trust in Him and wait....</div><div><br /></div><div>Please remember me and the entire Zambia Medical Mission (ZMM) team in your prayers. Part of the team left today. The nurses leave on Wednesday, July 8th. The rest of the team leaves on Thursday, July 9th. Pray for our safety, our health, our strength, our example, and our effectiveness to help and teach those we are going to take care of. We will return on Sunday, July 26th. Please pray for us daily.</div><div><br /></div><div>Also, please pray for my mother-in-law, Maui and for the people taking care of her while we are gone (whomever that may be).</div><div><br /></div><div>Leza a muleleke (God bless you)</div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-16771089013486973692009-05-04T19:56:00.002-05:002009-05-04T19:56:35.182-05:00<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Lucida Grande'; font-size: 9px; white-space: pre-wrap; "><div><embed src="http://widget-13.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2522015791352614163&site=widget-13.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791352614163&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-13.slide.com/p1/2522015791352614163/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791352614163&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-13.slide.com/p2/2522015791352614163/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791352614163&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-13.slide.com/p4/2522015791352614163/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div></span>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-40813655689853498172009-05-04T18:58:00.003-05:002009-05-04T19:55:39.725-05:00May showers bring June weddings<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';">Yesterday was the wedding shower for my son Michael and his fiance' Michelle. It was wonderful and crowded and loud and fun. I say that is true, but if you could have seen Michael...</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';">Linda, one of the hostesses, said that if Michael wanted to be at the shower then he should come to the shower. Now if you are getting presents and having food also, then that is a place that sounds like fun. So Michael accompanied Michelle to the shower.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';">Michelle's mother, Sandy, came all the way from Illinois to be here for the shower. We all had matching corsages (not Michael) and they were beautiful. The food was great - cookies with blue and green frosting, chocolate chip cookies, thumbprint cookies, fresh fruit and almond tea punch! Everything was decorated so pretty - lace and hints of blue and green in just the right hues of Michelle and Michael's wedding. And presents... Michelle and Michael opened presents until it was time to leave. They got so many wonderful and useful gifts (even a beautiful homemade quilt from KT). Everyone was so thoughtful and generous. It is always a bit humbling to be so showered with love and generosity -- but I digress.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';">They were both a little nervous at the beginning of the shower (being the center of attention), but it didn't last long. Michelle opened the presents and Michael played with them. A friend of theirs was taking pictures - that is where Michael had his fun! I will enclose a few pictures so you can see how he enjoyed the shower. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 153, 153); font-style: italic;font-family:'lucida grande';">No really, Michelle and Michael did enjoy everything and were so surprised that they got so many of their selections and that so many people came. They were nearly overwhelmed by it all. They have moved the gifts into the apartment where they will live after the wedding and now begin the task of writing thank you notes. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:verdana;">For those of you wondering about my neck...</span><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family:verdana;">I am recovering fine. This is my last week off of work so things are getting back to normal. I am just trying to give myself every chance to have enough energy to do my job next week. Thank you for your prayers for my surgery and recovery.</span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-16549172271507177442009-04-05T05:45:00.003-05:002009-04-05T06:20:55.947-05:00Neck SurgeryWell here it is 5:45 on a Sunday morning - one of the days that I can sleep in a bit, but I am wide awake. I guess that is one of the pitfalls of having a regular internal clock. I get up M-F at 5:00 am and I wake up that early on the weekend also. Sometimes I can go back to sleep... sometimes.<div><br /></div><div>I guess I am awake because I cannot lay in bed and think about piddly stuff and drift back into sleep. Instead, I am thinking about my upcoming ACDF (anterior cervical discectomy and fusion) and all of the things I have to have done in the next 23 hours before reporting to the hospital.</div><div>finish cleaning my bedroom</div><div>wash the rest of my clothes</div><div>straighten up the living room and kitchen areas</div><div>wash the dishes (thankfully they are already loaded in the dishwasher)</div><div>go to Wal-Mart (don't forget the shopping list)</div><div>get the plants we bought yesterday in the ground</div><div>don't eat or drink after midnight</div><div>I don't guess that sounds like much, but you haven't seen the kitchen or my bedroom. </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I am not worried about the surgery. I trust Dr. Maxwell. He is a good surgeon and totally devoted to his patient - me. Karen will be taking care of me during the surgery. Brenda is finally back (another story) and I will see her before I go in. I am sure that I will talk to Amber Joy tonight. I will also talk with Traci tonight and we will pray. My Bible study group and my Bible class are covering me, Dr. Maxwell and the surgical team in prayer. </div><div><br /></div><div>I worry about stupid things like what will I say or do when I am going off to sleep or waking up. I know you are wondering... "humm, what kind of stupid things?" Well, you are just going to have to wonder because those who work in surgery can imagine and those not in surgery don't need to. Sorry. Let's just say there is a vulnerability that I am uncomfortable with when I am laying there minus my full faculties. Enough said.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will finally have some relief from the literal pain in my neck, as well as my shoulders and arms, and more recently my legs. At least I hope so. I hope the relief is immediate, but some of the pain has been going on for about 15 years - so we will see.</div><div><br /></div><div>I will have some decent time off. Probably about a month. Dr. Maxwell said a minimum of two weeks, but then I would have restrictions. I think a month would be better and go back with little or no restrictions. He said two months is the real "heal" time. That will be June. I have Michael and Michelle's wedding that month (the 17th) and then Zambia and the Medical Mission in July. I need to be feeling not good, but great by then. </div><div><br /></div><div>Dr. Maxwell will remove the discs that are impinging/pressing on my nerve roots and spinal cord. Then I will have a cage device placed as a spacer at both of my levels of fusion. The cages provide immediate stability. They will be filled with my bone and they will eventually grow to the bone levels that they are between, thus fusing my neck. That is a simplistic explanation, but the best one I can give. </div><div><br /></div><div>I will update you on my recovery. I covet your prayers. </div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-22501446412409405662009-03-03T20:19:00.003-06:002009-03-03T21:00:53.473-06:00Restless and Unsettled<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">restless (adjective) unable to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or boredom.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">unsettle (verb) cause to feel anxious or uneasy; disturb. - derivative: unsettled (adjective)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">This is how I feel - restless and unsettled. Anxious? Yes. Bored? Yes. Disturbed??? Stop Laughing!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I am not unhappy right now, but I would not class myself as happy either. I just want to be doing other things than I am doing. All the way around.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Take work... no really, take work. Seriously, after a year and a half of the new regime things are not better. I really don't anticipate them improving. I love what I do. I am an OR nurse; that is who I am. I really like doing surgeries, working with the surgeons, taking care of one patient at a time. I don't care if it is bloody or not - if it is surgery, I want to be there. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">BUT then comes the restless and unsettled side of me. I am ready to NOT work. I would like to stay home for a while. I am tired of the politics. (You had better believe there are politics or at the very least an "us" and "them" atmosphere - and I am in the "them" category!) I am tired of being "on call" and "late days". I am tired of training new people. Ooooooo. Yes, I said it. And I am training one of the sweetest and I might add brightest new nurses right now. I really like her and she is not hard to train, but I have done it for so long. I am tired of it. When I finish with her training, I am seriously going to tell them no more... not for a while.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I love my home. I helped draw up the plans and watched it almost every day for changes while they were building it. It is not too big and certainly not too small - it is "just right". I have great neighbors and one of my best friends is just a few steps away from me. It is close to my work and close to church. I have a big back yard and trees.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">BUT I am ready to put a "FOR SALE" sign in my yard. I have been looking at house plans for months! I want to move to the farm, in Clyde, and build my farm house (not in that order). I want to go back to a mostly one story house - a farm house. I want a wrap around porch, and a sun porch. I want a pond and a little white fence. I want to build a little chapel out there too! It will be green with yellow and white accents. I want stone and shingles (on the house) and a metal roof. I want a barn. I want to be close enough to walk over to see my mom and dad. I want to be able to get on the 4-wheeler and take Doug a sandwich while he is out shredding the fields.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">There are other things that make me feel unsettled, but most of them are really another story that I am not ready to tell yet. Most of the other feelings are about not being the "one in charge" or about me having a "lack of control" over life situations.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Don't worry about me. I am not having a mid-life crisis. I am just ready for some change, but it isn't quite time for those changes yet. They are getting closer though...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">I love my family. I miss Nichole, Paul, Ally and Parker. They are close, but busy. You know how it is. But Spring Break is coming... soon... YEA!!! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'trebuchet ms';">Well, I better go. I am hungry and maybe, if I eat fast... I can change my bedroom furniture around tonight:)</span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-89197822641404029632009-02-05T09:43:00.004-06:002009-02-05T10:10:51.698-06:00Feeling bad<span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">According to my doctor, this is my "usual" time of year for feeling bad. He looked back at the last two years and sure enough I had come in with the same complaints at about the same time. So... he gave me the same treatment - a Celestone shot to open me up and make me feel better and a Z-pack to treat the "disease" factor. Oh yeah, my blood pressure was 144/101 in the office. He said that it was just because I felt so badly and my ears were completely filled with fluid and my throat looked bad (but not like Strep - which is what I suspected). He said I should go home and rest a couple of days and then I should feel like working on Friday. That was Wednesday.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">You know it is hard to focus on anything, let alone work at your job, when your head hurts so bad and you feel like if you don't lay down then you are going to fall down. My eyes just hurt so bad and my ears like they were being pushed out of my head from the inside. When I drove my car home, I felt nauseated. And then there is my neck hurt - it hurts </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">all</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"> of the time (but that is another story). My back hurt. My shoulders hurt. My legs hurt. Everything hurt. Also, I was having back and forth cold and hot spells. So my boss let me go home early. That was Tuesday.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">Today is Thursday - and I do feel better. I am not quite up to speed, but I am much better than I felt on Tuesday or yesterday. My throat is still bothering me some, but it is only red on the left side - so that is better. My ears don't hurt, but now my jaws do and I don't know how to make that stop. Of course my neck still hurts... My eyes are uncomfortable, but not anything like they were. My back and other aches seem to be nearly gone, so I guess the medicines and rest are doing their jobs.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);">I guess I will be back "on the job" tomorrow taking care of other sick and hurt people and not focussing on myself. And maybe I won't be feeling bad anymore... at least until this time next year - if my Doctor is right.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=";font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0);"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 0); font-family:verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I hope you are feeling well!</span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span><br /></span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-16977287025168737432008-12-24T23:06:00.009-06:002008-12-25T00:15:45.993-06:00musical prodigies?... i think not<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">First, you will not doubt notice that all of the girls are wearing matching pajamas. Well, we do this from time to time - it is fun (unless you are a teenage girl, then it is embarrassing). It has been a long time since we last had matching pajamas... I believe Allison was three and Parker was just a few months old - so that means nine years.</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Second, if you look closely you will see that our "instruments" are catheter tip syringes (also know as </span>Toomey<span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);"> syringes). We got our Christmas money delivered via syringe this year because they are plentiful around here. Well much to our surprise, these syringes give off a very distinct popping sound when you pull out the plunger. Add a lot of imagination and a little bit of rhythm.... viola - JINGLE BELLS (or a loose adaptation of it).</span><br /><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">I hope you enjoy this rendition as much as we enjoyed making it.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dw9nK3SrkaDFUxAY3yPX5hdB1pc1FCCWkdi7yEhVlCGgqnF76JdBBs2RkLnaFAR8t3aTLuC5cuhIaw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-88178180167726310772008-12-20T21:56:00.012-06:002008-12-20T23:02:30.871-06:00Christmas - present and past<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Well, here it is another Christmas... and we </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Renos</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;font-size:medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;"> sure have a lot to be thankful for.</span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">Doug and I just got back from my work Christmas party. It was at the home of one of our surgeons, Dr. Taliaferro. There were a lot of people there from each of the areas surrounding and completing all of the aspects of the Surgical Services. There was delicious food, lots of decoration, festive attire and the singing of Christmas carols.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">I would say it was a fun, enjoyable and successful party. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">Doug found a new friend - which was actually an old acquaintance from his college days. He overheard someone talking about foosball (one of his loves) and decided to get into the conversation. He and Brett (the new/old friend) laughed and talked and tentatively have decided to play a little foosball.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">When we left the party, we drove through some of "old Elmwood" to look at the houses and Christmas lights. The lights change from year to year. Some years, it seems, there are just a few houses with lights and some years there are lots and lots of decorated houses. It seems a bit skimpy this year, but it reminds me... of when I was little.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">Mom used to get me and my brothers all dressed in our "jammies" and load us up in the car to go look at the Christmas lights. Daddy would drive around in "old Elmwood," the same neighborhood area that Doug and I drove around in tonight. Daddy would creep along, down the street, and we would all be oooing and awwing at all of the pretty lights and colors that we saw. Back then I think nearly every house had some lights and we were out for HOURS. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">Doug and I took our kids a few times to look at the lights (in the same neighborhood). It didn't seem as much fun taking my own kids as it was when I <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">was</span> the kid. My kids didn't want to drive slow or look at every house. They would look some and then they wanted to go home. Sometimes I think that it is impossible to recreate good memories - the appreciation just isn't transferable.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">Several years ago, my dad rented one of the city buses that was driving the "Christmas Lights" tour. My <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">entire</span> family went. Mom and Dad, my brother Wally and his family, Doug, me, our kids, Doug's sisters Jan and Jill and their families - probably twenty two or so in all. We met up at the church building and boarded the bus. The driver took us all over town to wherever the best lights were and we sang Christmas carols while we were riding around and looking at the lights. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">One of the last places we went to was the Abilene State School. They have a large display every year that is really lit up brightly and quite festive. Local businesses sponsor each different display, so you can spend a long time there looking at all of them. Since it was the longest part of the "tour", the people in charge there had made it a refreshment stop as well. We all got off of the bus and had hot chocolate. We even got to have a picture taken with Santa Clause. It is amazing how many people you can fit into one Polaroid photo and still make out the faces! (I wonder who ended up with that picture?)</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">When the tour was finished, we were dropped off back at the church building. We went inside for a final cup of hot chocolate and cake or cookies - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">something</span> I don't remember. We also took just a few minutes to play a game. Jan and I had wrapped up miniature chocolate bars to look like presents and wrapped a one dollar bill with one of the bars. We all sat in a circle and one of us read 'Twas The Night Before Christmas. Each time the word "and" was said we had to pass our package to the right. When the story was finished, we opened the present we were holding. I don't remember who got the one dollar bill. I know it sounds goofy, but it was fun. After that, we all went home. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">We are going to play that game this year during our Christmas, but it will be altered just a little bit... the presents will be better.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">I hope you will all think back to some of the traditions that you had when you were growing up and share some of those memories with your children, families and friends. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-family:verdana;">I am looking forward to Christmas, both here and in Clovis. I hope you are looking forward to your Christmas too.</span></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-4914411292963015682008-12-14T00:02:00.004-06:002008-12-14T00:21:57.257-06:00i am not a computer (or electronic) geekDoug and I went Christmas shopping today. We were pretty successful. I still have more shopping to do, but what I have left is very manageable so I feel quite satisfied with that part of my day.<br /><br />While we were out getting a few necessities, I decided it was time to buy printer cartridges (our color has been out forever and the black is just a vapor). Well, I had looked at the cartridges so I knew exactly which ones to get - 23 and 24... when I got home the empty ones happened to be numbered 33 and 34 - so I get to go back to Wal-Mart tomorrow to change those out. Ughhh!<br /><br />Also, while we were at Wal-Mart, I decided it was time to by a wireless router so that Bryson (my 25 year old son - back home after his recent divorce) can use his computer and I can use my ipod touch. Well, we got home - got out the box - put in the CD - followed the directions... it didn't work. Tried again... still didn't work. After about a dozen tries... still didn't' work! Well I got that box and called that 24 hour help line. The guy that answered was very kind even though he was a little hard to understand. He had me change the IP address and about a dozen other things that the CD in the box NEVER would have had me do and "PRESTO" it works now. How about that?<br /><br />What is the moral of the story? When you buy a new computer gadget, just call the 24 hour help number and don't bother with the CD. It will be a lot faster and you won't have to get frustrated.<br /><br />Smiles all around. ipod touch internet works. Laptop internet works. Thanks Linksys help man! :)<br /><br />Now, I can get on with the rest of my Christmas shopping (and returning those ink cartridges).annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-46694402793311974732008-08-05T21:39:00.006-05:002008-08-06T00:48:22.499-05:00trying to catch up<span style="color:#6600cc;">O.K., so I'm sitting here knowing that I need to do some "catch up" work on this blogging thing. I am way behind on my Africa posts and I promised a slide show from my first mission. I am about half-way on the slide show. I discovered that my first disk from that trip - which is the one with all of the medical stuff on it - is broken in half! I am having to scan in my pictures, save them in my computer, download them from the computer to the slide website and then post it to this blog site. On top of that, I am going to have to re-scan ALL of those pictures and save them to my computer and then transfer them to another disk so that I won't have to go through all of that again just to send or post a picture somewhere. Whew! That made me tired just typing it.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#6600cc;"></span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I will write this part in green because it is Michelle's favorite color. Michelle is my new daughter-in-law "to be," alias Michael's fiance'. He met her in Zambia in 2006. I took a picture of them together (sort of - they were sitting beside each other) on the river safari in Chobe, Botswana. We were finished and on the way back for lunch. They were snoozing a bit. I thought they looked cute, so I snapped a quick picture. I guess Michael could sense my gazing, because after I took the picture, I saw him smirking at me. They sat together some on the plane ride home, but I didn't think anything of it. Later on (weeks? months? ), I asked Michael who he was talking to on the phone. <em>Michelle.</em> Michelle who? <em>Neese.</em> From Zambia? <em>Yes.</em> Why are you talking to her? <em>We talk all of the time.</em> ...Hmmmm???</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Later on (I don't know how much), they are talking - dating - going out - whatever that means. Then Michael starts talking about going to visit her, you know fly up there. Spring break... the visit. When he got back home I asked him if this was a serious thing. <em>Maybe. </em>Do you think she could be the one? <em>Possibly.</em> (you can't see the sheepish grin.) </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Then summer comes and this time Michelle is going to come visit here. You know this is all running together in my head. I don't know what happened what trip. Somewhere in there, they decided that they loved each other. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">She went to Zambia in 2007 - Michael didn't. She sent a card or present everyday. I told him that her mother must be sending them for her. (Sandy - Michelle's mom - said that Michelle left explicit instructions on what was to be mailed and on what day.) Michael received cards that had one puzzle piece in it everyday until the picture took form - the two of them sharing a sweet kiss. There were other gifts and sundries. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Michael went up there before school started. He went for Thanksgiving. She came down just before Christmas and Michael went back with her for Christmas up there (Peoria, Ill.) He went for Spring break. Then from spring break until July 4th they didn't see each other. I can't believe the world kept spinning!</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Michael got a job to keep him busy and to make some spending money. Then he looked for and picked out her engagement ring. Beautiful, feminine, and dainty - just like Michelle! Then he worked and worked until he had it paid for. He was so proud (and so was I). He brought it home and then took it to the safety deposit box until he could take it and place it on her finger. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">He took just the perfect picture of the ring (after many, many tries) to have with him to show her after he proposed. He later accidentally deleted it - while in Africa/ring in America. A few emails later, a friend named Beau with a nice camera and photo set up - at the safety deposit box - emails back to Africa... </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I don't know a lot more from here because I still am hearing bits and pieces from the mission trip. </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I do know that I kept waiting to see a blog about an engagement of ZMM team members - NOT. I kept waiting for an email from my son - NOT. Any kind of post from anyone on Facebook - NOT. A phone call (even collect) from overseas - NOT. I finally called Michelle's family to see what they knew - NOTHING. I was beyond growing impatient. I was getting frantic. Did he ask her? Did she say "yes" or <em>heaven forbid</em> "no"??? </span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">Finally, while looking on Facebook, I saw people online, that were in Zambia with Michael & Michelle. I left emails, I tried to IM, etc. Nobody was staying at the same place they were. It was the night before they were going to fly out. HOW FRUSTRATING! At least the people I communicated with let me know that Michael did ask Michelle to marry him - he did ask her at Victoria Falls - she did say YES! - and someone did get pictures. Yea!!!!!! Now I can breathe, eat, sleep, not feel like throwing up and relax.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;">I am going to have another daughter-in-law (and this one is sweet also, just like my sweet Sarah).</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#006600;"></span><br /><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-9f.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2522015791333656735&site=widget-9f.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791333656735&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9f.slide.com/p1/2522015791333656735/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791333656735&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9f.slide.com/p2/2522015791333656735/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791333656735&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-9f.slide.com/p4/2522015791333656735/bb_t021_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-17061703712380445622008-07-18T21:26:00.040-05:002008-07-19T02:03:06.629-05:00my Zambian adventuress - Part II<span style="font-family:verdana;">I have been keeping up with the 2008 Zambia Medical Mission (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ZMM</span>) by blog. There have not been any pictures yet, but I am expecting some any day. There have been several audio blogs from various team members in their own special areas. I encourage you to keep up with the mission - you won't be disappointed. </span><a href="http://zmm2008.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-family:verdana;">http://zmm2008.blogspot.com/</span></a><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />I got you as far as Lusaka and staying in the Lodge and finally getting clean. I will try to get you started on the mission. (I am away from home, so I don't have access to my pictures right now. I will post some pictures when I get back home. I know these blogs are lengthy, but I hope they are interesting.)<br /><br />Before we left Lusaka, we had to go to the Nursing Council and interview so we could obtain our nursing licenses. The license used to be good for two years, but now you have to get a new license each year. They interviewed us one at a time. I was quite nervous this first time. They had received my US information, license, school information, etc. and already had a folder on me. They asked things like what kind of nursing I did and wanted to know what I thought I could bring to Zambia. I told them that my specialty was surgery and that while I wouldn't be doing any of that, I felt that I could offer compassion and good nursing care to people who seldom get to medical treatment. I also told them that I was hoping to learn from my experience in Zambia because I would get to see disease processes that I don't normally see in the States. I also told them that I was here to serve these people because Jesus loves them and Jesus loves me, so I wanted to help someone the way that Jesus would help them if He was here. They must have approved because I was granted my license for Zambia. They were very nice and personable. Now I look forward to talking with them when we interview.<br /><br />The trip from Lusaka to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Namwianga</span> - where the mission is - takes about five or six hours. I am not really sure which. When you are little you ask, "Are we there yet?" and "How much longer 'til we get there?" The answers to these questions in Zambia is, "We are just near." That usually means that it is going to be a while. We made one short stop a little way outside of Lusaka at a place called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Kafuwi</span>. There are wonderful wood carvers there. I bought a few souvenirs and took some pictures (I will post them later). I sat in the middle of the front seats on the way to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Namwianga</span>, taking pictures of <em>everything</em> I saw. When there wasn't much to see, we were singing church songs. I was having a great time and so excited.<br /><br />We arrived at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Namwianga</span> during the supper meal. It was already dark and quited cool. We unloaded our luggage and went to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Hamby's</span> back yard and were served our supper. We got lots of hugs and wonderful greetings from the "advance team" and our Zambian hosts that had been waiting for us. I was so happy... I cried, of course.<br /><br />The advance team goes about two weeks ahead of time to work through the logistical part of the trip and to get the medicines ready and all of the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">katundu</span> (stuff) out that everyone needs. That means <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">everyones</span>' stored items, like sleeping bags, torches (flashlights), clothing, if it is something that we need every year - we just ship it over and store it until the next mission.<br /><br />The main team - everyone who wasn't nurses or advance team - came in the next day. I asked if I could go to the airport to meet them and they let me along for the ride. Remember, my family (Michael, Jan/Mark/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Jace</span>/Lane/Katie Miller, Jill & Brooke <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Whitlock</span>) were all coming in on this flight. Cindy Robinson and I rode together on one of the buses. The ride to the airport is two or three hours, so we did make a <strong>"<em>geography stop</em>." </strong>Now, you can be timid if you want, but sometimes the best way to deal with new experiences is to just <em>dive right in there</em> - especially if you get a chance to do it with just one or two, the next time is usually with 100+. I guess I should explain <strong>geography stop</strong>. It is when you need to stop to use the bathroom, but there is no bathroom and there is nowhere to stop... so, you just pull over to the side of the road. The women exit to the left of the bus (we don't have to cross the traffic - remember we are driving on the opposite side of the road), men exit to the right side of the bus and cross the road (vehicles do <strong>not</strong> stop for pedestrians). Men and women are separate. Nobody watches or looks at anybody else. All of the women look for trees, or tall grass. Just take care of your business (don't forget your Kleenex and hand sanitizer) and head back to the bus. Everyone knows who they were sitting by, and no bus leaves until everyone is back on board. Having that behind us (no pun intended), we traveled on to Livingstone to the airport. You can tell when you get close to Livingstone because you can see the mist from the falls. Victoria Falls is called "The Mist that Thunders" because you can see the mist from far away and you can hear the falls before you reach them. The falls are half in Zambia (Livingstone) and half in Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls). I will tell you about the falls when I talk about the trip after the medical mission part.<br /><br />We were supposed to stay inside the terminal, but I found this really nice, nice airport man who took me right out onto the tarmac to take pictures. I thought Ellie (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Hamby</span>) was going to faint! She was afraid that I just ran out there - she probably had visions of me being carted off and deported. Anyway, I got some great pictures of the plane coming in and landing and everyone getting off. Boy, did they look tired! I know that is exactly how we looked, but after my shower and rest it seemed a little more distant. We got all of their luggage out and then the fun began.<br /><br />You just can't imagine what it is like if you haven't been there. Usually when big groups get together for anything there is just chaos, but not so with this group. I told you about the advance team. Well, everything was ready: there were sack lunches and drinks for the group that just landed; there were vehicles designated for luggage and for people; everyone was given their housing assignments (and their shipped items were waiting for them there); there was a schedule of not only the rest of the day, but for the trip. If you needed to know it, it was on paper and in your hands. Before we left the airport, there was more hugs and greetings and some picture taking. We got pictures of our family all together with our <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">ZMM</span> matching shirts on.<br /><br />We got back to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Namwianga</span>, got settled in and had team meetings. The next day we went to church. There are several choices for church. I stayed at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Namwianga</span> and went to church in Johnson Auditorium (George Benson Christian College is the college at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Namwianga</span>, there is also a secondary school there). The service there is mostly in English, with singing in English and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Chitonga</span>. The men sit on the left side, the women sit on the right and visitors and young people sit in the middle - mostly. This is their culture. There is a separation of men and women for most things. Church was really wonderful. The singing was great and different. They really lift their voices. They just don't hold back. I think they each would sing the same if they were the only one singing. Here if you are in a small church, you sing with a small voice - like you don't want to be heard (in case you are off key or something). They are just singing for God and they want to be sure He hears them. They have a harmony unlike others I have heard before. I think there must be one or two Zambians somewhere that can't carry a tune, but I have yet to find them. I love just listening to them sing.<br /><br />If you want to venture out a little, you can travel to one of the village churches to visit. Some are close enough to walk to and some are further and you need a vehicle of some sort to get there. Some of the village churches have visiting Americans preach while we are there, but have translators - so the services are a little longer. Also, unlike here in the States, you don't know exactly what time the service will start because Zambians don't wear watches. Time is not a big issue to them. I think if you are a type "A" and have issues with punctuality, you might really have some problems with living on Zambian time. They get everything done that needs to be done, but they don't hurry or watch the clock like Americans do. I have heard that worship at a village church is a wonderful experience. Doug and I had talked about doing that this trip.<br /><br />Later that evening, the Church (the people, not the building) threw us a welcoming meal and fellowship in Johnson Auditorium. It was wonderful. The benches were moved all around the room and there was quite a feast, and more cake than I had seen in a while. <strong>Everyone</strong> was there. We mixed and mingled and got to know people. There were several groups that sang songs: from the secondary school, from the college, a group from the church, women from the church, they asked the McCoy family to sing (Burl & Jan, cousin Debbie & her girls Molly & McKenzie - not the usual family, but they sounded great!), and then the large group from the States. It was very moving... I cried. At this point Dr. Ellen Little said maybe your malaria medicine and your antidepressant are working against each other. But I got better over the next few days.<br /><br />We headed out EARLY the next morning. Out loading before 5:30am and on the road by 6:30. I found my friend Carol <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Higdon</span> and we sat together on the bus. We had some talks previously about my fears and what the team expectations were for me and my job. The night before, I was just so terrified. I really just was afraid that I would not be able to do this diagnosis (even though we were using a protocol set up by a physician) and prescribing treatment (even though we had an extensive <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">formulary</span>). You know there is a reason that nurses aren't allowed to do this in the States. Carol and I hit our knees and prayed about it. She prayed over me and for me; for God to use me, my knowledge and compassion to do His will. Well, here it was time to go and I was nervous, but generally feeling better.<br /><br />We stopped on the way to pick up the rest of the Zambian nurses/medical officers (the equivalent of a P.A. here) and then we were on our way. Each physician, nurse, dentist, optometrist and other medical person had our own individual nurse/interpreter. They were there not only to interpret, but because they are the real experts at the conditions that we would see. Each nurse works in a clinic or hospital and sees these illnesses/complaints on a daily basis. They take their vacation to come and work with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">ZMM</span> to help the people that don't have access to the clinics because of where they live. They are true heroes. We could not even begin to do any of this mission without them. We bonded with our Zambian colleagues and were truly sad to part by the end of our mission time.<br /><br />There were quite a few Zambian nurses and medical officers on my bus, so there was a lot of singing on the way. Carol and I took turns singing and talking about the days ahead. We had a song book, and tried to keep up, but some of the songs have different melodies so we did o.k. about half of the time.<br /><br />We drove on the paved road for a while and then we ventured off into the bush. The places we visit are remote. If they were not so remote, the people would be able to get to a regular clinic area to be seen. Many of the people that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ZMM</span> sees, only see physicians once a year - when we come. We set up our clinic sites at schools because they are a common place, known to the people and between villages. They have buildings and bathrooms (such as they are - usually walled, but only a hole in the ground - I will explain more later). There is no electricity, so we can only have clinic during daylight hours.<br /><br />We would be driving along and Carol would point out someone walking through the bush. Once, I looked out of the window and someone was so close to the bus that if we had hit a rock and moved just a bit - we would have run them over. Each person we saw was smiling and waving, just like we were old friends. Carol said we would see them again because they were headed to the same place we were going. They were coming to see us! I said, "Really?" She said I would see. Well, I don't know how long we were on the buses - one or two geography stops worth... We had trouble with a tire once, and something else, but we weren't stopped long. Finally we got to the clinic site and I could hear the people before I could see them.<br /><br />When I got off of the bus I saw something I will never forget. There was a group, a fairly large group of women and children walking, dancing, singing, praising God because we were there to take care of them. I can still see it and feel that feeling. Of course I cried this time - so did everyone else who had never had this experience! We took pictures. We clapped. We hugged each other. We cried. We prayed and gave thanks. There just really aren't words to explain exactly how it felt.<br /><br />Finally, we got a grip on ourselves and moved on to start unloading and setting up the clinic. We try to get started as early as possible and work until we lose our light. Generally, we treat ~ 18,000 people over five to six days of clinics. So we see around 2000-3000+ people a day. We don't want to turn anyone away, so it is imperative to get as many working hours in as we can. It was probably between 9 and 10:00am by the time we got set up and started. We moved all of our supplies into our areas. You could tell who the people where who had been before. They moved like a precision machine unloading, setting up, getting medical supplies to the different areas. Beyond that sight was a large crowd waiting to be seen. Some walking for days to get there; some with every worldly possession they had. They had to be able to feed and house their family while they were there. Waiting... everyone was waiting on us. While we set up, Darrell Conway and his interpreter were sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.<br /><br />There is a starting point for the clinic. The people are all gathered and then separated: Men, Women and children. Then separated further: eyes, teeth, medical, spiritual. Then medical is separated further: needing to see physicians and nurses, or needing wound care. Some needed immediate care. Many needed all of the services - they were sent to the place they needed most and then redirected to the next area. There is an area where vital signs are taken, babies weighed and the ailments written down. Then they are taken to the areas where they will be seen. Each area has a way to mark who has been seen so we don't keep seeing the same ones over and over while others are missed. In each area, there are multiple team members to make sure that things run smoothly and that no one is left out/overlooked. From the treatment areas, the people are taken by the pharmacy and then offered spiritual counseling.<br /><br />No one is forced to talk to the spiritual people, but it seems that most want to. Many are wanting Bibles. We carry Bibles in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Chitonga</span> for the people, but it is hard to have enough to pass out. We make sure that church leaders from these villages have them first and then give others away as long as we have them.<br /><br />When we (nurses/physicians) were ready to get started, we stopped for a moment to discuss what we would see, go over the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">formulary</span> one last time and spend a moment in prayer. We kept this routine daily. I am sure the other areas were doing the same things. I set up my table right next to Carol <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Higdon's</span>. She told me that if I had any questions about the diagnosis, that my Zambian nurse couldn't help me with or if I just wanted a little help, she was there for me. And she was. There we were, all in one room - with our little tables, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs, gloves, wipes, vitamins & pain relievers, note pads, suckers (for the kids) and a few other sundries. The pharmacy was in the same building and the physicians were around the corner. We were off to the races.<br /><br />The patient flow person sent my first patients in. I made it through that morning just fine. I had my protocol, my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">formulary</span>, my nurse/interpreter/friend, and Carol near by. Most of all, I had God - and He was the One in control. I listened to hearts and lungs, looked in throats and ears (saw some really yucky ears!), felt of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">tummys</span> and arms & legs and looked at rashes. I gave out vitamins and pain relievers, worm pills, a few shots for <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">STD</span> and wrote a lot of prescriptions for malaria medicine, antibiotics, creams for skin rashes, blood pressure medicine, etc. The littlest children were very afraid of the Makua (not sure about the spelling, but it means white person) because they had never seen one.<br /><br />There is no stopping for lunch or tea. We still get lunch and tea (while we are working), but we stagger it so that people are always being seen. I saw my first baptism on my way back to work after my lunch break. They teach, then baptize, then teach the onlookers what they did and why. It was a reminder that Jesus took care of the people's physical needs like we were doing, but He also took care of their spiritual needs which is the main reason we have the ZMM.<br /><br />The afternoon was filled with more of the same. I remember toward the end of the day, looking out at the lines and thinking, we are never going to get done, but a little while later, they said we were seeing our last patients for the day and told where to take our medical supplies until tomorrow. Just like that, we were done for the day. Generally, I felt very good about the first day when it was over and I was tired, but it was a good tired. I felt like I had done something to help. All of the patient's that I had seen were very respectful and appreciative - something we see little of in the States.<br /><br />After we finished putting everything away, we made our way to the fenced in (with elephant grass) area where a hot supper was waiting for us. Also, warm water to rinse our hands after the hand sanitizer. We went through multiple bottles - big ones- of the hand sanitizer on this trip. You can't have dirty hands and help people get well. Also, no one wants dirty hands when you have to eat with them. I don't remember what the meal was, just that it was hot and good and just what we needed. We discussed how the day went, how many people had been seen and where, baptisms, sang some songs, chatted, chowed down and relaxed a little. We had a nice fire to sit around and when all the eating and talking was over, we made our way to our tents for the night. We lived in a tent city. Constructed during the day by the A-team (advanced team). We had an address - row & tent number because there were about 110+ tents for all of the 200+ team members.<br /><br />I was in a tent with Jan, Katie, Jill and Brooke. We affectionately became known as the laughing tent. We love each other, get along very well and we love to laugh. Anyway, when you are just exhausted, sometimes you get a little simple and everything is funny. We laughed and giggled and snorted (at least I did) and generally had a great time. Mark, Jace, Lane and Michael were in a tent together, too, but they mostly slept and snored (at least Mark did). We had all the luxeries of home... we had all that we had to have: a sleeping bag, a pillow, our little suitcase/bag with something to sleep in and clean underwear, hopefully some clean clothing for the next day and most important our wet wipes - to bathe with. One night we did get a pan of hot (boiling hot) water to wash our faces and hands with and then our feet. For the brave people, there were grass enclosures that you could take a pan of water to and really wash off. I just have this fear that someone else is going to wander in while I'm al naturale (naked). Who knows, some day I may venture out a little and try that. I have camped many times over the years and with a good wet wipe or a small pan of water and no rinse soap, I can go for days. If you can stand the way you feel that is the key; we all smell the same after a couple of days anyway. And I couldn't feel much dirtier than I did when I got off of that airplane!<br /><br />We made one more stop to the bathroom before we turned in for the night. There were no clouds. We could see our tent city, and the camp area where our Zambian patients were resting. We looked up and saw the Milky Way, the Southern Cross and at least a million more stars. I don't know how anyone can look at creation and not believe in God.<br /><br />When our giggling played out and we finally got still, I remember thinking how great it was that I was in Zambia, with my family... and how pretty the Zambian nurses sounded singing by the fire. In the distance, I could bearly hear Darrell Conway and his interpreter talking to the people where they were camping. I was warm and sleepy and safe.</span>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-17175832475544930722008-07-14T23:57:00.009-05:002008-07-15T00:10:58.752-05:00Hawaiian FallsWe really enjoyed Hawaiian Falls! I promised you a few pictures and here they are.<br />If a picture is worth 1000 words, then this ought to say it all. I hope you enjoy seeing our day.<br /><br /><div><embed style="WIDTH: 400px; HEIGHT: 320px" name="flashticker" align="middle" src="http://widget-4f.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2522015791331178831&site=widget-4f.slide.com"></embed> <div style="WIDTH: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: left"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791331178831&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4f.slide.com/p1/2522015791331178831/bb_t017_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791331178831&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4f.slide.com/p2/2522015791331178831/bb_t017_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791331178831&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-4f.slide.com/p4/2522015791331178831/bb_t017_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" /></a></div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-8369068741029257662008-07-13T21:57:00.002-05:002008-07-13T22:22:23.068-05:00short vacation from bloggingHey there,<br />Well I am sure that there are one or two fans of my blog - for whatever reason - who may be disappointed by this blog. It is going to be short and sweet. <br />I am in Dallas, at the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">DFW</span> airport Hyatt Regency Hotel specifically. We are in a very, very nice room that Doug got from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">priceline</span>.com for $45/night. We are here with Nichole, Paul and my <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">grand kids</span> Parker & Ally to spend a couple of days having some fun. We owe Jess Madison (one of Doug's "firefighter buds" a debt of gratitude for helping us stay in some really nice hotels for really cheap. Thanks Jess!<br />We are going to a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">water park</span> tomorrow in The Colony called Hawaiian Falls. We actually went there Father's Day weekend with Jess and his family. We thought it was great fun and a good price too. We called Nichole on the way home and suggested this trip. I am sure that they will enjoy it as much as we did. I will let you know how things went and maybe I will have a picture or two to add in.<br />Hawaiian Falls has three parks total. The one we are going to, in The Colony, one in Garland and one in Mansfield. It is just the right size. They have good rides and not so many people that you spend your whole time waiting in line. Also, they have these cabanas you can rent and they come with complementary drinks (cola) all day long and pizza for one meal. Oh yeah, there is a "cabana boy" that comes with the cabana. He goes and gets your food and drinks for you all day. <br />I could tell you a lot more, but this blog is getting away from the "short" part that I told you about. So, I will enclose the link instead. <a href="http://www.hawaiianfalls.com/">http://www.hawaiianfalls.com/</a><br />I will resume my Zambian adventures in a couple of days. I think it will be too hard to get much done in the hotel. We probably aren't going to be here much anyway. <br />We will be going to spend some fun time with Maui in a few days. I don't know if I remember the last time we were able to spend more than a couple of days with her in Clovis. Usually when we are there, the whole family is there - a holiday usually. There isn't anything wrong with that, in fact it is quite fun (and loud), but we are just rushed and there are so many of us. I know Jan, Jill and Jayne all like to have their alone time with Maui so they can really visit and be relaxed. Doug has been wanting to do this for a while. Since we decided not to go to Zambia until next year, I can't think of any place that I would rather spend time... except the two days with Nichole's family and maybe a day or two in Red River - if it works out.<br />I will get back to you.annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-8263923197575003362008-07-11T16:18:00.043-05:002008-07-11T23:45:13.373-05:00my Zambia adventures - Part I (continued)We left Atlanta for Johannesburg, South Africa - our plane a South African Airways Airbus. An Airbus is a really big air plane... It's like a 747, but it doesn't have an upstairs. I haven't ever been on a 747, but other people who have been on the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">ZMM</span> have - and that is what they told me.<br /><div>There are three sections on an Airbus: First Class, whose seats have plenty of leg room when they are just seats and then they fold out into nice reclining sleepers for overnight comfort. The second and third sections are regular seating. They are not really bad, but there isn't much leg room - even for me and I have short legs. If the person in front of you decides that they want to lay their seat back, then you have a hard time. Also, your TV/movie screen is on the back of their head rest, so it makes watching TV/movies/ playing video games a little difficult. There are a left and right side with two seats each, then there is a middle section between the isles that is five seats across. That is where we sat. I had an isle seat. My favorite place to sit, when I fly, is by a window. On an overseas flight, the best seat is definitely on an isle. I would rather let someone out than to have to ask to be let out - especially as often as I visit the rest room.</div><br /><div>The attendants were nice and surprisingly, the food was good. I first had hot tea on this flight, but not with milk in it! Tea and milk just didn't sound good (it sounded like milk and Pepsi - Laverne - from Laverne & Shirley drank that - YUK). I tried to watch movies, but I kept dozing off. I would wake up and try to back up the movie, but I had a hard time ever finding where I had fallen asleep. When I would find the right place... I would just fall asleep again. I give up. I don't understand how people have such a hard time sleeping on an airplane, especially one that flies for 17 hours. But two of the nurses that I flew with didn't sleep at all.</div><br /><div>We were given this little packet with a travel toothbrush and toothpaste, soft socks and an "eye mask" (to make it easier to sleep). I think there were even some earplugs in it, but I am not sure. We had a little baby pillow, a red and yellow striped blanket to cover up with, and earphones (that went with the TV/movie screen) in the seat in front of us - all the creature comforts you could ask for. We weren't supposed to keep the pillow, blanket, or earphones - but I made it home with a blanket (another nurse confiscated it for me - I did not ask her to).</div><br /><div>We were served meals according to the time of day where we were currently. We were served lunch on U.S. time. We had snacks between the meals, I guess so we wouldn't starve to death while we were transferred to African time. We had those nice little airplane towel packages, after meals and snacks, to clean our hands with. We <strong>all</strong> confiscated as many of those as we could - they were our "bathing towels" until we got to a real shower. The attendants turned out the lights when it was supposed to be night in Africa. It makes sense. It also helps with the jet lag - at least going over. In the morning before breakfast was served, the attendants handed out "hot, moist, real washcloths to clean our faces and hands with. Now THAT was a <em>luxury</em>! I almost felt clean at that point - almost.</div><br /><div>We got up and walked around every now and again during the flight. Of course, we got up to go to the rest room, but we made sure that we moved around enough to get a little "exercise," so we wouldn't get cramps or get a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">DVT</span> (deep vein thrombosis - blood clot) in our legs. On the way back, the walking around would provide a lot of visiting time, but we were the only ones we knew on the way over - and we were sitting all together.</div><br /><div>I wanted to see the coast of Africa as we came to it, but I never got to see that. It was dark when we came to it. I was actually in the rest room when they announced we were beginning our descent. I will tell you that caused a variety of emotions in me. I was somewhat afraid because there are no seat belts on a toilet and there is only about 8 inches of space on any side of you. If you crash... who wants to be found in that position??? I was excited because we were finally in Africa - I had never been to Africa before - but now I was in Africa! We made it. We were safe. I was really in Africa. I was really going on the medical mission. I was happy. I was relieved. I was scared - again. I was crying - again... </div><br /><div>Yes, I said I was crying again. I cried when I left Doug, because I was going to miss him. We had just passed our 25<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">th</span> wedding anniversary three days before. I had never been away from him for more than a week, but I was going to be away from him for 18 days this time - and across an ocean. I cried when I got on the plane at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">DFW</span>. I was not scared about the flying. I realized how scared I was that I wouldn't know how to do the job I was supposed to do. (I will talk about that in another post.) When I say that I cried, I don't mean BOO <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">HOO</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">HOO</span>!! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">WAAA</span>!! SOB SOB!! I mean that choked up feeling, when your lip is quivering and you have the tears in your eyes. The tears aren't flowing, but you can't get your eyes dry. Your nose still gets a little runny and you have to sniff a lot. You get that goofy laugh/cry sound that comes out, and you can't really talk or you really would "cry."</div><br /><div>When we landed in Johannesburg, we had our carry-on luggage with us in tow. Our other luggage was transferred per the South African Airways for us since we wouldn't have to clear customs until we arrived in Lusaka, Zambia. We had to get our boarding passes for Zambian Airlines and then we went through another baggage x-ray, empty your pockets, show your passport and boarding pass area. Then we had to find our way down to the Zambian Airways gate. We had a little while to look around some of the duty free shops in the terminal, but I didn't buy anything. I didn't have a lot of money and I didn't know what I would need for later, so I just window shopped. When it was time to board our flight, we had to ride a small bus out to the airplane. We got settled into our 727 and, after take off, were served a nice sandwich "snack." We were in the air a little over an hour and then we were on the ground in Lusaka - the capital of Zambia. When we got off the plane, there were three nurses - in our "matching t-shirts" waving at us from the terminal balcony. Oh, there I was again... crying. But I was happy - happy and scared. Thankful to God - and scared.</div><br /><div>We got in line, got our passports and shot records out, and went through customs without a hitch. When we got to the other side, the nurses were waiting for us. Elizabeth <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Halale</span> (the lead nurse at <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Namwianga</span> Rural Health Clinic and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">ZMM</span>), Michelle Drew and Carol <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Higdon</span> (who I will definitely write about later). Our luggage did not arrive, but it would be there later... or tomorrow... or well, it should be there - we will check on it. We left the terminal, met Donald (he was waiting with the "people mover" van) and headed out to the Lodge for our night's rest.</div><br /><div>On the way, we stopped to by some onions - not two or three, but the biggest bag of onions that I have ever seen. We just stopped on the side of the road so Donald and Elizabeth could bargain for them. While they were negotiating onion prices, I was hanging out of the window taking pictures of some women with babies on their backs - tied in place with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">chitanges</span>. Wow, it was just like National Geographic! </div><br /><div>They all wanted their pictures taken and of course, I was happy to oblige. They were so happy and full of smiles. My camera is digital, so I would take a picture and then show it to them. They were fascinated. The only problem with that was that they wanted to keep the picture and I didn't have a picture to give them. I think it would be really fun to take gobs and gobs of Polaroid film over there, take pictures and just give the pictures to them as they develop. I honestly don't think there is enough film to do that. They just love cameras and having their picture taken. They are amazed when they look at the image. I guess they either don't know what they look like or don't see themselves often because their friends/family point them out in the picture and they just don't believe that it is their own face. </div><br /><div>Once we had the onions, we were off to the lodge. It was just beautiful! A large, round, brick building with huge thatched elephant grass roof, a pool, and several other, smaller round buildings (also with the thatched roofs) that we would sleep in. We put our bags away and then went to eat dinner. The room we ate in had a loft and had painted scenery on the large rounded walls. The meal was quite good and we were soon ready to turn in - <em>after a shower</em>!</div><br /><div>Shelly Logan and I shared a room, and Linda Knoll and Liz Eaton shared a room. Thank goodness each room had it's own bathroom or I don't know what we would have done. We were so desperate to be clean! This lodge had excellent geezers (that is what Zambians call their hot water heaters) because Shelly and I both got showers and washed our hair and didn't run out of hot water. It's a good thing the water was hot though, because the room wasn't. There was just a tiny electric heater for our room. We knew it was winter - so we had brought sweats to sleep in. The room was clean and the bed was soft. I made a short phone call to Doug to tell him I had arrived and was safe. I found out that Michael had gotten off without any problems and that he had ridden with the Abilene group in one of the church vans. We turned out the lights and that was it until our alarm went off the next morning.</div><br /><div><embed src="http://widget-28.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2810246167482563880&site=widget-28.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2810246167482563880&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-28.slide.com/p1/2810246167482563880/bb_t046_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2810246167482563880&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-28.slide.com/p2/2810246167482563880/bb_t046_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2810246167482563880&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-28.slide.com/p4/2810246167482563880/bb_t046_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-54413445652207985772008-07-10T21:07:00.008-05:002008-07-11T23:46:00.752-05:00my Zambia adventures - Part I- BACKGROUNDThe last couple of days I have been feeling a little "down" I guess is the word I am looking for. We were supposed to leave for Zambia yesterday morning and arrive today, but since we didn't go that is where my focus has been. I am o.k. and will be fine in a day or two - it's just the realization that the time has come and gone and we really didn't go this year.<br /><div><br /><div>We will go next year and that will be a great time for us all. Doug and I, Michael and Michelle, and Doug's sisters Jill and Jan (and some of their families) will be there together. Our money is already moved over to next year. All we will have to come up with is the extra that it will cost for fuel by then...</div><br /><div>I told you that I would write about some of my adventures on the two previous ZMM trips that I have been on. My first trip was in 2004 and my last trip was in 2006. I had been on the every-other-year plan. I never dreamed that I would go on any medical mission, yet alone to Africa! I always thought that missionaries were just a really different breed. Why would anyone want to leave all the comforts of America to go live somewhere where they speak a different language, eat "weird" food, "outdoor" plumbing (or no plumbing), no air conditioning, what would you live in?, yadda, yadda, yadda...</div><br /><div>Then along came the Zambia Medical Mission and a group of people from our church, Hillcrest Church of Christ. They came back with stories and pictures - good ones - interesting ones. That's cool, but not for me. Then came along Starr Ferguson. I had gotten to know her through my sisters-in-law, some fun craft nights, Motherly Love, and our sons friendship. Starr started telling me how wonderful it was and saying that I needed to go. She didn't give up! I'm talking look you in the eye and tell you how it helped them, how it made her feel, and that I could really make a difference - me! Well, it went from, "I'll think about it," to "I would like to do that <em>sometime</em>,"<em> </em>to "Maybe next year," to "Michael you and I need to make a decision and stick to it... Let's go this year." Next thing I knew, I was writing people letters to ask for money and trying to learn useful phrases in Chitonga.</div><br /><div>I was able to get the time off from work and we managed to finish paying for our tickets (with a small loan from the credit union) and we were packing our bags to go. We had classes at church to prepare us for the more important cultural differences. We learned songs (or at least how to pronounce the words we were reading from the song books) in Chitonga. We bought sleeping bags, batteries, flashlights (torches), all of the little stuff you need for "camping out" in the Bush of Zambia, and sent it over on a container by ship to be there when we arrived. I was set to go the day before Michael left. I would travel with other nurses to Lusaka, the capital city of Zambia. We would interview with the Nursing Council and gain our nursing licenses for Zambia. Michael was traveling with the "big group" and would fly into Livingstone (named after "David Livingstone... I presume"). I forgot to tell you, one of the other big things happening was that Doug's sister Jan (and her whole family) and his sister Jill (and her daughter Brooke) were also going this same year. I was going to be a "family affair" to remember.</div><br /><div>The day before I was supposed to fly out from DFW, Doug and I were going to drive to Dallas and get a hotel room for the night and then get me to the airport at 4:30am to check in for my 5:30am flight. I was so scared! I mean really terrified - worse than getting married for forever - worse than having a baby - never been that kind of scared in my life! I was so scared I was sick. I prayed to puke so I could get rid of that feeling, but no such luck. My parents came over to tell me goodbye. I remember them being there... that's all. I couldn't concentrate or carry on a conversation. Doug tried to tell me later that night that he "probably should've gone this year." I told him that really wasn't helping me any at all. Finally, he packed my last couple of items for me and put me in the truck around <em>midnight</em>. Now we were going to have to hurry just to get there. No sleeping before the trip. No <em><strong>shower</strong></em> before the trip (I'll never do THAT again). Poor Doug. By the time we got to the airport, I was writing out lists of the bills for him to pay (not his regular job) and I had him nervous too! I'm sure he was thankful that he couldn't go to the waiting area before boarding. </div><br /><div>I flew out of DFW by myself - alone! I had flown alone before, but I had to meet up, in Atlanta, with the connecting flight to Zambia - the only flight out each day. If I missed it, I would have to wait until tomorrow (I won't go into all of the problems that would cause) - you're welcome. I was meeting up with three other nurses that I had never met - all of us "first timers" to Zambia and the ZMM. Thank you to whoever had the idea of matching team shirts. That is how we found each other. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhD0Qtr1A-KGmbXdGnw16b9KY9RgLj3xz0xX90M_gqQ435Qb9FSLebcJIeLXNkikW19jgUxslijzCreQkH_bsm14uFhTZgeRCS1JQCJkoMqmFKm83T0i_l6C9KilWsyPrksj6w/s1600-h/4+new+ZMM+nurses.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221594026426382498" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; CURSOR: hand" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfVhD0Qtr1A-KGmbXdGnw16b9KY9RgLj3xz0xX90M_gqQ435Qb9FSLebcJIeLXNkikW19jgUxslijzCreQkH_bsm14uFhTZgeRCS1JQCJkoMqmFKm83T0i_l6C9KilWsyPrksj6w/s200/4+new+ZMM+nurses.jpg" border="0" /></a>We all hit it off right away. We made our flight. We were on our way...<br /><br />Tune in for part II.<br /></div><div></div><br /><br /><br /><div> </div><div> </div><div> </div><br /><br /><br /><div> </div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-5087674391534600852008-07-06T23:05:00.000-05:002008-07-06T23:05:41.252-05:00ZambiaIt's Sunday afternoon here - well, evening really. 6:08pm to be precise. The temperature here is 86 degrees. I have been inside all afternoon, it is a bit overcast outside but probably not unpleasant.<br /><br />Michael arrived about 9:45ish am CDT which was about 4:45ish pm South Africa time - they are seven hours ahead of us.<br /><br />In Johannesburg, South Africa it is 1:08am (tomorrow) and the temperature is 41 degrees (according to my weather channel desktop application). He left yesterday from DFW airport at ~11:50am. The last word I have from him is a text at 2:11pm CDT that he had just landed in Dulles in D.C. He had not met up with Michelle yet. Once he saw Michelle, I had no chance to get any kind of reply, repsonse, etc. He hasn't seen her since early March and even though he talks to her several times a day, I know that heaven and earth faded from view once he laid eyes upon her. To say that he loves her is an understatement. Actually, we all love her, but we do still know our surroundings when she is near. Once he is sure that she is not going to disappear, and that she is going to be with him for the duration of the trip, he will get his bearings again.<br /><br />Doug and I are not going to Zambia this year after all. We are both at peace with this decision, so don't feel sorry for us. Maui (Doug's mom) was diagnosed with ALS or Lou Gherig's Disease about this time last year. She has had some changes since spring break and Doug just doesn't want to spend so much time, and such a great distance away from her. I agree with Doug. Maui has been my 2nd "mom" for 29 years now. She treats me like she treats her own children and always has. She came to help me after I had my babies (one mom is good - two moms are better). My mom couldn't take care of my kids when they had Chicken Pox because she has never had it, so Maui came and stayed for almost three weeks. I don't know how to relate to people who don't like their mother-in-laws because my has always been so wonderful... but I digress. I feel like I should be here for her - and I want to be. There are other reasons why we are not going this year, but I don't want this blog to be a big list. Let's just say that God has put overwhelming evidence in front of us to confirm that this is just not the year for us to do the ZMM. We have trip insurance so we are out only a small amount and we have just rolled the rest over to the 2009 mission.<br /><br />I will probably not "hear" from him while he is gone. I might get an email from him if he can get access to the computer when they have down time at Namwianga. I am o.k. with this because I have been two times myself and I know how things work there. Also, Michael has been twice before. I know he will be fine. I will keep up with the ZMM mission group via the blog site <a href="http://www.zmm2008.blogspot.com/">http://www.zmm2008.blogspot.com/</a>. If you would like to keep up with the mission and pray for its success, I would appreciate that, too.<br /><br />Well, I had to stop for a while and go to work. I am back home now and will just stop the blog here. Maybe tomorrow I will write about what Michael will be doing while he is there. In the next few days I will write about some of my adventures on my last two trips and post a few pictures for you. <br /><br />It is currently 5:48am in Johannesburg and 39 degrees. He will leave there in about 5 1/2 hours for Livingstone, Zambia. He will arrive in Livingstone around 1:00pm and then take a 3 1/2 hour bus ride back to the mission at Namwianga. He will get there in time to clean up before supper. He will be tired, but happy to be at his 'home away from home', where familiar faces will greet him with big smiles and warm hugs. <br /><br />Leza amuleleke! (God bless you!)annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30515601.post-89545758906528931092008-07-04T12:18:00.000-05:002008-07-04T12:19:01.503-05:00Check out my Slide Show!<div><embed src="http://widget-55.slide.com/widgets/slideticker.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" quality="high" scale="noscale" salign="l" wmode="transparent" flashvars="cy=bb&il=1&channel=2522015791329977173&site=widget-55.slide.com" style="width:400px;height:320px" name="flashticker" align="middle"></embed><div style="width:400px;text-align:left;"><a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791329977173&map=1" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-55.slide.com/p1/2522015791329977173/bb_t028_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide1.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791329977173&map=2" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-55.slide.com/p2/2522015791329977173/bb_t028_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide2.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a> <a href="http://www.slide.com/pivot?cy=bb&at=un&id=2522015791329977173&map=F" target="_blank"><img src="http://widget-55.slide.com/p4/2522015791329977173/bb_t028_v000_s0un_f00/images/xslide42.gif" border="0" ismap="ismap" /></a></div></div>annieSonshinehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06861748268080226983noreply@blogger.com0