Our Home in Choma

I don't even know where to begin on this update. We've experienced so much in this past week here in Choma. 

On Sunday we walked to a local Wesleyan church, and during the service I made some new little friends (I like how my one professor stated, "The national treasure of Zambia is it's people"). Of course both children and adults alike struggle with the same issues in all humans that are not limited by culture or country - but when the Zambians decide they want to be your friend, you feel like the most special person in the world. 

One of the most special moments occurred in the middle of the church service, this little girl turned around to hold my hand.

On Tuesday our team started clinical at Choma General Hospital. Another girl and I assisted the nurses on the children's ward. Many of the children suffered from malnutrition and malaria, but thankfully all of the children that morning were stable and making good progress. Tomorrow morning another student and I will be working on the men's ward; I should probably be going to bed soon because clinical mornings start early in the morning :)

Even though the healthcare system here lacks some the technology we possess in the States, I'm finding the doctors and nurses are very knowledgeable and work with what is available. One major difference seen here in Zambia is the nurses do not provide bedside care (bathing, feeding, etc.). The patient is expected to have family present to provide for those needs. Unfortunately if a patient does not come with a family member or friend, those needs will often not be met. 

Every evening, around 5:45 the sun sets, creating a beautiful African sunset right in front of our house. I am still not used to how early the sun sets; by 6:30 the sky is dark. I think it makes many of us go to bed earlier. I've been in bed before 12 every night, which is unusual during a school semester. Also our days are just so full and busy, we're pretty worn out by the end of the day. 

This picture was actually taken when we were back in Lusaka, but I thought I'd include it on this post to show some of the lovely faces that I see every single day :)

I think I mentioned in the last post the ministry that we are partnering while we are here in Choma. One of Poetice's outreaches includes support groups for people living with HIV/AIDS. Part of this ministry includes house visits into the villages I think (all the days blur together here) we went on this visit last Thursday. As we were walking through the village, literally all the children in sight would run up to us to just to check us out at first. But they quickly became our friends.

Group picture :) These children were so precious. Another one of my favorite experiences so far.

Sometimes, at the end of the day you just need to have a movie night. We set up all the couches in our living room, and play a movie over the projector that we use in class. And there you go! A makeshift movie theater for no cost at all.

(I can't remember if I included this picture in the last post or not) But I thought I would post it anyways, just because it is my favorite picture. I am with Mesiya and Ruth at the local orphanage. Any time the girls and I have some spare time, we go to the orphanage. Mesiya is 12 years old; the oldest of 3 orphaned children. He wants to be a pastor when he gets older. There's always that one child who just touches your heart in a way that is hard to even put into words. I hate the thought of leaving Choma, and leaving the orphanage and Mesiya behind when it's time to go back to the States. Right now I am thankful that we are coming back to Choma at the beginning of October. On Sunday we leave for our next stop on this journey: Zimba.

My newest Tonga phrase: Tuyoo bonana! (See you again!)