May 2, 2008 Friday

Saturday morning:
We arrived back to our lodge last night to find no power again, so I am writing the following am.

Four more team members left our group for Victoria Falls this am, leaving our skeleton team of 5, medical. We miss our team mates and the dinner table seems quite small now.

Yesterday was a day of good surprises and accomplishments, and some sadness. Foster and I went to the Dept. of Education at 8 hours and picked up two men who came to inspect our school site for registration and approval for the next school building. Zambia requires that we follow a government drawing to build the school. We chose 1 plan from the 3 that were given, and found out in record time while still on our site that we were not only approved, but have been given the green light to pour the next foundation for the school. The clearing of the land and foundation will begin next week!

We had the great pleasure of having all of our students at the site this am as well even though our school was still on official holiday. Our remaining team packed child “school kits” which included pencils, crayons, candy, necklaces, socks, and tooth paste and brushes. Each child was fitted for “crock shoes” and was given a mosquito net. Teddy our teacher demonstrated how to set up the net at the child’s home and the importance of using it to reduce the incidence of malaria. The children were thrilled to receive such a valuable gift.

As we were leaving the OMNI Village to head into town, we were being followed down the very dusty dirt road by a truck with Zambian men waving their arms and shouting at us. The next view was a large wooden cross being waved in the air by one of the men from the open bed of the truck. It was Mr. Maumba, who had made a beautiful hand carved cross for Jim, (who has left for the US a few days ago) As they attempted to pull ahead of us, another truck with “God is with us” written on the windshield passed by. Mr. Maumba pulled ahead of us to reveal a life size cross with a hand carved figure of Jesus lying on the back of the pickup on top of a full load of sand. It was the most awesome site we have ever seen. The life size cross was going to be driven to Lusaka a mere 6 hours south of here and delivered to a church where it will surely grace all who see it.

Our sad note for the day was the lack of progress of our baby Peter at Children’s Hospital. Dr. Lynn reports after rounds that his pneumonia has not responded to the 3 antibiotics that he is on, and his deterioration is recognizable. He remains in the 28th percentile for weight, and as Lynn assesses, may not be able to survive this pneumonia, or the progression of the HIV disease. He remains in our prayers each day.

Last night Dr. Lynn, Foster and I were dinner guests of Mr. Gosavi, the owner of Chemopharm where OMNI purchases our medications for our clinics. It was an interesting and delightful evening discussion our business relationship and all the various regulations and changes in medications here in Zambia and around the world. We are grateful to be able to have such a knowledgeable resource. It was a good day.

Blessings to all,
Karen