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I am trying to load pictures today, but the internet cafe that I am at is not as sphisticated as the one down the street, which is closed today because it is Sunday. The city is dead after 1pm.
We have no water at Rivendale because the pipes broke as well as no internet. ??
Hopefully by monday everything will be fixed up and ready to go.
I got to see my mom that I stayed with in Katutura when I studied her and I wish I would have gotten her surprised face on camera. I couldn't find her number so I decided to drop by anyway and see if she was around. She turned the corner and saw me and just threw her arms in the air and was soooo happy. I told her I had been here for a couple of days and she said "why didn't you come home right away?" I am going to stay with her for a couple of nights when we return from the north. She is such a strong lady that always has good things to say. Her son Mokoena who is about 10 has grown SO much, and is a lot taller and I am still waiting to see her other son owen, who is about 27, he is a hardworker and was so great to me while i stayed there, taking me out and making sure I was safe.
We met with both christa and abigail these past few days and now have a better sense of what is needed within both their programs. To sum it up, I willpost more tomorrow because i can't access the files on my jumpdrive here, is that Abigail saw it best fit to focus on a group of about 20 kids that are at this point on no assistance from any donors (she has an italian donor that recently signed up to take care of about 200 or more kids school fees unifroms and food parcels/hygene packs.) So we will be helping these 20 kids and we will be able to map the progress over the years all the way up to grade twelve. Annie brought a bunch of letters from a group of 3rd graders so we were all thinking that we could set up a penpal system as well as profile these kids that we will be helping so that we can see their progress over time, know about their home lives and about them-their hopes, dreams, favorites things etc... That is the jist of it but there is a lot more to it. The saturday before Easter we will be hosting a huge Easter egg hunt along with a bunch of other activities as well as a huge lunch for all the kids and staff. THis of course I will get on tape. More to come with that.
In terms of Christa, we went yesterday to see the land that she will be using to build mt. sinai. It is HUGE! we also saw the blue prints for the actualy plan of the building and it looks spectacular...to think that she started all thisfrom a cupboard in her office at the hospital, where ithas moved into her OWN house and now to this fantastic building. So what we are basically planning on doing it getting her started with building, so that we can break some ground before we leave. TOmorrow we meet with her and her bishop to discuss these plans as well as someone that is donating some bins so that she can store the materials in order to keep them safe from people that would want to take them. ON the 14th the mothers are coming to pick up their monthly good parcels and formula, so we will be there that day. We will also be assisting in purchasing more food, formula, water and so forth for the mothers.
I will also be so fortunate to be able to go the hospital and maybe see a live birth as well as get to take a tour of the hospital and witness the conditions aroudn the place. It is the state hospital, it is obviously NOT private and this is where the people go when they are sick, need emergency care etc... its a very modest place, but it probably gets the job done as best as it can with such limited resources.
Time is up. OFf to go grocery shopping for the week.
I will post more pics this week.
It has been a tiring, both mentally and physically, past couple of days and I am happy today I get to rest and compose myself for another exhausting week.
peace
mary
Our Mission
African Community Health Inititiave (ACHI)
Provide basic health care services to those lacking access to such care in both rural Nigeria and urban Namibia.
These services include:
*Overall Physicals (including Fasting Glucose levels, Vitals, HIV/AIDS testing etc..)
*Medication Management and Maintenance programs *Disease Management
*Health Education that addresses disease prevention, hygiene and nutrition
*Consultations and referrals
Mount Sinai
A program started by Katutura State Hospital Nurse Christa Biart-Vega, who works in the ARV (antiretroviral) pediatric clinic, Mount Sinai provides HIV counseling, health education, well baby checks, formula, water and sippy cups for 105 babies and their HIV+ mothers. If the child is tested HIV- after 6 weeks of being breastfed, the hospital or clinic refers them to Christa. At this point it is important to discontinue breastfeeding: replacing breast milk with formula means that the baby will remain HIV-. Unfortunately, due to the lack of funds Christa has to limit the number of mothers and babies in her program because it is a commitment to feed each child for six months. Christa did receive land in Katutura for the clinic, but lacks the funds to begin building. Not only will this building be used to continue the program that Christa has started, she also envisions it as a safe place for moms and their children, as well as a hospice for children with AIDS to peacefully die in instead of out on the streets. Your donations will go towards formula, sippy cups, water and overall costs. More money means more women can enroll in the program and with your help Nurse Christa will finally be able to have a building to go along with her amazing, life saving program!
Family Hope Sanctuary
FHS is a community based program run by Abigail Maposa located in the extremely poor settlements of Hakahana. FHS’s program helps in two ways: first, to empower women, most of whom are HIV+, TB, single mothers who are raising orphans; and second, through its school readiness program. This program reaches children who are not in the school system and provides them with an education and a safe place to stay. More importantly, the heart of FHS is its kitchen: it feeds hundreds of children each day, which for most is the only meal they will get that day. Lacking the most basic necessities of life, all of these kids are grateful for such a meal, and are in dire need of a formal education before it is too late. Your donations will go towards education, food, clothes, shoes, water and other necessities. Amazingly, $20 sends a child to school for a whole year (books and uniforms included)!
Sunday, March 18, 2007
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4 comments:
Mary, this is a test. We are having trouble responding to your comments.
Mary,
Thanks for sharing your trip with all of us. You're a great writer.
Love,
Mom
Dear Mary: well, I think we have the Google sign in thing figured out, so we can blog with you. As your mother said, you have a real gift with words and I encourage you to keep writing about your experiences. Your zeal and passion flow through your words, and I feel at times like I am standing right next to you as you describe the scenes of your co-workers, the children and people of Namibia. Thanks for sharing your journey with us! Love, Dad
Mary,
i love the pictures, post as many as you can.
love,
-Chris
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