Expertise:Sal is a Paramedic in the USA and an Emergency Care Officer in Zambia. Renee is an RN, licensed in both countries. Occupation:Medical Industry:Nonprofit
I am sitting here Sunday morning sipping on a cup of Hazelnut Decaf and listening to my Ipod. I have decided to write you to once again thank you for all your prayers, encouragement and financial support. Thank you for giving me grace when I have not been able to write weekly updates as I have done in the past. Today I am waiting for Sal to deliver the second baby of the day so that we can go to church together. If the woman (or should I say the baby) is uncooperative with my plan, I guess I will be going alone. But, while I wait, I thought I would sit down and put thoughts to paper. There is so much I want to share with you…so much God is doing in the lives of people and on the farm….so much He is doing at the orphanage, school, church and of course the clinic!
Farm….
We had a whole training on “Farming God’s Way” early this year provided to all our farmers. FGW is called “conservation farming” in the secular world and has proven itself to be effective in this area. There is no need for plowing or big machinery…just a hoe, a little order and “God’s Blanket.” The clinic garden was used as a sample and I must admit the carrots were beautiful…straight, bright orange, big and sweet!!! Alexander has been moving forward with the plan for FGW and is leading the other farmers. He also has been working with the “chili pepper people” in order to discourage the elephants. You see, we had over 200 of the big guys and their babies coming through ravaging all the gardens and fields…sometimes in one night. Firecrackers just weren’t enough! The rangers had to come and kill an elephant to get them to move on. New markets have been opened for farm produce including our fruit from the orchards. Professor has been working hard marketing and overseeing the orchard.
There are no more loans being given out…credit is coming to a halt and there is a need for teaching budgeting and money management skills. There is no more free seed and fertilizer this year, and the guys are ready to pay for it themselves.
We have two villages that have the capacity for electricity and 10 homes have now been connected…all at their own cost and with a monthly bill.
The Department of Road Transport is finally having the main road here paved so they have a Chinese company hired to do the work…the maps have slotted our little road to be the detour….so they are coming through widening our road and will pass right through two of our outlying villages and Revelation village and the front gate!! That means buses and trucks coming right past the front gate for the next three months….addressing our concerns, they have agreed to speed humps, a traffic attendant and watering to keep down the dirt and dust. They have also agreed to widen the road to the Hill.
We just had a woman’s ministry here where 40 women were taught sewing classes by a retired home economist right here at the guest house. She had four classes a day and the ladies made chetange outfits, as well as stuffed elephants and Tonga Lady dolls to sell. Sue purchased 4 hand crank machines to use and leave here and one of the more advanced Zambian women is going to continue the classes now that Sue has left. We made the front room into a sewing room and the classes start up again Monday. They are going to learn little boys shorts and little girls chetange skirts and/or dresses….the first ones will be for the orphanage before they make them for their own children. Another woman from a work team came during the same time and taught 20 ladies crocheting. Both classes ended with certificate presentations and the sewing class was a fashion show!
The electric all over the farm has been updated and worked on making things safe in the guest house, orphanage, clinic, boreholes, new church site, and some of the tobacco barn and school.
New screens are being completed for the guest house as well as new curtains in the bedrooms and bathrooms.
Janice has left the farm….she has gone to Livingstone to join her husband Albert who got a very good pastoral position with Rainbow in town and their two children get free private education at Rainbow school. It was a blessing and now they will be able to do ministry together.
Janice's Last Day
Carrots - Farming God's Way
Crocheting Class
One of the Sewing Classes
Agatha with the Hand Crank Machine
Eunice in her new chetange outfit
Tonga Lady Dolls and Stuffed Elephants
Tonga Lady Dolls (up close)
Orphanage…
There have been many inaccurate reports spreading about the “orphanage closing and us sending the kids all over the country.” Those reports were initiated when people from outside the district used the pulpits of our smaller planted churches in the surrounding areas to put fear into the Zambian families of the children and it has caused a bit of havoc. Families have been going to Social Welfare asking for their kids…most not in any position to take their kids and some with the intent of giving them to another orphanage outside the district. I just hate gossip and unfortunately no one has come to Sal and I to secure the truth. When we returned in December, three boys (Misheck, Thomas and Wilson) had been moved to Global Samaritan according to Jaime’s plan to reunite some of the kids with their siblings. There was one more boy slotted to go, so Joseph quickly followed his buddies. Now in case you are not aware, our largest donor has chosen to reduce their support by one half effective in June, and to continue with half through the end of 2009, at which time they will contact those who have given, and give them our address with the opportunity for them to continue to have part in the orphanage work. We trust they will. While others have deserted the children and the work, God has helped us remain faithful to provide and care for the children’s needs with the resources He provides. God is a big God, our Provider and He will take care of the kids. Remember this is His vision and those are His kids…He has promised never to leave them nor forsake them. Right? So as we look to God for His plan for the children, we continue to walk through the doors He opens. When I was at Global Samaritan last month for a certificate ceremony for a ladies ministry (same as here at SoT that I told you about above) I spoke with Miriam who is now running the operations there and she told me she had two positions for girls open up unexpectedly and she also had three more boy positions left in the same house as the other SoT boys. Taking that as an opportunity God provided and clearing it with Social Welfare, Racheal and Peggy were moved last week and Steven, Joe and Mapalo are scheduled to move by the end of the month….Nine of the older children moved to be with siblings, closer to Sons of Thunder Primary School, eight to a house with English-speaking house mothers and guaranteed secondary education (Global is currently in the process of building a secondary school for their children). All that sounds like God’s provision to me! Peter was reunited with his father and sisters…his dad has a good job, is remarried living in town and is now able to take proper care of Peter. So approved and recommended by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Peter went home! That makes 10 children…taking our numbers down to 38. Now God also opened the doors for a possible 8 children to go to Villages of Hope Children’s Home up by Lusaka. Villages of Hope is with the man who first approached SoT to partner and put money into our orphanage, a plan that was negated by field management at the time. That Christian investor had the same vision as SoT and has since established a children’s home with individual houses, 8 children and a house mother to each home. He has a school started and is also constructing a clinic. There is farming and even a restaurant on site. The director of Villages of Hope and some Board members came to SoT to meet and discuss the possible transfer of children since they just happened to have a house being built that should be ready by June. We all went to the Ministry of Social Welfare and they were in favor of the transfer….the Ministry of Social Welfare up near Lusaka was also in favor and authorization from families is now being sought by the social workers. If forward progress continues, 8 more children will be provided for through the countenance of God. That would take our number down to 30. Funny, but we are really only approved for a capacity of 25….the original director of the orphanage however chose not to abide by the government regulation and accepted more than double that amount causing overcrowding and all the public health issues that arise as a result of sleeping two and three children to a bed and now not having enough toilet facilities for the number of children, etc. Since God’s Word tells us to submit to local authorities, I am looking to see if we indeed will be at 25 soon!...and that would take us to 50% ! These are the only plans we have for the orphanage right now …we have no Plan B, no plan of man, just stepping as God lights up the next stone.
Racheal and Peggy go to Global!
Peter Reunited with His Dad
Luyando Reunited with His Aunt
On a lighter note, we are being sponsored by David Livingstone Safari Lodge in town. They had a Christmas party for the kids here at the orphanage with food, a tree, “Father Christmas” and a gift for each child. They brought maintenance workers and a cleaning crew…along with a television crew and newspaper journalists…even the Provincial Minister came to deliver a short speech. At Easter time, they sent a very plush bus to pick up 25 children and 5 adults for an Easter luncheon at the Lodge. They had a lovely buffet with long tables set up on the lawn along with a moon bounce to jump in and baby chicks for the kids to hold and pet.
Dressed Up Waiting for Bus
Easter Luncheon at David Livingstone
Notice the Forks!
Faith Holds a Chick!
Moonbounce, Fun and Games
Easter Egg Hunt for Those Left Behind
A young woman from Scotland named Kelly, who had been here last year, returned with a friend to work at the orphanage. They are with a group called Travellers Worldwide and are here for 2 weeks coming back and forth each day from town. They stayed here the weekend and just yesterday they and 31 children along with 4 ladies and Doubt (who is now called Able) just took 31 of the older kids to the Mosi-o-tunya Game Park in the lorry driven by Terry. They also included the children who went to Global along with two boys and the house mother from Global. They saw the animals at the park, had a picnic lunch at the Baobab tree and got ice cream from Steers at the Spar shopping center. When they got back to the farm, they were filled with excitement all telling me what they had seen!!!
Group Ready for the Game Park Outing
In the Lorry
Ice Cream!
Tuckered Out!
Church….
Pastor Hank came on a work team and taught a Pastoral Counseling Workshop at the beginning of the year for Pastor George and the surrounding pastors.
Pastor George is the District Evangelist and has been going out doing outreaches showing the Jesus film He has planted a new church in the District. He was in charge of the local conferences in the District He is growing spiritually….God has shown him his responsibility as a Pastor to speak the Truth and confront sin, as well as discerning spirits and the role of spiritual authority in the church.
Construction on the new church was resumed after more than a year of sitting at foundation level. Right now, it is at roof level and electric is being installed.
New Church at Roof Level
New Church Stage Area
School…
School sponsorship has been implemented
Killian’s contract was not renewed and a new Headmaster/Education Secretary was hired. Phillip holds a University degree for teaching and gives us the qualifications we needed for grant-aided status. Paperwork for grant-aided status was corrected and resubmitted with Provincial Ministry of Education’s approval…waiting for national approval.
Final inspection and paperwork made for SoT to be a seventh grade examination center Maintenance work done at the school and one of the teachers houses worked on….making provisions for an American teacher to spend 2010 teaching at the school.
Clinic….
Geoffrey left Christmas eve, leaving Sal and I the only professionals…but God provides and we ended up having 4 groups of nursing students over a 12 week period…no less than 14 on the farm at any one time. They stayed in the tobacco barn and rotated between the clinic, orphanage and school…a week at each site. They covered nightshift and helped with emergencies and we got to teach them some skills and theory. The director of the school liked the experience and training they got here so much that she has asked Sal to teach some lectures starting in August.
Nursing Students
More Nursing Students
Students:Health Teaching to Orphanage Workers
We hired an RN/Midwife….she and the new Headmaster are married. We put them in the tobacco barn and Philip drives so he has been driving back and forth to the school on the Hill.
Community Health Evangelism….classes continue on Thursdays and then outreach on Fridays with dramas and home visits to HIV clients. Support groups rising up in 4 outreach areas. Reminds me of “each one, reach one.” What I teach and we discuss on Thursdays, they put into practice on Fridays and now they are starting to teach in their areas….etc. Many stories to tell……
Work teams…
Started off with team of 3 pastors….Pastoral Counseling
Couple of men from Farming God’s Way – (unexpected…a God encounter)- training in Farming God’s Way to about 35 of our farmers
One doctor from UK….worked with us in the clinic…a blessing
Group from Villages of Hope….spur of the moment….open doors
One woman from Indiana….sewing ministry/devotions for 40 women during the month of May
Team of 5 from US…crocheting classes/devotions for 20 women, Farm Feast and fellowship, outreach with Pastor George
Team of 16 from Gonzaga University…dinner and fellowship, visit to clinic and orphanage
Traveller volunteers…orphanage workers…took children to Game Park
It’s hard to believe it’s only 6 months since we arrived back on Zambian soil. God has been accomplishing a lot ….there’s in between the lines stuff that has been taking place also but this would end up 20 pages or more and I think I will spare you!!! J
I have started writing many an update, but time is never on my side and I seem to leave them all unfinished.Let me catch you up with a few things…..
When we arrived back in Zambia on December 10th, we were given the news that the other missionaries here overseeing everything else besides the Medical Ministries would be leaving Sons of Thunder.That occurred December 17th, a mere one week after our return.Well, no longer surprised by God for “His plans are not our plans”, we buckled down to once again resume the oversight of all the ministries here.The initial step meant moving back into the guest house, which we did December 18th.Next was end of the year financials and getting a handle on all the budgets, reviewing all areas with regard to operation, personnel and maintenance issues.Then of course there was Christmas and the children!There were no plans in the works, but God being our Provider and always there for us, a woman in town called on the phone.She had just completed making shoeboxes for the children in town and had thought of our children’s home….her question: “Would we like shoeboxes filled with goodies for all our children?She and her husband would love to make wrapped packages for all the kids if I would just give her a list of the names of all the children with their corresponding sex and age.I was thrilled!!! God, you are good! My answer of course was YES….she brought wrapped Christmas gifts for each child and Christmas morning every child got their own present!We had two Traveller volunteers that had been working in the children’s home all month.They wanted to spend their last day which was Christmas with the children handing out presents, playing games, singing songs and presenting the story of Jesus’ birth.Lena and Royce had bought extra goodies for a Christmas meal ….things like rice and beef and cake!It was a nice time.Our God provides more than we could possibly hope for right?....so the day after Christmas, the children were once again blessed by a lodge from right here in town.The owner and staff of David Livingstone Lodge arrived at the children’s home in vans with their chefs, repairmen, and cleaning staff all armed with the supplies of their trade.Not only did they come prepared to do work, but they came to celebrate as well!!They brought a small Christmas tree and decorated the large front room.They brought balloons and sweets….also bananas and drinks.“Father Christmas” as they called him came with a red suit and a pillowcase for a beard, sat the children one by one on his lap and gave them each a present….every child got a new t-shirt to wear!All of this was quite a surprise, but they also brought a camera crew and newspaper reporters!!!The Provincial Minister himself arrived and gave a speech!!! Sal and I, caught off guard, were also interviewed (in our scrub shirts of course)!The next day SoT Children’s Home was on the local news (and so were we)!!!!!
I wanted to write and tell you of the four legged creatures that terrorized our villages and ravaged our fields and gardens!!!I am serious…..we had literally hundreds of elephants on the farm!!!You see, Zimbabwe is in such a state right now facing starvation that even the military is suffering from hunger.So they started shooting elephants for food!!The elephants started running for their lives so to speak and the Zambezi River was crossable, so they have been migrating north into Zambia….well we are only 25km outside of Livingstone, surrounded by forest and have lots of food between orchards, gardens and maize fields!!!There were herds all over the farm…in different villages and even right here on the farm proper.Elephants disappear during the day and come out under the cover of night….Big BIG animals that can’t be seen right in front of you because they are black as night.One night when they were out in force, I went out on the front porch and literally heard them on both sides of the guest house….on the left of the house in the small orchard garden area and on the right on the other side of the driveway where the main gardens are!!You really feel helpless….what do you do to get rid of an elephant in your garden?Well ZAWA was called….ZAWA is the Zambian Agriculture and Wildlife Authority….they came out with firecrackers to help scare off the animals.They even stayed for 10 days on the farm answering sightings at night.When nothing was working, the number of elephants increasing and many fields and gardens destroyed, it was decided that an elephant would have to be killed.So, at first they sent out a novice with an AK 47…..one night a lone bull elephant was spotted in the garden by the house….after three shots and three full misses, the elephant charged chasing the ranger and Alexander into the dairy! So, next ZAWA sent two elephant hunters with high powered weaponry to the farm….and about three days later, word came that they had killed an elephant.People from the farm were called to come collect the meat.After the elephant had been killed, the herds started migrating further north….we heard news that our neighboring farms were now being troubled.Three people have been reported killed by the elephants since the bull elephant was killed here.We had a few weeks of peace until last week when more elephants were sighted….some at 2pm right here behind the tobacco barn on the soccer field.We also have chili pepper people working with our farmers to grow and use chilis around their gardens to keep the elephants away….seems the elephants don’t like spicy foods!!!Despite the discouragement of the elephants, the farming ministry here continues to move forward with new principles of farming being learned, new markets being developed and God speaking.It remains the heart of SoT…..
White uniforms and nurses caps all over the campus here……why, you ask?Well, because the Western School of Nursing has asked if we would be willing to allow their second year registered nursing students to do their rural health clinical experience here.So, for three weeks, we have 17 nursing students living and working on the farm between the clinic, children’s home and primary school. After this three week period, there will be another 18 students coming for the next three week period.God provides for all our needs….even helping hands!You see I guess I haven’t told you that December 24th after taking a break for Christmas with his family in Lusaka, Geoffrey finally received his graduation certificate and an accompanying government position at another rural health center outside of Kazungula District. So December 26th, he packed his belongings here and relocated.That same day we received a call from another Clinical Officer in town, retired and looking for work….so Mrs. Malamo has been with us on a trial basis also for the last three weeks!!!!We’re not sure yet if she is supposed to be our next C.O., but for now she is help.A new doctor from the UK is supposed to come visit in March for two weeks also helping out….so you see God does take care of His people.
I think I mentioned to you that God would not let me alone about “community,” so taking steps as He lights those stones, we now have a support system of health workers developing.I am organizing the program and teaching weekly lessons….Treatment supporters and Home Based Care volunteers are joining forces in our HIV Support Program to become Community Health Evangelists or CHEs.They have been going out every Friday to our ART locations either going to people’s homes or teaching through drama at the Rural Health Center site.The first message God gave us was the message of the lost sheep….you see we had files of people who never returned to the clinic after they found out their HIV status or after they started medicines.Our goal was to find the “lost” patients and minister to their needs just as Jesus went “to seek and save the lost.”The message deals with both the physical and spiritual needs of the people which is what CHE is all about….and coincidently is what Sons of Thunder is all about!!!This was the training God had me go to Swaziland for if you remember….now it seems to be the time to implement it….one step at a time….and I’m watching it multiply before my eyes.
The other main issue at the moment is a shortage of mealie meal (maize-based meal used to make nshima which is the staple food of Zambia).Long cues waiting for delivery trucks to arrive and rationing of meal have made it hard on the villagers here not to mention the children’s home and clinic which buy in bulk amounts.We are talking waiting in lines for 12 hours or sleeping at the mill the night before and then only able to get one 25 kg bag.Well, Sal went into the local Spar and negotiated with the owners/managers and was able to get a truckload of 50 bags sold to him.So now the villages are getting the meal from the guest house; Lena and Royce are getting their weekly bags for the children’s home without standing in cues or trying to find 6 other people to help them purchase the numbers they need and the inpatients in the clinic are being kept fed.It’s also been nice to divide in smaller portions for home visits and of course it’s here if someone from off the farm is in dire need….again feeding Africa physically and spiritually!!!
God never ceases to amaze me and I am humbled to be His child!!!He reminds me all the time here that He is our Provider….He is the one responsible for this vision….not only for the plan but the provision of all that we need to see it carried out.My job is to just say yes and step as He lights the stones. Be at peace my friends during this time of financial instability and always remember….there is one thing that never changes….one thing that never waivers.He is always there.
While Sal and I were still in the States, mind you, Kazungula District Ministry of Health called Geoffrey on his cell phone.Now remember….Geoffrey is the other Clinical Officer here at SoT(besides Sal) that was covering the Medical Ministries while we were on furlough.Well it’s not unusual for Geoffrey to be contacted by the Ministry of Health (MoH), but this phone call was different.This phone conversation was a request to hold “World AIDS Day” here at Sons of Thunder Farm for all of the Kazungula District in the Southern Province of Zambia!!!This, ladies and gentlemen, was a BIG deal!!!Imagine….the government of Zambia was asking Sons of Thunder, a Christian Mission to host one of the biggest events of the year!Sons of Thunder Clinic has such a reputation as an ART Clinic and such a good working relationship with the District MoH, that we were considered for this honor (…….and besides, we have a lot of room! J ) Sal and I were so proud of everyone….the entire farm participated dividing up the workload.Abson was in charge of the grounds setting up tents loaned from the Zambian Air Force and making sure the large water tank purchased for the new church building site was filled and in place for the day.Namatama was selected to attend all meetings with the District representing Sal and I and the clinic and being the liason.Meetings were held at the farm with Zambian planning committees and leaders from all areas of the farm involved.Lena A was in charge of food for the multitudes that would be coming and Janice was in charge of the diplomat luncheon that would be held at the guest house for all the Zambian officials.Mishack was selected to be the Master of Ceremony and the Sons of Thunder Praise Team would provide singing.Pastor Julius was asked to preach a Gospel message and say an opening and closing prayer.
The preliminary ceremonies officially began the evening of November 30th with a candle lighting service originating at 6:30pm at the entrance gate to Sons of Thunder.A procession of people with lighted candles marched from the gate to the Sons of Thunder Church in commemoration of those who had died during the past year of HIV/AIDS.It was amazingI was told and people were very touched with the event.Mishack welcomed all who were present and the Sons of Thunder Praise Team sang some worship songs.Following the singing, there was a time of testimony given by two people from another area of Kazungula.The Gospel message was then shared by Pastor Julius (Chaplain at Sons of Thunder Clinic.)After the preaching, Mishack invited the DAKA (this is some government official that I didn’t get the name of nor what DAKA stands for) to give a talk on HIV and AIDS, then everyone joined in a wonderful song which lefthope in people’s hearts. The service concluded at approximately 9pm.
The next day, December 1st, was officially World AIDS Day.The commemoration festivities started late… around 9:30am. The national anthem was sung and then Pastor Julius opened the program with a prayer.Mishack, again as Master of Ceremony, welcomed everyone and gave opening remarks.The schedule of events as outlined by a written program had to be changed since the Guest of Honor was delayed in Livingstone with the First Lady.Entertainment ensued to fill time.There was drama, poetry, singing, dancing and acrobats.Testimonies were shared and speeches given.Remarks were shared by the DAKA, the District Commissioner himself Mr. Haasuntwe and the Provincial Minister Daniel Munkombwe.Other honored guests included the Southern Province Permanent Secretary Darius Hakayobe and Chief Sekute and his family from Kazungula.Another outreach organization, Corridors of Hope carried out HIV testing throughout the day.The scheduled events ended at 2pm when everyone departed for lunch.Close to 500 people were estimated to have participated in the day including lunch!!
Feeding Africa physically and spiritually…..500 people heard the Gospel….500 people were provided lunch (paid for by the government )and all 500 were shown the love of Jesus and given Hope!!It reminds me of the banner I was given to bring over in 2005 for the clinic….a godly woman made the banner as she felt God directed her…..on it was one word “HOPE.”It hangs on the wall inside the reception room.Outside, we also have a sign….It says “Jesus is our source of Hope!”
Jesus is indeed the only Hope we can ever give to a dying world and a day remembering those who have been touched by HIV/AIDS brings it home!!!
Hello to All….I am writing this entry from the US.We have been in the States for six weeks now and it is such a difference in the world of “high speed connections!!!”Here you have access to the world within seconds…..such a difference from the world of “dial-up and outages and ‘our system is down’ that we experience when in Zambia. Well, now that I can…..
I want to share with you a blog that I tried to send while in Zambia before I left, but unfortunately was unable to do so.I wanted to tell you about Ian….
Sal was in town and Geoffrey was on call…there was a knock at my door and Anna said, “There is an emergency; can you come.”I immediately followed her to the clinic to find a 68 year old white farmer lying in the bed with a concerned wife standing at his side and a son at the foot of the bed very eager to start telling me their story.As I listened to his words, I observed the surroundings to find that Geoffrey had already attached the transformer to raise the head of the hospital bed and then to the oxygen concentrator which he had already brought out of the supply room.“Good job Geoffrey” I thought so far, but I was a little confused when I saw the wife squeezing an Ambu bag over her husband’s face that had a nasal cannula in place but not in his nostrils. As I looked closer I realized he was conscious and breathing on his own….so why the Ambu? This reminded me of a scenario in an ACLS class!!! Well, seems Ian had a history of high blood pressure and an episode of bronchitis in the past month.That morning at the breakfast table, “he went out a couple times where he stopped breathing” and had to be stimulated to “come to.”They put him in the car and started to “speed” off toward Livingstone about 35km away to a private physician in town. Well, here in Zambia you can’t“speed” anywherebecause of all the bush roads but especially because of the crater filled main road to town.After a half an hour of travel they decided to stop at Sons of Thunder Clinic for help. Well, as I continued to ask questions and listen I slowly and calmly walked over to Ian’s wife and took the Ambu bag out of her hand, checked the O2 concentrator and placed the cannula in his nose.During a brief break in the conversation I took vital signs and then proceeded to call Sal.After hearing the report and assessment of Ian’s condition, Sal decided to head back to the clinic.Later I found out that with Janice and her children in the car, Sal did indeed race back to the clinic in the Land Rover on one of the back roads at a speed delighting the kids and causing Janice to hold on with white knuckles!! While waiting for Sal, Geoffrey started an IV and we made Ian comfortable.He began to regain color and was able to answer questions….he even began to crack jokes which I discovered was part of his sarcastic personality.Once Sal arrived, he dug out the monitor/defibrillator and the pads.Using the machine as a heart monitor, we were able to see a very rough picture of the heart rhythm. Sal diagnosed him as having an MI (heart attack), administered appropriate medication and started to prepare the Land Rover for transport into Livingstone. The back of the Rover padded with a mattress and multiple pillows for propping, Sal and I transported Ian and his wife to the private physician in town.Verbal and written reports given, assistance to get Ian transferred to a patient room and placed on O2 again (we were unable to run O2 during transport), and after multiple thank-yous and goodbyes, we headed back to the clinic. After talking to the doctor the next day, we found out that Ian had been sent on a commercial airline to South Africa for continued treatment.Ian was our first cardiac patient and the first real EMS system in operation…..the first time when we could actually see transfer of care to a higher level.It was a good feeling.
Call 9-1-1 in America, translates Call S-A-L in Zambia.
This weekend has been “EMS weekend”…..I mean really. Calls to houses in the bush, other clinics….emergency transports to Livingstone Hospital…yikes! Day and night! And Sal even changed phone companies and his phone number just last week….but the word is out!!!What are you saying God?Every time we think we have God figured out, there is another level, another step, another piece in the puzzle.And right now He is moving so fast, we are running to keep up……..
I know Renee usually writes the updates, but this is where I felt compelled to take over the keyboard.
I want to tell you about days that are becoming more typical than unusual:
It starts early Friday morning, the 5th of September, with a pregnant HIV patient in labor.It is my night for call and the patient required monitoring three different times during the night. At 5am, the alarm goes off and by 5:15 the first cup of coffee is ready.I complete my quiet time by 6am and go to the clinic to check on our expectant mother and get ready to go to Kabuyu for our HIV Clinic Outreach.Geoffrey arrives a few minutes before 7am for report on the expectant mother and the other inpatients (there are 6).Off to Kabuyu where we arrive by 8am, set up and proceed to see over 30 of our HIV patients. Back at the clinic, Geoffrey has delivered a baby girl and is preparing to see patients at Sons of Thunder Clinic….there were 38 patients seen that day.By 1pm, still in Kabuyu, we have seen our last HIV patient when Renee calls to tell me there is a woman in labor at only 7 months with moderate bleeding.I left the staff and supplies at Kabuyu and took the Land Rover to Bwiketo Village (15 minutes away) where I found a 38 year old woman in obvious discomfort. still in her hut.On exam, she was fully dilated and delivery imminent.I reviewed her prenatal card since she was not one of our patients and I saw nothing to cause me concern.I called Renee to get another vehicle to go to Kabuyu to pick up the staff since I was obviously going to deliver this baby in the hut.Thirty minutes later, her water breaks and out comes a baby boy that maybe weighed 1 pound.I attempted to resuscitate for about thirty minutes without success….at 7 months gestation this baby’s lungs were not developed enough.During the attempted resuscitation, I quickly looked at mom and saw there had been no change in her abdomen size.I gave the baby to grandma to continue what I was doing and by the time I turned around, a second bag of waters broke. Great----TWINS! Prenatal card didn’t mention this fact.Trying to teach grandma quicker, I saw the umbilical cord present….not good.I finished the teaching, turned and moved to mom to now find a foot presenting and the umbilical cord detached.Mom was bleeding profusely.By now the vehicle that was picking up at Kabuyu was back on the farm.I called and had them sent to my location….I needed a flat bed truck.In about an hour, we had mom in the clinic….IV lines running, monitoring.Praying the second baby would come out on its own.About an hour later, I decided to take her to Livingstone General Hospital for a C-section to remove this already dead baby.During preparation for transport, another call was received from Kasiya with another woman in labor.Geoffrey and Mwanza head to Kasiya while I head to LGH and Renee stays back to cover the clinic.Two hours later I return to find Geoffrey had just delivered his second baby girl for the day 5 minutes before I walked in the door.We talked a bit, I told him goodnight and let Namatama know I was on call.It was now 10pm.At 10:45pm I received a call from Katapazi Clinic for an HIV patient in labor.I arrived and ended up doing the delivery at their clinic and started the baby on the protocol of a prophylactic short course of HIV meds.I arrived back at the apartment at 1:30am….changed IVs on those in the clinic that needed them and was in bed by 2am.
The alarm went off at 5am Saturday morning, Sept 6th and we start again.
I leave for town at 6:45 am Saturday morning to do some clinic shopping for medicines and office or food supplies.It is also the day we pick up the lab technician to bring him back to the clinic to do the weekly lab tests.On the way back to the clinic, I received a call from Siandazya for a woman in labor.I dropped off the lab tech and went to pick up the patient and bring her back to the clinic.Around 1pm, another call came from Siakasipa for a 18 year old girl in labor.Upon arrival at the village, found a first time mom too far along to move.Baby was delivered in the hut….everything fine.I arrive back at Sons of Thunder at 5pm and make rounds on all the inpatients twice before going to bed..I’m still on call.Twice during the night I am awakened to check on our pregnant patients.All is well.
It’s now Sunday morning Sept 7th…we go to church in town and have lunch out.One of the missionary couples who have been here for six years are returning to the states and this was his last sermon.Geoffrey agreed to cover the clinic while we were in town.When we returned from town, we found that one of our AIDS inpatients had suffered a stroke and was close to death.Pastor Julius had already been called and family was around her bed.About 30 minutes later, Emeldah died.After the usual washing and wrapping of the body, we took the family and Emeldah back to her village for burial.It’s now Sunday night and I’m still on call, still have 5 inpatients and the alarm will still sound at 5am Monday morning if not sooner.
These are our days and they are occurring more frequently….
We have 3 skilled people trying to do the job of 10….
We have 1 vehicle when 2 are needed…..
The clinic is bursting at the seams.On one occasion we had 12 patients admitted in a clinic that holds 9.We need a mother’s shelter…we need more wards.
We need more skilled staff and the money to pay them.We need staff housing. We need another vehicle. We need Tonga Bibles.
Right now our monthly budget is $2500….but we realistically need $5000 just to meet our monthly operating expenses…things like salaries, medications, formula for babies of HIV positive moms, inpatient food, lab reagents, office and cleaning supplies and diesel. And that doesn’t include repair and maintenance for either the vehicle or building.
We need your help.First and foremost we need your prayers and then we need your financial support. Together, we will see God’s purpose fulfilled….It’s says in His Word that His plan will not be thwarted.This is an awesome work to be a part of….God is making a difference here.Each and every day, we see His hand and if we look hard enough we see His face.To think that God has called you or me to be His vessel in this ministry is very humbling.Lots of times when we give our money to something….we never see where it goes or how it helps or even if it helps.I am here to tell you your money here helps!!!Your money here makes a BIG difference.Your money feeds a belly, treats a wound, transports the sick and dying, safely delivers a baby, helps to prevent transmission of HIV from mother to child, provides education and most importantly preaches the Gospel by word and deed. Sons of Thunder Medical Ministries is feeding Zambia physically and spiritually every day….you are always welcome to come and be a part of God’s hands and feet in this ministry.
