March 14, 2007

  • I am sorry that I have not been as diligent in the writing of these updates.  I promise to try to do better.  Alot has happened and is happening since our short stay in the States last November/December.  Let me fill you in.....

    Our personal life has been eventful......Sal had a PET scan while he was home to follow up on his lymphoma....oh maybe you didn't know that.  Well, 2 weeks after we announced we were going to Africa fulltime, he was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Primary Splenic Lymphoma and had his spleen removed.  That was in 2003 and since that time he has been fine.  This last scan however showed two spots in the abdomen which requires antibody treatments....once a week for four weeks at a time every six months for two years.  Did I say that clearly?  He will have treatments March and September for the next two years....so our furloughs are pretty well predetermined for now.  The treatments are not chemotherapy and don't have the same side effects...we figure it's God's way of giving us a much needed break twice a year.  Of course I will be happy to see the grandchildren!!!  That's Sal. 

    Our newest grandson Gabe, short for Gabriel Josiah was taken to the hospital at three months old on Christmas eve for some "vomiting" and was admitted for "breathing problems."  He is now five months old (almost 6) and is still an inpatient only now he is in Children's Hospital in DC in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).  He was diagnosed with a chronic lung problem after a lung biopsy, severe reflux which required Nisin surgery and now it is said that he has Scids which is a malfunctioning or absent immune system like the  "boy in the bubble."  He is going to need a bone marrow transplant.  They have just gotten approval for the siblings to be tested so today my son, his wife and two daughters are to be tested to see if one of them is a match.  God has been faithful through all of this giving us a peace that passes all understanding.  We are very thankful for all the support, love and prayers that have already been shown by many, many people across the nation and around the world.  Please add or continue to pray for him.

    Our ministry life has also been quite eventful.......Sal and I have taken on alot more responsibility overseeing everything at the Farm since September....establishment of villages with headmen, planting of gardens and fields, water, bicycle and oxen distribution to the villages, working on the dam and fences, maintenance of electric and plumbing in all buildings (many needed rewired), training of nationals in leadership positions, cleansing and purging of all that was shaken in the Guest House and throughout the farm, establishing a Sons of Thunder store, changing the financial recordkeeping over to Quickbooks, applying for change of status for the school in order to get financial assistance from the government for teachers salaries, working with Jessi to bring needed changes to the orphanage and care of the children.  Jacob and Jessi have been a blessing, willing to help in all areas.......including workteams!  Yes we now also have responsibility for workteams.  You see why I have been a little lax in writing?  I haven''t even mentioned the Medical Ministry yet.

    So let me update you on Medical......God is awesome and things are moving at a very fast rate.  We are growing so fast that it was decided that we should move into the "new Orphanage" building.  Frankly, when Sal and I first saw the building and were living in the apartment on the end of it, we felt it was to be the Clinic not an orphanage.  We waited however for God to reveal that to our authorities which he did.  So now we are in the building.....2 bathrooms, one for men and one for women with hookups for washers and dryers, a large reception area, an exam room, a maternity room that could also be used as an exam room, two wards for overnight patients, a private overnight room, a storage room for medications and medical supplies, an office, and a full laboratory.  After two classes, one in Livingstone and one in Lusaka, and hands on training with the Kazangula Health District, we have officially passed!!!!  We are now a recognized ART (AntiRetroviral Therapy) Center for HIV patients.  We now have the free HIV medications from the government to distribute to patients without transporting them anywhere.  Also thanks to a very large donation, we are now setting up our own lab to do hematology as well as CD4 testing and TB testing.  We have always been able to do quick tests for malaria, HIV, pregnancy, RPR, blood sugars etc....now we will be able to do full blood counts and CD4 counts to determine medication eligibility and AFBs for TB treatment.  The next thing we will work toward are chemistries.  Our plan is too hire the lab technicians from the hospital to come on a rotation once a week to do our lab tests.  We are definitely growing!!! 

    We have been given another large donation for building of the clinic which we will use for renovation of this existing building....like windows with screens, covered patios front and back for a large waiting area for clinic patients as well as a large sitting area for overnight patients, proper plumbing with new water tank and septic system, new doors throughout and flooring. God said to "raise the standard".....  and that's what we are trying to do.  God led us to a Zambian builder the first week we were here in 2005.  We kept his name and have since met with him and his partner multiple times....renovation is to begin when we return in April.

    Staff at the clinic has changed significantly......                                                                                                                                 

    Vundakai was let go after he went to Lusaka for two weeks without any notice....God within the week replaced him with Chris.  Chris is our new HIV Counselor.  He also has experience with TB recordkeeping. 

    Anna has left to go to teachers college in Livingstone, her second choice after she was denied nursing school due to her grades.  Janet has now stepped up to the seniority position.

    Rona is still recovering from her mastectomy......so we hired Bridget for overnight patients.

    Bertha is in school and the other Bridget left to go to secretarial school in Lusaka, so we have hired Namakau, Namatama and Febby. 

    Jha has been busy with his job in town and has been unable to work or cover during our furlough, so God provided Derrick, another Clinical Officer who works at Livingstone Hospital but who is on leave until May.  So he is covering patients Monday Tuesday, Thursday and Fridays while we are here in States.      

    Well....I hope that suffices for now.  Pictures will be forthcoming