Randomness

Randomness.

So it's winter in Namibia when it's summer in the U.S.A.

I left the "cold" season of Namibia and now starting the "cold" season of America.

Kinda strange to have two winters in a year.

Everyone keeps asking me if I have had some culture shock...

YES! I do at times... but moreover I really evaluate and look at

life in a whole new lens.

My new job... it's going well and I like it thus far... lots of classes these days

... not a lot of new super difficult patients on my unit (at least yet) so we will see.

Working with awake patients and families is a bit different then before, but I like the interactions I am able to have at work with them.

I have decided I really like laundry esp. when I have a drier too. I can not complain about laundry again.

Moving... I've moved about 8 times since August of 2010! I'm a professional.

Beds.... along with moving I have no clue how many different people's beds I have slept in those 8 different moves.

So here are my current stats.

1. Live in Indianapolis.

2. Work at Methodist Hospital in the PEDS Comprehensiveness Care Unit

3. Live with Jenna, Charissa, and Lauran in Broad Ripple. (yeah stay in the spare room or as they fondly call the spare um... it's the size of a large closet or a baby room).

Where I have been in the World! A link to all my travels!

Midst - deep thoughts on life

Dear Friends and Family,

I wrote this a while back as I reflected on my time in Africa. It is not your “typical” “missionary” “report” with a call to “go to all the Nations”, but it is a collection of thoughts and insights, I have struggled with and am continuing to struggle with as I try to live a life of a follower of Jesus. I have incorporated several quotes from Henri J. Nouwen’s book The Wounded Healer through many of my thoughts.

I do not even know where to begin as I reflect on my last month, more or less the last ten months in Africa. I have opened myself up to so much. I have had so much joy, yet so much pain. Triumphs and struggles have gone hand in hand with new friendships and broken relationships. I have loved. I have lost. I have learned. I have overcome. I am a broken and wounded vessel who has been used, and yet still gave my heart to truly being with others. I have felt more deeply then ever felt before; it has been exceptionally rewarding. Opening yourself up to feeling deep, to loving hard, and to learning comes with much potential risk and also the potential for much reward. “On the other hand it also is becoming obvious that those who avoid the painful encounter with the unseen are doomed to live a supercilious, boring and superficial life.” (pg. 37) I have allowed myself to experience the painful encounters and relate all too well with this quote: “It is a painful fact indeed to realize how poorly prepared most Christian leaders prove to be when they are invited to be spiritual leaders in the true sense.” (pg 37) Yet while there has been much pain and I do not feel I have always proven myself as a even good spiritual leader, I must not, I can not ignore my/our basic task of leading other people out of a state of confusion into a state of hope and love in Christ. This is essentially our basic call. Thus I/we must take the courage be an explorer of new territories or new lands where pain and hurt lie but hope can prevail. I have been an explorer on an exploration for the last ten months.

As an explorer I / we are called to be in the midst of people while showing compassion, grace, love.

“The compassionate man stands in the midst of his people but does not get caught in the conformist forces of the peer group, because through his compassion he is able to avoid the distance of pity as well as the exclusiveness of sympathy. Compassion is born when we discover in the center of our own existence not only that God is God and man is man, but also that our neighbor is really our fellow man. Through compassion it is possible to recognize that the craving for love that men feel resided also in our own hearts, that the cruelty that the world knows all to well is also rooted in our own impulses. Through compassion we also sense our hope for forgiveness in our friends’ eyes and our hatred in their bitter mouths. ” (pg 41)

Through this type of compassion we bring ourselves to the level of others because we realize that we are all just the same. We are all human with the capability to have bitter mouths and cynical spirits. Yet we (I), whom are followers of Christ, are also given the ability, the power, and the hope to truly relating to others through solidarity, grace, compassion, and love. This solidarity, grace, compassion, and love will open ourselves up to the world of hurt, pain, and suffering; but we, through Christ, can rise to redemption, healing, and health as wounded fighters! As Christians, we are not asked to nervously go around trying to put people on the “right track”.

"For we are redeemed once and for all. The Christian leader is called to help others affirm this great news, and to make visible in the daily events the fact that behind the dirty curtain of our painful symptoms there is a something great to be seen: the face of Him in whose image we are shaped.” (pg 44)

As we break this cycle (of living behind the dirty curtain and living in our pain and hurt and suffering), we are able to see new and creative avenues of life. All of a sudden, we have the hope and ability to dream! And we, as mere humans, desiring to be used as vessels of the Lord’s great redemption and love, PRAY, PRAY that we will be able to give others clarification in the midst of confusion, compassion to see the wide world of humanity, and the ability to be creative as we live and work in this broken soon to be redeemed world.

Let us pray.

Link to Namibia Photo Book

Hey Friends.

Here is a link to the Snapfish photo book I made of my time in Namibia!

Enjoy.

alysse

http://www5.snapfish.com/snapfish/projectshareewelcome/l=3502334027/p=918201316561387866/g=6805490027/cobrandOid=1000/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish/otsc=SYE/otsi=SPBKlink/

Life goes on...

First, I must apologize for not blogging since I have returned to the U.S. I’ve been lazy and I would like to say I will continue to blog, but I’m doubtful.

Current life.

I returned to the U.S.A. on August 4^th! Since flying into Indianapolis I have been in Michigan the majority of my time including bit of time to the Upper Peninsula. Outside of spending time in the Michigan, I have also visited family in North Carolina and my friend Jennifer Allen (and family) in Georgia. In between those travels, I have also spent some time in Indianapolis, Indiana; enough time to get a job in a PEDS Intensive Care Unit (Riley at Methodist). I will start is next Monday (September 26, 2011).

Namibia.

As my time in Namibia came to a close I was blessed to realize my impact on others was essentially relational. I trust that from working at Rundu State Hospital, to living in a village, to simply interacting with others that many of the friendships and relationships I made showed others a different way to view and relate not only with God but also our relationship with this world. There is no great way to measure ones effect on another when is comes to simple relationships, but I pray it was and will continue to be profound.

Travel in Africa.

The last month in Africa was a lot of travel! Praise the Lord for safety and overall great transportation. I am grateful that this time could be spent in Lusaka with the Zebells (helping build a school), Livingstone (Victoria Falls) relaxing, and in Cape Town visiting a close University friend and her husband.

(For almost a month in a row a lost one nights sleep each week due to travel!!!)

Words cannot express how thankful I am for you to have been involved in this journey and exploration, I have been on over this last year. I would love sit down with you over a cup of coffee and share with you more. Please do not hesitant to contact me.

In Christ’s Love,

Alysse Cuthbert

alysse.cuthbert@gmail.com

Zambia

So for the last few weeks I have had the honor of being in Zambia.
I have found the people to be very warm and welcoming!

It has been encouraging to worship with a solid Church in Lusaka. I even sung with the worship team on Sunday... I'm glad they did not try to give me a microphone (and that they sing so loud that they probably did not even hear me!!! ) Last Saturday we spent the entire day at church. After youth meeting in the morning we had a meal and then crashed a wedding. I was very curious to what an African wedding may look like... it really was extremely similar to an American wedding... I think I really need to go to a traditional African wedding! Later that afternoon we sang for several hours... it was very encouraging.

We have been helping to encourage the building of a school in a village just outside Lusaka. The progress has been outstanding! The walls are almost done and the roof is to go on next week! Today we gave out the some of the T-shirts that Mrs. Zebell collected in the Dowagaic area. It went pretty well! I have also enjoyed many encouraging conversations with my parents, the Zebells, and a few Zambians.

One more notable thing... we went on a short Safari to Kafue National Park. It is huge park! Within five minutes of getting to our campsite we were told a Leopard was near... this is why the monkeys were chirping sooo very loud (they sounded like birds!) Just a few minutes later I saw a glimpse of that Leopard! It was not thought of the Leopard being close by (they tend to be shy animals) that kept me up that night... It was the sound of hippos or that I cold while still sharing a single bed next to Laura (we had many blankets). Sadly though I have yet to see a Lion in the wild.

Not sure if I will update again before I return to the U.S... My flight leaves Capetown Aug. 4th.

Cheers from Zambia!

Blessed.

I am sitting on the eve of the last night in Rundu as I know it.
I can not barely believe this is my last evening… it has not set in.
Over the last few weeks I have felt extremely blessed.
Most of the time we are so involved in people’s lifes;
we are so closely connected to the ups and downs, the drama, the good-n-bad that we really do not know if our actions are making an impact on other people.
Saying goodbyes sadly but truly remind me why I moved here and why I have loved it.
I will miss Rundu, Namibia.
It has changed my life forever.

travels

Friends and Family,
I'm time in Africa is going to start to get a bit hecktic. I counted the number of day trips I will be having between now and August... around nine... not including the flight home of two days. It will be comberson!

June 21- (early in the morning) leavin on the Intercape to pick up my parents in Victoria Falls.
June 23 - my parents arrive
June 24 - return to Rundu
June 24-29 - in Rundu with my parents
June 30 - return to Victoria Falls area
July 1 - rest
July 2 - travel to Luskia
July 2-18 -Team Zamibia in Luskia (with the Zebells)
July 19-20 -Victoria Falls
July 20 - parents retun to U.S.
July 21- return to Rundu
July 21 - 25 - rest in Rundu, collect my things and say goodbyes
July 26- travel to Windhoek
July 27- travel to Capetown via in the Intercape over night
Aug 3/4th - fly home

Please pray for safety and speedy travels. It can be very tiresome to travel in Africa... and long. Pray that I will not get lonely on these trips. Traveling long distences alone is not that fun.
Pray that I will be able to meet friends and have some good conversations on the road.
Pray that have smooth border crossings and no troubles with customs.

Baggage

Baggage
Physical: When you travel you realize exactly how much stuff you have. You become keenly aware of the weight of your baggage. If you are flying overseas you spend hours planning exactly what you will take making sure that it will be just a little bit less then the allowed amount.
Emotional: I do not think I need to give examples of emotional baggage we carry around! You are very aware of many of the emotions you feel – often wishing you could just hide from them. Still this baggage returns time and time again.
Spiritual: Often we have misconstrued conceptions of God and life plus how we are related. Whether we realize it or not we often lug spiritual baggage.

If someone has a formula to give me of how to carry around less baggage… I would love to hear it! Although I am doubtful that any self-help book will help!

So that leads me to…Pray. Pray. Pray. Pray.

Baby, I love you like Jesus!

Yesterday, several of my African brothers and I went to the Kavango River escorting Mrs. Mukoya who was going in a dug out canoe to Kalai, Angola.
There was a drunk man at the riverside who immediately recognized my white skin and started asking for me.

The conversation went a little like this...
"Babby, bbabbbyy, babby, tell me your name, tell me your name baby."
(First of all my name is not baby so i started to ignore him.)

But he just kept going and going on and on....

"Babby, baby, a kiss; a kiss, baby. Babby, a kiss. Baby, a hug, a hug. A hug baby."
(still ignoring him)
"Bbbaabbbyy, baby, baby i love you; baby i love you;
babbbyyy i looovvveee yoouuu like JJJEEESSSUUUSSS!!!"

* Not totally sure if he really loved me like Jesus!!*

10 Signs you Live in a Village in Africa

My Roomate Laura wrote this, but I wanted to share for I agree with it 100%!!

10 Signs you Live in a Village in Africa

1. 
   
   Your diet consists of 85% carbs, 10% peanut butter, and 5% chicken.


2. 
   
   Your first thought when it rains is that the sand will be firm for biking, praise the Lord, hallelujah, amen!


3. 
   
   You wake up at 5:30 or 6am regardless of the day because that's when the sun comes up.
   
   
4. 
   
   Having to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night is quite an ordeal, because not only do you have to get out of your nice warm bed, you also have to go out of the house.
   
   
5. 
   
   You trip over mosquito netting on a frequent basis.
   
   
6. 
   
   You almost always know exactly what phase the moon is in because it's your main source of light when showering, biking at night, etc.
   
   
7. 
   
   You are completely used to the incredulous looks and extended explanations when people ask you where you live.
   
   
8. 
   
   You have ever received a marriage proposal within ten minutes of meeting someone.
   
   
9. 
   
   The decision of whether or not to wash your hair is entirely dependent on the outdoor temperature.
   
   
10. 
    
    Improvised sign language is a language.

Aurola and Paulina

Aurola, Paulina, and I

Several months ago (January) I told to the story of Aurola.

Let me recap some of her story for you if you do not remember.

In 2007, Aurola came to Namibia. Currently, she is taking care of her “adopted” grandmothers (3 widowed women). Aurola is sixteen years old (seventeen on February 2nd) and had attended schooling up to grade 7 in Angola; however, moving to Namibia forced her into a school system that spoke a language she had never spoken before. She started grade 5 this past week. While living with her adopted grandmothers, Aurola has to haul water, pound pap for food, and help care for the grandmothers in return they have given her a place to live. Aurola like a good majority of teenagers struggles intensely with self-confidence, feeling loved, and the temptation to have sex. On last Friday morning when she found out that she was 30 weeks pregnant I can only imagine what she may have been feeling. While she had know for a while she had been pregnant, she wanted to “hide” it from everyone. I know she feels a lot of shame for being “impregnated” (as the locals would say) by a boy similar in age to her. On Friday morning she also found out that she could not get an abortion (her first choice- but it is illegal here). Friday night she tired to hang herself from a beam in her mud hut using a red tie that typically they wear to church. I spent a day of so with her after she attempted to hang herself, then took her back to stay with her family.

Over the next couple of months I would go visit Aurola. I would like to say these visit felt profitable and enjoyable, but to be honest talking to Aurola is like pulling teeth. She is not a very open person nor is she that willing to open up to me. It has been frustrating.

On March 22nd (my nephew and one of my best friend’s birthday) Aurola had a little baby girl. I visited her that afternoon in hospital and the following day. Paulina was a beautiful baby girl and looking into her cute little face I was honored that I was able to her even see her face.

These last two month have been even more difficult to visit her as I live quite a distance from her; but on Saturday Aurola, Paulina, Fayha, Anna and I walked into town and had a picnic lunch. Fayha and Anna had a blast playing in the sprinkler! On the way back people told them they were wearing “wash and wear” clothes!

Please pray that these girls will value themselves and see the value in staying pure. On one visit with Aurola, I sat there wondering how long it may be till she would have another child. It was a sobering thought. Also pray that they Lord will continue to have these girls open up too me. They are quite closed!

questions...

While living in Africa I must admit to becoming increasing confused at a few basic things.

Much of my confusion has spawned from a differences in cultures, values, language (or lost in translation), and backgrounds etc.
So bare with me on in my desire to grasp a better picture of these questions:

> How do we really know if someone is telling you or living what they say?

> What is true (not what is truth, but ‘what is true?’)?

> How do you really show people love in a God-honoring it without being misinterpreted in both positive and negative ways?

> What does it mean to show respect and adapting to your situation versus being yourself and your own personality?

> What is appropriate an amount of help to give another without depowering them or giving them life on a platter?

Any help on any of these questions would be greatly appreciated!!

Highlights from Rundu, Namibia

Six months ago I left home to begin a grand journey.
My life has grown and changed and I will never the same again.

Village Life.
Within a couple of months of moving to Namibia I saw an opportunity to break cultural norms and prejudices by moving from town to a local village Kaisosi. Just this morning when telling someone where I live she was shocked. She said, "But only black people life there!" Little did I know that much of my ministry is to break down walls of apartheid. There are many ways one can break down walls of apartheid, and living in the village is just one. Moreover, I have learned that it is essential to treat all people no matter their race or socioeconomic level with love and respect. In 1991, Namibia gained independence but deep-seeded roots of "Whites are better than blacks" still exists. Just yesterday, I was telling a boy, "Not we ‘white people’ are not better, just different. He thought because we had more things we were innately better. The clothes one wears and the job that one has does not make you innately better or worse. Even in the West, we compare. "I'm more attractive (better) for I get to wear name brand clothes." We need to stop comparing.

Rundu State Hospital.
Another main area of ministry is working and serving at Rundu State Hospital. I primarily work in the Theatre. We do not watch movies *unless we are really bored!* typically we just watch surgery. Yes, the Theatre means Operating Room. Some days are very busy and others are quite slow. Most days I scrub at least a couple of cases and lately we have been a bit understaffed. I realized recently that there are only six people in all of Rundu that are trained to do my job, including myself--only six people who know how to scrub surgeries! In the theatre, I have seen some strange and unique things, but the most frequent cases we get are exploratory laboratory and c-sections. We often get cases from a day of two travel into Angola. These cases frequently are quite complex and very advanced. One of the biggest hindrances to health care is its lack of availability. Angola has a poor system of health care so being a bordering city to Angola, we receive a large number of cases from Angola.

Upcoming adventures.
My time with Africa Inland Mission is quickly coming to a close. I anticipate spending a couple weeks in July with my parents who will be visiting. Together, we will travel to Zambia and work with a family from the church my dad pastors, the Zebells. We will be assisting in the building of a Christian school in Zambia. I also plan on doing a bit of travel before returning home in August.

In Christ,
Alysse
alysse.cuthbert@gmail.com

Uniquely Namibian

Unique things that you will only truly understand if you come to Namibia….

“That side” – with a click in a general direction. Inside of saying I live on Pinegrove street, just click in a general direction and say, “that side”.

Lots of people say, “Is it?” which half the time I reply with “It is!” – This means something similar to someone saying, “Really?” or “Is that true?”

Shaking the bus so that you can squeeze in just a little more gas.

Understanding the importance of Sunlight and Moonlight: Sunlight means you can be outside, cook and bike without falling in pot holes. Moonlight is very helpful when you are bathing outside.

When it rains people say, “Today is a day for the blankets.” Meaning you want to sleep all day and not work!

As a white person I feel strange if I am NOT being stared at and hollered at. When I see a lot of white people I feel very out of place!

It is not people that scare me it is dogs!

Yes, I have turned into an African for…
I can make the squeaky sound when doing laundry.
I do not mind eating the same types of food daily.
I walk.
I get very cold when the temperature is anything below 70 degrees.

Independence day vs. TB

Independence Day verses International Tuberculosis (TB) awareness: On Monday March 21st 2011 it was the 21st Birthday of Namibia – their Golden Birthday! Independence Day! Many of the shops were closed and no school, a national holiday. Unlike Independence day in America though there were no great celebration, except maybe a few braiis (cookout) and I believe the main event for the day may have been rained out. On Thursday, March 24th 2011 it was International TB awareness day events. Did any of you know that?! It was a big deal here in Namibia. There was packed out event to bring awareness to TB. First there was a parade from the hospital to the sports stadium. At the stadium there was a drama, singing, and speakers from the World Health Organization, USAID speaker, and the Minister of Health for Namibia. I laughed as I compared and contrasted U.S.A. culture from Namibian culture. Hardly anyone in the U.S.A. even knows what TB is but everyone knows how celebrate Independence Day! When asking a friend about why they celebrate TB awareness day more then Independence Day, he replied, “TB is something that affects a large population now. Family members and friends are dying from not seeking proper treatment. We care about the things that are really affecting our country today.” Made me ponder. Do we care more about our past and traditions over the health of the future? (sorry i am posting this so late... will try to post again soon on more current events)

Moving.

I will be moving to Kaisosi village (tor the time being). For a variety of different reasons, Laura and I have chosen to go live with a family in Kaisosi!! At times we are excited and other times a bit hesistent.

What this means is for you:
1. I will not be online very often. Only when I return to the area I was staying prior will I be able to use the internet.
2. Sorry if i have a delayed response.

What this means for me:
1. Huge amounts of change... Laura and I were joking about what we should give up for Lent. We decided on nothing because moving out there means we will be giving up a lot of the comfort of living a western lifestyle. For example: a sink, a toliet, a shower, a washing machine, a longer communit to work on bike, and limiting my food to mainly pap and bread.
2. I will be living with a family. i am excited about this and also a little nervous as it will mean i need to be alot more flexiable (crying babies).
3. I will get to be able to live with and among the people in much closer community! It breaks the majority of social and traditional norms for white people to live in a village setting.

Pray.
Please pray for me in this transition. I listened to a sermon on motives this morning and it reminded me that I should not make this move because I want to "look more spiritual" by sacrificing some of my "western" privaleges, nor should I move just because I personally want to prove something. So specificly please pray for my attitude, motives, sleep-patterns, relationships with people at the hosptial and at home (that neither of them will suffer), strength and health. Pray that through breaking "western" norms we will be given the oppertunity to share the love of Christ with people and be an example of what it means to humble and gracious as Jesus was.

What is for dinner?

Pap/ Maize Meal
Sometimes after you live someplace a while things that you at first found strange or unique become much more of normal life. One of these things is the foods that Sub-Sahara African people eat. Pap or maize meal is defined as “a traditional porridge made from miele-meal (ground maize *corn* or other grain)”. I would like to compare it to consistency cream of wheat or grits. Pap with thick consistency can be held in one’s hand. It is bland, but with a large variety of sauces and some meat (typically chicken, beef, or fish) that you more-or-less dip the maize meal in, adds a large variety of taste. I think it tastes pretty great. You can also make smooth pap that is soft and eaten with a spoon. Add a little butter and some brown sugar… yummy!!! It tastes really good for breakfast for if you have an upset tummy.

Cheap!
Maize meal is very filling and cheap! Please go look in the store for me because I would like to make you some when I return.

How to make it?! Don’t get burned!
So the process with behind maize meal is quite complex. You can buy maize meal (similar to buying flour) in the store or you can pound and sift and pound and sift to make it. You can also have to allow it dry for an extended period of time before you make it. There are special techniques to cooking it as well. For example, you take the pap and put it in cool water to let it get absorbed and then you add it to a boiling pot of water. You have to figure out how much pap is needed for the pot of water. No receipt, no measuring- all technique. When a large pot is boiling - watch out. I have also been burnt -it is not fun.
Making pap over fire!

Sauces
So one of the sauces they frequently make is “green chicken”. There is a large variety of editable leaves (like “green chicken”) that you can also cook down to a paste. Add a little salt and maybe part of a soup packet. Yummy!!!

Now it’s time to eat. Well almost.
Do not be surprised if you cook the pap and let it cool (or something?!) for up to two hours … by now it is about eight or nine at night. *For a good majority of Africans this is their only substantial meal of the day.* Now wash your hands in a same basin as everyone else before you eat (sometimes you have soap). You have dished out one bowl for the children, one for the men, and one for the women. You will all share your one bowl but in separate locations. No need for a fork or spoon. Eat with your hands. (I personally think eating with a spoon makes it taste a little metallic). And don’t forget your fried chicken, which is some of the best fried chicken I have ever eaten! Every little kwinbo (little group of houses – typically mud) has their own unique traditions. For example, in the kwimbo I have stayed at the women eat on a blanket as you walk into the house.

Ok, so now you have finished your first African meal in the village and it is time for a bath out of basin… maybe the best part of your day!!! So refreshing! I am not kidding!

More information:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pap_(food)

Refreshing

Today was just one of those days that made me fall in love with this place even more. This morning Laura and I set off on foot for Church, yet did not have directions to the Church. My friend had texted me “I will direct you”. I will direct you where?! :) When you receive texts of that nature or directions with a finger snap and general wave of hand you often wonder if you will really get to your destination! People are often very vague; sometimes you can use for your advantage and sometimes it is annoying. We were able to meet my friend and proceeded to Church. It was a good service (that did not last all day!!) and they preached from the Bible! Out of all the Churches I have attended in Namibia this was my favorite! I hope I can go again soon. The preacher spoke in English but the sermon was translated also into Portuguese and Rukwangali. They spoke very clearly. It was great to be able to follow the sermon so well, but also learn some language at the same time.

After Church we had been invited to eat dinner with a family. These invitations come few and far between but what made this dinner extra special is that we were able to cook. I felt like one of the family! While in no way do I want to boast about my African cooking skills (still learning), I feel as if I am getting better. There are specific techniques that one must learn to cook pap and mutate properly. I also loved our dinner conversation about things that really matter like salvation and having a real relationship with the Lord. Not very often do the people here have truly meaningful and deep conversations. It was so refreshing! Other highlights of the day was playing hide-n-seek with a six year old and feeding a six month old.

My heart is overflowing with joy.

Thank-you Lord for days like today!

p.s. I hear rain drops hitting our roof! I love the rain!

"So much to say, but not really sure what to say…"

First and foremost, I am curious what you all would like to hear as my time progresses in Namibia - Stories of people’s lives? Interesting things in about this unique African culture? What I am doing on a daily basis? Hospital life? Trials? Triumphs?
I also would enjoy hearing about your life and what you have been up to over the past couple of months. I have been here for about four months now and feeling somewhat disconnected with all of you so please share with me a funny story about your life.

Brief highlights:
“Stories of people’s lives?”
The longer I live hear the more I realize that almost every person has a unique story that often contains a lot of hurts and trials and triumphs. Kahilu and Ernest are two of my better friends and we have a ton of fun hanging out. They are really helpful in teaching us cultural things and allowing us to experience things uniquely Africa. As I have learned more and more about their life and story, I realize they too have a unique story which is really not so unique for Africa. Neither of these boys have fathers in their life. Kahilu never has known his father and Ernest’s father has passed away. I think I have met one or two families here that have two parents in the home.

“Interesting things in about this unique African culture?”
As I mentioned above something uniquely African is the unique family unit. Nuclear family is not at all similar to the nuclear family in America. Frequently, mother’s send their young children to live with their grandparents. The family I stayed with last week had a great nephew living with them even though his biological family lives only a mile away. Confusing. Most of the time I do not really know what child belongs to whom. While family is highly valued it is not so much the nuclear family that is valued but extends to the extended family. More or less family is those you live with and around. It’s hard to explain the concept of family because is some aspects family is stronger in Africa and in other aspects is much looser.

“What I am doing on a daily basis?”
Working at the hospital - theatre, community health - villages, team days, and meeting with random people or visiting with friends. Last Friday I went to a track and field meet for several hours in the afternoon. Most days seem pretty full after work, but a good majority of the time I do not really plan out my weeks or days in advance, I just let the day progress… that is the African way!

“Hospital life?”
Last week I saw something I have never seen before nor do I ever want to see again.
I saw a hand completely hanging off the bones in your arm. Image seeing the end of radius and ulna (arm bones) while having ALL of you tissue around your bones fall off so your hand it only hanging on by tissue. Yeah, it looked like I came out of a horror movie.

“Trials?”
Hotness! It is suppose to be the rainy season but it has only been raining about once a week. It is has been SUPER Hott so please please please - Pray for rain! I have never loved rain so much. Last night when I was once again was unable to use a fan (our electric went out) it was quite disheartening.
I have a ridiculous number of bug bits.
I slightly sprained my ankle today.

“Triumphs?”
Biking. I bought a bike so I am able to get around a little more quickly. This has been very helpful for all of last week I was able to commute from Kaisosi village. I was a little nervous about biking in the heat and very sandy/ bumpy roads. Just image biking on the beach in July! It was not as bad as I thought it would be and I made it!!
On Thursday evening Laura’s bike (my roommate) was stolen. We were mad to say the least. However, the amazing thing about this small town is today Laura and I were walking to OK Foods for groceries, and guess what, we saw her bike. We ask who claimed to own the bike, but no one said it was their bike. About 20 seconds later we were crossing the road with her bike!!!

“So much to say, but not really sure what to say…”

Theatre - Rundu State Hospital

Since moving to Africa I have posted very little about my job… what I do most of the time!
Yes, I am working in the Theatre (operating room) in Rundu State Hospital!
I have starting scrubbing surgeries again (I had to wait a LONG time for paperwork to get processed.)

I scrub about one or two surgeries a day – depending on how many people surgeries we have and how many people we have working. I have learned to scrub C-Sections… one of the fastest surgeries that you can possible scrub. I have also learned the in’s and out’s of pre-operative and post-operative care.

Let me take a week ago Friday as an example of a busy day… we did 6 surgeries among 4 nurses between 09:30 and 13:00, including pre-op and post-op: 2 eye surgeries, 2 hernias and 2 mass excisions. It always is extra busy when we do not have any student nurses helping out or turning over rooms.

The people I work with in the Theatre have been great and I have really enjoyed these making these relationships. I have started to invite, on occasion, different people from the Theatre over for dinner, and this has allowed me to get to know some of them on a more personal level. They are very kind and treat me like a princess, esp. the Cubian doctors! :)

My Wallet

You often realize the value of a simple possession like a wallet, when you lose. Yes, as you may have guessed, I lost my wallet! Losing a wallet in the U.S.A. means you put your credit cards on hold and re-apply for your license. Yes, it is annoying and frustrating… but now image trying to do that living in Africa!

Friday, January 7th I lost my wallet on my walk home from work. It must have slipped out of my pocket at some point. I did not realize I had even lost my wallet till that evening after my roommate Laura had taken a walk. When she returned, she mentioned she had been stopped by some white guys in a truck, asking her if she had lost or knew of a person who lost a wallet. Immediately, I got up to double check I had my own wallet. After tearing up the house and with no wallet to be found, Laura and I started to put our heads together about her interaction with the guys that stopped her. They said, “It was a girl (white) had blonde hair. A black wallet and there was 50 Namibian.” Yes, I am a white girl but I do not have blonde hair, it’s brown. My wallet it brown, not black; but I knew I only and exactly 50 Namibian in my wallet. I was pretty sure that was my wallet! The boys also mentioned that they worked at a butchery shop next to a hardware store. The next morning Laura and I set off on foot to visit every butchery shop in town! In the first week that I lived here a friend from the hospital, Modias, made me a map of the city. It was a great map so I called him up for help. He made sure that we hit all the butchery shops in Rundu. Now take a moment to picture two white girls walking in, trying to explain why you were at their butchery shop looking for a lost wallet (which you did not lose in their store or even near by!!) It was rather comical!

After a couple of hours of searching with no luck I started to accept the fact that I may never see my wallet again. It was sobering. Three times over the next week, I went to the police station, praying and hoping someone would have turned in my wallet. At this point I did not care about the credit cards - I had them on hold and could easily reapply for a new credit card - the only thing I really cared about was my license.

Two weeks before moving to Africa I unofficially moved addresses to back to my parents address, but I did not reapply for a Michigan driver license. Reapplying for an Indiana license was also not going to be possible for I was not living in the same address on my license and technically not even in Indiana. After reading for about an hour to attempt to reapply for a license, I succumbed to the fact I may not have a license till I returned to America this fall. This would mean I technically should not drive nor could I ever provide for someone two sources of identification, someone often important when traveling. Another very sobering thought.

On Thursday, January 20th, I was taking the same walk I take to everyday to work every day. Almost half way to town, I was stopped by a woman in a truck. She said, “Hey did you lose a wallet; is this your wallet?” As held up my wallet!!! I leapt and yelled… “YES, YES, YES!!!” Running to her truck I could barely believe I was holding my wallet again. Everything was still in it! My credit cards, my 50 Namibian, and most importantly my license. It was a miracle!

Whoever picked up my wallet has family who works the butchery shop next to the hardware store in town. We had been to this butcher shop, but I do not believe all the family nor the employees aware that I had lost my wallet. They were waiting to see me again to give it to me.

As I reflect on this phenomenal story I am truly amazed! Who would think you could lose your wallet in Africa and have it laid back into your hand almost two weeks later with nothing stolen. It is a miracle of the Lord! Phenomenal!

to say the least...

I have learned a couple of things in Africa
(to say the least).

1. Nothing is really straight forward.
You have a problem.
You have a great solution.
It probably will NOT work! Ha!!

2. Appearances are everything – you may have perfectly fine intentions with good morals and a positive way to accomplish that goal, but things can be misinterpreted so easily. It also can be comical what types of lies people make up in order not to take any shame for their actions.

3. “China shops” charge more for their items if you are white … most any white person is viewed as $$ sign. Befriend an African and have them do your shopping!

p.s. Things in Africa are really not that much cheap than in the U.S.A.

4. Non-verbal communication or sign language is pretty effective especially when you do not know the language!!

5. In the Theatre (Operating Room) I have had to learn how to do cases with almost NO equipment!
I also have seen some of the most disgusting things anyone may ever see.
(Example- TB puss filled tumor the size about 3 softballs. Extra precautions?! What are those? What is MRSA comparied to a raging TB infections? No TB masks! At least we did NOT keep that suction tubing!)

P.S. I ALWAYS double glove and make sure I have eyewear, for Dr. Matt.

Oh, you never know what you may find when you do a C-Section… like two babies instead of one (that happened to me last Friday)!

6. Africa is HOT! Everyone sweats.
I think I am starting to smell like an African!

7. Time is a relative thing!
Events are where it’s at!

8. In Africa you walk.

9. African people are some of the most creative people I have ever met; sadly they do not always live up to their potential.

10. Cleanliness is NOT next to Godliness!

Aurola

As I reflect on the last week or so my thoughts spin as I have no good place to start! The Lord ordained several moments in the last week. I had no idea of what I was in store for.

Let me start with my home stay. I spent two nights over three days in the village setting of Africa, aka a mud hut with a tin roof. I learned many of the techniques of how to effectively live a very simple life. It was beautiful to say the least. During my time in Ndama, I was able to meet with a couple of girls who, Lord willing, I will be able to meet with on a regular basis. I just want to be their friend, help them with school, and give them confidence to make wisdom decisions as a young women. I am unsure if any or them are truly believes in Christ, while I am fairly confident most of them attend Church on a regular basis. Little did I know those few moments would shape my entire weekend.

Friday evening I received a phone call that one of those girls, Aurola, tired to commit suicide. Aurola’s story is quite complex, but I will do my best to paint a picture of what brought her to that all-time low point. Aurola grew up in Angola for the majority of her childhood and this is still were her mother resides and some siblings (I am not sure exactly how big her family is; family is somewhat a lose term here.). Aurola’s father has passed away.

In 2007, Aurola came to Namibia. Currently, she is taking care of her “adopted” grandmothers (3 widowed women). Aurola is sixteen years old (seventeen on February 2nd) and had attended schooling up to grade 7 in Angola; however, moving to Namibia forced her into a school system that spoke a language she had never spoken before. She started grade 5 this past week. While living with her adopted grandmothers, Aurola has to haul water, pound pap for food, and help care for the grandmothers in return they have given her a place to live. Aurola like a good majority of teenagers struggles intensely with self-confidence, feeling loved, and the temptation to have sex. On last Friday morning when she found out that she was 30 weeks pregnant I can only imagine what she may have been feeling. While she had know for a while she had been pregnant, she wanted to “hide” it from everyone. I know she feels a lot of shame for being “impregnated” (as the locals would say) by a boy similar in age to her. On Friday morning she also found out that she could not get an abortion (her first choice- but it is illegal here). Friday night she tired to hang herself from a beam in her mud hut using a red tie that typically they wear to church.

Saturday morning I went to the hospital to visit her. As crazy as it may sound (esp to medical people) she came home with me! Yes, even though I had only really met her one time prior I knew that she would not receive any sort of great care at the hospital, so since she had been given discharge orders I offered to allow her to stay with me over the weekend.

My time with Aurola went well. We were able to bond over watching a movie, making a meal together, and cleaning all the floors. My favorite moments were doing devotions together on Saturday night and Sunday morning. She read from my Bible for a long time with me. Sharing with her not only the Gospel, but also reading verses like Psalms 139:17-18 (“How precious to me are your thoughts, O God. How vast is the sum of them! Were I to count them they would outnumber the grains of sand. When I awake, I am still with you.”) You see, Rundu is a very sandy! You could never count the grain of sand in just this city alone. It was prefect word picture.

Let my word of encouragement be to you this day. No matter what you have done or how you may still screw up the Lord’s thoughts of you outnumber all the grains of sand in the world. He is thinking and wanting to love on you constantly. Are you willing to let Him?

The First Week of 2011

Dec. 30th – Jan. 1st - Rundu Beach New Year Party!! It was pretty much one of the best parties I have been too! The singing and dancing was off the hook!!! There are some amazingly talented people here. While at it may seem strange for a “missionary” to go to a party this time really helped me understand this place a lot better. I learned that people here are very similar to people at home and all across the world. They love to have a good time, relax, sing, dance, and just hang out! It may have been one of the best nights I have had since moving to Africa.

Jan. 2nd – Church at EBC NDAMA. It was great to run into a girl (Judith) I met in the beginning of December. We also had two friends over in the evening. They typically come to check their email, but since our internet was down we all just hung out. They taught us some traditional African dancing! It was a blast.

Jan. 3-7th – Work in hospital. It was pretty slow week… it’s holiday mode here!
It is raining every day now. The river has flooded and things are so green. (Our backyard garden is growing!!) It is beautiful, and nice to have relief from the heat. Let's just say it does not feel like January.

Jan. 4th – Rob, Alisa, & family – moved to Windhoek. :( They are the missionary family that lived next door.

Jan. 5th – A great evening with our team here in Namibia! Laura’s birthday (my awesome roommate)!! We got a chicken!!! (So we were supposed to get two chickens but one died in transit – Clementine smashed her! I am excited to have a “pet”. Laura named her Clementine)

Jan. 6th – We went to a 1 year old birthday party in the village. We walked there and back (about an hour and half walk one way). It was a cute party with great food and so nice to be in the village!

Jan. 7th – I ran into my friend Judith on my walk home from work so she joined me for lunch!
So that’s my week in review!! I am already anticipating this next week… I will be doing a home stay in a village.

I would love to hear how your first week of the New Year went. Email me!!

Be blessed and have much peace my brothers and sisters.
alysse