We Knew it Would be Hard
We thought we were prepared and we knew it would be hard if one of the precious babies died while we were here. Yesterday, Judah died peacefully in his sleep. He was the youngest baby at The Haven and we knew he was not gaining weight but no one knew he was that close. There was no distress and he just did not wake up yesterday morning.
Judah is now in the arms of Jesus and he is happy and healthy.
Meagan (lives here full-time and works with the babies) said that he had received more love and attention in the last three weeks than he had in his entire live. I am confident he felt the love all of our students and faculty lavished on him.
We still shed many tears.
There She Is!
I am now teaching my class at 8 am so I have more time to go over to the Haven and help with the babies. Today, one little 2 1/2 year old named, Bright, had gotten his feelings hurt and needed some extra attention. I held him and tickled him and sang with him. Before I left he gave me a big kiss on the cheek and hugged on me.
This afternoon, I was walking from the baby house over to the toddler house and Sara was holding Bright. When he saw me walking, he yelled, "There she is!" Sara lifted him over the wall to run up the sidewalk and he threw himself into my arms. That made my day!
It was also a wonderful day for Cintia, the five month old who has been so ill. I put her on a blanket on her stomach and she worked so hard to try to lift her head up. She wore herself out she tried so hard. I hope by next week she can lift that precious little head up on her own. Reagan, she needs you!
Why is it Raining????
This is the dry season. We are supposed to have sunshine everyday. Yesterday and today we have had RAIN! Water falling from the skies during the dry season. Today is cold and damp. Ick!
The Zambians hate it. Some came into class with blankets wrapped around them today.
We had our first test last week and yes, Tammie, it had to be multiple choice. As it ends up , I have 94 students! There is a graduate assistant, Brittany, here and she graded them all for me! The lowest passing score here is 40 percent. I am happy to say that the lowest grade on the test was 61 % and there were three 100%. I hope they can retain something.
On the baby front, yesterday I was holding a little 3 month old who has been very, very ill. She has not engaged with anyone but was so lethargic and one of the nurses here thought she might not live. She must be feeling tons better because yesterday she watched me and smiled and looked around for almost 30 minutes. She even tried to laugh.
That is the reason to come.
The Class Room
Well, as I talked about in the last entry, I am teaching an introductory class in speech-language pathology here at George Benson Christian College. All of the students are first year students and they were required to enroll in the class. I was a little nervous since they had very little idea of what the profession is about.
I told them the story of how the entire HIZ-Path program developed last year and then told them that they were the first speech pathology students ever in Zambia. They cheered and applauded! I was so surprised. Then I told them that if they were in the US, we would have to make a t-shirt for the event. They all thought that was a great idea! I wish there were a way to make that happen but there are not too many t-shirt printing companies around here.
Here is the classroom.
They were concerned about being able to understand my speech and requested that I use PowerPoint, so I put my sketchy notes into PowerPoint. They copy down every single word from the slides. They also all listen so very intently! They also call me “Madam” when they address me AND if they are late to class, they stop at the door and wait quietly until I nod at them and tell them they can enter! So, very different from HU students coming in late and banging the door of the classroom.
Yesterday, after class three students waited for me and said, “Madam, we would like to invite you to our game. The English and History majors have challenged the Mathematics majors to a football game and we would like for you to attend.”
They are so nice and so polite. The game was fun and the student players seemed to be showing off some for our students.
I administered the first test yesterday, Friday, so we will see what happens!
Here are the students diligently copying from the PowerPoints.
The student blog is up and running at www.hiz-path.blogspot.com They are doing a fabulous job and actually tell what is happening each day. I spend so much of my day driving them around and preparing for my class that I don't get much time to play with the babies.
HIZ-Path
I just taught my first class in Zambia. I had 80 students ( 18 were sick or did not show up for the term). It took me 25 minutes to call the roll and I just called their first names!! I am hoping that tomorrow will only take 10.
Arrangements: I have the back corner bedroom in the Mann House (where the Pippins were last year), Marta Fetterman (Brittany’s mom) has the other bedroom on that side of the house. The two bedrooms closest to the Hamby house each have two bunk beds in them and the eight students are sleeping there. Becky and Sara have the Mann “back house”. Two bedrooms with two twins in each, a small bathroom but no shower or tub. Leonard is cooking everyday except Sunday (we cook) and it is fabulous. We eat on the veranda of the Hamby house. By the end of the week it will have a family of four and a single man living in it. Another group is also coming by the end of the week.
I am driving the HIZ 12 passenger Land Cruiser. It is tan colored with a Namwianga Mission Symbol on the side. We have named it Khaki Jacki and it just seems to fit. Right now I am the only one who can drive a stick shift. On these
We have been treated royally and welcomed with open arms. Kathi Merritt has opened all her records for the babies for our research and given us carte blanc to do anything how ever we want with the babies. We are trying to develop a way to feed the babies so that they do not lie on their backs all the time…there are NUMEROUS ear infections and research tells us that feeding them on their backs is a bad thing. Right now they have my travel pillow shaped like a horseshoe and filled with those little pellets as a tester and it seems to be working well.
Let me say this trip is NOT “sightseeing for Jesus!” We are working so hard. We leave the houses at 8:30 am, come home for lunch at 1 pm., they are walking back to the Haven and Kelly’s house (about 23-30 minute walk) at 2:30 pm and stay there until 5 pm. Then they get a warm shower and get to relax for a few minutes. If the internet is up we try and quickly send messages. We also have a “staffing” time every night to make sure all are on the same page regarding hours and documenting what we are doing. We are so ASHA correct it is scary!
The children at the Haven and Kelly’s House are starved for someone to interact with them. The older ones will sit still for a solid hour and let our students sing songs, show pictures and books and just interact. How many 2 year olds in the US will sit for an hour?
It is amazing to be here with graduate students instead of undergrads. They are so much more mature! We have had a little drama here and there but they work it out. Each person on this trip has a specific role that God sent them here to carry out and each is doing an excellent job.
We are already making out long lists of things we need to make sure and have on that container shipping out in November. We now know how to negotiate situations and how to set up for the hearing screening at the basic school.
Today I paid an obligatory call on the city of Kalomo head of education and he wants me to call on the District Commissioner. There are lots of etiquette meetings that I have to make.
Hopefully, the student blog will be up and running tonight. Internet is so iffy here!
Another ASHA Convention
Julie Andrews was fabulous. She accepted an award from John and Annie Glenn (yes, they were there too!) then she talked for about 15 minutes. She was so eloquent and elegant.
Wicked! was wonderful. I want to fly up into the air like she does at the end of Act 1. I really, really liked it.
Chicago was cold and busy and fun. Our students are fun and fabulous. It was all good!
Wicked!
One week from tonight I will be at a performance of Wicked in Chicago. I am very excited about the show. I enjoy the convention that is the real reason for the Chicago trip but the highlight of the trip should be Wicked. Oh, did I mention that on Friday night I will be seeing Julie Andrews!!! She is the special guest speaker at the awards ceremony. It will be a great convention!
