Here is the picture of us up front at church on Sunday. We had just begun to sing "Lord I Life Your Name on High".

Choma

Hey everyone!

Last Friday we drove 1 ½ hours from Zimba to Choma. It ‘s been fun moving to different places, and it is neat to see how unique each place is that we are staying. The place that we are staying at now is called the Fortress, and it is a neat area that has lots of open space for us to be in. One of the unique features is that there is a pretty inside courtyard area that has green grass and an open area where we often eat our lunch or do homework.

On Sunday we went to church at Choma Central, and during the morning service all 12 of us students along with our RD got up in front of the church to sing a special song. We sang a song complete with clapping and hand motions. There was a time of testimony where a young lady gave a powerful testimony of how her mother was diagnosed with cancer, and after months of treatment she passed away. This young lady is the oldest of five children. Her testimony was that even though God did not answer her prayers the way she wanted Him to by healing her mother from cancer, God is still God. She encouraged us by saying that God knows our individual circumstances, and He has a plan for our lives, even through the difficult times.

After the restful weekend we jumped into clinicals for Monday and Tuesday. We have been at Choma General Hospital, which is quite a bit larger than the hospital at Zimba. On Monday we started out with a tour of the hospital, and then we were sent to our various clinical assignments.  I was in the ARV (anti-retroviral) clinic during the morning. The hospital provides free ARV medications to patients with HIV, and it was neat to see how many people were eager to get help and complying with the treatment—the clinic sees about HIV positive 80 patients a day!

Tuesday Andie and I spent the day on the Maternity Ward. Since there were six babies delivered the night before, most of the moms were discharged this morning (they usually discharge new moms 6 hours after delivery). We spent most of the day following the gynecologist while he did rounds, and while he saw patients for the women’s health clinic. Some common problems seen in that clinic were PID (pelvic inflammatory disease), uterine fibroids, infertility, and UTIs. The doctor was great at asking questions, and he would often say what the symptoms were, and ask us what we thought the diagnosis would be. He also let us help with calculating gestational age, measuring fundal height, and using the fundoscope to hear the fetal heart rate.

The past two days have been full of good learning experiences. Some girls on the team have gotten to help with procedures like dressing changes, Foley catheters and suctioning. We have each had unique experiences in the hospital because each ward is quite different. Tomorrow is Wednesday, and that means we’ll have a full day of class. We are all looking forward to having a chance to sit down and take a break from the more strenuous and draining hospital environment.

On a personal note, this time in Choma has been a really neat time of reminiscing for me. My parents lived in Choma for 4 years when they first became missionaries in to Zambia (I was 2 years old when we first moved here). I’ve been able to see quite a few people that I knew from my childhood, and it is totally awesome to have the opportunity to be back here again.

Thanks for reading and keeping up with us! We appreciate your prayers for us and all the new things we are experiencing here.

Love,

Hannah 

Here Come Clinicals!

Hello everyone! Mwapona buti!

It has started off as a busy and exciting week here in Zimba as we started our clinicals at Zimba Mission Hospital on Monday.  This week we have different groups in the hospital and some out in the communities doing a Measles campaign.  On Monday I was able to spend my day in the male and female wards.  The first day of clinical at a new hospital is always a hard adjustment trying to become accustomed to the protocols of the hospital and the roles of the nurses and nursing students.  The census for Monday morning included seven males and eleven females.  The male and female wards are separate with one nurse in each ward.  The hospital is very different compared to American hospitals with the beds right next to one another and no patient privacy. However, this allows for some good laughs with us practicing our Tonga with the patients and families.  The morning consisted of me following the nurse on the doctor’s rounds.  The nurses and doctors at the hospital are extremely beneficial and really take the time to explain everything and get the nursing students involved.  Their intelligence is very inspiring.  Think about in the United States how we have specific doctors and physicians in specialized areas.  For example, if someone has a heart problem they would be sent to a cardiologist.  But the doctors here are the ones taking care of everyone and know how to process through the next steps for the care of patients. 

A few of us were able to practice some of our nursing skills for the first time on actual patients.  I attempted to put in a NG (nasogastric) tube in a patient who previously had a stroke.  It was hard working with him because he was not oriented to his surroundings.  The bed siders were a big help.  It is always exciting and scary the first time doing a skill in the hospital setting compared to the nursing skills lab.  The nurse came along side of me and finished up the procedure since I couldn’t get it all the way in.  Even though I couldn’t quite accomplish the procedure, I was so thankful to get past that first experience mark and know more of what to expect. 

Nursing care looks very different here in Zambia.  The bed siders (the families of the patients) play a huge role in caring for the patients.  They are the ones who bathe the patients, clean the patient’s bed, and even hold their medications for them if the patients are gone from their beds.  I will take a safe guess and say that we all wanted to come to Zambia to be a source of help, but it was very important for us to understand the roles of the nurses in Zambia.  Even though we are used to cleaning and bathing patients in the U.S. , we cannot change the expectations of nurses here.  Working the hospital made me truly appreciate the role and help of the bed siders. 

  

Today, four of us including one of our professors, Carol went out in the community for the Measles campaign.  Since we went out into the community we had to wear our skirts and our sneakers-great look (picture included!) We were definitely out in the bush and people walked from all over to get their measles vaccine along with Vitamin A and Mebendazole (a medication to get rid of worms).  We treated children from 6 months to 15 years.  The four of us students along with some Zimba nurses vaccinated a little over 350 people!  We definitely got our practice in for giving shots.  It was a great experience and I’m so thankful we were able to be a part of this campaign for the community.   

Most of us have experienced more in the past 2 days than over a couple of weeks at clinicals in the U.S.  It excites me knowing this is just the beginning!  God continues to reveal his faithfulness and give us His strength to learn and grow each day we are here.  He truly knows how much we can handle each day and helps us through! 

Enjoy reading! 

    

Love,

Jamie Aardema

Zambian Wedding!

     Saturday afternoon, we were privileged to attend a Zambian wedding! The bride is the daughter of a local pastor and we were graciously received as part of the town “family”. Most of the students chose to attend and we began the afternoon by lathering on sunscreen and packing up our group wedding gift including pots, pans, and bowls that we purchased at the local market earlier that morning. After a dusty three mile walk, we arrived at the celebration!

    The pastor gave a message to the couple and wedding attendants that included  most of the Biblical passages that reference marriage. He placed an special emphasis on the man and woman leaving their families and being united as one. As per tradition, the bride and groom hang their heads low and do not show any emotion of gladness throughout the entire wedding ceremony and reception. (In this culture, to rejoice as bride and groom would be to bring shame upon their family by inferring that they are happy to say “goodbye”). From time to time, an attendant would lift the bride and groom's head and stretch it from side to side followed by gently lowering the head of the bride and groom back down into the solemn posture.

     At the conclusion of the ceremony, the couple did not kiss but left with the attendants to sign the marriage documents. While the bride and groom slowly exited with heads bowed, the rest of the wedding attendants began to sing, dance, and celebrate freely inviting us to join along in the celebration! Surprisingly the singing was supplemented by a wired AV system with recorded music and we noted flashing colored lights from one of the speakers! The celebration died down only after the bridal party returned with the officiators and the signed marriage documents. The signed documents were lifted high and the attendants cheered and the women chimed in with high-pitched shrills of approval. It was time for the reception!

     We made our way out to the huts and were introduced to the traditional Zambian drink pronounced “chibwantu”. It is made from boiled corn and rice flavored by a particular tree bark. The missionary couple explained with a smile, “It is known as the drink that you can chew”. Mmm-mm. Everyone gave it a try, a few even had seconds!

     As everyone gathered for the reception, we practiced the Tonga greeting phrases we learned and smiled and laughed with children. We were seated as guests of honor right next to chairs reserved for the bride and groom. It is uncomfortable to be treated with such hospitality but the smiling demeanor of the hosts and their graciousness only implied that our presence was a delight. To say it was humbling would be an understatement.

     Several dances ensued at this point, including several from the bridal party which ended with a surprise throw of hard butterscotch candies and gum. Let me tell you, these gals did not throw underhand – a few of us got caught off guard, especially when the first row ducked! The one disadvantage to having a front row seat of honor! Finally, the newly-weds followed them in – yes, heads still bowed! (If they are caught with a smile on their wedding day, they are punished with a small fine payable to the master of ceremonies - we were assured it was small.) Mercifully, after another head stretch, they were each brought some orange soda to take as refreshment, but even still, the newly-weds were very reserved and methodical in movement.

    Several cakes were brought before the couple, but before they could cut the cake, one last dance was in order: the knife-girl dance! A young preteen girl danced her way to the couple bringing the long-awaited utensil. The married couple cut a piece of cake together, the groom fed his bride, and finally they kissed! (...but still no smile! Too bad for the MC!)

     Each attendant individually presented their gift while the crowd peered on and many sang and danced. Traditionally, when all the gifts are collected, the cash amount and total number of each utensil, bowl, and item is announced. We missed this part as we were invited to dine so we could and make it back home before dark. We were given bowls of N'shima (Zambian corn-based staple) and beef with broth – it was so good!

     It was a lovely 3 mile walk back home. The temperature was comfortable and we all talked and processed through the happenings of the day and continued appreciating the stark silhouettes as they formed on the Zambian horizon.

     In case you are wondering, the married couple is allowed to smile...the next day. :) 

Posted by RD - Kristin

p.s. just in case you were dying to know, our fantastic round-about-navigating, traffic-squeezing bus driver's name is Potiphar! (inspired by Genesis 39)                                          ~elisabeth

The Bus Trip from Lusaka to Zimba

“For he shall command his angels concerning  you to guard you in all your ways.  “ Psalm 91:11

It is probably best that a team leader describe this day in our Zambian adventures. We were up at our usual early time for breakfast in Lusaka.  We then had to find a place for twenty passengers, twenty-two 50-pound suitcases and another 18 carryon bags on the bus!  No way!   The bus driver (thinking ahead) had hired several welders to come and construct a trailer hitch that would fit on the back of the bus.  He located a small closed trailer and between the trailer and several seats in the back of the bus, we were all scrunched in for what they said would be the five hour drive to Zimba.   For the first two hours Mrs. Bence taught her Leadership class on the bus, with students working in small teams and giving reports while we jounced along.

About two and a half hours out of Lusaka, we entered the hill country.  The bus was struggling to pull all the passengers and trailer up the grades and finally the engine over-heated.  We pulled off the side of the road and waited about 60 minutes while the engine cooled. Fortunately, the driver had plenty of water to re-fill the radiator.  The students were great---playing group games, singing and improvising a “restroom” of sorts with those wonderful long dresses (chitenges).

Back on the bus and down the road.  We had a nice rest-stop and ordered lunch at a “fast food” restaurant.  One of the students (Samantha) ordered “fish and chips” and sure enough, she was handed a complete deep-fried fish---fins, tails, eyes and all along with her French fries!

The trip seemed to be going on forever, since the bus had to drive rather slowly to avoid overheating.  About a half hour out of Zimba, we heard a loud “bang” and pulled off the highway. The driver assumed we had experienced a blow-out, but all the tires looked fine.  While we were waiting a car slowed down and stopped to see if we needed help.  A Zambesian and  American walked back. The Zambesian recognized one of the students (Hannah) who had grown up in Zambia as a missionary kid.  The American turned out to be a former student of Dr. Bee’s a  Rob Murphy who is now a missionary in a nearby orphanage!   Small world!

Back in the bus and down the road.  Only now the bus was really straining and the engine was smelling a bit hot.  Finally, the bus conked out altogether just on the edge of the town of Zimba.  Ahead of where we stopped –about 50 yards—was the gate to the mission house.  It turns out that the loud bang was the radiator hose exploding into smithereens.  Nearest replacement part?  50 miles away in Livingstone.  But we were able to walk the few steps to the mission house, the hosts there used their Land Rover to bring the trailer to the front door and the adventure comes to a wonderful end.

Parents, your daughters were troopers! The “five hour” trip took over 9 hours!  What a great team of women to have on this trip.

So do I believe in Divine protection?  You bet!  Your prayers and God’s lovingkindness have brought us safely to our new home for the coming week.  We thank him for his goodness tonight.

Dr. Bee (Bud Bence)

September 5, 2012

Yesterday (September 4, 2012) we spent our day touring some local hospitals in Lusaka.  The University Teaching Hospital is the largest hospital in Zambia.  It has 1800 beds but is very understaffed.  We had a meeting with the charge nurses of each unit in the hospital and they briefly informed us of what their job was like.  At this meeting, we sat in a large conference room and we were served coffee/tea and some pastry type things and biscuits.    It was obvious that they were excited to have us there!   The nurses at UTH reported that at times the nurse to patient ratio is 1:100!  This is unheard of in the states!  In the U.S. the nurse to patient ratio is 1:4 or 1:5.   At UTH there were many nursing students and it was very interesting to talk with them.  Nurses in Zambia do not get to choose where they work.  After they graduate nursing school, the government places them wherever there is need meaning that they might be forced to leave their families.  This would definitely be really hard for me and it would make me think twice about becoming a nurse in Zambia!  After touring UTH we had lunch and then went to Levy General Hospital.  We also went on a tour here.  It was much newer than UTH but much smaller.  Overall, our day was successful but also very tiring!  I was impressed with the nurses at both hospitals we toured. 

Today (September 5, 2012) we started our day at the Beit Cure Hospital.  Right when we walked in, all of us were overcome with positive feelings and good vibes.  This hospital was awesome!  It was like the Riley Children’s Hospital of Zambia.  The staff was very happy to have us there and greeted us with open arms.  The Cure hospital focuses on treating children with neurological or orthopedic disabilities.  Some of the main disorders that they treat are hydrocephalus, Myelomeningoceles, spina bifida, club foot, and cleft palate (just to list a few).  While we were there, we saw many children in casts and with hydrocephalus.  The woman that led our tour was adamant that we all come back after we graduate and volunteer at this hospital for a year.  It was really funny because each staff member that she introduced us to, she introduced us as American nursing students that were coming back after graduation to volunteer for a year.  Personally, I would to have the opportunity to work in the Cure Hospital.  The government does not fund the Cure Organization so they have a hard time keeping nurses and doctors on staff.  The government in Zambia provides great benefits to those in the healthcare system so it is definitely a sacrifice to work for a non-government hospital like Cure.  The hospital had a few different units and each unit was a separate building.  It was open air and on an absolutely beautiful compound.  There was a place for the children to play, a place for the mothers to do laundry, a garden, and a cafeteria.  There was another group of volunteers there that made booster seats, bookshelves, chairs, and toy boxes out of recycled materials and uses a sealer that makes the items feel very solid.  These items are then sold or used in the hospital for the children there.  This group then teaches some of the children at Cure how to make these items so that they will have a job in the future. 

Overall, we were all extremely impressed with the Cure Organization.  It was a kid-friendly hospital and seemed like an ideal place to work.  Cure is a Christian based organization and the staff has the opportunity to provide holistic care for each patient by sharing the love of Christ with them.  This is something that all of us were encouraged by.  The Cure organization definitely needs donations and anyone can make a donation and learn more about this organization at www.cure.org!  So please visit the site and see what you can do to help!  It is definitely worth your time : )  They have a program where you sponsor a child that needs surgery and track their progress.   I have not had a chance to check out the website yet but I am confident that all donations are for a great cause! 

After we left the Cure Hospital we went to a nearby mall.  The mall was very Americanized and it had some great shopping!  Most of us just shopped at the grocery store and mainly bought chocolate!  They have Cadbury chocolate here and it is delish!  We then went back to the compound and had lunch.

After lunch we had two meetings scheduled.  One with CHAZ (Churches Health Association of Zambia) and World Vision of Zambia. 

On a side note: we brought a bag of Bibles to give out while we are here in Zambia.  We have gotten to know our cook and housekeeper very well, and while we were gone they noticed the stack of Bibles in the corner.  They asked what we were doing with them and one of our leaders (Dr. Bee) told them we were planning to give them out to whoever needed one.  They asked if they could have one, Dr. Bee said “of course,” and told them they could pick out whichever one they wanted.  Esther, the housekeeper was so pleased to finally have her own Bible, that it brought tears to her eyes!  We were all very touched by this story and it brought tears to many of our eyes!

It is our last night in Lusaka and we are leaving for Zimba at 9am tomorrow!  It is a 5-6 hour drive and for 2 of the hours, we are having seat time for our leadership and management course.  It should be an interesting drive!  We will update you all again in Zimba.  Please continue to pray for us!  We will definitely need your prayers in the weeks to come!  God is so good and we are being reminded daily of this in our devotionals!  We love and miss all of you!

Love,

Haley