One week down!

**This was sent about a week ago, but never went through. This is Africa. So, I am posting it now, even though it is old.**

Oh man. My time here is just flying by. I can't believe that I have already been here for a week, and that I now just have over one week left. It makes me sad to think that I am leaving this place so soon, when I just arrived here. I honestly just love it here - so many good people, and good memories. It feels somewhat like home. And the closer the time comes to leave for Tanzania, the more nervous I become. Coming here, I knew exactly what I was coming to - familiar places, familiar faces. Going there, I have no idea what to expect. I'm sure everything will work out fine, and that I will come to love it there, just as I love it here. But, part of me wishes that I could just stay here for the rest of my time. Ruhtt told me last night though that if things go wrong in Tanzania though to phone them up, and I can come back to Zambia, so that is nice to know!

The last couple days have been great as well. Monday we experienced the first (and only, so far) power outage since I have arrived, so the college Bible study was cancelled. Manuel had started feeling sick that day, so Ruhtt and Shepherd took him to the clinic at night to get some medicine. Yesterday and most of today he was still feeling sick, and just tonight has started to become more like himself, and is back to jumping around like SpiderMan, and asking "Aunty, what is your name?" He had a high fever, and one of his eyes swelled up real good. It looks like he's been in a good fight. Hopefully it heals up quickly. Ruhtt said that even though she was worried about him being sick, it was nice for a couple days as he was quiet! It's very true - the house was much quieter with Manuel being sick!

Since Manuel was sick, I stayed home yesterday (Tuesday) morning, instead of going out. I had thought that I might go with Ruhtt to Siabalumbi, or to Seven Fountains, but ending up doing more administrative type work for Ruhtt for the sponsored student program. I'm glad to be able to help her out with this kind of thing wherever possible. In the afternoon, I rode over to the clinic, and visited with the nurses. I also met and visited with David, the clinical officer, confirming that I am able to come in and observe some at the clinic. After biking home from the clinic, Shepherd dropped me off at the Haven, where I held babies for a couple hours. Cecilia has 21 babies there right now. 21 babies!! Can you imagine? The place was hopping to say the least - it seems that there was always a baby crying. I admire the auntys working at the Haven and Seven Fountains - they take care of so many babies at once, and do such a good job of it. Sally was the first baby that I held - a cute little thing. But I made the mistake of setting her back down, in order to pick up Bianca. Within a minute, Sally had started crying. The same thing happened when I set down Bianca to see another baby. So many babies just wanting to be held - if only I had more arms!

Jack Bayles ate supper at the Mbumwaes last night. He has been here for a couple weeks, and works primarily with the wells and the water situation for the Mission. I enjoyed visiting with him, and hearing what he had to say. He has some good ideas, including the bike trailers that he has built and sent over. They are sturdy, and work well for transporting goods around by the means of bicycles.

Today, I headed to the clinic and spent the morning observing with Louisa Duke and David, as they saw patients. This was a very neat experience, and eye-opening, to say the least. The differences between here and North America are astounding - wow. Every type of resource is at our fingertips back at home; here the resources are so limited, but you learn to work with what you have. I enjoyed sitting in with Louisa and David. Louisa is from the States, and is a physician's assistant. It was neat talking with her, as she told me that she felt a calling to come back to work in Africa after her first visit several years ago. I too, have felt that same pull back here once I am done school, but often downplay it, thinking I must be crazy to want that, or even telling myself that I can't be used effectively here. It has been SO encouraging to me to meet more girls around my age, who have the same desire to serve overseas with the talents and gifts that they have been blessed with, and that have the willingness to actually get up and go. Prior to meeting these girls here, it's mostly just been me and Tamara that I know of - but it is nice to know that there are more out there like us. And David is great! He is so funny - and so good at what he does! He would introduce me as Dr. Jill to all the patients, and used any opportunity he could to try and convince me to come back and work here once I am done school. I kept telling him I would have to wait and see!

Tomorrow, I am going to go with the nurses on the baby clinic to Bbello. This will be my first baby clinic, so I am excited to experience it. Ruhtt is picking up Miguel and Melina from school tomorrow, as Friday is a holiday here. The house should be more lively with those two around. I'm glad that I get to see them while I'm here.

Tonight, I watched American Idol. Am I really in Africa? It was a nice treat to be able to watch it.

Of course, one of my favourite things about here is the little children! I love them! One of my favourites has been Wendy (Kadonsi and Lezia's). She was very shy last summer, just because there were so many makuwas around. But, she is not shy at all - far from it! She is talking constantly! Her and Manuel play together all the time. The other day I was walking down the driveway towards her and Manuel and she yells out "AUNTY!" and ran full speed into my arms. She is too precious! Another little girl, Mary, lives nearby as well, and plays lots with Manuel also. Mary was a baby at the Haven with the Calders around 2003, when we were first here. She is a beautiful little thing. She's cute as she says 'aunty', and then jabbers away at me in Tonga. I have no idea what she is saying, so I just smile and nod and reply in English!

This is SO long already! But, I could just go on and on about what has been happening here. As I said before, I just love it here, and I feel so welcome and loved here! Twice yesterday, I had Zambians (David and Cecilia) tell me "You are most welcome here" repeatedly. I am glad that I am most welcome here, and feel like I can be of some benefit and encouragement to the people. As always though, I am given much more than I could ever give, and I will leave here a better person than I came. These people are a huge blessing in my life!

I'll leave it at that for tonight! Hope all is well on the other side of the ocean!

Jilly