Thursday...

10-15-04
Last night, Sharon (7) showed me her left ear- I don’t know how long it’s been like this, but she has a nasty ear infection, and its “paining a lot.” Of course I don’t know anything about ear infections, and neither do the other night housemums. But I figured it was probably not something to mess around with… blood, pus, something white bubbling inside, etc. This morning I told Kanoti about it, and he took her to the doctor. Anyway, the doctor said to clean out her ear and then put in ear drops three times a day. That was great, ‘til tonight, when I got to clean it out. I was a little nervous about the whole thing to begin with, and it only went downhill from there. Johanna held the flashlight while I tried to scoop out some of the crud in her ear with an “ear bud” (que-tip) without pushing it down any further (yes, I know you’re not supposed to do that, but that’s what the doctor said!)…yeah, it didn’t work at all. More blood, more pus, and suddenly poor Sharon started screaming at the top of her lungs (and woke up the rest of the kids). I was so sure I had ruptured her eardrum and that she would be deaf in one ear for the rest of her life… but there was no emergency room to go to, no one to take us there even if there was one, no nurses hotline, no internet to at least look up some information, nothing. I gave her some acetaminophen (advice courtesy of Caring for Your Child at Home, copyright 1972) and she was finally able to get to sleep.

10-16-04
“Uncle” Peter (housedad at GCC) spent Friday fixing the oven again, and it worked for most of Saturday… just long enough for us to bake the bread for the week. Saturday was also Ismail’s eleventh birthday, and I was waiting for the bread to finish to bake him a cake. Just as the last loaf of bread was done, the oven stopped working again (this happens every couple of weeks- it rarely works for more than a day at a time). So I made him chocolate chip pancakes on the jiko instead… it was an experiment, but actually turned out pretty well. I made him go on a treasure hunt around the house to find his present.

10-19-04
The last couple of weeks, I’ve been spending a lot more time in the Church on the Rock Academy office, helping Francis (principal) with computer stuff. Yesterday I taught my first computer class- the Standard One class (like 1st grade), and this afternoon I did Standard Two. We’re doing pretty basic stuff, like pointing and clicking with the mouse and simple typing. Overall I think it’s gone pretty well… the kids are very well behaved. When I call on one of them, they stand up and tell me the answer. Yesterday I was getting each of the kids set up with the Paint program. I was finished with the last kid, and looked up, but none of them had started painting or anything. Okay… so you guys know how to use this program, right? What’s going on? Their teacher, who was still in the room, said, “they’re waiting for you to give them further direction.”
Yesterday afternoon, Chege had another epileptic seizure while he was at school. I guess that’s what the doctors decided he has. He was unconscious and shaking for a long time and eventually woke up. We have medicine for him, and aren’t even supposed to take him in now when it happens. This morning we couldn’t wake him up, which was a little scary. He was also shaking a little bit. A few hours later he opened his eyes and talked to me for a minute, but then he went back to sleep. Later he woke up with a really bad headache, but now he’s up and seems to be doing fine. Please continue to pray for him!

10-20-04

This morning, I went to Nyumbani (Kiswahili for “home”) with the youth (ages 18-25 or so) from Church on the Rock, Langata. It’s an HIV/AIDS orphanage in Nairobi with 92 children. They put us to work right away, and I ended up in the kitchen, sorting rice for three or four hours… great fun! But it was a good chance to get to know a couple of the other girls from the youth group. The whole group decided to walk to Karen Shopping Centre for lunch, but once we got out to the main road, it took them about ten minutes to decide which way to go… and the same thing happened each time we came to an intersection. Finally, when we were almost there, someone remembered that all the shops would be closed today because it’s Kenyatta day. So we turned around and walked back. We were hoping to spend at least a little time with the kids, but when we got back, they were napping. The director of the home came and talked to us about Nyumbani and how they help the children who come to them, and then it was time to go home.

10-21-04

Today I went with Terry (GCC social worker) and Milka( Extension housemum) to take the HIV/AIDS Extension kids to Lea Toto for their medical check-ups. Lea Toto is Nyumbani Children’s Home’s community-based support program that provides medical care to HIV-positive children who still live with their families.
Sharon’s ear infection has cleared up, and she’s going to be fine. Chege hasn’t had any more seizures since Tuesday morning, but please continue to pray for him. Carlos is still in the hospital, and we haven’t heard anything new in the last couple of days. They’re keeping him there for observation, and he also needs a blood transfusion.
Penney Hatley had knee surgery on Monday, and everything went fine. She’s pretty sore, and will be on crutches for a while. Pastor Joseph, who is a missionary with Prisoners for Christ, is traveling to Western Province this weekend to visit a few new prisons. He wanted me to ask you all to pray for a safe trip and that God would work through him.

Love in Christ,
Jess

Update on Carlos

Carlos is still in the hospital- he spent the night there last night. Yesterday he was shaking and having trouble breathing, so they put him on oxygen and an IV. He is anemic, but the nurse we talked to says he is feeling much better today. We're still not sure when he will get to come home. Thank you for praying!

This morning I took Wairimu to the Dentist- she had a cavity on the side of a tooth, so the dentist pulled it out. It was a pretty quick procedure... he just reached in and yanked it out (after numbing the are, or course. It cost 500 shillings (about seven bucks!) Ok, I have to go.
-Jess

Urgent Prayer Request!

10-14-04

1:00 pm (Kenya time)
About two hours ago, Carlos (two year old boy from the GCC HIV/AIDS Extension Ward) went to the doctor for a fever and ear-infection. That shouldn’t be too serious, but the doctor thinks he is anemic, and had him taken to the hospital immediately. For most kids, this wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but since he’s HIV-positive, it is potentially life-threatening. Thank you so much for your prayers… I’ll try and keep you all posted as soon as we learn more.

finally...

10-9-04

It’s Saturday afternoon- my day off, and I slept in ‘til noon- it was great! I think after you’re here for a while, you adjust to the noise, and learn to sleep through anything.
The oldest kids are on midterm break, and have been home for a couple of days now. Lucy(16) came home from boarding school on Thursday. We’ve had fun, and I’ve gotten to spend more time with the older boys. Last night we played “basketball” until the hoop fell down, and had to be re-duct taped to the wall. It’s really good for them to have a break… they’re under a lot of pressure to do well in school, particularly the oldest kids in standard 7 (equivalent of 7th grade)- Peter, Johana, and Zawadi. These three even have to go to school on Saturdays to prepare for their exams, which will determine whether they go on to standard 8.
Yesterday, Janefer and I took Baby Hope to the doctor for her 3 month check-up. The clinic was definitely a little different than ones in the U.S., but seemed to be pretty nice. He said that she has bronchitis, and prescribed an antibiotic to prevent infection. She’s only gained half as much weight as she should have in the last month, we’re not really sure why. We’ll take her back in a week. Most of the kids (and I) are still a little sick, now they can’t stop coughing. George has it the worst, but seems to be a little better today.
A few days ago, I needed to do some laundry. All I have to wash is my own underwear, because the ladies who do the laundry for GCC wash my stuff too. Usually I
just wash my stuff in the bathroom sink, but I thought I’d go outside and try doing laundry like they do… standing up, bent over a tub on the ground. After 15 minutes, my back hurt so bad that I could hardly stand back up… I was feeling pretty pathetic, because Veronica (“Sho sho”- grandma), Khiziah, and Mama Rose spend four or five hours like that every day. They’re also a lot older than I am! So anyway, I learned that the sink really is best, and gained a new respect for the three of them.
Hannah (2 ½) is really funny in the mornings. She’s not a morning person, so I understand how she feels. For almost an hour after she wakes up, she just stands or sits there with her little arms crossed. She has a frown and blank stare, and she won’t move or talk to anyone. After a while she’s just fine. She also won’t eat… I guess she’s never been a big eater, but it’s been worse the last couple of weeks. If anyone has any creative ideas, let me know!
Thank you all so much for praying… This week has been much better than last week, and aside from being a little sick, I’m feeling a lot better about everything. God is good, and I’m learning a lot. This week, please pray for the kids and I, especially Hope, to get feeling better, and for the Church on the Rock Academy kids, who have exams starting Tuesday.

10-12-04

It’s Tuesday morning, and we had a busy weekend. The kids are back in school today (yesterday was the observance of Moi Day). Last night, the kids caught and killed one of the rabbits from the backyard… I was invited to come and watch, but had to turn them down. Wairimu (8) gave me a nice, detailed description of the whole process. Between that and a poorly-timed glance out the back door, I probably might as well have gone out and watched. They cooked it, and brought me the first piece.
Martin (12), George (10), and probably Vincent(12) are moving to the boys’ home in Nakuru in December. It’s because they haven’t been doing very well in school here, and education in Nakuru is much less expensive. For Vincent, it will depend on whether he passes his exams next month. Anyway, the boys are going to find out this week, and even though Nakuru is a good place, it’ll probably be a tough change for them. Could you please pray for them this week? Thanks.
I think that’s about it.

Love in Christ,
Jess

10-13-04

Sorry…Now it’s Wednesday and I’m finally getting this posted- the power’s been out several times over the last few days.

Monday

10-4-04
Hey everyone!
It’s Monday, and we’re a little short-handed since Elizabeth and Maryanne (head housemums) are out on the monthly shopping trip.
On Saturday, Pastor “Uncle” Peter and I took six of the younger primary-aged kids to St. Elizabeth Academy (the older kids’ school), for Parents Day. Vincent, Peter Johanna, George, Martin, Ismail, Rahab, and Zawadi go there, and were excited for us to come. It started a little slow.,. Mass lasted for 2-3 hours, and they had (sorry, someone is screaming in the next room…)
Okay, I’m back. They had us stand up, sit down, stand up, sit down, and we must have prayed 30 or 40 times. Poor Brenda was really bored, and she couldn’t see much, so she fell asleep on my lap. The afternoon was better… each class had something prepared, and they danced, sang, recited poetry, etc. Thankfully it wasn’t a hot day, because it lasted about seven hours!
All the kids (and housemums) have colds, so we have no shortage of runny noses around here. “Toa makamasi” is blow your nose in Kiswahili (literally “remove the mucus”). Last night, Wairimu discovered a “rrrrat” in the room I share with Susan (12) and Zawadi (14). I went to bed thinking “whatever, it’s not that big of a deal,” but a few minutes later, I heard scratching noises as it was climbing up my suitcase, and onto the window sill. (biggest rat I’ve ever seen!) It climbed the curtain and crawled onto the post of Zawadi’s bed (top bunk), so I woke her up. I slept on the couch, and Susan wouldn’t wake up, so we left her to be “rrrrat” food. Now it’s moved to the medium-sized girls’ room (reason for the screaming a few minutes ago).
I think I’m finally starting to go crazy… surprised it took this long actually. Please pray for grace for me this week… particularly in dealing with the little ones. I can’t seem to shake them anywhere I go! Thank you so much.
I hope you’re all doing well.
-Jess