About Time there was a new Message!!
My humble appologies. I had heard others say it was hard to keep up a decent flow of blogging, but I never REALLY understood until we came to Africa. There is very little time really, and the dial up speed is SO SLOW. We get high speed internet on December first then we can Skype, send pictures etc. HURRAY!!!!
Anyway, we are not only busy with the day to day work, but we have a team of ten from Calgary who have been here for nearly two weeks, and go home this Friday. This is the first time we have been exposed to having a team and let me tell you it is a lot of extra work. However, VERY worthwhile and rewarding for all.
We also had Gilles and Lucille Chaput with us. WHAT A TREAT!! We really looked forward to them coming and it was like old home week. We also gave them a look at Africa that they might not of expected but seem to certainly enjoy.
On the work side, we started the new outreach clinics in the North. We expected 200 people to come each day, there was 500!! Both days in different places. The team was exausted but happy, we have been very well received and there is a lot of need in the area. The actual clinic building has its wall rising, and will have windows and doors in a week or two. Pictures of all of these things to follow.
It was so sad one day last week in the clinic. One of the nurses called me over and asked if I wanted to see her patient, who was in bad shape. It was a little girl, about one years old. She had pulled over a pot of boiling water and had third degree burns to her face and arms. She was hurt so badly that she could not even suckle on her moms breast, and we were worried she would be at great risk if she did not get some help and in a hurry. It was beyond our ability at the clinic so we called the ambulance from Salima hospital and they came to get her. The mom told us it had happened five days ago and she had gone to another clinic and they had just given her ointment and sent her home. Unbelieveable.
Anyway, we are well, we are busy and we are learning a lot. We really feel African now as we sleep under a mosquito net!! Jesse the dog is a great blessing, even the Azungu have a healthy respect for her, and she barks at all of the right times, and few of the wrong times. The stupid dog next door barks at leaves being blown around which is ALWAYS in Africa!!
Anyway, we are not only busy with the day to day work, but we have a team of ten from Calgary who have been here for nearly two weeks, and go home this Friday. This is the first time we have been exposed to having a team and let me tell you it is a lot of extra work. However, VERY worthwhile and rewarding for all.
We also had Gilles and Lucille Chaput with us. WHAT A TREAT!! We really looked forward to them coming and it was like old home week. We also gave them a look at Africa that they might not of expected but seem to certainly enjoy.
On the work side, we started the new outreach clinics in the North. We expected 200 people to come each day, there was 500!! Both days in different places. The team was exausted but happy, we have been very well received and there is a lot of need in the area. The actual clinic building has its wall rising, and will have windows and doors in a week or two. Pictures of all of these things to follow.
It was so sad one day last week in the clinic. One of the nurses called me over and asked if I wanted to see her patient, who was in bad shape. It was a little girl, about one years old. She had pulled over a pot of boiling water and had third degree burns to her face and arms. She was hurt so badly that she could not even suckle on her moms breast, and we were worried she would be at great risk if she did not get some help and in a hurry. It was beyond our ability at the clinic so we called the ambulance from Salima hospital and they came to get her. The mom told us it had happened five days ago and she had gone to another clinic and they had just given her ointment and sent her home. Unbelieveable.
Anyway, we are well, we are busy and we are learning a lot. We really feel African now as we sleep under a mosquito net!! Jesse the dog is a great blessing, even the Azungu have a healthy respect for her, and she barks at all of the right times, and few of the wrong times. The stupid dog next door barks at leaves being blown around which is ALWAYS in Africa!!
posted by Pat Laforet | 4:21 PM
6 Comments:
Hi Pat,
Good to see a message again. Andrea and I saw Dr. Brooks last week and we're going to see him speak at the Freedom Centre in Port Credit on Thursday. Every time I read your blog I think about when I was there with the two of you and the rest of the team. Although I'm not there in person I am there with you in spirit.
Miss you both,
Dale and Andrea
Dear Ann & Pat,
It is good to hear that you are so busy, and challenged with your work there.
It must have been the toughest thing to see that little girl so badly burned.
I was burned and hospitalized at age 3 or 4, when I tried to help my Mom carry a tray at an Eaton's restaurant, and dumped scalding hot coffee down my chest.
It was almost a skin graft situation.
Then, when I was in grade 4, I tried to stir boiling Kraft Dinner, and it was stuck to the bottom of the pot. The water splashed out, onto my dance bodysuit, as I was supposed to go to ballet that night. Again my stomach and chest were badly burned. I didn't make it to ballet that night, to say the least.
I have actually made it with no scars, but you NEVER FORGET the pain of a bad burn.
Imagine what that tiny baby girl must be going through. She's too young to even understand why she is so sore.
Things at West Edge are the usual busy fall season. We are doing a fantastic series called Dude Where's my Church. It helps us take a look at living incarnationally, imitationally, invitationally and missionally. The Sunday messages are a whole new level of excellent. At least, I'm challenged to keep on learnining anyways.
Well, I should sign off. We are thinking of you, praying for you,
Hugs across the miles,
Cassie
Hey Mom and Pat;
Well, I am so happy to see a new blog. I will pray for that little girl. I know that that would be hard to see. I Pray that she will be ok.
We love you so much and have been busy. Chris is in town so we have been doing things for him. Everything has gone really well. We met with AMREF canada yesterday. That was amazing and I think that it will be useful.
I believe that Chris's visit is going well. But i think that he is tired. I look forward to tlaking to you and will call you tomorrow. Just remember that everyday you have a family here that Loves YOu and Prays for you. Today is Halloween so I am At Naiomi's and going out with the Kids. They all send love.
I love you both,
Tova
Hey Mom & Pat,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and of course with the little girl. Thats horrible.
I was glad to see a new post and will be even more happy when you get high speed. Lots of pics from us to send to you.
Right in the middle of a municipal election campaign. Working for a few incumbents. Also the Liberal Leadership is in full swing and still keeping me quite busy.
Char is also working her little tail off. This is poised to be her best year ever.
Anyway, got to get back to work. But we love you, miss you and send you all the love support that we can.
Char and Sender
We heard that on etalk tonight and tomorrow night Ben Mulroney would be on and talking about his trip to Malawi. He apparently just got back from Malawi with Unicef. They showed pictures of the kids looking in the digital viewfinders, running after the trucks and dancing and singing just like on the original trip. It brought back memories for Dale.
Dale has his Africa albums all ready to take to work again tomorrow as one of the ladies he works with has a 15 year old son who has a big interest in Africa right now and knowing Dale went has asked if he'd bring in his pictures.
We saw Chris at the Freedom Centre the other night. I was a little disapointed in the turn out but it was a fabulous presentation and update on what the clinic is doing and what they have done in the past year. Has it ever grown. What a fantastic growth it has shown. Wow, fantastic projects are on the go. He told us about Violet starting up her own little orphanage and about wanting to start a clinic for pregnant women and maternity/delivery type help for pregnant ladies. How wonderful to hear.
The idea of "buy a brick" and personalize it with a family name or family member's name on it as a fundraiser is a super idea. We purchased some "family" bricks for different extentions of our families and of course I love the comfort dolls too.
Hope you are doing well and have recovered from all the 'hosting' of teams you've been doing.
Any word on your trunks yet?
Blessings to you both,
Andrea and Dale
Hi Ann and Pat-
Thrilled to say that West Edge met, then surpassed, the $15,000 Action Africa Challenge that we talked about at the picnic this past summer. YAHOO!
Ann, I miss out chats. Iris and I had lunch together today and I was commenting on how wonderful I found our too few chats. But they did have a profound effect on me. It is wonderful to read about your adventures. You are missed!
I expect that you have been following the Madonna adoption thing in Malawi. Lifeline Malawi should connect with Madonna. She may want to look at helping from a different, broader perspective. If Lifeline could connect with her, she may be able to do some real good for the clinic and give the clinic the public attention it could use. Her 'official' web site mentions another site "raisingmalawi.org" You might want to have a look at that. Just a thought.
Happy New Year. May it be one of happy challenges and successes. Our prayers are with Chris at this difficult time (and always with you both!).
Be Blessed.
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