week fifteen

its getting a little difficult to write these weekly updates, i feel so much happens in a week here that as i sit down on sunday’s to put it all to paper becomes hard to remember all that has happened. (actually today as i’m writing is actually monday because i forgot yesterday to do this!)

okay so lets begin..... this last week has been challenging with a lot of good moments as well, i did go to the clinic again, but was disappointed because the day i went to do a teaching and help in antenatal care was actually a holiday here in Tanzania, and because of this there were not very many women who actually came to the clinic. so needless to say i did not get to do any antenatal checkups, rather i did my teaching and ‘observed’ in the lab. i say ‘observed’ because there was not much going on there either! however i did get to do a few checks with a microscope to look for malaria in different blood samples which was kinda neat to see what the organisms looked like.

something our team is doing in this time of waiting for visa’s and such is a project called ‘a community profile’ basically doing interviews with local women (who are or have been pregnant) to find out more about the needs in the area. as well, to learn about different areas of the culture we are in such as, nutrition (what do they eat, whats available, are they lacking any nutrients?), their past experiences in pregnancy, did they have regular check ups, how was the labour, where did they give birth, did they have a skilled birth attendant present, do they have support in there homes/families and what is there role as a women in there family/community and so on. every student is in charge of doing twenty interviews and then they will be compiled, along with information and statistics from the hospitals in the area to have all these facts together for present and future knowledge. anyways, me and two others have been put in charge of compiling the information that is gathered as well as going to the hospitals and retrieving facts and stats needed. at first i was slightly overwhelmed with this job but think it interesting in reading some of the findings that the girls have discovered upon interviewing.

hmmm other things we have been doing is working on our team dynamics. it has been a challenging week in working through differences of opinions and personalities but its amazing to see the breakthrough that can happen when we pursue and turn our focus off ourselves and each other and put the focus on God. it was said today ‘when our focus is on God then everything else will fall into place’ it challenged me to really think, ‘okay where is my focus right now? where do my thoughts go when i’m upset or frustrated?’ and to be honest they have not always been directed to God, but instead have gone either outwardly to others or inwardly where i’ve allowed them to affect my attitude. i am encouraged that our team has been open with each other and been able to share these things and pray into them. my prayer is that God will re-focus my mind to how He see’s situations and not how i see them.

as for this week, i was sick for a part of it with a bad headache and stomach aches... i think the lack of nutrition is getting to me and i wasn’t drinking enough water but i’m doing much better now so that is wonderful! but because i wasn’t feeling well i spent two days in my room so nothing exciting to share about that! by friday though i was feeling better and it was our day off (we get one a week so i pray that i’m never sick on a day off!) where three of us students went to one of the villages to check emails and things and then went to the beach. it was so amazing to sit in the sand and have the water just lap over my legs.... its really one of my favorite things, the beach, and i find so much relaxation from begin there. the ocean is so warm as well and i don’t have to worry about creatures and things that will bite me! so yes an enjoyable day off with a crazy dala dala ride back! its amazing how they squish so many on to them busses. and praise the Lord my ‘motion sickness’ has not been an issue!

on sunday we had a ‘home church’ instead of going out to church. we broke up into groups of five and had an amazing time of discussing and praying and encouraging one another. i think besides the beach that was a highlight of my week. to just sit with one another share and learn from one another because we all have different ways we see things. we can learn lots just by listening!

till next time.....