There's No Place Like Gamasara

No matter where I travel, the highlight of my trip is returning home to those I love. It was the same when we returned from our safari. So many hugs and kisses greeted me! Everyone scurried to carry my things, and smiles were on every face. I can't wait to get the pictures on my computer to share them with everyone!

After the greetings, Teddy, one of our live-in staff members, told me Peter Michael was at the dispensary with a high fever, and Joseph Charles was very sick as well. William and I took Joseph to town where we were able to talk to the doctor about Peter Michael as well. Malaria was PM's diagnosis. (That is usually the case when we take our kids in. Although Mwita Magabe's most recent case was the worst I've seen.)Joseph had amoeba/digestive track infection. Neither boy had to be admitted.

I had a little time to visit with kids before the evening meal, but when we gave Joseph his medicine, the pleasantries ended. He couldn't keep anything down, including the pills. PM was able to eat a little supper, and the medication had an immediate effect his fever. (Praise God!)

We monitored both boys until bedtime, and I realized that even though I had 100 percent DEET on, I had a lot of mosquito bites that evening. So, when we tucked the kids in, I checked that everyone was using their mosquito nets. Only about 5 of our 34 were sleeping with nets!

The kids think it's uncool to use nets! It took me about an hour to locate everyone's net and get them under them. Today, I will have a kids'/staff meeting to talk seriously about using mosquito nets.

It breaks my heart to see how wide-spread malaria is here in Africa. Some people always seem to have it. High fever, muscle aches, vomiting, diarrhea, all of the systems are alarming. Sometimes, as in Mwita's case, malaria can cause hallucinations and psychotic behavior. It's scary business. Please pray for a successful malaria vaccine and for the health of our Angels at Gamasara.
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T