tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42721594320733692192024-02-19T20:02:02.426+03:00Leisha in AfricaLeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.comBlogger228125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-67676316206058329332016-11-23T01:39:00.001+03:002016-11-23T01:39:15.916+03:00New Website!We are moving our blog over to our new website: <a href="http://teamotieno.com/">TeamOtieno.com</a>, so please update your links to read the blog over at the <a href="http://teamotieno.com/blog" target="_blank">new website</a>!<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-77604690333041727362016-09-09T11:29:00.003+03:002016-09-09T11:29:48.080+03:00God did a miracle for us!One week ago, I was despairing. We had been planning for Wesley and I to come to America to visit our family and supporters, but between raising $10,000 just a few months ago to buy a car and our move and busy summer, I hadn't been able to save or raise the $3,000 needed for our airfare. I was considering if we should cancel the trip.<br />
<br />
Sunday evening I was at the hospital with a friend, and when it was time to leave, I threw my phone into my purse while I climbed on a motorcycle taxi to go home. I had been away for two days, so between greeting my family, unpacking, dinner, baths, etc. I didn't look at my phone again until the next morning. When I unlocked it, I realized that the screen must not have been off when I put it in my purse, and some internet windows had opened from inadvertent "purse dialing." As I moved to swipe those windows closed, I realized it was showing an advertisement for Qatar Airlines ticket sale. I had checked prices for tickets on Qatar and found them more expensive, but with the ticket sale, they had $1,200 fares for Nairobi to Washington, DC. "Great!" I thought, that's $2,400 for the two of us...already a good savings. Then I kept looking and found that they were offering a deal where purchasing an adult fare allows a child under 12 years to fly for free!<br />
<br />
I was seriously amazed, but couldn't get too excited. I had 15 hours to buy the ticket, but only $550 in my bank account. I called my parents at 9pm their time and begged for help. They transferred $700 to my account with the understanding that I would keep raising money to pay them back as soon as possible. I went to buy the ticket, and my card wouldn't go through because of a fraud block. So I reserved the itinerary and crossed my fingers and prayed until morning Pacific Coast Time to call my bank. Oh wait. I forgot it was Labor Day. So I kept on praying for another 24 hours when I could contact the bank, and 12 hours before my reserved fare expired, the transaction went through! We had tickets!<br />
<br />
In the meantime, a family who has been supporting us for some time emailed me that they would like to give us a $1,000 gift for our travel! So that covered our airfare, and some other gifts had come in to pay for our airfare from Washington, DC to Portland. Then another friend contacted me that he would like to buy our cross-country airfare with his frequent flier miles. Within an hour we had sorted out all our airfares, from Nairobi up to Portland. <br />
<br />
It was such a testimony of God's blessing to us, at the moment when we really questioned if we understood God's plan for us. He is so faithful to us.<br />
<br />
So Wesley and I will arrive in Portland on 26th September at 8pm, and I need to start scheduling dinners and lunches and coffees and meetings with all of you! Please email or Facebook me to set up a time to get together between the end of September and the end of November.Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-22813658316962622282016-08-04T16:09:00.001+03:002016-08-04T17:07:14.876+03:00Coming to America, and I need your help!In less than two months Wesley and I will be landing in America for eight or nine weeks. During that trip we'll be based in Newberg, Oregon, but in mid-October to early November we are venturing out on a sub-trip to<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd_86v6GEwF74HrlK-d6xvUlMf7LvuFCsbczfO9eG6OqPheW8SsZRPcuH1IaL2V-n-Gn7_-LWg_X_iqQTAKv-517lbfSSLRTTE_L05lG8eFjcHEzsz3svIBBW2Q0bnQfyJakFadj6J32C/s1600/Map+of+subtrip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitd_86v6GEwF74HrlK-d6xvUlMf7LvuFCsbczfO9eG6OqPheW8SsZRPcuH1IaL2V-n-Gn7_-LWg_X_iqQTAKv-517lbfSSLRTTE_L05lG8eFjcHEzsz3svIBBW2Q0bnQfyJakFadj6J32C/s400/Map+of+subtrip.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<ul>
<li>Madison, WI</li>
<li>Grand Rapids, MI</li>
<li>Lansing/Holt, MI</li>
<li>Detroit, MI</li>
<li>Kitchener, ON</li>
<li>Lancaster, PA</li>
<li>Baltimore, MD</li>
<li>Asheville, NC</li>
<li>Hamilton/Cincinnati, OH</li>
<li>Pittsburgh, PA</li>
</ul>
<div>
and then up to Yakima and Spokane, WA on November . If you are somewhere along these trails and want to get together or come here me speak, let me know right away!</div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
There are few things that we need help with, though. <b>The first thing is money.</b> We need to raise $4,000 to do the whole trip within the next month. If you could give a gift, large or small, toward that trip, please go to the <a href="https://lahash.webconnex.com/otieno" target="_blank">Lahash donation page</a> for a tax-deductible method, or <a href="https://www.paypal.me/otieno" target="_blank">give via Paypal</a> for a non-tax-deductible method.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l__s-s-EiBQwTvzYjDEg7X0bn_V9UbkgZ9BeKzJazIbOSZg5-CndJxVM2cRQ4zxfBxOXxmo6v88x9Ygc24D2Xj7njzbPyPAAaB1TKL9sRaAk8cSEs_2IHhy5EWFnwZERFx8ayRN4qKxl/s1600/20160802_173852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1l__s-s-EiBQwTvzYjDEg7X0bn_V9UbkgZ9BeKzJazIbOSZg5-CndJxVM2cRQ4zxfBxOXxmo6v88x9Ygc24D2Xj7njzbPyPAAaB1TKL9sRaAk8cSEs_2IHhy5EWFnwZERFx8ayRN4qKxl/s320/20160802_173852.jpg" width="180" /></a>The second thing is that I'd love to throw a thank you partner for our financial supporters in the Portland area. Is there anyone out there who would like to <b>host a party</b> for about twenty people on a date in early October?</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thing Three is, if any of you are cleaning out kids' closets and come across <b>some size 3T/4T girls or 5/6/7 boys clothes</b>, will you set them aside for me? We really appreciate the hand-me-downs and have to stock up for about two years, so it would be such a help to us.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, I'm really looking forward to seeing a lot of friends while I'm back there, so <b>please get in touch to set up a time to hang out</b> during October or November. Three weeks are already scratched because of the trip to middle America, so get on the books fast!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Thanks for being the kind of community that we can count on for help in a variety of ways. We appreciate you all!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-6725090257681184432016-07-15T16:37:00.000+03:002016-07-15T16:37:37.235+03:00Another Long Delay = Photo post!<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqM4uZyPQK1n8zL3gGVe9NUz8ngSF2HnkvnvoKx8niwM_FL_fu0K6PRuVog3q8Y2ZnHldcNm0hkpRDUWk15M9b1foXcLotUTyuVMOSc8nKJ8r6yaMx7ENSmqnZ5AkAY914LQvmJaxQTwU/s1600/IMG-20160613-WA0005.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmqM4uZyPQK1n8zL3gGVe9NUz8ngSF2HnkvnvoKx8niwM_FL_fu0K6PRuVog3q8Y2ZnHldcNm0hkpRDUWk15M9b1foXcLotUTyuVMOSc8nKJ8r6yaMx7ENSmqnZ5AkAY914LQvmJaxQTwU/s320/IMG-20160613-WA0005.jpeg" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wesley became a superhero!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaTho4wTGVwMM3Vunh2FuZfVAYdcD6WNPFd0acgJ3Bw1W2B8GzLyPB9SrEBPbKJYgaxjPnZB5KU0276RdF13l-nSxOoT3kexIcrvhFcimRneZM8KueSdGLpO20HqFSL035IkWneUM_O8D/s1600/IMG-20160609-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqaTho4wTGVwMM3Vunh2FuZfVAYdcD6WNPFd0acgJ3Bw1W2B8GzLyPB9SrEBPbKJYgaxjPnZB5KU0276RdF13l-nSxOoT3kexIcrvhFcimRneZM8KueSdGLpO20HqFSL035IkWneUM_O8D/s200/IMG-20160609-WA0001.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Fred in Nyahera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXUXxhodCToS0L3WMt8WhVlHIdIUIW4HrKSPJjJ-JeuUCf5vgi1x80AtRVb9yHgHw50ksJCM71xg4Bjk9P_QWjZOldLiPrVFs4mwKlUqALGq4GbxXBQuKWVkFRI1A2oZQkoatyTVvGG5z/s1600/IMG-20160621-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYXUXxhodCToS0L3WMt8WhVlHIdIUIW4HrKSPJjJ-JeuUCf5vgi1x80AtRVb9yHgHw50ksJCM71xg4Bjk9P_QWjZOldLiPrVFs4mwKlUqALGq4GbxXBQuKWVkFRI1A2oZQkoatyTVvGG5z/s200/IMG-20160621-WA0004.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Leisha in Nyahera</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pKp5PVYjxJ95gsU9sufSTpCua63JslrRWWukXc5Rb5yTI6Q-Jsf50r5A4mSakfUJHjwvPfs6yw4xb73YBBoDYFCRboezz8SrgGqFslG3A7hdcp_e37bMRfnkk0wfBF8IKZH3Q3Fdr2Eo/s1600/IMG-20160626-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8pKp5PVYjxJ95gsU9sufSTpCua63JslrRWWukXc5Rb5yTI6Q-Jsf50r5A4mSakfUJHjwvPfs6yw4xb73YBBoDYFCRboezz8SrgGqFslG3A7hdcp_e37bMRfnkk0wfBF8IKZH3Q3Fdr2Eo/s320/IMG-20160626-WA0002.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Josh came to visit, much to Wesley's delight!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7vAhv0KAo6v9J5z4_N9aHSC7_AjesP2gExKMh7RrosOBlU3O6TJ34arKTgIPftLJvRLwWNvy6EYe0slpz4HvE_YdYL_KTL90j1bJ3enZuZMbOGSeQ6bGSePnUYL6sk7Zg_o_o720kGdm/s1600/20160629_181541.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif7vAhv0KAo6v9J5z4_N9aHSC7_AjesP2gExKMh7RrosOBlU3O6TJ34arKTgIPftLJvRLwWNvy6EYe0slpz4HvE_YdYL_KTL90j1bJ3enZuZMbOGSeQ6bGSePnUYL6sk7Zg_o_o720kGdm/s320/20160629_181541.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Along with a whole Lahash team, who rode to Shinyanga <br />and beyond in our "new" car.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33aaAPwR4okz7uaJ8Ml6e3ya-pX9Lb9GeYRQZbi7hDzJDqaSO3ISsvbuWKNiS3TrK0QR33uco1X5rFQhj4QkuHaVmEUUodCVRNNEB5N53PBDZZlEG2o1r0Nkr21zlHKlBx8e0sPGDA9v9/s1600/20160702_122056.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh33aaAPwR4okz7uaJ8Ml6e3ya-pX9Lb9GeYRQZbi7hDzJDqaSO3ISsvbuWKNiS3TrK0QR33uco1X5rFQhj4QkuHaVmEUUodCVRNNEB5N53PBDZZlEG2o1r0Nkr21zlHKlBx8e0sPGDA9v9/s320/20160702_122056.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Busoka we got to distribute school shoes funded by the<br />"Shoeless Safari" campaign. Those are the girl on the <br />right's very first pair of school shoes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JxJABsQiUzV_Ypu8U8CdoRBKtVmP9VLm9-rMw0oPrI8pSoCzIkBrw1ju-MXw9EiLdHNTd9raZaJnyxE8kc4QDwVISZfttDZ8gSSuy6UAoDYEabAj0U8IFlosbfYjJ5ugTx92cHLFrndu/s1600/20160707_090631.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7JxJABsQiUzV_Ypu8U8CdoRBKtVmP9VLm9-rMw0oPrI8pSoCzIkBrw1ju-MXw9EiLdHNTd9raZaJnyxE8kc4QDwVISZfttDZ8gSSuy6UAoDYEabAj0U8IFlosbfYjJ5ugTx92cHLFrndu/s320/20160707_090631.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then we spent time with good friends in Dodoma.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrlPPlbeB2qpLHhMB7SMuINV-KRDv4BRqZl3q1MlTmc5Dri7J5hTEYxeb66q5zzjE12L7iVI87-HuZXj8kI1r_KtuwB-ERNtiIhJiKmILS-wzN7xKDmVz5TwJ_loo3GZqehDaTY-2dFVv/s1600/IMG-20160714-WA0020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsrlPPlbeB2qpLHhMB7SMuINV-KRDv4BRqZl3q1MlTmc5Dri7J5hTEYxeb66q5zzjE12L7iVI87-HuZXj8kI1r_KtuwB-ERNtiIhJiKmILS-wzN7xKDmVz5TwJ_loo3GZqehDaTY-2dFVv/s320/IMG-20160714-WA0020.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wesley and Gretchen spent time on the slide...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-Ib7IRz7mAjOje98Y5Gmcbam-6FuK22Rxeq1YmQyfdpdH-VySJAYXznpjM5FNdW-YjJIoOV7xdPjtEXTfZ_gPq5eNVwI-Vqdr0kCnun9dIMgXJwaFgRZwIzL9D1FY2-vqt_9MYrD2Iyz/s1600/IMG-20160714-WA0029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR-Ib7IRz7mAjOje98Y5Gmcbam-6FuK22Rxeq1YmQyfdpdH-VySJAYXznpjM5FNdW-YjJIoOV7xdPjtEXTfZ_gPq5eNVwI-Vqdr0kCnun9dIMgXJwaFgRZwIzL9D1FY2-vqt_9MYrD2Iyz/s320/IMG-20160714-WA0029.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the swings near our house.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-79354308119757500242016-06-09T18:02:00.002+03:002016-06-09T18:20:22.303+03:00Remembering an AngelOne of my favorite Facebook celebrities is <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BunmiKLaditan" target="_blank">Bunmi Laditan</a>, the creator of the brilliant <a href="http://www.thehonesttoddler.com/" target="_blank">Honest Toddler</a> website. Today she pointed out how the world is kind of depressing these days, what with the pretty disappointing presidential nominees, sexual assault, white privilege, trolling on the internet, etc. All this, not to mention the <a href="http://www.reuters.com/news/picture/reuters-wins-pulitzer-for-photography-of?articleId=USRTX2AJBF" target="_blank">ongoing refugee crisis in the Middle East and Europe</a> and <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/world/2016/06/06/19-yazidi-girls-burned-alive-for-refusing-to-have-sex-with-their-isis-captors.html" target="_blank">19 Yazidi girls being executed for refusing to sleep with their ISIS "husbands."</a> Bunmi shared a story about a couple who helped her out in the grocery store when she was trying to keep from dropping her son and eggs, and she asked for stories of other angels who remind us that the world isn't a wholly dark place.<br />
<br />
It made me think of a story that I don't think I have shared here. Just under two years ago, our family went back to the States for our bi-annual visit. Since Fred and Innocent hadn't been able to get Canadian visas, they went with Wesley to visit supporters in Pennsylvania while I went up to Ontario with Gretchen. On my return, our Canadian friends dropped me off at my hotel in Buffalo, NY, from where I was catching a bus to Pennsylvania early the following day. During the night a freak snowstorm blew in, leaving several inches on the ground and grinding traffic to a halt. The hotel shuttle wasn't moving and taxis were more than an hour away, so with eight-month-old Gretchen in a carrier on my front, I picked up two suitcases and my messenger bag and set off to catch the metro rail six blocks away. I couldn't roll my suitcases, especially in the 6-8 inches on the corners of the streets, and I almost gave up several times. I reached the metro stop in time, but found little shelter from the wind-blown snow. When the train arrived, I struggled to hurl my suitcases up the steps into the train and follow them. I worried about the two block walk remaining at the other end of my train ride. When we arrived, an oldish man who seemed under-dressed for the weather picked up my suitcases and with almost no conversation beyond the word "Greyhound" he carried my luggage to the bus station. I had tears in my eyes, as I seriously don't know if or how I would have managed without his help. He got me through the doors, asked for nothing, wished me well, and left.<br />
<br />
When did an angel cross your path?Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-30448081372514454202016-05-23T22:06:00.002+03:002016-05-23T22:13:49.447+03:00Fred's New Friends are White (but not in the way you imagine)As I mentioned in last week's blog post, one of Fred's new projects is to work in local villages to advocate for equal treatment for people with albinism (PWA). As I mentioned a few months ago when <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2015/12/inno-learns-about-living-with.html" target="_blank">our family went to serve at a camp for kids with albinism</a>, the life of PWA in Tanzania is very hard. Along with the physical ramifications of albinism--sensitivity to the sun, susceptibility to skin cancer, eye problems--there are many psychological and emotional attacks as well. Albinism is not well understood here, so families often reject children who are born with albinism or neighbors threaten them with violence. They are mistreated in their communities and live in fear of <a href="http://allafrica.com/stories/201605090388.html" target="_blank">the black market for the body parts of the "ghosts."</a><br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ynBWwCscGWRiGHEUgXgre0omy0LqVoyHOiuRc5QKXyh6N8qTP_eEo4FcipzeZRzH9WgIuS3P-8ZkEn4-H2awNSSr5hFrF_2jJGLoT0oqxhXT9xg-rDGduSUTLPER9k1cVESYtxrycM8L/s1600/IMG20160523134928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8ynBWwCscGWRiGHEUgXgre0omy0LqVoyHOiuRc5QKXyh6N8qTP_eEo4FcipzeZRzH9WgIuS3P-8ZkEn4-H2awNSSr5hFrF_2jJGLoT0oqxhXT9xg-rDGduSUTLPER9k1cVESYtxrycM8L/s320/IMG20160523134928.jpg" width="320" /></a>Fred is starting the "Watu Kama Sisi" or "People Like Us" program in Mwanza, funded by Mennonite Central Committee, to reduce violence against PWA. One of his first items of business was to meet with the local chapter leadership for the Tanzania Albinism Society (TAS). After one meeting, he came away feeling that he had met kindred spirits. The leaders of TAS have suffered much in their lives, including being taken advantage of by potential donors who use their photos to raise money, but never come back to help the community. In spite of all this, they shared openly with Fred and helped him make connections to begin his work in areas most affected by violence and misunderstanding toward PWA.<br />
<br />
June 13th is International Albinism Day, and Tanzania is having a huge event this year featuring the extremely popular new president, John Magufuli. The event is in Dar es Salaam, on the exact opposite side of the country from us. The leaders of the Mwanza chapter of Tanzania Albinism Society would love to go represent their community and join hands with their brothers and sisters from around the country. Fred gets to go with his team because they have a grant funding their travel, but they feel a bit like frauds--newcomers flying across the country to learn and network--while their new friends are trying to raise funds to take the 20-hour bus ride to Dar. It's really a risk to their personal health and safety, but they feel it is so important. They are reaching out to local friends to help them collect $800 for their transport, food and accommodations for five days. <b>Would you consider helping them as well?</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
I know we just asked you all for help to buy our car, but we have to ask you yet again for help. It's only two and half weeks until they need to leave for the event, so please don't wait if you feel moved to give. (By the way, airfare would be about $150 per person instead of $50 for bus fare, so if we can help them reach $1,100 the group can fly, which would be much more comfortable and safe for them.)<br />
<br />
The best and fastest way to get money to these deserving friends is through our Paypal account. Just click <a href="http://paypal.me/otieno" target="_blank"><b>HERE</b></a>. Everything that we raise will supplement the local fundraising and help them advocate even more for their community.Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-88978757833844923422016-05-19T13:14:00.001+03:002016-05-19T13:22:36.682+03:0010 Great Things in the Past 3 Months<div style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It seems appropriate to resume blogging today, the EIGHTH ANNIVERSARY of starting this blog!! Here's a link to the <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2008/05/and-im-off.html" target="_blank">very first blog post</a>. Now read on for a sadly overdue update.</div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
1. We built a house.</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdv20wl5QtvgbEdWThjQct7fvKBxKNUdV86hRS7N68hkxwEXfYituZMKI_bZ7ue_xf_VN2eBEH7nac13uLyHT9c3FQedmfo0RYkecP5X_PB1_2CuuzqGKrV0OfKiL9zJ3c2qwpV3c0cQM/s1600/DSCF1013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdv20wl5QtvgbEdWThjQct7fvKBxKNUdV86hRS7N68hkxwEXfYituZMKI_bZ7ue_xf_VN2eBEH7nac13uLyHT9c3FQedmfo0RYkecP5X_PB1_2CuuzqGKrV0OfKiL9zJ3c2qwpV3c0cQM/s320/DSCF1013.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
A family in Oregon paid for a new house for a widow with small children. She is one of the clients who we visited back on <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2015/12/tears-on-christmas-day.html" target="_blank">Christmas Day</a>. In February, Fred organized several women in the community to volunteer making mud and a few construction professionals came in to do the specialty work. After the house was finished, two friends bought Benta a bed and mattress and new kitchen things. The family is so much more secure and happy than they were six months ago!</div>
<h2 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
2. Mama Maisha expanded to 3 new villages.</h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6Z77tVxYI1OF6swmHkZ9RyUQoP4LyWplD1mifUm3ASRsOfel8flI94KAdyizsrGQbuDCD3sJWOky0gF_ovCqp1xGzPZWbNDZkexuYeblkiwhxk9XPfgxLD7buQe0L3Kn17c3eRhGIPU9/s1600/DSCF0928.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL6Z77tVxYI1OF6swmHkZ9RyUQoP4LyWplD1mifUm3ASRsOfel8flI94KAdyizsrGQbuDCD3sJWOky0gF_ovCqp1xGzPZWbNDZkexuYeblkiwhxk9XPfgxLD7buQe0L3Kn17c3eRhGIPU9/s200/DSCF0928.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
With the generous support of the community of Mama Maisha donors in the Asheville, NC area, we were able to expand to three new villages in February. The village of Kyangasaga is about half Muslim and the vast majority of women deliver at home.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNCcl7JzzPTZu8xAMnEyYMUCVy5TpXMRj32hpsKJ-lWV2ara6vRAYrt1K5x4NvXVZQrrAc8hjI081UYSYCAyQGuar-g6tIG_HB5aSfZpzA6sr63IzwinlMcvpwhFvRFxIB_7ueLy6SD6Y/s1600/DSCF0929.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxNCcl7JzzPTZu8xAMnEyYMUCVy5TpXMRj32hpsKJ-lWV2ara6vRAYrt1K5x4NvXVZQrrAc8hjI081UYSYCAyQGuar-g6tIG_HB5aSfZpzA6sr63IzwinlMcvpwhFvRFxIB_7ueLy6SD6Y/s200/DSCF0929.JPG" width="200" /></a>The village of Lwanda (our community leader meeting is pictured here...I had no house help that day, so the kids had to come with me!) say they never receive help from outsiders and they are so excited to work with us. The village of Nyahera is familiar to me because our friend Stephen and many of the poor clients we get to serve live in this village.<br />
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtDDINmUQXTjOJItfZUseeWtu5BUtpoedJS3L9cPokeDhbMTteKvf0vMoQhPbYth7uYJ9PGV2ZNUZklJ_2iYge49KuKF964ok6kz6jXJ7-YzusKbD-9_uSQxc98GvNnW9bh7c-uXKsH1Q/s1600/20160307_204741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRtDDINmUQXTjOJItfZUseeWtu5BUtpoedJS3L9cPokeDhbMTteKvf0vMoQhPbYth7uYJ9PGV2ZNUZklJ_2iYge49KuKF964ok6kz6jXJ7-YzusKbD-9_uSQxc98GvNnW9bh7c-uXKsH1Q/s200/20160307_204741.jpg" width="112" /></a>3. Wesley turned 4!</h2>
<div>
We can't believe this kid is growing up so fast. He got a remote-controlled car, which he was very excited about. He's dealing with the drama of feeling all the feelings, but not sure how to process that. He's strong-willed and very loyal. His favorite people are the young men who drive motorcycles and taxis.</div>
<br />
<h2>
4. We had visitors from Mama Maisha US.</h2>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S6BL4FjC2m2ImIgSov9QjnWFgxQFUpIBeHAfRtIPzCbuqNNx2-R48GpFLRPCq3aGUercipblle7TsErxAeej5SN0Fj2G3_fNjvdk3jAe_l0PcSkTe3IwhU9z74BqbwmrUHxxGBaTmI3d/s1600/20160317_151014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3S6BL4FjC2m2ImIgSov9QjnWFgxQFUpIBeHAfRtIPzCbuqNNx2-R48GpFLRPCq3aGUercipblle7TsErxAeej5SN0Fj2G3_fNjvdk3jAe_l0PcSkTe3IwhU9z74BqbwmrUHxxGBaTmI3d/s200/20160317_151014.jpg" width="200" /></a>In March we were joined by our co-founder, Dr. Jeff, and one of his colleagues, Dr. Marina, and they helped us with training of our Maternal Health Advocates. After a great few days with our existing and new MHAs, we spent the next week visiting each of our villages. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsAh39E-IY_ReX-GYcnDxjATbcjrY-msl-RIQaq8WQlXRpdz5fXuTKhRbztAY2V-7NxtG5bvchtdMfSr6Z-9ZpCfi47bn-rbnFpKzIHslFUFCyRbo6unznXliH0tPH0sQyJhjxOvOrnP4/s1600/FB_IMG_1458674500297.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsAh39E-IY_ReX-GYcnDxjATbcjrY-msl-RIQaq8WQlXRpdz5fXuTKhRbztAY2V-7NxtG5bvchtdMfSr6Z-9ZpCfi47bn-rbnFpKzIHslFUFCyRbo6unznXliH0tPH0sQyJhjxOvOrnP4/s200/FB_IMG_1458674500297.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div>
In Nyahera we had a men's community meeting to talk about their questions about contraception. In Kyangasaga over 150 women showed up to hear about maternal health. One-third of those women were pregnant and received a birth kit as a gift for registering with our new MHAs. In Nyambogo we visited some TBAs, demonstrated the implant form of birth control, and took photos with these infant twins, named Barry and Leisha, who were born prematurely and got supplementary milk support through us. We also served as an ambulance from this remote village for a young woman who had been tossed by a bull and was suffering a concussion. In Lwanda we trained Traditional Birth Attendants and drove through a ravine to visit the closest health facility. It was in Lwanda when I gritted my teeth, crossed my fingers, and gunned it through a puddle as wide as the road. My teammates dubbed me Han Solo and our hired car the "Millennium Falcon." In Roche we doubled up on motorbikes to make it down the cow paths to another community meeting where I gave advice about how men could get their wives to have more sex, among other things.</div>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q2k6nmN3rUAgl8z1gCYugK2alnBPFYIegaZVK2YRwaSevNInEid9osrQKR6FFAyo1EGM_stoh8N3sVrOFVAhBz5Kl8wyLT9-m0ek-yYhdxdATj5TX2pwIOWt_b7-macteCQ1AACgXXvu/s1600/20160413_210902.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-q2k6nmN3rUAgl8z1gCYugK2alnBPFYIegaZVK2YRwaSevNInEid9osrQKR6FFAyo1EGM_stoh8N3sVrOFVAhBz5Kl8wyLT9-m0ek-yYhdxdATj5TX2pwIOWt_b7-macteCQ1AACgXXvu/s200/20160413_210902.jpg" width="111" /></a>5. Inno came home for holidays.</h2>
<div>
We were so happy to have Innocent home during April! The kids had a lot of fun playing together, and he was a big help with the little kids. Fred was traveling a lot during April, so having another pair of slightly-bigger hands to help out was great. He started at a new school (again) back in January, and he has adjusted so quickly! He was selected to be the "Class Senator" which is kind of like the class prefect, and he's number two in his class as well.</div>
<h2>
6. We celebrated 5 years of marriage.</h2>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglilalGjIdvVk6sD7UNLzBJUN2TfgMqPlyKpKkSrHQ00gv-7RYOF0pPLaq3WEjghVI77ad91w_ntlvcHAbkRHCrAwCfioFEYYiJKXbgEVwG5t2NydQ6ZBmDKvv2taDcC4wIUxeOHON2UIa/s1600/20160415_184423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglilalGjIdvVk6sD7UNLzBJUN2TfgMqPlyKpKkSrHQ00gv-7RYOF0pPLaq3WEjghVI77ad91w_ntlvcHAbkRHCrAwCfioFEYYiJKXbgEVwG5t2NydQ6ZBmDKvv2taDcC4wIUxeOHON2UIa/s320/20160415_184423.jpg" width="320" /></a>We got away for about 30 hours to Musoma to celebrate at a small hotel on the lake. It's been a wonderful five years, and I'm so grateful to be sharing this adventure with Fred. </div>
<h2>
</h2>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXH6o71icy8QccJlfmsB23mVW2xt2_kPYRT6JHRoKvKZn_tTI_1JLtKed3VCDSqWryqw8KHPw08aewCN1Fq9JPS1T5Q_pl-BwL0wZLX65vWoYBIWsPrl7PFSWxk2NZnHyc_g0L6KEYnLE/s1600/DSCF0968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDXH6o71icy8QccJlfmsB23mVW2xt2_kPYRT6JHRoKvKZn_tTI_1JLtKed3VCDSqWryqw8KHPw08aewCN1Fq9JPS1T5Q_pl-BwL0wZLX65vWoYBIWsPrl7PFSWxk2NZnHyc_g0L6KEYnLE/s200/DSCF0968.JPG" width="200" /></a>7. We distributed food to needy families.</h2>
<div>
A small church in Medical Lake, Washington, raised money to provide some food for needy families. In April, our whole family got to be part of the first distribution of that food. We met widows and widowers and representatives from child-headed households and paralyzed patients. Each family got maize and beans, salt and oil. After a few more months we will arrange another distribution.</div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYiE7r0gao-fammXNDFitqt6QBbrvKUxjHxbSbKJ1p6Il5J2bJHueEyJXHScJXnI7SW_nzwlc7NWJPAIrtbnX9nlekfE0wY_NoF5kpK-_4136H7sseUJ_2ue_v8uvFs1kkOfan-0lFlwX/s1600/DSCF1004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixYiE7r0gao-fammXNDFitqt6QBbrvKUxjHxbSbKJ1p6Il5J2bJHueEyJXHScJXnI7SW_nzwlc7NWJPAIrtbnX9nlekfE0wY_NoF5kpK-_4136H7sseUJ_2ue_v8uvFs1kkOfan-0lFlwX/s200/DSCF1004.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<div>
Thank you, Makarios Fellowship!</div>
<h2>
</h2>
<h2>
8. We bought a car!</h2>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOof3n5JpoXucYnSIXORtVKY17T1ALrQpECMzor7bDPlrx9S94Q82twPmWIu6d7yrQaGp5n17Xgj98ClMchMdskKYvoHTpWcDVFUya54E3DWWnYPMUCrJ3WFxlvzhop1tWv7reckNnJSS/s1600/13062369_10154102845174362_6693361283982286529_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaOof3n5JpoXucYnSIXORtVKY17T1ALrQpECMzor7bDPlrx9S94Q82twPmWIu6d7yrQaGp5n17Xgj98ClMchMdskKYvoHTpWcDVFUya54E3DWWnYPMUCrJ3WFxlvzhop1tWv7reckNnJSS/s320/13062369_10154102845174362_6693361283982286529_n.jpg" width="320" /></a>Actually, I should say that we were given a car. In less than six weeks, we raised $10,000 to purchase a 24-year-old Toyota LandCruiser in good condition. Many friends gave toward this amazing gift, and we are so grateful. It is already making our life so much easier, and we are eager to use it for village visits for Mama Maisha and for our other clients.<br />
<h2>
9. We moved to Mwanza.</h2>
<div>
At the end of April we finished packing up five years of life in Shirati and moved to Mwanza, Tanzania. It's a city right on Lake Victoria, about five hours south of Shirati. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zMUpcQeUrzKMs8gmxGRyikSXQwqkCxjLRjDhYq2dBLZqYqviqarIVL2jaxdXWwlaU4e44876MdZGnLlwV8Xa6WVkRlcjBnBCdmAzqGVuv71_V9RhoaHM8FEx-ZHCdx4Bw_H3z4cRw046/s1600/IMG-20160430-WA0009.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zMUpcQeUrzKMs8gmxGRyikSXQwqkCxjLRjDhYq2dBLZqYqviqarIVL2jaxdXWwlaU4e44876MdZGnLlwV8Xa6WVkRlcjBnBCdmAzqGVuv71_V9RhoaHM8FEx-ZHCdx4Bw_H3z4cRw046/s320/IMG-20160430-WA0009.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
Fred has taken a job doing program development with the African Inland Church of Tanzania, Mwanza Diocese. He's busy launching new programs, many of them based on relationships he developed with people we worked with in Shirati. It's great to see so many people appreciating my husband's work ethic, creative ideas for improving people's lives, and his strict truthfulness regarding finances and outcomes. He's getting into working with people with albinism, doing more training for trauma healing, and helping implement a program to provide income generation for people in rural communities. </div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIR5HDEmI9vL_DzgDeEYzdnZ7kKskXQoZEEonLt372Q-160jO3IHHO4y2hEUxfpXJbE6kAA-NlMpz2AuJJWyp5Hj2oxiW3AsSrtDYeV5eDR9REA-Q_aiuOmtI2VKPFpdRIvUNNpFlOhws/s1600/13164230_650783109305_9116551591111236319_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIR5HDEmI9vL_DzgDeEYzdnZ7kKskXQoZEEonLt372Q-160jO3IHHO4y2hEUxfpXJbE6kAA-NlMpz2AuJJWyp5Hj2oxiW3AsSrtDYeV5eDR9REA-Q_aiuOmtI2VKPFpdRIvUNNpFlOhws/s200/13164230_650783109305_9116551591111236319_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>We're living in a church guest house while we wait for our church house to be ready (probably about six months), and the kids are loving their new house, especially since they get to hang out with their friends, Kaleb and Micah, so much more. I have been networking with other organizations which are doing similar work to Mama Maisha and preparing for the upcoming Lahash East Africa Conference, which will be here in Mwanza.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXYdFrq9EqQ1YD2MzwV43hLUaC_Bq2_MzWcZl4qJyZLqgSdKrL2UCZz0AnIw9RtPVXo1xDn9Z-KHZ8SFul6uMxvEkRQzv3l2REfrA6JKeiDkd1YGoT3xkhai9VKR_VEZdYyb4pG6n8vNo/s1600/IMG-20160429-WA0000.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyXYdFrq9EqQ1YD2MzwV43hLUaC_Bq2_MzWcZl4qJyZLqgSdKrL2UCZz0AnIw9RtPVXo1xDn9Z-KHZ8SFul6uMxvEkRQzv3l2REfrA6JKeiDkd1YGoT3xkhai9VKR_VEZdYyb4pG6n8vNo/s320/IMG-20160429-WA0000.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<b>Check back next week to read about a few things that are upcoming!</b></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-46276264268580860942016-02-04T16:10:00.003+03:002016-02-04T16:10:59.420+03:00Three Big Things: Politics, Race and RefugeesSorry for missing the past two weeks. I had some internet problems that wouldn't allow me to get online on my computer, and have you ever tried typing a whole blog post on a mobile phone? No, thank you very much. Here are a few things I've been thinking about lately:<br />
<br />
<b><u>1. The American Presidential Election</u></b><br />
The political geek in me is kind of reveling in the election coverage, especially since I can choose exactly how much I want to engage with it. I listen to a couple of political podcasts and I read one or two news sites and I read many of the articles and opinions that people post on Facebook, though I try not to get sucked into debates (except when people lie about refugees...that really gets my goat.)<br />
<br />
From the people who I met during the first 23 years of my life, I get very conservative information, such as:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Why You Should Support Ted Cruz</b> - he's a real evangelical conservative, he's been "chosen by God", it's your "duty" as a Christian to support a fellow Christian, etc.</li>
<li><b>Why You Should Support Donald Trump</b> - he speaks the "truth", he'll make America "great again," he'll keep all those Muslims and immigrants out, etc.</li>
<li><b>Why You Should Support a Real Conservative Instead of Donald Trump</b> - usually this is another bid for Ted Cruz. I don't think I know a single politically vocal person supporting anyone else. A few months ago there was a lot more interest in Carson and Fiorina, but that seems to have died down.</li>
<li><b>Why Hillary Clinton is Corrupt and Evil and Bernie Sanders is a Lunatic and Will Impoverish Us All</b></li>
</ul>
From the people I met during the next decade of my life, during much of which I lived and worked and went to church in Portland, I get more liberal information, about three main topics:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>Bernie Sanders</b>, specifically why people who support him are neither stupid nor delusional</li>
<li><b>Why a Donald Trump Presidency = End of the World</b> (Not the end of the world "as we know it" but the end of the world...period. There is also talk of Canadian immigration policies.) Very recently these opinions have been joined by the Ted Cruz Is No Better chorus.</li>
</ul>
I do also have a couple of friends very adamantly supporting Hillary, including one who took a year off work to go volunteer on her campaign, but they don't make a lot of angry noise online.<br />
<br />
All this contributes to a very loud, opinionated environment. I have my own personal political views, and none of those headlines above represents my view or my vote, but I find it all very interesting.<br />
<br />
<b><u>2. Black American Voices</u></b><br />
<b><u><br /></u></b>
<b>First, a disclaimer: Black Americans and Africans are not the same at all. </b>Also different from both of those are African Americans. <b> </b>I don't use the term African American because I think of African Americans as people like my friends the Khamasis who are actual Africans who are now Americans as well. The culture of Black Americans and African Americans (according to my definition) are different, although there is overlap because of the environment of having black skin in America.<br />
<b><br /></b>
I got connected to a hilarious black woman blogger over at <a href="http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/" target="_blank">Awesomely Luvvie</a> because <a href="http://www.theveryworstmissionary.com/" target="_blank">Jaime the Very Worst Missionary</a> linked to Luvvie's <a href="http://www.awesomelyluvvie.com/2016/01/miss-edith-childs-sotu-kim-davis.html" target="_blank">hilarious post</a> about the recent State of the Union address. The way Luvvie writes is brilliant and hilarious, but I have very few black American friends and I was very unused to the slang she uses. (It took me a good little while to figure out that "alphet" meant outfit.) I'm used to not understanding 100% of what's being said to me, so I pressed on to read a lot of the archives and enjoyed every single moment of it. Then I followed her on Facebook and now get to read all of her many followers' comments as well. I'm getting an education.<br />
<br />
Here's my epiphany:<br />Luvvie and her commenters (who are mostly hilarious black women and a few hilarious black men and a very few white people) are a very unique voice in my life. I realized how very white my world is while reading Luvvie, because her voice is so starkly different. Her vocabulary and point of view are pretty obvious chocolate sprinkles on the very vanilla cultural world I'm consuming. (Although I'm not talking about literal voice, for the past year NPR has had a fascinating ongoing debate about why <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/01/29/382437460/challenging-the-whiteness-of-public-radio" target="_blank">black radio presenters on NPR sound like Ira Glass</a>, and from the several NPR podcasts I listen to, I can certainly hear their point.)<br />
<br />
I know a lot of my friends, especially from Imago Dei, are interested in having a not-so-vanilla world, as am I, and I'm realizing that it's not just going to happen organically. We need to go follow some black voices on Twitter and read some blogs and listen to some music and read some books and watch some movies that aren't designed to appeal to educated, upper middle class white people. I recommend Luvvie as a great place to start. (By the way, I just watched <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097216/" target="_blank">"Do The Right Thing"</a> for the first time, and that 27-year-old movie could have been made yesterday...except for the clothes.)<br />
<br />
<b><u>3. The Refugees are Still Out There</u></b><br />
Given that the vitriol and conflict over refugees has died down in the political and Facebook worlds, I take it that the Syrian and Iraqi refugees are passing back out of the public dialogue. While that is bound to happen, since we can't talk about all the things all the time, it's tragic, because there are lives on the line. <br />
<br />
Here are just a few headlines to remind us all to continue in prayer for safety and provision for refugees and for peace in the Middle East.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-35449107" target="_blank">Madaya: "Another 16 starve to death" in besieged Syrian town</a> - 30 January 2016<br />
A standoff between government and rebel groups has trapped about 40,000 people in the town of Madaya where no medicine or food is being allowed in, nor are the sick and dying allowed out. If you want the truth, it's not hard to find pictures of starving children living off of grass and pet cats.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://europe.newsweek.com/refugee-boat-drowns-aegean-421757?rm=eu" target="_blank">Nearly 40 refugees and migrants perish in latest Aegean boat sinking</a> - 1 February 2016<br />Many were women and children, and more than 200 people have drowned in the freezing Aegean Sea since the first of the year. Nearly 60,000 people fled across the sea in leaky boats during the month of January. Remember the picture of the body of that toddler who washed up on the shore last year? He has a lot of company so far this year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/refugee-crisis-10000-unaccompanied-children-targeted-sex-work-slavery-1541083" target="_blank">Refugee crisis: 10,000 unaccompanied children targeted for sex work and slavery</a> - 31 January 2016<br />
More than 26,000 unaccompanied children entered Europe last year (according to Save The Children) and nearly half of those children have disappeared. Some of them may have been reattached to family members, but many are suspected to have been abducted into the human slave trade. Even those who have not disappeared have reported being extorted and sexually abused as they seek safety.<br />
<br />
God, guide us in prayer and in speech and in action on behalf of our sick and dying and exploited sisters and brothers, daughters and sons, mothers and fathers.Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-27368816603704374182016-01-14T18:21:00.001+03:002016-01-14T18:21:29.506+03:00My Husband is a RebelThe book I'm currently rereading is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Before-Habits---Procrastinate/dp/0385348630/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452781922&sr=8-1&keywords=better+than+before" target="_blank">Better Than Before</a> by Gretchen Rubin--a book about forming good habits and breaking bad habits. The cornerstone of her theories about habit forming is that one approach won't work for everyone, and that there are essentially Four Tendencies that personalities fall into which dramatically affect how we are able to form habits based on our responses to inner or outer obligations.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2016/01/what-will-my-new-year-look-like.html" target="_blank">Last week</a> I talked about my tendency: Obliger. I am 100% an Obliger, responding primarily to external expectations but totally inept at forcing myself to do something just because it's good for me. I spend an enormous amount of psychic energy considering what other people want or need from me and how to meet those expectations. This is the most common personality type.<br />
<br />
Another type is the Questioner. This is kind of the reverse of the Obliger, because it's a personality who will do anything that he or she understands and is convinced of the value of that choice. For example, a Questioner would begin exercising if he believed that he needed to exercise and that the type of exercise chosen is going to be effective to meet his goals. This is also a very common personality type, and I think of my friend Reta, who very frequently asks, simply "Why is that?" in response to virtually any scenario.<br />
<br />
More rare is the Upholder personality type, and when I read about this type, I understood my friend, Katie, in a new way. One time she and I were traveling together and she got separated from her luggage, which had been locked in an office. I spent a considerable amount of time trying to convince her, very Obliger-y, that it would be very inconvenient to find the person with the keys and call them back to give her the bag. Wouldn't it be easier to just manage without so as not to inconvenience anyone? She adamantly refused, stating that she needed the things in her bag and would not be able to go overnight without them. We got the bag, but I was surprised at this unexpected layer of granite in her, because she was usually very responsive to others' expectations of her. She is an Upholder, which means she responds to both external and internal obligations.<br />
<br />
And then there is the Rebel. The Rebel is one who rejects all sense of obligation or expectation, both inner and outer. A Rebel wouldn't say "I should set a regular bed time so that I feel well-rested" or "People are expecting to see us at the wedding," but instead Rebels say I only do what I want to do right now. They can still form habits, but only habits that are in line with their own strongly held values. As I read about the Rebel's dislike for hierarchy and rules and (to them) incomprehensible social structures, I saw my husband, who was kicked out of a Catholic pre-seminary for challenging the priests on theology, and regularly spars with power-holders in our society. His strongly held value of justice motivates him to accomplish a lot on behalf of people who don't hold much power, but he is the bane of any bureaucrat's existence, since he refuses to fill out time cards or fill out paperwork that doesn't seem practical to him. Since he values accountability, he will collect receipts, but if someone protests that the receipts he has provided are not an acceptable format, he rejects that adherence to formality without function.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv2usQYkzEEXMyZLJJLH5XImz0K4Q7892W1CHdLovR7AsOcMn8IiE_2qaB5_-SqH6DVwbcdhqiKyHSkii-uBOW1vo6_in6AGsbkwRrU-xYLiDw6isMqbPMrGDuhvlFDMhyVT7MSadVsyk/s1600/Otieno_Family01052015.18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKv2usQYkzEEXMyZLJJLH5XImz0K4Q7892W1CHdLovR7AsOcMn8IiE_2qaB5_-SqH6DVwbcdhqiKyHSkii-uBOW1vo6_in6AGsbkwRrU-xYLiDw6isMqbPMrGDuhvlFDMhyVT7MSadVsyk/s320/Otieno_Family01052015.18.jpg" width="320" /></a>In the book, Rubin states that many Rebels marry Obligers, and they appreciate the stability that an Obliger's compulsions provide. (For example, if Fred can't bring himself to sit down at the computer to answer emails, he delegates that task to me. I feel so obligated by the expectation of the person waiting for a response that I readily agree and get a lot of satisfaction from it.) Obligers find the Rebel's disregard for expectations freeing, to which I can certainly attest. Whenever we receive a fundraising card for a wedding or a send-off, I feel compelled to give money and attend the event, even though attending the 8-hour ordeal of a casual acquaintance's wedding is grueling. He has saved me a lot of money and stress by releasing me from those "obligations." A good friend of mine living in Uganda is also an Obliger married to a Rebel, and I can think of one or two other couples who are probably in the same club. I can say that I'm very grateful for my Rebel husband. He accomplishes so much that I never would, and he inspires a lot more balance and freedom in my own life. <br />
<br />
(Now I have the song <a href="https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiunqLlzKnKAhWJEiwKHdrcCh0QtwII1AEwDQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DaF7V2dSvxpo&usg=AFQjCNHLDCNGq79tDBFnJC87UGhdQeoO8w&sig2=WD1T7FGoSeEVAYPKx8_wVg" target="_blank">"He's a Rebel"</a> by The Crystals stuck in my head..."Just because he doesn't do what everybody else does, that's no reason why I can't give him all my love.")Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-54623235183885354242016-01-06T11:38:00.000+03:002016-01-06T11:38:56.983+03:00What Will My New Year Look Like?<b><u>First, an update</u></b><br />
In the last blog post, <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2015/12/tears-on-christmas-day.html" target="_blank">Tears on Christmas Day</a>, I shared about some families that we reached out to on Christmas Day to share food with them. The response of readers has been so wonderful. One couple, who have already helped this family a lot, are giving money for a bed and school uniforms and food for Grace, Pita and the kids. Another family from Oregon has adopted Mama Saidi and her two little ones, giving $1,000 to build them a better house and provide some food, a mattress and some other necessities, and have committed to $20 each month to continue ensuring the health and welfare of the kids. A church in Washington is preparing to take an offering to provide another food supplement for the other six families.<br />
<br />
We are so excited to facilitate these gifts that will have such an impact on the lives of these vulnerable families!<br />
<br />
<b><u>Next, an admission</u></b><br />
I have terrible discipline, but I recently read that most people wish they had better self discipline, so that made me feel a little better. I know many people feel like New Year's resolutions are pointless, but I have the kind of personality which needs a reason and a significant point of start to make a change in my life.<br />
<br />
One of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin, who has been frequently mentioned on this blog, wrote a book about forming habits called <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Better-Than-Before-Habits---Procrastinate/dp/0385348630/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452068332&sr=8-1&keywords=better+than+before+book" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Better Than Before</a>. It's been out for a while, but I got bogged down trying to listen to it on audio when I really needed to sit down with my journal and take notes. I've restarted reading it to boost the goal I made for 2016. According to her <a href="https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/1950137/Four-Tendencies-January-2015" target="_blank">Four Tendencies</a> personality structure, I am an Obliger, which means that I am good at meeting others' expectations of me, but I am rubbish at meeting my own expectations of myself. She is spot on, and I'll give you an example: When my husband is home, I pretty much bathe every day (laudable, I know), because he appreciates when I'm, y'know, clean and not stinky. When Fred is away, though, I am hit-or-miss with the whole bathe every day thing. (In a weak attempt to defend myself, bathing here is not just jumping in the shower. It involves heating water on the stove and hauling it into the bathroom and bathing from a bucket with a cup. Oh, and of course there are two toddlers who can't stand for me to be out of their eye line for more than one minute who also need to be bathed in warm water.) Anyway, the point is that Fred's expectation of having a clean wife is stronger motivation for me than my own desire to not be grubby.<br />
<br />
<b><u>Finally, a goal</u></b><br />
So this year, on New Year's Eve, I sat down and wrote a list of the things I am unsatisfied about in my life. These are things I should be doing every day, but seem to take an enormous amount of discipline to get done. When I looked at my list of 6-8 things, I realized that most of them could be incorporated into a better morning routine. So my goal for 2016 is to create better habits in the morning, I have a little checklist, and I'm incorporating some accountability to actually empower me to stick with my routine. Six days in, I'm doing well, although the one factor that I thought would ensure my success--getting up earlier than my kids--is not working out. My usually late-sleeping kids have decided that whatever time I wake up, they should wake up, so I'm dealing with a lot of static during the morning, trying to get them started well on their day at the same time as I'm reading my Bible and doing the other checklist things.<br />
<br />
Anyway, that's what is going on around our house. Kudos to all of you trying to make a positive change in your life right now, and if you need some accountability, let me know!Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-78751014069237793332015-12-26T12:18:00.000+03:002015-12-26T12:27:17.813+03:00Tears on Christmas DayThis was our third Christmas in Africa as a family. The first year it was just me and Fred and a 7-month baby bump. We had no gifts for each other, no special dinner, Fred was traveling and just reached home on Christmas morning. God blessed us by opening a hotel in our town that day, so we had a nice dinner out. <br />
<br />
Two years ago we took the boys (and an 8-month baby bump) to the beach in Mwanza. We had a great time playing at the beach on Christmas and Boxing Day, and ate hotel food for Christmas dinner.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovzZY6Pkl8D_2iQ2xQdLdjq1y9pvkC7jQB6R3PKnLRJWwts5GZUz2yzOBNIWNAu6TU6i8uRZbZWcZ8a-f7k0lAQmbT7qJ86dgous7t7r28MxNBuEc74pMSYhgWQkfRcAnq1zYF74ZstAB/s1600/DSCF0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhovzZY6Pkl8D_2iQ2xQdLdjq1y9pvkC7jQB6R3PKnLRJWwts5GZUz2yzOBNIWNAu6TU6i8uRZbZWcZ8a-f7k0lAQmbT7qJ86dgous7t7r28MxNBuEc74pMSYhgWQkfRcAnq1zYF74ZstAB/s320/DSCF0739.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
This year we had planned to go back to Mwanza to play on the beach and in a swimming pool, but Fred and I have been traveling so much lately that staying in yet another ubiquitous hotel room didn't sound all that appealing, so we decided to save money and stay home. Then God moved us to spend that money on food for some of the families we've been interacting with this past year. We bought 50 kilos of rice, 25 kilos of sugar, and 10 1-liter bottles of oil. I baked a bunch of Christmas cookies and made little cards and wrapped up a bag of cookies for each family. Our friend Stephen and our house helper, Adera, split up the food into eight portions, and on Christmas Day Stephen, Fred and Wesley delivered the packages.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa7B4N_gwnFb-V0o71gO2KKeP5wECB-V7IZkDuLFnCEzccjLjV_SS4p809jY_RzcT527dv6PqWwLnXrh9XnqmmUUYh5jKd_d1-mZ1oBDp6e2oH-FfP-wBtAAkT3UOQ-vdikYkgO86GJL2/s1600/DSCF0768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRa7B4N_gwnFb-V0o71gO2KKeP5wECB-V7IZkDuLFnCEzccjLjV_SS4p809jY_RzcT527dv6PqWwLnXrh9XnqmmUUYh5jKd_d1-mZ1oBDp6e2oH-FfP-wBtAAkT3UOQ-vdikYkgO86GJL2/s320/DSCF0768.JPG" width="320" /></a>First they visited Grace and Pita and Pita's kids, who received a water system at their home from the Ryding family earlier this year. They found the family walking back from church. Fred asked Pita, the blind daughter, what she was hoping to eat for Christmas. "Rice, but we don't have any," she replied. They got the joy of making her modest Christmas wish come true.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7tDarT8vW64PFG6Cq_HPtA9FIXvzP3vsCVk8wg7B8IHUk9fc6oI8u1ZitlQLj782_7uPSDqEmHBDqt8WeRhvRpY_EyBxApF2t85wL_r1fzeHqIit7yI_WCGV0Z9QpV_X8SmTPXNI6bo6/s1600/IMG20151225113954.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy7tDarT8vW64PFG6Cq_HPtA9FIXvzP3vsCVk8wg7B8IHUk9fc6oI8u1ZitlQLj782_7uPSDqEmHBDqt8WeRhvRpY_EyBxApF2t85wL_r1fzeHqIit7yI_WCGV0Z9QpV_X8SmTPXNI6bo6/s320/IMG20151225113954.jpg" width="240" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Some of the homes they were going to were off-road, to say the least! Wesley told Fred "This isn't a safe place to drive!" The next home was of a family which had received a new house from Shantz Mennonite Church. The HIV+ single mother who was the intended beneficiary of the house died the day before the Shantz team was to build the house, so instead they gave money to build a new home for the orphaned children later on.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyfUbWwGuJYrlPfRIkygTk1mboIjC9rKzWiR73bscQ9vHU7U9-RRhUjt6id4o2-gba2ABMW0Slu-KO8LkEWZHsq80hkciVj5ndUet1Va4DD8V-QFYSOKZM8s5vomkAZaIlibfUPMAIinz/s1600/DSCF0772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpyfUbWwGuJYrlPfRIkygTk1mboIjC9rKzWiR73bscQ9vHU7U9-RRhUjt6id4o2-gba2ABMW0Slu-KO8LkEWZHsq80hkciVj5ndUet1Va4DD8V-QFYSOKZM8s5vomkAZaIlibfUPMAIinz/s320/DSCF0772.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
When Fred, Stephen and Wesley arrived on Christmas morning, they found that the two young children are now being cared for by their teenage sister-in-law, who also brought her young sister to live there. Milka, that child bride, probably an orphan herself, was so ill that she was lying on a mat in the compound. All the kids were gathered around watching her suffer. There was literally no food in the house. None of them had eaten the day before and there was not even a match to light the fire. The children's faces when they saw the cookies and food brought tears to my eyes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvNn0d_3bxBHkQXnoeJHYOQ2hx8mFZUmcwCu1IQiFUNqOzJdtfVvKLLYlcBFvQziHgveTCQQXMCyJmsN7dvUvM2OhgQ6RS2xTc6G8slQhWS1Hej8R7o6kPBwSvcxt2ZXFxhJAq-NcJGTs/s1600/DSCF0777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidvNn0d_3bxBHkQXnoeJHYOQ2hx8mFZUmcwCu1IQiFUNqOzJdtfVvKLLYlcBFvQziHgveTCQQXMCyJmsN7dvUvM2OhgQ6RS2xTc6G8slQhWS1Hej8R7o6kPBwSvcxt2ZXFxhJAq-NcJGTs/s320/DSCF0777.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The next home was of a man Fred has been interacting with for several years. Ramadhan has been paralyzed from the neck down since adolescence. Through the palliative care he receives medicine to manage the chronic pain he lives with, and he has used the gifts from that program to start a small business selling bars of soap and matches to people in the neighborhood. Prior to the visit from the Shantz Mennonite team, he would spend all day lying on his mat in front of his home in the glaring sunshine or pouring rain. The team built him a shade so that he can be more comfortable while doing his business. His elderly mother who cares for him was given the food to prepare for their meal.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5Xda-zPpiyfOErp1UkX-6MouINYYxpugLH95asxcRedrE4x9_SNCd-QA_j3LJgMNyaNWuq7TyD2fmI9ady75PphOnfmNfckgSuHfEtcJaVqc5q60V_yPX0kYXwuhyRpCE5oG8nnMlPlp/s1600/DSCF0785.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-5Xda-zPpiyfOErp1UkX-6MouINYYxpugLH95asxcRedrE4x9_SNCd-QA_j3LJgMNyaNWuq7TyD2fmI9ady75PphOnfmNfckgSuHfEtcJaVqc5q60V_yPX0kYXwuhyRpCE5oG8nnMlPlp/s320/DSCF0785.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
The next stop was to a family we've never met before, but Stephen knows their situation well. Saidi was a palliative care client of Stephen's who died in the past year from AIDS. His widow and children received a new roof on their house from a Canadian woman who visits each year to do projects like this. When they reached the house yesterday, they found the door closed, so they started walking to find Mrs. Saidi and encountered her returning from a neighbor's house where she had gone to beg food for her toddler. All that boy was going to eat for Christmas was a piece of chapati that the neighbor had flung in his direction. As you can see in the photo, he couldn't take his eyes off those cookies! The baby girl has no clothes, but we have a bunch of baby clothes donated for Mama Maisha, so Stephen will return with some clothes for that little one. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMLaMBC8e6wM6IMddze6c2i_KWridPnkssnEPqwyHk89oIIj6Z4pUvsgvqgE4zePVb2VajKtvm7m1Hg_ZtFAZAuCjpxKwrNmbUyUWMnmiDKoL6pKW4rHABM221Q-XknkLbAjlOcAcTxxd/s1600/DSCF0779.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdMLaMBC8e6wM6IMddze6c2i_KWridPnkssnEPqwyHk89oIIj6Z4pUvsgvqgE4zePVb2VajKtvm7m1Hg_ZtFAZAuCjpxKwrNmbUyUWMnmiDKoL6pKW4rHABM221Q-XknkLbAjlOcAcTxxd/s320/DSCF0779.JPG" width="320" /></a>Last February Fred worked with that same Canadian lady and gift from our friends, the Rickeys, to build a house and water system for this widow and her two grandchildren, who had been living in a tiny, dilapidated house. They met the ladies coming from church. The grandmother, Lucia, said she had to go to church to worship because God has done so much for them this year. Asking some questions, Stephen found out that they really had very little food in the house, and nothing special to eat for Christmas day, but still they were giving thanks. How many of us could find that faith?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdnREY2YcV-B30v0pNvv7BOvUYrccw4DjWJ6zjW3cZiozrP24l_LjpG3wN2I0Fv2FV0PfkeriACtXSzVE2MfiBrBBM5cM0gwnmbu_fGgzMMKNvv2pUPWgeRXWUgCzp-mqgsXTr624gHQO/s1600/DSCF0791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdnREY2YcV-B30v0pNvv7BOvUYrccw4DjWJ6zjW3cZiozrP24l_LjpG3wN2I0Fv2FV0PfkeriACtXSzVE2MfiBrBBM5cM0gwnmbu_fGgzMMKNvv2pUPWgeRXWUgCzp-mqgsXTr624gHQO/s320/DSCF0791.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Johanes was the very first client I ever met in Shirati. He is a paraplegic who is in the palliative care program as well. This year a friend of ours in Newberg paid for Johanes to get a new house and a new bed and mattress. Johanes is so proud of his new home, and eager for his new water tank, courtesy of a British friend. They found two neighbor boys there chasing a snake out of the house. We are concerned about his security, since he has no phone and can't move to find help, so Fred is looking for a special low-power cell phone and flashlight to help increase his comfort still more.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI-Z1DfLDld0OgFs1phWtMSYZxBDWqaJNrppMv8uICyZdenHHaeIhfamoFo3WzRuRKvCX8jk6cBx7YNB3c4SUIyX5S2ndaidv8cacSvh5OFmX0gmFGHGEZnYQY2OEGduILaSzFvZwdfLx/s1600/IMG20151225124540.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiI-Z1DfLDld0OgFs1phWtMSYZxBDWqaJNrppMv8uICyZdenHHaeIhfamoFo3WzRuRKvCX8jk6cBx7YNB3c4SUIyX5S2ndaidv8cacSvh5OFmX0gmFGHGEZnYQY2OEGduILaSzFvZwdfLx/s320/IMG20151225124540.jpg" width="240" /></a>Obadia is another client of Stephen's who lives in a village on the lake front. He is also paralyzed and sits in the market area, where people might bring him a fish from their catch for him to eat or to sell. Often those with physical or mental disabilities are neglected by their families, and they rely on whatever support the community can provide.<br />
<br />
This was the end of Wesley's rope, although he did a really great job spending three hours on the back of a motorbike (hence the helmet) with an empty stomach himself, handing out Christmas cookies to other kids. Inno has a bad cough or he would have gone as well, because we think it is so important for our kids to have exposure to poverty and difficult circumstances, and to be part of serving the vulnerable. It is one of the major blessings of living in rural Africa as a family.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL2qjhPQcSRdbaTOoO7Ld1BmWcR5klAuYUbQU0YS6ZqKpNcjpQUWQXMvVsH6pE4R3UdHbAbyQn7Xu-j_Vum3F9AssIvvE1lwsGdsqimwFnRazA7ToyxjFOicvweuXBT1qYqK8QmlcHDbS/s1600/IMG20151225132131.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicL2qjhPQcSRdbaTOoO7Ld1BmWcR5klAuYUbQU0YS6ZqKpNcjpQUWQXMvVsH6pE4R3UdHbAbyQn7Xu-j_Vum3F9AssIvvE1lwsGdsqimwFnRazA7ToyxjFOicvweuXBT1qYqK8QmlcHDbS/s320/IMG20151225132131.jpg" width="240" /></a>Stephen and Fred dropped Wesley off at home and went to one last house. Lucy and her teenage son were living in a very poor house, practically homeless in fact, until last July when the Shantz Mennonite team came and built her a new house. Their hand prints are in the mud walls of her house, and she is very proud of this home. She is making small improvements, even though she is lame and walks with a cane. Fred and Stephen arrived at lunch time and found no food or cooking fire, so she was very appreciative of the food they brought. She wished they could stay so that she could cook for them and share a meal, but both men had their families waiting at home, so they excused themselves.<br />
<br />
We love working with Stephen because of his great heart, and he told Fred that for him, this is the very best way of celebrating Christmas. Although we couldn't go as a family, these stories really impacted us all. Having Wesley to represent us made the clients feel like this was really a gift from our hearts to them, not a project, and bringing our young son into the homes of clients communicates that we are not afraid of their illness, a stigma that keeps many people away.<br />
<br />
<b>We want to take this chance to thank the many donors who have contributed to these families or to our personal support.</b> These financial gifts enable us to live here and engage with the most vulnerable people in our society, meeting physical needs and offering love and fellowship to many who sit in dark corners. If you have been part of our support team, <b>you are part of this work</b>! <br />
<br />
If you would like to help us continue caring for the widows, orphans, and other vulnerable people, <b>please click on the button below to give a one-time or recurring monthly gift to our support.</b> If you'd like it to go to one of these clients in particular, just <a href="mailto:fredandleisha@gmail.com" target="_blank">email me</a> to let me know how you'd like your gift to be used.<br />
<br />
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlpmLcy2Hm7EPfbivAUWxJ1uF7qCuU_HYO9WRdvttveOr4uBJM1yhk1YLeJ4m2eLEWIk3kJTufoCKOqr9QhB4aj1lZDzc5hbdKmdL_8Psxm2jYCll1g_pUjA1g-VpW3xX1AA0pgpUdffB/s1600/donate_button.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTlpmLcy2Hm7EPfbivAUWxJ1uF7qCuU_HYO9WRdvttveOr4uBJM1yhk1YLeJ4m2eLEWIk3kJTufoCKOqr9QhB4aj1lZDzc5hbdKmdL_8Psxm2jYCll1g_pUjA1g-VpW3xX1AA0pgpUdffB/s640/donate_button.png" width="640" /></a></div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-33898917373120104662015-12-12T12:49:00.001+03:002015-12-12T12:49:56.246+03:00Inno Learns About Living with Disabilities This past week we were invited as a family to participate in Mennonite Central Committee's camp for Tanzanian children with albinism. These kids were invited by all over the region to come meet at a primary school in Musoma. In order to have camp at that location, which is host to about 40 children with visual impairments. So there were about 90 children with either albinism or visual difficulties, plus Innocent. The theme of the camp was "I am Valuable" and the kids took classes on Character Building and Health and played games and did crafts. Fred was helping to teach a class on Peace Making (he took the photo below of Inno with a couple of his group members), in which the kids learned about the differences between "green communities" where peace and justice are present and "red communities" where chaos prevails, among many other things.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6nfWRFQh2Mdp22fpV4mnc8WdpiYPbbWgtm8Klcm4TvG123-S7AaqRXPHjmBOvjSK0WSWZuwuuzdmqG7pGd0a3-FrxWdUOIVmI9iinn7AHdLSELQ231Wo0H6Xjgi2D1ycYAITqdAHqZ7r/s1600/IMG-20151206-WA0001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6nfWRFQh2Mdp22fpV4mnc8WdpiYPbbWgtm8Klcm4TvG123-S7AaqRXPHjmBOvjSK0WSWZuwuuzdmqG7pGd0a3-FrxWdUOIVmI9iinn7AHdLSELQ231Wo0H6Xjgi2D1ycYAITqdAHqZ7r/s320/IMG-20151206-WA0001.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Children with albinism face many obstacles in Africa, particularly in Tanzania. They are hugely misunderstood, especially when born in remote villages, where people call them derogatory names and sometimes believe that they are not really human. People with albinism are sometimes hunted and killed or maimed; their body parts are used by witch doctors in charms which are said to offer business or political success. An albino's body can sell for hundred's of thousands of US dollars, an enormous fortune in the developing world. In Tanzania it is more likely for a child to have an arm cut off, sometimes by a neighbor or a relative. These kids live under nearly constant threat, so the Peace Making and Character Building classes' lessons on forgiveness carry a heavy weight for them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKcYM0N2tT8HVjz5IrgKEWYiOOB0BPyuiiFWx_1O3j7i1FwQsQLI9VRyJtApFIMDyMdm0JZ5CkWc6lcElMhwH8E4ZwwfQL1kUHmhct4Ojj0koYLmCDGKj1Xj31S3_LOtLnuCvm12jRGr8/s1600/DSCF0717.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBKcYM0N2tT8HVjz5IrgKEWYiOOB0BPyuiiFWx_1O3j7i1FwQsQLI9VRyJtApFIMDyMdm0JZ5CkWc6lcElMhwH8E4ZwwfQL1kUHmhct4Ojj0koYLmCDGKj1Xj31S3_LOtLnuCvm12jRGr8/s320/DSCF0717.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Additionally, the unique health concerns of albinos are not well known by their caregivers, so they suffer very painful sunburns and lip blisters from sun exposure. Their eyes are weak, so many people develop partial or total blindness. These health concerns are not usually accommodated by primary school teachers, who may require the students to wear short sleeved shirts and shorts without a hat for school uniform. Some teachers require the albino students to sit in the back of the classroom where they cannot see the board, or in a window or doorway where they are exposed to sun throughout the day. Many African albinos don't live beyond age 30 because they develop skin cancer from sun exposure and die extremely painful deaths.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytMuk7TSVxp0z5Nrc38Y8LDTAa8NHKA3ZycMQVXTO4IjN_fVx8DVmKWQ-yLfMd-rhkkrvt_Y27oxmiAmoZ6lOwp7hbDt6dK3FB5arfC_v6ly9gte8fC6PHeTCn0u-FhnQDHF_5CnAC-v_/s1600/DSCF0710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiytMuk7TSVxp0z5Nrc38Y8LDTAa8NHKA3ZycMQVXTO4IjN_fVx8DVmKWQ-yLfMd-rhkkrvt_Y27oxmiAmoZ6lOwp7hbDt6dK3FB5arfC_v6ly9gte8fC6PHeTCn0u-FhnQDHF_5CnAC-v_/s320/DSCF0710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Like all African kids, the albino kids were very interested in Wesley and Gretchen. It took the better part of the week for Wesley and Gretchen to get used to all the new kids, but by the last day they were playing with the kids and having a great time. Innocent did such a great job of playing with all kids, regardless of their skin color or disability. His best friend at the camp, Iddi (at Inno's left in the photo at left), has pretty bad chapped lips, such that his mouth is often bloody. It looks a little gruesome, but I loved that Inno didn't judge his friend. During the last night talent show, Iddi and Inno did acrobatic flips together. Their other friend, Chacha (in the yellow camp shirt), volunteered to be the first kid to show a talent, and he sang a kind of hip hop beat song. Wesley, who loved Chacha, stood next to him watching intently through the whole song. It was pretty adorable. Their friend Gilbert, at the far right, did a hilarious range of crazy laughter...probably the favorite talent of the whole show.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YPwM2ZlT8GjhGj2z1DosdDRr1-FjNqNDz-ralNbZ_7djK7VqQ7U0Us8cIJa0m-QxZ4qdtrmFiv_oLHgbbEHoEr1WrvZkUoRjM9yCERo87j3mCDQuqcU8lwq6dcSx9azNhdL_OrvcaOE9/s1600/DSCF0699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YPwM2ZlT8GjhGj2z1DosdDRr1-FjNqNDz-ralNbZ_7djK7VqQ7U0Us8cIJa0m-QxZ4qdtrmFiv_oLHgbbEHoEr1WrvZkUoRjM9yCERo87j3mCDQuqcU8lwq6dcSx9azNhdL_OrvcaOE9/s320/DSCF0699.JPG" width="320" /></a>One day of the camp they took the kids on safari into the nearby Serengeti Park, so Wesley, Gretchen and I went to the beach to play. A couple of the American volunteers who didn't need to go on safari went with us, including a new friend, Wendy, who is a teacher living in Tanzania almost as long as I have been. It was really great to talk with her about our common experiences. We were really glad we decided not to go on safari, since they got stuck in the mud several times and didn't arrive back until 1:30am! The photos we saw in the camp's closing ceremony showed albino kids helping blind kids jump across muddy ruts in the road, and we heard stories of trying to find non-snake-infested shade for the 50-some albino children to share while the buses were pried loose from the mud.<br />
<br />
As our family contemplates getting involved with the MCC village level program to do education and peacemaking regarding albinism, it was really a privilege to spend time with the kids this week. It took the issue of albinism out of a purely social justice realm for me and into a much more personal issue. Just like Fred was teaching them in class, a sense of compassion should lead into kind acts, which reflect personal integrity and responsibility. Now when stories about violence against albinos appear in the news, Gilbert and Iddi and 89 other children's faces will come to my mind, and I hope to yours as well.<br />
<br />
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-33125166523811823442015-12-03T17:00:00.000+03:002015-12-03T17:00:06.562+03:00Not My Words - A Tribute to my Sisters AbroadI've been reading some blog posts from the "a Life Overseas" blog that have encouraged, inspired and challenged me. They make me think of so many of my friends out here in the world abroad. If you are, have been, or would like to be a woman in the mission or development fields overseas, read some of these very real pictures of life as a woman, especially as a wife and/or mother, in a cross-cultural environment.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/good-will-come-suffering/" target="_blank">Good Will Come: Views on Suffering</a><br />I read this today and felt so encouraged. I have come to many of the same "gray areas" myself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/missionary-mommy-wars/" target="_blank">Missionary Mommy Wars</a><br />
I've been able to avoid a lot of these pressures, due in huge part to my gracious husband and his low expectations, but I've seen this in so many friends' lives.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/if-im-perfect/" target="_blank">If I'm Perfect</a><br />
This nailed me. There are many sentences in here that I could have written myself, about myself.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.alifeoverseas.com/if-im-perfect/" target="_blank">When Spouses Travel</a><br />
Fred travels a lot, but lately I've also been doing some big trips. This was a great read with good advice as we enter a season of more and more opportunities for travel.<br />
<br />
I dedicate all these links to the women who, although spread around the world, are some of my dearest friends. Although we don't get to speak often, due to terrible internet connections, major time zone differences, many small children, and the normal busy-ness of missional life abroad, they love and understand me at such a deep level. I have deep admiration for you who have chosen this crazy life.<br />
<br />
Thank you, and I love you all...<br />
<br />
Corrine H, Haley B, Liz S, Mandi S, Tiffanee W, Vangi T, Melinda K, and recent friends Sarah, Charity and Susan, along with others I may have forgottenLeishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-92107131951298866752015-11-27T17:38:00.000+03:002015-11-27T17:39:00.792+03:00Our African Thanksgiving<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This was the fifth Thanksgiving I've celebrated while in Africa. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The first one was in 2008, in Adjumani, Uganda, while traveling with my newly married co-workers, the Angotes, and two visitors from Warner Pacific College. We got to celebrate with two one-year American volunteers and a friend of theirs. We ate pretty authentic food and played a raucous game of spoons.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The second one was the next year, in Dodoma, Tanzania, which passed almost without our noticing. I think Leah and I went to the Pakistani cafe for lunch.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The third one was in 2011, when we had been married seven months and Inno had just come to live with us. I can't remember doing anything special that year either.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The fourth Thanksgiving, 2013, was also here in Shirati. I was pregnant with Gretchen, my friend Liz was pregnant with her second son, and our friend Ladine was pregnant with her third baby. Their husbands and kids, along with our Dutch friends Pim and Yvonne and their daughter, all came over to our house for Thanksgiving. We ate a full potluck-style spread, and we pregnant ladies all got ultrasounds. Y'know, standard Thanksgiving.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhdP4USR5R5vNDKm_as7cWPhiuLj4ya1gbdJzvDhqtdDjapGVY1cUrZPnIDAqbfnu3Rz-MqM_q2cet3KQ-HylS8Hpnhd_pOU-mBBAv8Ltx_oaH7daERMuhCX1EquQxhZT5Oe2lsYSZMp/s1600/DSCF0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqNhdP4USR5R5vNDKm_as7cWPhiuLj4ya1gbdJzvDhqtdDjapGVY1cUrZPnIDAqbfnu3Rz-MqM_q2cet3KQ-HylS8Hpnhd_pOU-mBBAv8Ltx_oaH7daERMuhCX1EquQxhZT5Oe2lsYSZMp/s320/DSCF0652.JPG" width="320" /></a>This year we have an American guest staying with us. Megan Jackson is a <a href="http://lahash.org/servant-teams/" target="_blank">Lahash Servant Team</a> member who is staying on in Tanzania for another couple of months, and is taking a three week break here with our family. She helped the kids put together a gratitude tree and some hand turkeys. When I asked Wesley what he is grateful for, his first answer was "Letter W" followed by "Numbers." I asked him what Gretchen is thankful for, and he replied, among other things, "Fish and small fish." (Small fish are tiny silver fish we call dagaa. It's a common food here which Gretchen really enjoys.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw33b-ZB-Z4ZUVrF4P-0RHZHD_BNgiMi790JP73RzcjFXo7EjAerex8kReNwN1GHSa8Gb8f1x8-ozrru7qya2Qwey6GVu_5rQ085sEfoYO9idGnIum336_SX3zemox85cEmqF_xco8nIp/s1600/DSCF0654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqw33b-ZB-Z4ZUVrF4P-0RHZHD_BNgiMi790JP73RzcjFXo7EjAerex8kReNwN1GHSa8Gb8f1x8-ozrru7qya2Qwey6GVu_5rQ085sEfoYO9idGnIum336_SX3zemox85cEmqF_xco8nIp/s320/DSCF0654.JPG" width="320" /></a>All day long I cooked, and Megan helped. Thanksgiving, my favorite holiday, is probably the day I feel most American out of the whole year, and it was nice to share with a fellow countrywoman. After dinner, Innocent and Megan and I played Ruckus and SkipBo. It was a pretty wonderful day, and a wonderful Thanksgiving!</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFN-hzqixqQIjA73fpRMbhoGCLxWweZYwyBZw1dE0dh4xcd9izai-bSJko2fgajFQcfXMlwEWBYvxhvBHpzR4HB570Qcele4Zvpgsr3oxTvdUKR0hJEUjVZDecQMe4NvSogDBQxs3ADVn/s1600/DSCF0663.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixFN-hzqixqQIjA73fpRMbhoGCLxWweZYwyBZw1dE0dh4xcd9izai-bSJko2fgajFQcfXMlwEWBYvxhvBHpzR4HB570Qcele4Zvpgsr3oxTvdUKR0hJEUjVZDecQMe4NvSogDBQxs3ADVn/s400/DSCF0663.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pickles and olives from Iraq, gravy from a packet from America,<br />homemade crescent rolls,<br />Shirati's finest chicken, carrots, potatoes and watermelon,<br />homemade juice for the kids and not the finest wine for adults!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQlYNT0_DhzMabUgD3nqmypUBwClL7d_6t1HUB4aRyykq4RCbfZ6HmPXG9OqufuD2bMZmu9jIzaOProFewQ_h3qbrcfTzg6zdw850Bj_6hHNvzIGvb7h00bETfWz8PIy05JaM55sHHX3b/s1600/DSCF0670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="353" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQlYNT0_DhzMabUgD3nqmypUBwClL7d_6t1HUB4aRyykq4RCbfZ6HmPXG9OqufuD2bMZmu9jIzaOProFewQ_h3qbrcfTzg6zdw850Bj_6hHNvzIGvb7h00bETfWz8PIy05JaM55sHHX3b/s400/DSCF0670.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I didn't have a pie pan, so we made little apple pies in silicone muffin tins.<br />The kids helped with measuring and stirring, then we carved initials in the tops.<br />This is Gretchen's, naturally.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC9ARQZay9oLAm6A-QFj2KZVODlhMfrUmM4WEGOmj6M7bs7M9_dYKvfD6tYY9nMmTLPnjljFWxoHhjBGlJTLM0K_rrxh7C9A5G63vg9Lwy4NKDalNi3vOLOMZWBiF9zz81LOOnCGptT97/s1600/DSCF0661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYC9ARQZay9oLAm6A-QFj2KZVODlhMfrUmM4WEGOmj6M7bs7M9_dYKvfD6tYY9nMmTLPnjljFWxoHhjBGlJTLM0K_rrxh7C9A5G63vg9Lwy4NKDalNi3vOLOMZWBiF9zz81LOOnCGptT97/s640/DSCF0661.JPG" width="518" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happy Thanksgiving from the Otieno Family!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-38367678378873960012015-11-17T18:05:00.001+03:002015-11-17T18:05:36.820+03:00The Wrap Up of My Trip to Kurdistan<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Day Eight - A Picnic</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBTltS4xgnonJH0jusmi79vizIK0ZYVRUvRlJrcviETziQpEIrhmdR4tVbtTVclc-VZUg0hMG8MJK2MsVvwmIc0c4iDuu0OqWkmRkh3U7qyaNEmFxezRTuUKme78W_QUAH0rc97hyphenhypheniM4v/s1600/DSCF0551.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBTltS4xgnonJH0jusmi79vizIK0ZYVRUvRlJrcviETziQpEIrhmdR4tVbtTVclc-VZUg0hMG8MJK2MsVvwmIc0c4iDuu0OqWkmRkh3U7qyaNEmFxezRTuUKme78W_QUAH0rc97hyphenhypheniM4v/s320/DSCF0551.JPG" width="320" /></a>We were invited for a picnic at the home of the cousins of The Refuge Initiative's Project Manager. The group photo at right is only half of the group we had lunch with. The men in this family work in an informal sector in which they take goods over the mountains and return with sale-able merchandise that is *ahem* untaxed.<br /><br />After a lovely outdoor lunch in a village halfway to Turkey, we went to see the nearby mountain creek that their drinking water comes from. I am a little embarrassed at how little I knew about the varied terrain in the Middle East. This was an incredibly restful and beautiful day. In fact, I owe an apology to my boss at Lahash, because I'm always skeptical about taking time away from work and relationship to go hiking. On this afternoon I felt my spirit renewed for another week of engagement with the refugees. After returning to the house, we heard the wholly miraculous testimony of a Kurdish believer who now lives in Beaverton, Oregon. His story renewed my faith that God can redeem the worst of men or women (no offense to Sami).</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_JNg5X6X6Z2xKUOjv5xdvvNR_pGeXLTUIeHfVdk4xZ9tKWzop9ougjIL6riYb8B0vL5lwttNWOofV9YI6fCGQhQYBbLalXSCJpPzlr5WbmhD7unwxgIoF1yEB7zSVBaL2HLvrkWjXehT/s1600/DSCF0555.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ_JNg5X6X6Z2xKUOjv5xdvvNR_pGeXLTUIeHfVdk4xZ9tKWzop9ougjIL6riYb8B0vL5lwttNWOofV9YI6fCGQhQYBbLalXSCJpPzlr5WbmhD7unwxgIoF1yEB7zSVBaL2HLvrkWjXehT/s400/DSCF0555.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<h4 style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Day Nine - Equal Parts Work and Play</h4>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtXKIFKTN2hTnFZnRhwPMWSDSNGmo_G9SxOKUSTDdKRpEGJqCjpkf6Ee6UZD-JVR2HCCs1Lx_kYl9ZyUsen_Knt9q9nrIs3wfgJFd6TY2qNFj4knEDX8u9dO2EdIf8y3rwCO0kx2wJV2y/s1600/DSCF0577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRtXKIFKTN2hTnFZnRhwPMWSDSNGmo_G9SxOKUSTDdKRpEGJqCjpkf6Ee6UZD-JVR2HCCs1Lx_kYl9ZyUsen_Knt9q9nrIs3wfgJFd6TY2qNFj4knEDX8u9dO2EdIf8y3rwCO0kx2wJV2y/s320/DSCF0577.JPG" width="320" /></a>The most distinctly different thing between the Middle East and anywhere else I've ever traveled is that Sunday is a very standard weekday. We went to a couple of camps in the morning, where I was shown the traditional method for making bread. The bread is a cross between naan and chapati. This woman kneading bread is the person I learned so much from, although we shared no language in common. She answered so many questions (through translators) over the course of my visits to their camps, and even when there was no translator, she was so welcoming and comfortable just hanging out in silence. At dusk we went up one of the mountains in a gondola for Indian and Italian food at a ski resort. (I didn't mention it, but on our first day of work we went to a resort with a roller coaster which shot over the edge of the mountain at one point--totally exhilarating!) After dinner a couple who are connected to the staff of The Refuge Initiative came over to probe my knowledge of maternal health by asking for help on getting pregnant and preventing miscarriage. I gave them all the advice I could (the vast, vast majority of it was extremely practical and not at all medical) and referred them to Dr. Niyan who could refer them to a good OB/GYN. One of my team members, an actual medical professional, and I had the privilege of laying hands and praying for the mother-to-be.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h4>
Day Ten - Politics and Perspective</h4>
<div>
In the morning we visited the mayor of Soran, who has been incredibly kind and helpful to The Refuge Initiative. (They've solved some not-inconsiderable problems for him as well.) A large part of Kurdish culture is militaristic, due to the long, long history of being targeted for destruction by their neighbors. There is a Kurdish saying that "The mountains are our only friends" because of the many times they have been able to defend themselves against incredible odds due to the rugged terrain. Nearly every young man (and many young women) volunteer for the peshmerga, a term you may have heard in connection to ISIS, since the peshmerga are the only military which have had success battling ISIS on the ground (and just recaptured Sinjar town from ISIS).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
That afternoon some friends of our Kurdish friends came over with their 3-week-old baby who had been crying to the extent that the parents were getting very overwhelmed. The nurse and I took a look at the baby, who is a healthy and beautiful little girl, and advised the mother on feeding and using simethicone drops. I also showed her the things that had worked for my kids: abdominal massage and "cycling" her legs to help release the gas trapped in her gut. Pretty pragmatic stuff, but it felt good to help a fellow mother.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
In the evening we got to have a time of worship with the other Western Christians living in Soran. It was such a blessing to me, since that kind of community is one of the things I really miss here in Shirati. The stories I heard that evening so inspired me. I felt as though I were sitting in the room with the kind of missionaries I used to read about. I can't say more than that, but it really puts the complaints of American Christians "oppressed" for their faith in perspective.</div>
<br />
<h4>
Days Eleven, Twelve and Thirteen - Maternal Health</h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoNb8T1muI4SH_4z837-uBTEZvxGXmSuFG24jj5F-EAWPGOMQInTE4J15-_FdRfu9FRPGq74DkYzTOJODWiU6bL_MagITh421lbLIRHvC8-kq_984fW8gD59PZawrsvvmktAEDvAsEVsD/s1600/DSCF0608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizoNb8T1muI4SH_4z837-uBTEZvxGXmSuFG24jj5F-EAWPGOMQInTE4J15-_FdRfu9FRPGq74DkYzTOJODWiU6bL_MagITh421lbLIRHvC8-kq_984fW8gD59PZawrsvvmktAEDvAsEVsD/s320/DSCF0608.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
At long last I got to tap into my new speciality: maternal health. Dr. Niyan joined me again to translate the teaching. She did an excellent job with a difficult task, since she was translating medical and anatomical terminology from English (her 3rd+ language) into Arabic or the Kurdish dialect spoken by the Yezidis. We taught the women basic reproductive anatomy, the processes of healthy reproduction, some of the most common things that can go wrong and why medical care is important, and finally, we did a simulated "emergency" delivery outside a medical facility. I had brought hygienic birth kit materials for each camp, thanks to the really kind donors who sponsored my trip, so at each camp the women nominated one older woman to be the keeper of the plastic sheet, gloves, gauze, umbilical clamps and sterile razor blades.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntTnRU1RTMOv2NCuJm2VRG5MM8uCB-_tcnL950mDjIKRAFF5R9UH87R13z1ySkVVn-D9BC04R4FVK_1hf6XnUAa6cl9Qw-vRnG2YKVRuaGvi_lAm0D0CnItPgloNToiT-fYXtJruUZvjj/s1600/DSCF0610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhntTnRU1RTMOv2NCuJm2VRG5MM8uCB-_tcnL950mDjIKRAFF5R9UH87R13z1ySkVVn-D9BC04R4FVK_1hf6XnUAa6cl9Qw-vRnG2YKVRuaGvi_lAm0D0CnItPgloNToiT-fYXtJruUZvjj/s320/DSCF0610.JPG" width="320" /></a>The forty-ish women who sat through our four seminars were so attentive and asked great questions, even about contraception. Part of the great thing, though, is that there are so few opportunities given to women in these conservative cultures to learn new things, and they were so grateful. I am so grateful for my dear friend, Dr. Reta Graham, who taught me nearly everything I passed along to those women. Without Mama Maisha, I would have had so little to offer them, but because of this path that God has been leading me down these past few years, I had the opportunity to minister to so many women from Muslim and Yezidi backgrounds.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
After the teaching, Dr. Niyan translated about an hour of questions I had for the women about their former life on Sinjar Mountain and how they had escaped ISIS. I heard a great story about the cousin of one woman present who had been captured by ISIS and bussed to Mosul with the hundreds of women who have been sold as domestic and sex slaves. This cousin and her sister were sent to a home where they were put to work. One evening they actually escaped the house and encountered a taxi driver who agreed to help them. He knew that he couldn't take them outside the city because the ISIS checkpoints were everywhere, but picnicking in the countryside is a very popular Kurdish pastime. The driver took the young women to his home, dressed them like local Muslim girls, and packed up his whole family for a picnic in the country. Once they got outside the city, the driver just drove and drove until they encountered the peshmerga, who took the girls and got them to safety. (God bless that taxi driver who risked so much to help them!) Over the few weeks they were at that home, they were never sexually assaulted. The women telling me the story speculated that this was because the battles for Mosul and the surrounding area were still going on, so the men of that home were more concerned with fighting than with raping two young women. I appreciated hearing this dramatic story with a great ending, since the vast majority of Yezidi women who are captured by ISIS suffer much worse fates.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx__cSUP_QaEQXmxODjXs22A7T5CTX9pnrP_HE7WgjdE1MjfmSDiJWhM-V9KDu1XG40RnLUM88a_wxeWTMUrbrIcEkpPQp8eV4a8TutqDqebeiCLi4tuS1F9QcRLDflQrXi0PZSrr295x/s1600/12238209_10154293110170942_2654753014999072072_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdx__cSUP_QaEQXmxODjXs22A7T5CTX9pnrP_HE7WgjdE1MjfmSDiJWhM-V9KDu1XG40RnLUM88a_wxeWTMUrbrIcEkpPQp8eV4a8TutqDqebeiCLi4tuS1F9QcRLDflQrXi0PZSrr295x/s320/12238209_10154293110170942_2654753014999072072_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The day after I left Kurdistan, I got notification on Facebook that the woman we I mentioned in a prior post had given birth at home in the camp, just two days after Dr. Niyan and I had been there to give education and supplies! The beautiful little boy is healthy, as is the mother. Thank God for bringing the blessing of life!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I'm home now, and processing so many, many, many thoughts, especially about refugees and how to respond to the attacks on Paris and the refusal of many American governors to accept Syrian refugees in their states. I wish you all could meet the hundreds of refugees, male and female, young and old and very young and very old, who are in need of safety, security and support. Kurdistan is helping so many refugees that the region is literally going bankrupt, but many of my countrymen and women are refusing or protesting these beautiful families whose "crimes" are being born into an ethnic or religious group of which ISIS does not approve. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I keep thinking: If I were a young child who had been forced from my home by a violent hyper-religious military force and lived in an under-resourced, insecure refugee camp for more than two years (the amount of time it takes to be screened for placement in America), then my family was brought to the United States for safety, refuge, freedom, education, medical care and food, among many other things...well, radicalism of any kind would probably be the last thing I would want to be a part of.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
On the other hand, if I had gone through all those things and kept being rejected by these rich Western countries because my ethnicity and religion were not acceptable to them either...well, my perspective on the West and Christianity might be very different.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Please consider supporting <a href="http://therefugeinitiative.org/" target="_blank">The Refuge Initiative</a>, the section of World Orphans that is caring for the refugees we met these past two weeks. They are doing some of the best, most sustainable and cost-effective development work I've ever seen. They need your help to provide more holistic services to the families, so please go sponsor a family or contribute to the construction of secure, cinder-block homes to transition refugees out of tents. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Finally, thank you, especially to all of you who were praying for us and who supported me financially. This trip was so powerful, and I'm incredibly grateful.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-53909011558309655492015-11-07T10:20:00.002+03:002015-11-07T10:21:05.421+03:00Days 6 & 7 - Hands on a Belly<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="371">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin-top:0in;
mso-para-margin-right:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:8.0pt;
mso-para-margin-left:0in;
line-height:107%;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:11.0pt;
font-family:"Calibri",sans-serif;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguklo52tdkDNyJvUEvvq2qcgU6dOBTZXns2efcXDbBjCnkC09mz2AWZYDAA_RROCY1Dcxzd0DtTWF6FBKmoItxQxe6-R3VKdj7omeaHGTksKszhYFOlBySg1da1t25YVu4QQI-9zXYB6RC/s1600/DSCF0497.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguklo52tdkDNyJvUEvvq2qcgU6dOBTZXns2efcXDbBjCnkC09mz2AWZYDAA_RROCY1Dcxzd0DtTWF6FBKmoItxQxe6-R3VKdj7omeaHGTksKszhYFOlBySg1da1t25YVu4QQI-9zXYB6RC/s200/DSCF0497.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">We have now done three days of medical clinics in the camps,
accompanied by Doctor Nian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is a
young doctor, just past her residency, and has a great manner with the mostly
women and children we are seeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
Thursday evening, after seeing 60+ patients in about 2 hours, she gave us a
tour of the newest hospital in Soran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
is only two years old and really amazing, especially coming from Tanzania; she
also invited us to her dorm room-sized apartment at the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then yesterday, after spending almost three
hours in a camp, she and her cousin cooked a dinner of Kurdish food for our
entire team and another team that arrived Thursday night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All told, they fed 24 people!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Somehow I completely forgot to take photos of
dinner, but it was delicious, and I carried home a plate of layered dessert
composed of--no joke--cookies, vanilla pudding, strawberry jello and banana
slices.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">..n</span>ot a traditional
Kurdish dish! Dr. Nian is fast becoming a friend, and is someone I feel honored to serve alongside.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPQl5dym90u7ZZS4G9BmXwVRM1L5Y-SIn-g-zqQN1igMHfEw6sbU_Xz3tSMLZ5sBk2T3BpYX1FbPIz5aq258EyTBqxyr0YnZuD6KfrzSqLeNTQQ43r5nGImnzPc2NNnntjFo3vj5w8cug/s1600/DSCF0539.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVPQl5dym90u7ZZS4G9BmXwVRM1L5Y-SIn-g-zqQN1igMHfEw6sbU_Xz3tSMLZ5sBk2T3BpYX1FbPIz5aq258EyTBqxyr0YnZuD6KfrzSqLeNTQQ43r5nGImnzPc2NNnntjFo3vj5w8cug/s320/DSCF0539.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03DAKB1cCtXfv1qZhg0hl4y_9HWBlmL_zMUT3BU914ESaV5sSu8sX15y3FNVruK5WkZ4Ft1C0nnp35n0AEy6eVpGV70hyhGdk3dTwIis6o7nx6cEFDwV9DoSBY5AU0g160Hp_98bSR3vx/s1600/DSCF0529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi03DAKB1cCtXfv1qZhg0hl4y_9HWBlmL_zMUT3BU914ESaV5sSu8sX15y3FNVruK5WkZ4Ft1C0nnp35n0AEy6eVpGV70hyhGdk3dTwIis6o7nx6cEFDwV9DoSBY5AU0g160Hp_98bSR3vx/s200/DSCF0529.JPG" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the camp we went to Friday morning, there were two
pregnant women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One is only two or maybe
three months along, but this beautiful woman is 8+ months with her fifth child.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She very graciously allowed me to palpate her
abdomen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m still learning how to tell
the position of the baby this way, but it was really an honor to be allowed to touch her and interact with
her in this way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After clinic was over, we
drank tea with the older ladies and a few young ones who floated in and out,
and Dr. Nian translated my questions about pregnancy and birth culture for
Yezidi women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned that most of the
children under age 12 were born in hospitals, but that they used to deliver all
their children at home with a few designated older women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They said that sometimes mothers died during
that time from post-partum hemorrhage or retained placenta.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they fled from Sinjar Mountain a year
and half ago, several women in their community were pregnant and delivered at
different points in the long journey from their home to the camp outside of
Soran where they now live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They told me
that as they were traveling, they saw a woman who was trying to reach Turkey
deliver twin boys on the side of the road and she “left them by the sea.”</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp5vgscj_oDJvyaxPFPgwrz85mMX1-E1AGO0DKpTtJSd0BvSLCFurX3wKPNl8cIAuIeSUWZc1dwD9fMqRaXTgBvhXjeI5Mq7n60m6axQxLTInrJ7bYmu5yQfUSQ1TMOAvgeltj0SDnpi9/s1600/DSCF0541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFp5vgscj_oDJvyaxPFPgwrz85mMX1-E1AGO0DKpTtJSd0BvSLCFurX3wKPNl8cIAuIeSUWZc1dwD9fMqRaXTgBvhXjeI5Mq7n60m6axQxLTInrJ7bYmu5yQfUSQ1TMOAvgeltj0SDnpi9/s320/DSCF0541.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">The elders at all of the camps have agreed for me to come
and teach their women about maternal health next week, and perhaps I’ll also
get to hear more individual stories from them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope to hear what they have experienced and share some of that with
all of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It can be healing to tell
one’s story and have it matter to people, so if I can be a vehicle or vessel
for some of that healing, it would be an honor.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://worldorphans.org/the-refuge-initiative/akoyan/?child_id=3435" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Kharnum Mahmood Kharnum Family" border="0" height="200" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/pure_charity/uploads/production/avatar/image/48296/Akoyan-Kharnum-Mahmood-Kharnum-6.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many of the families in the Akoyan camp that we visited
yesterday are still living in U.N. tents, although the men have been doing
construction work and were gifted with enough cement bricks to build a few
houses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter is nearly here; soon
there will be snow on the ground, and some of the tents are torn and falling
apart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are moved by the
experiences I’m sharing, please consider </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">going to the World Orphans website to support
the work they are doing with these refugees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can give one-time gifts by <a href="https://interland3.donorperfect.net/weblink/weblink.aspx?name=worldorphans&id=7" target="_blank">clicking here</a>, or you can click on the
photo at right to sponsor the family of the woman who is expecting a new baby
next month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m just past the halfway mark of this trip, and feeling
pretty strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thanks for your prayers
and for following these stories.</span></div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-44501264733801057212015-11-04T22:28:00.001+03:002015-11-04T22:28:49.260+03:00Days 4 & 5 - A Parachute and a Mountainous Climb<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<h4 class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<u><b>Day 4 - P.E. Class at The Refuge</b></u></h4>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWzRPIH0bADMGxIStTvl0ChrKxH0PnAYzs_yxGuEnYHgTeicktlNnoKZV1d9pedqKuozyGO8bCu4c0ELTkxl1B7vJ3Uj45i6yaAWYWVOOd7ebM3ESoyWv4Z9Hz7OPmExHdxI1oYUJGsK3/s1600/DSCF0389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqWzRPIH0bADMGxIStTvl0ChrKxH0PnAYzs_yxGuEnYHgTeicktlNnoKZV1d9pedqKuozyGO8bCu4c0ELTkxl1B7vJ3Uj45i6yaAWYWVOOd7ebM3ESoyWv4Z9Hz7OPmExHdxI1oYUJGsK3/s320/DSCF0389.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;">As I mentioned in the last post, The Refuge is the community center that <a href="http://worldorphans.org/" target="_blank">World Orphans</a> staff built here in Soran, Kurdistan, Iraq. Six days a week teachers and social workers host children from the refugee camps, about 155 in total, who come in three shifts, based primarily on age. We were there for two shifts yesterday, and played a bunch of games that took me back to the grade school gymnasium, including the most coveted of gym activities: playing with the parachute. It was so fun to see the kids just enjoying being kids! The Shabak Kurdish kids are rowdy and love having their photos taken (see below). The Yezidi kids in the second group were much calmer, much more reserved, but even they warmed up to Red Light Green Light!</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2o8a4ZmRVtjLwCFzJ3l3pmRjPJbd3UccmoBccnbudIl0wlS_oTQ04D-phOOtOG1__E4NWwv_FaCwirGpU1kglauoZ03FVGDFZIB5BOfJKcwg0vlHeqvI_i4wUIer3ZGXQIqztT0wlEWk/s1600/DSCF0402.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg2o8a4ZmRVtjLwCFzJ3l3pmRjPJbd3UccmoBccnbudIl0wlS_oTQ04D-phOOtOG1__E4NWwv_FaCwirGpU1kglauoZ03FVGDFZIB5BOfJKcwg0vlHeqvI_i4wUIer3ZGXQIqztT0wlEWk/s320/DSCF0402.JPG" width="320" /></a><span style="font-weight: normal;"> Our afternoon was spent in the local bazaar buying medicine and paint and cookies. I had to keep reminding myself not to wander off from the group, because I so wanted to just browse through all the shops and look for some of the great foods we've been eating, like pomegranate syrup and ketchup substitute of date sauce. We've been eating so, so well here, and appreciating the offer of sweet black tea at every home and restaurant after every meal.</span></div>
<h4 class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-weight: normal;"><u><b>Day 5 - Mountain Top and Antibiotics</b></u></span></h4>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z5sjjvm-RLnjNBzlP799Z3FlGy3NUZQjDdzxfocPBi2WjO25JWMmgB-399nzn4N6fB7pXU8ZUqTwICYsRd05BlwxoZ4kMEtrIt-wYRyYS8iFfA149TwUjmmQUQQrPrtF06saB8mENvbT/s1600/DSCF0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Z5sjjvm-RLnjNBzlP799Z3FlGy3NUZQjDdzxfocPBi2WjO25JWMmgB-399nzn4N6fB7pXU8ZUqTwICYsRd05BlwxoZ4kMEtrIt-wYRyYS8iFfA149TwUjmmQUQQrPrtF06saB8mENvbT/s320/DSCF0416.JPG" width="320" /></a> We woke up early this morning for a hike. I went, even though hiking is <u>not </u>my favorite thing, and was very well rewarded for my efforts. First, I wussed out about ten minutes in and got a ride for three-quarters of the way up the peak. This was humbling and really good for my pride. When we got out of the car, we met two shepherds and heard from this older gentleman about his whole life spent in the Kurdish mountains. The Kurdish people have a saying: "The mountains are our only friends." I was so ignorant as to Middle Eastern geography and topology that I was stunned by the views at the top of the mountain peak. I truly had not expected such dramatic and beautiful vistas, and I was greatly moved imagining the many refugees who have crossed similar terrain with babies and children, pregnant mothers and the elderly. We even heard about a 70+ year old couple who had been forced off of Sinjar Mountain, where the Yezidis lived. The man had to crawl 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) on hands and knees because he couldn't walk, and the woman didn't own shoes, so she made foot coverings out of water bottles.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdEIdt-Fk0tPRwWyfSPYvwpErvh1x5777r31uI7dn_Ps-LcULWWq5d0kM2hgXLdr3fmgo3XlEfehJF0hoQsaUKVJMTsIsXdVGHxmJgy9p-rG5z1b3UsgTMgX62UcbAcR0ZL2w8EC3M9o7/s1600/DSCF0432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="164" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEdEIdt-Fk0tPRwWyfSPYvwpErvh1x5777r31uI7dn_Ps-LcULWWq5d0kM2hgXLdr3fmgo3XlEfehJF0hoQsaUKVJMTsIsXdVGHxmJgy9p-rG5z1b3UsgTMgX62UcbAcR0ZL2w8EC3M9o7/s640/DSCF0432.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
We had a time of worship and prayer at this incredible spot, then we were invited in for tea with the guard who is posted at the cell phone tower that marks this particular peak. He is part of the Kurdish Army, known as the Peshmerga, and was a warm and generous host. I think he was eager for the company, even though most of us couldn't communicate clearly with him.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I1bb71SR1MzJn2N716OBPq2A1ZAeG92UlGkrD9EpND06bcuslBzDzQ53u_OfJzn_GbNoXGm_p9z3wYQqacxqcIn4Ai63EkqRLDSkvr-Y7BZHSLGMCjN4IMunJhy-T1y_5-tlYn4aksz6/s1600/DSCF0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9I1bb71SR1MzJn2N716OBPq2A1ZAeG92UlGkrD9EpND06bcuslBzDzQ53u_OfJzn_GbNoXGm_p9z3wYQqacxqcIn4Ai63EkqRLDSkvr-Y7BZHSLGMCjN4IMunJhy-T1y_5-tlYn4aksz6/s320/DSCF0455.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
In the afternoon, the guys on the team went back to The Refuge to paint some outbuildings, and the ladies on our team (with one guy) went out to one of the camps that we visited on the first day (Kawlokan and Kawlokan Expansion). We had a stash of medicines to treat common ailments, and a lovely young doctor (in the red sweater) to diagnose. I had planned to do some maternal health discussions with these women, but instead we focused on serving the 60 women and children (and four men) who came for treatment. At Kawlokan Camp, where the Shabak Kurds formerly of Mosul live, the complaints were minor and pretty easily treated, but at the second camp, where Yezidis live, it was heartbreaking. They had several medical issues beyond our reach. One family really touched my heart. We have been hearing about how the Yezidis are such an insular community that marrying close relatives is very common. We saw two children, brothers, in the camp today who are severely mentally handicapped. The older boy, about age six or eight, was cheerful and a bit aggressive, but the two-year-old had very jerky physical movements, trouble focusing his eyes, scratches and sores all over his face, probably from his own flailing arms. I held him in my arms for a bit, with tears on my face, and prayed for God to heal his body and mind.<br />
<a href="http://worldorphans.org/the-refuge-initiative/kawlokan-expansion/?child_id=3513" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Khalid Qasim Alias Family" border="0" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/pure_charity/uploads/production/avatar/image/48391/Kawlokan-Y-Khalid-Qasim-Alias-5.jpg" /></a><br />
I just went online and saw that some wonderful friends have fully sponsored the Yezidi family I linked to a few days ago! When I shared with the World Orphans staff here on the ground, they were so excited and blessed. I'm asking more of you to get involved. This is the family with the two disabled boys. Sponsorship through World Orphans is safe and very effective, and may enable long-term care and counseling for these boys. Please click on their photo to go to the website and sponsor them!<br />
<br />
Please continue to pray. I am feeling so deeply moved, but also refreshed and blessed to be serving alongside a great team and very devoted servants who live here. I'm remaining with 10 days, which is a long time to sustain these heavy emotions. Bless you all. Thanks for paying attention.<br />
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-24069231672396858002015-11-02T21:43:00.001+03:002015-11-04T22:28:36.182+03:00Day 3 - Visiting the Camps<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Today was my third day in Kurdistan, after arriving Saturday afternoon. I was picked up by two Kiwis, a Brit and an American, all coming from Cypress to come pray in Kurdistan. They delivered me to the home of Tim and Sarah Buxton, who work for <a href="http://worldorphans.org/" target="_blank">World Orphans</a>, the organization we are here to work with. The Buxtons have been here for a year and a half with their teammates who have been in this area for five years. The Buxtons landed in Kurdistan (northern Iraq) on the very day that ISIS took the city of Mosul, so their intention to come do development work and community building quickly became a relief effort to help those displaced by ISIS.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTRErAQD0i1bCjY7DmTw60ipWiocAJVHvEQGpGJuoDnL2li9LCdkrodiwxdmoHCZ8Fh9LUekn2kzRIvr639AL4D7dUcBjq07QRzuA0jl_snNjdgdxnBPAv2_hFWcQOmXN8asLK_NFNW-f/s1600/DSCF0334.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvTRErAQD0i1bCjY7DmTw60ipWiocAJVHvEQGpGJuoDnL2li9LCdkrodiwxdmoHCZ8Fh9LUekn2kzRIvr639AL4D7dUcBjq07QRzuA0jl_snNjdgdxnBPAv2_hFWcQOmXN8asLK_NFNW-f/s320/DSCF0334.JPG" width="320" /></a>This building, which they call The Refuge, was their original intended mission: a community center where people could come for classes, weddings, etc. Now it holds a kind of day school for children from their five refugee camps. (More on the school tomorrow.) We got a tour of this building and saw the graveled part of the compound where this group hosted their very first group of refugees--twenty Shabak Kurds from Mosul who had been squatting in some houses under construction, but were being evicted by the builder. The mayor of Soran, a Muslim man who has been supporting the work, asked them to provide a place for these twenty families to put up their UN tents. In six days, Tim and his colleagues leveled the hilly plot, removing over 100 truckloads of dirt and bringing in <u>200</u> truckloads of rock, as well as built a bath house and installed water tanks. Now these families are in semi-permanent housing in the first camp that we visited (the mostly recently completed).</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY-9hRPL02GNkNKGcu5oAna6ELNQBbj8BVLzU0kNhyphenhyphenYlkRkXvE2UFnGA9bYpADYvIN0hBt6WzYel-6oAWB1Yb8jxUkL_8MzHShI_4DO3A7Z5scoZxzfWuqjHQbfnvRY7VJxOarchBcOPt/s1600/DSCF0366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPY-9hRPL02GNkNKGcu5oAna6ELNQBbj8BVLzU0kNhyphenhyphenYlkRkXvE2UFnGA9bYpADYvIN0hBt6WzYel-6oAWB1Yb8jxUkL_8MzHShI_4DO3A7Z5scoZxzfWuqjHQbfnvRY7VJxOarchBcOPt/s320/DSCF0366.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaTMnKaMzePyQ3GOYlp-a_nFnkhFBqzR1xBEmBsxce0koBwMKpYKd3Dt1zoBLBpBhnaDz3CR8iPUI8udwh3bn_BshQW2ALTUY5WUd_G4U6SlqZCSKWE40hulKGR8cSE8LhRhGjqyPAe-/s1600/DSCF0362.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFnaTMnKaMzePyQ3GOYlp-a_nFnkhFBqzR1xBEmBsxce0koBwMKpYKd3Dt1zoBLBpBhnaDz3CR8iPUI8udwh3bn_BshQW2ALTUY5WUd_G4U6SlqZCSKWE40hulKGR8cSE8LhRhGjqyPAe-/s320/DSCF0362.JPG" width="320" /></a>We had been told that these communities are very protective of their women, but that the women would be very eager to see the women on our team. Sure enough, when we walked into the camp where the Shabak Kurds are living now, many women came to peek out their doors at us, averting their eyes from the men and staring openly and smiling at us women. I was beckoned in by a teenage girl holding a 6-8 month old baby and presented to her mother (the baby's mother) and her grandmother. Her 10 or 11-year-old brother joined us also. While I played with the baby and drank tea with the grandmother, the girl and her brother played with my camera. There were no shared languages among us, but I showed them photos of my family and we tried to communicate with one another. I'm going to see about getting some of these photos printed in town to take back to the family later in the week. Later I learned that this baby is likely the one who was born while the families were living in the compound at The Refuge.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnQmlRB7drs67-ppDBP_6V0_ZrNhht1ExdWuhcqoWqRA5nrP_repq44FqiADB7rGbbmphc7dtFZND1L5AY7g6E85Mn0h-o2H4ijgZlPrIoMfZ80vVVxjGmS6x1CBL5z-U7ZeYqjXD96PV/s1600/DSCF0374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjnQmlRB7drs67-ppDBP_6V0_ZrNhht1ExdWuhcqoWqRA5nrP_repq44FqiADB7rGbbmphc7dtFZND1L5AY7g6E85Mn0h-o2H4ijgZlPrIoMfZ80vVVxjGmS6x1CBL5z-U7ZeYqjXD96PV/s320/DSCF0374.JPG" width="320" /></a>Given my interests in maternal health, naturally I gravitated toward the smallest babies I could find, and in the next camp we visited, one that hosted about a dozen Yezidi families, I met this woman and her little nephew. A Kurdish Christian from Oregon who is traveling on our team was nearby, and helped me ask a few preliminary questions. She explained that their family, including the baby's mother, ran from Sinjar Mountain about 18 months ago when this guy was only 20 days old. Unlike the Shabak Kurds, who had a couple of days' notice to prepare to run, as well as some vehicles to escape in, the Yezidi had only moments to grab their children and run. This is evident even between these two homes that I visited. The Shabak women had rugs, blankets, tea cups, even a television. The woman above, who lives with her teen-aged daughter and other family members, had almost nothing but some cooking supplies and some blankets which they had obtained along the past year and a half they've been fleeing. They have been in this cement block, three room home constructed by World Orphans and its partners, for only the past four months. Prior to that they slept anywhere they could find a roof overhead. Now the winter is coming to these mountains (it's already quite cold, and it's only going to get colder still--snow is on the way in the next month or so) and they have nothing to protect them from the cold cement floor.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoDATuYhb7BJjkiPIuHGHjgoSUQKaRUKGzdorWCaW9epBnqkJ7ICDoyKkm4-CkG7ze8zzg4r9F6gh1KJo_a89IF-JY8vrUh1zVl43ABXpEpyPlLe9b02PugsGkZSH_Fc-pM2xJ3RecN_C/s1600/DSCF0382.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSoDATuYhb7BJjkiPIuHGHjgoSUQKaRUKGzdorWCaW9epBnqkJ7ICDoyKkm4-CkG7ze8zzg4r9F6gh1KJo_a89IF-JY8vrUh1zVl43ABXpEpyPlLe9b02PugsGkZSH_Fc-pM2xJ3RecN_C/s320/DSCF0382.JPG" width="320" /></a>This is an aerial view of another camp that we visited, where the nearly 40 families had been living in UN tents, which were ripped to bits in a wind storm six weeks ago. The World Orphans team mobilized funds to build homes for as many as they could. This camp has an older style, with separate bath houses, as opposed to the ones that the women above live in, which are self-contained (each has a bathroom and a kitchen). At this camp we had tea with several Yezidi elders (if you look closely you can see them smoking outside, wearing the traditional red and white headscarf). The World Orphans Project Coordinator, a Muslim Kurd, is very interested in the work of Mama Maisha and the tools I brought, and he wants me to teach every woman in every camp, so he started by asking these Yezidi elders if I could be allowed to teach their women, and they agreed! It's a great first step, which needs to be followed by getting a great female translator who can speak the Yezidi dialect. Not a super easy task, so prayers are appreciated on that front.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE_enRr323oaI1nWJgADF8tNVRnGBu2y2dXovnyZRew-vyauZc_4JoGA2CTETTakn47nuqf036l2c-WghZSUrjDysz60MXUEUKb8Z0OCT6WbpQPPPxbzyTDYK6a0b6Zez3ksmZ73hrzjq/s1600/DSCF0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPE_enRr323oaI1nWJgADF8tNVRnGBu2y2dXovnyZRew-vyauZc_4JoGA2CTETTakn47nuqf036l2c-WghZSUrjDysz60MXUEUKb8Z0OCT6WbpQPPPxbzyTDYK6a0b6Zez3ksmZ73hrzjq/s320/DSCF0385.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
This is the fourth camp, which we didn't get to visit today, although we saw it from the top of the soccer stadium. As you can see, these families are still in tents, and with the snow coming, it's a desperate push to raise funds to get them into the permanent housing. We'll find out later this week, when Tim's colleague returns with still more visitors, how much money is needed to finish moving all these families into the cement block homes.<br />
<br />
Tomorrow we will go to The Refuge to see the kids from the camps in their "school" and we will also visit one last camp. I'm feeling really great about this trip, although naturally consumed with concern for the families I'm meeting. I have some cash with me (from the excess you all donated) which I hope to use to bless one or two families in a small way. Right now I'm thinking about buying a carpet or two, but we'll see how things develop. <br />
<br />
If you feel moved to help these families, the best way to do that is to go sponsor a family. This photo on the left is the Shabak Kurd family who shared tea with me, and the family on the right is the mother who ran with her tiny baby and other children. Click on their photos to be taken to the site for sponsorship for this family. World Orphans, like Lahash, spends the vast majority of their money on the ground, which I have seen first hand, and when all these families are sponsored, it will allow the team to offer medical services, better education, needed furnishings and other important things. It costs about $150 a month to sponsor a family, or you can contribute, along with others, a $30 per month share in the family's support.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://worldorphans.org/the-refuge-initiative/kawlokan-expansion/?child_id=3512" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Ismaeel Qasim Alias Family" border="0" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/pure_charity/uploads/production/avatar/image/48390/Kawlokan-Y-Ismaeel-Qasim-Alias-5.jpg" /></a></div>
<a href="http://worldorphans.org/the-refuge-initiative/kawlokan/?child_id=3498" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="The Hussein Jimah Muhammad Family" src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/pure_charity/uploads/production/avatar/image/48364/Kawlokan-S-Hussein-Jimah-Muhammad-2.jpg" /></a><br />
Thanks to all for prayers for good travels and safety, and please continue to pray for Fred and the kids at home and for continued strength in body, mind and spirit for me. <br />
<br />
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-59314953200119729692015-10-22T19:14:00.003+03:002015-10-22T19:14:48.369+03:00What I'm Reading, Watching and Listening To<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
After staring at my computer for literally three hours trying to put together a blog post, I decided to default to some media that I've been consuming lately and that I can highly recommend. (I had so many photos in this post, but internet in Tanzania has been so slow of late that I had to take them all out in order to post.)<br />
<h3>
What I'm Reading:</h3>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<h4>
<a href="http://smile.amazon.com/Better-Than-Before-Mastering-Everyday/dp/0385348614/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445517199&sr=8-1&keywords=better+than+before" target="_blank">Better Than Before</a> by Gretchen Rubin</h4>
<br />
We didn't name our daughter after Gretchen Rubin, but her three books (The Happiness Project, Happier at Home and Better Than Before) have really influenced how I organize a lot of things in my life. I've blogged about her earlier books <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-quest-for-greater-happiness.html" target="_blank">here </a>and <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2014/01/happier-parent-happier-children.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2014/01/increasing-happiness-at-work-being.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2014/01/do-i-need-to-be-happier-well-no-but.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2013/12/my-theme-for-2014-connect.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I've been inching my way through this book for longer than it usually takes me to read a dozen books--6 months--because I quickly get distracted thinking of ways to apply her many excellent tips on forming and breaking habits. As recently as May I wanted a Coca-Cola every single day. Then I had a moment when one day I didn't want a Coke, and, taking advantage of strategies from Gretchen's book, I turned that into a string of days and totally broke my addiction to soda. I haven't finished it yet, but I am not giving up on it yet, and I'll probably start over again as soon as I finish.<br />
<br />
<br />
<h4>
<a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/god/lets-be-clear-about-what-real-christian-persecution-looks" target="_blank">Let's Be Clear About What Real Christian Persecution Looks Like</a> by Jesse Carey</h4>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
RELEVANT Magazine is a Christian culture magazine which has been doing some really good reporting on the state of conflict in many areas of the world that aren't getting much press. Their editor has been to <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/global/next-great-challenge-our-generation" target="_blank">Lebanon</a> and seen the refugee crisis first hand in one of the toughest spots in the world. They have written a number of articles <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/search/site/ISIS" target="_blank">exposing what ISIS is doing</a> and encouraging the Western church to step up and <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/search/site/refugee" target="_blank">support refugees</a> coming from the Middle East. This article, which came out today, summarizes the persecution that the Church is facing around the world and challenges American Christians to reconsider what we consider persecution.<br />
<br />
<h3>
What I'm Watching:</h3>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<h4>
<a href="http://tingatingatales.com/" target="_blank">Tinga Tinga Tales: Seasons One and Two</a></h4>
<div>
The short answer is that I'm not watching much these days besides Dora the Explorer and Paw Patrol, but I have been dishing out a few episodes of Tinga Tinga Tales to my kids. They love the show, which has really creative graphics, familiar (to them) language and accents, and clever story lines. Warning: this show is not strictly Creationist in its viewpoint; it is based on African fables about how animals developed different unique characteristics.</div>
<h4>
Romantic Comedies Starring Brits</h4>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div>
A friend of mine dropped a whole bunch of illegally ripped movies in my lap (this is Africa...we don't have access to Hulu, so we pass around bootleg movies). One of the movies that I loved so much that I've watched it over and over again. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2194499/" target="_blank">"About Time"</a> is a lovely 2013 British movie starring some British guy I'd never seen before, Rachel McAdams and Bill Nighy, who is just great. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plot Summary: A young man inherits the ability to travel in time in his own life and learns how to build the best life he possibly can. It's just so touching. I highly recommend it. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Then I was on airplanes for roughly 900 hours last month and I watched the recent movie <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3064298/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" target="_blank">"Man Up"</a> starring the wonderful Simon Pegg. He's the only reason I watched the movie, but I'm ever so glad I did. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Plot summary: A woman accidentally shows up for a stranger's blind date and decides to steal the date. Hi-jinks ensue. There's a whole thing about <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/10/why-we-cry-on-planes/280143/" target="_blank">people crying on airplanes</a>, and I certainly did during this movie. I enjoyed it so much, making me that woman who is not only awake watching movies while everyone else sleeps (because how often do I get to just sit and watch hours and hours of movies?) but also laughs out loud.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h3>
What I'm Listening To:</h3>
<h4>
Podcasts</h4>
<div>
I have logged over 320 hours of listening to podcasts since I download the <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/" target="_blank">Stitcher podcast app</a> a little more than a year ago. I love having the background voices while I do housework or process data or draw pictures of the birthing process. The podcasts I listen to are all over the map, but here's a list of the top podcasts I never miss, even the embarrassing ones:</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Pop Culture Happy Hour</b> - Keeps me up on entertainment and culture in America</div>
<div>
<b>Slate's Political Gabfest</b> - Fascinating analysis of both headline and obscure political news (left-leaning, I admit, but less hate-filled than most of the right-leaning ones I've tried), occasional language, </div>
<div>
<b>The RELEVANT Podcast</b> - I used to listen to this back in 2007-2009, but dropped off when my internet got achingly slow when I first moved to Africa. I started listening again because my friend Joy is a frequent contributor.</div>
<div>
<b>Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!</b> - Some of my best Saturday mornings in America were when I had to be in the car on a Saturday morning and got to listen to WWDTM. Now I don't have to be in the car.</div>
<div>
<b>This American Life</b> - Although this is sinking down my list of favorite things to listen to, it has been a staple for years.</div>
<div>
<b>Jordan, Jesse GO!</b> - This is a new addition to my list, and definitely a "listen through headphones only" podcast of really random, funny, NSFW conversation. I regularly laugh out loud.</div>
<div>
<b>My Brother, My Brother and Me</b> - Similar to Jordan, Jesse GO!, it's a very quirky advice show hosted by three brothers. Lots of language and certainly NSFW, but I laugh a lot when I listen to it.</div>
<div>
<b>Slate's Whistlestop</b> - This podcast is in-depth political historical analysis from a man who has been a political journalist for decades. I highly recommend it to any fellow political nerds.</div>
<div>
<b>Radiolab</b> - Similar to This American Life, but more edgy</div>
<div>
<b>Mystery Show</b> - Hosted by a This American Life contributor, Starlee Kine, she solves mysteries that cannot be resolved on the internet. It's on a hiatus right now, but it's unique and thoroughly interesting.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
This is only about a third of the podcasts I regularly listen to, and I'm always open to suggestions!</div>
<h4>
The Woodlands: Parallels Vol. I</h4>
<div>
I do not listen to much music, but The Woodlands are friends from back in my Portland days, and they make beautiful music. You can buy their latest album for literally <a href="https://thewoodlands.bandcamp.com/" target="_blank">any amount of money</a>. (I paid $10 and it is well worth it.) It's beautiful, interesting acoustic music with lovely vocal harmonies. It provides really nice background for creative or thoughtful work, like blog writing, although other weeks are a lot more both creative and thoughtful than this one. Still, it's done, isn't it? And it's still Thursday!</div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-66832795511275895672015-10-16T18:28:00.000+03:002015-10-16T18:28:32.056+03:00When Babies Don't Cry<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD6LpNHfFZ7dZgR0q3IEmvq-t8PlFAXXDHdd6S_OePi3pPbNE01OqundqNE0n3jrgHT2mYdBLpfHZvqwWgtW90C4zQ059vnZIy2uiO03o6P3DOAQSC9h-DhlTI6d5OcugV1kXkHY4oSOy/s1600/IMG_20151010_124536.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuD6LpNHfFZ7dZgR0q3IEmvq-t8PlFAXXDHdd6S_OePi3pPbNE01OqundqNE0n3jrgHT2mYdBLpfHZvqwWgtW90C4zQ059vnZIy2uiO03o6P3DOAQSC9h-DhlTI6d5OcugV1kXkHY4oSOy/s320/IMG_20151010_124536.jpg" width="320" /></a>Last week we had visitors from Village Life Outreach Project in Cincinnati, Ohio--an organization which was instrumental in helping Mama Maisha get started. Every October they bring a team of medical professionals and students to do mobile clinics in villages around Shirati.<br />
<br />
One of the nurses, Tina, who has 37 years of experience in obsterics, offered to do a training for Traditional Birth Attendants about the principles and skills of the Helping Babies Breathe curriculum. Last Saturday we went out to Nyambogo village with Tina, a pediatrics nurse named Megan and a pediatrics resident named Sara. They taught twelve TBAs how to help a baby breathe immediately after birth using only some blankets and a bulb syringe.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSitm-FMAiF7ATKUXvXGJbcjOsP4wvLhlbqJ_yiAhrb-ZER2srCFZ-dTErzMGBoooF9AlCkmiTJ1bl1Fb6206JTTSeEYVrUPLYgiFGvKZsd7WqN4QeljYnC8rEM1MgFdReqF_f7HCSuWb/s1600/IMG_20151010_150614.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSitm-FMAiF7ATKUXvXGJbcjOsP4wvLhlbqJ_yiAhrb-ZER2srCFZ-dTErzMGBoooF9AlCkmiTJ1bl1Fb6206JTTSeEYVrUPLYgiFGvKZsd7WqN4QeljYnC8rEM1MgFdReqF_f7HCSuWb/s320/IMG_20151010_150614.jpg" width="180" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k_KB0bIPk7uCIkDFzLXGuc4F8BK-4EXruxM-hH2Jcd-rRBEOQlBvN0g4YdLlN2OTHR78t_-r6kplwmdLhql7EEvfshRWXTvEGH3uMzbZ-ah-vD0x_ybrlDMbO026aF7wi03WaeHNJn_g/s1600/IMG_20151010_113947.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1k_KB0bIPk7uCIkDFzLXGuc4F8BK-4EXruxM-hH2Jcd-rRBEOQlBvN0g4YdLlN2OTHR78t_-r6kplwmdLhql7EEvfshRWXTvEGH3uMzbZ-ah-vD0x_ybrlDMbO026aF7wi03WaeHNJn_g/s320/IMG_20151010_113947.jpg" width="220" /></a>These TBAs are, on average, over 60 years of age and uneducated, so it is always inspiring to see them shamelessly put themselves out there to learn new skills and techniques and tools in order to help the mothers and babies they serve. Several of the women really struggled to learn the technique of using a bulb syringe on a plastic baby, but they committed themselves to mastering this new skill. They told us they appreciate this training because it is so much more effective than having a mother who has just exhausted herself delivering a baby then suck the mucus out of the baby's mouth and nose.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuuLk8tV0riIp9jZClZuxqCBIbuXHhEk0Lv9uot8uOFyX2c6KVv1m6uL2kZbJZS-47caMD5q8t0ViCYcF_uandA_PFgaPXZpcrD7af6rBkoXfBt4KIss_ZRjsQUAT-FNiStt62Qju4MKW/s1600/IMG_20151010_120009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIuuLk8tV0riIp9jZClZuxqCBIbuXHhEk0Lv9uot8uOFyX2c6KVv1m6uL2kZbJZS-47caMD5q8t0ViCYcF_uandA_PFgaPXZpcrD7af6rBkoXfBt4KIss_ZRjsQUAT-FNiStt62Qju4MKW/s320/IMG_20151010_120009.jpg" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07IwnRQT7xTazu4A5H-MaP2Q3AD51gFb_yL4_WRmmIQST4ajo1cleh7GeUCGMvWEamvwbL6cjwipAoXSRJHLdE2vLfYgYaJG_FD3Wt-1bQb29fZcS9G0uJ6YnzXKL0rTAwiIh_-SmGG0M/s1600/IMG_20151010_115955.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj07IwnRQT7xTazu4A5H-MaP2Q3AD51gFb_yL4_WRmmIQST4ajo1cleh7GeUCGMvWEamvwbL6cjwipAoXSRJHLdE2vLfYgYaJG_FD3Wt-1bQb29fZcS9G0uJ6YnzXKL0rTAwiIh_-SmGG0M/s320/IMG_20151010_115955.jpg" width="252" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
We are excited to track down enough bulb syringes for all of these TBAs and get this same training for the rest of the 28 women we have been training to improve the available delivery services for pregnant women in rural Tanzania!<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="goog_904125429"></span><span id="goog_904125430"></span><br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-4004038119079403852015-10-08T11:53:00.002+03:002015-10-08T11:55:37.711+03:00I'm Going to Visit Refugees!I'm going to be a bit vague on here, because it's a public forum and all, but I want you all to hear the story of how I got a chance to put some actions to my words.<br />
<br />
As regular readers of my blog and Facebook are well aware, I have been talking a lot about the refugee crises that are occurring due to conflicts in the Middle East, especially conflicts caused by the Islamic State. One aspect in particular which has concerned me is the enslavement of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yazidis" target="_blank">Yazidi </a>and Christian women and girls by Islamic State fighters. Girls as young as nine-years-old have been sold off as sex slaves or <a href="http://www.christiantoday.com/article/is.in.iraq.yazidi.women.raped.murdered.and.sold.as.brides/40114.htm" target="_blank">forced to convert to Islam and "married" off</a>. Many girls and young women have <a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/12/sex-slavery-pushes-isil-victims-suicide-2014122313551421512.html" target="_blank">committed or attempted suicide</a> to escape. Additionally, even those who escaped are<a href="http://www.aljazeera.com/news/middleeast/2014/10/traumatised-isil-yazidis-seek-help-2014102695410680300.html" target="_blank"> suffering depression and post-traumatic stress disorder</a> from what they have seen, such as <a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2792552/full-horror-yazidis-didn-t-escape-mount-sinjar-confirms-5-000-men-executed-7-000-women-kept-sex-slaves.html" target="_blank">hundreds of men killed</a> for refusing to convert to Islam when the Islamic State invaded the Yazidi region of northern Iraq.<br />
<br />
While I was in the States, I had a meeting with an old friend who is now the Global and Local Mission Pastor of a church in Oregon. I knew that they had connections to a ministry in northern Iraq, but he shared a lot more detail about the family who is working there and how they are serving refugees, especially Yazidis. He mentioned that he had visited five times in the past year, taking teams from their church. I asked about future trips, and he mentioned one coming up in November and one next March. I asked about prenatal care and where women deliver babies and who assists them, but he didn't really know the answer. (I expect it is a tradition of untrained midwives similar to the one that developed in East African villages.)<br />
<br />
I talked to Fred about the opportunity to travel, and he was very supportive of me joining one of these teams, especially the one in November which would be easier on our schedule as a family than next March. I couldn't imagine raising all the money within 5-6 weeks, though, so we made it a matter of prayer. Then the pastor emailed me that <b>he would cover all my expenses on the ground if I could get myself to Iraq by November 1st!</b> I looked up airfare, and it was about $750, which seemed very reasonable to raise that money within a few weeks.<br />
<br />
This opportunity came up just as I was wrapping up my trip to America, so I was a bit slow to get the word out. This week I put the fundraiser up on Facebook, and within a few hours had the amount I needed for airfare...so I thought. When I went to check the prices, they had skyrocketed. Several hours of research on excruciatingly slow internet led me to a ticket for $1,120, so I had to go back to fundraising again. I put the bad news on Facebook and went to bed sad and wondering if I had been wrong about this opportunity. <b>When I woke up, over $1,500 had been donated!</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
Some of those who donated have been my friends since I was three years old. One was a complete stranger. Many give regularly to support our work, and at least one couple lives overseas on financial support themselves. <b>I really thank God for such a supportive and kind community of friends.</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Now for some FAQ:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Q: Is it really safe?</b><br />
It is as safe as where we live now. The Islamic State is blocked from the area where we will be by geological features that my pastor friend compared to "the Grand Canyon." Of course one can never be assured of absolute safety anywhere in the world (even a community college classroom), but I'm assured that this area is very safe.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Aren't you afraid?</b><br />
I really try not to live in fear (except of mice...can't seem to kick that fear). In the worst case scenario, should something awful happen, I am confident that I will be in the center of God's will for me. I believe that God can use my life or my death, whether it's violent and unexpected or quietly after a long life, to further the Kingdom of Heaven. I would hate to leave my children and husband, but better that than to live in fear, not following where Jesus is leading.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: What will you do there?</b><br />
I don't know 100% of what I'll be doing, but my hope is meet women and hear their stories. I would like to be able to hear about their birth culture and what challenges they face in pregnancy and delivery of babies in a refugee camp in a war zone. I would also like to encourage and bless the missionaries who are living there in any way I can, including sharing the 10 lbs. of chocolate chips that we were blessed with.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: How will you spend the extra money that was donated?</b><br />
I plan to travel to the city of Mwanza in a few days and purchase some of the materials that we use in hygienic birth kits for expectant mothers and those who are delivering babies. I don't know if I will have an opportunity to distribute those things directly or hand them off to a local health official or to the missionaries, but I want to have them with me, just in case. Anything else left over I'll take in cash for unexpected expenses or to help meet needs on the ground.<br />
<br />
<b>Q: Will you be blogging?</b><br />
<b>YES.</b> I don't know what the internet situation will be like, so I don't know for certain if I'll be updating the blog while I'm there, but I will certainly be taking heaps of notes and some photos and journaling so that I can share the experience with all of you. (Gosh, people, hold me to the photo thing. You all know how awful I about taking pictures!)<br />
<br />
<b>Q: How can we pray?</b><br />
I covet your prayers for my preparations, both physical and spiritual, during a very busy next three weeks. Please pray that I will be full of wisdom, peace, hope and love to share with those I encounter, as well as patience for the processes. Most of all, please pray for the people in these camps and who are suffering from displacement, insecurity, and physical or emotional harm or threat.Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-13589308539962699612015-08-27T15:00:00.000+03:002015-10-08T11:56:22.870+03:00We Should Have Bigger Concerns than the Toy Aisle at TargetI spend a lot of time on Facebook, mostly because it is my primary connection to my friends and family back in the States. This, of course, exposes me a lot of click bait and the reposts of clever (or not clever) memes and the pro-con opining over whatever the issue of the week is (such as Target and gender in toy aisles or Trump's misogyny).<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I talk about a lot of heavy issues on this blog related to our work in East Africa, but as much as I believe that we're here doing what we're called to, the issues going on in the Middle East are so much more important than what we're doing. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I really try to shy away from being graphic about the things we encounter here unless it's important. This is important.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Christians are being martyred similarly to the time of the Roman Empire. You probably heard about the beheadings in Libya and Egypt, but have you heard about the Christians in Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq and traditionally a base for the Christian faith dating back to the days of the early church? They have been entirely chased out or murdered. Since the ISIS occupation, Christianity has been so thoroughly eliminated from Mosul that they've even carved the crosses off of the tombstones.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Women and girls are being systematically raped, and the leaders of ISIS have even warped their theology to encourage it. The sex slavery markets are so efficiently organized that as soon as a Yazidi village was overrun, buses with curtained windows carry the women and girls off to stocked holding centers where they're sorted and categorized and assigned numbers before being sold off to fighters.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Apparently the silence of the West, particularly America, has been an encouragement to ISIS and a profound discouragement to the Christians trying to hold out hope in the facing of growing fear and despair.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have posted about ISIS and the genocide they are perpetrating on this blog in the past, and I've linked to a number of articles on Facebook. I'm probably starting to depress or anger some of you, but I've recently been encouraged by my friends Jenice, Adam, and Lindsay and by an <a href="http://www.relevantmagazine.com/current/global/what-can-be-done-about-isis" target="_blank">article</a> on Relevant Magazine's website written from a first-hand perspective to be more active.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Here are three things you and I can do that really will help those under attack by ISIS:</div>
<div>
<h4>
<b>1. Talk about it!</b></h4>
ISIS is recruiting on social media, including Twitter, YouTube and Facebook. They publicize their slaughter of Christians and other victims, glorify their cause, and recruit fighters to their cause from the United States, Great Britain, Europe and around the world. You don't know who sees your posts and who they may be connected to. If you've traveled in the world, have friends abroad or sponsor a child, especially an adolescent boy, in Africa or the Middle East or Central Asia, you are in touch with people who may be targeted for recruitment by ISIS. There are many people in the West who are tired or frustrated of hearing about this seemingly hopeless situation, but we need to keep talking to our friends and communities and law makers and news makers about stopping ISIS and helping the refugees reach safety. Contradict people who complain about hosting refugees and immigrants in our safe countries. </div>
<h4>
2. Donate!</h4>
<div>
I found a little organization called the <a href="http://hatunefoundation.com/international/facts-about-middle-east-operations/" target="_blank">Hatune Foundation </a>through a website (I appreciate their ISIS coverage, but I won't link here because their other content is not really in line with my views.). This organization is German and seems to be actively engaged in getting women and girls out of slavery and to medical and psychological support. It's not tax deductible in the States (yet) and I don't know anything about their financial accountability, but they're actually doing something pretty great (or they're great fraudsters). I'm taking the risk and donating to them through Paypal. </div>
<h4>
3. Pray!</h4>
<div>
I don't leave this to last because it's least effective - it is the most effective, but it's the hardest thing to do really. </div>
<div>
Let us pray for protection for the civilians and those opposing ISIS. <br />
Let us pray for God to intervene miraculously, Old Testament style, to defend His people. <br />
Let us pray for escape and healing and peace for the enslaved women and girls.<br />
Let us pray for conviction in the hearts of ISIS fighters and leaders, that spiritual bondage would be overcome and that the truth of Jesus' love would transform them.</div>
<div>
Let us pray for opportunities for Christians and Muslims (and Hindus and Buddhists and atheists) to join together in opposing ISIS and radical terror.</div>
<div>
Let us pray that we entitled, comfortable Christians of the world would speak and act and pray for peace to come and ISIS to be wiped out.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<b>Please join with me.</b></div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-43140306105272521292015-08-21T12:28:00.001+03:002015-08-21T12:28:45.631+03:00A Literal Miracle Happened This Week!If you're not of a theological bent, I suppose this event could be ascribed to a series of coincidences, but personally think that God had a hand in pointing the people to the place at the time, and as a result, a miracle happened.<br />
<br />
On Wednesday this week the Mama Maisha Coordinator and Advisor went out to one of our target villages to do a training for more Traditional Birth Attendants about how to use the <a href="http://leishainafrica.blogspot.com/2015/06/ive-got-clamps-and-call-to-action.html" target="_blank">Hygienic Birth Kits we are providing through a grant from Mennonite Central Committee</a>. They went with a Dutch medical resident who is volunteering at Shirati Hospital and wanted to see what Mama Maisha is all about. Well, she had a front row seat!<br />
<br />
When they arrived in Nyambogo, they were notified that there was a young woman in labor at our Maternal Health Advocate's house. Every time we have gone to Nyambogo we have met a woman in labor, and this village has no health facility at all. (We walked to the closest health facility, 10 km away, a few weeks ago.) So Victoria, the medical resident, and Ellen, our Advisor who is a retired nurse-midwife, went over to check the 19 year old first-time mother. She was very close to delivery, so they couldn't put her in the car and send her to a health facility. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl7RtdN4hmNeAq0raui3nwIHKAbcbZxEu9mCuHH38g07drwWE8KGFHnqLlLTSMGos8ECCC6rURNX92-A9PD5EdEkaHCGHJzO86zLSdMmcoSdwd7LRdNxdrilY6AQi95JFjndBhAq3dBeS/s1600/IMG-20150820-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizl7RtdN4hmNeAq0raui3nwIHKAbcbZxEu9mCuHH38g07drwWE8KGFHnqLlLTSMGos8ECCC6rURNX92-A9PD5EdEkaHCGHJzO86zLSdMmcoSdwd7LRdNxdrilY6AQi95JFjndBhAq3dBeS/s320/IMG-20150820-WA0004.jpg" width="180" /></a>The woman was a few weeks premature and very unprepared for delivery. She didn't even have a khanga (a ubiquitous cloth which can be used for everything from an apron to a diaper to a menstrual pad) with her, but our staff happened to be there with over 100 hygienic birth kits! Victoria, under the coaching of Ellen and with the assistance of five Traditional Birth Attendants, used the kit to deliver the baby! There was a tense moment which led to Victoria doing an episiotomy to ease the baby's entrance, and if she hadn't had a birth kit, she would not have had the tools for that, and the mother would have torn badly or the baby would have remained stuck in the birth canal. <br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCjiUvy0gXrbGQBnJ2v2quiBlyojnAhnZUxX-LEAqbdRC54_rLYRqMu8ClD-rAFrDenpo2TYovZobSqXMahSgaR14xzWmlleDiL1zoUqzQZDhxubmi05KPKzeUfSxbqc8J_22qyFgglG1/s1600/IMG-20150820-WA0005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCjiUvy0gXrbGQBnJ2v2quiBlyojnAhnZUxX-LEAqbdRC54_rLYRqMu8ClD-rAFrDenpo2TYovZobSqXMahSgaR14xzWmlleDiL1zoUqzQZDhxubmi05KPKzeUfSxbqc8J_22qyFgglG1/s320/IMG-20150820-WA0005.jpg" width="180" /></a>After the tiny baby entered the world, she wasn't breathing well for the first few minutes. In a village as remote as Nyambogo, if that baby had had any problems getting her breath, there was almost nothing they could do for her and no chance, even with a car, to reach the hospital in time. Moments passed and they prayed and held their own breaths to help this little miracle breathe, and she did. She cried and took some deep breaths and started nursing to everyone's relief.<br />
<br />
In many African cultures the baby is not named until he or she is born. Much of this comes from the traditionally high infant mortality rate, as well as a very spiritual culture in which people fear curses upon the mother and her baby. This baby, a little girl, had no name when she was born, but due to the role of this visiting Dutch almost-doctor, there's a new little baby Victoria in Nyambogo village!<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-71215692706270374172015-08-13T16:03:00.000+03:002015-08-13T16:03:03.090+03:00Gretchen is 18 Months Old!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
(You know those days when you wake up in the morning intending to be super productive, then you head back to bed at 8:30am with malaria? You take medicine and park in front of the computer, because you have a blog post due, along with many other things, and the internet is so rubbish that it takes more than two hours to post three photos.)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday, this little beauty achieved 18 months! She's a shiny, happy little girl who chatters away, sometimes in English, sometimes in gibberish. She loves to copy our house helper, Adera, who always wears a scarf over her head when she's outside. This purple scarf was a gift many years ago from Mama Esther Muhagachi, and it's nice and soft, so she loves to pull it out to play with.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZlNBvujafyMGOrC3cNpPBOynUXlWWvyZ8f8eN-2jLOJ4KPfiXFrn9XNlNZX-RPljjO7fholiybz5mfvGWHvN4Cvpuhj2r1j1d8ITO0U531Jj3rT3sWtDrQ_QN7QJiPZ4SdQ7I6EapxSZ/s1600/DSCF0191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoZlNBvujafyMGOrC3cNpPBOynUXlWWvyZ8f8eN-2jLOJ4KPfiXFrn9XNlNZX-RPljjO7fholiybz5mfvGWHvN4Cvpuhj2r1j1d8ITO0U531Jj3rT3sWtDrQ_QN7QJiPZ4SdQ7I6EapxSZ/s1600/DSCF0191.JPG" /></a></div>
<br />
She is also *in love* with Dora the Explorer. She always asks to watch "DORA!" on the tablet or the laptop, and she complains loudly when Inno or Wesley try to change the channel away from her friends, whose names she all knows: Dora, Swiper ("shwipa") and Boots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AYyr_JfH1N1FA2J2hca6QvPm8uXkwuNiWvQHa8BksoAO4-LrF-4cnzRI5v-P4RbYXqgYcr9tv1HxZhk8byOehLzZEcSkN-fNzq_GYLJRZmw2K1SDy2Y4cbCwli_LngACdRMY_PbgszSv/s1600/IMG_20150725_152450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2AYyr_JfH1N1FA2J2hca6QvPm8uXkwuNiWvQHa8BksoAO4-LrF-4cnzRI5v-P4RbYXqgYcr9tv1HxZhk8byOehLzZEcSkN-fNzq_GYLJRZmw2K1SDy2Y4cbCwli_LngACdRMY_PbgszSv/s1600/IMG_20150725_152450.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
She also loves her baby doll ("Baby!") and carries her around, puts her to sleep, and smacks Wesley with her.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmsC7onfEzThdotmWRSF9BQZHrSR3yzjFRqjLVgLrG3iSr-TKdQOVjsw7ADQrlYCLxRhx_YtdZARInymA1rfnh-p4U_5sW9Ym6qbQH-_w42LyBVx9iXuwiHG-sk3TiJ-yr9U75bs9O6vE/s1600/IMG_20150726_141240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpmsC7onfEzThdotmWRSF9BQZHrSR3yzjFRqjLVgLrG3iSr-TKdQOVjsw7ADQrlYCLxRhx_YtdZARInymA1rfnh-p4U_5sW9Ym6qbQH-_w42LyBVx9iXuwiHG-sk3TiJ-yr9U75bs9O6vE/s1600/IMG_20150726_141240.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Although Gretchen is completely enamored with her father, we're getting ready for five weeks traveling together. She's a friendly, flexible little girl, and I think many of you will enjoy meeting her in the coming weeks!</div>
<br />Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4272159432073369219.post-49663259465164642692015-08-06T18:48:00.003+03:002015-10-08T11:55:48.452+03:00Photo Update Courtesy of our Canadian Visitors<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">
Our friends, the Janzens from Shantz Mennonite Church in Kitchener, Ontario, were visiting last month with three young men from their church to do a number of service projects. They were very good about updating their <a href="http://shantz-in-shirati.weebly.com/" target="_blank">blog</a> and taking loads of pictures, so here are a couple of highlights from their visit.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Their first project was repairing a water cistern and doing some minor repairs and upgrades at the home of a pastor we work with a lot, Pastor Joseph Buna. </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTF-QxlVDpWaamftkjqmqYJH6GIjuf8RrgmljQdkhrXoiCV5Rjsg0gMVqFiUyWDppn-YpFkGuidGRnssJgAzpP6FvMGosPkelHumHA2sSfTjHqWn_Myi-uiWEWz9ItAJu7TaV3fkN28PG/s1600/2+Bunas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMTF-QxlVDpWaamftkjqmqYJH6GIjuf8RrgmljQdkhrXoiCV5Rjsg0gMVqFiUyWDppn-YpFkGuidGRnssJgAzpP6FvMGosPkelHumHA2sSfTjHqWn_Myi-uiWEWz9ItAJu7TaV3fkN28PG/s400/2+Bunas.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_4O9pYtbZzvA5aLjHmwzrBShxqnXHRhorDIYrTyywNhn5PIR_2hP0i1kzkdWsfmOYwIjRCgrFDHJ3c8fYsp9VXioffEirN_SCuwk-HCkHViBmBk3edS3lu8tBJlnvrId-mNqxg6jrfNG/s1600/2+Jane+and+Wesley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd_4O9pYtbZzvA5aLjHmwzrBShxqnXHRhorDIYrTyywNhn5PIR_2hP0i1kzkdWsfmOYwIjRCgrFDHJ3c8fYsp9VXioffEirN_SCuwk-HCkHViBmBk3edS3lu8tBJlnvrId-mNqxg6jrfNG/s320/2+Jane+and+Wesley.jpg" width="320" /></a> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIuAM9JbvFRTRtq97BjnZvrpVFIPb1luNLcFZfIipoa6tn6ucYNpjxCqxLzCR0XNeMT5pRhG19PwUqKZ2a7Fvzulf-mJJoD0IpoDJTcthXiq_6ROCy-62AtKA3nPlWVBDIIINnzI61-1T/s1600/2+dedication.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIuAM9JbvFRTRtq97BjnZvrpVFIPb1luNLcFZfIipoa6tn6ucYNpjxCqxLzCR0XNeMT5pRhG19PwUqKZ2a7Fvzulf-mJJoD0IpoDJTcthXiq_6ROCy-62AtKA3nPlWVBDIIINnzI61-1T/s320/2+dedication.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
Jane went with me one day for a Mama Maisha client meeting while the guys built a new home for a very vulnerable family. At the end of the project, they prayed to dedicate the home.<br /><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaa9zNpZ9ucN1YAjJ-vCLk3El7i3xx7B4VWX7EmhuMUPofYD4KcJeprAT9vPNVA76PIgLj8I1YA07xH1mSCbeBDFV-uc9m3y2P2zfFgQbOWyP_5aimbl5QLi64AtGC6bWGFaJ8qSzbLgQ/s1600/2+Terry+birthday.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtaa9zNpZ9ucN1YAjJ-vCLk3El7i3xx7B4VWX7EmhuMUPofYD4KcJeprAT9vPNVA76PIgLj8I1YA07xH1mSCbeBDFV-uc9m3y2P2zfFgQbOWyP_5aimbl5QLi64AtGC6bWGFaJ8qSzbLgQ/s400/2+Terry+birthday.jpg" width="400" /></a>Terry's birthday happened during their visit, and I made him a birthday cake so we could all celebrate together.</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSrE_WSso9MgmmIfHRwGZ_pXAnCcrNJWmt3x5B8v4H1A4UBxdLUaYnBqB3ZZkgloBAa8DInM03ZwS8qL98erqFCb-y8pPa-k5kDX4KbA64mB34ED84JELdD6Du8SZMy9zs9bcv0Y1UEZq/s1600/2+construction.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSrE_WSso9MgmmIfHRwGZ_pXAnCcrNJWmt3x5B8v4H1A4UBxdLUaYnBqB3ZZkgloBAa8DInM03ZwS8qL98erqFCb-y8pPa-k5kDX4KbA64mB34ED84JELdD6Du8SZMy9zs9bcv0Y1UEZq/s320/2+construction.jpg" width="320" /></a>They also helped install a water cistern for a teacher they met last year during their first visit. She hosts an HIV support group in her home, and her intention is that the clients will benefit from the water.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrzFtUDIDz2h5TblQCv7KGKShlFSH9NWAYu8Kf15x0CazBBxYvahAuOT7LcQr4YQ2bCDpuFbxP62fBodZjfRL_3XOoLw5WhLI9qIZo3uV7Zb2xHwocMJqW8Bx6UVQ_ZAjknXQz1Zuhjks/s1600/2+Team+at+cistern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOrzFtUDIDz2h5TblQCv7KGKShlFSH9NWAYu8Kf15x0CazBBxYvahAuOT7LcQr4YQ2bCDpuFbxP62fBodZjfRL_3XOoLw5WhLI9qIZo3uV7Zb2xHwocMJqW8Bx6UVQ_ZAjknXQz1Zuhjks/s320/2+Team+at+cistern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<br />
<br /><br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM-YkD9SI8bRx-w9b22ObDGXkltV6OIacvod8Ur5Y9pryb1wVxCc-CdsDwitmlZo3Pb8uglaIzW1StpBN9pgfjVXtiaWLdfwMzAuI8PIJIdXgt29WZ7NTzITHL6CghORkDurZlUpkyJxK/s1600/Jane+at+site.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmM-YkD9SI8bRx-w9b22ObDGXkltV6OIacvod8Ur5Y9pryb1wVxCc-CdsDwitmlZo3Pb8uglaIzW1StpBN9pgfjVXtiaWLdfwMzAuI8PIJIdXgt29WZ7NTzITHL6CghORkDurZlUpkyJxK/s320/Jane+at+site.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
The major reason the team came was to work on the bathrooms for the vocational school that Fred has been working on for years now. The music department that Jane oversees and the choir that Terry participates in did a benefit concert that raised all the money to build very sophisticated bathrooms for the school.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV8nJzXaK971QW1O1NvojgeZI0i3qwgUJmI5uX-OhTFovavnN6Zczb2LsPBi2Lsmt4SA5PFDtkUXNF-X7t3vkMLIQ8ewoqygsul-M-BDMlMRgmPpGGPgKJsLbo-fVGTm5LLQNH1Ia7ORq/s1600/Ramadan+awning.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtV8nJzXaK971QW1O1NvojgeZI0i3qwgUJmI5uX-OhTFovavnN6Zczb2LsPBi2Lsmt4SA5PFDtkUXNF-X7t3vkMLIQ8ewoqygsul-M-BDMlMRgmPpGGPgKJsLbo-fVGTm5LLQNH1Ia7ORq/s320/Ramadan+awning.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
The team was supposed to do one more house build for an HIV+ widow and her two adolescent children. The night before they intended to go build, the news came that the mother had died that afternoon. They reorganized their schedule and built a sunshade for a paraplegic patient of the palliative care program. He spends most of his day in the sun and rain, so this shade will be a huge benefit to him. The house for the new orphans was built after they left.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTWK1oOLGSblxmmsDPeepRanTVetYE5o9QspzDJj7DNtyYqXwn7VgUzAngv6CB4Hu_Z3lKZLgXrwgOtcwRkgjPGx_nUTn3wpKL9UdMlRPUICmk2jUm0bmmJ-K8ct98_AQPR69qdFSNdOt/s1600/Gifts+for+team.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTWK1oOLGSblxmmsDPeepRanTVetYE5o9QspzDJj7DNtyYqXwn7VgUzAngv6CB4Hu_Z3lKZLgXrwgOtcwRkgjPGx_nUTn3wpKL9UdMlRPUICmk2jUm0bmmJ-K8ct98_AQPR69qdFSNdOt/s400/Gifts+for+team.jpg" width="400" /></a>We so enjoyed having the Shantz team here, and hope it's not the last time we see them here! Thank you to Shantz Mennonite, KCI Music Department and the Janzen family for caring so much for the people of Rorya District.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
Leishahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13765658488132830854noreply@blogger.com0