23 January

I awoke this morning, listening to our rooster crow, and the rain.  Reflecting on the ironies and contrasts that are Africa and Ilula, and what is an undercurrent in discussions.
The incredible lushess of this area in the rainy season...green, fragrant, very! damp that will become so very dry, brown and dusty in the dry season in the dry season...
The frustration and reality of poverty, limited resources, preventable death, limited/halted education for a people that do and accomplish much and continue to, with broad smiles, palpable joy and gentle,welcoming manner.
Passing the farmer carrying a hoe to the field or "encouraging " his cow to pull the single blade plow through the red clay with serious purpose as the crops must sustain them, while smiling with an hakuna matata outlook.
So, it has rained and rained...hard at least once a day all.week, last nite at least 3 times.  Usually short, fierce bursts with thunder, lightning, then drizzle, but some dry spells long enough to get our frequent walks in. But at the end of yesterday's burst, a spectacular rainbow...so fitting.
I have had so many interesting, eye opening days...inpatient ward, HIV clinic where thousands of patients are tracked, working on the Days for Girls class, then today off to a mountain village with Paul and Elizabeth...quite the truck ride with 7 of us in a small truck, plus gear! We went to Mlafu for the outreach clinic that does vaccinations, family planning and prenatal care, baby checks, and sort of whatever comes through the door.  Some pics here of the stark house "loaned" to see patients in, and weighing the babies.  Sadly, saw one very malnourished 18 mo old.  The trip up the mountain beautiful...bunches of children walking to schools, huge valleys wrapped in fog, neat to see a different perspective.
As usual, the group was divided, and some super interesting stuff came out in our afternoon debriefing, particularly about an incredible young dentist who.is completing studies as a clinical psychologist and is providing care in that area at the hospital...so great and needed.  Hats off to Petro!  And he translates the morning sermons...Bonus info on the Nairobi fly from Jill and Randy.
Congrats to Marissa for her DILIGENT prep and getting through her interview.  Well done...pretty sure you nailed it!  She is taking a deep breath in the backyard pic.
Oh, so today the group is on its walkabout led by wonderful hospital social worker Happy, and lo and behold, we find  Dr. Saga in a small copy shop working on his "vision board" (a term a number of this group have adopted cuz we are working on ours, well, sort of).
Can't even begin to say how much I enjoy, and have learned, from my Ilula friends.  I will miss you.  And I leave you with one of our quotable quotes from the week...

 "A heart cannot lead until it's been broken".

Even if it's from a card game,.rings pretty true.
Asante sana.  La la salam.
Monica


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