craft market

This is only ONE small section of the market. Its HUGE! Vendors of bags, paintings, wooden animals/figurines, jewelry, material, clothing... and I mustn't forget the bartering (the prices are always ridiculously high for Yovos -- us white people) :)

Our landrover broke down on the way... broken fan belt :)

I wouldn't make a very good African woman--I can't even balance an empty basket atop my head!! :)

This wall hanging was among my finds. I love it b/c it so accurately (& beautifully) represents the hard-working African woman--she is carrying her baby on her back, holding something in her arms, AND balancing a full basket or pot atop her head!! These women are incredible (& tough)!!

hospitality center

The hospitality center was a local warehouse that Mercy Ships has converted into temporary housing for patients who have traveled far and are waiting for surgery.  Those from afar can also stay post-up for their return to the ship in the weeks ahead for follow-up appointments and dressing changes. For many, transportation is a huge barrier to surgery as well as returning for the necessary follow-up care. This facility houses 36 beds.
I visited the hospitality center one day and was so pleased to find a couple of my patients that I previously cared for on the wards!! What warmed my heart the most was that they both remembered me and greeted me so excitedly by name and big hugs!!  

Carole

Aboulaye

(He was one of the two guys I wrote about in a prior post that were so fun to joke around & laugh with on the ward.)

Yesterday I got to return.  This time I interacted with the ladies who having been staying here from up north, waiting  for VVF surgery (repair of vesico-vaginal fistula that leaves them leaking for life). Their surgeries will take place over these next two weeks.  I helped out with the pre-op screening by drawing each lady's blood. Before coming to Africa I'd never drawn blood.  Now, it is a skill I am mastering and enjoying (in a twisted sort-of way :)

Happy Memorial Day!

LEST WE FORGET

These are not just numbers; they are Sons & Daughters, Fathers & Mothers, Brothers and Sisters, Friends & Comrades. Each number represents the Loss of a Life, a Dream, a Hope, and a Hero.

Afghanistan:
United States of America- 662, United Kingdom-148, Canada-112, Germany- 28, Spain- 25, France- 24, Denmark- 21, Netherlands- 18, Italy- 13, Australia- 8, Poland- 8, Romania- 8, Czech Republic- 3, Estonia- 3, Norway- 3, Portugal- 2, Sweden- 2, Hungary- 2, Finland- 1, Latvia- 1, Lithuania- 1, South Korea- 1.

Iraq:
United States of America- 4257, United Kingdom- 179, Italy- 33, Poland- 23, Ukraine- 18, Bulgaria- 13, Spain- 11, Denmark- 7, Georgia- 5, El Salvador- 5, Slovakia- 4, Romania- 3, Latvia- 3, Australia- 2, Netherlands-2, Estonia- 2, Thailand- 2, Kazakhstan- 1, Azerbaijan- 1, Czech Republic- 1, Fiji- 1,South Korea- 1, Hungary- 1

I Stand for You 

When terror grips you, and the fabric of civility tears, 

I stand for you.

On foreign soil, where peace is but a whispered hope, 

I stand for you.

As bullets fly like bees, and hateful bombs explode

Threatening to steal my sanity – 

I stand for you.

I carry broken bodies back to be mended, and No matter how hard I try – 

The tears fall like rain, and still through all the pain,

I stand for you.

That is until I fall, and I wonder, as I lay cold and Still...

Will you remember,

and stand for me?

"I disagree of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." 

- Voltaire(1694-1778)

Oregonians... your help is needed!

For those who don't know, SMART program(Start Making A Reader Today) is a reading program in elementary schools funded by the state (or was!).  Children enrolled in this program are elected by their teachers. These children struggle in reading and often English is their 2nd language.  With this program they spend a half hour a couple times a week with volunteers like me, who pick out with the child a book of their choice and read together. We encourage them, share our passion and love of reading and books, and get them excited about reading. I volunteered as a SMART reader for a time back at home and thoroughly enjoyed it and the kids. It was so neat to see their improvement over the weeks spent with them and see their self-confidence grow. This is something I am so passionate about! The ability to read is foundational to learning. A child's education is dependent upon their ability to read!  

I found this very disturbing email in my inbox today:

Dear Hannah, 

SMART's state funding has been cut. We need your immediate help to restore it! 

While 93% of funding for SMART comes from private individuals, businesses and grants, the remaining 7% comes from the State of Oregon. But our funding has been removed from the 2009-11 budget. This week, please call or email legislators and urge them to restore it.
SMART - State Budget Talking Points, May 20, 2009 

• Fund SMART! Please restore SMART's appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget. These funds allow SMART to purchase take-home books for more than 7,500 K-3 students in the program over two years. 
  
• In 2008, SMART took significant steps to reduce operating expenses. The organization reduced its budget by $1 million in order to become more sustainable and reach more children in the long-term. 
  
• Earlier this year, due to the recession the executive team took voluntary pay cuts and SMART has reduced staffing levels at headquarters by an additional 30 percent. SMART did this to ensure reading support to more than 7,200 Oregon kids would not be interrupted this school year. 
  
• However, if you do not support SMART's appropriation request, they will be forced to reduce service to more than 500 children. 
  
• Reading is the foundation for learning. If kids don't learn to read, they can't read to learn. SMART has a 17-year record of success in helping kids who need it most learn to read. 
  
• Please restore SMART's appropriation request for $263,000 in the 2009-11 budget.

Thank you for taking action on behalf of Oregon children in need of literacy support. 

Sincerely, 
 
Terry Shanley 
SMART CEO 

------------------------------------------

If you are a fellow Oregonian, please take a moment to pop an email to our state legislators urging them to fund this vital program:

sen.rodmonroe@state.or.us

rep.mikeschaufler@state.or.us 

chinese, ice cream, & fabric

Our Gateway friends (classmates in our Texas training) went out for Chinese food together Friday evening to celebrate a birthday. Chinese in Africa... it seriously was the best Chinese food I've eaten! Or maybe cuz we hadn't eaten Chinese food since we left :)

We ended the evening sharing a banana split at an ice cream parlor! The first "real" ice cream since arriving to Africa! (Do you like the hand sanitizer in the pic, we don't go anywhere without it :) )

Saturday, I went fabric shopping with plans to have an African dress & couple skirts made! I can't wait to see how they turn out!! I'll post pics with the final products :) It was full of so many colorful & beautiful fabrics. It was difficult to choose. I guess I'll just have to come back :)

And, of course there is the famous Fan Milk here--frozen yogurt out of plastic (like go-gurts in the states). It is delicious and refreshing under the hot sun! Check out the ice cream man on his bike. Pretty cool. (I'm behind the camera:) )

To all the men & women serving in our military~ 

Thank you for your selfless sacrifice for us all...strangers, yet brethren.  

You are the true heroes!

We remember you.

African safari

 

(Click on image for larger view)

A few weekends ago we traveled 10 hrs up north by bus with two other couples to Benin's own national park: Pendjari!! We spent two full days traveling the entire park, seeing wildlife and enjoying the beauty of this land ~ experiencing a West African safari!! We saw elephants, baboons, antelope, crocodile, hippos, and many different kinds of birds. We even got to take a canoe across the border into Burkina Faso where we ate smoked fish from the river!! Above is a collage of just a few of our favorites :)

for our moms...

Thinking of YOU today!

We are SO BLESSED to have you both as our mothers and mom-in-laws! :)

Love Tim & Hannah

-There are over 15 million children orphaned by AIDS around the world.

-Well over 12 million AIDS orphans live in Sub-Saharan Africa, alone.

-Experts believe that millions more orphans remain unaccounted for in India, China and Russia.

-At least 10 million more children will be orphans by AIDS by 2010.