Jeanna in South Africa

Lessons Learned as of Late

2009-12-13T21:03:00.001-08:00

cheetah! his name is enigma
nelson mandela's cell

we hiked the mountain behind us
robben island

at the south-western most point of the african continent

peninsula tour
Me and baby Parker
Homestay family! teresa, jordan, corrine, luke, me, and paul
jordan holding parker!
teresa and me with the boys!
bungy jumping!

Well....I've been wanting to update this more...but time and internet connection has made it quite difficult. Homestays were AMAZING. The family I stayed with had a 3 week old little girl, a 7 year old boy, and a 12 year old boy. They were absolutely amazing. They welcomed us with open arms. By the end of the weekend I felt like I was a part of the family. The homestay put an entire new perspective on things for me. The family I stayed with was poor. They don't have much, but they seemed like they had everything. Teresa and I were talking with Paul (the dad) one night, and he told us how he views himself as extremely wealthy. He said he had a roof over his head, a car, a job, healthy children, a wife, food at night, and a bed....he said to him that makes him extremely wealthy. This really hit me. In the US...so many of us have all of that...yet we still want "more" and we strive to get more. What would happen if we just were content with what we had?

Then this week has been full of homework, final papers, excursions, and all that. Tuesday we went on a tour of the peninsula...absolutely breathtaking. This city is so gorgeous it is unreal. We even saw Africa penguins on the beach!

Wednesday I went to town with my cultural mentor, sal, and another cultural mentor. So fun!

Thursday we went on a tour of Robben Island. This was the main prison for apartheid political prisoners. It was also where Nelson Mandela spent 18 of his 27 years in prison. It was intense, and the way the prisoners were treated makes me sick.

Friday we went to the Cheetah Rehabilitation Center! I got to pet a cheetah! It was absolutely amazing!

Saturday we hiked table mountain. One of the hardest hikes of my life. It was all literally straight up hill with no flat parts. INSANE.

Sunday I went to Hillsong Church Capetown...it was wonderful as well.

We are coming to a close rapidly on my SA time. Definitely bittersweet. I cannot wait to go home...however....I am extremely apprehensive about many things that are awaiting me. I have changed into a completely different person. I have noticed this, and the leaders here have seen it as well. This brings so many new challenges and choices into my life when I return. However, I know that God will bring me through it and guide me the whole way. Miss you all! Can't wait to see everyone!

The last few weeks and CAPETOWN

2009-12-03T11:15:00.000-08:00

With Dr Pozza, Professor Moorefield, Leslie, and our SA professors at dinner!
Community project group!
assessing!

So much to talk about! The last few weeks have been insane…We had to fit 6 weeks of coursework into 2 and a half because we knew that internet in CapeTown would be quite sparse. So a little run down….We did our community project which was child assessments at the family center. We found HUGE cavities, heart murmurs, cardiovascular problems, respiratory problems, failure to thrive, malnutrition…and lots more. Extremely heartbreaking. Then we put together Philip’s (the bus driver) engagement….I was in charge of the whole thing. She (Nomusa) went to seven different stations were some students had decorated and she received a quote or bible verse about love and a rose…the seventh station Musa (Philip’s 11 year old son) was waiting for her…and he walked her to the waterfall where we all had gathered with candles that lined the path down to the bottom of the waterfall.. Philip was there with 5 roses (making a dozen) and proposed. Then they had dinner just the two of them at the bottom of the waterfall at a table we had set up. Leslie and Reagen were the waiters. So fun! She was so happy! Then we had our thanksgiving farewell dinner. That was the hardest. We had to say goodbye to all of the relationships we had built over the last two months. I was crying so hard! After that, we took a 4 day trip down the coast. Along the way we climbed through caves, bungy jumped off the highest bridge in the world, sat on ostriches, and went to a wild animal park. So fun!

On Monday we arrived in Capetown. We will be here until we leave in two weeks. First, it is possibly the most gorgeous city in the world. Beautiful blue waters, mountains, so pretty! We are staying at Bible Institute of South Africa…it is literally RIGHT across from the beach. We love going running here! J

Tuesday we took a walking tour through downtown Capetown…we had to find certain things, go in museums, and interview people. It was definitely a cultural experience! Once again, gorgeous! Wednesday we had class and chapel. Today, we took a tour of a township called Langa. We also had AMAZING chicken at Mazoli’s Meat Market J.

There are so many differences between Capetown and Pietermaritzburg. First, it is completely evident that Capetown is MUCH wealthier. As a result, the gap between the rich and the poor is HUGE. There are seriously HUGE mansions within a few miles of EXTREMELY poor townships. People are begging for money, and other people have so much money they don’t know what to do with it all. It makes me think about the role Christians have in things like this. As followers of Jesus, is it our job to help bridge that gap between those that have and those that don’t? Aside from Socialism…how do we do that? This town is once again opening my eyes to the injustice of racism and poverty. Lord, I’m ready for my heart to be broken again for what breaks your heart.

I could really use prayer right now. Switching to a new place is really hard. It no longer feels like home, and it makes my longing for home even greater. We do homestays tomorrow (stay the weekend with local people), and I’m very nervous. I also want to have a positive attitude, and to be able to be completely open to God teaching me things in Capetown. Please pray for me in those things! Miss and love you all! Only a few more weeks until I come home!

Backpacking and Safari

2009-11-13T23:48:00.000-08:00

the three of us rode with Reg every trip :-)

Hippos
Zebra
safari!
kels and me
rhinos
buffaloes
heyyy mufasa

holding the birthday boy
in our cave
SO COLD

our feet were so cold they hurt

in our cave

behind me is an extreme ledge

So two weeks ago 8 of the 9 nursing majors had the opportunity to go backpacking in the Drakensberg Mountains and spend the night in a cave. It was a 5 mile hike there and a 5 mile hike back. So exciting. However, it was definitely grueling. It was amazing to see the beauty of God's creation. I feel as though we often take it for granted. It was quite the experience having to pee in the wilderness that's for sure haha.

Then, that weekend we went 4 and a half hours NE to go on a safari! We stayed in little hut-type things and got bitten by mosquitoes haha. We saw: giraffes, warthogs (pumba), lions, buffaloes, rhinos, 1 elephant, impalla, inyala, koodoo (sp?), zebra, baboons, hippo....so fun! It was such a great experience!

As of today we have 1 week and 1 day left at AE. That's what I'm sad about. I have made great relationships here, and I'm really going to miss the people. Next week we head for Capetown, where we will be for the rest of the time. Oh...and I'm in charge of planning our bus driver's "American" engagement!!!! it takes place this sunday :-) i'll do a separate post all about that! miss and love you all!

Pray that I will be able to start sorting through everything that has happened and been experienced. Also...pray for stress. Trying to cram 2 courses into like 3 weeks...blah haha.

Update on the past week!

2009-11-01T06:06:00.001-08:00

in the Drakensberg Mountains
gorgeous
sal and me
musa and me

kelsey and me
one of the paintings
my view of the people on the rock that I climbed
aaron, sal, musa, and drea
aaron and drea hiking

drea, rachel, and myself before the hike!

A little update on the past week. Last weekend we had community lectures for most of the weekend. We had an AMAZING speaker who is with us for the month named Francis. In those few days we were taught techniques for community building. We basically learned the importance of building the community and helping them to be self-sufficient vs. just sending money to the community/country. Sending money is often not an effective way to help people improve their lives. They improve for a while, but eventually that money is not given anymore, and then the community develops extreme problems. That was an extremely interesting few days. Last Saturday night we got pizza J…which was heaven for me! Haha. Sunday was the usual homework and such. This week and the last few weeks have been extremely stressful with classes. Just turned in a thirty page paper, and then I had to do a presentation on the paper (in an online class…that was interesting and caused me to be very creative haha). In addition, we have a few projects and big papers coming up. Just lots and lots to do! This past weekend (yesterday), we went to the Drakensberg Mountains. We hiked for about 45 minutes up to these caves to see the San Bushmen Paintings from many many years ago. Then we hiked the 45 minutes back. The hike was a blast. We got to do a little climbing while we were waiting for the tour J. That has been the basic happenings of the past week. So much learning going on. Please keep praying for me! I’m still struggling with the being angry with God…thank you so much for those of you who have responded with advice and understanding. I cannot begin to explain how much that means to me. I love you all so much, and am counting the days until I can come home and share everything with you!

Homecoming Dance

2009-10-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

allison, rachel, kels, and myself at the tacky homecoming dance
drea and me!
sam and me
our chalet color was pink!
after our battlefield dance with our SLC
bri, leslie, and me
battlefield dance
the whole group after our dances

twin day
twin day!
roomie and twin
black and white day
all of us on black and white day
drakensberg mountains
rachel, danielle, sam, and myself at the concert

So, this week was "homecoming/spirit week high school style". Each day was a different dress up day, and thursday we had a football game (everyone played) and then a dance competition between the chalets. Friday was a braai (barbeque) and a tacky homecoming dance. We all dressed up as tacky as possibly and danced goofy. It was actually a really really fun week. Some of the picture are on the previous post, and some are on this one. OHHHH and on Wednesday we went to see the Drakensberg Boys Choir! IT WAS AMAZING!!!! THEY ARE SO GOOD!

On top of that, I could really use prayers for almost everything. Stress, homesick, sick, exhausted, emotionally exhausted, and trying to figure things out with God and what is going on over here. I miss you all so much.

Because I have to write...not because I want to

2009-10-20T12:01:00.000-07:00

Crazy hair/clash day - all the nursing majors
he was "surfing"
a little nurse

love my chalet
backwards/inside out day
our chalet minus sam
at the high school for the teaching projects

doing out teaching projects

So, back before we left for S.A., one of the professors told us we would see things that would have a major effect on us. She said that when we saw these things, we would feel like no one in the world would understand, especially people back in the U.S. However, she told us that when we felt this way, we have to blog or tell people back home. Even if they don't care, at least they will remember the stories when we get back. So, I was telling Leslie (our SLC) how I was feeling today, and she told me I have to blog or tell someone. So....I'm blogging. Not because I want to, but because I have to.

Currently I am angry. I realized that I haven't had much time to process everything that has gone on for me in clinical since we have been here. We have been in clinical about 5 weeks now I believe. That is a lot of things to pile up. This week, for some reason, it has all started to hit me. I'm angry. I hate to say it but I'm angry at God. Hanging out with the children who are HIV positive and seeing their precious eyes and hearts...they did NOTHING to contract this disease. They weren't even given a choice. The women who are raped that are infected with HIV from that, it's not their fault. It is not fair. The grandparents who are left to care for the HIV positive children because the children's parents have died from AIDs, they occasionally contract HIV because they care for the children's open cuts and such. Not fair. I find myself, as wrong as it is, having less sympathy for the people who have consensual sex and are living promiscuously. However, this disease is HORRIBLE. They die progressively every day, in a horrible way. If every sin is viewed the same as God says they are....then why do they die horrible deaths from their sins? If I lie, which is a sin, a relationship may be lost or effected, but I do not die such a death. Is that fair? Not only that, but this disease and this sin effects SO many people. It hurts the children who lose parents to AIDS and become orphaned or raised by their siblings. It hurts the children who are born with HIV positive blood because the mother is HIV positive. It hurts husbands and wives. Friends, families, communities. How is any of this fair? I know the saying "life isn't fair". I understand that. But something like this? A God that is so good, lets this happen? One person's sin effects so many others. This is just SO tangible. I'm not very good at putting my feelings into words. But all I want to do is yell and cry. I wish sometimes that I could be numb. How many other children and people are there like this across the world? I sit in my nice house in America and don't even care. WOW. I'm so emotionally exhausted. I just don't want to think about it. When I don't, I internalize. Just pray please.

I was back at the family center today with the children. They are SO hungry for love and affection. So desperate for touch and attention. They have so many hardships to overcome. Most live without parents. As a result, a sibling is raising them. Finances are hard, if they are even present at all. Healthcare is almost nonexistant for them. I mean, it's free, but it's so hard for them to get there. We saw children with yellow eyes (indicating a severe liver problem), that had not been to the clinic. SEVERELY malnutritioned children as well. Several umbilical hernias. I am pretty sure one child I was with had cerebral palsy that hasn't been diagnosed (not positive...i video taped her and plan to show it to the professors). She had all the signs and symptoms though. In addition, she was malnourished, had ringworm (again i'm almost positive from my personal assessment and the pictures I took), and she was 2 or 3 years old and she still crawled. She couldn't stand or walk on her own. When she stood with help, she was extremely wobbly or unbalanced..as if her hip joints were too loose. Cowick's sign (I think is the name-Professor Chandler...correct me if I'm wrong :-) It's when they have really wide leg base and push up with their hands to stand up?-I have videos for you!) was present as well. She walked (with help) with her legs spread far and straight. It just broke my heart because she will probably never get the healthcare she needs. NONE OF THIS IS FAIR. SO.....that's where I am right now....just feeling upset, confused, frustrated, angry, and heartbroken. I know He has a perfect plan, but right now it's hard for me to see. Love you all. Miss you all.

"For You are my rock and my fortress; For Your name's sake You will lead me and guide me." -Psalm 31:3

New Stories and New Thoughts

2009-10-19T10:06:00.000-07:00

me and rachel on the bus on the way back from the battlefields...she is the funniest person i know :-)
precious girls at the battlefields!
katie, meredith, melissa, me, and rachel at the battlefields
me kels sal and melody at a battlefield!
first battlefield visit!
love the nursing girls!
so cute!
kels, sal, and me...i adore them
kels and me!
kels, kels, me, and sam!

Well…It has been a LONG time since I updated! This makes it quite difficult to know where to start. So first…I think I’ll just talk about some things I have been learning lately. Africa is a very spirit-driven/Pentecostal continent in terms of Christianity. For those of you who know me….I have not been around that type of Christianity very much. I have known several people and had close Pentecostal friends, but I haven’t had much more exposure than that. So…coming here, I have seen people slain in the spirit, people speak in tongues, heard of people prophesying… It is so different to me. It also has started me questioning myself (don’t worry I have gotten over this through talking to people and praying). However, I, for a few days, questioned the depth of my relationship with God because I don’t speak in tongues. As a result, I am currently investigating this. I have asked a few people if they know of a good text that describes and discusses spiritual gifts. However, I haven’t gotten any answers really. (If anyone is reading this and has a good suggestion please leave me a comment and tell me!). I want to do so much more studying in depth on this. I don’t believe that you are more holy or closer to God if you speak in tongues or hear His voice audibly or feel “baptized in the spirit” or things of that nature. However, I do wonder about these things in general. For example, when they started what they are, and why some people experience them and others to not.

In addition to that, I am really struggling with being homesick. I miss my family and my friends. It’s more than the modern amenities of the US that I miss. It’s the relationships I have built and the support system I have. Sometimes I wonder why God has to stretch me so far. Occasionally I feel like I’m almost about to break. Not meaning to complain, but I could use a lot of prayer in this area. It is hard for me to be able to focus and concentrate on what I am supposed to be doing here, when I am so homesick.

Now for a few things on the nursing experience. So much has happened in the last few weeks! So a few weeks ago, I was at East Boom Clinic. This is the largest clinic we visited, and the provincial government funds it. There are several different parts of this clinic. There is an ARV clinic (the medicine given to those that are HIV positive), a TB clinic, a pediatric clinic, a mental health ward, a PMTCT (prevention of mother to child transmission), women’s health, and a few more that I can’t remember. Anyways, I was in the ARV clinic this particular day with a nurse called sister Maharaj. She was absolutely AMAZING. She loves to teach, and she taught me so much about the system and what goes on at East Boom Clinic. At one point, she asked me if I could do blood draws. I told her yes, and she said “ok I’m going next door come get me if you need me”. So much trust! I did four or five, and then I couldn’t find the veins on one woman so she had to help. That was an amazing experience to be able to communicate with the patients and do blood draws on my own. However, there was one particular case that absolutely broke my heart. I was filling out paper work, and writing a patient’s birthday. The patient was born at the end of 2005. This makes him 3 years old…almost four. I didn’t think that was right, so I asked the sister I was working with. She told me yes the child was three years old. A few patients later, this little boy came in to the room that I was in with sister Maharaj. He saw me and ran up to me and jumped up and hugged me and giggled. I couldn’t help but start crying. The mother then had to hold his arms down so the sister could draw blood. The sister had to poke him twice to get enough blood because his veins were so small. He just started screaming when she inserted the needle. He looked at me with tears streaming down his face. I lost it. On top of me crying my eyes out, I became angry. This little boy does not deserve this. Why him? He is already on ARV’s at the age of three. It’s not fair. So much of life isn’t fair. Particularly in HIV/AIDS so much is not fair. I still don’t understand why it has to affect innocent children. It makes it so hard to struggle with questions like this. God has to have an answer, but I don’t know what it is yet.

Another experience I had in clinical was last week. I was at a place called Mason’s clinic, which is a very small clinic. I was there to do blood draws. (FYI I got to do 10ish that day and did great on every one! Yay!) The last patient I saw for blood draws was a woman who was 23 years old. She had to have her mother help her walk in and sit down. She could not stand on her own. Her mother also had to help her take her sweater off for the blood draw. Even more, her mother had to lift her arm onto the desk so I could draw her blood. She was SO weak and SO emaciated. She had TB. As a result, this usually indicates that she was in one of the end stages of AIDS because she contracted TB and was wasting. 23 years old. That’s just two years older than me. It is such a horrible disease. I have no idea how she contracted it. It could have been consensual sex, or she could have been raped, or she could have just had an open cut on her hand and touched someone who was HIV positive’s open cut. However it doesn’t matter, the fact is that she is 23, with so much ahead of her, and she probably won’t make it 6 more months. How is that fair? How is any of this fair?

The biggest question I have currently is why? Why do these horrible things happen and why is it fair? It’s not fair. Life isn’t fair. People die. But somehow, in the midst of it all, we find hope.

Psalm 10:1 “Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide Yourself in times of trouble?”

Psalm 39:7 “And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.”

Progressive Updates

2009-10-15T14:24:00.000-07:00

Sarah, me, and Philip (our driver) at the rugby game
meredith, sarah, and me at the rugby game

me with kels and kels at the rugby game
one of the butterflies at the butterfly place
the group at breakfast
kels and me in the gardens at breakfast
at dessert
drea, me, and kels at dessert!

So I'm going to progressively update...a few weekends ago....we went to dessert and the next day we went out to breakfast and to a place called Butterflies for Africa. SO GORGEOUS! Also, that night we went to a rugby game in Durban. So interesting!

That sunday a few of us went to a church that Reagen (one of our SLCs) was speaking at. Funny story. I was told after the service that there was a lot of speaking in tongues during the service. I had NO idea. I have never heard tongues before...and I thought they were just speaking Zulu! Haha! So interesting....

Tomorrow I will give an update on clinical and this past weekend. Sorry it has taken so long! It's been super busy with school! Miss and love you all!

Sorry for the Delay!

2009-09-30T09:36:00.001-07:00

Kels and I in the back seet on the way home from Durban!
Janet, Same, Leslie, Me, and Drea!!!!! Indian Ocean in the background!
Kelsey, me, and Kelsey...i'm short :-)
mmmm pizza!
teresa, kels, me, and kels!
this is the same boy that fell asleep in my lap the day before :-)
bri and I sewing!
Me learning how to sew :-)

Sorry it has taken me FOREVER to post. Unfortunately...I have been pretty sick for the past week. Just so you know...it's no fun being sick in another country :-(. BUT I'm praying I'll get better soon.

Some events of the past week:

Had 2 clinicals...one was a not so good experience. There was a major language barrier which just made it quite difficult. Reagen and Leslie took some of us out for pizza (my idea :-) and it was DEFINITELY worth it!). On Saturday we all went down to Durban! We went to an indoor market and got a chance to buy authentic south africa things. Also, we went to the beach in Durban in the afternoon! We got to swim in the Indian Ocean! Yay! Much warmer than the Pacific...but still quite cold! Sunday I tried a new church (I'll get to that later). I have been mulling over that experience since it happened. Monday was basically classes all day long. Tuesday was clinical, and wednesday is our day to work on online classes. Homework is getting really heavy. So much to do! Besides the sickness, it's been a good week.

Okay, on to the church experience. I wasn't going to write anything about this, for many reasons. First, I thought of course it can't be me. Second, I thought people will think I'm crazy. Third, I think I have just never experienced anything like this before. However, after sharing it with someone and praying...I think I can share it with you all. BUT this requires a few different explanation-type things. SO....First I will explain the church. It was called God's Family Life Center (GFLC), and it was VERY charismatic. I have not had much exposure to charismatic churches so this was very new to me. At the end of the service, there was an alter call. Many people went to the front. I sat in my seat and couldn't help but watch. In addition to the pastor, there were several people praying over the people that came to the alter. However, it wasn't just the regular "Dear God, please heal this person". It was praying with such force. I have never seen anything like it! People even fell down from this praying. So...as a nursing student...I couldn't believe no one was going to check their pulse or see if they were breathing! I thought they were passing out! (you can laugh...it's funny to me now that I thought that lol) Later I found out they were NOT passing out. They were simply just SO touched by the holy spirit that they fall over. However, these things were SO new to me.

In order for me to continue...I have to give people that don't know...a little update on my life this past year. I was engaged. (Obviously I'm not anymore haha). In January, it was broken off. Unfortunately, the way it was broken off was not an easy thing for me to handle. While I have been blessed with SUCH an amazing support system, it was still difficult. I was able to move on for the most part, but there was still some sort of part of me still hurt and bitter. I was carrying that pain every day, but I did a great job at hiding it. It didn't consume me, it was just a little part of me that wondered if the next guy would do the same thing and it made it difficult to trust the people around me. It was almost as if that little bit of pain kept me guarded.

Back to the story. SO...during all this prayer I was praying on and off and sometimes watching what was going on in front of me (we were in the front row). Towards the end of the prayer, the pastor grabbed the microphone and began praying. He said, "God is telling me that there is a young lady here today who has pain from her past and is not coming forward, and that pain is from a broken relationship. He says that it's keeping you from moving forward in your relationship now and in all your relationships overall. God wants you to know that as of today you won't have that pain anymore He will remove those scars from you". He then put the microphone down and kept praying. A few minutes later the service was over. My first instinct was "Oh my goodness that's me". Then I talked myself out of that. I thought that there was no way that out of everyone there God would have spoken through the pastor to ME. Surely there were SO many other people that needed to hear God. However, the more I pray about it and think...I am certain that was for me. Which is strange, because I have never had any experience with anything like this before. For some reason, unknown to me, God saw the pain I was carrying. I have been praying that it wouldn't affect future relationships (in a negative way)...mainly I have been asking Him to take away the bitterness and the sense of guarding myself I have had. For those of you who know me...I'm usually not very guarded...I trust too easily and forgive too easily...but that's me. That's who God has created me to be. Sometimes it's a weakness...but often it's a strength. For the past few months, I have had trouble being that girl. I've had trouble forgiving and trusting. In the past four days...I have felt like the girl I was made to be. The one that trusts and forgives too easily. The one who let's other people in...that's who I am. I have also noticed that I have no horrible feelings when I think of it. It is part of my past. I have grown more than ever from it. I am thankful for it, and I can say that with complete honesty. I love where I am now in my life. I know I am where I am supposed to be. It is hard for me to even think much about it. I have no bitterness or anger, and I don't hate him or the people involved. Instead God seems to just let me switch my thoughts whenever it comes up. I have accepted it, and God has shown me that was not for me. I am on the right path now, it just took a while for me to see that. It also took me coming to South Africa for me to see this. However, even if this were the ONLY thing I learned from this trip (which there is NO chance of that happening- i'm learning a ton every day)....this trip would be worth it. times a million.

Thank you all for being supportive for me over the last year of my life. There have been more ups and downs than anyone could have predicted. I could not have made it without my family and my friends. Thank you for all your prayers. I can't thank you enough. I love you all more than you know!

Please pray for clinical tomorrow! Tuesday was not so great....Hopefully tomorrow is better!

" I will bless the Lord who has counseled me; Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night. I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will dwell securely. For You will not abandon my soul to Sheol; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay. You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever."

-Psalm 16:7-11

A Wonderful Clinical Day

2009-09-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

All the kids on my lap at once :-)
The little boy on the left is the one who ran and jumped into my arms!
One of the houses!
Cows in the middle of the street...
A sleeping little boy and some peace signs!

Lions
Getting my hair done and holding my sleeping boy!

On the way to home visits!
Bri and I with some caregivers and a patient!
Dancing and singing!
Teresa and Bri by the Ethembeni sign
First day of clinical!

Today was our second clinical day. Bri, Teresa, and I returned to the township of Mphopomeni to the Ethembeni HIV/AIDS hospice. Today we went on hospice home visits. We were driven to a drop-off point and each of us went with a caregiver to visit the homes. We traveled on foot to each home. I think I ended up walking 2-3 miles today in the rain which equals mud J. The morning was interesting. We visited several people and did a devotion with each of them. I had the privilege of praying for a few of them. However, I must admit…I was a little disappointed in God at first. I was with the same caregiver that I was with last Thursday. As a result, we went to many of the same houses we went to last week (and a few new ones). When I first realized that, like I said, I was a little disappointed. However, God proved me SO wrong. What a joy it was to return to familiar faces. They remembered me and were so welcoming! I got so many hugs! Oh and the children! All of the children remembered me! One yard that I walked into the little boy ran up to me when he saw me and jumped into my arms! I SO needed that today. For those of you who know me well, children are my passion. It’s almost as if God knew exactly what would re-energize me and refresh me. Who am I kidding? OF COURSE He knew. Praise Him for today…Oh and it gets better! I finished slightly early from the home visits. When I got back to the clinic, the head nurse asked me if I wanted to go down to the family center for the rest of the day. (OF COURSE I WANTED TO!) Now…a little background on the family center…. It is a center for vulnerable children. All of the children there are either part of child-headed households (where a sibling is the head of the house because the parents have left or passed away) or they are vulnerable in some way. They may have an extremely sick parent or are being cared for by other family members. These children are SO precious. They put me in the ECD room (early childhood development). Which was all the little kids J. I sat down, and they were a little hesitant at first. After playing a little, they all decided they wanted to do my hair Originally it was up in a pony tail…definitely wasn’t afterwards. They brushed it, braided it, knotted it, pulled it…so adorable. Then I got out my camera…they thought that was amazing! They loved seeing their pictures on the digital camera. So cute! They sang songs with me too! Oh and they all tried to sit in my lap…it was amazing! I loved every second of it. They touched your face and held hands…so amazing. Then we switched rooms and the other APU students came. We had an amazing afternoon. In addition….we got to assess a little girl. She was in a lot of pain…we looked in her mouth and she had a cracked tooth…basically a hole…we could see the root. The poor girl was in SO much pain. So we gave her some pain medication and some ice and told them they needed to get her to a dentist. That broke my heart that we couldn’t fix it…I’m a fixer J. OH!!!! And one of the little boys fell asleep in my lap! J all in all….today was amazing…

The Bible verse on my heart today is Psalm 9:1 “I will praise the, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvelous works.”

Please pray for clinical again tomorrow! We are all quite tired! J Miss you all more than anything and love you so much!

Learning New Things Everyday

2009-09-21T06:42:00.001-07:00

Where Ghandi started out...AMAZING
All the nursing majors and Philip-our driver

Me and Kels!
Lions!
Allison and I!
Allison, me and Kelsey!

the whole group at the Birds of Prey Sanctuary
me with Drea!!!!
The dinner group :-)
waiting for dinner!
on the way back from the movie!
Tea time with nursing majors!!!!

Alright, finally a little time to write J. Where to start…I suppose I’ll start in chronological order.

Thursday- We had our first clinical. It was extremely intense. Teresa, Bri, and I went to Ethembeni Hospice in a township called Mpophomeni. We started the day by getting briefed by the registered nurse that works at the hospice center. She told us that it was a non-government organization. It takes 100,000 rand a month to fund it. I believe that is somewhere around 14,000 dollars. It was so different than a hospice in America. Not only was it dirty, but also the women that take care of the patients are not registered nurses. However, everyone affiliated with this organization was AMAZING. So sweet and helpful. We were able to go on home visits with members of the church (a church helps run the hospice). The home visits broke my heart and changed my perspective. (all in the course of about two hours) First, driving through the community was heartbreaking to me. There was trash that just littered and lined the streets. Goats roaming the roads along with roosters and cats. Some of the homes were just four walls and dirt floor and a make shift roof. All of the people we visited had AIDS. One of them had TB and one of them had diabetes. However, most of them contained a joy that I have never seen in my entire life. Almost like they knew something we didn’t. The children were so precious. They were so well behaved, and just smiled and giggled at you! The church people visited the same four people every other week and brought them food. It was amazing to see the relationships they had built. Almost like a little glimpse of how the Church is supposed to work. After home visits, the pastor of the church that ran Ethembeni, and all of the workers and volunteers had a party. The party was for a couple that was retiring from serving with Ethembeni. The Zulu women sang and danced for them. It was amazing. I loved getting to see the impact they made. The entire party was translated from English to Zulu and vice versa. Amazing. The love they had for each other was so genuine. There was no bitterness towards those more privileged, and there was no disgust towards those less privileged. All biases seemed to be put aside, and the group just worshipped together and loved on each other. They also welcomed us with open arms. They wanted to include us in the entire celebration. It was an extremely eye-opening clinical day for sure. Tomorrow (Tuesday) Bri, Teresa, and I return to Ethembeni. However tomorrow will be hospice visits. Please pray for guidance and that God will open our hearts to the people.

Friday- Friday we had chapel and the rest of the day I did homework. For dinner a few of us went down the road to a restaurant called Keg and Hedgehog. We got American(ish) food and watched Rugby! SO fun! Then we returned and did more homework J.

Saturday- we all went on an excursion to Pietermaritzburg. In the morning we went to the Birds of Prey sanctuary where we were able to see a show and walk around seeing different types of birds of prey. Fun fact: South Africa has 81 different birds of prey…US has 31 or 32. Amazing! After that, we went to a lion reserve. We were not allowed to drive into the reserve because last week a bus drove in and was attacked. So we stayed outside J. Gorgeous but vicious animals! Then we went to get an amazing view of all of Pietermaritzburg from the top of a hill! Loved it! Finally, we ended at the mall where Reg treated us all to something to drink and a slice of cake! Best cheesecake EVER! The night consisted of LOTS of homework for me J However a bunch of nursing majors went running, then at night we all did an ab workout in a huge conference room on the big screen…so fun!

Sunday-We had the option of going to three different churches. I went to a church called North Hills. The interesting thing was that it does not have a pastor. It is run by a board of elders that take turns preaching. The people LOVE each other. It is such a great picture of genuine community. Grandparents, children, and grandchildren all attend there. It is a very family oriented church. They welcomed us with open arms as well! One of the girls invited us for a picnic next Sunday after church! So sweet! Once again, the rest of the day was filled with LOTS of homework! OH! I almost forgot…I was sleeping after church on Sunday….I heard noises so I woke up. THERE WERE TWO MONKEYS IN MY ROOM! We had left a window open that had netting on it so monkeys cant enter, but they got in anyways! I screamed! One left with an apple. The other jumped to the window and started to leave. Then it looked at me, jumped down and grabbed a banana (typical), and jumped up and crawled out. I was still screaming! Then they ate sitting right outside my window! How rude!

The best way to describe what I’m feeling now is overwhelmed. School keeps getting more and more. We just found out that our teaching projects we worked so hard on don’t apply to the communities here. (long story). In addition, I’m exhausted and have been feeling sick for a few days. Once again, I just continue to pray for strength every day from Him. I would ask that you pray for my health and my spirit…to be renewed and reenergized. Tomorrow for clinical I am going to need to be well rested. Please pray for clinical tomorrow! Also, please pray that God will reveal my purpose in all of this to me. Love you all so much! Miss you bunches!

Love,

Jeanna

A little more time!

2009-09-19T10:37:00.000-07:00

I know everyone is wanting to hear about what's going on and how clinical was...but give me until tomorrow afternoon (sunday). I have church in the morning and we have been super busy and TONS of schoolwork! I didn't forget! Lots of pictures and updates tomorrow! For now...you can look at the pics uploaded to facebook! Miss and love you all!

Day before the 1st Clinical

2009-09-16T11:49:00.000-07:00

The five girls on the run! Zebra in the background!

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me from Your presence or take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me."

Psalm 51:10-12

That is the verse God has put on my heart today. I'm feeling a bit exhausted and drained lately. So my prayer to God is to renew me and help give me the strength to make it through each day.

Currently I am watching Enchanted with about 15 other students :-). Wonderful night. Today was a day off to work on our online classes. It was almost busier than all the other days. Both online classes are writing intensive and require a whole lot of work! However, we are all in it together! (Sounds like a high school musical song :-) )

Yesterday a few of us went running...we got lost and ended up running about 6 or more miles...CRAZY!!!!! However, we saw 5 zebra (here pronounced z eh bra) on the way. So it was okay :-). Today I am insanely sore though!

Tomorrow I am a bit worried about. It is our first day of clinical! My first rotation is at the Hospice clinic...We are told this is the most heartbreaking rotation for us. I came for God to completely break me...and I have a feeling I will get that tomorrow. The best prayer for me right now would be for God to give me the strength to make it through tomorrow and to give me peace and the wisdom to know what to do in the situations He puts me in. Pray for all of us as we all go to our first clinical day tomorrow! Miss and love you all more than you know! :-)

-Jeanna Anne

Sawubona

2009-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

So we just finished the first day of classes, and our second day at the African Enterprise. Overwhelmed would be a good way to described my feelings right now. Typical of the first day of a new semester. However, I think when adding being in a new place surrounded by nothing familiar...yeah that adds some stress :-)

We just finished a group discussion on what we saw in Soweto (the township we visited) and at the apartheid museum. It was quite intense. Points were brought up about how people saw poor people as people just like us. It's hard to explain an entire discussion in one blog. However, I do understand. As I said before, seeing things like we see here...just makes you see yourself in a different perspective. It already has begun to change my worldview and it hasn't even been a week.

We met our nursing instructors today. They are amazing! One of them offered to take us to her farm :-). We made our first mall run today. We got hairdryers and straighteners (ones from the states dont work). I also bought a pair of slippers for about 2 dollars, a diet coke, and tupperware containers (3 for 3 dollars) to organize the room. It's amazing the little things that make you so happy here :-).

We also had our first Zulu class today...SO hard but SO fun :-) Loving it already :-)

Time to get ready for bed! Love you all! Please pray for our stress levels, and that we can continue to focus on God's purpose for us being here!

P.S. Sawubona means "hello" or literally I see you

Second Day in Johannesburg!

2009-09-12T10:03:00.001-07:00

one of the townships

Me and Sal in front of Archbishop Desmond Tutu's house

ice cream and chocolate cake!

some of the kids

teresa and me at the apartheid museum

me and kels and regan

the whole group at the museum

apartheid museum

Today was an intense day. We woke up (after 10 amazing hours of sleep J) and went to the apartheid museum. That was so mind opening. I am not sure where to start. It is evident to me that the country is still somewhat torn apart from the effects of apartheid. Nelsen Mandela is seemingly the most amazing person ever. The leader of the anti-apartheid movement, and he did it all without violence.

Like I said…not sure where to start. First, I have never been so aware of my skin color as I am here in South Africa. I feel somewhat guilty for it. I know it is not my fault…but it is still hard. The black people here look at us almost with…distaste… I talked to Leslie about this. She said that being white to them represents privilege. In this country being white, from my complexion, to my hair, to my eyes…everything represents beauty to them. Anything that is white is beautiful. She explained that it is common for them to want to be us. Because there was such a strong sense of privilege in being white. From this, I have learned that it is my job, while I’m here, not to fix what has gone on…but to be a learner. To listen and to learn. She said that it is natural to feel guilty and this is something we work through. In addition, as she was talking with me in the museum, a black woman was listening to our conversation. At the end, she turned to us and said that it’s not just us who feel guilty. She explained that she was from West Africa, and that she has to work through her feelings of guilt for her ancestors selling her people into slavery. I thought that was SO interesting. I had never thought of it like that.

This afternoon we went to a local township. We had lunch with our tour guide at her restaurant, and some of the local children danced for us. It was so fun! Oh yeah…and we got to eat ice cream and chocolate cake….HEAVEN J

I think that’s all for today. I’m exhausted. We leave at 630am for the airport tomorrow. We fly to Durban, and then drive to Pietermaritzburg. Pray for a safe flight please! And pray that God continues to open my eyes and heart to my purpose in all of this!!!!! Love you all!

-Jeanna

Arrived in South Africa!

2009-09-11T10:41:00.000-07:00

a peacock wandering around the amusement park

a bunch of kids on the way to dinner

scariest ride of my life

me and kels with all our luggage!

allison and mel waiting in the airport

before getting on the flight to Johannesburg!

on the first flight! bri and britt!

So...after a LONG time of traveling...we finally arrived in Johannesburg at 800 am South Africa time this morning. (SA is 9 hours ahead of cali and 7 hours ahead of Oklahoma). SUCH a long flight. We got here and got through immigration really fast. We didn't even have to go through customs...strange lol. It has been a LONG day. We went to lunch after getting everything from the airport at a mall. It was somewhat like our malls, but NONE of the stores are the same! Then we went to an amusement park for about three hours. We were told that being in the sun helps with jet lag. I'll let you know if that's true :-).

Tonight we are in a hotel. We just finished dinner. I think we are all still adjusting to the time change. The hotel is super cute! My roomate is precious...love her to death. I already love all the people we are with. They are such a great group of men and women of God. Very encouraging to each other.

I'm having a little trouble adjusting, but I'm told it's normal. First trip out of the country...seems SO far away from everything I'm used to! It is so good to have this group to depend on though. The leaders continue to amaze me. Leslie, Regan, and Quinton. They are so sweet and so inspiring.

Tomorrow we are going to the apartheide (sp?) museum. First day of class type things. (which entails taking notes and such haha)

I can already see the separation here in south Africa, and we are in a very developed city. We see hints of separation between the poor and the rich. Again, I'm told that it gets more extreme later on.

Sunday we are goint to Pietermaritzburg where we will stay for the first part of the semester. We are all excited to get there and stop living out of suitcases. :-) Keeping in mind that we are having a once in a life time experience is not hard to do. This country is already beautiful. Well...time to let my roomate get on :-)

Please keep praying for our health (we have had a few sick already), and that we would be open and willing to be used by God exactly how He plans for us this semester.

Sal told me something today that really helped me...

Don't think of everything that we will do this semester. Think of it as one day at a time. God doesn't give us strength for a lifetime. He gives us enough strength to get through the day.

So that's how I'll approach it. Each day...I'll ask God to give me enough strength to do His will for the day. One day at a time.

Love you all and miss you like crazy! Goodnight!

A Little Introduction

2009-08-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

Fall 2009 South Africa Group-Nursing!
Alright...so this is my first time ever using a blog. I will be updating it while I'm in South Africa this semester with pictures and stories so everyone can get a glimpse of what is going on there! Above are the pictures of the group of nursing majors I am going with. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people. They are amazing. For now, we are all just getting ready with packing and everything. We leave September 10, and we would LOVE everyone's prayers. Can't wait to see what God has in store for me and everyone else this semester!