World Race Problems…. these can sometimes be funny but usually it is only funny after the fact.
Like…. I want to take a bucket shower but there is no more water. World Race problems. I want to read my book at night but my head lamp is out of batteries. World Race problems. My clothes didn't dry because it rained out of no where and now I don't have anything to wear. World Race problems. I need to write this document but my computer is dead because we don't have electricity. World Race problems.
Today I've experienced enough World Race problems for it to not be funny at the moment. Living without electricity our electronics die, a lot. So we have to wait to go to town or until the power works down the road to charge anything. Since I'm a team leader I have a responsibility of sending in weekly updates which needs to be done on a computer. My computer decided to stop allowing Word to work so I couldn't open any of my documents. I used my team mates computer but when I tried to send my files when I got to internet my email wouldn't load after 40 minutes of waiting.
Finally after the other 6 world racers that were sharing wifi with me left it loaded. (This happens a lot) I also tried writing a cool blog about all the things that I have been doing this month. Well my computer decided to go to a different page and everything I wrote was gone. This morning before I had time to get internet my team and I were supposed to go back to people that we have talked to this month about Jesus. We were supposed to leave at 10am but instead we left at 12:15pm. That one is just "Africa problems" I'm trying to concentrate on the things I have to do on the internet and the
TV is blaring in my ear so I cant even hear myself think. Something about Africans liking loud TV's…. I just don't like obnoxiously loud noises when I'm trying to do stuff.
Don't take your good internet connections for granted America!
A lot of these frustrations stem from problems with technology and not being able to do what I need to do for team leading and updating people on my life.
Although today has not been my day I have had plenty of really cool days this month- these are more pleasant to think about.
I have had an awesome opportunity to go to the local hospital and help expectant mothers through their birthing process. Myself and a few other girls have gone to pray for these women, comfort them, and support them through their labor. Giving birth in Africa is a lot different than in America, each woman gets a plastic sheet to lay on the bed before they have their baby. This catches all the fluids even though stuff still goes everywhere. There is no comfortable bed, attentive nurses, or birthing classes it is just the mom, the baby, and pushing without any pain medication. These women are TOUGH!
It's safe to say I never want to have a baby in Africa but these women do it. Unfortunately there are quite a few babies that do not make it after they are born and my team and I have been there for some of these deliveries. It is always sad to see a disappointing end to the long and strenuous birthing process. But I am thankful that I can be there to be some support for the mom's in a tough time.
One of the births that I was there for the nurse wasn't really ready for it so she got there just in time to pull the baby the rest of the way out and I held the baby on the mom's stomach while the nurse was getting things she needed. The little baby was grabbing onto my watch as it was taking its first few breathes, it was incredibly precious.
I have also filled my days with running through the banana plantations that surround our village, talking to people about Jesus and praying for them, and going to a doctor's office for people with HIV and packaging drugs for them that will help their immune system.
Each day holds incredible opportunity to be a light to my community. I am able to run with the children, play volleyball with the adults, and smile and wave to the people going about their daily life. God is doing awesome things this month and I am privileged to be a part of it.
I am sorry about not posting pictures to this blog, like I said it is not my day for the internet cooperating with me so please check them out on my facebook!
Be Blessed 🙂
