Of Mites and Men

The other day Bev was sitting on the sofa when she complained that she felt like she was being eaten alive. But we couldn't see any bugs so we sprayed some Doom (that's the East Africa version of Raid) and left it at that. Bev sat back down some few minutes later and the itching was much less but still there. Being your typical missionary couple we did what any right thinking missionary would, do we went to bed. Things always look better after a good night's rest.

Next morning before we could check the situation out more thouroughly JB came in and sat on the couch. Now you may not realize it by looking at him but JB can dance! I know because after about two minutes he was up on his feet doing all kinds of moves. Then we noticed he looked kinda fuzzy. And paler than usual. On closer inspection he was covered in mites. Not termites that you eat but mites that bite and eat you. Bev suspected (and was right as usual)that the cause was a bird's nest in the vent bricks above the couch. Turns out the attic was a mite full of the little critters and the over flow was coming down through the windows. Apparently mites are smaller than the spacing in our window screens. So after getting some mitey strong insecticide we hauled all the furniture out into the yard and prayed and sprayed for the end to the infestation. God is good and the problem is over. But the funny thing is we couldn't see the mites on Bev because of her light skin but JB's skin showed them quite well.

Personally I'm more afraid of getting red lung disease. This is a condition that affects taxi and lorry drivers, touts(the money takers on taxis), turnboys (the young men who ride in the lorries and tell the driver to "Turn just there."
Apparently there is a law here that says you can't say turn left at the corner. You must be as vague as possible and say, turn just there) and all other frequent upcountry drivers during dry season. It is like the blacklung of coal miners but is brought on by the red dust that is forever hanging like a pall of crimson death over the roads here. At times it is so thick that head on collisions happen. Or rear enders. The latter are caused by those trying to overtake the vehicle ahead so as to not breathe fresh dust. This desire for fresher air causes people to race up behind the offending vehicle and attempt to pass at the worst possible time and place. Blind curves, crests of a hill, bridges, sidewalks (actually that is a path next to the road) or anyplace you choose just as long as you don't have to stay behind that dust maker any longer!

I have been trying to get our clinic in Ogongera running and have been making many trips back and forth. My gray hair is now red and I am beginning to look sunburned from the dust that seems to be penetrating into my pores. Good news is we should have the clinic functioning on a limited basis with a Registered Nurse and a Nursing Assistant by mid March. Then we will add a lab tech and then see where God leads us. Please pray for the staffing at the clinic as this is the primary medical facility for about 8,000 people. We also have to put new ceilings in one of the buildings as the old ceilings have collapsed. Termites don't you know! Makes me hungry just thinking about it.