Well, we got back from Gulu in one piece. We were confident that the trip would go well but since Bev and I have never taught a marriage seminar before or even taught together before we weren’t 100% sure we could do it. Plus the fact that apparently I had neglected to mention to Bev that she was teaching with me made for an interesting evening Friday.
We had taken the long way so we could drop Pastor Apollo at Atiriri after getting fuel in Soroti. Pastor Stephen met us there and Apollo spent the weekend with him and the churches at Olele and Ogongora. Then we went through Lira and on up to Gulu. It took about 8 hours and that was on good roads without speed humps. We had a lovely lunch of mukene (dried minnows) in peanut sauce over posho (maize meal) and greens cooked in raw eggs. Yum! Surprisingly good, actually.
So Friday night was spent deciding how we would share “Song of Songs”. Bev would read the woman’s part and I would read the man’s. Seems rather obvious now but after the long trip and lunch we weren’t too sure about anything anymore. Then we went to bed and pretended to sleep. We wanted to sleep and desired sleep but the power was off and there was no fan so there was no sleep. And with no fan that meant no mosquito net so after numerous bites (check here in 5-10 days for our latest malaria update) we got up for a brisk cold shower (no hot water) and breakfast. Praise the Lord for the hot coffee.
We started at 10:00am and finished at 5:00pm. And we had a lot of fun in the process. My wife taught very well despite her lack of prep time. There were 31 attendees. How do you get 31 at a couple’s event? Easy, some wives came without their unsaved husbands. Oh yeah, there was that one man who brought both wives! That is another story in itself. But we did give him five pages of Scripture to read. And a written answer that took an hour to write Sunday morning. But all in all it went well!
The highlight for me was to watch the women’s faces as their husbands publicly declared two things they liked about their wives. Amazingly enough 2 women and 2 men mentioned that they loved the fact that their spouse was missing at least one of their front teeth. This caused some brief editing on my part to downplay the verse that says “her teeth are like just shorn sheep coming up from the washing, EACH ONE WITH ITS TWIN”. It actually was really cool to see how God has made each of us appreciate in our spouse what others consider a draw back.
We got back Monday and look forward to sharing at other churches in the coming month. That’s all from Jinja. Hey honey what are these dead minnows doing on my pizza?
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Traveling Season or Rumbling over the Hump
School of Ministry is out and now traveling season begins. Bev and I went to visit Isaac and Clea Wooten and Doug and Destiny Calhoon in Fort Portal last week. Doug is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Fort Portal and Isaac runs the CCFP School of Ministry. We had a great 3 1/2 days of fellowship and got to sit in the services on Thursday and Sunday. One of our former students was there, as well as the mother of Happy, one of our Sunday School leaders. Now that our short holiday is over it's time to visit all the village churches. Bev is going with me and we'll be leading a one day marriage seminar at each church.
We are going to Gulu this week. The road going there is for the most part good, virtually brand new. No pot holes. But watch out for the rumblestrips and speed humps. It is an interesting East African construction tactic that someday I hope to understand. You build a new road so people can swiftly and safely navigate from point A to point B. You eliminate all the potholes, blind spots and anything that would cause a problem to high speed travel and let people go(No! that's just what they'd expect us to do). Instead you cover the road with rumblestrips(five 2" high warning bumps each seperated by 4 inches) that give you advance warning of the 8" high speed bump that is followed by more rumblestrips. African highway traditions require five rumblestrip sets before and after every speed hump. There are approximately 136 (Isaac counted)speed humps on the 57 kilometer highway from Mityana to Kampala. (To be fair this is a constrution zone, where new speed humps are being constructed.) The idea is to slow traffic back down to pothole speed. It works!
The fun part (for the Uganda National Road Authority)is where to hide the speed humps and rumblestrips. Classic hidden locations are in tree shadows, dips and just there over the rise. The system is quite effective as the strips jar off any loose trimwork , body fasteners or suspension parts so that the humps don't get too cluttered with anything smaller then a fender or bumper and an occasional door panel.
But don't worry there are plenty of spare parts along the road.
Another fun game to play is where to put the warning sign. At the start of your adventure the warning signs are put 50 feet before the first rumblestrip. After about 3 signs you then shorten the distance to 10 feet. The next spacing should be 10 feet behind the first rumble strip, which catches any complacent or sleeping driver off guard and requires him to get replacement dental work. Then the fun really begins as the next set has no rumblestrips only a 12 inch speed hump which may or may not be marked. This gives the immediate effect of making any car or bus look like a lowrider with a whacked out hydraulic system.
The really diabolical maintenance crews don't put in strips or humps at all. They just discolor the tarmac to make it look like a strip or hump. The screaming and sheer terror this illusion creates is evidently more fun than the actual damage a real hump creates. And the maintenance costs are practically nil.
To all this fun add the race aspect of passing slower vehicles while crossing the humps and strips and you're ready to go to Gulu. Can't wait to be there.
We are going to Gulu this week. The road going there is for the most part good, virtually brand new. No pot holes. But watch out for the rumblestrips and speed humps. It is an interesting East African construction tactic that someday I hope to understand. You build a new road so people can swiftly and safely navigate from point A to point B. You eliminate all the potholes, blind spots and anything that would cause a problem to high speed travel and let people go(No! that's just what they'd expect us to do). Instead you cover the road with rumblestrips(five 2" high warning bumps each seperated by 4 inches) that give you advance warning of the 8" high speed bump that is followed by more rumblestrips. African highway traditions require five rumblestrip sets before and after every speed hump. There are approximately 136 (Isaac counted)speed humps on the 57 kilometer highway from Mityana to Kampala. (To be fair this is a constrution zone, where new speed humps are being constructed.) The idea is to slow traffic back down to pothole speed. It works!
The fun part (for the Uganda National Road Authority)is where to hide the speed humps and rumblestrips. Classic hidden locations are in tree shadows, dips and just there over the rise. The system is quite effective as the strips jar off any loose trimwork , body fasteners or suspension parts so that the humps don't get too cluttered with anything smaller then a fender or bumper and an occasional door panel.
But don't worry there are plenty of spare parts along the road.
Another fun game to play is where to put the warning sign. At the start of your adventure the warning signs are put 50 feet before the first rumblestrip. After about 3 signs you then shorten the distance to 10 feet. The next spacing should be 10 feet behind the first rumble strip, which catches any complacent or sleeping driver off guard and requires him to get replacement dental work. Then the fun really begins as the next set has no rumblestrips only a 12 inch speed hump which may or may not be marked. This gives the immediate effect of making any car or bus look like a lowrider with a whacked out hydraulic system.
The really diabolical maintenance crews don't put in strips or humps at all. They just discolor the tarmac to make it look like a strip or hump. The screaming and sheer terror this illusion creates is evidently more fun than the actual damage a real hump creates. And the maintenance costs are practically nil.
To all this fun add the race aspect of passing slower vehicles while crossing the humps and strips and you're ready to go to Gulu. Can't wait to be there.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
Graduation and what is that?
What a great day! It started at six when I went to open the gate to let the guard out. We have been employing a night guard since thieves tried to steal Judy"s bike. Any way as I let him out Rose comes to the gate to start cooking food for graduation. As I welcome her I realize Julie is already standing behind me with a bucket of charcoal. I've always felt that sometimes its best not to ask too many questions but this time I forgot that bit of wisdom and I asked,"How's your charcoal?" "It's wet." was her short answer. "I need parafin." I realize that she is trying to light the charcoal stove, a sigiri, and needs kerosene to make the wet charcoal ignite. No problem I'll get you some. Easier said than done. In the dark all the plastic jerrycans look alike and with my lack of a good nose (it's big yes but not good) I can't be sure if I'm grabbing diesel, petrol or parafin. So I take a small container to Julie and Rose. Rose looks at it and says "I can't smell either" and dumps it on the fire.
I have a new appreciation for God being beyond time and His knowing the past, present and future already. He obviously heard my prayer in that split second as it indeed turned out to be parafin and not gasoline. We did not go up in a ball of flame! Moral of the story: A Rose by any other name still can't smell for nothing.
After a morning of preparation graduation started only 10 minutes late and minus most of the guests. But the guys did graduate and each taught a passage of Scripture that God had laid on their hearts. It was fantastic. By two o'clock we were all cleaned up and the guys Jacob, Rogers, George and Joseph had packed their stuff and gone home. A great group of guys that Bev and I will miss terribly. But you have to let them go or the gospel never spreads.
Tonight after a dinner at a nearby guest house we (Bev, Ryan, Kelli and I) returned home about 9:15. I was checking the vehicles to be sure they were locked when I saw the most incredible sight! From the western horizon I saw a string of orange lights coming my way. At first I thought they were skyrockets from the 10th anniversary celebration from the guest house. Then I remembered, Tuesday night. As Bev and I were escorting Judy and Rochelle home after dinner we saw an orange light move from south to north on a fairly straight track. It wasn't airplane lights and I thought the light looked more like the glow of a jet exaust. I checked the internet later to see if it was something in space but NASA said nothing should be visible. I quickly forgot the matter until tonight.
With no moon the lights were quite bright and I ran yelling to Bev to come out as fast as she could. She thought someone had died but I told her to look up. The lights that had been in a straight line heading east were now in a curve and a diamond formation heading north. Bev's "Wow" was enough to tell me that I hadn't lost my mind. So we yelled for Kelli to come out quick and look up. Ryan heard the commotion, came out and saw it and then Kelli came out too. We all watched as the lights changed formations and disappeared to the north. I had counted them and there were ten in all. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in the sky.
It reminds me of the last line in the 50's sci-fi movie "The Thing" (which I consider Bev's and my "movie" since we watched on our first date) where the reporter says "Keep watching the Sky! Keep watching the sky!" You won't see UFOs but someday we will see Jesus! That will be the greatest thing any of us will ever see in the sky or elsewhere!
I have a new appreciation for God being beyond time and His knowing the past, present and future already. He obviously heard my prayer in that split second as it indeed turned out to be parafin and not gasoline. We did not go up in a ball of flame! Moral of the story: A Rose by any other name still can't smell for nothing.
After a morning of preparation graduation started only 10 minutes late and minus most of the guests. But the guys did graduate and each taught a passage of Scripture that God had laid on their hearts. It was fantastic. By two o'clock we were all cleaned up and the guys Jacob, Rogers, George and Joseph had packed their stuff and gone home. A great group of guys that Bev and I will miss terribly. But you have to let them go or the gospel never spreads.
Tonight after a dinner at a nearby guest house we (Bev, Ryan, Kelli and I) returned home about 9:15. I was checking the vehicles to be sure they were locked when I saw the most incredible sight! From the western horizon I saw a string of orange lights coming my way. At first I thought they were skyrockets from the 10th anniversary celebration from the guest house. Then I remembered, Tuesday night. As Bev and I were escorting Judy and Rochelle home after dinner we saw an orange light move from south to north on a fairly straight track. It wasn't airplane lights and I thought the light looked more like the glow of a jet exaust. I checked the internet later to see if it was something in space but NASA said nothing should be visible. I quickly forgot the matter until tonight.
With no moon the lights were quite bright and I ran yelling to Bev to come out as fast as she could. She thought someone had died but I told her to look up. The lights that had been in a straight line heading east were now in a curve and a diamond formation heading north. Bev's "Wow" was enough to tell me that I hadn't lost my mind. So we yelled for Kelli to come out quick and look up. Ryan heard the commotion, came out and saw it and then Kelli came out too. We all watched as the lights changed formations and disappeared to the north. I had counted them and there were ten in all. It was the most amazing thing I've ever seen in the sky.
It reminds me of the last line in the 50's sci-fi movie "The Thing" (which I consider Bev's and my "movie" since we watched on our first date) where the reporter says "Keep watching the Sky! Keep watching the sky!" You won't see UFOs but someday we will see Jesus! That will be the greatest thing any of us will ever see in the sky or elsewhere!
Monday, April 5, 2010
What a weekend and what is that smell?
What a fantastic weekend we had here at Calvary Chapel Jinja. The services were a blessing for all who came.
The staff set up the tent in record time on Friday. The Good Friday service was blessed with a rainbow. And the tent came down in record time that night when we got 2" of rain in an hour.
Sunday Services were combined into one and with the newly re-erected tent in a new record time everybody fit! Ryan led 40 minutes of worship JB taught on the meaning, necessity and value for us of Jesus' resurrection. Then the cross decorating was another 20 minutes of praise and the cross that symbolized death was transformed into an instrument that brings life. Only Jesus can do that so we praised Him.
The School of Ministry students really showed their servant hearts by setting up and taking down the tent twice, ushering for the service, helping out the Sunday school and serving communion. I'm going to miss this group when they graduate Saturday. But their churches will be extremely blessed.
As I write this I started to wonder what that smell was. If you've never been to Jinja it is hard to describe the cornucopia of scents that assault the nose. One minute it is the tannery, the next the fish packing plant and the next sewer ponds. All convieniently located side by side to one another and a stone's throw from the church and our house. But this was different - it was really ripe! Nonchalantly checking that it wasn't me, I started to investigate where this fragrance was coming from. It was strangely familiar and seemed to be coming from the bookcase next to my desk.
So I grabbed a torch (flashlight to those outside of Africa)and started into the hunt. Good thing is I am uniquely suited for this investigation as P.D.(Parking Zones disease) tends to greatly diminish your ability to smell (I can stink as bad as others but just don't know it) as well as your ability to parallel park. So the search doesn't take long as I move a small box and the stench gets much worse. Now I wish I had a real flaming torch so I can burn down the bookcase rather than continue but Bev doesn't allow me to consider that option. With a gentle nudge and a sweetly whispered, "Get back in there you coward." That's what I thought I heard. She says her statement was "Going back in there? You're wierd." Any way I dive into the dark recesses of the cubby space next to my desk. Then I remember what the smell is. It's a dead mouse! My mind quickly reverts back to five years earlier when a mouse died under the fridge. I was elected for the task of mouse hunter that time too. (funny how my vote doesn't count in these situations). But the question at hand is how long can I hold my breath? Apparently it has to be longer than eight seconds as my next breath just about does me in but I am successful and the mouse is finally removed. Now the question is "How many scented candles will it take to erase the odor and how many years to erase the memory?"
The staff set up the tent in record time on Friday. The Good Friday service was blessed with a rainbow. And the tent came down in record time that night when we got 2" of rain in an hour.
Sunday Services were combined into one and with the newly re-erected tent in a new record time everybody fit! Ryan led 40 minutes of worship JB taught on the meaning, necessity and value for us of Jesus' resurrection. Then the cross decorating was another 20 minutes of praise and the cross that symbolized death was transformed into an instrument that brings life. Only Jesus can do that so we praised Him.
The School of Ministry students really showed their servant hearts by setting up and taking down the tent twice, ushering for the service, helping out the Sunday school and serving communion. I'm going to miss this group when they graduate Saturday. But their churches will be extremely blessed.
As I write this I started to wonder what that smell was. If you've never been to Jinja it is hard to describe the cornucopia of scents that assault the nose. One minute it is the tannery, the next the fish packing plant and the next sewer ponds. All convieniently located side by side to one another and a stone's throw from the church and our house. But this was different - it was really ripe! Nonchalantly checking that it wasn't me, I started to investigate where this fragrance was coming from. It was strangely familiar and seemed to be coming from the bookcase next to my desk.
So I grabbed a torch (flashlight to those outside of Africa)and started into the hunt. Good thing is I am uniquely suited for this investigation as P.D.(Parking Zones disease) tends to greatly diminish your ability to smell (I can stink as bad as others but just don't know it) as well as your ability to parallel park. So the search doesn't take long as I move a small box and the stench gets much worse. Now I wish I had a real flaming torch so I can burn down the bookcase rather than continue but Bev doesn't allow me to consider that option. With a gentle nudge and a sweetly whispered, "Get back in there you coward." That's what I thought I heard. She says her statement was "Going back in there? You're wierd." Any way I dive into the dark recesses of the cubby space next to my desk. Then I remember what the smell is. It's a dead mouse! My mind quickly reverts back to five years earlier when a mouse died under the fridge. I was elected for the task of mouse hunter that time too. (funny how my vote doesn't count in these situations). But the question at hand is how long can I hold my breath? Apparently it has to be longer than eight seconds as my next breath just about does me in but I am successful and the mouse is finally removed. Now the question is "How many scented candles will it take to erase the odor and how many years to erase the memory?"
Friday, April 2, 2010
Good Friday
God blessed us with an incredible afternoon. We got the 50ft X 40ft tent up in record time(under 2 hours), the worship team chose great music that celebrated and worshiped our Lord Jesus and His sacrifice on the cross and the rain held off long enough for the service to end and everyhing to get put back into the church. God even provided a rainbow against the backdrop of the storm.
The only bad aspect of the day was the live 30 minute morning radio program didn't happen because the crazy power fluctuations yesterday knocked the station off the air until midday.
I am still amazed at God's love for us that allows us even to see this day. That the Creator of all things would allow for His son to die for our sins and that Jesus did so willingly still boggles my mind. How can it be true? But it is! Praise Him that His act of love has set us on the path of eternal life and freed us from the tyranny of sin and death.
It still saddens me though that many people refuse to take what God so freely gives and insist that a life of slavery and bondage to sin is preferable to the freedom we find in Jesus Christ. I guess we just need to be more faithful in spreading the Good News so more come to Him to have Life.
Here in Jinja the cross that was raised along the side of Bell Avenue will be a reminder of the depth of God's love for us and on Sunday it will be a reminder of the power of God to resurrect Jesus and all who put their trust in Him.
Thank you Father! Thank you Jesus!
The only bad aspect of the day was the live 30 minute morning radio program didn't happen because the crazy power fluctuations yesterday knocked the station off the air until midday.
I am still amazed at God's love for us that allows us even to see this day. That the Creator of all things would allow for His son to die for our sins and that Jesus did so willingly still boggles my mind. How can it be true? But it is! Praise Him that His act of love has set us on the path of eternal life and freed us from the tyranny of sin and death.
It still saddens me though that many people refuse to take what God so freely gives and insist that a life of slavery and bondage to sin is preferable to the freedom we find in Jesus Christ. I guess we just need to be more faithful in spreading the Good News so more come to Him to have Life.
Here in Jinja the cross that was raised along the side of Bell Avenue will be a reminder of the depth of God's love for us and on Sunday it will be a reminder of the power of God to resurrect Jesus and all who put their trust in Him.
Thank you Father! Thank you Jesus!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Highlights of the week and the wave
Please check this location next week for more highlights!
What do you say when you can't remember the past week? We had a visit from Denny which was great but as always too short. Denny always brings a lot of wisdom with him so I enjoy the opportunity to sit and visit (or whine) for a while. Denny is very patient and lets me go on and on for as long as it takes or 15 minutes, whichever comes first. It is nice to bounce ideas off someone not always on site to get perspective. Its kind of like wearing someone elses glasses and taking infield practice. You think you see the ball clearly but then it hits you right between the eyes. Anyway, thanks Denny!
Jordan has also come out from New Mexico. Great guy from what I can see! (no I'm not still wearing Denny's glasses) He'll be working a while in Moroto with Noah helping run some Proclaimer listening groups. The Proclaimer is a solar/handcrank/electric gadget from Faith Comes by Hearing/Hosanna that has the bible prerecorded in Karamijong. Listening groups are set up in various trading centers so an oral society can listen to God's word in their native tongue. Works really well. Just have to have people monitoring the groups and answering questions. Jordan stayed with us last week but went to Moroto(he arrived safely) today.
Had a wonderful Wednesday evening Bible Study 1 Thessalonians 2.
JB and I finished teaching church history Thursday and Steven is now teaching Apologetics. With the exception of last year's class this has been the most interested class for Church History.
Thursday I was down with malaria but we had a good elders' meeting anyway.
On Friday Jordan, Pastor Apollo and I went to Tororo to conduct business. Selling a piece of land where a church once was. The church was shut down due to the lack of a pastor. What was supposed to take two hours took eight and on the way home the truck's alternator died. So we were racing to beat the darkness back to Jinja so we wouldn't have to use headlights which, minus the charging system, were dim at best. We almost made it but the darkness caught us about 15 minutes from home. So we groped our way home (Hey, lots of trucks here don't have lights at all) and dealt with the beast the next day. I wish I could say we buried it on a nice hillside overlooking a freeway. But no! We fixed it and it lives on. Actually I love that truck. But then I love root canals too. And like my teeth I just get one fixed and another one goes bad, so we get one thing fixed on the truck and something else goes out.
Saturday was sermon prep day and Sunday was delivery day. The radio program would have been better except for the medicine. I don't take my 6:00 am meds until after the 6:30-7:00 program or else I fall asleep in the middle of the program. Not a problem if you are listening but a big problem when you're the one speaking! Well not only did I not take the morning meds but I was so tired the night before that I forgot to take my bedtime meds. So as I'm trying to teach on the radio my hand is shaking so much I look like a waving Rose Bowl Parade queen (elbow-elbow, wrist-wrist) after an all nighter at Starbucks with her hand caught in a paint shaker. It got so bad that I had to sit on my hands and then almost threw myself out of the chair twice! Other than being laughed at by the radio man because my voice was shaking as fast as my hand, it went well. And that middle part I don't remember it much.
But it really was a good week and the Kajjansi Women's Conference was a great blessing. Bev, Jo, and our 5 Ugandan staff ladies, all teaching and sharing. But two days without Bev is too much! Next time I'll go too. Now that I've got the wave down.
What do you say when you can't remember the past week? We had a visit from Denny which was great but as always too short. Denny always brings a lot of wisdom with him so I enjoy the opportunity to sit and visit (or whine) for a while. Denny is very patient and lets me go on and on for as long as it takes or 15 minutes, whichever comes first. It is nice to bounce ideas off someone not always on site to get perspective. Its kind of like wearing someone elses glasses and taking infield practice. You think you see the ball clearly but then it hits you right between the eyes. Anyway, thanks Denny!
Jordan has also come out from New Mexico. Great guy from what I can see! (no I'm not still wearing Denny's glasses) He'll be working a while in Moroto with Noah helping run some Proclaimer listening groups. The Proclaimer is a solar/handcrank/electric gadget from Faith Comes by Hearing/Hosanna that has the bible prerecorded in Karamijong. Listening groups are set up in various trading centers so an oral society can listen to God's word in their native tongue. Works really well. Just have to have people monitoring the groups and answering questions. Jordan stayed with us last week but went to Moroto(he arrived safely) today.
Had a wonderful Wednesday evening Bible Study 1 Thessalonians 2.
JB and I finished teaching church history Thursday and Steven is now teaching Apologetics. With the exception of last year's class this has been the most interested class for Church History.
Thursday I was down with malaria but we had a good elders' meeting anyway.
On Friday Jordan, Pastor Apollo and I went to Tororo to conduct business. Selling a piece of land where a church once was. The church was shut down due to the lack of a pastor. What was supposed to take two hours took eight and on the way home the truck's alternator died. So we were racing to beat the darkness back to Jinja so we wouldn't have to use headlights which, minus the charging system, were dim at best. We almost made it but the darkness caught us about 15 minutes from home. So we groped our way home (Hey, lots of trucks here don't have lights at all) and dealt with the beast the next day. I wish I could say we buried it on a nice hillside overlooking a freeway. But no! We fixed it and it lives on. Actually I love that truck. But then I love root canals too. And like my teeth I just get one fixed and another one goes bad, so we get one thing fixed on the truck and something else goes out.
Saturday was sermon prep day and Sunday was delivery day. The radio program would have been better except for the medicine. I don't take my 6:00 am meds until after the 6:30-7:00 program or else I fall asleep in the middle of the program. Not a problem if you are listening but a big problem when you're the one speaking! Well not only did I not take the morning meds but I was so tired the night before that I forgot to take my bedtime meds. So as I'm trying to teach on the radio my hand is shaking so much I look like a waving Rose Bowl Parade queen (elbow-elbow, wrist-wrist) after an all nighter at Starbucks with her hand caught in a paint shaker. It got so bad that I had to sit on my hands and then almost threw myself out of the chair twice! Other than being laughed at by the radio man because my voice was shaking as fast as my hand, it went well. And that middle part I don't remember it much.
But it really was a good week and the Kajjansi Women's Conference was a great blessing. Bev, Jo, and our 5 Ugandan staff ladies, all teaching and sharing. But two days without Bev is too much! Next time I'll go too. Now that I've got the wave down.
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Serious side of malaria
But seriously, malaria is nothing to laugh at. When the parasites get into your blood they attack the red blood cells. When the parasites reproduce they explode the red blood cells. This causes many of the symptoms: aching joints, headache, fatigue etc. The overall weakness and fatigue makes the desire to go and get treatment be replaced by the desire to sleep and rest. This gives malaria the opportunity to get the upper hand on the system. The fever comes as the body battles against the increase in parasites. So you get this cycle of fever spikes which get closer together as more and more parasites breed and the body gets too weak to fight.
Malaria takes it greatest toll on kids. They are fine, running around and playing and then in a matter of a couple of hours they are on death’s door. They lie down to nap or go to sleep at night and then they are too sick to get up. If you live in the village where there is no transport how do you get a sick 2-5 year old someplace for treatment. Most villagers can’t afford the frontline medicines that I get to take. So they give their child chloroquine or fansidar which are now less then 20% and 40 % effective. And the child worsens until it has to go to a hospital or clinic for intravenous treatment with quinine.
It is malaria’s ability to resist drugs that makes this disease the number one killer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Parents can’t afford the proper medicine let alone a blood test to confirm that it is malaria so at any sign of fever the malaria medicine that is cheapest or most easily available is given, usually in less than full dosage and that builds the drug resistance in the parasites. The government here tries it’s best to keep effective medicines in stock but it takes so much of its funding that it can’t possibly keep up.
Malaria also mimics many others diseases and often gets ignored as a cold or flu until it gets too advanced to treat and cure easily. That is why many doctors take the position treat for malaria first then, if there is no response, treat for another disease. This also leads to drug resistant strains of malaria.
It is estimated that 95% of malaria can be prevented by sleeping under a mosquito net. But getting nets out to the rural people is not easy. When the government can give away nets many sell the nets to get income for other needs.
It all needs God’s intervention. He is where our hope lies. He is the healer and divine planner. Pray for the kids of Africa. Pray that God’s mighty hand of protection will cause malaria to end. Pray for medicines that are effective and cheap. Pray for a vaccine. Pray for good officials to distribute what God provides. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the answer to all our prayers.
Malaria takes it greatest toll on kids. They are fine, running around and playing and then in a matter of a couple of hours they are on death’s door. They lie down to nap or go to sleep at night and then they are too sick to get up. If you live in the village where there is no transport how do you get a sick 2-5 year old someplace for treatment. Most villagers can’t afford the frontline medicines that I get to take. So they give their child chloroquine or fansidar which are now less then 20% and 40 % effective. And the child worsens until it has to go to a hospital or clinic for intravenous treatment with quinine.
It is malaria’s ability to resist drugs that makes this disease the number one killer in Sub-Saharan Africa. Parents can’t afford the proper medicine let alone a blood test to confirm that it is malaria so at any sign of fever the malaria medicine that is cheapest or most easily available is given, usually in less than full dosage and that builds the drug resistance in the parasites. The government here tries it’s best to keep effective medicines in stock but it takes so much of its funding that it can’t possibly keep up.
Malaria also mimics many others diseases and often gets ignored as a cold or flu until it gets too advanced to treat and cure easily. That is why many doctors take the position treat for malaria first then, if there is no response, treat for another disease. This also leads to drug resistant strains of malaria.
It is estimated that 95% of malaria can be prevented by sleeping under a mosquito net. But getting nets out to the rural people is not easy. When the government can give away nets many sell the nets to get income for other needs.
It all needs God’s intervention. He is where our hope lies. He is the healer and divine planner. Pray for the kids of Africa. Pray that God’s mighty hand of protection will cause malaria to end. Pray for medicines that are effective and cheap. Pray for a vaccine. Pray for good officials to distribute what God provides. Our hope is in Jesus. He is the answer to all our prayers.
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