Things to FEEL GOOD about!

The last few blogs have been difficult to write and I'm sure just as difficult to read.
Even amongst the hardships, sadness, and pain we eventually accept what has happened, learn, cope, and move on- not forget- but just move on.
Together, we help each other heal.

THIS IS WHAT HELPS US TO FEEL GOOD & HEAL!



Thanks to the Clinton Foundation & our dear friend Felicia, we were given a
Portable CD4 Machine-PIMA!
This machine will allow us to determine the correct time to treat patients living with HIV.

HIV treatment is started when the CD4 count (part of our immune system) gets low OR when certain infections appear. NOW we can test people and start them on treatment early instead of waiting for them to get sick.

This is an incredible asset & will change the lives of people in our care!

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Unfortunately Alex left Kigutu to head back to Oregon. We will miss him but his last night here ended in a BANG (and an IV the next morning to help the hang over from local beer).

We keep it classy in Kigutu!
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This is a just a little taste of a video we're working on... It's going to be fantastic!
Our friend Amy, a professional documentary filmmaker/ producer came for a visit and helped.
You'll probably have to wait until I get back home to see it (i don't think we can put it on YouTube).

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Anna, our lead janitor and STRONG,WOMAN Community Leader!
She has survived a genocide, been a refugee, and now uses her love and wisdom to change people's lives. (you can see the wisdom in her eyes) She never stops smiling...

One day she enlightened us with tips on how to live a good life:

-Respect Yourself-
-Respect Your Partner and Friends-
-Respect Your Elders-
-Take it Slow, Don't Rush--
-Smile-
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There were some days when we didn't have breakfast, don't worry Chipatis are back!
2 4inch triangles of Flour & Water fried in palm oil...Breakfast of Champions.

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Home Visits into the Community are a little different than home visits in Baltimore ie, crossing a river with an armed guard (don't worry family and nervous blog readers, it's just standard operating procedures) then hiking 1 hours up a mountain! IT'S GREAT!

Home Visits allow you to run into adorable tiny children eating oranges...

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Doing home visits creates an opportunity to run into past patients like Divin. He was written about in a previous blog. We were certain he wasn't going to make it, due to his host of complications from malaria and malnutrition. But he did make it and as I was leaving the house of a patient I felt a little person squeeze my legs. "how cute," I thought, some child wants a hug. I looked down and Divin looked up and we both got the BIGGEST SMILES on our face! He held my hand as we walked through the town. It's amazing to think that we actually saved his life.
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And we killed another goat to celebrate Alexi's farewell from Kigutu.
I thought I overcame my apprehension the last time I tried to do this but clearly from the look on my face...that is not the case.

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Some of the Fam...

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Hilarie, our cherished, sole female Burundian nurse, is incredible.
Her intelligence, compassion, humor, and beauty make her one of the most amazing people I know.

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The Laundromat. Will & I always get shit from the mom's in the malnutrition ward because we don't know how to do laundry "Burundian Style." It's too intense so we've created our own 8 step system, it's quite revolutionary.

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We really are a family.
Melino & me. "in it together"

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ADORABLE KIDS...I mean seriously, do they get any cuter?
This whole "don't bring a kid home" thing is really a lot more difficult than you think.

A new, fun game is asking Will, "ok, which kid is cuter?" To which he replies in a frustrated, confused, and frazzled tone, "WHY DO YOU MAKE ME CHOOSE?!"
sometimes you have to make your own fun in Kigutu.
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If you know Bryon Sellman, I'm pretty sure the kid on the right is him when he was 3 yrs old.
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Liesse, one of the patients at "Hotel Kigutu" has been here for months and is learning to walk. Everyday we all take turns helping her take steps. She is another child who the team thought was not going to make it...now she cruising around, getting into trouble! ...and we love it.
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Hussein & his newly discovered twin Hassein...no words.
Hussein was admitted with malnutrition and comes back regularly with his remarkable grandmother Germaine!

Amidst the challenges there is always light.
Amidst the chaos there is always peace.
Amidst the despair there is always hope.

...remember to create a life to FEEL GOOD about!