Monthly Archive for January, 2003

January 2003 – Hilary Price

Published by Hilary Price on January 2, 2003 in Diary Updates. 0 Comments

Wahoooooo and we’re off!

2004 has burst on the scene with a hiss and a roar and the only analogy I would use to describe recent events is, I’m riding a roller coaster during an earthquake equivalent to 8 on the Richter scale.

As explained last month, our House Parents were leaving – and they have – which left us rather thin on the ground staff wise. However we had been dutifully recruiting staff for respite and had a fabulous couple ready and waiting in the wings to take over when trouble hit – they had to withdraw due to family circumstances – now we had a problem! But God is an 11th hour God and literally the day one lot walked out another couple arrived on our doorstep.

A couple recommended and known to me 2 years previously were returning to Tauranga from Auckland and they were CYFS approved (miraculous as this training, screening and assessment usually takes a minimum of 3 months!) Enter stage right – Jane and Owen. Awesome folk who have taken to looking after the children like ducks to water. Ruth, our stalwart and ever-faithful Support Worker, helped plug the dyke and Colleen (a Homes of Hope director) and I rotated shifts whilst things settled. It all worked, despite the change in personnel, the children have remained settled, in their routines, their neighbourhood and their home.

Did I say settled?! This month…my laptop completely died, necessitating the purchase of a new one; Jon (my sane half) ended up in ICU Cardiac Unit with arrhythmia, type yet to be identified; Colleen fell and broke her right foot; Hannah (Colleen’s daughter) came down with Glandular Fever big time, two of my children had birthdays, and a young’un who we care for has been in trouble with the law! So that was January!

At this stage I feel like I’m coming out of the corner of the ring for the 15th round, game was over a long time ago but the ref hasn’t cottoned on!

Hilary

January 2003 – Graham Nobbs

Published by Graham Nobbs on January 2, 2003 in Diary Updates. 0 Comments

Time seems to have flown and I have now reached the three-quarter mark in my time in Africa.

I never tire of travelling over the huge expanses of Savanna desert and the mountains, which make up the bulk of Southern Sudan and Northern Kenya. There is always something new and interesting to see.

I did a quick calculation and worked out that by the time my year in Africa is up I will have travelled 12,600 miles in small airplanes from Nairobi to Loki and onto Boma no less than seven times, to Paluer once and hopefully once to the Nuba mountains.

This is a lot of miles and highlights the vital work of the aviation missionaries in a country where proper roads are almost non-existent.

Holidays:

I had Christmas dinner with some AIM missionaries, fellow Across workers, Christian workers from Nigeria and refugees from Ethiopia and Sudan.

On the 27th December I travelled to Kampala in Uganda by bus and was very impressed by the lushness of the Ugandan farmland. Rice and Sugar plantations were evident and I have never seen such an abundance of banana trees or such large pawpaw fruit. An attractive city, Kampala is built on about fifteen hills. It’s smaller than Nairobi and has the reputation of being less lawless.

Next, I travelled to Entebbe spending the day sightseeing through the Botanical Gardens – used in the original filming of Tarzan. Then onto the zoo on the shores of Lake Victoria and the Lakeside Hotel where Former United States of America President Bill Clinton and President Bush have frequented.

I spent two days including New Year’s Eve in Jinja with missionary friends – seeing the work they are both actively involved in. We spent one morning travelling by boat up to the source of the Nile where the river leaves Lake Victoria and then downstream to the Owens dam and power station. I also saw memorials to Speke the first European to discover the source of the Nile and a statue of Gandhi to commemorate the throwing of some of his ashes into the Nile River.

I then travelled via Busia,Kisumu and Nakuru back to Nairobi on New Year’s day.

Following this, I went on a hippo safari at Lake Naivasha north of Nairobi. I saw about six hippo families and numerous breeds of aquatic birds and animal wildlife. I also visited the geothermal area of “Hells Gate” and impressive new geo-thermal power stations in the area.

The office opened again on the 5th January – since then I have spent time purchasing goods requested by teachers and compound staff in Boma. I am also trying to organise sponsorship for eighteen Sudanese children at primary and secondary level to continue their education in Southern Sudan and North Kenya.
Graham

January 2003 – Annette Culpan

Published by Annette Culpan on January 2, 2003 in Diary Updates. 0 Comments

The year started with a terrifying bang. In the wee hours of January 2nd John and I awoke to an earthquake, which measured 6.2 on the Richter scale. The entire house shook violently while glasses fell down in the kitchen. It felt as though the heavy wooden bungalow would fall upon us and we feared for our lives. We were lucky but the damage to the surrounding villages was terrible.

The saddest thing in a situation like this in Bali is the people explain these happenings through karma. A few days after the quake I drove up to Dukuh to see one of the village leaders depressed and ill – he believed the earthquake was his fault. Sitting away from the group, he looked like something inside him had broken. I gave the village a small care package; it felt so inadequate, something so much deeper had been taken away.

Ceremonies to represent the start of the Hindu year followed quickly on the heels of the quake. Woven offerings to worship the Gods and appease evil spirits are placed in thousands of sacred nooks and crannies, bringing the streets alive with decoration. There was a bustle of activity, smiles, laughter and chanting from temples during this magical time – I felt as though I was the only person in Bali actually working!

On the work front it’s been an enjoyable month. I finally managed to organise referral of our Kedisan eye patients to the John Fawcett mobile eye clinic. I visited a bomb patient last weekend topping up his supply of Manuka antibiotic cream – it’s the only thing that effectively covers the burns on his arm, enabling him to swim without itching or discomfort. I also met with Volunteer Services Abroad who have access to practical professionals such as irrigation specialists and are keen to work with our organisation. Something as simple as organising more (and cleaner) wells in Suka Dana would mean real benefits for these people.

I then had a fantastic field trip with Dr Inne Susanti who runs a mobile sexual health clinic for village woman. She passionately presented on the importance of pap smear testing and feminine hygiene, captivating her audience – I have no doubt that next month she will find a very long queue outside the mobile clinic!

The biggest milestone this month was meeting with the Denpasar Doctors responsible for the leprosy rehabilitation centre in Tabanan. After seeing photos of the Suka Dana leprosy patients the doctors made it very clear that they are keen to partner with our organisation. Not only do these doctors have access to the leprosy antibiotic MDT free of charge, they also have provision in their budget for impoverished villages such as Suka Dana. I now feel my year has come full circle.

In five days I leave Bali – my home for the last 9 months. I’ve packed up all of the Trust medicines to put into storage. I hope that one day soon we will have a full time, local staff member in Bali, which will be a key milestone towards sustainability.

I feel incredibly sad to be leaving, but also excited at the prospect of being reunited with friends and family, especially my nephews. Funnily now, since making contact with the Denpasar leprosy doctors I feel like my work here is done. I feel at peace knowing it is nearly time for the next journey to begin.

Annette