Year 2: Day 1

Zambia year 2

Pre-trip:

I have to say that the buildup for this trip was considerably different from last year.  For one, I am much less anxious, which I’m sure is just that there is not as much of an unknown element.  I think this is particularly true for the surgical aspect of the trip.  It may also stem from the fact that I had more of an agenda last year, feeling that I had to control the situation, likely another way I was trying to overcome my anxiety.  For some reason, I am perfectly at peace this year knowing that it is not up to me to control the outcome of the surgical aspect of this trip.  I know that God is in control and will use our team’s faithfulness and talents to further His Kingdom.  I also realize and feel the tremendous support of family and friends back home, more so this year than last.  Sarah has been an amazing anchor, confidant, and prayer warrior on my behalf.  My love for her continues to grow and I haven’t felt closer to her in a Spiritual way.  I just hope that I can support and love her as much as she deserves.  I also feel much closer to both Andrew and Katie.  They are great kids, with loving and compassionate hearts.  I hope that my trips will introduce in them a curiosity to discover what stepping out in faith and Going when called is all about.  Abanim’s card of support and encouragement last month really meant a lot.  There haven’t been many Bible verses that I’ve memorized, but Romans 12:11 really speaks to me……”Never be lacking in zeal,  keep up your spiritual fervor, serving the lord."

Day 1:  We started the day again this year with Katie’s soccer game.  We weren’t able to go to church, but had a little prayer time before leaving for Naperville.  I think Andrew’s main fear is that something is going to happen to me, but his prayer really conveyed a sense of trust in God’s purpose and protection on this trip.  Andrew has a school project where everyone in his class gets a small stuffed animal dog, named Hot Dog, which is sent out on adventures to friends and family and “report” back to the class in the first person (i.e. a journal, postcard, etc.).  I think his “Hot Dog” will win the prize for farthest traveler.   Katie was very sad.  I’m sure that the 2 weeks will go by very quickly, with Halloween, soccer and then Frank and Vicky’s wedding.  Katie’s team lost 2-0, but she played well.  Yesterday’s 2 goals really were a boost.  After lunch at Chipotle, we were off to the airport, where all but one of the team was already waiting.         

Mike Marschke, an internal medicine trained palliative care physician, is the team leader again.  Holly is back, hoping to see the work in the OR continued and expanded.  Becky is a pediatric nurse practitioner, who has been to Samfya 3 times before.  Caitlin and Brian are the remaining members of the team.  It is their first time and they are very excited and seem appropriately nervous.  Caitlin is a general nurse just a couple years out of training.  She was really affected by the African genocide a decade ago, and has wanted to serve in Africa ever since.  Her husband, Brian, has a finance/marketing background and will be helping Mark with several building projects around Samfya and chipping in at the hospital and clinics as he can.  He may also interface with the microloan program through the Samfya Community Care Providers, SCCP.  Based on the training of some of the hospital personnel I met last year, I’m sure that Brian could be very useful even in the OR.

Our itinerary was similar to last year… a KLM flight with a layover in Amsterdam.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t sleep, despite upgrading to the economy comfort section.  That meant I needed some energy which I found it getting some of those delicious little fried Dutch pancakes with powdered sugar.  Not as good as last year, but I guess that’s how it always is.  Very interesting though…..we recognized 2 workers at the pancake place from last year.  Our next flight is “direct” to Lusaka with a brief stop to let people off at Harare.  We didn’t have to get off, which was nice.  This flight was memorable though in the beginning.  I had a very large African lady next to me (starting to remember the African smells) and then the guy across the aisle took off his shoes and gassed his surrounding travelers with some powerful wet foot odor.  The combination was not good. Luckily the flight wasn’t that full, so right after take-off I was able to move up 16 rows into an entire empty middle section and stretch out stinkfree.  We arrived at Lusaka without any issues, collected all of our luggage and found Mark and Carmen both waiting for us.  It was great to see them again…didn’t seem like it’s been more than a year.  We stayed again at the Flight Mission House right next to the airport for a much needed sleep.

Prayer requests:  1) Restful sleep for the team, 2) To lessen Caitlin and Brian’s anxiety as “newbies” 3) That Holly, Becky and Caitlin’s nurse interviews in Lusaka would go smoothly so we can get on the road to Samfya.