Africa is not for whimps

"Africa is not for whimps", this is what Cami said to me as I was sitting on my malaria sickbed. That is right, I guess I had decided that Sierra Leone was too easy and I wanted a challenge before I left. I was headstrong and didn't listen to doctor's orders about taking it easy. I was diagnosed on Friday and made the brilliant decision Saturday to go to Kroo Bay. This will probably go down in history as one of the dumbest things I have ever done. I didn't want to miss the good news club but was so miserable throughout it that I was just praying it would be over. Before the club, I had walked down Shaka Stevens Street in the sun to buy supplies for the medicine that we do after the good news club. This in and of itself made me feel like I was going to pass out. I am not quite sure what I was thinking! Well, I finally made it home Saturday night and just crashed. I barely slept because with malaria your joints ache something terrible and so there is no way to get comfortable. My hips, knees and spine were killing me and I had a fever all night. Well, I got up Sunday morning and got SUPER sick. I have never been in such bad shape. Faye came over and her and Haley took care of me. They checked me into a hotel where I could get some rest in the air conditioning. That is just what I did and I feel better now. I am still not back to 100%...matter of fact I think I am about at a 40% right now :P but I am getting there. It is remarkable how weak I have become and I have no appetite whatsoever. I have to admit that I have a new understanding of what the people here have to life through. The Lighthouse kids said that now I am a real African woman. I am not going to tell you how guilty I felt and feel that I got to go to a hotel to rest. That is one thing I wish I could do differently. It was a lot of money and I feel like I am here to identify with the poor. The poor would have to suffer with their fever and aches without air conditioning. I should have to. I am grateful that I didn't have to, but felt too much like a hypocrite while enjoying the cold. So, what I didn't think about with malaria is that it depletes your immune system. So, now I have a terrible cold and 3 boils and an out of control heat rash. Ahhh, good times! :) All in all it isn't bad, but I have had the first thoughts of "Lord, I don't think I could live like this". Up until now, this trip has been easy for me. I had even decided that I could learn to live with boils. (I have had two others besides the ones I have now...they are not fun, but I could manage.) Lots to think about and pray about. I am asking the Lord to show me the call on my life and give me the strength to answer it with obedience, if it is to come back here. So, that is what is going on in my part of the world today. I will be home in just a couple weeks. We leave Africa two weeks from tomorrow! Yikes! I will post more between now and then.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So, today it is Turkey Day! Hope you all are staying warm and enjoying the day of eating and being with your loved ones. Today has been a very hot day here, one of the hottest yet, I think. We are going to go to dinner here pretty soon as a group and will hopefully end the evening on the beach. Not a bad way to spend the holiday, but definitely my first Thanksgiving with sand in my toes! :P I love you and miss you all! I hope you know that as I reflect on today being a day of giving thanks to God for all He has done, you all are on my list of things to be thankful for!! Thank you for allowing me to process and walk through all these issues and my experieneces with you all. Thank you for your prayers and encouragements. I hope and pray that you each have time today to pause and think of all you have to be thankful for and that there are many things on your lists. :)

Happy Thanksgiving!