Picture Update

The boats on Lake Cariba

So, it's been quite a while since I've made any updates. We've continued to do clinical work, go out to the villages, go to our local churches, and have fun day trips. I have lots to share, but will just stick to explaining about what I have pictured.
The Zimba OR is pictured. That is where I saw a MVA (clearing the uterus after a woman has miscarried early-term), resetting of a broken arm, keloid removal, and a chest tube insertion on Monday and Tuesday of this week.
The boy dancing was a part of the Independence Day events on October 24th. This is Zambia's 45th year of independece from Great Britain. Each school in Choma sends a group of students to perform for the District Commissioner (like a mayor). Thousands of people come to watch the dancers. We got to sit under the tent and were served cold drinks with the District Commissioner!
We visited a traditional healer, or a medicine man. He told us he was called on by his ancestors to become a healer. He said they come to him in dreams and tell him what roots, berries, etc to use to treat specific illnesses. He showed us the room he works out of.
The village right next to the compound is Mochipapa. We went there on Thursday and had a short visit with some o the women and children to talk about health issues. We had a great time educating, playing, and getting to know them all!
Today, we traveled to Chabbabboma, where there is a huge banana plantation. They have over 10,000 banana trees. We got there and the village women greeted us with singing and dancing. We had a tour of the plantation and then drove to the near by lake, Lake Cariba. It is man-made and is over 200 miles long! It was gorgeous. The women made us lunch and we headed back. It was a long day of bumpy roads, but we had a great time.
The Zambians have told us that it rains every year on Independence Day, and that is usually the start of rainy season. It did not rain this year, though. There was only the one rain, and none since then. It's really windy right now, though, and sounds like a storm could be coming, so we're all keeping our fingers crossed!

I was expecting dirt, dust, and more dirt when I came to Africa, but these beautiful flowers are all over!

The Zimba Hospital OR

Trees outside our compound

A boy, dancing for the District Commissioner at the Independence Day festivities

The traditional healer showing some of the girls his medicines and tools

Mochipapa village kids

A little guy enjoying his nshima and kapenta (similar to sardines)

Preschoolers. Very weary of us white people.

Cutie

Mochipapa moms and their babies

My roommates, Keri and Alicia, and I.

Few of the girls at Lake Cariba

Lizard in the banana tree

Weird, spiky fruit. Bitter, don't try it.

The "road" we took to Chabbabboma

Kara, Brittani, and I discovered recently that we were all on the same missions trip to Panama in the summer of '04. Five years later, we're in Zambia together!

HUGE trees