meet my friend....

He eats mosquitoes, so he is a friend to many!  This one is smaller that your finger, and moves very very quickly. I must admit that I liked him better before I knew that he sometimes slithers across the floor! Now I walk with my head down  :)
So I am in the last couple of weeks of my stay here.....very sad!
Last evening, a friend of mine came to tell us of her brother's illness. He has been in the hospital for a long time and the doctors are suggesting that he be sent to Burundi for treatment. Here, they can only treat minor health complaints due to lack of training and equipment. But how can a family afford to taxi their family member such a distance? Even if they found a way to do that, who would feed him, and do his laundry, or get help for him when needed? (hospitals do not provide any patient services) So, as a result, many die of preventable health issues! The UN statistics state that 1,450 people die each day in DRC from violence, starvation, and preventable diseases!
It is hard to look in the face of this suffering......my feelings of 'entitlement' are quickly replaced by shame!
I invite each of you to try to do SOMETHING today to relieve the suffering of SOMEONE! It doesn't have to be a big thing....just do something?
My friend in the picture above only does one thing....slowly and in small numbers.....but it helps!
Don't wait for opportunity, create opportunity!
I'm just sayin'........
:D

meet my friend....

He eats mosquitoes, so he is a friend to many!  This one is smaller that your finger, and moves very very quickly. I must admit that I liked him better before I knew that he sometimes slithers across the floor! Now I walk with my head down  :)
So I am in the last couple of weeks of my stay here.....very sad!
Last evening, a friend of mine came to tell us of her brother's illness. He has been in the hospital for a long time and the doctors are suggesting that he be sent to Burundi for treatment. Here, they can only treat minor health complaints due to lack of training and equipment. But how can a family afford to taxi their family member such a distance? Even if they found a way to do that, who would feed him, and do his laundry, or get help for him when needed? (hospitals do not provide any patient services) So, as a result, many die of preventable health issues! The UN statistics state that 1,450 people die each day in DRC from violence, starvation, and preventable diseases!
It is hard to look in the face of this suffering......my feelings of 'entitlement' are quickly replaced by shame!
I invite each of you to try to do SOMETHING today to relieve the suffering of SOMEONE! It doesn't have to be a big thing....just do something?
My friend in the picture above only does one thing....slowly and in small numbers.....but it helps!
Don't wait for opportunity, create opportunity!
I'm just sayin'........
:D

OK everyone......what is it?

OK everyone......what is it?

Rwanda housing for Goma refugees from last years conflict. This photo shows about one quarter of them....

Rwanda housing for Goma refugees from last years conflict. This photo shows about one quarter of them....

geography lesson;

weather forecast;
today - rain
tomorrow - more rain
next day - still more rain
day after that - you guessed it - it will rain
ditto for the near future
I think the dry season has ended now!

Apparently, the reality is that when it rains heavily, houses can come down. The foundations of buildings are not strong, and they are built into the hillside. So, the rain can bring down whole buildings causing injury and at times, deaths. Roads wash out, leaving people walking everywhere, and an already difficult lifestyle becomes even more burdensome. And yet, they smile and carry on! I wish you could meet them....they are quite wonderful!