Difficult day
Yesterday Jess T. and I took the kids to KCMC. Eight children who are HIV+ for their checkups. Mama Dianna went with us who is Tanzanian and works with LIA and speaks a little English. The hospital was a little crazy but we managed ok. Mama Dianna would tell me to take a child to XRay and say go this way then that...and there are no signs, not even in Tanzanian so it would take a little bit to find the place and then you wait to go somewhere to wait some more. Everyone there was really nice though and people often like to practice their English. We did get some confused looks though, me and Jess with 8 children who are obviously not ours. Then we took the kids to lunch after around 230p. They ate so much! Afterwards, Mama D said they were calling "the Jessicas" their sisters and mothers and that they were sooo full! We got them sodas too--they have coke, sprite, and fanta here (no diet coke). Then we headed home-all 11 of us in a taxi and Jess and I were dropped off at Malisita with the baby and the others headed back to Malika. The other volunteers from Tennessee were back from Dar where they had taken some of the kids on vacation. So after catching up with them and enjoying dinner I headed to bed because Boma Kids Club was tomorrow and that's always really tiring.
Then I awoke this morning to Jess T's cell phone ringing nonstop in my room (she was charging it in my room). So i finally got out of bed to give her the phone down the hall. God forgive me for being a bit annoyed. It was 7a here and we would shortly head down to breakfast. Then a minute later I heard Jess T sobbing outside my room's window which faces the hallway. I said a short short prayer before I headed out to see what was going on. After a minute she told me that her Dad had passed away last night. (It was midnight in the US, 7a in tanzania). I didn't know what to say or do so I just stayed with her. It was her older brother on the phone having to tell her. He said that he had a heartattack in the shower and that her older sister was there and found him--even tried to give CPR. Her older bro and sis are twins and only a year or two older. So we've been going around today to say goodbye to all the kids at the different places and everyone has been really sweet. I know there really is nothing I can say or do so I've just been trying to be there and go wherever. She has a flight home tonight at 8p to Florida. Her and I have spent so much time together here and she was here last summer and so has been a wonderful guide showing me everything and such. She went to Univ of Richmond too for undergrad so it was nice to have someone from Richmond to talk about Carytown etc. Please send your prayers to her and her family as they go through this tough time.
I am still a bit in shock by it all. It makes me miss my family and friends even more. She has left me the last of her money (which is a lot) and would like me to complete some projects with it which is so very generous of her and I am happy to do that.
I will write again soon.
Then I awoke this morning to Jess T's cell phone ringing nonstop in my room (she was charging it in my room). So i finally got out of bed to give her the phone down the hall. God forgive me for being a bit annoyed. It was 7a here and we would shortly head down to breakfast. Then a minute later I heard Jess T sobbing outside my room's window which faces the hallway. I said a short short prayer before I headed out to see what was going on. After a minute she told me that her Dad had passed away last night. (It was midnight in the US, 7a in tanzania). I didn't know what to say or do so I just stayed with her. It was her older brother on the phone having to tell her. He said that he had a heartattack in the shower and that her older sister was there and found him--even tried to give CPR. Her older bro and sis are twins and only a year or two older. So we've been going around today to say goodbye to all the kids at the different places and everyone has been really sweet. I know there really is nothing I can say or do so I've just been trying to be there and go wherever. She has a flight home tonight at 8p to Florida. Her and I have spent so much time together here and she was here last summer and so has been a wonderful guide showing me everything and such. She went to Univ of Richmond too for undergrad so it was nice to have someone from Richmond to talk about Carytown etc. Please send your prayers to her and her family as they go through this tough time.
I am still a bit in shock by it all. It makes me miss my family and friends even more. She has left me the last of her money (which is a lot) and would like me to complete some projects with it which is so very generous of her and I am happy to do that.
I will write again soon.
posted by Jess at 3:50 AM
1 Comments:
HI Jess,
I have to confess, I have not been able to get on here everyday and read your blog, but I have now read everything you have written and will continue to. It sounds amazing there! It is so incredible to read of the things you are doing and how you are most certainly impacting these kids lives. I am so proud of you Jess!
I am so sorry to hear about your friend's loss. How difficult that must be for her and for you as her friend. It sounds like you did exactly what she needed so feel peaceful that you were there as a friend to support her and be by her side in one of the most difficult times of her life. You are such a good, true friend that I am sure you touched her heart and comforted her more than you will ever know. I will keep her and her family in my prayers. I have been thinking of you a lot this week and hope you are well. Take care of yourself my dear! I will write again soon!
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