Today is the last day of our clinic. That leaves me feeling a sense of relief and melancholy (I know what you're thinking, "Dang, she learnt herself sum big words over there across the sea!")
Sorry, you'd be wrong. I already knew that beaudacious word. :)
So yesterday we were flooded with people. By noon today our numbers had surpassed that number. We are know in the final stages. We've closed the gates and are treating the patients who were already in the queue. I love that word. Why don't we use it in the US? It's so much nicer than (imagine a twang here) .... standin' in line.
My two cents anyway.
I didn't make it to the van today. No time to rest. Which may make me a tad grumpy at dinner. Someone should've been watching out for me.
I'll do my best to behave though because we're having a big dinner with all of the Kenyans who've helped us all week. They're wonderful people and I'll really miss the smiles that light up their hearts as well as their face.
Then we pack up and try to sleep a little. We head out bright and early to a game park so that we can see all of the wild African animals. I have one assignment: get a photo of a lion. I'm not too worried. This place is crawling with 'em. Besides, if I don't, I'll just use one of the pics I took last time. :)
My personal goal is to get close to a hippo. Not kill-you-in-a-heartbeat close, but pretty dang near.
Yes I've heard all the blah blah more Africans are killed by hippos blah blah blah. But hey, I'm not African, which should give me a leg up. :)
I'm physically feeling better. Just tired, but that's part of the territory when you fly halfway w's round the world. We fly out of Nairobi tomorrow night at around 10 pm and arrive in Houston around 1:00 or 2:00.
I should be in a coma shortly after that.
Or I hope so.
The tears come easily today, knowing Jim won't be there waiting for me. In fact, Son #3 won't get back in town until 8:30 or so. I'm hoping my mom can stick around so that I don't walk into a very, very empty house.
And the annual "death march" begins ......
Heaven help me/us. I hate this time of the year.
But right now.... right now I'm just outside of Nairobi .... giving and receiving lots of love.
So much so that we just caved and let 9 more people through the gate. I must get back to work.
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers....they've been (& still are) needed and felt.
Happy Friday, Peeps!
:)
5 comments:
two posts in less than an hour. good thing I am sick and have time to catch up on your trip instead of going to work!!!! Many prayers for you as you arrive home - I can only imagine what you must be feeling. Hate the dang death march. Hate this time of year and I don't have the death march to coincide with the holidays, sorry you have to deal with both at once. will be thinking of you and praying for you as always!
So good to read this post Janine. As u read you have now finished day 5. Bittersweet I know. Enjoy the dinner and the safari. Hope you get a lion picture. And then some sleep on the plane. I have always thought that last little bit in the airport in Nairobi was a piece of hell. Sorry. Looking forward to hearing more about your trip
Sending prayers your way for a safe return and that you won't have to enter an empty house.
Thanks for sharing your trip with us. So sorry that you had to fight sickness. Have a safe trip home and I hope you can get some much needed rest!
Okay, I'm really sorry that you got sick and I hope you feel better quickly, but I'm also terribly jealous that you are in Africa again and I'm not! Stay safe and TRY to take care of yourself. I love you very, very much!
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