My 1st Africa Blog Up-Date

Hey Everyone -

I just wrote a complete detailed blog insert to up date you all and just as I went to post it....BAM! It all vanished...just like that!
For most of you that have experienced this phenomena...you understand the emotions I'm presently dealing with...(45 minutes...gone!)

OK, moving on.

Hey, thanks for checking out my Africa Blog. I will do my best to stay on top of this keeping you all up to date with my going's on leading up to and while in Mozambique.
I would also like to thank my good friend Rosa Max for getting this Blog set up for me...I couldn't have done it with out her. If you ever need any assistance with your googling or gmail account...Rosa has a very personal, hands-on service that will inform you about things that you didn't even know your gmail account could do. Give her a shout - Rosa Max" <rosamax@gmail.com.

I can't believe all of the stuff that has to happen before taking a trip like this...it's all a bit overwhelming. Here's just an idea of what I've been having to juggle:

• Immunization shots.
• Prescriptions filled for meds such as Malaria Prophylaxis.
• Acquiring special herbs to keep me healthy...even alive!
• Gathering additional special foods to supplement the standard Pemba diet of rice & beans.
• Setting up auto bill pay to take care of my affairs while being gone for a month...plus all the other admin stuff.
• Acquiring certain Visa's ans Passport notarization forms.
• Picking up some special insect repellent clothing...can you believe that!
• Doing all of the research so that I know what to expect and prepare for...very time consuming.
• Picking up things requested by folks who are already in Pemba.
• Gathering up all of my camera equipment only taking the simplest and smallest...(I'll be shooting some doco footage on this trip.)
  
• Bringing donated goods to the orphans.
• Paperwork and phone calls
• Locating a place to stay in South Africa (I'll be on a day layover in Johannesburg...need a place to camp out.)

AND...I picked up a 24 hour flu thing that took me out for a whole day (hence 24 hours). I was curled up in a ball shivering most of yesterday. It seems to be passing and I am in better form today...

I have to stop...this list is becoming overwhelming for me...and it continues to go on!

To give you a taste of what's to come for me...here is a partial list of some of the things listed on the Iris Ministries Info Sheet:

• WATER - Our water comes from our well or has to be hauled by water trucks from other wells to our center. The water is NOT DRINKABLE! Some of it is salty water (not seawater). Some of it is sweet water but not purified. Propane gas is very expensive, thus boiling water on the stove is too costly to be practical. Very often, we don't have enough sweet water for drinking, showers and laundry.

• DIET - We are blessed to have a good diet of basic African cuisine (mostly rice, beans, potatoes, fish & goat). Most of the local Makua people are not so blessed.

• SANITATION - You will find that, in a third-world country, sanitation will not be of the quality you are accustomed! Showers will often be "bucket showers". The flexible package of wet wipes or small bottles of hand sanitizer should be your constant companion to avoid bacteria and infection from your hands to your mouth.

• Vaccines - Rabies Pre-exposure vaccination – in an affected country.
  

  • Flu/Influenza Vaccine and/or Pneumoccal vaccine
  • Yellow Fever (if coming from an infected country)
  • Cholera (if epidemic at the time in Mozambique)

• Anti-Malaria Medication - It is advisable that you take anti-malaria prophylaxis while here.

• You might want to take: - Oral rehydration sachets (e.g. Gastrolyte)
  

  Anti-diarrhoreal tablets – not for treatment of normal gastro bug (eg. Loperamide)
  Anti-histamines for reactions, and/or hayfever (e.g. Teldane/ Loratidine)
  Pain relief (e.g. mild - paracetamol, Tylenol, anti-inflammatories, ibuprofen, oruvail and/or voltaren)
  Anti fungal creams/powders
  Anti-itch creams
  Indigestion tablets
  Topical cream for skin infections
  Eye drops
  Cold/flu tabs (NB. some countries do not allow these products in if they contain psuedoepinephrine/codeine phosphate so check what countries you are going through first and what you can or cannot take through.)
  Sunscreen
  Insect repellent

• Important Note:
  
  Iris Ministries cannot and does not guarantee your safety, health, or comfort. We are serving in an underdeveloped country, in unpredictable conditions. You will be joining us in trusting God as provider and protector.
  

OK THEN! - Here we go...

Thanks for your prayers and support guys...