A Day at an Estancia- Mum and Dad in Argentina

see link below-funny
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Insane few days.

Just want to let you all know that we have just arrived back to Johannesburg and are staying at a lovely guest house called the The Cottages. The last few days have been crazy!!! To put it briefly, safari from hell. Oh my gooooooooooodness! We stayed in a treehouse among the cougars, monkeys and all the rest of the massive dangerous mammals of Africa for three day. I had the most splendid and hilarious travel partners, Lee (Australia) and Sharon (Virginia). I am so craving a hot shower time right now that I am going to continue this later! I leave for America tomorrow night, and will spend the day at the apartheid museum and market tomorrow.

Happy birthday Mom and Deb! See you both soon.

My prayer for my Uncle Dougie and his loving family...

later! love Kim

I was just wondering...

Is anyone reading this?? Just wondering because noone is commenting...

The Purple Palm

Just wanted to let you know that we have made it to Johannesburg and are quite comfy in a hostel hosted by a very polite and accommodating 20 year old man. Off to safari tomorrow in Kruger national park for three days. More soon!

Mission complete!

It is so apparent the this mission just seemed to overflow with rewards as the week went on. There are some very emotional stories. Baby Chanel not having to wait two years in the public health system to have her facial deformity fixed; Pronesh getting his facial deformities erased just in time for his wedding; and our little "princess" with no arms who just lit up everyone's days singing "you are my sunshine" and painting and drawing with her toes. An encouraging and positive working environment so obviously was infectious to the in-country staff who didn't want us to leave.

Those dark halls in Ngwazana hospital became filled with sunlight, radiance and happiness with each patient that was rolled down it's long corridors to the post-op area this week. All that it took was giving people some HOPE. That's it.

Last night I went to sleep with visions of a mother whom after looking at her teenage son for the first time with his fixed face started patting her chest with elation and swaying her hips back and forth dancing as she started to hug everyone in sight who answered her prayers. It brought tears to everyone's eyes.

Today we were rewarded with a game park drive that led us to the viewing of over 50 elephants migrating to the water for bath time. E saw a few rhinos, giraffes, baboons, zebras, and more!

Tomorrow myself my new friends Sharon and Lee are heading to the spectacular Krugar game park for some more wildlife viewing...that's it for now. Please view the site again for a link to some great photos!

later,

Kim

See us on CNN?

It has been a very looooooong day. We arrived at the hospital at 6:30 this morning and we are at 7pm now. Still 4 cases to go! There are storms brewing outside, and this hospital has very long dark hallways that are completely open to the dirt swirling outside. Not only that, the security guards come on at dark to remind us once again that our safely is potentially at risk. The skill in the OR is absolutely superb, and it has been once again a joy to see everyone share basic medical techniques and learn from each other. Tomorrow is another full day of surgery. More to comment later, I have to go and recover a patient now. The undercurrents of apartheid and fear of violence and HIV has been all very interesting topics to discuss later...! love Kim

Eystrefuke (Ester-fuck-y) and Koeksister (Quick-sister)

aka: sweet treats in South Africa :)

Things are going fabulous the last few days. We continue to be poster children for the modern medical world and set roots for medical missions in southern africa. This includes future missions to Nimibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Lesotho, Mozambique. We still don't have many patients, but the purpose of the mission has changed; teach and set a standard. Tomorrow morning we start surgery at 8am and go through until Thursday morning. This team is excellent, created of course with people all over the world.

Did you know that King Shaka (King Zulu) of Zululand was a king and great warrior and was the leader of the only indigenous people that fought and defeated the British Army? That's what I learned in Zululand today.

nighty night!

Kim

No wind in the sails.

Today was a less than thrillng screeing day. We all got the feeling that "there wasn't a need here". We only had 46 patients, so there won't be much to do here so far. We were quickly reminded that this the very first mission in South Africa, and that we are only now finding patients to treat; the best part of the day was all about education and more education; teaching nurses, teaching volunteers. We are being put up in a beautiful planation in the middle of a cane field. Lots of wildlife and plants to enjoy! Food is fabulous, and I enjoyed using all of my liquid lady things when my bag arrived today! So pray that those missing 60 patients find their way to the hospital to best use our resources; for some it might be their only chance...!

no, bag.....again!

I have been in Johannesburg for 4 hours now. Yes....it's true, my checked luggage didn't make it; however, because of my fastidious packing of all my carry-on's, I brought on board with me everything I need for at least 3-days. All I need to do is buy some face lotion and some deodorant, and I'm good to go! As usual, Operation smile has us set up. We are staying in a very nice hotel tonight in Jo'berg then flying out tomorrow to Durban, then a bus to Empangeni. Highlight of my trip so far? South African airlines is on the ball, and some of the team are New Yorkers...they have already helped with my upcoming move. Everything seems good at the site, and I am looking forward to finally getting there, meeting the team, and starting the screening. Very excited!

Countdown to Empangeni

It's all coming together; no liguids in the carry on's, and a whole lot of yearning for a great trip. photo: "Back of the bus in Israel" (Kim and an Israeli Christian soldier)

more soon