Report to the Board of Directors & Staff of Center on Halsted

November 6, 2009

Dear Board Members & Staff:

Next week, look for a special edition of Weekly Successes: Gregory Gross, the Clinical Manager of our HIV Testing and Prevention Program, will tell us about his travels to Africa this past month. Gregory received an exciting opportunity to be part of an expedition to Mutare, Zimbabwe where he witnessed the tragic reality of the HIV pandemic firsthand. His reports on HIV/AIDS treatment in Zimbabwe are humbling reminders of the challenges before us as we continue to fight AIDS worldwide.

Gregory's sobering observations notwithstanding, we're thrilled that Gregory could have an opportunity to bring his expertise to an area so deeply in need of informed AIDS treatment strategies. The Center's day-to-day focus may be on the needs of our local community, but the work we do here in Lakeview has global implications. We're looking forward to hearing about Gregory's journey, and we know that we will learn a great deal from his insights. Bravo to Gregory, and be sure to ask him about his travels when you see him in person!

Modesto Tico Valle
Executive Director



Zimbabwe
Gregory Gross, AM MDiv LSW, Clinical Manager of the HIV Testing & Prevention Program


In late summer, I was approached about the possibility of joining a delegation of deacons from the United Methodist Church to travel to Zimbabwe to work with the Zimbabwe UMC, Africa University, and Project Tariro in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe. The purpose of the trip would be to learn about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the country and explicitly to collaborate with Project Tariro (meaning “Hope” in the Shona language), an initiative of UM deacons, in helping persons live positively with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. I was invited and selected to join this twelve-person group based upon my work as the Clinical Manager of the HIV Testing & Prevention Program here at Center on Halsted where I also oversee the HIV+ support groups and provide counseling & psychotherapy.

On October 15th, I traveled to Nashville, Tennessee, where I met the group for orientation & team building for our 15-day journey. I was excited to join this team of persons from across the United States who came with diverse backgrounds, politics, and theologies but with the common purpose of addressing the HIV/AIDS pandemic. While I was the only person on the team who had yet to travel internationally, it quickly became clear that what I brought to the team was the greatest knowledge of and experience with HIV/AIDS.

Before traveling, I had done much research about Zimbabwe and especially about the impact of the pandemic in the region. While I was somewhat familiar about the political climate of the country, I was not as familiar about the history that had lead to the current state of affairs. Zimbabwe was once the breadbasket of Southern Africa – exporting food & resources throughout the region. Literacy rates were nearly the highest on the continent. However, through a complicated series of events including a move from socialism to capitalism, the grabbing of land of and the expulsion of the descendants of colonists, and much political corruption, the economy of Zimbabwe collapsed and inflation skyrocketed. Last year’s election further complicated the situation when it was followed by allegations of a stolen election, extreme violence, and finally a tenuous unity government.

While all of this is taking place, the pandemic is raging. Three thousand people a week were dying as a result of HIV/AIDS. Anti-retroviral medications were impossible to obtain. The average life-expectancy fell to only 34 years of age. Infection rates rose to 25% of the population pushing Zimbabwe to becoming the fourth most HIV-impacted country on the planet.

It was against this backdrop that we arrived in Zimbabwe. I didn’t know what to expect and to be honest I was extremely anxious. I didn’t know if I would be strong enough to see this side of the pandemic. Here in the US, when I must deliver the news that someone is indeed infected by HIV, I am able to offer him or her hope that HIV is no longer a death sentence.

With medication, a person can expect to live into their 70s. But this wouldn’t be the case in Zimbabwe. Yes, ARV’s are now available but there are only enough available for those who are already on them to continue them. Due to the shortage, there is not enough for anyone who is not already taking them.

And it was indeed difficult. We traveled to a

primary & secondary school in the eastern province of Manicaland where we met with and heard the stories of the OVC students. The OVC are the Orphaned & Vulnerable Children meaning that one or both of their parents died from HIV/AIDS. Through this program they are able to remain in their school and community rather than being moved to an orphanage. They will live with their grandparents or aunts or uncles or, shockingly, many serve as the heads of their households! At 10 years old, they may be caring for their own siblings. And yet, they lit up when they broke into song for us or when seeing their own picture on my digital camera. “Again,” came the chorus of small voices. It is likely that many of these children are also infected with HIV, but they have not been tested. Without access to medications and in a society plagued by stigma related to HIV, why would they be?

We visited rural clinics where they are providing medical care and support for the local villages with very limited supplies. In this part of the world, the common co-infections that is seen is HIV and malaria. Unfortunately, the medications for these two deadly infections negatively interact with each other making an already difficult situation even worse. Unbelievably, they are doing all this with sporadic electricity and extremely limited clean water.

We met with home-based caregivers through Project Tariro who travel, most times by foot, to the homes of those living, and dying, of HIV. We traveled with them to the homes of two individuals in the last stages of life. Both individuals were struggling with severe thrush, a fungal, opportunistic infection that had completely colonized their mouths and throats.

We met with the residents of the Gatsi Old Peoples’ Home in the Honde Valley. These beautiful people in their twilight years have been forgotten by their own society. Nursing homes and long-term care facilities are unheard of here in this communal society. But the families of these residents cannot be found. Casualties of war, the pandemics of HIV & malaria, and political corruption. These men & women live in tattered clothes, with limited food, and many blind – by simple cataracts.

Finally, I spent much time at the VCT clinic associated with Old Mutare Mission Hospital and soon to become part of Project Tariro as their funding source will soon be ending. The Voluntary Counseling & Testing Clinic provides free HIV testing & counseling very similar to the HIV Testing & Prevention here at COH. Additionally, they offer a support group for those who are HIV+. I was very humbled as the staff of the VCT were so excited to meet some from the US who does the same job that they do. We spent the afternoon comparing notes of how we both operate, of the statistics of both programs. And I delivered the donated supplies that I had brought with me – an entire suitcase – including the 1000 condoms from COH, and the medical supplies donated by the HIV Staff of COH. The staff was thrilled!!

I was shocked to learn that their positive rate is 30% -- meaning nearly one in three people they test have HIV!?! I asked the staff about what support they receive in the midst of this difficult work and they just smiled. I was so grateful for the time I had with them where we could ask questions of each other and learn from each other. I was then invited to return the following day to join the support group.

In this country where HIV is believed to be a punishment from God or the result of a curse placed by an evil spirit, support groups are vitally needed. At the VCT 80 people – mainly women - take part in two support groups. They sang. They danced. They performed a skit that they improvise in churches & community organizations about HIV to combat the stigma. They worked on their “Income-Generating Projects” to earn money for themselves such as candle-making, sewing, crocheting, and gardening. They learned about healthy eating and then were given seeds to begin their own garden. They received the condoms I had brought and then demonstrated how to use them. It was a wonderful afternoon of being invited into the lives of these brothers & sisters.

The most touching was the stories that they shared with me. I was told how some of the young girls (13 to 17 years old) were infected by older men who believe that it can be cured by having sex with a virgin. I heard from the woman whose husband divorced her when she became infected and how she eventually came to forgive him when he was diagnosed himself.

I heard the story of Tandi. Tandi was 10 years old and her mother had been a member of the support group for the past year. Last April, her mother became extremely ill and needed a blood transfusion. But the hospital did not have the supplies to perform it. It was then determined that folic acid would sustain her; however, there was none in the hospital… or in the province.

So a group took off to travel to the next province. In the meantime, she called Tandi to her bed to tell her that she was dying and that she should go to the support group who would care for her. She and Tandi were outcasts. The group returned with the medical supplies, but this woman had died an hour earlier. And then she laid in the morgue for four weeks because her family would not bury her. Her family would have nothing to do with her or Tandi because she had AIDS. So the members of this support group – who had next to nothing themselves – raised $400 to bury her. And the local pastor, a 26-year-old single woman, took in Tandi as she had with 3 other young girls.

This is community. When their families, their villages, their churches, their society turned against them, they found each other. They care for each other. They support and comfort each other. They combat stigma together. This is Tariro. Hope.

I am late to this fight against HIV/AIDS. I was too young in the 80s & early 90s. But through encounter with the pandemic in Zimbabwe, I feel I’ve had a glimpse of what it must have been life. It’s one thing to hear about it from family & friends. It’s another to be immersed in it.

I find hope that while we have a long way to go here in the US in the fight against HIV/AIDS, we have made progress. Out of the trials of the 80s & 90s, Center on Halsted has immerged. I believe, out of the current struggles, Project Tariro stands as a beacon that people can live positively with HIV/AIDS in Zimbabwe. We may be late to the fight, but we aren’t too late.

To read more about my journey in Zimbabwe visit my blog: http://Chi2Zim.blogspot.com.

You can also view a video of the children singing at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=goLQSi9Xuwc.

For more about information about Project Tariro visit www.projecttariro.com.

Slowly

Beginning to find the words again. 

Slowly.

The re-entry has been difficult.  Reverse culture shock.  How to live in a society that has so much and yet, ungratefully so?  So bitter.  So hostile.  So cold and calloused. 

Such disconnect.  Two worlds.  One people.  One people?

Thank you for the phone calls and emails.  I've not yet returned many (most).  I will.  In time. 
Trying to process.  So much to process.  All I've seen.  All I've experienced.  All I met.  All who've embraced me as brother, friend while yet a stranger.  In a foreign land. 

Such Dichotomy.

How?  WHY? 

WHY?!? 

Trying to find the words. 

Trying to make sense. 

Slowly. 

In Time.

To Vote or Not to Vote?

There were elections this week across the United States.  Some were quite heated with harsh words and accusations thrown about.  Bitter rivals.  Strong emotions on all sides. 

And yet, as far as I know, no one was killed for voting "the wrong way" -- being against the party which prevailed.  No one was killed for speaking out against the prevailing party or against the results. 

There were also elections in Zimbabwe last year.  Robert Mugabe was running for re-election.  Mugabe former hero of the 1980 revolution, head of the ZANU-PF party, and president ever since.  His opposition was Morgan Tsvangirai, head of the MDC party. 

Mugabe "won" again.  The people rose up in revolt.  Eventually, a unity government was formed. But in the meantime, many people who voted the "wrong" way were hunted down and executed. 

As we formed relationships with the people we met, we asked about what it was like during the uprising.  We spoke with P, the woman at the hotel who cleaned our rooms.  She told us who during this time, three of her brothers were killed.  She is now caring for their 7 children in addition to her own.  She works extra hours trying to earn enough money to buy a home large enough for them all. 

We heard stories like this too horrifyingly often.

They were executed for the mere fact that they voted against the ruling party -- ZANU-PF -- and for the MDC (Movement for Democratic Change.)

Zimbabwe, once the breadbasket of Africa, is now a failed state.  The economy has collapsed.  Inflation has soared.  The ZimDollar is now worthless (even printing a 100 trillion dollar bill which meant little), and they now only accept the US dollar. 

Zimbabwe, once having the highest rate of literacy on the continent, is now a police state.  One day we had free passage on the main roads.  The next, a security check point appeared, stopping each and every car.  Police with AK-47s stood in the intersection.  More stood just off the road amidst the trees with more weapons.  We didn't have a problem since we were traveling in vehicles from Africa University. 

Except one time:  we were stopped.  The guard looked in the van and asked our driver "how many citizens?"  "Seven," came the answer and we were waved thru.  In actuality, only the driver was a citizen. 

We were instructed -- repeatedly -- do not take pictures of police or government buildings.  This is a picture I snuck on our last day -- not even in Zimbabwe, but in Botswana:

How many exercised their right to vote this week in the US?  

I'm known for being very involved and very vocal about my political views (et tu, Maine??)  To live in a country where that small comment could result in death...

More Songs of Hope from Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe

A song of welcome by the OVC primary school students to the Deacon Caravan in their classroom in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe.  A welcome reception we received several times thru out our visit in Zimbabwe.



Another song of hope & faith by the OVC primary students

The Songs of Tariro

The songs of the OVC students we met at a secondary school in the Manicaland province. OVC stands for "Orphaned & Vulnerable Children" -- meaning one or both parents have died as a result of HIV/AIDS. Some of these children are now the head of their households.

Home

I've returned home to Chicago safe and sound -- and early!?  Thank you, all, for the supportive & thoughtful comments.  I've greatly appreciated it.

Please continue to check ZimBlog over the coming days & weeks as I'll be uploading pictures & videos of the Caravan -- this time with captions & comments.  With the extremely limited internet access & slow connections, I just wasn't able to do so.  But now I'll be able to do so with faster internet.

As expected, the re-entry will indeed be challenging.  This afternoon after returning home, I went to pick up a few needed items at Target.  As I stood in the dairy aisle deciding which brand of milk to get, tears began to run down my face.  Here I stood in this big box store with SO many options to choose from while so many people I met over the past two weeks would be extremely grateful to have the luxury to have a choice of food.  Stores we went into were filled with barren shelves.  Restaurants had limited food.  And here we have aisles upon aisles. 

How to make sense of this?  How do we live in a world with such inequity? 

For my sis...

Here you go... as requested! ;)

The Re-entry Begins

I write this from the international airport terminal in Johannesburg, South Africa.  We've left Zimbabwe and are now waiting for our flight back to the States (by way of Senegal).  For those keeping track -- Johannesburg, Dakar, Washington, DC, Nashville and then Chicago.  A nice surprise is that my parents have decided to drive to chi-town to pick me up at the airport and hear about the trip! 

It's nice to have strong wi-fi again since it was not working at the Holiday Inn in Harare.  Another sign that we are re-entering another world. 

It's quite odd.  I find myself sitting here with so many thoughts running through my head.  The faces of people I met.  Images of the beautiful scenery.  The sounds of new languages.  Laughter. Tears.  Anger.  Sadness.  Joy.  Hope. 

Thoughts, emotions, prayers. 

But too few words...

The pain of re-entry. 

How to hold on to all I've seen & experienced?  How to convey it all to those who greet my re-entry?

As we return to a land of plenty (excess?), may I -- may we -- never forget. 

A few more pictures -- Delivering the supplies donated by Center on Halsted to the VCT!

A few pictures from the "Voluntary Counseling & Testing Centre" at Old Mutare Mission Hospital.  The programs there -- testing, counseling & the AMAZING support groups -- will become part of Project Tariro in the new year.  It was wonderful to be welcomed into the support group and to meet the staff who do the same job as I do!  More soon...

The first pictures!

Another one...

We've been eating most of our meals at the hotel or at Africa University and take a packed lunch. We've always had plenty. However, earlier this week we stopped at the Holiday Inn in Mutare for lunch at their restaurant. It was a surreal experience eating in "The Spur" tex mex restaurant and hearing Celine Dion on the sound system!


Then came time to order. We soon discovered how well off we've had it. We tried to oorder a cheese and tomato sandwich and learned they were out of tomato. We then tried a grilled cheese but they had no cheese. This went on and on and on.

And then the electricity went out. Again.

We ended up with waffles. And a fried egg sandwich. Prepared one at a time on a wood burning, single burner stove.

Inconvenient for us. But a typical day for the residents of Zimbabwe.

Hello again...

Today we experience radical hospitality at Streamview UMC, a new church start in Mutare. We were welcomed like honored guests and seated just off the chancel. A translator was provided as the service was in Shona. I loved the music and the dancing -- it went on for two and a half hours but could have gone on longer.


We were each asked to introduce ourselves and where we are from. I said Chicago and told what I do. Afterwards people approached me saying either "Obama!" or "Oprah!" It was great. The most humbling moment was when some of our team told me someone was looking for me. I met a woman of about 20 and she introduced herself as Patience and asked if I were the HIV counselor. I said I was. She then wanted to share that "I am living positively." I was so moved that she wanted to share this with me. We spoke for a while and she told me that she is well but does not yet have ARV meds. I let her know about the support group I visited this week and she was excited to learn of it.

Several other women also wanted to speak with me as they too do HIV testing. We spoke about how difficult the work is. I asked one woman what age range is testing positive most often and she said "15, 16, 17. Too many."

Too many world wide.

Hello again!

Hello again from Zimbabwe! I'm able to use the hotel manager's computer right now as he seems to have an internet connection that doesn't take an hour and a half to load like the other night!


We are having an amazing experience. Incredible. Yet, emotional, humbling and at times heart-breaking.

Yesterday, I was given the opportunity to sit in the support group for people living with HIV/AIDS which was so awe-inspiring. They are learning to live positively with the virus and are breaking down the walls of stigma in this country. They are making such a difference as they come out of hiding & shame. 40 people supporting each other. Such stories to share.

Through this I was able to meet the women who do the same job as I -- testing, counseling, and support group facilitation! We had so much to talk about! I was thrilled to meet them and they were thrilled to meet me. We compared notes, supported each other and learned from each other. (I'll post the pictures when I return.) But while I and my staff find it difficult to have a positive rate of 3% -- their's is 10 times higher!?! 30%!!!! I cannot imagine. I asked what support they have for themselves and they just smiled and said -- there is no time. My heart goes out to them. Please keep these amazing women in your thoughts & prayers.

And all this for only $120 per month.

But the joy of the people in the support group is infectious! There motto is "don't be negative about being positive!"

I also have video to share of their singing. You will not believe it!

Know we are all well.. if tired. But... it is a good tired.

Love and prayers.

Hello from Zimbabwe!!

Hello from Zimbabwe!




We’ve made it finally on Monday morning to Harare Airport & then the 3 hour drive to where we are staying near Mutare. It’s a beautiful – yet in need of much repair – Bed & Breakfast – which is really a converted home from colonial days. I SO wish I could post pictures of the country. It is truly breathtaking.



Unfortunately, internet is extremely limited. There is wireless at Africa University but connectivity is so low. I was unable to bring anything up. Another person was able to – after it loaded for an hour. I don’t think I ever even had dial up this slow. I’m now on the internet at the B&B but it’s just as bad. The manager loaned me his Econet Connect Card that is connected to an antenna that runs outside and up onto a stick of bamboo. And I was able to bring up my email after an hour. So I’ve asked my sis to post things that I email to her. (Thanks, Rach!) Hopefully I can do this again at some point.

We’ve seen so much in the short time we’ve been in the country. We visited a primary school, secondary school, & job training centre for OVC (Orphans & Vulnerable Children) – meaning one or both parents have died from AIDS related complex. Heartbreaking. To hear their stories. To see the conditions of the schools & their clothes. But oh, to hear them sing! Truly incredible. Their faces light up. To take their picture and then show it to them on the digital screen – I can describe the joy on their faces. “Again!” The simple joys.



And then to the ”New Hope Old People’s Home.” Even worse condition. People – men & women – human beings – cast off – discarded by society, their families (if they have any since so many have died as a result of HIV/AIDS), the world. Many are from other countries: Mozambique, Zambia, Malawi. Some physically impaired. Some blind – as a result of cataracts – imagine. But the joy in their faces when we gave them clothes brought and when we simply shook their hands, looked them in their eyes, and asked their stories.



I spoke with one gentleman who had said in the introductions thru a translator that he was so pleased to meet people from America as he had always read about it in books.

After all the intros I took the translator with me so I could say, “I am so pleased to meet you as I’ve always read about Africa in books.”



He responded in perfect British English & not in Shona as he had been speaking. We sat and talked for quite a while. I learned he was from Mozambique, was 81, and his name is Golden. He asked me to send him magazines from overseas so he could continue reading about other places. Here he had next to nothing and all he asked for was magazines. I could not believe it. I sat looking him in his amazing blue eyes – listening. We exchanged contact info.

Quite a while later when we were leaving, he waved to me as I got into the car, “Do not forget me, Sr. Gross” were his parting words .

How could I, Golden?

And again...

So we've made it to Johannesburg, South Africa with our stop in Dakar, Senegal.

And so far, that's it...

Since our plane out of DC was delayed, we couldn't make our connecting flight from Jo-burg (as I've learned locals call it... or Josie..) to Harare, Zimbabwe.  And the next flight was booked... so while we arrived at 11AM local time on Sunday, the next flight to Harare is Monday at 6:30AM as there are only 2 a day. 

So another hotel stay & two more meals on South African Airlines. 

AND my very first VISA in my passport.  Unexpectedly from South Africa. 

The best part is that some of us used this opportunity to explore the city.  We arranged a tour of Soweto (South West Township) where the push against Apartheid gained steam in 1976.  We went to a Hector Pieterson Museum dedicated to the brave school kids (8-18 yo) who rebelled and where 600 were killed by the police.  So powerful. 

We drove by the homes of Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu, & Winnie Mandela.  Amazing to visit these places in person.  And unexpectedly!

We saw many other sights in this city of 7 million including stadiums for the upcoming 2010 World Cup, the "Squatter City" which was devastating where many families live until being able to get city funded housing (which isn't much better), and an affluent suburb. 

And the flora & fauna of Africa which is even better in person.  I can't wait till I am able to up load photos of all of these but unfortunately, the wireless internet isn't cooperating here in the hotel.  But I did want to give you this up date at least.

Well, must head to bed -- the shuttle comes for us at 4AM!?  Arrive in Harare at ~9am and then the 3-4 hour drive to Mutare. 

I'll update as I can.  Everyone's well.  We just keep going with the flow and are enjoying this adventure as it unfolds.  I must say, I feel like I'm on the Amazing Race!  And loving every minute of it.

Delayed again!

We arrived this morning to learn our flight was delayed... again.  Instead of leaving at 8am we are now looking at about 10:30 am.  And even better, the plane JUST arrived at the gate:

And there was much rejoicing!!

This should get us to Senegal at about midnight local time & Johannesburg at 11am Sunday morning local time (4am EST & 3am CST). 

Additionally, I was just given this information: 

For families and friends of team members:

In case of emergency, you may contact Africa University Development Office located in Nashville, TN at 615 340-7438. They will know our location and can contact us.

 

We are all doing well.  Keeping in good humor and spirits even in spite of all the delays.  We are going with the flow and having fun getting to know each other and preparing our body, minds & spirits for what lies ahead.  Thanks for all the comments & well wishes!  We've enjoyed them all!!

Next stop... Africa!

The Best Laid Plans...

And astray they went!

After sitting in Washington Dulles Airport for 4 hours, we learned that our South African Airlines flight to Johannesburg was cancelled.  Instead we were beginning booked on the next flight -- tomorrow morning at 8am!??  Due to those mythical yet ever-present "mechanical issues."  We wonder if those "mechanical issues" had anything to do with there only being 50 passengers on our international flight.

So, instead of Africa, we ended up at the Embassy Suites in Herndon, VA.  South African Airlines put us up here along with dinner & breakfast.  Now, here I sit in the front room of the suite where the first flat screen TV is -- the second being in the bedroom in front of the king size bed.  Really?

Oh -- but we got to see our first wildlife of the trip:

Swans in a pond in the lobby.

Really?!

The silver lining of this delay is that I got to spend the evening with my great friends, Jen & Carmelo Landis-Santos, and their son, Pablo.  (BTW, when did he get to be four?)  It turns out that they live about twenty minutes or so from this this hotel.  So after my free dinner, Jen came to pick me up and brought me back so I could see their new house -- which is very lovely!  Pablo gave me the tour and then insisted that I play soccer with him in the living room. 

After he went to bed, the rest of us had a great time talking and catching up.  What an incredibly unexpected blessing for which I am most grateful.

The adventure continues bright & early tomorrow early with a cab ride at 5:45am to take us back to the airport for an 8am flight to Johannesburg. 

The World Becomes Smaller

As we sit here in Washington Dulles International, we are discovering the fun of traveling with technology.  Two of us have brought laptops (thank you, COH, for lending me one!) and we've logged into our email & facebook & twitter & on & on. 

Here is a picture of us on our computers looking at Facebook...

In addition to ZimBlog, you can also join Friends of Project Tariro group on Facebook.

As the world becomes smaller for us, I hope it does for you, too, by following our journeys!

The Rest of the Story

Completely humbled & grateful.  Beyond this, I have few words. 

I learned today - for the first time - a more complete picture of how I came to be selected for this Caravan.  I do not know how to appropriately express gratitude other than to be humbled by the compassion and grace at play.  I learned today that a person gave up her own grant to make this journey because she felt I needed to go.  And not only that, she lobbied to make this happen. 

May I be able to embody this grace, mercy and sacrificial giving in order to share it with all I meet in Zimbabwe.

Orientation

So I finally made it to Nashville -- only 6 hours late.  Oy vey.  I was the last to arrive but many others had had difficulties with travels today.

I met the team for the first time today and am very pleased.  Some great skills and experience represented around the circle.  I am, however, the youngest and one of three men.  I believe, I am also the only person who has not traveled internationally before.  A good number have even been to Africa before this.

Yet, what I bring to the table is my knowledge, training, and experience with HIV/AIDS.  It's already become clear that I will be the HIV/AIDS expert for our journey. This afternoon, we ran out of time during orientation for all of the information that we were to cover.  So the orientation leader (who is not going on this caravan to Zimbabwe) asked me to cover HIV/AIDS more in depth when we arrive in Zimbabwe because she kept turning to me for more information anyway. 

I'm honored to be able to contribute to the trip in this way.  And just like I told you in the HIV/AIDS/STD Dept. at COH, I bring you with me through our collective experience and knowledge.  Thank you for the education you provide me as we work together and continually challenge each other to push to the next level.

Tomorrow, the real travel begins.  The shuttle arrives at 6am to take us the airport for the next leg of our journey.  Please continue to keep us in your thoughts & prayers. 

And the anti-malarial meds begin.

An orientation... in more ways than one.

The Travel Plan

As I sit here in lovely O'Hare Airport for the inevitable delay and wait (some of my own doing and some not), I thought I'd share the travel plans for the next several days.

To begin, I am waiting for my flight to Nashville.  There I will meet up with the rest of the group traveling to Zimbabwe.  Feeling a bit anxious about that part as I've not met any of these 10 people before; however, we,  from varied backgrounds & parts of the country, share a common purpose and for this I'm grateful.   In Nashville, we gather for orientation for our travels and for group formation (I'm having unfavorable flashbacks to HS!)

We stay over night in Nashville and depart Friday morning for Washington Dulles to transfer to our international flight after a several hour layover.  Friday afternoon/evening we take off over the Atlantic Ocean for Africa.  Eight hours or so later we'll land in Dakar, Senegal where we'll switch flight crews, possibly refuel and then continue on our way.  Another 8-9 hours later we'll land in Johannesburg, South Africa where we'll transfer to another flight which will take us into Harare, the capital city of Zimbabwe.  We'll stay over night in Harare and worship in local congregations on Sunday morning before driving eastward to Mutare, Zimbabwe which is on the border of the country with Mozambique.  Mutare is where we will be for just over a week.  Mutare is the home to Africa University, Old Mutare Mission Hospital and Project Tariro. 

In all -- 22 hours in the air... one way.  Not counting the additional air travel to Victoria Falls while we are in Zimbabwe. 

I must say... quite an adventure for a someone from small town Ohio who has never traveled out of the United States.
 
But first... to get out of O'Hare...

S.O.S.

So today while I was at work trying to get everything in place before I leave for two weeks, I received an email entitled "S.O.S."  The email was from the medical clinic at Africa University with a last minute request for supplies that they would like us to bring with us to Zimbabwe.  The list was composed of antifungal drugs/ creams/ gels/ shampoos that are needed by the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).  Included on the list was Head & Shoulders Shampoo and Selsun Blue Shampoo.  The email went on to explain that a vast majority of PLWHA that they treat develop dermatitis and/or ringworm following their diagnosis and these shampoos/gels/creams help combat these conditions.

Since receiving this email, I have been trying to imagine living conditions where an urgent S.O.S. is needed for dandruff shampoo.  In four days, I will no longer need to imagine. 

Off to shampoo aisle and then to continue (finish?) packing.

Just over 32 hours till the first flight...