Clarification

****WARNING: For all of the newer readers this may come across in the wrong light. I don't mean for this blog to sound like I am complaining about various situations. I have written blogs in the past about different situations and realized that they lacked vital detail, or needed to be clarified and/or updated. Therefore, I have written the titles of the old blogs at the beginning of each corresponding paragraph to help you fully grasp the purpose of this post. I am truly enjoy this experience and have been blessed in many ways along the way. I know there will be many more blessings during the remainder of my trip as well. 

I have never blog about my new tasks for the remaining of this trip, and also how things are between me and the other missionaries. I know I have blogged here and there about the missionaries, but I realize I haven't been very clear about things. Hopefully this blog with clear some of the muddied water. 

[Let's Be Real and Suffocated]: First off my relations with the SMs are up in the air. (The SMs are Josh, Daniel, and Jonny). Jonny has left to work at the hospital in Mondou, so there isn't much communication with him. Ever since I got sick things have drastically changed between Josh, Daniel, and I.  It is so awkward that I just keep to myself now. When we are in the SM hut at the same time I put in my headphones and shove my face into a book. I rarely have conversations with them, the only time we talk is when there are other people present. It is really uncomfortable, but I am now getting the alone time I was wanting. (Let's be real the situation is really annoying, but maybe it is a blessing in disguise. Or this could be totally in my head. Everything could be peachy keen on their end and I am misconstruing things). 

[Power Complex]: Zach and Charis are chill. Actually Charis and I have been getting really close. Charis is the main one I hang out with. Our personalities aren't the best match, but we are figuring things out. I don't know if she is having less power complex moments, or if I am just getting use to it. However, things are good either way. 

[Return of the Netteburgs]: Danae and Olen have been great. After hearing all of the horror stories I was really surprised how much I like them. They are really kind and funny. Many SMs walk in with an entitlement complex and they are fed up with it. I don't think I have that complex, so things are great between us. Olen and I get along the best. He and I have very similar sense of humors. While I work in the OR he cracks jokes and picks on me while he teaches me about the procedures that are taking place. (Olen calls me the Fulani doctor because everyone thinks I am Fulani or Arab because of my complexion. I have a little more milk in my chocolate. He always comes to me and has me diagnose the patient. He says if my recommendation is wrong then he will send the angry patients to yell at me. He also lets me do random cool/nasty things like lancing a babies head or pushing a guys rectum back into his butt). Danae is a great teacher and very understanding about things. She lets me do a lot of things in the OR like suturing the patient, and is teaching me how to do vaginal exams. Sometimes I feel that Danae is holding things in and not saying everything that I feel she should say, but it hasn't caused any problems yet. Hopefully, it won't cause any problems in the future either.

So, basically, I mentally prepared for hell with the doctors and bliss with the SMs, but things are almost completely the opposite. (Or so it seems).  I work three days a week in the hospital and love every minute of it. Every Wednesday and Thursday evening I go to the bush and give public health lectures to the villagers. Monday and Wednesday mornings are dedicated to malnourished children and mothers in the baby formula program. (The program is for mothers with lactation problems or AIDS and children whose mother's have died). We feed the children nutritious buille, which is like a porridge, and play with them for a bit. I teach the people in the baby formula program how to crochet and sew different trinkets that are in turn sold to help fund the program. Tuesdays and Thursdays are still gymnastics days.

I decided to stop teaching English. After being sick for a month and not teaching I wasn't too excited about teaching again. I loved the children and teaching, but I felt I wasn't giving it my all anymore. Josh heard me slightly complaining about teaching and offered to teach my classes. It was hard for me to let go of my classes, but it was an offer I couldn't refuse. So now Josh teaches all of the English classes and I took over Sabbath school. I have more creative juices for Sabbath school, but I couldn't seem to get the juices flowing for English. 

I am currently looking for another translator. It is hard to find another Naomi. She is so busy with other jobs that she can't help me with my new program. It is a small business program for anyone who is in extreme poverty. I want to go out and talk with the villagers, one on one. I want to hear their stories and understand their struggles. If I am able to think of a way to help them with their predicament then I do. Danae received a large donation just for this. We want to give out purses with business starting tools in it and train the recipient how to start a thriving business. It is like that quote, "give the man a fish and he is full for one day, but teach him how to fish and he will be full for a lifetime." We want to teach them how to provide for themselves so they won't be dependent. All I need is a translator and the program will be up and running. Pray that I will be able to find the perfect translator for this job. It is hard enough to find a translator, but finding a good one is even harder.