Maramba Community

We are working in the community this week going into the homes of the bedridden. We are assisting the volunteer organization, Maramba Community Palliative Care, comprised of several women and men from the community who volunteer their time and energy for their community. The organization is funded by the UN and a national Zambian church network. So far the experience has been emotional and very touching.

The Maramba community is the area served by the clinic and has five zones, A through E. Each morning we head out to one zone paired with a couple of their volunteers and visit around 7 individuals. We are welcomed into the homes of the sick and offered seats on their couches, chairs or wooden stools. There are detailed and organized notebooks that have the "charts" of the patients and a log of their "complaints" and "action taken." Each time the patient and community workers look to us for diagnosis, suggested remedies, encouragement and prayers. This morning Tim taught a young woman who has weak and sore eyes how to exercise her eyes! It is heart-warming to see their reactions and enthusiasm but also sad how much they look to us for the "cure." What do we know? They have asked me to teach a Yoga class next week to an AIDS community support group.

Overall, it seems that everyone who we are visiting is dying of AIDS regardless of whether that is a known diagnosis. (The reported statistics are questionable at 60-70% of the population) However, some days all of the people we visit are taking ARVs (anti-retroviral drugs) and are aware of their status but other days none have been tested and claim they are merely suffering from acute TB or other ailments. Everyone knows AIDS is prevalent but there is such reluctance to get tested. I can't blame them - such a tragic fate to face.

In our surreal tourist world we have had some fantastic opportunities - we finally saw Victoria Falls. Actually, we didn't just see the falls, we sat on the edge of them! Needless to say in the US no waiver would be adequate to allow tourists to do something so crazy. So we did it! I never need to sky-dive or bungee jump, that's it for me. It was a spectacular natural wonder.

This weekend we're heading to Botswana for a game drive and quick safari. I couldn't imagine spending my 16th birthday in any other way!

Still no pics...ugh.