Update from Casie

Hello Friends and Family,

I am not sure when the last blog went out because the power has been down. Here in Africa the water and power come and go... It's a really good day when you have both at the same time!

Friday night, shortly after I wrote the blog, my dear friend Elizabeth began feeling very ill. Before long she began a long night of throwing up and stomach cramps. By morning, she was not any better so Dr.T and I took her to the African Hospital and she was treated for malaria. We brought her home yesterday afternoon and she was able to rest. The throwing up and everything stopped last night and today she is feeling much better. I have no doubts that she will be back to her old self in a few days.

While in the Africa hospital Elizabeth and I decided that we were NEVER going to have children in Africa. I must say that the hospital here was QUITE an experience! I did pretty well with the throwing up and stuff all night. It didn't bother me at all, but friends, I must admit that I almost passed out while they were poking my poor little Elizabeth with needles. (Yes they were sterilized!) When we got there, they had just opened so we were able to go right in. We found a bed and laid Elizabeth down until the Dr. (or Nurse... we're not sure) came. Dr. T told them that it was malaria (He's had it 10 times and knows what he's talking about) so they began the testing and treatment for the malaria. They had to poke her to get some blood for the tests... this was alittle painful for her but not too bad. They brought in a very large needle and stuck her in the butt with it... they said this was to stop the vomitting. THEN they brought in an IV to help replenish the fuilds that she had lost during the night! For some reason they could not find her viens and proceeded to poke her painfully until they found blood. They kept saying 'you have no blood in your viens!'. She had to actually help them find the place where they could get it in! All the while, I am holding her hand and telling her not to look. After the second or third try with this massive needle, I started feeling VERY woosy but managed to just not look and keep my cool!... Poor Elizabeth. She was frustrated with their incompetancy but the meds DID help and she was able to regain some of her strength.

They wanted to keep her for observation, but Dr. T talked them into letting us take her home. Their 'observing' consisted of her laying on a bed with a blanket (who KNOWS where it's been) behind a curtain all day. It was a really good thing that Dr. T made them let us take her home.

We got home around 1pm and she was able to sleep all afternoon. The meds started working and she was also able to sleep through the night! which was AMAZING! Today she is feeling MUCH better. The fever is completely gone and she has the color back in her face. She should be back to normal in a few days when the parasite is completely out of her system! So keep praying that she will feel better. There is no need to be really concerned... She is doing much better!

The rest of the team has gone to Ndola for the day. Dr. T was preaching at a church and took the whole crew with him. They will be spending time with some friends of Dr. T's down there and then will pick up our final member of the team (Jami) from the airport. Max made it Friday night but his personal bag didn't. We're hoping that it will show up at the airport when they are there for Jami tonight! Poor guy... he's been wearing the same outfit since Wed morning! This morning was very humorous, however. Max asked Dr. T if he could borrow a shirt for church and instead of giving him a normal shirt, he gave him a bright orange African shirt. Elizabeth and I found this to be very enterntaining because we could hear the guys laughing about it in the next room when Dan returned with the shirt for Max. AWESOME. What a way to be introduced to Africa! They should all be returning around 9/9:30pm tonight. Elizabeth and I are enjoying our day of rest and quiet! Tomorrow we will start ministering to two new schools. One out in the bush, Murundu, and one in Kitwe, Chibote. Well, that is all for now. I hope everyone is doing well... We will update you soon!

Casie