July 3rd

We are doing well here in Pemba. This next week is a big week as Iris is hosting all its leaders at the base for a meeting. We are going to get to hear from leaders from 15 nations at the school. We are also excited because our home pastor, Bill Johnson will be here too. It will give us a feeling of being closer to home.

We continue to be doing really well. After 5 weeks of eating rice two times a day and bread for breakfast, my (wade) stomach does not seem to want to digest it as much. Pray for this. We could buy more food in town but we enjoy spending time with the Mozambiquans at the dining hall.

Allison is learning about African medicine. She bandaged a young boy's toe this week only to learn that he has no shoes so the wound will stay dirty. She later witnessed how baby bottom's are cleaned with a dirty diaper (dirt is used like baby powder). Then later that day, we were walking to town and a dumptruck went off the road into a brick wall. Hundreds of Africans rushed to the seen. Four men grabbed the driver by each extremity and carried 50 yards to wait for an ambulance. Then when the ambulance arrived, they picked him up and flung him in the back of the ambulance. She is seeing a little bit of difference in our western medicine.

Our housemates have discovered worms in their bodies from putting on wet clothes and Allison has found a number in her rolls. Fortunately, jam helps cover the worms up so you do not see them. It's true, and funny to think about.