Crossing the road

Remember how we've told you that the drivers are crazy over here? I'm not sure that I've explained that we have to cross a busy 4 lane road several times a day to get to the school, hospital, grocery stores etc. , but that's what we do on a daily basis. There are no stop signs or traffic signals. Basically, you have to just walk out in front of the cars with your hands out asking them to stop or slow down and say a little prayer that they will obey. Anyway, today as the kids and I were getting ready to cross the street, one of John's many friends (he is friends with all the maimed, amputees, war vets, blind) ran up to us and asked if we were crossing and then he proceeded to make the sign of the cross, a couple of times, before jumping out in front of the cars and escorting us to the other side. This made me chuckle seeing that even a local was terrified for his safety in crossing the road, Ha!

Kim

That is right - my friend Abraham was looking after my family for me while I was at work! Thanks Abraham! One of several Abrahams I know. There are a few named Moses, Isaacs - I know a few of them, Emmanuel. Good biblical names, and yes many are crippled, amputees, wounded or shot in the prior wars and they ply the stores that cater to westerners here, hoping for handouts and freebies. I have been able to help a handful of them with medications - antibiotics for flesh or skin wounds, infestations; antimalarial medications for - yes, Malaria which is quite common. I have access to a stash of antibiotics left here by other American docs, and the malaria treatment is cheap at $2 US dollars for a treatment course. So I just stop in at one of the ubiquitous pharmacies and pick it up, no prescription needed. Like treating a cold!

The Abraham mentioned above is a street guy, of limited means and we have shared some of our food with him. I am finding that he is a bit of a humorous guy, but he did not start off well with my family the first week. In fact he scared them! I was lagging behind the family a bit at dusk, fending off another street guy, when Abraham approached Kim and the kids (inebriated)
and told them "share your food with me!!" Well this scared GG most who refused to go outdoors again for about a week!
Next day I found Abraham and told him that he had scared my family; that he must not do that again and must stay away from them but he could approach me and talk with me. Since that day, Abraham and I have been on good terms and we talk or wave whenever we see each other. We have talked about families, his situation, church, our lives etc. He calls me "Pastor" or "Brother John", in fact many call me brother John.

Today after church, Lawrence and I had to take a taxi to get home. A common taxi is a sedan meant for 4 people including driver; always there are 4 people in the back seat beside driver and front passenger. So Luke and I waited for about 10 minutes til we found one and shared it first with 2 large ladies, then a couple of gents, one carrying his chicken with him. Lawrence thought that was cool - clucking and feathers drifting around in the taxi. I nudged him to ask the chicken-man if his "chicken had extremely large talons?" (A line from Napolean Dynamite!).

This week in the NICU was busy and exciting on some days, with again a few sad, unnecessary deaths. But a few really exhilarating recoveries. Kim and Meg, as well as GG are lending more and more assistance in the Maternity hospital and the NICU; babies, Moms, charts, paperwork they help where they can. I appreciate the extra hands and support and I think the entire staff there does as well.
John