Daantjie days

We're just beginning the third of four days at Litsemba Center in the township of Daantjie Northeast of Nelspruit. The past two days were spent helping at the first-ever health clinic run out of the center. In the first day we saw 19 children. The second day We saw 30 children and and 11 adults. It would be probably larger today. As the word gets out.

Its now the end if the day. We taught 35 to 40 people in the morning on Motivational Interviewing and 29 in the afternoon on helping people who are suicidal. The largest group were SiSwati youth leaders in the schools. There were a few older adults as well. Most of the folks got something out of the sessions. And a few were brilliant. And only a couple played on their cellphones...

Anna the physicians assistant was kept busy all day seeing children. The first two days I helped her with dispensing meds, consulting with some, and praying with folks.

Tomorrow Sandra and I teach on resilience.

Please pray for our energy, my infected thumb and continued team unity (which has been good so far).

Thanks!
Stew
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The most beautiful gas station washroom in the world

We have arrived in Nelspruit. We have a simple comfy room at Betor House. We have had a lovely day of hanging out with our team. And some great reunions including dinner with everyone at our friend Heather Stephens' home.

And wifi internet here at Betor!

On the way here we stopped at a large petrol station restaurant. We were warned by our Afrikaan copassenger to bring our cameras.

So there we are standing at the urinals. (I know TMI!) in front us is this glass wall looking out on this scene. Hope this photo shows up. Cape buffalo and rhinos grazing in the lowveld.

Now, you may be wondering (especially you Joanne Hatherly intrepid investigative reporter)- did I actually take the picture while peeing? Well no, that would be um... Indiscreet. I'm also not that coordinated. It was taken from the restaurant patio. I did however comment while relieving myself that I have never seen such beauty while peeing in my life. There was an awkward Afikaans chortle from the man at the next trough. I think he was Afrikaaner because I of course did not look.

Prayer please. This is 0430 and I have been awake since 0100. (can you tell?) it is a rather peaceful insomnia but there is a long day ahead. I also have a cut on my left thumb that has become infected and sore. Thanks.
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safe and sound in johannesburg

We are here! Nestled in for the night at the Protea O.R. Tambo Airport Hotel. A little stiff from being crammed into three different aircraft over fifteen hours. Thankfully we had the chance for exercise between flights. Have you ever seen the Dulles International Airport in Washington DC? We are thankful for the shuttle bus to another terminal and then a train to the third terminal and ALL the walking within these terminals, happily decorated with frequent Starbucks in case your strength should fail.

We are just here for the night to rest before catching the Citibus to Nelspruit tomorrow. We have met Susan and Anna who are on the team wth us and are staying at the hotel as well. in spite of very tired brains we had a good conversation and a very lovely meal. I will definitely stay at this hotel next time.

Now to Skype home and then sleepy by.

Return to Mpumalanga

In six days, Sandra and I board an airplane to Nelspruit for two weeks of teaching to youth workers and other people helpers. We didn't think we would ever go back after last year but the friendships we made and maintained called us to return. We will then go to Cape Town and visiting friends and relax by the ocean for a few days before returning. Stay tuned for reports of the story over there! *** Spoken w/ Vlingo - http://www.vlingo.com
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Good times with old times!

Last night we had the first part of our thirtieth medical class reunion. It was graciously hosted in the home of Doug and Shawn Hobson. It was good to see the lovely faces of my classmates, Most of whom are still slogging it out in full time practices all over the continent!

Bonuses of the evening were having my daughter Caitlin Join our former band members Randy and Ann to sing some old songs and a couple of new tunes. She was superb!

Double bonus was having our classmate Orla Come out of vocal retirement and join us for "operator"!

It is probably the sign of the brittleness of my aging That I found a great deal of the evening overwhelming. We somehow gathered around the indoor swimming pool Which was an acoustic and physical nightmare. Most of my memories of the evening are visual as I could hear very little of what everyone was saying. We had fun with singing together but really have no idea of how we sounded. I found myself having little waves of panic all night long and wanted to leave even before we sang. It was at the admonition of my wife and the stronger admonition of my daughter that I bit the bullet and stayed. And I did still have fun!

Looking forward to the quieter venue at the Fort Gary hotel tonight.
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ode from my preverbal self

Cold facecloth slap.

I was screaming.
(you said I was)
And then I held my breath.

Vagal dive
Dive! Dive!

You said with glee.
I fixed you fast.
Ice cold cloth
Across my face.

You did not know
You sent me to the abyss.

Vagal dive

Of ether addled birth
Stuck in death.

Dive! Dive!

A life full of waiting.
for forceps to deliver me.

Que c'est triste
Interminablement
Triste.

S. Wakeman 14 september 11 (I)

recycled souls

Elmhurst blue box reverie

Early autumn street
Dust of golden death
Emerging in the verdure.

In wobbly rows
Emptied blue boxes
Some aright catching the dew
Of morning
Some aside
Looking for the wind.
Some overturned
Void but closed to filling.

Just like us-
Cleansed of the detritus
Of our life.

What posture
Do we keep
Attending
The Great Recycler?

S. Wakeman 2 Sept. 11 (I)