DAY FOUR: JOBS

After a short delay, the continuation of our Eight Days of Gratitude...
Part four of our Eight Days of Gratitude: Jobs

USA: Even though we are going through some very tough times with unemployment over 10%, still there are many social programs (government and private) helping most people. We can be thankful for all of that support.

ST. THERESA HOSPITAL: Hospital employees are very thankful for their jobs, even though the pay is so very poor. Currently, the lowest paid employee is making on about US $30 per month, and the highest paid nurse is making about US $150 per month.

SURROUNDING AREA: Unemployment in Zimbabwe is “around” 95%. The country has great potential, and I guess that is what the people would be thankful for, although they would like to see some real progress with the “Government of National Unity.” (Very little “unity.”)

DAY THREE: FOOD

Part three of our Eight Days of Gratitude: Food

USA: Plentiful Food in our grocery stores. Nearly everyone in the US will have either Turkey or Ham for Thanksgiving.

ST. THERESA HOSPITAL: Local shopping provides few items, but at a distance of one hour drive over very bad roads, “most” items are available, although at least 20 to 30% more expensive than in the U.S.

SURROUNDING AREA: The very poor do not have the funds for any shopping, and rely on the staple food “sadza” (corn-meal mush) plus some vegetables. Meat and milk and even bread is a rarity.

DAY TWO: ELECTRICITY

Part two of our Eight Days of Gratitude: Electricity

USA: Lights, electricity at the touch of a fingertip.

ST. THERESA HOSPITAL: Main-line electricity for “maybe” eight hours per day. Special Thanks for the people in Germany who donated a new generator for the hospital several years ago, allowing electricity “when urgently needed.”

SURROUNDING AREA: 95% of the rural homes do not have any electricity. Still, they are thankful for a hospital nearby that does have electricity, and the ability to use a generator for laboratory tests, x-rays, emergency surgery, etc.

Eight Days of Gratitude

As we celebrate Thanksgiving and the start of the Advent Season in the US, it gives me a chance to compare what WE might give thanks for and what the people around St. Theresa Hospital might give thanks for.

This post will be the first of eight reflecting on gratitude.

DAY ONE: WATER

USA: Clean, safe water from the tap “every time.”

ST. THERESA HOSPITAL: Clean, safe water “every time” – “as long as bore-holes function. “ Special Thanks to Shawano, WI Rotary Club for their efforts to help with a new borehole in 2010.

SURROUNDING AREA: Clean water at a pump borehole within one to 1½ mile of our home. Many have to use river water and then there is very high risk of water borne diseases (e.g. cholera) IF the water is not boiled.

Nearly Halloween here in the US. One wonders just how much is spent on Halloween, and how much that might help the “really poor” in the world? Difficult question, but after the past eight years among the poor of Zimbabwe, it is also difficult to not think those sort of questions.

The “Government of National Unity” (GNU) in Zimbabwe is in another crisis. First, “GNU” is an oxymoron if ever there was one. I guess it is a government of sort; it is “national”, but there is certainly NO unity. ZANU-PF seems to think that whatever little they do meets “all the requirements” on their part, and if only the MDC would get the world to stop the sanctions, then everything would be just fine. No mention of the on-going arrests of MDC members, of ridiculous charges against Roy Bennet, of the ZANU-youth terrorizing people, of continuing takeovers of what few white farms are left, of an agriculture policy that still will not feed the nation (let alone export products as was true just ten years ago), of now being “one of the worst” countries in the world as far as governance goes. Anyone wanting to read topical articles about Zimbabwe (MORE than you want to read, but just skim), go to: www.zimbabwesituation.com

But, in spite of all the above, I remain optimistic about St. Theresa Hospital, and the work they are doing. They continue to do all of the work we were involved in, and are moving forward. The AIDS treatment is going very well. There now are 435 clients alive and well 2 years after beginning treatment, and 849 alive and well after one year of treatment. One hundred and twenty two of these are children under the age of 14. ALL of those people would be dead by now if treatment had not been available, and there would be many more orphans. It does show a very bright glimmer of hope for the people. We are hopeful that the program can expand to the point where all of the people who should be on treatment will receive it.

I am busy writing our annual Newsletter. I am hoping to have it ready and sent just before Thanksgiving –means I really have to get busy! I will post a copy of it here when I am ready to mail them. Also, I hope to post an entry which will show just what the finances of the hospital are at this time.

God Bless,

Dick and Loretta

Re-entry continues...

We have now been back in the U.S. for a bit over two months. Four weeks were spent traveling, with the climax being our 50^th Anniversary Celebration in Shawano, Wisconsin on 25 July (even though the “real” anniversary date was 29 August). We had it at that time so that all the grandchildren could attend and not have to miss school.

Here is a picture of all 34 of us!

Many of your sent donations to MDA as a gift to us – perfect!

And “thanks so very much.”

Shortly after the celebration, Loretta developed quite severe back pain, and that necessitated several trips to Urgent Care, travelling back to stay with our son Tim near Tampa, FL, and then an MRI and then Physical Therapy. It is good that we were here in the U.S. to get the appropriate treatment and the P.T. Fortunately, she is now improving, so we are hoping that continued exercises will help to solve the problem.

I remain quite involved with St. Theresa Hospital. Ms. Hove, the Administrator, sends me monthly reports that include finances, diesel usage, Senior Staff Meetings, and “problems.” The current most pressing problem is that Dr. Murungu is leaving on October 1^st! I had been assured that he would be there for at least another year, but an opportunity came up for him to combine working on a Masters in Public Health along with a job at the AIDS&TB Unit in the Ministry of Health. I fully understand that he HAD to take that position, but it still leaves the hospital in a difficult situation. I am busy trying to find adequate donations to be able to fund the “top-up” required for a new doctor. Salaries in Zimbabwe are terribly low by our standards, but it still requires a lot of small donations to find the $12,000 per year per doctor that might be needed.

I continue to plan on returning for a month in March/ April 2010. Possibly one of our donors will travel with me, to see the results of his family’s donations. I am also trying to find “short-term” doctors to go for one to two months to help. They will be able to stay in our house, and I think, have a tremendous experience. IF anyone is interested, contact me at: zim.stoten@gmail.com More on that later!

“Re-entry” for me remains difficult. It is so difficult to be involved in “everything” concerning running a busy hospital and outpatient and AIDS treatment program, and now be involved in mowing the lawn, cleaning out the car, visiting kids and grandkids, etc. Still, this is where God wants us at this time, so I will gradually become more and more involved with “other projects” here. Tomorrow I am going to the first meeting of “This Man is You” at our Church. It goes from 5:30 to 7:00 AM for twelve consecutive Thursdays, with another session in the Spring. I will keep the Blog updated about this! It should help me to meet more people at the very large church that we now belong to, and find ways to answer God’s call right here.

Dick