If I made a Bucket List....

I have yet to make a Bucket List. If I do, I think I might have some difficulty coming up with a list. Some of the things I have done and places I have gone are things I never would have thought up on my own. Yesterday was one example! It was Sunday and we took the day off of surgeries. Two of the ICU staff went in for a few hours in the morning to check on our kids and then we had the whole day to do....whatever we wanted. Although, when you're sitting in a guest house heavily guarded by soldiers, you don't really feel like you can go do whatever you want on your day off. After a lazy morning and breakfast around 9, the general consensus was that we wanted to go to Babylon - since it is only an hour (ish) from where we were staying. About 12pm, we went outside to soak up some sunshine and pose for pictures with a few of the guards while we waited for the van to be ready. A few minutes later, we were told we were not going to Babylon, a lunch had been arranged somewhere else instead. An hour after that, we were told we could skip the lunch and still go to Babylon. A few minutes after that we were told, no, there will be no going to Babylon because no transportation or security had been arranged. I'll spare you the rest of the schedule changes - around 4pm - we were on our way to Babylon!

 Pulling into the front gate of Babylon - we had made it through 4 police check points and were a little uncertain they were going to let us in the gate of Babylon after 5pm, with darkness quickly approaching. Our amazing driver convinced them it was still a good plan, and we were let through!

 The main gate to Babylon! This is a replica, the actual gate was apparently abducted by some Turkish archaeologists and now lives in Germany.

 Me, standing by the gate! At this point we were told we could not go in because there was no time to tour the city and everything was closed anyway. We rushed around, trying to take photos before all the sunlight faded. Then suddenly, they decided we could go inside for 10 minutes! 

 Some sort of map of the city that I took a photo of while we ran through the entryway. Seriously did not look at it at all, just snapped a picture and ran after the rest of the group. =)

 I'm not sure what this is. But there is an information sign next to it, in Arabic, and our guide was speaking very quickly about its significance as we ran by. We had the coolest guide ever, he was so excited to give us a speed tour of Babylon and was animatedly rushing us from point to point, trying to give us as much of an experience as he could! Many times he said, "You must come back, you must come back. I give you nice tour - you need three hours!" He was awesome. Unfortunately, I was so enamored with the fact that we were walking through an ancient city at dusk, and too distracted by his awesome accent, that I can't remember half of what he said. So these pictures will all have fictitious descriptions, because I have no idea what I took pictures of!!

 This is one of the original streets, complete with the original broken and eroded stone underlay. It used to have stone pavers, with sanscrit writing on them. Apparently, these stones were also stolen by the Germans. (It was actually Turkish archaeologists that stole everything, but we had quite the joke with one of our team members who was German, because many times during the tour our guide said "Germany! Germany!" to indicate that the Germans had also abducted the original of whatever it was he was showing us.)

 A piece of one sanscrit inscribed stone the Germans accidentally left behind.

This is the entrance to King Nebuchadnezzar courtyard, which had 5 squares. The first square was for security purposes - anyone who entered without first visiting the Ministry of Papers and getting the correct clearance before visiting the Ministry of Stamps to verify the correctness of their approval papers, was immediately shot dead on sight. The other 4 squares were for various other important royal business, like building fiery furnaces.

 This is the top of one of the original gates into the city. Where you see the bricks change color is all new construction restoring the city. Over time, dirt/sand have built up and covered the original gates. (I was listening during this part of the tour, so I think all that's actually true...)

 Babylon! 

 Babylon at sunset. 

City wall decorations they used as landmarks when giving people directions. (Turn left at the second mythical animal and the bathrooms are straight ahead on your right.)

  An interior room in Nebuchadnezzar's palace that was mainly used as grain storage until the roof fell in. Then it was used as a temporary holding chamber for the lions when their regular enclosure was being cleaned.

This was the royal laundry chute.

 Babylon just before dark.

 Pausing to hear our guide repeat what he said about the roads through Babylon. He had SUCH an amazing accent! (Seek us honor red and fife busy: 605 B.C) 

 One of the last photos I could get before dark. 

 This is an archway they built as a cool backdrop for tourists to take photos in front of.

 The lion. (Want to see Leon? Half time? Horrie Horrie! These why!) Want to see lion? Have time? Hurry hurry this way!

This is the lion's view of Babylon. Such a cool experience!! 

And then there were three!

 Small but mighty! This adorable little four year old got all her tubes taken out today and will transfer to the ward tomorrow. She put up quite a protest when we got her out of bed to walk, until she saw her dad and walked straight to him! Afterward, she made him get in the bed with her, and she promptly fell asleep in this position.

 First smile of the day! This sweet girl was the first case today, and she woke up very quickly and was extubated within 30 minutes. Here she is a few hours later, already trying to smile!

 

 I saw this little one in the hall as she was going for surgery. She was laughing on her way back to the OR!  She got extubated within 2 hours, but was still snoring soundly by the time I left the unit today. 

 One more photo of my little friend from Thursday!  I love this little guy! 

 Ali came back to the PICU for an echo today, he almost  smiled. Almost. =)

We have Sunday off, and I am looking forward to sleeping in! It's been a really great trip so far!

Another day, another heart surgery!

This little guy was patient number one! Here he is dressed in his new pink outfit, ready to discharge to the regular ward, one day after his surgery!

 He has the most amazing eyelashes! 

 This boy feels like he fell down a flight of stairs, broke his nose, and had open heart surgery a few days later. Because....that's exactly what happened. He did great after surgery, and was even the first patient to have all his tubes removed and get out of bed and walk. He's a star!

There's nothing like breakfast in bed...=)

Sweet little baby! I spent literally hours patting him to sleep over and over again. He is doing well and plans to discharge to the ward tomorrow.

  

What happened to Monday? And Tuesday, and Wednesday...

I am safely in Iraq again! It was a bit of a rough ride here, since I got food poisoning from a 2am dinner in Nairobi, so spent the last hour of my flight to Istanbul and the better part of a day there pretty miserable. I met up with the team in Istanbul about an hour before our flight. We boarded our plane at 2:30am. I found my seat, stuffed my backpack under the seat in front of me and thought, "Am I really going to Iraq again?" Then, we were promptly deported off the airplane. After being counted numerous times by the Turkish Airlines staff assigned to evicting us, they herded us back to the gate, called the Iraqi government again, and finally allowed us to re-board. As you can imagine, it was quite the happy reunion when we rejoined our fellow flying mates after they anxiously awaited our return on their now-delayed aircraft.

When we arrived in Iraq, we were bused to a holding area and seated under a "non-Iraqis" sign for about 2 hours while they approved our visas. We were met by a battalion of fairly friendly and very well armed security personnel, who drove us to our guest house. (Via the most indirect route possible, which was either intended to deter followers, or...they got a little bit lost!)

Our bathroom window, and guests.

The guest house staff are quite accommodating. They served us monstrous portions of lamb and bread before we settled into our rooms. The rooms are big and well-heated. The house condition and furnishings are a mix of very nice, and very, um...unique? The girls' bathroom has a large hole in the window screen, which we learned is the personal escape route of a mother pigeon who has nested inside one corner of the window. She has a newly hatched chick to take care of, and Erin, one of the nurses on our team has curtained off the window of the bathroom with a blanket to give the birds some privacy. (Oh, and us too. =) We haven't named either of them yet and are still taking suggestions.

Internet has been on and off, and still off, and off again, and back off, and then on. If it stays, there will be more updates very soon! If not, don't worry about me, things are going fine!

Judy

  About 2 years ago, my mom chose to sponsor a child through Compassion International, and she chose a little girl in Nairobi, Kenya. Since I came to Kenya last May, she has been hoping that I could arrange to visit her sponsored child, Judy. I'm traveling through Nairobi on my way to Iraq, so I flew here early to visit Judy.

I only know a few basic things about Judy – she likes pink, she has two brothers and two sisters, she wants to be a doctor when she grows up. Beyond that, I really didn't know very much about this little girl or her family.

When I landed in Nairobi I was met by my Compassion host and translator, Emily, who introduced me to our taxi driver, Sumpton. It was morning rush hour, so some of our drive was pretty slow. It took a little over an hour to get through town to the slum where Judy lives. Finally, we parked in front of the church building that hosts the Compassion project. I walked along a freshly dug drainage ditch to get to the back of the building, to a small office where Judy was waiting with the project staff members. After introductions, we all sat around the table and prayed together, then looked through a notebook of photos and letters Judy and my mom have exchanged, and her school and medical files.

 Judy sat very quietly, blushing and looking away often, speaking only when spoken to. I gave her the pink backpack my mom had filled with school supplies, stickers, and a Bible. She happily emptied it onto the table and showed off her new things!

 After that, we walked to her home, which is only a few blocks from the Compassion project. We ducked through a small gate in a scrap wood/piece metal fence, and down a narrow corridor until we reached the door of Judy's house.

 I was quietly but warmly greeted by her mom and her older sister, who welcomed us in. I sat on one of the 2 beds arranged in an L shape along the walls. It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the darkness in the small room. Judy's mom Lucy welcomed me, thanking me for coming, telling me how much she appreciated Judy being sponsored by my mom and pointing out the mattress I was sitting on was a gift from Compassion. She told me that when her sister died years ago, she took in her three children and raised them as her own. They are all grown and moved out of the house. Now she continues to struggle taking care of her own five children. She showed me the necklaces she makes out of paper beads, and ceremoniously gave me two – one for me, one for mom.

Then she talked about the small business she started in the market a few months ago and her voice changed. She said that her oldest son, age 20, had just died in December. He was in Secondary school and had been doing well. Her eyes teared and she stopped talking. Emily continued, explaining to me that he died of Sickle Cell Disease, and that both of Judy's remaining brothers also have Sickle Cell. Their healthcare costs and the costs of the funeral used up all of the mother's funds, and she lost her market business. Lucy reached across the bed to a plastic bag and pulled out a framed 8x10 photo of her son and passed it to me. I'm not sure when the picture was taken, but the boy in the photo didn't look 20 years old, he looked like a young teen. He stared straight into the camera, unsmiling, with sad eyes and he was clearly sick. I looked up from the photo to the tear filled eyes of his mother and oldest sister, and my own eyes welled. Little Judy sat beside me, staring at the floor. I couldn't think of a single thing to say. Emily gracefully broke the silence, encouraging them about God's provision and His ability to change circumstances. Lucy dried her eyes and asked for me and my family to pray for them, especially for the two brothers to be healed. I promised them I would. Then I gave them the family gifts I had brought (flour, rice, soap, sugar, etc).

 

Judy's mom and sister stayed behind and I walked slowly back through the slum to the compassion project with Judy. When we reached the project again, I showed her how to work my camera and let her go take pictures. She pivoted in a circle next to me, pausing now and then to carefully click the button. Emily came to me and said the visit was finished, unless there was somewhere else I wanted to go. She left again to talk to the center staff and I turned to Judy, who wordlessly handed me back my camera. I put one arm around her.

“Judy, do you want to walk around somewhere? Is there anywhere else you want to go?” She hesitated for a few seconds, then surprised me when she nodded and whispered, “Yes.” 

“Where do you want to go?” I asked.

 “Mamba Village.”

 I had never heard of it and wasn't sure if I heard her well. “Where?” 

“Mamba Village,” she repeated. I asked Emily if she knew where it was and if it was far. She said that it wasn't far but we would have to drive there instead of walk. “Is it ok?” I asked. “If it's ok with you,” she said. I turned to Judy, “All right, let's go.”

We piled into the taxi, the project teacher sitting up front with the driver, and me, Judy and Emily in the back. Judy sat between us and folded her hands in her lap. “Have you been to Mamba Village before?” I asked. She shook her head. Emily asked her something in Swahili and when Judy answered, Emily looked to me and translated. “Some of the kids from the project went there in December, but Judy missed because of her brother's funderal.” I nodded and smiled, and managed to say something else to Judy, but inside I was completely overwhelmed. I've gotten to do some pretty cool things in my life, but this really blew my mind. If you heard of a 10 year old girl, living in a slum in Africa, who had missed out on a year-end party because she was burying her brother, you would want to jump on a plane, fly to Africa and throw her a party. And here I was, sitting next to this girl, because my mom asked me 8 months ago if I would go and see her. And somehow, this shy little girl had the guts to ask me to take her to Mamba Village, minutes before our visit was supposed to end. Here I was, handed the role of hero.

We drove about 25 minutes to Mamba Village, and as we pulled in, I felt Judy's excitement growing. You couldn't tell much, as she leaned slightly forward to look out the car windows as we parked, hands still folded in her lap. I held out my hand to her as we got out of the car and she slipped hers in mine.

We had what nearly every child in Kenya wants to eat when they get taken out: kuku and chips (chicken and fries). 

Afterward, we toured the crocodile enclosures (75 crocodiles? Seriously!) and the still shy Judy eagerly took my camera and snapped pictures, even giggling when I agreed to hold the baby crocodile first (except for the head) and shaking her head as the guide explained that crocodile eggs are all white, like milk, and taste like chicken eggs mixed with fish . Yummy. 

He asked me if I wanted to hold "even the head?" I said no!

Judy was smart - just hold the tail! No teeth there. =)

She went on the Merry-Go-Swing ride and got scared enough to yell out for the operator to stop, but regained her cool composure by the time the ride stopped and softly insisted that she had fun when we all asked her afterward if she was ok or felt sick.

 She got her face and hand painted, and by then it was after 3pm and time for us to leave. She walked next to me all the way to the car, and we took a few more pictures along the way.

As we drove back toward Judy's home, she sat just as quietly as she did before. But this time, she had scooted over to sit pressed against me, and every time I looked down at her she smiled. We were about halfway back when the taxi driver looked at us in the rear view mirror and said, “You know, she will never forget this day.”

Neither will I.