Under a Baobab Tree

What an amazing week at work - I just returned to Accra after spending the week in some of the most remote areas in Ghana.  The MoTeCH team and I went around to rural health outreach clinics to sign up pregnant women and children under 5 for the MoTeCH service.  By the end of the week, we had registered around 700 women and kids - all via inputting the basic personal and health data into a simple mobile phone.  It was a lot of work, but also a lot of fun.  The clinics are held anywhere the community gathers - most of the ones I attended were literally under the local baobab tree.  The nurse would drive up on a motorcycle, benches would appear, a baby scale would be hung by one of the branches of the tree and the next thing you know, women and children are showing up from all over the village.  Each baby has it's own "sack" to be weighed in.  The babies are hung on the hook on the scale in the tree and their weight is charted in a health book the mom is responsible for.  That's the only health record the kids have and by the time a child is 5 or so, those little books are in pretty shabby condition.  Vaccinations, vitamin A, dewormers and basic health information was given out.  There were a few newborns and this constituted their first "well baby" check since the first check at birth.  Amazing. 

I totally enjoyed being out in the villages, watching how the moms interact, how the toddlers kept themselves amused with dirt and a pair of flip-flops and how old men hung out under the tree, ready to help with whatever was needed.  Some babies had "medicine" around their necks - little pouches of various concotions or skins that were the local, traditional medicine for one ailment or another.  Kids peed wherever they needed to, moms sat around on benches waiting for the nurses to log the kids' information in their health book and get it back to them, nurses shamed mothers for the condition of the books, goats bleated and men plowed the fields nearby and generally it was just life....under the baobab tree.  I just kept thinking how very different a child health clinic would look in the US - stressed moms who needed to get back to work, big strollers and well-packed diaper bags, toys and a sterile, confidential environment for receiving health care. 

Despite missing the kids desperately, it was a really great week at work and reminded me of exactly why I am here. 

A rural health clinic under the baobab treeA baby being weighed

Gratitude

Today was one of the best Thanksgivings I've seen in a while.  My mom thought she was leaving last night, but when we arrived at the airport, they informed her she was a day early!  So, she was here for most of the day today.  The kids had exams at school so mom and I had a leisurely day that started with a swim (for me - she sat on the veranda and had coffee), mom's first pedicure ever and a nice lunch.  I roasted a chicken (didn't come across any turkeys), made mashed potatoes and gravy & it felt a little like Thanksgiving.  The best part was spending much of the day thinking how very grateful I am.  Here's my list in no particular order:

• Health.  The past couple of Thanksgivings have been marked by surgeries and post-surgical complications.  This year, I feel stronger and healthier than I have in almost 3 years.  I forgot what it feels like to be able to swim and play in the ocean with the kids and to have my strength back and for the kids to know that Mommy really is ok. The kids are healthy, thriving and happy.  That's about as good as it gets.
• Friends and Family.  We are so blessed with how many people love & support us in so many ways near and far.  There are so many people here that have become part of our lives in such positive ways.  I love hearing from all of you that are far away and who connect with us by email, phone and just by sending love our way.
• Adventure.  Our lives are fun, interesting and never boring.  Yes, I get lonesome, yes, there are days that are challenging and when I'm exhausted and wonder just what part of me thought moving to Africa with 2 kids would be a good idea.  AND, every day, there are new things that I learn about myself, about the world and about what I "thought" I knew.  Everyday, I watch the kids grow in such amazing ways and with such a depth of understanding about the world and what it means to be....human. 

Today, I'm just thankful - for all of it.