Due to the lack of working vehicles, we have been unable to go to the main Haven with the children since I arrived, so Antonia and I decided we would go to the local mall where I could purchase a cell phone and we could eat ice cream. At first, this sounds like a wonderful idea and in my head I think we are going to take a hired car or be given a lift by someone from the Village...then Antonia drops the bomb.
"So we will walk down the hill, run across the highway, stand on the side of the highway and stick our fingers out, pointed to the right and hope that a mini bus stops and picks us up."
"I'm sorry. You want me to do what?!?"
Mind you, Antonia is 5'10", blonde hair, piercing blue eyes, and German and I am, well...me. The final words Gail says as we walk out of the door are, "Don't act like tourists." Right - have you seen us? So there we go, runnimg across the highway and standing on the side like prostitutes waiting to be picked up by a random mini bus that has no marking, is half the size of a mini van but they somehow cram at least twenty people onto it. By far, the scariest experience of my life, but that is how you get around here - so unless I plan on being on house arrest, it looks like this is my only option. The funny thing, is that if you want to go to the city, you point up - you point down if you want to go out of town - if you want to go to an area where the orange groves are, you hold an invisible orange in your hand. It is so chaotic, but I love it.
The mall is cleaner and just as big as any mall in the US and things are relatively cheap. Upon our return in the mini bus, we had spaghetti for dinner - yes, spaghetti - and Gugu came back with us where we painted her toenails and dressed her up as a princess. She ran around like the energizer bunny and she continues to be an inspiration to me.
I woke up this morning and knew my cold was getting much worse so Dr.Mick gave me a check up and I have a viral infection and he gave me some meds and I am not to play with the children for a few days as their immune systems are weak. That will break my heart when I see Gugu today, but I will not risk getting her ill.
There is a 15 year old girl here in our sick bay who had her knees crushed in by men who didn't want her to get away as they raped her and we are waiting on her HIV test results and will get them on Monday. She is very quiet and scared. I truly can't even wrap my head around that kind of savage behavior. I am glad she is in a safe place now and getting the care she needs. The mothers all do the cooking, cleaning, and washing of dishes here and I know they don't feel good and are tired, so this morning I stayed after breakfast and did the dishes for everyone to give them a small break and I think I will do that every morning if I can. It's the little things that help them to know we care. Some of them don't know my name yet so they walk in and say "good morning, lady," with big smiles on their faces. It always warms my heart.
Anyway, that is the update for now. The sun has still refused to grace us with its presence, but we hear it might decide to come out and play this weekend - so cross your fingers.
As always, I send my love.
