2nd Monday

Greetings, friends and family,
We have just four more days to work here, and then start for home on
Friday. This week the medical teams will be conducting clinics all
day every day.

Someone out there, who has been on a previous medical trip here, sent
a response to my last post asking for an update on the staff working
here. The staff here are wonderful folks. Teddy Alemayehu is the
Project Manager. He is a university graduate with a background in
nursing and public health. Before joining the project he worked at
Black Lion Hospital, which is the largest government hospital in Addis
Ababa. I've had the privilege of being granted a lot of access to
Teddy, who is a busy man. I've traveled with him several times
through the communities on foot, and we don't get anywhere fast
because he is known and loved by many people. When I'm not listening
to Teddy answer one of my many questions, I am standing there watching
him embrace and talk to the people that stream into our path when they
see him coming. Once in a while he translates because the person
we're speaking to insists that he tell me what they are saying.
"Teddy is our father. Before meeting Teddy and coming into the
program, I am very sick and cannot even get out of my bed. He used to
yell at us if we do not do exactly what we must with the program, and
our medicines. Now we understand each other. My family is safe and
getting healthy. God is good to us."

My transportation to one of the clinics has just arrived, so I'll need
to end this.

Love to all,
Steve