Kilimanjaro Journey : You know you live in Africa when...

...instead of being asked, "how are you feeling?" I am asked, "how many parasites do you have?" Yes, all fun and games till your parasite count is to high! The director of the school chuckles to himself and says, "quite something how a little bug can lay you out flat." I do not know how many parasites I currently have. Since I am feeling better I would think that the count is dwindling. I will have another blood test on Wednesday marking 10 days from when I consumed the medicine in its entirety. I still experience headaches, tiredness, and an occasional lingering fever. If the parasite is no longer present then I can concentrate on rebuilding my strength. If the parasite remains then it will be another round of medication. I hope for the first!

It has been over a week since I discovered my battle with malaria. This time last week I could barely lift my head from the pillow. Much improvement and for that I am grateful. Once the fever broke there were still many moments of being tied to my bed. Variety of thoughts roamed in and out of my head. At first, many were negative thoughts of frustration. We often like to ask the "why" questions. Why now when I am so far away from home and Milo do I get so so sick. Why when I worked so hard to be able to attend school and striving so hard to learn swahili. "Why do I have to suffer from malaria?" Yes, I asked the questions but when in reality when is it a good time to get malaria? (There are an awful lot of "I's" in those thoughts!) I wearily stepped out of my bed and took my Bible. My study for the week was on Job (pause) appropriate. We are people who want an explanation! Don't we? We want to understand why and we are constantly reminded in those moments that we rarely get a reason! I was reminded as I lay in bed sick that the questions I was asking were ones of flesh. The greater stake in life is that of our spiritual self. We live in a broken evil world that has things like malaria. My thoughts shift to that of my Tanzanian friends. Malaria is as common here as the flu in the States. So common in fact that with the hint of the symptoms people treat it as malaria rather than spending money for a test. And, when someone is sick they will typically say it is malaria regardless if it is or not. As I lay here in my bed I realized that I am not exempt. To live here is to take the good and the bad. Because now when one of my friends talk of malaria my point of view has been influenced tremendously!

So, how has malaria influenced me? A story I remember my veteran teammates told came to mind after passing out mosquito bed net. A mzee (swahili for an older person) told them: "I thought malaria was from a curse. I didn't know there was something we could do to not get it." By passing out a $10 net he discovered a "why" answer of the spiritual realm. To know that he has not been forgotten and that someone cares about him. In Africa, malaria is a curse, but a preventable and curable one. A child in Africa dies of malaria every 30 seconds. Over 60,000 deaths in Tanzania are of malaria and 80% of those deaths are children under the age of 5 years old. Babies who are mal-nourished and not strong enough to fight the parasite. As I scanned the information and statics of malaria it brought me to tears. 80% of "my Tanzanian babies" are dying before there is a chance to tell them about Jesus. How has malaria influenced me? I have a first hand experience with the awful plague because we live in a fallen world. But, I grow in strength that we can break the curse with the hope that the best days can be yet to come in Christ.

How has this influenced you? Many of you have sent well wishes and notes of encouragement. I understand some have studied and read up on malaria. When someone you know is suffering it becomes more real. Does it not? Several have asked if there is something you could do? A moment of dancing in the rain came this idea. I have become convicted about assisting to break the chains of the curse especially for "my kids." I am here to share the gospel. There is something you can do to continue to partner in this venture. A mosquito net will assist with prevention of malaria. This can then lead to opportunity to share hope of a life in Christ. One net stretches over a family bed can reduce percentages of malaria and hundreds of lives can be spared. Yes, there is something we can do!

If you have been influenced by this journey of malaria like, I have, then I encourage you to be a part. Here are some suggestions:

If you are a monthly supporter who would like to increase an additional $10 for a net. You can send it in with your monthly pledged when scheduled. I suggest you let me know by e-mail wendy.tanzania@gmail.com an amount to be set it aside for "net" fund.
If you would like to send in a special one time finical gift for "nets" you are welcome to click the giving link at the top left hand side of this blog. Or funds can be mailed to: CMF International Wendy Wagoner 400300 "nets"/ 5525 E. 82nd Street, Indianapolis, IN 46250
Kids can rally around helping kids! If your Sunday School or Kids Club would like this on as a project this year you can request CMFI's "Take a Bite Out of Malaria" project, go to http://cmfi.org/partner/missionsresources/vbs to request information. Send finical gifts by way of the second bullet point listed to "take a bite out of malaria."

This will be something that as there are funds available to buy needed nets we will use them to evangelize to kids within Tanzania about malaria prevention but mostly about the love of Jesus. For the days I have breath I will continue to be a part of the great adventure of telling people about Jesus here in Tanzania. Breaking the curse of darkness and sharing the light! "In this life you will have trouble but take heart I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) There will be many things we do not understand but there is one thing that I know! That is that I have the ability to share who has overcome the world. I want to be a part of breaking the statistics of malaria because they represent lost souls! Join me on the front lines of the battle!

Prayer Points~

It would be a stretch to say that I am grateful for Malaria. Not true at all. Malaria is a terrible sickness that inflicts many here. Through being very sick I have found a sense of gratitude for what I have learned. And how I can be a tool to share with you as a tool and journey along side my Tanzanian Friends. They say you are not Tanzanian till you have suffered from Malaria. I have now experienced many good and bad things of living here. I want to be a part of shattering this curse!
Please continue to pray for my strength and healing.
Pray as I continue to stay a float with school. Nets are a tool but knowing Swahili is the Key! Being properly equipped with this key is vital!