Things I forgot to tell you

If I don't write it down then I forget half of the things that I want to write. For some reason I remembered this last night - maybe because I needed something to smile about!

After we had been to view Victoria Falls and we were waiting on the small bus for the last of our group we suddenly noticed quite the sight. There was a big tour bus a little ways from us and there were three white ladies in front of the bus. They were probably about our ages. I guess they were wet from being at the Falls and they decided to change clothes -- right there!! It was as if they were in a locker room or something. Off came the clothes - all of them. They did try and wrap a towel around but there was nothing left to the imagination. The Elders (our husbands) were doing their best to look out the other window but we sisters couldn't believe our eyes and watched the whole process!! :) Our bus driver was getting a good chuckle listening to our exclamations as the different pieces of clothes were removed etc.

We heard yesterday that two days before we went on our trip there that an American man had gotten too friendly with a hippo and the hippo bit his foot off. They rushed him to a hospital and they couldn't help him so they sent him somewhere else. By the time he got the right help he did end up losing most of his leg as the turniky (sp) had been on too long. YIKES!! They say that more people are killed by hippos than any other animal.

We were commenting one day as we looked out at the beautiful lake near the Inn on Great Zimbabwe that if that was in America there would be a ton of boats, sea-doos etc. and it would be surrounded by summer cottages - then we realized that it is not so here because the lake has crocodiles and hippos in it, as do most lakes and rivers here.

I will send some pictures for the blog. We went to Howard Hospital last Tuesday to watch as patches were taken off people's eyes. It is part of our friends' Reeve, CC, and Lolly - Eyes for Zimbabwe - where cataract surgery is done for free for the people. The Doctor and nurses donate their time and Eyes for Zimbabwe donates the supplies, which cost about $20 per surgery. There was a man (and a woman) there who haven't been able to see for about 3 years. When they took off the patch and they could see it was so awesome! They had the biggest smiles ever! They do one eye at a time - so later that day their other eye would be done. We were going to get back in time to the hospital to actually witness the surgery taking place but we didn't make it. The Dr. did 26 more surgeries on Tuesday though. I think they did more than 70 over a few days. Cataracts are a big problem here due to smoke, dust, etc. etc.

We distributed some new born kits at the hospital to the new mothers that were there. The girls also donated a lot of medical supplies that came in the containers, as well as some clothing to be distributed to those that the hospital felt were in need. Dr. Thistle from Toronto is the head doctor there. He has been here for 14 years. He goes back once a year to Canada for a month or so. There was a lady there from Toronto helping with some education. She was here for 5 weeks and was about to go home. She gave me a big hug just because she was homesick for someone from home. There were also 2 men there that had come from Toronto for 2 weeks to just help out at the hospital where ever they could. They went with us out to an orphange were we took some clothes, toys and food. They were taking a lot of pictures as they hadn't been able to get out there due to lack of transport. They also went with us to a school where it had been previously arranged to have children gather. We handed out Bibles and the children's New Testament Stories that the church prints. We also gave all the children an Article of Faith card that has the picture of Christ with the children on it.

Along the road through the bush areas and at the school we handed out clothes to some children and some New Testament books. The children in the bush are the ones that really need the clothes. It was a good day!! We got home late but that's okay.

Our trip to distribute in Muzarabani came with it's challenges but we were able to help some of the children with mealie meal, Bibles, New Testament Story books, socks, pens/pencils, etc. We weren't allowed to take pictures though but that's okay.

13 Apr 2010 - Men who had cataract surgery and more waiting

13 Apr 2010 - Women who had cataract sugery and more waiting for surgery today

13 Apr 2010 - A happy man who is seeing for the first time in 3 years

13 Apr 2010 - Elder Bullock putting sun glasses on eye patient after removal of patch

13 Apr 2010 - Happy lady whose sight has been restored

13 Apr 2010 - Sister Bullock and lady from Toronto. She was excited to see someone from home. She is here at Howard Hospital for 5 weeks.

13 Apr 2010 - Elder Bullock with Dr. Thistle - the head Dr. at Howard Hospital. He is from Toronto but has been here for 14 years. He works 12+ hours every day.

13 Apr 2010 - Preemie at Howard Hospital - born at 6 months (twin died)

13 Apr 2010 - Two Canadians from Toronto here for 2 weeks to do whatever the hospital needs them to do.

13 Apr 2010 - Kids got clothes and a toy

13 Apr 2010 - Girls got new dresses - made by adding a skirt to bottom of T-shirts. They are just great for the kids here.

13 Apr 2010 - Kids in their new clothes and dresses

13 Apr 2010 - Students received a Bible, 2 pens, socks and a notebook

13 Apr 2010 - All these kids got a New Testament Story book plus the clothes and toys

13 Apr 2010 - Lolly putting ointment and bandages on the sores on this girl's legs (ringworm, I think)

13 Apr 2010 - Showing us the orphanage poultry project - will be ready to sell in one more week.

13 Apr 2010 - Girls with their dresses

13 Apr 2010 - Kids at the orphanage with their new shirts and dresses

Today was Zone conference and we managed to attend a bit of it. We had a couple of meetings as well to do with LDSC as we didn't realize it was Zone conference day. O well.

Love to all of you, The Bullocks