Tuesday, October 31, 2017

The.Saddest.Story.Ever.

Yesterday afternoon, my friend Melissa called.  She and her hub Joe were just leaving a doctor's appointment in St. Louis Park and her first-grade twins would be home from school in about twenty minutes.  Could I pop over to her house and be there when they arrived?

I have know Melissa and those twins since they were two.  I had them in swimming lessons for close to three years.  We'd gone out for lunch together several times, but I hadn't seen them in maybe a year.  Of course, I said, "Yes."

I beat the bus to their house in Farmington, and when they got home, I hopped out of my car.  Gabe looked at me and said, "Who are you?"  Broke.my.heart!   

The.Second.Saddest.Story.Ever.

Last week was life jacket day at the Y where we gave all of our classes the opportunity to swim in life jackets.  Now you might think "the second saddest story ever" was when one of my fifteen month old students literally got stuck in her life jacket.  It took both her mom and I working together to finally get her out of the jacket because that zipper was STUCK.  Sadly, the story happened in my next class . . .

I have a larger student who I didn't think would fit in one of our thirty-to-fifty pound life jackets, so I grabbed a fifty-to-ninety pound life jacket.  I tried to put it on this student and it did not fit.  I asked him if he knew how much he weighed.  He smiled and said to me, "Ninety-eight pounds."  Friends, this child was FOUR!  And that's what makes this story so sad . . . think about it.  When did you weigh ninety-eight pounds?  I was 102 pounds the day I graduated from high school!

Sunday, October 29, 2017

The Past Thirty-Four Weekends

One I actually had off;
One was spent out of town at a wedding;
One was Easter weekend;
One I was scheduled to work but found a sub (due to Sam's surgery and you know what I did all weekend!);
Two were spent in Ukraine;
Ten were spent working at the Y;
Eighteen were spent working at 
Sand Creek Adventures.

... and that explains why you haven't seen me for a very long time!

Last Day at Sand Creek . . .

At 32*F, wearing two pairs of pants, two pairs of socks, two shirts, two coats, hat and mittens - I can't said I was sad driving to work at 8:00 a.m. yesterday morning!  The only redeeming news was the lack of snow - we actually had more snow in Lakeville than they did in Jordan!

Our first group of the day was the Rosemount Fighting Irish Girls Hockey Team!  Mark and I brought them down the ice covered hill and over the ice covered bridge for some team bonding.  We had a blast!  We followed that up with Mark and I working together on the Leap of Faith where even the coaches got up.  After that, we sent them zipping.  The saddest part of their time - when they told us that last year they had only won seven games which actually was great because the year before thy hadn't won any!  May they do better this year!  The best part of their time - they had pizza delivered to the bus to eat on the ride home.  As they were passing out pizza, I discovered that my male co-workers had given the girls my warm wool mittens!  I hopped on the bus and they sent my gloves up with a piece of sausage pizza which I joyfully ate right in front the the men! 

My next group was a co-worker from the Y and her family.  Sadly, the group of six turned out to be a group of four - it's a bit hard to do team building with a group of four - but we had a great time!  I understood her reasons for bringing the family out and I'm glad I could spend the afternoon with them.  When we went up the hill to zip, it turns out that . . .

They were zipping with another group.  That other group included Super Man and Wonder Woman who in real life were sisters celebrating a 50th birthday!  We toured and had a blast - until platform three.  I was hooking up the last guy and I asked him how he knew the family, thinking I already had sister, sister, husband, son - maybe he was the other sister's husband.  Oh, no.  He told me he was the asexual life partner of the woman who's husband and son I had just sent down.  The things we can't make up on a zip line.  I still can't grasp their relationship - nor do I need to!

The last group of the day was Hannah's birthday.  Hannah worked at Sand Creek this summer and we had fun with her.  Sadly, her party of thirty had dwindled to a party of six - maybe they thought it was cold outside.  After we zipped them, I got to go home early enough to go to Saturday night church!

It was another great day at Sand Creek which was part of a great year - but at these temps, I'm so glad to be done for the season!

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Thankful Thursday!

It's amazing how living in a fourth world country can change your appreciation for what you have.  A few weeks ago, our water heater went out and we had to use hard water for an entire week.  At least we had clean water, unlike the water of Sierra Leone . . .
That human looking form in the upper middle of the photo is our good friend, Olly, diving in water that is used for cooking, cleaning, and living by the people of Sierra Leone.  I am thankful for clean water.

Our server spent most of last weekend being down, which greatly frustrated three out of four family members.  But can you imagine having no electricity at all?  Our friends in Liberia can.  I am thankful for electricity and internet access.

Our furnace died on Tuesday and the repair person will be here the same day as the snow - tomorrow.  The temps inside are beginning to drop and it will be a cool night at the Zupke home, but we have a home with four walls and windows and doors which our friends in Liberia, Togo, Benin, and Sierra Leone may not have.  I am thankful for a home that will be warm soon and an electric blanket until then!  

Saturday's CPR Class!

Before I write up "Thankful Thursday", I have to let you know how much fun I had teaching CPR-Professional Rescuer, First Aid, and Emergency Oxygen Administration last Saturday.  

I had a class of eight - four of them worked in "Kids' Stuff", the childcare at our branch and the other four came from three other Y's.  It was a hoot - because of "my people"!  Not only had I had three out of four Kids' Stuff staff children in swimming lessons, but they were doing "synchro CPR" - totally counting in unison and having a blast!  I can only say, "It was fun!"

Friday, October 20, 2017

Thankful Thursday!

Some days the things we are thankful for are not what we would consider "good" things, but maybe "needed" things . . .

Yesterday, Micah and I went up to Northwestern University (St. Paul) for their "Fall Preview Days".  I was excited because we got a free lunch with the deal - I'm always in favor of not cooking and lunch was the first event on our schedule!  

We made our way up to the dining room and were told we could have one entree, one salad, one desert and one beverage - excellent!  Except Micah has peanut/tree nut allergies . . .

There were five possible entrees - one had peanut sauce, two were cooked in an area that contained peanuts, one they weren't sure about - Micah had plain noodles.  

We went to the salad bar and saw major cross-contamination of items that we knew contained nuts with items that should not have.  No salad for Micah . . .

The deserts were all cooked in an area that contained peanuts . . . cancel desert.

Wow!  It hit me hard - how am I going to send her to college AND keep her safe?  Some of my best memories in college happened in the cafeteria.  I met so many neat people and had so many great conversations.  I don't want her not to do that, nor do I want her to eat just plain noodles . . . 

So I am thankful for yesterday and now realize that her going off to college presents a whole new set of challenges because we can't pack her lunch every day . . .

Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Only at Sand Creek . . .

 Well, my friends, there won't be many more Sand Creek posts as I'm only scheduled to work one more day this fall . . .

Alas, it was a most lovely drive through the countryside today with all the brilliant fall colors.  Sadly, that was the highlight of the day.  My team build was fine.  The zippers were fine.  Nothing noteworthy or exciting to write about, but the colors - they were most excellent!

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Meet some patients . . .

Today's post is reblogged from "Be More Heart" by Kathy Shearon.  Kathy is a medical lab scientist aboard the good ship Mercy and hails from Minnesota!

Surgeries have been going on now for almost two months and we have had many stories of miracles and restoration and God’s faithfulness to our patients.  Some come from the far corners of Cameroon where the arid landscape of the northern districts differs from the lush tropical surroundings in Douala.  I can only imagine the sort of bravery it takes for our patients to leave everything that is familiar and travel many miles on roads of all conditions to arrive at a white ship for an unknown fate.  They are the brave ones, they are the heroes.  Surgery in any context is no light matter and it takes an unfathomable amount of faith and hope to come to a far away place that is so different than your everyday normal.

Come and meet a few of our patients.  A thank you to our wonderful communications team who allows us glimpses into their lives.

We had our final orthopedic surgeries last week so all the kids have started their long road to walking on straight legs.  B ward (where they all stay when admitted) may be slowly emptying but our physical therapists’ (aka physios in some parts of the world) days are filling up as they work with the patients to increase their range of motion so the kids will one day run with the rest of their peers.

22046457_10154953616341381_6543735797914230817_n

This is Justine.  She is a 12-year-old with an infectious grin and sweet demeanor and was our first ortho patient.  She suffered from an extreme case of bowed legs caused from malnutrition.  She is up and walking around with the aid of crutches.  The photo on the right shows her taking her first steps with one of the physios, Ashley, cheering her on.  I have always admired the determination these kids have.  Their drive to master relearning how to walk is truly inspirational.  Eventually Justine will be able to keep up with the rest of the kids her age.  One of my favorite sights at the hope center is the kids in casts playing a little soccer not letting the casts get in their way.  Hope in action.

22489722_10155411076139900_4575592215771735876_n

This is Ernest.  It is hard to tell looking at the left-hand picture but Ernest is in his late 20s and has had this facial tumor for almost a decade.  Those eyes tell of the hardships and desperation he has faced in his young life.  While his peers have gone off to get jobs, pursue schooling or to start families, he has been unable to do any of these things.  I always love the stories of when our patients get to see their reflection post-op for the first time (the photo on the right).  Many times they lift their hands up to touch their face and they stop by habit to where the tumor once was.  Then they slowly close the gap between their hand and their face finally tumor free.  It is a beautiful!

22048056_10155363417564900_6855316315095786511_o

What I first noticed about Fadimatou was her grinning eyes and beautiful head scarf.  She comes from one of the northern districts and had to travel many hours to get to Douala.  She is 13 and for those who have spent much time with kids this age know how strong the desire is to fit in.   Since birth Fadimatou has suffered with her cleft lip.  She is a fighter, however, because many babies are not able to get the nutrients that they need to survive to school age.  Her surgery has been successful and she can travel home with her lip intact!

22089008_10155376183474900_4220926235784429971_n

Last, but most certainly not least, is our fistula patients (aka VVF).  What is this exactly?  Our VVF patients suffer obstetric fistulas which is a hole between the vagina and bladder, rectum, or both.  These injuries are caused by prolonged obstructed labor most often resulting in the death of the infant and the mother incontinent for life.  This is an unheard of childbirth injury in the western world.  We have access to first class healthcare where birthing mothers can get help if they need it.  Some of these women were in labor for days with no assistance or relief.  The birth of a child is traditionally a joyous occasion no matter what part of the world you find yourself in.  Sadly for most of the ladies here their lives have been marked with deep sadness.  Many of our ladies that come to have surgery have lived with these injuries for 5, 10, 20 years.  Their stories may break my heart but the hope and joy they have at being here fills my soul.  The recovery process for this type of surgery is quite long so we get to know our VVF patients (lovingly called the ladies) quite well.  Everyday they are encouraged to walk the halls and sing.  It is one of my favorite parts of the day.











When they are finally dry and their fistula surgery has been a success (some need a second or third) each lady gets to attend a dress ceremony.  Here each one gets to share her testimony and gets a brand new beautiful dress to show her rebirth into society.  She has gone through tremendous healing: physical, spiritual and emotional.  I attended one last week and it was beautiful to see them walk down the hall, dressed in new, colorful dresses with their head held high singing all the way.  It is a privilege to get to celebrate with them.
A few weeks ago I finished a remarkable book about a clinic that was started in Ethiopia by an Australian couple who specialize in fistula surgeries: The Hospital by the River by: Catherine Hamlin.  I would highly recommend it!
These are only a few stories from the hundreds of faces that will pass through the hospital wards throughout the field-service.  Please continue to pray for each and every one of them.  They all do not have happy endings and for every “yes” for a surgery there are many “nos”.  There is always hope in our creator who is a part of everything we do on the Africa Mercy and in Cameroon.

“So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; 
rather we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen.  
For the things we see now will soon be gone, 
but the things we cannot see will last forever.”  
– 2 Corinthians 4:18 NLT

"Jesus, I am Yours!"

From my friend, Erin Kirk, who I met in 2014 when we were both serving with Mercy Ships in Tyler, Texas -

 

Saturday, October 14, 2017

Only at Sand Creek . . .

I must say, we had a lovely morning at Sand Creek.  We started off zipping a group of Boy Scouts from Blaine and I ended up touring a fun family from Burnsville, Lakeville and Hastings. 

I had a 1:00 p.m. team build with an adventurous singles group from the Twin Cities and it started to rain as we walked down to the low ropes course.  It rained, friends, for the next four hours and EVERYONE scheduled showed up excited to do the high ropes and/or zip!  Like really?

Our staff were cold, we were wet beyond belief, and ever so glad to go home after the bridal party left!  Trust me, I was hypothermic . . . and it's still raining!

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Three Amigos

"Narcolepsy is a disorder of the nervous system.
It causes drowsiness and sleep attacks.
It’s also known as daytime sleep disorder and cataplexy."

Mom's oldest brother, Melvin, has narcolepsy.  Everyone in the family knows about it and everyone pretty much knows what to do when Uncle Mel has a spell.  That is - everyone in the family.

Tuesday morning, while Mom's youngest brother, Uncle Bob, was over at Dad's having coffee, Uncle Mel was also in town.  He stopped at a stop sign and fell asleep in his truck which was running at the time.  

The town cop (yes, that major metropolis of Lake Park, Iowa has one police officer!) found him and called "911".  The ambulance came and they got Uncle Mel out of his truck and strapped onto the gurney before he came to.  He refused to go to the hospital (which as family we knew he did not need to), but they needed to "do something" with him.

The cop called Dad.  Dad talked to Bob.  They brought Mel over to Dad's strapped to the gurney.  They unstrapped him at the front door.  Dad and Bob walked with Mel into the house.  The three amigos sat at the kitchen table, drinking coffee and eating cookies.  After about an hour, Bob brought Mel to his truck and they both went home while Dad went to Dinner Date.

I asked Dad if he'd told EMS that Mel had narcolepsy and he said, "No.  I just told them next time use an ice cube.  They looked at me kind of funny and left."

Hmmm . . . maybe, Dad, you should have told them to place the ice cube on the back of his neck!

Thankful Thursday!

"Thankful Thursday" actually posted on a Thursday - imagine that!  Maybe it's because it all started last night when . . .

Micah and I went to a Christian College Fair in Chaska.  Micah is interested in going to a Christian college, but she would like to stay in Minnesota.  The first college we saw at the fair was Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California.  My friend, Patti (Wilger) Hunter, is a provost there.  The representative, of course, knew her.  But she didn't know the Patti I knew - the Patti of Eagle Lake Camp who went mountain climbing and square dancing and camping.  Good memories of good times.

The next college was Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa.  The oldest daughter of the first pastor I remember from our home town church married the (now retired) athletic director at Northwestern.  Of course the representative knew Barry and Laura Brandt.  And while I didn't actually know Laura, I certainly had fun with her younger sisters, twins Mary and Marla, because they were my age.  More good memories . . . 

Just across the aisle from Northwestern was Calvin College, located somewhere in Michigan.  I knew of Calvin College because my first course manager at Sand Creek, Calvin Joustra, graduated from Calvin College.  Calvin came to Sand Creek with his wedding party this summer and I met a lot more Calvin graduates.  One of my favorite Calvin memories was on the Fourth of July in 2014 when he zipped the entire course carrying the American flag!  It was awesome!

I am thankful for these memories and more because I have them.  One of my friends from our Ukrainian team this summer, Ben Utech, is losing his memory due to multiple concussions and I can't imagine his loss.  So I am thankful for this gift . . .   

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

1701 . . .

Not the year, my friends, but the number of miles I have successfully swum at the YMCA!  No wonder I smell like chlorine!

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Only at Sand Creek!

Saturday morning, we had the Carlson School of Management MBA Program (from the University of Minnesota) out for some quality time on the high ropes.  While we didn't have to do any rescues, a lot of them struggled so I asked the question, "Which is harder - our high ropes course or Carlson?"  And you know what, I still don't have an answer!

They left late - like I said, they were struggling! - and our afternoon groups began to arrive crazy early!  Seriously, I'm gearing up our 12:00 group when all of our 1:00 zippers and two of our 2:00 zippers arrive.  What?  Two hours early?  So we zipped them - in hopes that somewhere in there we would get a lunch break!

This spring, I taught private swim lessons for Sterling Academy in Burnsville and one of my best students there came out and zipped yesterday with his family.  It was great!

When the sun came out and the rain stopped it got even better . . . save for those annoying little black biting bugs, but even they couldn't ruin at day at Sand Creek!  

Saturday, October 7, 2017

Thankful Thursday!

I have to tell you on Thursday, I was very thankful that Sam has a team of people who pray for him.  I'm not sure how often they pray - be it daily or weekly, but he sends his "Prayer Warriors" requests every week throughout the school year and I know they make a difference for both him and his students.  

Some weeks at our house are rougher than others.  This week we only had two nights were Matt was going to be home for dinner - and Sam showed up neither night which didn't exactly make me the happiest wife in the world.  So I am thankful for those who stand in the gap when I can't (or is that won't?)  . . . 

Only at Sand Creek!

Can you find out that the police chief for the City of Hopkins is afraid of heights!  We had the police chief, seven of his sergeants, one office staff, and the fire chief along with two of his top men out on the course.  They were a hoot and they all enjoyed the fact that the police chief is afraid of heights!

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

A New Field Service

We had the privilege of meeting Keith Brinkman in 2005 aboard the Good Ship Mercy while docked in Liberia.  That friendship has continued for twelve years, with the past almost two years spent praying for Keith's nephew, Jeremy, who was battling lung cancer.  Come and take a peek into what Keith will be doing in Cameroon this year . . .

What it is like when we start a new field service in a new country?  Well, our Advance Team would have been in the country four to five months before the arrival of the ship.  I serve as their liaison on board and have been on previous advance teams.  Whatever is possible for them to accomplish before our arrival is done, so that we can have a good start.

* Orientation and Training for over 270 day crew (local workers) who serve in almost every department on board – they are from the local community and we provide them with a stipend and meal.

* Welcoming of hundreds of new crew volunteers – we usually average about 100 people arriving and departing every month – our community is in a constant state of change.  Currently, we have 417 persons including our children from 35 nations.

* Learning how to drive in a new country – who has the right a way in a roundabout – how do you get to the airport, HOPE Center, Eye Clinic, Dental Clinic, Team House, even the market and for the large port of Douala how do you even get to the north and south gates.

* Our hospital is secured during shipyard and sailing and so the hospital team work on setting it all back up – but the greatest moment is when the patients come and as I walk between my cabin in the back (aft) part of the ship to the front (bow) where my office is to see the children in the hallways and the women doing their daily walks – life has returned to our hospital – a place we pray that will be an opportunity of hope and healing.

* Arrival Ceremony and Partners Reception help to connect our partners with our teams on board.  Plus many other activities to make all this possible.
For me more specifically, I have a three page Checklist for Arrival at a New Field Service including the following:

* Reporting – Statistical Reports – format, language and how often, for Mercy Ships and for the Government and Partners.

* Reporting to the Government, who are our main host, in Cameroon they have requested weekly and monthly narrative reports – 3 to 4 pages in French and English.

* Maintain our Field Service Overview sharing about each project we have planned from surgical, non-surgical and all the medical capacity building courses and mentoring and infrastructure.

* Programs Opportunity Sign Up – with all the opportunities the long term and short term crew can sign up and join + similar one for Local Churches, Ward Service and HOPE Center Service on Sundays.

* Set up spreadsheets and then monthly compiling, tracking and analyzing our expenses by project against our budgets.

* Update our process and facilitate for donations of items to local partners.

* Create our Communications Map with the Government and Partners.

* Make plans and orchestrate the Programs Reporting Times on Fridays.

* Working with our Mercy Ministries Coordinator for our new partners which often include children’s homes/orphanages, schools for the disabled, prison and sharing the Jesus Film with local churches.  I spent my birthday at one of the children’s home which includes those who are disabled.

Prayer Requests:
1.  Pray for the hearts & spirits of our patients and partners to be touched in greater measure by the hope and love of Jesus.  
2.  Additional women with obstetric fistula who we can provide free surgeries for them for a restoration of healing and hope.  
3.  Additional ophthalmic patients who have severe vision loss in both eyes, so that sight can be restored.  
4.  Safety and security – if you watch international or African news you will see that there are protests and unrest in this country but not in our region– our Captain and Security team take the safety of our people very seriously and restrictions are put in place for that.

Sunday, October 1, 2017

Fun With the F.O.O.s!

Matt, Micah and I met Allison, her hub Logan, Kennedy and Kingsley at the Mall of America today.  Sam thought Logan wasn't coming so he skipped.  Little Lincoln was home sick with Auntie Joyce.  Hard to believe - but we managed to have fun without them!  Just take a look and see . . . 



Maurinho

Only at Sand Creek . . .

You might have thought I was late for work yesterday when I pulled into Sand Creek following a school bus, but I was five minutes early and the kids from St. Olaf were thirty-five minutes early!  We had a great time with the TRIO group from St. Olaf.  They were encouraging, fun, and full of laughs!

We also had a new staff join us, Amy.  Emmi and I thought it would be great fun to take Amy touring on the zip lines when we were done as we both thought we were done at 12:30.  Little did we know that Friday morning, THIRTY additional people had signed up to come on Saturday!  We weren't both leaving . . .

We did get to tour - the guys were laughing at us.  Neither of us had worked platform two as a receiver, but Emmi said she'd give it a go.  I agreed to take on platform three.  Two went great - Emmi received both Amy and I.  I took off for three.  As I approached the platform, I knew something wasn't right.  I was slowing down too fast.  I barely made it to the brake block.  I was hanging there with my feet dangling in the air knowing that there was absolutely NO WAY I was going to walkie talkie the guys for help.  I assessed the situation and used one had to push the brake block back, then both hands to pull myself closer to the platform.  That process continued until my feet were finally able to touch the ground and I could walk up the platform - not more than twenty feet, but long enough to wipe me out!

We climbed back up the hill, Emmi went home to study (nursing major) and I stayed to work and train Amy.  Sand Creek was packed!  And they kept coming and coming and coming!  But you know what?  It's always fun there!  We had great people, great laughs and a great time!