"How do I fight a monkey?"*

I went for a run yesterday morning around 5 am, which is not an unusual occurrence. I basically run along this flat strip (the only flat strip miles around) which is lined by a canopy of trees, often and cutely inhabited by friendly monkeys. They are little brats and often slip their little monkey hands into windows and steal fruit, but they are friendly. Except the handless monkey. Well, as I write this, I’m confused, because the infamous evil monkey is the handless, tailless monkey, but this one definitely had a tail. Usually if monkeys are frolicking around as I’m running, they run away as I approach. Yesterday morning, let’s call him... Buster. Yesterday morning as I approached, Buster started running towards me. Feeling a little put off and not feeling up to a game of chicken, I veered off to the side. Upon doing this, Buster veered off his path also, and continued to run towards me. Upon realizing he was chasing me, I screamed. Buster then hissed at me. I decided to not stick around to see what happens and turned and ran away. I looked back and noticed Buster was still chasing and hissing at me, but was much closer this time, like basically at my feet. I screamed again. Feeling the adrenaline, the question that consumed my mind in that moment was, “How do I fight a monkey?”. Should I kick? Should I punch? What will he do? Will he viciously scratch at my face? Of course this was all running through my mind within a matter of seconds. I just kept picturing a scene from Outbreak. (Remember that movie? Am I right?). After the mental fight scene and Outbreak, I saw a giant stick lying on the ground. This stick was massive. I’m not sure why I picked it up because I definitely wouldn’t have been able to effectively swing it. But it worked. I picked up the stick and off Buster went. It took me 0.2 seconds to decide to get the hell outta there.

Now onto a different sort of monkey...
In a very recent blog, I talked about Clearance. Okay, I talk about him a lot. But I said I was taking him to Acts clinic this week, which is a world-renowned clinic specializing in HIV/AIDS and particularly successful in paediatrics. I arranged with a friend of mine (Jonathan), who’s a doctor there, to examine him and get a second opinion. The previous clinic tested him, took his white blood cell count, and said it was too high to put him on ARVs. Further, they said they had to wait to treat his HIV before they could treat his cloudy, nearly-blinded eye. And that was the end of it. Frustrating. But I finally took him this morning. Because he’s a new patient there they had to test him again and open a new file. We then took him into the room for the test, which is basically a little prick on the finger (like diabetic people) and onto a litmus-like strip. As the nurse brought out the finger-pricker, Clearance started crying hysterically and fighting the nurse. He got up and ran out of the room. I chased after him and finally convinced him to go with me to see his care worker. As Elsie started taking him back to the room, he erupted again and ran away. Elsie chased after him and finally tracked him down and brought him back. A few more people came into the room and held him down as he kicked and screamed and cried and bit. It broke my heart. I cried so many times today. We finally pricked him and then proceeded to open a new file. We then did a general check, which resulted in another crying fit (myself included) and near escape. Then an X-ray and then the news. He has Tuberculosis which is really not a surprise to me since he’s had a cough for 2 years, but the frustrating thing is why the previous clinic did nothing! He has two months of TB treatment before he can go on ARVs. The treatment is so brutal and hard on the body and very rigorous. For a little guy who stays with his teenage sister and doesn’t consistently have food, the chance of defaulting is extremely high. We then had to take his blood (the worst fit of all, myself included). Jonathan also booked him into see an eye doctor. It was such a hard day. That poor little guy was so scared. Somehow he still loves me. When Jonathan asked if they are still friends, Clearance said no. When asked if he still loves me, he said “Ahey” ... Yes.

Last thing, I finally had my last mango test. I wasn’t convinced I was allergic to the whole mango... just the skin. Usually when I touch/eat mango skin, the swollen lips and itchy rash comes a couple days later. I ate a little bit in my smoothie this morning and noticed my lips swelling up a couple hours later and my ear itching and burning. Now I’m sitting in Khethiwe’s bed in an apparently hot room, wearing a bunny hug and sweat pants, shivering achy skin and also nursing a bit of a runny tummy (the South African polite way of saying diarrhea). It seems to get worse every time. I hereby declare to the world that I am officially allergic to the entire mango! And vow to not eat it as much.

Update on Dad... he’s doing great. I don’t want to say much because I’ve encouraged him to write in his journal, which he has been doing extensively and I’m going to have him post a blog as a special guest very soon. He’s currently on a hunt with Todd.











**Title of blog suggested by the British Cat

Three

It’s incredible how time flies. I think of this in two ways. One, I was away from Africa for 7 months and upon stepping on red soil, that 7 months felt more like 7 minutes. Two, I’ve been in Africa now for 5 ½ months and am recognizing how much of my experiences I’ve shared, one would think I’ve only been here for 5 days. For this, I’m sorry.

Coming back has felt so normal. It’s so easy to share about things that stand out and are out of the ordinary day, like the Siamese triplet bananas I bought at the store yesterday. Three different random people that day told me it means I’ll have triplets.

I guess there have been a few things plaguing my mind and heart lately. One of these things is a family I met in 2009 and have often spoken about: Lorraine and Clearance. They stay in a small rural village called Clare A in the municipality of Bushbuckridge. As soon as I got back to Africa, I felt desperate to see them. I’ve been trying to visit them as often as I can, which really has only resulted in 3 visits. One of these visits was a whole weekend worth and another only a day just before Christmas. Both visits have been quiet and beautiful, filled with lots of drawing, reading, and sitting. Lorraine (16) and Clearance (11) stay alone. I shared in an earlier blog (Dying to Self)about their situation. I’m really overjoyed to say that Lorraine has changed her ways. She recognizes the dangers in her lifestyle and has committed to giving them up. Of course I’d love to say it was through my investment and selfless commitment to her, but I’m happier to say it was through a very beautiful and compassionate African woman of God who dared to dig deep and speak the hard things. It’s just another reminder that God’s vision is for the local church to love and care and transform. Clearance on the other hand is still very sick, with no improvement. I’ve known this for a very long time and have felt convicted in my heart to do something, but still I’ve done nothing. How is that even possible? This week I’m taking him to a specialist.

The second thing plaguing me is the arrival of my father. He arrives tomorrow and is here for two weeks. I almost can’t believe it. It’s truly a miracle he’s coming and I’m excited for the opportunity to go deep in my relationship with him. I have Kruger Park safari lined up, hunting, fishing, community visits, but mostly I want him to know the community I exist in here. I want him to meet and know the people that I’ve journeyed with and have shaped my life for the last 3 years. Exciting times!

The third thing is this recent development in my life that is, in turn, shaping my future. I’m getting married July 31 this year. It’s been a strange and beautiful progression of events leading to this point but it’s so clearly a reflection and symbol of God’s goodness and His perfect and bizarre timing. I had originally committed to serving in Africa until the end of 2012, but God decided it’s time to invest in a companion/ministry partner in crime. Oh yeah, his name is Willis and I met him here in Africa in September 2009. So I’m now going back to Canada in June, getting married in July and remaining in Canada for two years. Both of our hearts seem to beat for this place so we’ll see what happens.


I'm hoping to do a series of updates from Christmas holidays and other interesting things I haven't yet documented, so stay tuned.

Much love to you all!
Kristal

Ps - My camera broke, so no pictures. I'll work on getting that fixed as well as collecting photos from others.