A Humbling Experience….

First off I have to say how truly grateful I am for all the generosity, support, and words of encouragement over the last month or two. We have had nothing but positive input. I can not even describe how awestruck I am by the good nature of our community. Whether it is by making a donation, offering further contacts for support, or storing our stuff, this town has pulled together. Not only has the outlying community helped, but close family and friends have been recruited to help with our biddings. Right now my former household items are split into 6 piles in 6 different houses. I can not express enough - thank you thank you thank you!

The big move has taken place and I am now living with Jessica’s parents for two weeks before departure….Countdown is on. Jessica and I were lying in our new rooms thinking, “this isn’t right, it’s different.” How is it going to feel in a few weeks where we will make multiple moves and live in many different VERY foreign places. Can I make a mud hut cozy? Will I have a hot shower on a day where the monsoon rains come? Will Jessica’s mom make me a hot meal in Africa? I better get used to cozy living while I have it.

The attention generated from this trip is immaculate. Everywhere I go I hear, “I saw you on TV today,” or “my mom heard you on the radio yesterday.” Jessica and I have become mini celebrities in Kelowna. I have to say I thought I would enjoy the attention, but it can be trying at times as well. Two days ago I called scheduling to change my contact information and the scheduler on the other line knew of me, the trip, and Jessica’s name. I can’t even begin to express the feelings involved in the process thus far……..

For starters, to hear how “wonderful, courageous, and selfless I am” is extremely humbling. I feel extremely honoured to be the one to teach nurses to be better nurses. By any means I do not feel qualified and feel as though I have been frantically asking myself “how do you nurse again?” “You know this Lianne, you know this,” I keep repeating. What I am trying to say is that I feel that we are doing what we believe in, helping others in need, helping others be better at who they are, and thus helping us become better people as well. Nursing to me has always been about caring for others and wanting to make a difference, what a perfect opportunity!

In Conclusion I want to say that I am honoured to receive as much praise as we have in the last few months. However, I believe that if given the opportunity, anyone would take the chance to make a difference. “A man is the sum of his actions, of what he has done, of what he can do, Nothing else,” Ghandi….

Lianne

Where we will be spending the next 6 months

Just look at how professional these students look! We are hoping for nursing caps too..

...soon to be our fellow co-workers

Here are their only 'teaching tools'



See..this is why we need to bring projectors and a screen. Also Lianne is lefthanded and does not do very well writing on the chalkboard.

Capital News May 16th

Nurses heading to Zambia to share expertise

May 16, 2008

Nurses Lianne Jones and Jessica Barker, with some of the supplies they will be taking with them to Zambia. They will be living and working in the African country for six months.

Adrian Nieoczym/Capital News

The month before.....

I have to say that Jessica and I inspire to write as magnificently as many of our other travel friends, and I think she did a pretty good job. I’m always writing second, which means most of what I wanted to say has been said for me. Therefore, I will write my personal thoughts with a spin of Liannism and sense of humor.

Africa….I have been dreaming of you for years. A true story: when I was coming home from Ghana I had a lay over in Frankfurt airport. I was alone, depressed to be leaving, and feeling like an outsider with my waist-long twisted hair. Over the PA system I heard the familiar announcer calling yet another destination, but this time it was “last boarding call for Accra report to gate 21.” I got off the bench I was trying to sleep on and literally ran to gate 21. What I would accomplish when I got there was uncertain; I only knew that I needed to get to that gate to help the feeling of despair in my gut. When I arrived I saw two African businessmen chatting. I don’t know what it was about them or me, but when they saw me they gave me that warm Ghanaian smile and hug. Was this weird to be embracing complete strangers in an airport? In Western Societies possibly, but it felt natural and welcoming. We introduced ourselves and I found that they were heading back to Accra from business abroad. Of course they gave me their contact information for “when I returned to Ghana (as there was no possibility to them that I would not return, and I have to admit I feel that I will return).”

That simple embrace in the airport made up my mind. I was returning to Africa no matter what it would take. I longed to walk down the street and greet every person that walked by. Africa had become my second home, if not the homiest of homes.

When we returned, we immediately looked into any possibilities that would allow us to nurse abroad. Many of the avenues we tried wanted two years of nursing experience. We did not have that qualification, so we looked harder and talked to every connection we had. What came from the networking? A beautiful trip to Zambia.

Zambia, what do I have to say about our upcoming trip to Zambia. I feel: scared, sad, happy, excited, worried, amazed, relieved, contentment, jubilance, radiant, bewildered, overwhelmed….and the list can go on and on. In all the literature that I read I keep coming across, “Zambia, the real Africa.” What does this mean? Was I not in Africa prior to being in Zambia? I will have to elaborate on this thought from the ground level when I arrive.

Overall, I look forward to this trip immensely. I must keep reminding myself of the good that can be accomplished and the reciprocity of learning that will take place. In my experience the month leading to a big trip can be chaotic. Let me tell you, the month leading to a trip where you move to one of the poorest countries in the world is agonizing, but the light is at the end of the tunnel.

I look forward to all of your support and thoughts throughout our adventures. Thank-you from the bottom of my heart.

Jessica's Random Thoughts: One month before Zam

So one month till I return back to Africa! I find it interesting to think of where I was just one year ago. I had just returned from nursing in Ghana, West Africa. I remember the exact moment that I left Ghana, and as we were flying over Accra (the capital)..I said to myself ‘I just know I will come back to Africa’ So many people who have been to Africa talk about the impression the continent leaves on you..and it’s so true. Among many things, it is stunning, with so many neat places to explore and travel. The best part though..has to be the people! I have never met people so happy, so beautiful and so gracious and grateful for everything they have...even if they have very little. We have so much to learn from them.

Nursing in Ghana was definitely the beginning of something special. It gave me the courage to try other international nursing opportunities. When the opportunity arose this year to head off to Nicaragua, Central America with a surgical team from KGH, I jumped at it knowing it would be yet another life changing experience. And yes it does seem like I have the travel bug- baaaaaad! But it is just so perfect that I get to combine two things that are important to me – travel and nursing. I get to meet the most amazing people everywhere I go, and the best part of it all is how much I learn. Not only do I learn about other cultures and nursing in their environments, but I sure do learn a lot about myself.

Now it is time for Zambia. Lianne and I have been working towards this goal ever since we graduated. Why? Because as soon as we came back fom Ghana, we needed to find a way to nurse back in Africa. As it stands now, we will be teaching at Lewanika Nursing College in the rural town of Mongu, Zambia. But really without a couple key people none of this would have happened…..

The first is Gene Krupa, an professor within UBCO. Gene went to Zambia last year to initiate a partnership between our city Kelowna and a town in Zambia called Senanga. He was also there to begin a partnership between UBCO and the University of Zambia (UNZA). Once we found out Gene was going to Zambia we added another mission to his list..find nursing projects for Jessica and Lianne!! It is interesting because Gene was our instructor a few years ago..and he even taught us the Community Development piece to our nursing degree. The neat thing is now we are applying everything that he taught us in lecture. At the time I don’t think he ever thought we would be collaborating with us on these kind of projects!! And now look where we are….:)

Another important person with whom we have been working closely is Dr. Bill Nelems, a thoracic surgeon at KGH. His heart also lies in Africa, as he lived in Zambia as a boy. He was also very influential in establishing the connection between UBCO and UNZA. His vision is to improve the health of the Zambian people and has created a plan with his ‘Zambian Health Initiatives’. Me and Lianne teaching in Mongu is one of the first of these initiatives. The next will involve putting medical and surgical teams in North-western Zambia starting next year. Maybe we will just have to join in on that as well!

So as I see it right now..this is just the beginning of something very exciting. In the past couple of months things seem to be falling into place. There are partnerships and opportunities springing up all over the place for Zambia. I feel like we still have so much to learn. The great thing is that we have great mentors around us, all of whom can teach us so much. This really is the opportunity of a lifetime…can’t wait to see where it all leads...