Hi Dearest Family and Friends!
How are you all doing? Things here are going well. I thought that we had survived the heat of summer, we were all getting ready to celebrate as we had a week of beautiful rain storms that brought the nights to almost chilly! Then the rains went and it's hotter than ever! I can't help but think that this last week has actually been hotter than the entire rest of the summer! Unfortunately with the heat of summer comes short tempers and rising boredom. I feel really sorry for Alisa having to keep all 5 kids entertained during this heat! It has been a long time since I have written, so sorry if this gets to be a long novel!

Kenya
It has been approved for me to go to Kenya for the 9 day nursing conference in March! I am so excited to meet up with some of my fellow expats working in Africa! I look forward to chatting with them, exchanging notes, getting some good updates on my nursing knowledge/skills as well as learning some new things. I also hope, while I am in Kenya, to see a few of the sights! Within Nairobi there is a game park that has a cheetah petting area! I can't wait!!! Yes, it would be more cool if it was leopards, but you beggars can't be choosers! :-)

Anyways, as a way to help defer the cost of the trip, a work fund has been started through AIM. That means that all donations will be tax deductible! The approximate cost of the trip is $1,800. That includes my round trip ticket, registration for the conference, as well as accommodation and travel to the conference location. I will be paying for any extra days of pleasurable sightseeing out of pocket, in case you were wondering. :-) If you would like to donate to this trip (and much needed mini vacation), then you can send a check into AIM. Please remember to not put my name on the check as this renders it a person gift and does not make it tax deductible. Instead, please make the check out to AIM and include a note in the envelope that says 'For Kimmie Tibbetts, Personal project fund: Nursing Education/travel- ID #058660-015. Thanks for your prayerful consideration of contributing to this!

Christmas
Some of you have asked how my Christmas was and I wanted to share it with everyone. Please let me tell you first about the 23rd! The week prior to Christmas we collected money from each of the nurses in the ward so that we could buy decorations. I figured that the nurse who came up with the idea would come around on Friday and take the money and buy the decorations. Well, she didn't! I was working that day from 7-7 so you can imagine my surprise when I walked in to a plain ward that morning. After we did our morning tasks, the other Sister in charge sent me and another nurse out shopping. We went around town- twice- trying to find the right decorations. We returned and spent the rest of the morning decorating. Which, I might add, was unlike any experience that I have every had! My idea of how to decorate and my colleagues idea of how to decorate are worlds apart! (Imagine that) So, I would ask you to please look at the pictures on the yahoo website to see how our decorating turned out! Then, in the afternoon, we got a surprise visit... from Santa! All of the kids in the entire hospital were rounded up and taken into one of our empty rooms and got to spend some time with Santa! They didn't sit on his lap like they would have in the States, but they all got little goodie bags from him as well as cake and juice! Apparently it is the owners of one of the grocery stores that do this every year. I didn't have my camera but got some of the photos from Dr Yuri (he's the Chief Medical Officer of Rundu State Hospital- basically he's the director over the entire hospital).

Christmas Day itself was a very good day. I started my day by treating myself to French toast, bacon and chocolate milk. Then I opened my presents that my family sent me (I got some great stuff). Then we all went to church. Well, let me clarify. All the week before Christmas, Pastor Domingo was telling Rob that we all needed to come to church on Christmas morning for a special service, but didn't tell Rob when it started. Even after asking him several times and calling him and his son several times (frequently without getting anyone to answer). So we came to Christmas morning still not knowing when church was going to start. They had announced that there was going to be a meal after church so we thought maybe it was going to be in the late morning and continue into the afternoon. We got the phone call before 10 that church had already started and why weren't we there. So, we packed up and went. Upon arriving we noticed that things were a little different than usual since everyone was outside, huddled into clusters underneath the trees and in the shade of the building on the west side of the church, creating an open space in between everyone. After placing our lawn chairs (you have to take your own chairs to church- there are only a handful of benches and the children usually get those) in front of everyone else who was there, they continued on with what they were doing.

The special service they wanted us to come to was actually a dramatic reenactment of the Christmas story. Now, I know that we got there late, but even so, Jesus had just been born. I don't know how far back into the story they went, but I would even guess that they started somewhere in the Old Testament! Though the speaking was all in Luchazi (loo-chah-zee), the language from Angola that the church is held in, we were able to follow the story since it was performed so well! Some of the highlights include:

The three wise women following the star to Bethlehem- which was actually a crumpled paper on a string hung between to trees! (How creative!!!)

King Herod- though the telling of the Christmas story in the US rarely ever includes actually seeing King Herod- here he was a major character. Mostly because everything he did was just hilarious! He and his army were overly dramatic and played up to the hilt. He would trip over himself when he was angry and would yell constantly. I hope to someday show you the video clips, because there is no way to convey any of his actions with just words! As and ending to the story, King Herod dies and Mary and Joseph with Baby Jesus returning to Nazareth. The king's dying was just as funny as everything that he did while he was living. It looked like he had watched one too many cheesy movies, moaning and groaning, even kicking out his legs several times before kicking them straight up into the air right before he died!

King Herod's Army- they were just as funny as he was. Their costumes/props included various things, including but not limited to: pillows stuffed under their clothes in various spots to make them seem fat, helmets made out of cardboard and tape, various sticks/pieces of wood that were both swords and guns, several had 'canteens tied to their waists- these were everything from old rusted soda tins to large plastic pitchers, hats or beards made from tattered bags of corn meal (served with every meal here), one guy even had a hammer tucked into his belt!

The Angel of the Lord that came and spoke to Joseph telling him to take Mary and Baby Jesus to Egypt was one of the men in the church (button up shirt and tie) running around with a lacy table cloth draped over him, flapping his arms like a little kid playing airplanes! Mary got a good picture of this, but I haven't remembered to get it from her. Hopefully I will sooner rather than later!

Though I had had my hesitations about going to church in the morning before I went to work, I am very glad that I did. It was unlike anything that I have ever experienced, and I was greatly blessed! There is no way that in the States any church would have put on a show with such 'cheap' costumes and props... but it was one of the most beautiful things that I have ever seen! Even though King Herod stole the show, there was still a spirit of celebration of Jesus coming to Earth to be born as a man. The true meaning of Christmas was celebrated by my dear brothers and sisters in Christ... and it was beautiful!

After church, I went to work and was very thankful that things were quiet for the few hours that I was there. After work, Minnie and I joined Rob, Alisa, the kids and Mary for Christmas dinner. We ate a wonderful meal (Thanks Alisa!!) and then sat around and sang everyone's favorite Christmas carols. They say that Christmases are like snowflakes, each one different and unique. That is the best way I know how to describe my first Christmas in Namibia! Please look at the pictures on the yahoo site, the album is 'Christmas 2006'.

The Frog
I am sure when some of you look at the pictures you are going to notice that there is one titled 'another life saved'. What you are seeing is indeed another one of my critter experiences at work! While sitting at the nurse's desk I saw the cleaner move a crib bed out of the corner and stare intently on the corner. Then a few people joined her. My curiosity was piqued. One of the mothers inched towards the corner and stuck her foot out, then jumped back in reaction to whatever happened. That's when I couldn't help myself any more and got up to go inspect. Imagine my surprise when I realized that it was a frog! Though in any other situation I would have been a wimp, it was obvious that I was the least scared of all people present. So I did the only thing I could think of. I caught it! Ok, so the other thing I thought of what chasing it outside using a broom, but that would have taken way too long! So I caught it. (aren't you proud of me!) After picking it up I turned around and experienced the funniest reaction I could have imagined- all the mothers and children present (the crown had grown while I was chasing it down to catch it) squealed and jumped back! It took everything in me not to laugh at them! So I started walking towards the outside. By this time everyone knew something was up and all the mothers had come out of the rooms into the hallway. When they saw what was in my hands they all screamed and RAN back into their rooms! I know understand why little boys do this to little girls! It was fun to scare them (though it was unintentional)! So I took the poor creature outside and let him down in the dirt area in between the wards. Later when I went back to look for him, I realized that he had burrowed halfway down into the sand in the shade of some rocks. So, Patty, this answers our question about where the frogs from my yard go during the day! They really do burrow into the sand! Anyways, I hope you guys enjoy my dedication to keeping the bug eating species in Rundu alive and well! :-)

Work
Work is going well. Last week we had a 7 month old baby, Cesilia, that the mother had been accused of abuse and so was in our custody. She was one of the cutest little puke machines that I have ever taken care of! :-) In all honesty she was such a good baby and it was a real pleasure to be able to take care of her. The police finally cleared the mother and she was allowed to come and take custody of her. It was hard to give her up!

Though work is going well, there is a possibility that things are going to get ugly sometime in the next few weeks. Apparently last year a new policy came out about how much nurse's are paid for overtime and Sundays that made everyone very unhappy. The tone that most of the nurse's have regarding this is a very disgruntled one, and a few months ago it led to a demonstration march to the local representative to turn in a petition stating their complaints. This happened all over the country. These last few weeks it has led to the discussion of a strike if the complaints have not been properly addressed.

What does all this mean for me? I have been talking to my colleagues trying to ask them what they think my reaction needs to be. Most of them have said that I shouldn't participate since I am not a paid worker nor a member of the union. Most of them have also said that there is no reason for me to try to work that day since I couldn't handle taking care of all the patients in the ward by myself. However, I am very uncomfortable with this. One of the things that has been the hardest for me to deal here has been the apathy towards human life. I think I discussed this a while back, that there is very much an attitude of fatalism so there is no extra effort put into patient care when the patient is critical (after all- they are only going to die anyways- why work harder). I don't think that I can sit at home having a day off knowing that there are no nurses at the hospital to care for the patients. Do I think that it would be easy? Absolutely not! But I am here to serve God by serving the people of this region, so how could I just sit back and do nothing while they are suffering? I hope that most of you see that the answer is I can't! So, though it might offend some people, I feel that my responsibility is to God and my ethics. Therefore, I have decided to work on the day that the strike is tentatively planned for. Please pray with me that my actions will strengthen my witness to my colleagues and that there will be no ill feelings towards me for my decision.

Sarah
The nurse from Minnesota is still trying to get her work visa to come! Her plane tickets are already purchased for the 31st of this month, so please pray that it will come through in the next week so she can come! She will be here for approximately 6 months and will be my house mate! We have been in email contact and she seems really nice! I am excited about her coming!

Mary
Mary has gotten as settled as she is going to be and is anxious to start school already! This week starts meeting at the college to discuss teaching schedules and whatever other things that have to be figured out for a school to run properly. It also marks Mary's birthday! We are going to try (again) to go to the lodge that was closed last time, to have a dinner out. Hopefully it will go smoother this time! :-)

I am sorry this got a little long... hope you guys enjoyed it anyways! :-) I love you and miss all of you!

hugs and kisses all around!
kimmie

Praises:
Though sad to be away from home and everything familiar, I enjoyed my first Christmas here in
Namibia

My friend Erin and her husband Jeff survived the military coup during their honeymoon to Fiji
I am glad that everyone has given their approvals for me to take the time off to go to this conference in March. I am looking forward to it!

My friends Joy and John David finally got engaged in December! Congratulations to both of you!

Prayer Needs:
Please pray for the following people's work visas: mine (there is a possibility of it being a sticky situation with my visa expiring in February but me wanting to leave the country in March for the conference. Please pray it will all work out!), Mick & Suzanne's still hasn't been renewed, Mary's hasn't been officially put into her passport yet, Sarah needs hers to be approved so that she can arrive as planned at the end of this month.

Please pray for the potential strike situation at work. Unfortunately it is planned for all of the hospitals all over Namibia- this is a potentially lethal act of negligence on the nurse's part and could have disastrous results for this nation! Please also pray for my relationships with my colleagues to not be effected negatively.

Please continue to pray for my language learning... the first grade book that I am using is helping, but it is going rather slowly!

Last week I attended a funeral (I will write more about that later) of one of my colleagues at the hospital. I knew both her and her husband as they were both nurses at the hospital. Eunice Lyambezi (lie-am-bee-zee) passed away on January 1st, leaving behind her husband, three children and a multitude of extended family and friends. Please be in prayer for this family as they mourn the loss of this wonderful woman, and for the nurses at the hospital who lost a great friend and en excellent colleague.

Mick & Suzanne are in the final stages of letting their firstborn, Hannah, out of the nest. Please pray for the family as they prepare to send Hannah to college back in the States. Suzanne will be traveling with her to get her settled in. Please also pray for Mick and the rest of the kids who will be stuck at home without mom!

Kimmie Tibbetts
Serving the people of Namibia at the Rundu State Hospital
http://thekimmieconnection.tripod.com
http://thekimmieconnection.tripod.com/journal
http://thekimmieconnection.blogspot.com
http://photos.yahoo.com/thekimmieconnection