So I went to the doctor yesterday to get my shots (Hep A, MMR, Meningitis, DPT, Flu) and wouldn't you know they only had two. I called to make sure the shots were in last week and the nice lady at the front says, "Yes ma'am, the shots are here, so we will see you next week." Great! I am ready to get four out of the way. Wouldn't you know that I arrive only to find out she only asked about my prescription for Malaria. When did people become so incompetent? It is really baffling to me. But, I love my doctor, so I just say, "No worries Dr. Perkins. I will go to the Health Department and get them all at once."
I leave thinking that was the biggest waste of time ever and that I would just go back to work and finish out the day. Never did I expect to feel like I had been beaten with a baseball bat three hours later (and all night). Really vaccinations...really? Chills, sweats, body aches, fever. It was awful. To say I am a little frightened to get all the additional shots at one time is really putting it mildly. I can only imagine how getting Yellow Fever, Typhoid, Meningitis and Hep A all at once will make me feel. I There are a couple others (maybe Rabies?) that I have to get, but I can never remember them - so I will just let it be a nice surprise.
All in all I know it could have been much worse, but I am a real baby when it comes to being sick. I hate it - and that is the ONLY reason I am getting all these vaccines. I do not want to end up with some crazy random fever or disease that comes from Africa, because that would definitely happen to me. And quite frankly, I value my life - and the lives of those I could pass some crazy case of Typhoid to - and I would like to keep living it for as long as possible. You know me, pursue and engage in meaningful acts of kindness. Change one persons life - even if it's only for an hour.
Believe in yourself and the work that you do! Following your heart will change you forever.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
I am a chicken...
So, I was scheduled to go get my shots on September 8. And guess what I did? I chickened out. Now, that is not to say I am not going to get them - actually next Wednesday when I return from North Carolina - but oh my, I am a little bit of a chicken. I am not sure if I am more scared of the needle(s) or the way the shots are going to make me feel. When someone tells you that you will be getting a rabies shot, well, it is not the best feeling in the pit of your stomach. Regardless, I am going to do it - for the love of the kids.
On a brighter note, we are scheduling our Make A Difference Day project. I am so excited for this project. It looks like we will be doing some work at the Jackson Zoo. They have lost funding due to the economic climate and have been forced to reduce exhibits and move animals to other zoos. It's sad, but what a difference volunteers and one day can make. I will post pictures of this as soon as we get the project rolling - or an updated project if this one should change.
For now, be the change, share the love, and never lose your passion to make this world a better place.
FUNDING ALERT: Thanks to your donations, the trip has been paid in full with some left over to purchase supplies....thank you thank you thank you! Your selfless giving will totally change the life of at least one child that goes to bed hungry every night! Pat yourself on the back :-)
On a brighter note, we are scheduling our Make A Difference Day project. I am so excited for this project. It looks like we will be doing some work at the Jackson Zoo. They have lost funding due to the economic climate and have been forced to reduce exhibits and move animals to other zoos. It's sad, but what a difference volunteers and one day can make. I will post pictures of this as soon as we get the project rolling - or an updated project if this one should change.
For now, be the change, share the love, and never lose your passion to make this world a better place.
FUNDING ALERT: Thanks to your donations, the trip has been paid in full with some left over to purchase supplies....thank you thank you thank you! Your selfless giving will totally change the life of at least one child that goes to bed hungry every night! Pat yourself on the back :-)
Friday, September 3, 2010
$2,430 - Almost there
As of today, I have $2,430 collected for the trip to Africa! I am so excited that it is all coming together - and by the deadline. I have to admit, I was a little worried that I would not be able to get enough donations, but I am not sure what even made me think that when I have such amazing friends and family members. Thank you all!
Off the subject slightly - well completely - tomorrow is the first Mississippi State Football game, and I am so pumped. I am also very excited that I will not miss one football game by going to Africa. Not that it is important, but God must have really been thinking about me and Trey when he led the group in securing dates - that is totally a joke, but I do appreciate it. What can I say, I love football!
Now, back on track. This Thursday I get my first set of shots for the trip. Yes, I would like to run down a hillside through thorns rather than get a set of shots like this, but it's a small sacrifice to be able to participate in the wonderful journey that lies ahead for me. There will be photos of this exciting day, so check back on Thursday to see me act like the biggest baby in the entire world!
Love and hugs to all of you! Great picture below to get the weekend started right (even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming trip!)
Emily
Off the subject slightly - well completely - tomorrow is the first Mississippi State Football game, and I am so pumped. I am also very excited that I will not miss one football game by going to Africa. Not that it is important, but God must have really been thinking about me and Trey when he led the group in securing dates - that is totally a joke, but I do appreciate it. What can I say, I love football!
Now, back on track. This Thursday I get my first set of shots for the trip. Yes, I would like to run down a hillside through thorns rather than get a set of shots like this, but it's a small sacrifice to be able to participate in the wonderful journey that lies ahead for me. There will be photos of this exciting day, so check back on Thursday to see me act like the biggest baby in the entire world!
Love and hugs to all of you! Great picture below to get the weekend started right (even though it has absolutely nothing to do with the upcoming trip!)
Emily
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Welcome to my blog!
Hello and welcome to the blog that is going to document my upcoming mission trip to Uganda Africa! This is will be a life-changing experience that I will share with 22 individuals from across the country. On our journey, we will be working with local villages to help meet the physical and spiritual needs of orphaned children in Iganga, Bugiri, Butamira, Busembatia, Bewenge and Mityana. While missionaries have been in African villages for years, orphans still desperately need spiritual mentoring, love and humanitarianism.
I was going to start the blog with some fun photos of the numerous shots I will be receiving - note that I am not excited about this part of the journey - but I have been receiving questions asking why I am going to Africa to help children when there are children in America that need help. As I thought about this it made me sad that a person would infer that American children are more deserving of the love and resources we are about to give to African children. As if to say African children are not important because they are not American. I am sure I am reading far to much in to that, but a child is a child. They all deserve to be loved no matter what their nationality - children do not choose their environment. For that reason, I wanted to provide some general insight about Africa and the lost nation of orphans it houses.
The nation of South Africa has the distinction of being the wealthiest most developed African nation, yet 61% of its people still live within the grasp of extreme poverty. In this post apartheid era millions of South Africans eke out an existence and survival is an everyday struggle. Each day 15,000 children in Sub-Saharan Africa die. In America we have programs like Medicare, CHIP and WIC that provide nutrition programs and a host of basic and essential services to impoverished families. In contrast, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, tuberculosis and death are a way of life for the nearly 3.8 million orphans of South Africa, most of which will go to bed hungry tonight.
These statistics coupled with insensitivity to the need that is a direct result of the individualist society we have created as a social modern-day norm in America is what makes me so sad. We are creatures of habit that have developed an out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality and this has become society's way of life as a whole. I am by far not saying all people are like this - certainly not the ones I surround myself with - but there are some that will surprise you with a comment of self-importance that makes me want to cry.
I have worked several natural disasters in Central and North America, provided assistance in guerrilla warfare territory in South America, provided childcare services for battered-women shelters, served food to the homeless, organized clothing and hygiene kit drives for earthquake victims and dressed like a reindeer to see a homeless child smile at Christmas, but more importantly I have seen the change one person can have when they have love and compassion in their heart. I am not asking you to agree with my work, or where I do it, or even to support it. But I do ask you to understand that we are all equal - no matter our race, gender, age or religion.
I am going to be the change I want to see in the world. I hope you will be too. We all deserve love.
I was going to start the blog with some fun photos of the numerous shots I will be receiving - note that I am not excited about this part of the journey - but I have been receiving questions asking why I am going to Africa to help children when there are children in America that need help. As I thought about this it made me sad that a person would infer that American children are more deserving of the love and resources we are about to give to African children. As if to say African children are not important because they are not American. I am sure I am reading far to much in to that, but a child is a child. They all deserve to be loved no matter what their nationality - children do not choose their environment. For that reason, I wanted to provide some general insight about Africa and the lost nation of orphans it houses.
The nation of South Africa has the distinction of being the wealthiest most developed African nation, yet 61% of its people still live within the grasp of extreme poverty. In this post apartheid era millions of South Africans eke out an existence and survival is an everyday struggle. Each day 15,000 children in Sub-Saharan Africa die. In America we have programs like Medicare, CHIP and WIC that provide nutrition programs and a host of basic and essential services to impoverished families. In contrast, HIV/AIDS, malnutrition, tuberculosis and death are a way of life for the nearly 3.8 million orphans of South Africa, most of which will go to bed hungry tonight.
These statistics coupled with insensitivity to the need that is a direct result of the individualist society we have created as a social modern-day norm in America is what makes me so sad. We are creatures of habit that have developed an out-of-sight out-of-mind mentality and this has become society's way of life as a whole. I am by far not saying all people are like this - certainly not the ones I surround myself with - but there are some that will surprise you with a comment of self-importance that makes me want to cry.
I have worked several natural disasters in Central and North America, provided assistance in guerrilla warfare territory in South America, provided childcare services for battered-women shelters, served food to the homeless, organized clothing and hygiene kit drives for earthquake victims and dressed like a reindeer to see a homeless child smile at Christmas, but more importantly I have seen the change one person can have when they have love and compassion in their heart. I am not asking you to agree with my work, or where I do it, or even to support it. But I do ask you to understand that we are all equal - no matter our race, gender, age or religion.
I am going to be the change I want to see in the world. I hope you will be too. We all deserve love.
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