2 Gifts in One

A couple weeks ago I listed a pretty general list of charitable causes that could be considered during this Holiday (Christmas) Season. However, I left out options that not only contribute a large portion if not all of their profit to great humanitarian causes but that also leave you with something to put under the tree! Who doesn't love that? This is just the start, I'll keep adding more as I become aware of them. Wishing you all have a very merry and blessed Christmas as you give from your pocket and your heart.

Sseko Designs: Sseko employs a team of 45 women in Uganda. Their mission is to promote the education of women so that they may achieve their dreams and overcome poverty through a 9 month employment program to help fund their dues for university. They are best known for their Sandals but as they have branched out to producing other accessories such as handbags, clutches and scarves my favorite is by far their clutches. Check out their other designs by clicking on the link (in purple) above.


                      

    

Mocha Club: Mocha club is a community of people who's makes mission is to give up a few mochas every month in order to use these extra costs to benefit five main project areas: Clean Water, Education, Economic Freedom, Orphan Care, and Healthcare. In order to learn more about this organization or view more products, click on the Mocha Club Heading above. 

       

Holiday Charity on a Budget

This year is no doubt going to be the most difficult year for Christmas shopping since I was just a babe and could trace my hand and sharpie "Merry Christmas" and that be enough. I'm on a tight budget after only recently graduating with my masters and my full time job right now is job hunting (If only that was a paid position). However, the great thing about  living on a budget in Holiday season is being forced to recognize what is necessity and what is luxury. Its very obvious that, currently, I don't have any urgent needs but a lot of people can't say the same. This time of year encourages giving out of what you do have, whether that be clothes that you've grown out of or just don't like, sharing some canned goods with your local food shelter or soup kitchen, visiting a nursing home,  or dedicating a few dollars to give to those less fortunate. Even on a budget, I am blessed beyond measure.

If you're like me, I have trouble deciding where to send donations but there are so many places out there that can really help make each dollar count. I've assembled a list from a few different sites, hopefully this will help you find your charity of choice and if nothing else, give some perspective. 

ALTERNATIVE GIFTS INTERNATIONAL: The global mission of AGI is to send authentic, life-giving gifts to a needy world – gifts that build a partnership with people in crisis and that protect and preserve the earth’s endangered environment.

ANGEL TREE: Angel Tree is a ministry of Prison Fellowship, delivering love in the form of Christmas gifts and a message of hope to children of prisoners.

CHRISTMAS WISH PROGRAMS: Christmas Wish Program, Inc. is a nonprofit organization run 100% by volunteers and donations. CWP is designed that way to let the public share in the joy of giving and the opportunity to help build a brighter future for local children.

CHRISTMAS CARD AID: Card Aid provides a unique service to charities and the general public to ensure that the profits from charity Christmas cards go to charity.

CHRISTMAS SPIRIT FOUNDATION: Help needy children and families in the United States during the holiday season, and promote environmental stewardship throughout the year.

HOLIDAY PROJECT: The Holiday Project’s mission is to enrich the experience of the holidays by arranging visits to people confined to nursing homes, hospitals and other institutions

MAKE A WISH: Make this holiday season special by helping a child’s dream come true. Make a Wish’s unique holiday donation options will help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.

MY TWO FRONT TEETH: My Two Front Teeth offers a personalized online gift-giving experience to aid underprivileged children. These children are selected through community organizations and allowed to individually pick their one holiday wish.

PLAN COMMUNITY OF CHILDREN : Give a gift to the people of Africa this Christmas and help reduce the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS.

SAMARITANS PURSE: Operation Christmas Child: This is a unique project of Samaritan’s Purse that enables caring people to share God’s love with hurting girls and boys in the far corners of the globe. Take an ordinary shoe box, fill it with toys and other presents, and you have an extraordinary gift for a child in need of joy and hope.

TOYS FOR TOTS: Donate a new toy or give a donation to help make Christmas a little brighter for a needy child in your community.

World Wide Humanitarian Organizations

You can donate by pressing the link “Donate now”

Food For The Hungry International (FHI)

Food For The Hungry is an international relief and development organization of Christian motivation, committed to working with poor people to overcome hunger and poverty through integrated self-development and relief programs. You can choose whether to give a one time gift for food, supplies, school tuition, etc. or sponsor a child year-round. 

Donate Now

Hunger Plus, Inc.

Not-for-profit relief agency that provides food and related supplies for emergency use. Partners with individuals, NGOs, government agencies, church and civic groups. Projects in self sufficiency focus on food preservation, agriculture, water, health, education, housing and technology.
Donate Now

Interaction

InterAction is a coalition of over 150 US-based non-profit organizations which are usually the first to respond to a crisis. InterAction coordinates and promotes relief aid programs. With more than 160 members operating in every developing country, they work to overcome poverty, exclusion and suffering by advancing social justice and basic dignity for all.
Donate Now

International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

The ICRC, independent of all governments and international organizations, endeavors to promote international humanitarian law and the fundamental human values underlying that law. The ICRC was founded by Geneva citizens in 1863 and has its headquarters in Geneva.
Donate now

International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC)

The IFRC is one part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which comprises National Red Cross or Red Crescent Societies, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (the Federation), and the ICRC. The IFRC is the permanent liaison body of the National Societies and acts as their representative internationally.
Donate Now

International Organization for Migration (IOM)

The IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: Assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; Advance understanding of migration issues; Encourage social and economic development through migration; Uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.
Donate now

International Rescue Committee(IRC)

Founded in 1933, the International Rescue Committee is the voluntary organization involved in resettlement assistance, global emergency relief, rehabilitation, and advocacy for refugees.
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Lutheran World Federation 

Specializing in emergency relief linked to disaster preparedness (risk management) and sustainable development.
Donate Now

Mercy Corps (MC)

Nonprofit organization providing emergency relief and supporting development programs in agriculture, economic development, health, housing and infrastructure, and strengthening local organizations.
Donate Now

Oxfam

Oxfam is a development and relief agency working to end poverty. Oxfam International is a confederation of 12 organizations working together with over 3,000 partners in more than 100 countries to find lasting solutions to poverty, suffering and injustice.

Donate now

Refugees International

Refugees International generates lifesaving humanitarian assistance and protection for displaced people around the world and works to end the conditions that create displacement. Refugees International advocates for refugees through diplomacy and the press.
Donate now

Relief International

Founded in 1990, Relief International provides emergency, rehabilitation and development services that empower beneficiaries in the process. RI’s programs include health, shelter construction, education, community development, agriculture, food, income-generation, and conflict resolution.
Donate Now

Save the Children

Save the Children is the leading independent organization creating real and lasting change for children in need in the United States and around the world. It is a member of the International Save the Children Alliance, comprising 27 national Save the Children organizations working in more than 100 countries to ensure the well-being of children.

Donate Now

United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)

While working to ensure the survival, protection and development of children and advocating a high priority for them in the allocation of resources at all times, UNICEF continues to give relief and rehabilitation assistance in emergencies. The agency was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1965.

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)

The UNHCR provides protection and assistance to the world’s refugees. Today, the UNHCR is one of the world’s principal humanitarian agencies, with headquarters in Geneva, and offices in some 115 countries. More than 80 percent of UNHCR’s 5,000-member staff work in the field, often in isolated, dangerous and difficult conditions. The UNHCR has twice been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for its work.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA

OCHA is mandated to mobilize and coordinate the collective efforts of the international community, in particular those of the UN system, to meet in a coherent and timely manner the needs of those exposed to human suffering and material destruction in disasters and emergencies.

US Committee for Refugees (USCR)

Provides aid and resources for refugees worldwide.

World Vision International

World Vision is a Christian relief and development organization dedicated to helping children and their communities worldwide reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty.

Make a Donation, Give a Gift, or Sponsor a Child

I hate that I didn't write this sooner, but my internet timed out and I couldn't buy more time till a few days later and then I just procrastinated... I dropped the ball and to my faithful readers, I am very sorry.
Male ward was the time of my life. I can't say enough about how much I appreciated their light-hearted jokes, their kindness, and their faith in my medical knowledge and skills even when I second guessed myself and double checked with my handy dandy iphone apps of medical knowledge.
As much fun as it was, it was also (obviously) a full time job with several of my patients needing frequent check-ins and not enough daily staffing to oversee each step of treatment. So these men all became my babies- I really can't describe it any better than an almost motherly role spread out among 13 patients at a time.
I'll tell you about a few, unfortunately I couldn't get pictures of all of them because I just didn't feel right taking pictures when they weren't feeling up to par even if they would have let me.
I've told you a little about Box- he's the one who had the uncontrolled diabetes and had been admitted 2 weeks before I took over his care. I have never seen diabetes that was more resistant to stabilization than his was. He would be nearly stabilized for 2 days and then have a hypoglycemic attack one night and the next day his glucose would be sky high again on the same amount of insulin, any tweak in insulin levels would inevitably welcome another huge swing in blood glucose. We had a long talk about his diet and finally I think had a break through that a small helping of rice and tomatoes could not be treated with the same amount of insulin as his bigger meals and that whatever way he might be able to afford, he needed to get some protein in each meal. This was not an easy fight for a man that hates beans but can't afford to have eggs or some sort of meat each day. He agreed to try, anyway, and noticed a big difference in his symptoms other than feeling dizzy and occasional blurry vision which had been written off as hypoglycemic symptoms. On a whim, I sent him to IVV (our eye specialist center) before he left, just to be certain, and Box came back walking with a strut and a smirk he couldn't hide.

I pat myself on the back a little too much for this case and don't know why I consider him to be such a big victory, when I have seen much more miraculous recoveries and when I know it is through no power of my own that Box can now see clearly- but I can't deny that for some reason I feel some bit of pride when I see cute little Box with his glasses on. Maybe its just sheer giddiness to have seen such a difference in what I assume to be self confidence. Love him and wish him the best.
As much as I would love to go on and tell you about all the rest of my patients tonight I will have to leave you with just this quick update and write about the rest another day.
We leave Zambia for good tomorrow and if anyone wants me to be able to function as we take on London tomorrow they'll need me rested. Hope you're doing well and I can't wait to tell you more about the week in male ward and my week in Lusaka.
Love Julie

This is the beginning of the 4th week and I'm in male ward. If you know me well, you know this is about to be my favorite week. There is something about old men that is just adorable, plus, here in Zambia, its just nice to be liked and appreciated and I find that the men here are much more responsive as about half of the women here can't decide whether they like you or not.
Today I started out with 5 in-patients and by the end of the day ended up with 10+. My patient diagnoses this morning were a broad range:
1. Uncontrolled diabetes
2. A survivor from a land-mine explosion who just had some of the shards removed from his left arm, leaving the ones in his skull and right leg that weren't causing any problems
3. Cryptococcal meningitis, TB, HIV, sepsis, IRIS
4. TB, HIV with treatment failure, Chronic diarrhea, severe dehydration
5. Uncontrolled hypertension 200+/100+ with prior stroke

After rounds in male ward, it was another Monday in OPD which just means absolutely packed up until 6:30p.m. with the constant question of when to admit and when to allow home treatment. 

There is a lot of sickness around Zambia now in it's cold season and we get more and more patients every week. Today I saw cases of the mumps, flu, parotiditis, bronchitis, gastritis, hematuria (urinalysis pending), and infected wounds. 

I'll elaborate on these patients tomorrow when I can finally put pictures up and give their story, but I can tell you now that God is working and doing amazing things daily. There is no other feasible explanation. I count myself fortunate that He would empower and allow me to witness and occasionally have a part in the treatment and healing of His patients. I am awe struck at His faithfulness in each day that I go to work and His provision of presence of mind, a joyful disposition, and receptive patients.

Today was incredible. I think the best day I've had yet.
I am back in OPD this week and today saw around 20+ patients. I know I've said this in every post but I really have had the most amazing patients with great attitudes and so much personality.
What made this day so much better than the last you ask?
Three things:
1) getting '5 stars' today from the other C.O (equivalent to a PA here) for working quickly. I thrive off of encouragement I guess, because that confirmation was just what I needed.

2) This guy! In my top 2 favorite patients of the day/ever. He giggled every time I touched him with the stethoscope. Apparently he was adopted- meaning I'm too late :( 

3) Doing my first paracentesis all on my own... no numbing medicine or anything on a 20 yr old boy that I almost verbally mistook for a pregnant female.-Glad my translator kept saying "he". She knew exactly what I was thinking. She's kept me out of so many messes here. Anyway, the boy didn't even flinch as I bore this catheter through his abdomen wall to get rid of all the fluid he had accumulated. When I later asked Dr. Joan about this patient she said the only reason they can come up with is that he had severe liver scarring after a losing battle with schistosomiasis, a parasite that lives in the liver, and therefore caused some serious portal hypertension from the backup of blood behind the liver scarring. Its amazing how common schistosomiasis is here- 

I saw another kid this week who's only complaint was blood in the urine- urinalysis showed the parasite and we were able to treat him. Even so. it had been several months before his family brought him and now I'm praying that sweet 5 yr old doesn't develop the same problem.

Yesterday, we went on community outreach where we went out into the bush to do family planning education and AIDS awareness, vaccines, birth control, and antenatal care, it was only 4 hours but I've never felt so exhausted. I felt like a factory worker, where I would draw up the thick depo provera shots, check Blood pressure, and give the shot to what I assume was 100+ ladies and then oral birth control for others. The nurses warned me that it's important to check when their last menses was because if some ladies think they're pregnant then they will try to get the shot in hopes for abortion.

<- lime cookies and fanta as payment for some hard work- A deal I can't refuse!



Time outside of the hospital has also been so refreshing this week. Its so nice having Meg here.  Meg has been volunteering at Zimba for the past 6 months and sadly is heading back home next Monday. She will be missed! On the weekends we've taken trips into Livingston, only an hour away, to stay sane and visit a few of the surrounding countries just another hour away from Livingston. So far we've been to Namibia, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. I may complain in the moment of frustration and when I start feeling defeated but don't let me fool you- I'm really living here; life is full and abundant. God as always, is good!

Thanks for your love, support, and your continued prayers,

Goodnight from Zambia!