Monday, September 21, 2015

Back in Madagascar

Well, I have been back here since August 15 and hoped to get another blog out in the first month. I'm a couple days late but here is the latest update.
After I returned I realized I had some medical problems. I wasn't able to go to sleep because of not being able to catch my breath. I had to try to go to sleep sitting up. My legs and feet were swollen and I was frequently out of breath.  I went to the Dr and he did a boat load of tests and a x-ray and ECG. He said there was a chance it was congestive heart failure. I looked it up on the internet and found the same symptoms.  After the tests I went back to the Dr and found my heart was OK. Compressed some because of the fluid, but no significant heart problems.  I started taking water pills with Magnesium pills. He told me to take them for 17 days and come back.  Today is my apt. I pray all the fluid is gone now. By the way getting the x-ray and ECG was quite an experience for me. When I went into the x-ray room there were 5 guys and 1 lady in the room. They tell you to take off your top and bra. no gown is given. Then they come and adjust you for the x-ray. When that was done I laid on the table and they hooked up all the sensors for the ECG. They don't think anything of it. Well, I got through that and was glad it was over.

English Club.
We have been back in classes for 3 weeks now and the beginners class is very big. last week there were 21 students in the beginners cub, See the attached picture. The intermediate was smaller I think only 8. The three guys that are i the advanced group want to start another bible study so next week we will start "How to Make Choices You Won't Regret."
 I will start back with the Neihamiah girls the first week in October. We finished beginners vocabulary and will start working on grammar,


Kids school ministry

Two of the kids are back in school.  Because of the good exchange rate we are able to buy the supplies for one of the other children in the family where the orphan children live. We did not have enough for her fees, but the supplies at the beginning of the school year are more than the Grandmothers monthly wages. I'm happy we can help her out with this. you can see the attached pictures of the first girl that started 2 weeks ago. A big thanks goes out to Jim and Amanda and Jerry and Jeannie for committing to helping this children attend school. Doesn't she look happy.  The white dress is for special occasions and weekly assembles the blue is her everyday uniform.


Other things:
two weeks ago when I was coming home from town a man knocked on my window. He ask me for a ride. He said he was from Ambohibao and Talatamaty. and was a police and needed to get back to the police station. I foolishly said yes.  I tried to have him get in the back seat, but I couldn't get the door unlocked. He jumped in the front seat and moved my box from the post to the back seat. My phone was on the box. He then moved my purse from the floor of the front seat to the back. I guess that is when he took the opportunity to take my phone and money from my wallet. I didn't realize he had robbed me until I pulled over for an ambulance and he jumped out of the car and ran the other direction. I learned my lesson and will not give strangers a ride even if they say they are the police. A couple more of my friends were robbed recently too.  Because the economy is getting worse crimes of theft are happening more and more. Please pray this is a one time thing and God will put his protection around me.

The on going saga of my car: It is back in the garage now.  While I was i the states they had it for preventive maintenance. That ended up being some major work. Now there is a loud noise when you take your foot off the gas. Hope they can find out what is causing the noise soon and we can stop this love affair my car has with the garage. LOL
If you would like to write back you can do so at Sandra.horen@gmail.com or by snail mail Sandra Horen  Lot 602 III Ambohinambo, Taltatmaty. 105 Madagascar.  Don't forget if you intend to send out Christmas cards they should be mailed by the end of November to reach me by Christmas.

P.S. Don't forget to use your Kroger/Frys rewards cards.
Blessings
Sandi