I think grace and patience are two of the most important things that we should show others, and something I always need to practice, and I’m definitely getting to practice them as I work to get my Yellow Fever immunization. There is a shortage of it, something I was unaware of till I showed up at my appointment last Friday, waited forty minutes and filled out sundry paperwork. At last the nurse called me up and informed me of it, something that would have been nice to know before the three hour drive to the clinic. I wanted to go ahead with the Typhoid, but the nurse said it was better to do them at once since it was a whole consult. So I made an appointment for the 22nd of Feb. Today I called to move it up to the 13th, only to learn that they wouldn’t have the vaccine till sometime in March, which is useless to me since I have to have it six weeks prior to departure. No idea if they planned to call me to tell me that, but I’m very thankful I did call because if I’d found out at the appointment on the 22nd I would basically be unable to go to Ghana, as there would be no time to find another place to do it.
So I found another place to get it, also in Phoenix. They can only get the vaccine in sets of five doses so they have to schedule five people at once. They had two people signed up for next Tuesday, and are hoping for two more, so I went ahead and scheduled for then. Even if they only get three, they’ll still do it, but I have to prepay because they keep the money if I don’t show. That’s not going to happen because I have to pay $209 total! Ouch. But there’s a silver lining in everything, and Tuesday is my mommy’s birthday so I’m going to try to take her out to eat while we’re there. 
In other news, I sent off my passport and paperwork to get my Visa! Very exciting.
I’m also working to gather some donations for the trip. The team is going to try and assemble some hygiene packs to give out to the people at the distributions. I’m collecting travel size shampoo, deodorant, lotions, etc. Also hand soap, toothpaste, and toothbrushes. The first night in Ghana the team will combine everything they’ve brought along and we’ll put them in the quart size zip lock bags. We need about 200, which my mom offered to buy at Costco, but if anyone would like to donate toward that as well, awesome. The leaders also asked that we bring along some glasses, various prescriptions from like the dollar store or Wal-Mart. The hope is that if we bring 4-5 each that we’ll have the right one, or one close, for some of the older Ghanaians. If anyone is interested in helping with this, please let me know! (untamed_shrew@msn.com or books.music.photography.love@gmail.com)
Jasmine
1 Comment
February 2, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I briefly read your letter at home, but forget some of the details. Just out of curiosity, where in Ghana will you be going?