February 3,2011

Dearest family and friends,

We are enjoying our last few days here at Karanda Mission Hospital.
Today, we rode on the back of a pickup truck for an hour on a bumpy
gravel road to an even smaller hospital (10 beds) to help out at an
HIV/AIDS community outreach. In 4 hours, we saw over 270 patients-
grandparents, fathers, mothers, children, babies. Our goal was to
provide follow-up primary care and to dispense antiretroviral drugs.
These patients are seen every 2 months for therapy and are given
refills on medication. Sadly, over 15% of adults in Zimbabwe have HIV
or AIDS. At Karanda Hospital, over 50% of patients are infected. It is
a difficult reality. We loved being able to serve the community,
though, and get a glimpse into their lives.

As an update, Gracie did not receive her Zim nursing license. The
counsel is going to meet again on Feb 12th, but we will be back in the
States by then. We are still processing this unforeseen turn of events
and God's will throughout this long journey. We have definitely
learned to walk by faith and not by sight.

All together though, we have had a wonderful time soaking in Shona
culture and working alongside those serving the people of Zimbabwe.

We are going to end here, but we hope you enjoy some of the pictures
we took today. Tomorrow, we will be going out into the community again
to provide immunizations.

As always, thanks for the prayers and kind encouragement. It blesses
our hearts and gives us the strength to keep going.

Love,
Gracie and Jeff