Zippety Doodah, Zippedy Aye, My o My what a wonderful day

Friday, I (Penny) had planned to use my day in the city to walk a pregnant young lady thru the HIV system in the public hospital while John did the other errands. Was struck by the dirt and disorder, garbage, broken equipment outside the buildings in the hospital compound. The nurse that we finally got routed to was efficient, very kind, neat and informative- a wonderful contrast. When I asked her how often this confirmatory blood test turned out negative when we had a positive from our hospital, and she tersely replied "Never", and I watched S's eyes well up with tears. This is pregnancy #4 for her, and we had already gotten a negative on her husband. The Nurse poked S's finger after cleaning it with water, as she was out of alcohol. She did not have gloves to use. While we waited for the 15 minutes for her to read the results of the blood test, she began to outline the protocol that S would immediately begin, due to the pregnancy. When I again said, "Now, that’s IF its positive". She brushed away my statement and continued her efficient teaching. At the 15 minute mark, she turned to read the test- and said quietly, "It's negative!" She quickly asked S if she could still get blood out of the previous stick (so as not to waste another lancet!) and she could, so she did a second confirmatory of a different type- also negative. YEAH!
We went to a dirty Dunkin' Donuts to celebrate, and S talked about how she felt, like she had a new life. She had walked with this hanging over her head for a week, wondering how she'd contracted the disease, as she was clear that she'd been a "senorita" when she married and that her husband was faithful. She stayed with us all day as we did our errands about town, commenting frequently how free she felt. Made me think of how I felt at 18 after I’d ended a year’s search for the Truth and encountered Grace!
Resolved: visit the HIV clinic to bring alcohol and gloves! Pray for our friends who weekly visit patients dying there of AIDS, and help them with their needs.

Yesterday we had Andrea up for the afternoon, to make cookies for our Sunday School class, just have some 1:1 time with this 11 yr old orphan from the Children’s Center. Her mom died in October, so Andrea will be raised in the Center she’s done with school , one of her mom’s last requests. She has seen and felt too much in her 11 years, so is a joy to see her eyes sparkle. Christine, 26 yrs old, full time lab director here that has bonded quickly to the Honduran kids and employees, came up midafternoon and took Andrea for a ride on her moto, and a hike up to the water tower. We made lasagna for Andrea to test out and bring to Liz and Iain, the Children’s Center parents. Think it was time well spent!