Dear Volunteers,
Having just spent three glorious days floating in, on and through
the Indian Ocean, I am heading back to
Nairobi later this afternoon with a spring in my step. I'll finish the last bits
of work and then on to the United States Wednesday night.
So much has happened in the last six weeks
that I find hard to take it all in. Starting two new sites in Cameroon and
another in Kibera has been quite the adventure and, as expected, the two “second-visit”
sites in Kenya held their own fair share of roller coaster moments.
Through it all, every set of volunteers was simply
extraordinary. There were twenty-three of you who came and went over the course of the trip. I
am not quite sure how
we started referring to the two teenagers in Cameroon as “the babies”,
nor how
Evan took on the role of beloved little brother of the younger set, but
everyone seemed to take
each day in stride. Amy modeling her new fashions in the chaos of
departure from
Kumba, Christina's braids, Leon's pink gloves, Virginia making the
rounds of every exam room in Bungoma and Tabitha Clinic, Melissa
training with every breath and smile, volunteers walking into
Kibera, rising above set-backs in Kiambu, learning a task and then
training new volunteers as they arrived; you all seemed graciously born
to the work.
This was a resilient group of volunteers and clearly
PINCC work is not for the faint-hearted. Leaping into the unknown in Cameroon, coping with the absence of an International Terminal in Nairobi, finding
your way in one new place after another--you rose to the challenge multiple
times every day. And many good things
happened every day. Training was begun,
a surprising number of trainees were certified for such early visits and solid
progress was made at each site. None of
that would have happened if each of you had not given your all every day. I am inspired by, and grateful for, your
example. You have a special place in my heart and my
most sincere thanks. I miss you and hope to see you again soon!
Love, Carol
--
Carol Cruickshank, CNM, Program Director
Prevention International: No Cervical Cancer
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