Rift Valley Fever

It was Caleb's birthday this week - he is now two. Here is a picture of him in the wheelbarrow being pushed around by the guard (we have a new guard who is good friends with Caleb, and Caleb spends a lot of time being pushed around in the wheel barrow. On this occasion he fell asleep); and him reading a book next to Joshua.

Joshua and Bethany are not very well at the moment, I think they have colds. At least I hope that's what it is. Here if your children get sick you first have to eliminate Malaria, Typhoid and we now have a cholera outbreak in Dodoma. I'm not sure about you, but the word cholera makes my stomach turn. It's one of the many pleasant google searches I have done since being here. Others include fleas, malaria, ebola, typhoid, legionnaires disease and various types of worms!! Maybe I have cyberphobia!! Anyway I spent Thurday evening reading about cholera. Having reasured myself that only 1% of people will die from it if it is treated quickly (don't e-mail if you know otherwise, I am quite happy in my ignorance - just pray!!) Daniel returned from the prayer meeting to inform me about Rift Valley Fever, which has spread from Kenya and has reached Arusha. (about 9 hours north of here). This apparently is like ebola. Have now researched both Ebola and Rift Valley Fever and although both are fairly nasty, I don't think they're as bad as I imagined (bearing in mind that my knowledge of these things comes from films like 'Outbreak').

Although there are lots of nasty diseases here I think the fear of these things can be much worse than the actual risk. Ultimately though, I guess if you are where God wants you to be, you are in the safest place in the world.