Dream Until Your Dreams Don't Come True

It was dusk when the men began fighting. Each time their swords crashed, a thunderous roar shook the onlookers. Sparks flew at each weapon collision revealing the white face of each spectator. The two men fighting were both dressed in battle attire. An embossed horse on each of their chest plates indicated the men were Greek. I recognized both of them, but I couldn't get a conclusive look. Their faces were dancing through the shadows of their movement.

Aaron Shaking Hands

Their swords were a meter long, shiny silver, and appeared heavy. I was within two sword lengths of the fight and well within striking range. I was not in fear of being struck, though. The two men were skilled in their ways. Every movement rehearsed, controlled and executed perfectly.

Little Girl and Her New Blanket

The sun receded below the horizon. Prometheus' gift to humanity was now illuminating the battle with beautiful orange, red, and yellow accents. The taller man stood about 6'4" tall, had cold dark eyes, and a jet-black mane. Standing slightly shorter was the other warrior. The curly blond locks atop his head appeared white and his blue eyes burned purple when hit by the fire's light.

A struggle of this length was indicative of well-matched warriors. For another three minutes the brawl continued. Slowed by the increasing heaviness of their weapons, the men began shedding parts of armor. Helmets were first. Beads of sweat now glistened from the foreheads, arms, and legs of each. The time for final attempt at victory was upon them both.

Me Shaking Hands

With his sword in his right hand, the blond-haired fighter made his move. To his right, he began rotating using his left foot as an axis. As his left hand came across his body he grabbed the blade of his rival's sword and threw it to the right. Blood shot from his hand and an outcry of pain followed. Blue eyes piercing and blond hair gleaming, his fluid motion continued. While his back was turned to the opposition, he single handedly inverted the sword in his right hand so his thumb was pressing firmly against the butt end of the sword handle.  

Puzzled by his opponent's action, the dark warrior could do nothing but obey the motion forced upon him.

Mrs. C and the orphans

The spinning warrior moved to finish the rotation. Right hand equipped with his weapon, he forced the blade of the sword at his adversary's ribs. His right foot planted and with great momentum, he thrust his weapon into his opponent's body. The blade entered immediately under his enemy's right armpit, continued through the lungs and heart, and exited the skin at the left lower ribs. The rotation was complete.

For a brief moment, the tall man stood there, breathless, as if frozen; his dark eyes wide open and peering straight forward. The sword had not moved since its entry. All at once, he began to fall backward like a freshly cut tree. In a stiff, board-like manner, he fell to the ground on his back, starring straight up at the dark night sky. He had been defeated.

I jumped from the crowd to identify the two warriors. To my shocking revelation they were two of my longtime friends. Equally astonishing was the fact that these two men were brothers. Their names are Jake and Joshua Myers. Jake had just slain his elder brother.

I looked down upon Joshua as he struggled to take his last breaths. Blood began to trickle down from his nose and corner of his mouth. A slight grin crept across his face as he gave me a gaze of recognition. His breathing then ceased, and a cold expression swept across his face. Life had left his body.

"It's time to have your bath," Jimmy said through our bedroom door after knocking several times. I stirred with resistance, removed my sleeping mask, and rolled out of bed. The time was 7:17am.

What a crazy dream. For the record Jake, your finishing move was remarkable! In case I didn't explain it well enough, I'll show it to you when I get back.

Our first patient of the day was a return patient. He had been diagnosed and treated for malaria earlier this month on the 7th. Aaron and I performed the consultation without the aid of Dr. C.

He complained of joint pain and spontaneous headache. We asked him a series of questions. The answer to each question asked either supported or eliminated a diagnosis. His temperature from the mouth was 97.5 degrees. The display on the blood pressure monitor read 102/73, normal.

Our inquiries lead to nothing conclusive. As two puzzled trainees should, we turned to our teacher Dr. C for advice. Dr. C thought we had asked all the right questions and performed all the necessary tests. Dr. C referred the patient to the local district hospital laboratory for blood work and stool / urine analysis.

After the patients left, Dr. C told us that he comes in quite frequently complaining of something different each time. He is the type of person who thinks he is constantly sick. They won't find anything at the laboratory," Dr. C said with conviction. "It will relieve the patient's anxiety, though."

A short time later, our patient with the cellulitis returned. His right eye had been nearly swollen shut just 24 hours earlier. When he walked in the swelling had visibly gone down. In a half day's time, his status had already begun to improve. His friends and family all noticed the swelling had begun to subside. This was encouraging. The man was to continue taking his strong regiment of antibiotics and steroids. 

It would be nice to be here to track this patient's progress. Unfortunately, the sands of clinic time are dwindling away.

The second blanket ceremony was this afternoon. This ceremony was exclusively for the group of orphans that visit the clinic each week. I believe the group has 20-30 orphans. These orphans are also under the age of five.

Much like the orphans at the previous blanket ceremony, they were thrilled to receive their blankets. The handing out of blankets only took five minutes and soon thereafter the orphans left.

I have good news and bad news. Which do you want first?

Good news first. Aaron and I will be leaving tomorrow for Zambia! We'll catch a minibus up to Lilongwe, spend the night (Wednesday night), and then begin our safari journey to Luangwa National Park in Zambia. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night will be spent in Zambia.

This is a once in a lifetime opportunity. The Luangwa National Park is considered one of the top parks to visit in the entire continent of Africa. Following our stay, we will return to Lilongwe on Sunday. From there we will catch a minibus back to Ntcheu. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday will be spent with the Chilopora's at the clinic. Wednesday (July 4th) night we will return to Lilongwe, spend the night, and then fly back to Johannesburg, South Africa.

Okay, bad news. I am not sure when I'll next have internet access. We are staying in a classy joint so wireless internet may be possible.  I'm holding my breath.

Don't worry, my writing will not stop. In the event that I cannot post, you'll have much to read come Sunday night.

Here's another quote you may enjoy:

"There is no profit in struggling to live beyond one's natural limits. There's something greedy about that. One must distinguish between profit motive and greed. Sooner or later the greedy lose their profits. Profiteering is honorable and healthy, greed is degrading and perverse."

Well that does it. Stay with me! The journey is still unfolding. More to come.