Three visits and elation...

Well, we had a most productive morning on Wednesday.  Here, many days seem to be filled with unproductivity (is that a word?) - you know, scheduling meetings, waiting for people who never show, getting frustrated at some of the things you would have done if they had let you know they weren't coming...  Imagine our elation when we had not one, not two, but three meetings on Wednesday - before 1:30pm!
The most important meeting, to me, was our second one.  Our landlord called and asked if he could come by.  He doesn't live in the area, and we haven't seen him much.  Truthfully, we have seen him so seldom that the last time he came, I wasn't sure who he was... after talking for a bit, I ascertained that he was indeed our landlord.  Unfortunately, Benjamin wasn't home at the time.
Anyway, we have really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really wanted to remodel our kitchen.  Did I mention really really???  The kitchen itself is not very big, but the main issue is counter space. As in, there really isn't any - well, there is one counter - close to 2x4 feet.  It really doesn't leave you any room to make a mess of any size.  Making bread?  Better make it on the dining room table!  Making cookies?  Well, this can only be done if there are no other dirty dishes or anything else in the kitchen (yeah, in my house?  not happening!)  Also, no room for the fridge in the kitchen - it is housed in the pantry.
Also, our washing machine and dryer are housed outside. Exposed to all the elements.  Benjamin built thingy to connect to a tarp to cover them, but it really is not enough.
Oh yeah - and the other great thing!  We keep having all of these leaks and issues with out kitchen sink - why?  Because the fundi's who installed the pipes cemented them in crooked, so the only real way that we are ever going to have a permanent fix is to break the tile, chisel out the cement, and straighten the pipes... sounds like a good reason to remodel to me!
So, our landlord has been pretty cool about any changes we make.  As in, we do them, take the money off of the rent, and send him pictures.  However, we are wanting to extend the house out, take down some walls, and Benjamin is seriously considering the possibility of a fireplace for our living room... some serious re-modelling.
Oh!  Said re-modelling would also get rid of half of one problem - namely we would take down one of the walls that has fungus growing on it.  The other wall would still be there, but, hey!  You can't always have it all!  (This fungus grows as a result of the cement not being properly dried - it is a common problem in houses all over.  It can be treated, but it is a multi-step process and it often grows back.  End of explanation.)
After asking him if we could make the kitchen bigger, expand the back wall, etc and sharing a small part of our vision, he told us to do whatever we wanted as we are making 'improvements.'  He also mentioned that he would like the unfinished building at the back of the compound finished off.  Hmmm... guess we are adding a BUNCH more building projects to our life!

See our garden?  This was before we moved in.  We don't grow corn there anymore!

Yes, this was clearly taken in the rainy season.

We have a bunch of outside paintwork to do as well.  Hoping to get a start on them next week.  Dry season is the time to build and paint!  We still have a few more months left!  :)

Like the Nike symbols on our gate?  Hopefully next time you see them, they will all be painted a nice black.

Blitz says if you don't come visit, this is what he thinks of you.

Please pray with us!!

So, I have this new friend who started showing up a few months ago.  I vomited at 2:45 am because of him.  His name is acid reflux.  I can honestly say, I don't want this relationship to continue, but I don't really know how to get rid of him.
The whole thing started a few months ago after one of my migraines - I should note here that during a bad migraine, I throw up between 6 and 10 times in anywhere from 5-8 hrs.  The day after my migraine, I ended up throwing up from severe acid reflux - and the burning etc stuck around for another 4 days after that.
Unfortunately, this repeated itself with the very next migraine I had.  Throwing up the next day due to the acid, then severe discomfort for the next number of days.
I mentioned to a friend here the issues I was having.  She gave me a 2 wk course of omeprazole.  It really helped and I hoped that I was over a hump.  See, my theory was that I may have damaged something in my throat or esophagus or whatever due to all of the vomiting from my migraines.  I hoped that taking this would give it a chance to heal and then all would be fine.
So, fast forward a little, I started having some bad issues with acid reflux without having had a migraine just prior to it.  I started debating about seeing a doctor.  There is a hospital here that is Swiss owned.  Unfortunately, the Swiss doctor that was there has now left and they don't have a replacement for him.  Real communication with a Tanzanian doctor is questionable.  Anyway, another friend gave me Zegerid OTC to take, so I decided to go ahead a start that 2 week course b/c of the issues I was having.
Wonderful!  Not a single problem - not even a little heartburn - the whole time I took it.  Unfortunately, the course finished on Wednesday, and Thursday night my friend had a surprise for me.
I can get more omeprazole here at a pharmacy type store, but I don't know that that is a permanent solution. Avoid spicy food, acidic food, and avoid greasy food, don't eat late at night, raise the head of your bed up.  I try to do this, and really didn't eat anything bad yesterday.  The only thing I haven't done is the bed thing.
I guess I would really like to get rid of this friend and right now, I don't really know what to do except pray.