Hello from GHE team Kigoma!

It has been an absolutely incredible experience thus far, and we are joyful to share a brief summary of our time here over the last couple of days. To start, the flights were long, but seeing Kigoma as the end result was entirely rewarding. Our first flight was from LAX to Istanbul (Turkey), and that took roughly 14 hours. The next flight was from Istanbul to Dar Es Salaam, which is a city on the east coast of Tanzania. From the airport in Dar Es Salaam, we were flying to Kigoma airport when the pilot announced that there was a minor technical issue with the plane, which resulted in the team landing back in Dar Es Salaam. Although this gave us a bit of a scare, we found confidence in the fact that God has brought us here for the purpose of spreading His name, and that He was going to get us there to do just that.

Today was our first day at Kigoma Baptist Hospital. We had the opportunity to see, treat, and pray with various patients. We got the opportunity to talk about nutrition, culture, and health concerns with some of the ladies waiting outside. We also had the opportunity to visit a village and participate in a small Bible study. We have been enjoying learning about the culture, meeting the people, and practicing our Swahili.

We have included a picture of Lake Tanganyika (which is the view from where we are staying) Please pray for us this week as we have the opportunity to return the hospital, treat more patients, and give health seminars. We are healthy and just a little tired. We will post again in a few days. Asante sana! Amani iwe nanyi. (Thank you very much! Peace be with you.)

Reading the bible and spending one on one time with God consistently is one of the hardest things. Most people struggle with remembering, staying focused, and getting interested or inspired. But its okay, that happens.

Remembering and staying focused while spending time with God can get tough. But instead of forcing yourself to do what you have probably been told to do, find a way to connect with God that you enjoy! For example, if you love music, take some time by yourself to listen to worship songs. Focus on the words and what they are saying. If a song was inspired by a certain passage, figure out what it is and focus on that verse. Pray and talk with God about it. Or if you love to write, read your bible and then journal about what you read and what it meant to you.

Now even if you try something new, don’t neglect reading the bible. We are called to learn the Word and in that is when we will grow to know more about the Lord and His plan for us. If you struggle to remember to read your bible try setting an alarm on your phone for when you know you will have time to read. Or pick a time in the day that you can commit to reading. It could be right when you wake up, while you’re eating breakfast/lunch, or maybe even in between classes. If you want to read in the morning when you wake up, put a sticky note on your phone reminding you to. That way when you reach for your phone in the morning you can be reminded to pick up your bible instead. Just find what works for you and set reminders for yourself, whether through alarm, sticky notes, etc..

I know it can be difficult to remember and find time in a busy day to read your bible. But just find the ways in which you enjoy connecting with God and really embrace them. The reality is, as Christians, reading our bible and spending time with God daily is something that we need to make a routine. After a few weeks it becomes a natural thing to pick up your bible and spend 20 minutes studying His word. And looking back months and even years from now you will be so happy you created a routine for your daily devotions. At the College of Health Science we are committed to teaching and equipping you with the tools to become the best of yourself that you can be and that does not mean just physically but spiritually, as well.

Makayla Crowley

Student Worker

College of Health Science

There are several health benefits of volunteering. Not only are you helping others by giving back but you are also improving your health. Several studies have shown that volunteering helps people donate their time to a cause they care about, feel socially connected, which can help with loneliness and depression. Not only does volunteering help out with mental health, but also with physical health.

In a study published in the journal Psychology and Aging, adults over age 50 who volunteered on a regular basis were less likely to develop high blood pressure than non-volunteers. While, it is impossible for the study to prove that it was the volunteering that was directly responsible for the lower blood pressure, researchers are trying to identify the specific characteristics of volunteering that provide the greatest benefit. In the Carnegie Mellon study, 200 hours of volunteering per year correlated to lower blood pressure.

Another study published in the study Health Psychology, found that participants who volunteered with some regularity lived longer, but only if their intentions were truly altruistic. Meaning that they actually had to be invested in helping other, not just to make themselves feel better.

So, if any of these studies are any indication, serving others is essence of good mental and physical health. Find something you enjoy doing and go out and serve others – it’s good for you and your community!

Maria Perez

Student Blogger

College of Health Science

Lets face it, eating healthy in college is a struggle. You’re always on the go, grabbing whatever is the closest to eat because you woke up late and are rushing to class. The life of a college student is busy. Monday-Friday you have class, work, and any other school events and clubs you’re involved in. Its so easy to grab the food that is most convenient and fight there. And then when studying, all you want to do is snack to help keep you awake. So we naturally gravitate towards the candy, cookies, ice cream, and whatever we want. We go into the cafeteria and there is an endless amount of all different kinds of foods ranging from pizza to sushi to burgers to pasta. I mean how are we suppose to keep our diet structured when we feel like we can’t even do that with our day to day living? So is it even possible to eat healthy while in college?

My answer to that question is absolutely. All it takes is a little planning, self control, and research. Here are a few different ways that I have found it easy to eat healthy while in school.

The first thing is: You MUST research. Before you do anything you need to get on the computer and figure out what foods your body needs and what are the best options of those foods to eat. If you don’t have the basic information of what is good for you and things to be aware of then there is no way that you will be able to supply your body with the nutrients in needs for day to day life. Also, make sure you are getting your information from reliable sources. Make sure they are doctors, nutritionists etc and not just people who wrote on article on buzz feed. Now this also means doing research on the foods at your school. So for example, for us at CBU look up the health and macro nutrient facts for Chick-fil-a, El Monte, and Briscos. Find out which foods have a lot of sodium and fats that you don’t want and stay away.

My next suggestion would be to meal prep. Look at your whole week on Sunday and figure out what days you will be limited for time for meals or maybe have a class during lunch or dinner time. Make meals ahead of time and bring them with you. Do you have an early morning class that you always roll out of bed a couple minutes before it starts, therefore you miss breakfast or sit in class starving? Make your breakfast the night before. Hard boil and peel some eggs the night before and have them in a baggy in the fridge so that you can grab and eat them on your way to class. Or make oatmeal and warm it up in the morning with a little bit more liquid. This way you don’t end up grabbing the quick greasy breakfast burrito or have to sit in the cafeteria while you eat, therefore making you late to class.

Okay, come on Lancers, confession time. We all take advantage of the desserts that come with a meal swipe. I mean, how do you not? Sometimes it feels life if I don’t take the dessert from Chick-fil-a that I am losing money since it comes with my meal swipe. And we tell ourselves, “well its just on cooke/ice cream/ brownie/soda.” But reality is that its just one dessert almost everyday. That adds up! So my next tip; say NO to dessert. When that really nice chick-fil-a lady asks you if you want an ice cream or a cookie with your meal, just say no dessert. Don’t grab one to have a bite or two an then throw it away because we almost always end up eating the whole thing. Now don’t get me wrong, its okay to have those things every now and then. But its all about moderation. Pick your times ahead of time and pick wisely.

The last thing I have on how to make eating healthy easier in college is control the stress snacking. You know what I’m talking about. Those late nights studying at the library. Those are the nights where we pig out on junk food. And personally, I am someone who loves to snack while I do homework. Snacking while doing homework is not bad but its all about choosing the right foods to snack on and the right amount. Instead of chips and cookies, grab a handful of almonds or some fruit. It all comes back to doing your research and finding foods that you like that are good for your body.

I know sometimes it feels like it is impossible to eat healthy while in college, but it is possible! And don’t worry if you aren’t always able to do it right. If you forgot to make breakfast the night before, it is better to eat that breakfast burrito from the CX than nothing at all. Treat your body well and make sure you are listening to it and paying attention to what works and what doesn’t work for you.

Here are some ways to figure out what is in your Chick-fil-a and El Monte

www.chick-fil-a.com/food/meal

www.calbaptist.edu/files/5414/2023/9983/Nutritional

Makayla Crowley

Student Worker

College of Health Science

After a long day at work, getting home and meal prepping can seem a bit tiring but with these 5 easy snacks, snack prepping will be easy!

1. Bananas and peanut butter
Banana bites are sweet and salty and have a lot of potassium and protein. These snacks may be small but they give you a big boost of energy.

2. Frozen grapes

 Fruit is good for you and the frozen version is even better in this heat! These frozen grapes are easy to prep a bunch at once and are a grown ups version of a popsicle.

3. Chia pudding

Chia seeds are tiny and have a lot of health benefits to them. Once you soak them overnight in coconut or almond milk they become a rich pudding that is packed with fiber and protein. It takes almost no time to prep these chia pudding in jars… to add some flavor top it off with fruit and coconut!

4. Hard boiled eggs

Omega-3s, protein, amino acids, and vitamins are all packed into this perfect easy snack. Hard boiled eggs are easy to prep and even easier to schedule into your meal prep.

5. Frozen yogurt covered blueberries

In honor of National Blueberry Month, this is a yummy snack! Grab a toothpick, dip the blueberries in yogurt and then freeze for at least an hour!

I hope you enjoy and get to try some of these these!

Maria Perez

Student Blogger

College of Health Science

Yes, kids get arthritis too. It is a common misconception that only older people get arthritis. Nearly 300,000 kids in America have been diagnosed with Juvenile Arthritis.

The form of arthritis that these kids experience is not the same as grandma’s aches and pains. These children suffer from various autoimmune forms of arthritis. Their body’s immune system is attacking their joints, causing swelling, stiffness and permanent damage. This condition is extremely serious; if left untreated it can result in loss of mobility, blindness and even death.

Each year, the Arthritis National Research Foundation provides a grant to this particular form of arthritis research, called The Kelly Award for Juvenile Arthritis Research.

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), one form of juvenile arthritis, is actually quite prevalent, affecting more than 50,000 children in the United States alone. JIA is often referred to as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in the United States. Other specific names and forms of juvenile arthritis include: systemic onset JIA or Still’s disease, oligoarticular JIA (affecting fewer than 5 joints), polyarticular JIA (affecting five or more joints), enthesitis-related arthritis and psoriatic arthritis.

When juvenile arthritis first shows its symptoms in a child’s body, many parents write off swollen joints and fever as a flu bug, or think that a sudden rash might have occurred from an allergic reaction. The symptoms might even recede slightly before showing up again, sometimes delaying diagnosis for quite some time. After all, who expects a small child to have arthritis?

Most people don’t know that kids get arthritis. A child’s immune system is not fully formed until about age 18; so an “autoimmune” form of arthritis is especially aggressive in children, compromising their ability to fight normal diseases and leaving them open to complications that may affect their eyes, bone growth, etc.

Juvenile arthritis normally appears in children as young as 6 months and as old as 18 years. Young adults still suffer the pain of the juvenile forms of arthritis. Joint pain, reddened joints and swelling that simply refuses to dissipate are the key symptoms. Rheumatologists are finding that the number of joints affected has a parallel connection to the severity of the disease and the likelihood of achieving total remission.

Learn more about Juvenile Arthritis and spread awareness!

Source: Cure Arthritis

Maria Perez, Health Science Pre-Med

Student Blogger

College of Health Science

As the team member from the School of Nursing, I want to introduce myself and share a bit about the trip.  I am Jan Flournoy, assistant professor of Nursing, and I teach pediatrics.  Working with kids was perfect for me, and the trip was a unique opportunity to get to know and to work with Maggie and the Allied Health students.

China was an experience of amazing hospitality and a wide array of food, which included recognizable meat and vegetables, as well as unknown items that required culinary bravery.  There was always more than enough, and just when we thought the meal was complete, more dishes appeared.  Some favorites were hot pot, where you cook at your table, lotus root, numerous pork dishes, veggies with peanuts, and ice cream bars.  And we never used our forks; all mastered chop sticks.

During our time at Cedarnest, the parents and volunteers, as well as the children, were excited to play monkey in the middle, fly paper air, and blow bubbles as part of the rehab process.  Using play as part of recovery is something we take for granted, and it is so needed in China.  Also, we taught the children “Jesus Loves Me” in English, and later we learned it in Chinese. At the autism centers, Kameron and I did history and physicals, and numerous questions from parents led to health teaching opportunities.  Also, at Changchun Children’s Hospital, I was asked to speak on pain assessment and neonatal care.  Here and everywhere we went, we were so well received.  I think Maggie has achieved “celebrity status” in her work in autism .

Our second city to visit was Qinhuangdao,  a beautiful seaside city and vacation spot.  We attended a church, where we participated in making dumplings (at half speed, next to the experienced ladies), and we worshipped with the believers.  What a privilege to be in a land of numerous zealous, often first generation, believers. Also, our group taught on growth and development and autism to university students, and then we spent time visiting with the students and learning about each other.

We couldn’t leave China without climbing the giant steps of the Great Wall and visiting Beijing, including the Forbidden City and the Olympic sites from 2008.  Beijing train station was the China I had imagined- a sea of hurried people going somewhere and doing something, just like us.

Traveling backwards in time, we arrived home all too quickly. I literally keep dreaming of China.  Hopefully, we will renew relationships and work on old and new projects next year.

 Sometimes it can be hard to eat healthy on a budget when you see the prices of fresh fruits, vegetables and meats. It becomes easier to justify buying the boxed mac n cheese that only cost 99 cents. Eating healthy can break the bank if you don’t know what kind of foods to buy and what to look for. Here are a few tips I have gathered along the way.

First, when trying to eat healthy but also trying to stay within your budget, it is important to plan out what you’re going to eat. Make a list of meals you want to eat that week and figure out what you already have a what you need. When you stay organized you avoid buying foods you already have around and buying too much of a certain food. Impulse buying is a real thing and when you have a grocery list it will help to keep you focused on what you know you need, instead of strolling through the store and picking up whatever looks good at the time.

Second, you need a mixture of carbs, fats and proteins in your diet. When you’re at the store buy the cheaper items that fit into those categories. For example, instead of buying shrimp or steak, buy canned tuna or frozen chicken breasts. Buy whole wheat pasta or frozen broccoli for carbs. And for fats, buy peanut butter or seeds.

This next tip is one of my favorites because its easy and cheap. Instead of buying fresh fruits and vegetables, just buy them frozen! You can get a bag of of frozen vegetables for a couple dollars compared to buying fresh vegetables in that same amount for about 5 or 6 dollars. And its easy when preparing. Most frozen vegetables you can just throw in the microwave for a couple minutes and they’re ready.

Now if you’re the kind of person that wants the fresh fruits and vegetables just make sure to buy the stuff that is in season. Bananas, for example, are almost always about 2 dollars for a bunch that will have about 6 or 7 bananas. When walking through your produce section, compare prices. Research fruits and veggies that are in season before you go grocery shopping so you know which ones to look out for.

This next thing most people don’t do; cutting coupons. Most of us get tons of these in our mail daily and just throw them away. But if you actually take the time to look at them, a lot of them have some great deals of the exact foods that you normally buy. This has saved people hundreds of dollars when going grocery shopping. Its time consuming but it works!

The next tip I have is buying in bulk. Look for sales and when you see them buy double what you would normally buy! Most of the time the sales are on things that can sit in our pantry for months and not go bad. So take advantage of the sale and stock up! And if meats are on sale, buy it and freeze it if you know you wont use it in time.

Rice and beans are so cheap! You can buy them in bulk and they will last you for a long time and not go bad! And the great thing about rice and beans is that there are endless options of how to make them. It doesn’t need to be plain and boring. Look up recipes on how to spice up rice and beans.

The final tip is to buy generic brands. When it comes to things like milk, eggs, oats, peanut butter, pastas and more, you really can’t taste a difference whether its the fancy brand or the store brand. And most of the time it can be a few dollars cheaper. Those few dollars add up when you buy the generic brand for most items.

Don’t let the excuse that eating healthy is too expensive prevent you from taking care of your body. There are plenty of ways to eat healthy and stay within your budget. You just have to stay organized, make a plan, and keep your eyes open for the things on sale.

Makayla Crowley

Student Worker

College of Health Science

Our team headed off to the local market on beautiful and “cooler” Sunday afternoon. Sunday grocery shopping has become a weekend tradition for us. The quiet conversations spoken in the native tongue of the Philippines, Tagalog have become a familiar background noise in busy places such as the market.  After 3 weeks abroad unfamiliar sounds are ingrained in our day-to-day life.  You could imagine my surprise when the soft-spoken words of a Carrie Underwood song “Jesus Take the Wheel” radiated across the produce aisle. I inhaled with a deep sense of comfort as the lyrics sounded like a piece of home.

“Jesus take the wheel, take it from my hands cause I can’t do this on my own.” The words “I can’t do this on my own” echo with truth, mirroring a consistent theme of emotions felt each day.  For an entire semester Global Health Engagement was an alluring calling that we all felt destined to answer. Despite the variations of reasoning that brought us all to take part in Global Health Engagement, in less than 24 hours from departing LAX we were together in the Philippines. No longer in the comfort of routine, no longer surrounded by proverbial luxuries, no longer in control.

“Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand,” Isaiah 41:10.  Every day, we have the opportunity to decide who’s going to be in control of our lives — it will either be God or us.

That choice is a battle. There will always be things in life that we want to control.  Chop it up to human nature, but control and order seem to be priority over necessity pertaining to routine. The reality of being in a third world country makes one almost fight to find that sense of comfort, small feelings of normalcy in a place of so much unfamiliarity.

Regardless of the discomforts we knew we might face by leaving home behind, we did just that. Our team as a whole has embraced flexibility and sought purpose each day to exist in the moment with purpose.

When we relinquish our control, God reveals to us His purpose for our lives.

I am thankful for that quiet hum of a country song that reminded me of the powerful reality, God is IN control.

The Philippine Team

The China Team has quickly learned that what we had scheduled for the day was not what God had planned.  We took the attitude that God was “was taking us somewhere; to do something; someone was going to pick us up and lunch and dinner were included.”  Everyday God had a new plan for the team.

Part of our first week and the second week were spent at Angel House and Noah Star School for Autism.  The student were able to plan activities, observe and work with children with Autism.  Professor Appenzeller held seminars for the parents, teachers, students, workers, doctors and psychologists in the Changchun area.  Melissa and Nicole demonstrated for the group oral motor activities and talked about the importance of play with the parents at Angel House. Sami and Caroline demonstrated gross and fine motor skills, which the parents, teachers and worker could use with their student with Autism and presented a Power Point presentation along with Kameron about growth and development of children. The students had the audience participate in the activities and everyone had a great time.  We were told that people in China do not like to participate but God had other plans!

On Friday, the students and Professor Appenzeller demonstrated a model preschool class for 3-5 year olds with Autism and a model classroom for 6 to 11 year olds with Autism.  The children and students had so much fun playing and learning.  We were told that children in China don’t play and have fun.  God had other plans!  The workers, parents, students and teachers at Noah Star and Angel House will always be in our hearts and in our prayers.

Well, it’s off to a new city and we know that “we are going somewhere; to do something; someone will pick us up and lunch and dinner will be included…..”

The China Team