Well, another week has rolled around, and it has been busy. The med students have been overwhelmed with the patients coming in with conditions that would easily have been treated in the U.S. but since the equipment and supplies are unavailable here, many of them die. It is my belief that we must remember how many would most likely die if we were not here to help. They were pretty excited this evening with the progress of one of the children who came in with a tentative diagnosis of cerebral malaria and has been responding very well to the treatment provided. Also, they have done many C-Sections during the past week where baby and possibly mother would both have died if the surgery option were not available.
In this past week, Bud & Jack have been able to repair one of pumps that supplies water to the homes on the compound. They are in the process of trying to rebuild a generator which has already been rebuilt twice, so they are uncertain if this will be successful.
We have had the first two days of class with our seven nursing assistant trainees. It will be a definite challenge to assure they understand what we are trying to teach. Even though they had to pass an English proficiency test, their vocabularies are very limited compared to most people whose first language is English. I asked them about a couple words (ethics, asepsis) and asked if those words meant anything to them or if it sounded like a foreign language…one brave soul spoke up and said in a voice barely above a whisper…”foreign language”. I thanked him profusely and told the class I hoped they would let both Meredith and I know when we used words that had no meaning to them. This is a very challenging step for them which I realized after someone told me about the methods of teaching in the local schools. Apparently, the instructor just lectures; it’s up to the students to take notes and learn. I was also told that if a question is asked of a student and he/she answers incorrectly, everyone ridicules the student. Therefore, it’s not very conducive to an interactive classroom which I am accustomed to using. Hopefully, after a few days of us allowing questions and expecting interactions and giving positive feedback for even trying, we will be able to establish a more open learning environment. Appreciate your prayers.
I personally had a rough night last night with severe abdominal cramping and vomiting, so this AM, Dr. Tom did a “house call” and ordered a couple IV’s as well as something for abdominal spasms and nausea. I hung out in bed all day getting IV’s and sleeping and feel like a new person this AM. Neither Bud nor I believe I’ve had any gluten, so we really don’t know what caused it, but it seems to be over now. PTL It was pretty cool having the doctor come to the house and then getting the treatment at home. We had no IV pole so hung it on a nail that was far higher than I could reach, so Bud stuck pretty close to the house to help with the IV when I had to use the restroom.
It was also pretty cool that I was able to keep my commitment, with Bud’s help, to feed the six med-students, their instructor and two other visitors while I hung out in bed. Ya Posseh, the lady we hired to cook, is doing a great job and cooks great African food. If we ever get the stove figured out and can use our oven, I hope to teach her how to also cook some American food. Meanwhile, I plan to go up to the “nurses’ residence” this week-end to make some gluten free bread. I brought some mixes with me, so don’t think I’m becoming very domestic and doing such things from “scratch” J.
Just an FYI, there is a 5-hour time difference between here and our home in U.S., so I am often praying for many of you when you should be sound asleep in your beds at night. When it’s 7:00 am here, it’s 2:00 am in Indiana.
