Wednesday, October 5, 2016

September 2016 DRC

Hello, all!

I know my last letter was a little bit heavy, so I'll try to keep this a little bit lighter.  It helps to remember the things I'm thankful for.  And, it's good to laugh at myself for all the crazy things I do.

Today I tried burning my eyebrows off by starting a fire of dry palm fronds.  Michigan isn't known for it's palm trees, so this was my first experience in trimming the tree (or hiring an 18-year-old nursing student to do it), harvesting the palm nuts (which make palm oil) and then burning the dead branches (one of the hottest fires I've ever been next to).  I don't have a picture of the fire, but it was impressive.  I do, however, have a picture of Herabo, the nursing student, trying to give me a heart attack by climbing around on the live palm branches in order to harvest the nuts.

I don't have a photo of this, but I was soaking up some sun with 2 babies this morning. I was trying to get some vitamin D.  They were trying to get rid of some bilirubin (makes them yellow) while I was working on my tan.  Actually, I was reviewing pre-natal charts while keeping an eye on the babies and their moms, and working on my tan.  I didn't need to bother because I got a little red from the fire tonight.

Lindsey and I also went to the market.  Our daily shopping included buying multicolor fabric, bananas, roofing nails, and butter that definitely melted in the hot car.  Plantaines, onions, garlic, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, dried beans, rice, eggs, peanuts, coffee, and an unidentifiable fruit from the rainforest, which I didn't find out until several hours later what it was.

Things I'm thankful for:
Having a good group of friend in our community.

A good working team dynamic between the people who work for Samaritan's Purse.

We had a meeting with the administration 2 weeks ago after asking for over a year.  We have another this Wednesday.

One of my nurses took initiative and made some changes in the department.

We got $22000 from an anonymous donor so that we can make basic repairs in the hospital, and I can repair the floor in the maternity ward.

I hired someone to work in my house part time.  She's honest and does good work.  She worked for me before but had to do some other things (which is why the disaster with the other lady).

I am taking some time off to rest starting October 15.

There are so many other things to be thankful for-good health, good friends, good food, internet that works, a dry home, a working shower with hot water!

I'm also thankful that God is patient.  I'm feeling much better than what I was before.   I'm also coming to appreciate all the small things...

Thanks for your e-mails, the words of encouragement, and the reminders from the Bible of the promises of God.

Continue to pray for me as I figure out what I'm going to do.  The other hospital I was supposed to visit in Uganda isn't accepting visitors until January.  I've had several other hospitals contact me looking for an Ob/Gyn.  I'm working on trying to see what would work best, if I were to go.  Travel is expensive.  And, leaving Nyankunde means that there is no Ob/Gyn.  Pray that the administration here would come to realize that they need to hire someone that I can train to work in the maternity department.

Much love to all of you.
Michelle

Sorry, having problems getting the pictures to load.