December 2016 DRC

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

It's already been a year!  Last Christmas I was back in the US recovering from being sick all the time.  What a difference a year makes.  I've put back my normal weight.  I work most of the time (I do still get sick every once in a while).  And, I've started to see a difference with how the maternity department is running.

This last year was really tough.  I learned a lot, but it was through a lot of trail and a lot of errors.  And, I wasn't sure if I could really stay in a place where I've been pretty miserable.  Things seem to have changed over the last few months.  It's really been a great blessing to me and I can see the difference my attitude has with the people around me.

Some things that have helped is that I've learned how to better communicate.  I've become more proficient in French, even though it's still not great and there's still a lot of misunderstanding.  I've become more involved in the lives of the people around me.  I've began to teach more.  I take time off.  I'm not getting called into the hospital as much as I was before (I'm pretty grumpy when I don't sleep).  And, God has given me peace about what I can do and accomplish in my time here.

This last month has been as full as all the others.  That may be why time seems to be moving so quickly.  On top of my normal hospital duties, I have been involved more in teaching.  Each Monday we've started doing continuing education in the maternity department.  I've also been teaching in the general continuing education on Thursdays.  Who would've thought that mentioning a vasectomy would cause such an uproar?  (Most people equate it to castration here).  

I've also been involved with projects around the house, for the hospital and for the community.  I recovered our maternity bed with new fabric/plastic.  I got to drive a group of nursing students to one of the next towns to sing at a church Sunday morning.  I packaged up 30 Christmas presents for people in my department and the community.  This included rice, beans, tomato, onion, garlic, and several other things so people could celebrate Christmas.  Unfortunately, people haven't received their salaries for the last 2 months.  My neighbors and I also had a Christmas party at our house for many of the single/widowed women who work at the hospital.  They invited many others to join the party.  It was a great time to share together and to be together.

I missed being home for Christmas, but I'm thankful for the friends and neighbors here who involved me in their plans and celebrations.

These next several months will pass quickly.  I'll continue working here in Nyankunde in the maternity department.  We are working on repairing our floor that has had several problems thanks to a very generous donor.  I'll be leaving for a medical education conference in Thailand for 2 weeks in February.  When I come back my friend Anita will be staying with me for a month in Nyankunde.  I will also take up teaching Obstetrics and Gynecology at the nursing school.  I will continue training my new colleague Dr. Deborah!  And then I'll be coming back to the US at the end of May/ beginning of June for a few months.

Salama (midwife) and I laughing together at Christmas.
Salama (une sagefemme) et moi rions ensemble pendant Noel. 

Anna (my neighbor) and I with her daughter Miriam.
Anna et moi avec sa fille Miriam.

All the doctors together for the Christmas celebration.
Tous les médecins celèbrent Noel ensemble.

All the kids sharing food together.
Tous les enfants mangent ensemble.

One of the nurses who is also a patient (pregnant).
Un des infirmières qui est aussi un patient (enceinte).

Celebrating Christmas with my 3 sisters and brother by proxy.
I'm the one in the picture frame.  I believe 4th grade.

En celebrant avec mes 3 soeurs et mon frère.
Je suis l'un dedans le petit cadre.  Je pense c'est 4me année.

Luke, Miriam and one of the nursing students (Herabo).
I'm helping to pay his school fees.
He works in our yard/ garden to earn money for his room and board.

Un des élève qui j'aide avec les frais de scolarité.
Il travaille dans notre jardin de gagner l'argent pour ces autres frais.

Monique, the little girl I operated on a few months ago.
She came for a follow-up.
She didn't cry, but she's still not sure about me.


Monique, j'ai opéré cette fille ca fait quelque mois.
Elle est venue pour le rendevouz.
Elle n'a pas pleuré, mais elle continue avec ses doubts.

The people in Tulabo.
The road conditions are terrible between there and Nyankunde.
Often, the women deliver at home or on the road.

Les gens de Tulabo.
Les conditions des routes sont terribles entre cette village et Nyankunde.
Souvent les dames accouchent à la maison ou sur la route.

The health center in Tulabo.
It was built several years ago but never staffed.
We are working to change that.

Le centre de santé à Tulabo.
C'était construit il y a plusieurs des année, mais il n'y a pas une infirmière.
Nous travaillons de changer ca.

Ajabo (on the far left) is the other nursing student who works at our house.
He is also involved in a lot of other activities.
This is a group of students singing at one of the churches in the next town.

Ajabo (à coté gauche) c'est l'autre élève qui travail chez nous.
Il fait beaucoup des choses.
Cette groupe d'étudiants chante à l'église dans la prochaine village.

And, there is always work.
Alice finishes with me in 3 weeks.

Il y a toujours le travail.
Alice reste avec moi 3 semaines en plus.

Continue to pray for me as I decide what I'm going to do after my contract with Samaritan's Purse (only does short term contracts) is finished.  I have always hoped to stay in Nyankunde even though I've considered other options.  I've been talking with an organization called Serge (previously World Harvest).  Hopefully, they will be having someone coming to Nyankunde in March or April to see if it's possible for me (and my neighbors) to work with them here.  I'm going to try and start in their mentoring program in January via e-mail and skype.

Pray for wisdom, endurance, patience as I continue to work in difficult circumstances.

Pray for peace in the DRC.  There is always something going on somewhere.  Thankfully, our small town hasn't had any recent problems.

Pray as I start studying for the last part of my board exams.  I need a refresher in US medicine.  As interesting and as extreme the cases can be here, I need to know what the standard is in the US.

Thanks, everyone.  Enjoy the new year.  May God bless you through 2017!

Michelle