Monday, May 25, 2009

Update

Well, I'm in the process of doing laundry so I can pack...I begin my journey back home on Wednesday morning. I'll leave for a 2 hour drive to Mouila around 9am. I'll take an appx. 1 hour plane from Mouila to Libreville. I'll be in Libreville Wednesday and Thursday night. I fly out Friday night at about 9:50pm (not to be precise or anything). So I fly from Libreville to Paris to JFK to Rochester and arrive around 2:30ish on Saturday.

I haven't blogged because I've been savoring my last days in Bongolo :-( ...I don't want to leave, but I have to. I tried to extend my stay, but God clearly showed me that he wants me home...So, much as I would like to disobey, I will obey and go home...The idea of home is becoming more enticing everday since I have been sick with who knows what (seriously...no joke this time). Dr. Keir gave me some Cipro so hopefully this will all be better by the time I have to travel to Libreville and then internationally.

In a nutshell, this is what the past few days have included:

Thursday (5/21):

Trip to Nzenzela (spelled something like that) to help with a vaccination clinic. The Kelly's, Lisa & I went along with nurses. Long story short, we didn't actually help with the vaccination clinic, because this is Africa and things rarely go according to plan. But, we did meet pretty much the whole village, had great conversations with the pastor and other people. We also brought an injured man back to Bongolo.

I had another DELICIOUS dinner at the Thelander's on Thursday night!!! Mhmmm...

Friday (5/22):

I spent the whole day (7:30am-4:30pm) at the hospital....This included staff devotions, resident lecture, rounds (partially) and five procedures (endoscope, removal of lymphnodes and mellanoma, fixing a dislocated jaw, hirnea #1 and hirnea #2)....They were all very exciting especially the dislocated jaw. Man! God really gave Dr. Keir and Jean Claude wisdom. That was absolutely insane

Friday evening Deb & Karen came over for Mexican food and Mexican games...We all had lots of fun!!!

Dr. Jean Claude & Christine's baby boy was born Friday evening at 7pm and is known as petit Luc.

Saturday (5/23):

Saturday morning I went over to the Thelander's. Joanna & I talked a bit with Pastor Pascal & Mama Florence, then we went over to Jean Claude and Christine's apartment to meet baby Luc. So adorable!!!



***Above: Petit Luc

Helped Amanda unpack more container stuff in the afternoon, then we went to Lebamaba for some shopping and dinner at Barack Obama Cafe.

Sunday (5/24):

Sick in the morning. I think I officially grossed Amanda out. Wohoo! ...I was determined to go to church, so I went to Mangi (I can't spell these village names) with the Thelander's for church. I went to Sunday school with Becki, Joanna, Luke and Sarah....I had a really great time, I just don't have time to write lots of details now, so bear with me.

***Above: ...being clobbered by Sunday school children for crayons...

Went home to the Kelly's ...I am back on BRAT diet, so I'm eating French bread and drinking water for meals.

Napped in the afternoon, then babysat the Thelander kids during Bible study (4-6pm)

***Above: Sarah & Luke Thelander

***Above: Dancing to VBS music with Luke

...After, a bunch of us went to dinner at Barack Obama Cafe...I pretty much stuck to the rice and had a TINY bit of fish. After, we went to the Davis' for yummy desserts which I couldn't have, but the LOOKED delicious.

I spent the night trying not to itch all the Bifudou bites that I got over the course of the day despite wearing 100% DEET...As Lisa said, I'm an absolute mess.

Monday (5/25):

Today I went to the hospital to do rounds in peds. from 8:30-10am. I love seeing all the little kiddos. So cute! I just want to keep them.

Walked back up the hill and here I sit...

At around 1pm, I'll head over to the Thelander's to babysit the kids. Later tonight, Amanda & I are going to head to Lebamba to do some last minute shopping, then its laundry and packing the rest of the night....

Tomorrow I plan to go down to the OR and see some more surgeries if I am feeling well...I'm praying and crossing my fingers!!! I want to spend my last day in my favorite place: the OR.

1 comment:

  1. see you on Wednesday ... we have a mobile village clinic planned for Thursday so no rest of the weary ...

    ReplyDelete