Back in the Swing of Things

Well, Blogger was down for the past bit, so I didn't get to post yesterday...don't freak, I'm alive. Here is yesterday's post.

A brief account of today’s (Thursday's) jungle adventures since I am rather tired…

Today was my first full day back at Bongolo. I love it more each day. Even though it is quite hot here, that will not change my love for this place. I was going to go on a vaccination clinic trip to a village, but plans changed and I went to the OR instead. Gotta to see some cool surgeries, go on rounds, see the changes that have been made to this hospital since May 2009 and I met some of the new surgical residents.

I just love everyone here! The patients at the hospital are great. In going on rounds, I noticed (I was discussing this with some people later) that the Gabonese have a huge resilience to pain. Days at the hospital start off with devotions and prayer at 7:30am. For the surgical dudes, this is followed by rounds in the surgical ward and then special cases in the pediatric ward, medicine ward and maternity ward. I saw a pediatric hernia and circumcision, vaginal hysterectomy, TURP and thoracotamy. I was able to help out here or there by grabbing one thing or the other.





I was down at the hospital til about 2:40ish and then swiftly walked up what is known as Cardiac Hill (a steep hill/road leading from the hospital to mission station) and stopped home to change out of scrubs and grab food. Then, I stopped by the Thelander’s to watch the missionary kids (Sarah & Luke) so Joanna could get some work done. Before taking off into the jungle with Sarah & Luke, I ran into missionaries Pauline & Lisa. Lisa is a nurse at Bongolo who I met last time & we became buds so it was great to see her again...and if you look at the picture below, we are both wearing the same exact shirt :-)



Sarah, Luke and I walked around the mission station, went on the swings and came back to the house for some good old Lego-building (with Luke) and beading (with Sarah). Sarah & I on the swings at Bongolo mission station:



I’m living in guest quarters on the station (fondly known as Triplex). There is a visiting cardiothoracic surgeon (Dr. Tom) and then a married couple (Carrie & Jeff). So, I went to dinner at a local "restaurant" with my housemates and a missionary couple, Dan & Alicia. When going to a Gabonese restaurant, you generally bring your own drinks and condiments. Food at the restaurant:



LOVE, LOVE, LOVE every minute spent in the OR at Bongolo. It is so amazing to see how God made the human body and the role he allows us to take in healing.