The Storm approaches....
Photo Credit: Dr. Ben
We sat outside as the dust storm turned the sky dark and waited for the rain. When it finally came, we danced in the first rainfall of the year. All the dirt and dust that had pelted our faces and got stuck on our sweat then turned to mud plastered everywhere. In the aftermath, the temperature cooled around 30 degrees and a rainbow appeared. The air smelled delicious and the breeze was fresh and cool.
Photo Credit: Dr. Magda
In the month since I got back after an incredible 3 weeks home, I haven't stopped sweating. We're in the full swing of hot season when a dip in the pool feels like taking a bath, your chocolate and cheese melt within minutes, you quickly learn to avoid clothes that don't breathe, your feet swell, the fans never stop (except when the power goes out), and everything you touch gives off heat. Even though everyone moves a little slower in the heat, life has not slowed down at all.
An exciting story and direct answer to prayer occurred in my house shortly after I got back. My roommate Ashli wrote it far more beautifully and eloquently than I ever could, so please please please read her blog post here: https://seesomethingmore.blogspot.com/2019/03/here-have-friend-part-four.html and here: https://seesomethingmore.blogspot.com/2019/03/living-water-part-five.html (Also, she's just an incredible writer and person, so keep reading her stuff!)
Though it isn't malaria season, the hospital has been incredibly busy. I have had multiple shifts where I've worked harder than I've ever worked before. For over a month, there were four little kids who were in the hospital for a long time. One little girl had burns on 40% of her body, and the other 3 had cancer and were getting multiple rounds of chemotherapy which required them to stay in the hospital. After taking care of them for multiple shifts, I got attached, so I started going back on my days off to visit them, get them moving a bit, and try my darndest to entertain them.
Something to understand is that these kids, like most kids here, are pretty wary of the people of a different color. This is reasonable because often their only experience is going to the hospital, getting poked and prodded, and not feeling well. In addition, not one of these kids spoke a lick of French, so our communication was solely non-verbal. Thus, it took a lot of work to get them to warm up. All of them were in private wards, which was convenient, because in my determination to get them to smile, I was plain ridiculous. After much effort, all my dancing, singing, and acting like a fool worked. Father Abraham and the Hokey Pokey are universally absurd. Over a couple weeks, I had prayed a few times with each of them, and I got at least one smile from each kid.
Heartbreakingly, two of them didn't make it. One of the little girls died on the same day along with 3 other kids after a hard and exhausting day fighting for each of their precious lives. The other little boy died unexpectedly and inexplicably. I'd be lying if I said that this didn't feel like a punch in the gut. These were the patients that had become more than patients. I've started typing sentence after sentence trying to find a way to justify it or spin it in a positive light, but it feels like lying. I miss them and their beautiful smiles. I'm grateful for the opportunities I had to spend time with them and their families and that I got to pray with them. I am praying extra hard for the other two kids who still have a long road ahead of them, but are doing well. I am trusting in the Sovereignty of God who loves those kids so much more than I do.
My diet in the past couple weeks has heavily relied on mango muffins, mango smoothies, and juicy, succulent, fresh, plain mangoes. The town I live in is not named Mango after the fruit, but at this time of year, it is very fitting.
I am in an incredibly special situation right now. Every day, I am working with a nursing student one on one as they are in their final internship at the hospital. They give me so much grace as I bumble around in French, and they are going to be incredible nurses. It's hard enough explaining EKGs in English- they had to listen to me try in French... This is a rare window of opportunity where ex-pat nurses are desperately needed while the nursing students are being trained. Also, I have been entrusted with teaching on different subjects which has presented unique opportunities that wouldn't happen elsewhere... I thought the timing of my trip was good because it was convenient for me- little did I know how rare and special this time would be.
To those of you still reading, thank you. I wouldn't be here without all of the people who encourage me and support me in so many ways.
Because they haven't heard,
-C-
