Wow,
I think I may have started my last post like that, but I am still so overwhelmed. It's only my 6th day here and it has already been beyond what I could've imagined. I don't really know where to start but I think I'll have to break it down into categories
General life: Day to day here has been great and I'm starting to feel a little more settled, but it's still early days. We generally have a pretty early start waking up around 6.30 to spend some quiet time in prayer and reflection before the day kicks off. We spend a bit of time sharing together in the morning before we go to do what we need to do. I'm staying with some really lovely people, all of whom have a different job or service here.
We have doctors, pharmacists, accountants, a teacher, a handyman, and general missionaries, and I wish I had time to tell you about each one of them but maybe another time. We get together again from 1-2 for lunch, which the 'mama's here make for us. It's basically the same rice, chicken, salad and soup every day but it's still lovely. Back to work and then each evening we get together for one meeting or another.
We're nicely set up here and the surrounding are beautiful. We are still in the capital city though so the nearby shops are actually pretty big and have almost everything (including milk-shakes) Every Sunday there is a market and I went today with Fr. Abraham & Dalia his wife who go there every week, which was a laugh cos they love to bargain. Over my time here I will probably be going on various outreach trips to the villages, which should be pretty great, but we'll just have to wait and see.
There are quite a few families living and working here with young kids and it has been hilarious hanging out with them, they are all such little characters.
Medical Work: This has been a massive learning curve. It is all so different here and I feel pretty humbled seeing what they have to deal with on a daily basis with so few resources. The clinic runs Monday-Saturdayand basically involves churning through the masses of patients, admitting those who are really sick and treating and following up the rest. We are really lucky to have a lab that actually runs very efficiently so we can see a patient, order tests, get the results and prescribe the appropriate treatment all in the same day. The caveat to this is that the finances are very limited. Patients need to pay small fees to help cover costs (e.g. $5-8 for a test) and often if they can't but still need it the church covers the cost.
But this means we have to be very restrained with tests and often have to treat empirically without confirmation. This extends to funding beds for patients so I have found myself treating patients that I would usually admit, by seeing them daily in clinic and giving IM injections. Still, despite the limitations, there is so much to learn and you feel like you are making quite a difference.
The HIV centre (called the Hope centre) is an amazing place and a testament to what can be done between co-operation between various organisations. Essentially it is able to provide complete HIV treatment with Anti-retroviral drugs and regular follow-up. After sitting with one doctor for a couple of hours, I was thrown in to see patients and it is like a whole new world. I have never really had any involvement with HIV in Melbourne, and there is a lot that I still need to learn. Still, there are a few doctors away so everything is very busy and any little contribution I can make is needed.
The in-patient unit is relatively small (about 20 beds), but patients also present to the clinic at all hours and whoever is on-call for in-patients also sees the after-hours presentations, not all of which need admission.
Church life: We essentially live in the church, which has been great. There's a liturgy 3 mornings a week and loads of other services going on. The congregation is wonderful and the fellowship is encouraging and inspiring. It's such a great experience to be challenged every day and be pushed to grow.
The Sunday service particularly was brilliant. The church was packed and there was a realy great mix between the traditional worship that I am used to and the local African tradition, I just loved it.
Anyway, thats enough from me. For anyone who wants to know, my number here is +260978030114. Also I get patchy access to skype here so if any of you have it please add me cos I'd love to be able to chat.
God bless
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