Tropical medicine learning

This blog was written but not posted in mid-April, 2010

I'm learning so much here in the mountains of North Carolina! 

Thank you Equip International Staff and Dr. Mary!

nasogastric tubes for children who will not/cannot drink

delivering babies

physical assessment and history interviews

rehydration therapy (oral and intraperitoneal)

injections

lab work

urinalysis

splinting

tooth extraction

demonization

dislocations

snake and insect bites

suturing

nerve blocks

learning how to educate the nationals

studying different regions/countries' problem conditions

treating malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, STDs, a hundred different kind of parasites, worms, larva, amoeba, etc. 

 

Learning to check for ear infection

                                                     Dr. Mary demonstrates tooth extraction

Sutured cow tongues

Demonstrating Nerve blocks

Our class of missionaries on the way to the field

Learning the different kinds of sutures, on cow tongue

Mutatu madness

Blog from June 16, 2010.

There is a form of public transport here in Nairobi that intrigues me.  The Mutatu is a questionable means of getting around the city quickly, but not safely.  For 20 shillings (less than 15 cents) a person puts him/herself in the hands (and seatbeltless seat or isle) of a driver who is bent on getting as many people as quickly as possible from one point to the next so he can take the money and get on to the next set of paying customers.  Today during rush hour I saw one packed so tightly with people they had difficulty closing the door. 


The owners express themselves by naming their vehicles.  Here are some names I saw just today in about 40 minutes of walking.  Passion, Tormenta, Frakas, Gracious, Guiltiness, Jesus Saves, Baby Boy, Rine, Miles, Dust, Apex, Jebazu, Savor, One Love, Twitter, Bleak, Soul Food and Latifah.

Two people work the Mutatu--a driver and a seller of seats.  The seller frequently hangs out of the doorway or sits in a window and solicits business.  He holds up two fingers to indicate he can fit two more people in the van. Mind you, that doesn't mean there are seats available.  He solicits passengers in Ki Swahili so I cannot understand, but the message is clear.  "We are going to ____ point for only 20 shillings, come on!"   There is always a rushed air about them as they won't make money if they take too long at any one stop.  People sometimes have only a second or so to step up into the van before it careens off to the next point.  They are frequently in fender bender accidents as traffic laws are ignored.  I think the horn is used more frequently than the brake.


Mutatus are known to be hotbeds for pickpockets.  We at SIM are discouraged from using them.  I have not found it necessary to do so yet.  95% of the time I can walk to the place I need to be within 20 minutes.  We shall see. 

I do not have enough bandwidth to upload photos. Sorry.  I'll do that when the internet is less restricted. 

The poor you will always have with you

"The poor you will always have with you…”



Never before have I been so gripped by the stories of Jesus and the disciples in reference to the poor, the crippled, the sick, the widows and orphans. Even though I haven’t yet arrived in Doro where the commonality of all of those things will increase, I am so touched by them in Nairobi and Malakal. The first few days in Nairobi I did not give anything to the beggars and crippled on roads and sidewalks. My thought process was that I did not want to contribute to misuse of funds and I considered that some of them might be working for people who extorted them. But each time I passed them, I felt worse. One afternoon I saw two women with misshapen feet about 50 feet from each other. I’m ashamed to say I walked past them both. That was the last time I did not give to the women begging. I purposed in my heart that afternoon to begin giving to those who ask, remembering Jesus saying that when we do it unto others, we are giving to Him.
That night in my personal study time I read in Luke where Jesus actually says….
“Give to everyone who begs of you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them…Be merciful even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6:30-36
That day the first time I gave to a beggar it was a small package of food to a lady who is frequently seen near the largest dept/grocery store. I also shook her hand and greeted her as “Mama”, the greeting of respect for an older woman. She beamed. After that I gave a little money to each who asked of me, or I gave packages of peanuts to those who told me they are hungry. I encouraged the capable looking men to look for work when I gave to them. Most of the women begging did not speak English. I would have liked to sit down with a few of them to hear their stories.
I know that in some settings it would be unsafe to begin giving out money to those who ask, but when it seems safe to do, I am thrilled to give out of the abundance with which I have been blessed. I think too of the gift of salvation that is so much more valuable than money. I pray that God guides my words with everyone He brings across my path.