Salem is very busy treating very ill people who have waited too long before seeking medical treatment. Partly for cultural reasons; they seek an herbal cure or a spell from a fetish doctor first. Partly because of finances. Of course there is no such thing as health insurance and unless it is a life-threatening emergency the family, the family must bring payment with the patient. The charges are miniscule by our standards but substantial amounts to these people. It seems harsh at times to demand payment from such poor people when this work is being done in the name of Jesus and yet the hospital needs these small fees in order to continue to treat the sick and pay the Togolese employees. It is not an easy thing.
Stuff of Life - A cargo container from the U.S. arrived on Wednesday. The missionaries were as excited as kids at Christmastime; it's all they could talk about. Everyone crowded around the container doors with their lists in hand of the expected/hoped for goods. Out came medical supplies and equipment, 2 operating tables, a desk, mattresses, lots of toilet paper, big tubs of laundry detergent, cases of Crisco, computer parts and paper, 2 boxes of Icy Pops, and finally a John Deere tractor. Some needs. Some wants. Things to make this place feel like home for the missionaries.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
July 28, 2009
Sorry that it has been a week since we have posted to the blog. An ocean cable off the coast of Africa was disrupted and the entire West Africa was without internet access. It just got repaired last night.
All is well here as the weather is a little cooler than normal. So, that is a bright spot even though it is the rainy season and we see showers every day or so. Also, another bright spot is our patient care is going well. Much to do and many different disease processes that we are faced with. Many emergency surgeries since the Togolese usually wait much longer to seek real medical attention than we would in the US. Dianne remains busy assisting people here especially trying to assist in getting the accounting system up to date. A lady of many talents!!!!
In this culture the Togolese family members are expected to be at the hospital and bring food and bathe their relatives. No food services at the hospital are provided, except IV!! There is a building behind the hospital called the Cuisine. No, it is not a place to take out or order gourmet. It is a place for family and patients who live long distance and still need medical care but not hospitalization. It is a dirt floor open area where they sleep and cook their food on little charcoal fires. Dianne visited the Cuisine and took some candy and everyone was eager to get the candy. Not only the children but the adults. They are a wonderfully happy and patient people.
We have another week here at the hospital and it continues to promise busy times. We are looking forward to returning and sharing our experiences with each of you. Thank you ever so much for your prayers because this ministry is part your ministry as well. We all serve the same Lord and he continues to bind each one of us together, despite any distance apart.
Blessings and Peace in His service
All is well here as the weather is a little cooler than normal. So, that is a bright spot even though it is the rainy season and we see showers every day or so. Also, another bright spot is our patient care is going well. Much to do and many different disease processes that we are faced with. Many emergency surgeries since the Togolese usually wait much longer to seek real medical attention than we would in the US. Dianne remains busy assisting people here especially trying to assist in getting the accounting system up to date. A lady of many talents!!!!
In this culture the Togolese family members are expected to be at the hospital and bring food and bathe their relatives. No food services at the hospital are provided, except IV!! There is a building behind the hospital called the Cuisine. No, it is not a place to take out or order gourmet. It is a place for family and patients who live long distance and still need medical care but not hospitalization. It is a dirt floor open area where they sleep and cook their food on little charcoal fires. Dianne visited the Cuisine and took some candy and everyone was eager to get the candy. Not only the children but the adults. They are a wonderfully happy and patient people.
We have another week here at the hospital and it continues to promise busy times. We are looking forward to returning and sharing our experiences with each of you. Thank you ever so much for your prayers because this ministry is part your ministry as well. We all serve the same Lord and he continues to bind each one of us together, despite any distance apart.
Blessings and Peace in His service
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Tuesday, July21,2008
Had a little set back this weekend. Salem got some crud with headache, cough, fever and aches. He spent the weekend in bed. Thankfully there were no emergency surgeries. They were thinking that maybe he needed a malaria test. Then I came down with it so we know that it's just some bug going around. Salem is back operating on typhoid perforations, hysterectomies, amputations, skin grafts, hernias and even orthopedics. The Togolese people seek a witch doctor as first line of health care. Not only does the delay in getting medical care exacerbate the problems, but the application of herbs to wound sights often makes it worse.
The Togolese are very attractive people with high cheekbones and large eyes. They wear lots of colorful fabrics around their heads and hold their babies on their backs with a piece of cloth. It looks like it might unwind but I haven't heard of them dropping any babies.
In the Togolese culture, any family member may ask another for anything and you may not refuse or ask for repayment unless your own situation becomes worse than the borrower's. How would the world be if we all shared that way? The jobs in the hospital are high paying by local standards and often these employees support many family members, sometimes 22 or more.
Thought provoking.
***Patrick, Family Members and Friends*** We are not able to send emails. They keep coming back daemon delivery failure - virus detected. I vaguely remember hearing that some virus software rejects all emails from Africa. We are going to try to use the mission's email routed thru Pennsylvania. In the meantime, keep sending those notes. Know that we love you and hold you in our prayers and in our hearts.
The Togolese are very attractive people with high cheekbones and large eyes. They wear lots of colorful fabrics around their heads and hold their babies on their backs with a piece of cloth. It looks like it might unwind but I haven't heard of them dropping any babies.
In the Togolese culture, any family member may ask another for anything and you may not refuse or ask for repayment unless your own situation becomes worse than the borrower's. How would the world be if we all shared that way? The jobs in the hospital are high paying by local standards and often these employees support many family members, sometimes 22 or more.
Thought provoking.
***Patrick, Family Members and Friends*** We are not able to send emails. They keep coming back daemon delivery failure - virus detected. I vaguely remember hearing that some virus software rejects all emails from Africa. We are going to try to use the mission's email routed thru Pennsylvania. In the meantime, keep sending those notes. Know that we love you and hold you in our prayers and in our hearts.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Thursday, july 16th
Well, we're finally here, in body if not completely in mind. We left home 7:30am Monday, the 13th, arrived in the capitol, Lome, 7pm Tuesday (2pm @ home), spent 2 hours in immigration and customs and went to a guest house for the night. There are no streetlights here and I had forgotten how dark the streets are at night. People stand in the dirt and sell things and I was sure that we would run someone over. We spent Wednesday morning at immigration applying for visas and it was a little disconcerting to leave our passports with their assurance that we'll get them in a week or so. Three bumpy hours later we arrived at the hospital. After supper, Salem was on call and operated most of the night on a child's leg that had been mangled in a motorcycle accident and then on a man with a bowel perforation from typhoid. This morning he did several hernias and has more surgery scheduled this afternoon. In other words, he's happy as a clam. I'm trying to get used to the time change. Last night I grabbed a tube from my overnight kit and started to brush my teeth with Neosporin. I''m awaiting my assignments. In the meantime, I think I'll go take a nap! Keep on praying.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Preparation time
Well, we are just about ready to leave for Togo West Africa. Dianne and I have been in preparation for many months and now it is just about time to pack the bags, say our goodbyes, make last minute arrangements, and check and checkoff our lists. We leave Monday July 12th by way of PNS, Charlotte, NC, Paris and arriving in Lome, Togo on the p.m. of the 13th. After spending one night (cannot travel in Africa at night) in Lome, we then travel by auto north 2 1/2 hrs to Adeta where the Karolyn Kempton Memorial Hospital (Baptiste Biblique Hospital) is located. Several of the full time missionaries at the hospital have contacted us to bring certain things and we have several things that have been sent to our home in Brewton to take over. These range from refurbished satellite phones to mousetraps and an array of things in between. Most importantly our prayers and your prayers have been the most important in our preparations and will sustain us this next month. Please continue to pray for us and those whom we serve. We look forward to using this blog to keep you posted. Blessings and Peace, Dianne and Salem
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
