Well, the girls are tucked into their beds and I thought I'd take a moment to write some. We've certainly enjoyed getting lots of email from you guys. Sorry if we've not had a chance to respond to all of your individual emails! Please know that we certainly appreciate the love, support, and contact. Last night was super hot. Like tonight, the power and water were out, so we slept listlessly in a lot of still, hot air. Today, we had a good amount of generator power so the deep freeze is still a freezin' and that's good. One nice thing about the power being out is that most folks are not using their computers, so we have a good internet connection tonight. I was in surgery all day today. We did Hysterectomies, Prostatectomies, and Splenectomies. Also, I got involved with some spinal anesthesia as well. The girls had a good day, participating in "kids club." We're enjoying a lot of fresh bananas, mango, and apples that ares sold locally here. There is a town adjacent to the hospital compound with some small stores. I joke that the road in "town" looks like the old west. It's always dusty and the sights are a throwback to a much earlier time with livestock running in the street and people loitering in the shade of the store fronts. There is a lot of "hanging out" with 90% unemployment in the country.
Each morning we kick things off with devotions at the chapel prior to rounding on the pediatrics ward. The nursing students are all there, singing beautiful Shona hymns in many-part harmony. The pediatric ward is always hopping with severe malaria, burn patients, orthopedic patients, and kids with hydrocepalus. Lots of very advanced diseases pop up in the Out Patient Department daily, one of which is the guy shown here. We took his eye out yesterday. Sounds brutal, but it may save his life.
Overall, life is different here. Lots like life many years ago. I feel like we're on a long camping trip sometimes. But, Abbi is happy and overall we feel quite safe.
This is what was on my mind Sunday:
Dust in the street
where the children play
on the water pump
at mid day
where the chickens run
and the goats stray
and the sun shaded shop keepers pray for rain
Power is out
the windows are closed
we're sitting here sweating through our clothes
the air is stagnant and feeling much hotter
i've learned the blessing of a cool drink of water
children are dying
people are sick
my best offering
seems insignificant
Teach me to lean upon your love
to gather new strength from above
Your yoke so easy
Your burden so light
Somehow You'll make everything right
Some day You'll make everything right
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