What An Introduction

One of the best things about being here before was the reception I got coming back. Everyone has been so welcoming. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met and go out of their way to make things more comfortable for me. It's very humbling actually. My second night here, we were invited (me, the medical students, and Drew, a surgical resident who is here for a year) to Mikel's house. She is a patient attendant here at the hospital and such a sweet woman. We were invited for ugali (a traditional food here made of maize), scuma (greens) and a meat dish (sorry, blanking on the name). To my delight, when we arrived, she had just started making dinner, which is apparently also a cultural norm. So, we got to experience cooking Kenyan style. See the pictures below. Dinner was wonderful and the hospitality was amazing.

Another result of everyone waiting for me to come was that their were many patients who were told to come back after Aug. 27th, because the gynecologist would be here. No pressure or anything! So, Friday, when I just ran up to the hospital for a few things, I had to tell one woman she probably has cervical cancer and another that the large mass in her pelvis was a recurrence of her uterine cancer. Not the best day! However, it was good to know that at least I could talk with them about their options as well as pray with them for God's hand to be in their lives. This weekend proved to be busy as well, as I was on call Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday. I went in every night for a C-section and saw several patients during the day. I've already been confronted with so much pathology, it's amazing to me. It also makes me grateful for the wonderful specialists who helped train me and who have already given advice on how to manage some of the patients I've seen. I think, though, the most rewarding thing is being able to openly pray with patients. Not that I couldn't in the States, but it is definitely more accepted here. It is something I hope to do more and more of.

Yet another blessing since being here have been all the children on the station (where I live) and at the hospital. They are so fun to joke around with and I look forward to being able to talk and play with them. On Sunday, as I was headed to church at the hospital chapel, a beautiful little girl walked up to me and held my hand. She was going to church as well with her mom. When we got close to the church, she held up her arms to be held and ended up sitting on my lap for about half the service. Her name is Hilda and I would guess her to be about 2. Now, every day she sees me, she runs up to me to be held. We took the picture below the other day.

So, prayers are being answered and I am grateful to be in this place. The Lord is good and I look forward to seeing what He will do here.

Mikel's kitchen

Me with Hilda

The kids love having their picture taken and know that they can

look at the back of the camera and see it immediately

A little girl who lives by the station