tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76710295352498925042012-02-04T14:45:30.620+03:00A Chronicle of the Lord's work in me and in Kapsowar, KenyaChristinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.comBlogger1131100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-78947141131112337082011-06-12T10:43:00.034+03:002011-06-12T10:43:00.387+03:00

The Jones family are awaiting a new addition - Baby Ariella.  After several scans, we are pretty certain this one's a girl, and Hudson and Jude chose the name Ariella, a beautiful name.  Needless to say, we're all pretty excited and have seized the opportunity to throw a party :) Last weekend, with the help of Kyle's sister who was visiting and 2 very special visitors from World Medical Mission -

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-40029454445605349532011-06-11T10:42:00.000+03:002011-06-11T10:42:20.850+03:00

Yesterday was a good day.  Sometimes it feels like I see so much heartache that when I have a day like yesterday, it is very refreshing and makes me remember why I love being here and serving the women of this community. First thing in the morning, a woman came in laboring.  I saw that she had had a C-section with her first baby and the baby had died.  I also noticed that she was very small which

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-50399110754197349552011-05-20T09:14:00.000+03:002011-05-20T09:14:05.411+03:00

On Mother's Day, I had the opportunity to speak in the church service that takes place each week in the chapel at the hospital.  It is mostly attended by patients in the hospital and their families, but occasionally some of the missionaries go there as well.  I have to be honest - I wasn't real excited about doing it.  I don't feel like I'm qualified to be preaching and wasn't quite sure what I

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-10974057948890807842011-05-06T19:36:00.000+03:002011-05-06T19:36:14.921+03:00

This year for Easter, we decided to have a big turkey feast.  You see, turkey is a rare commodity around here and since we had seen some frozen ones recently in Eldoret, we decided that it would make a good centerpiece for our Easter dinner.  So, a couple of weeks before Easter, as I was headed back from Nairobi, I stopped in Eldoret to get our turkey.  There were 2 - both a little bit more than

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-20741776313590997122011-05-02T09:23:00.002+03:002011-05-02T13:11:04.343+03:00

As most of you know, I will be leaving Kenya on June 24th to return to the States for 1 1/2 to 2 years.  This is in order to finish the application process with a long-term sending agency, raise full-time support to return here, and collect my cases for and take (and hopefully pass!) my oral boards that would then make me fully board-certified.  I am looking forward to returning home for a time

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-58409298066990426602011-04-22T13:39:00.000+03:002011-04-22T13:39:03.275+03:00

Greetings on this Good Friday.  I pray that all of you join me today in remembering the sacrifice that Christ made for us in order to give us life.  On this day that we remember the ultimate life-giving gift, I would like to tell you about an exciting opportunity to provide the life-giving gift of water. As most of you know, we have been serving the Pokot people in Lodengo through mobile clinics.

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-62309435313921051462011-04-21T22:19:00.000+03:002011-04-21T22:19:04.036+03:00

This past weekend, we headed to Lodengo (in Pokot) again for another clinic and time of encouragement with the people there.  Our times there, while at times difficult (it's very hot, there are a lot of flies, and sleeping is never a good experience) have been some of my best times here.  The people are such an inspiration to me - they persevere in spite of very difficult circumstances, have

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-62424671276652576582011-04-07T23:07:00.001+03:002011-04-07T23:08:22.995+03:00

Yesterday a very special baby was born at our hospital.  In Marakwet culture, a child is given a tribal name which is based on the circumstances of their birth.  There are names for babies born when it's raining, born at night, born in the morning, born at the times when the goats come home, etc.  Boys' names start with "Kip" and girls' names start with "Jep" or "Chep".  "Chumba" means white

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-591405884133918352011-03-23T13:06:00.001+03:002011-03-23T13:08:05.731+03:00

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-76261923580133584542011-02-20T15:20:00.000+03:002011-02-20T15:20:13.026+03:00

Well, it finally happened.  Our new nursery is finally open!  Thank you to all of you who donated funds to make this a reality.  We went from a tiny closet for our premature and sick infants to a new, warm, welcoming and much larger Newborn Unit.  I have already noticed that the moms are spending more time with their babies and the nurses are present much more often.  We had a dedication ceremony

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-11593328108156541992011-02-19T13:48:00.000+03:002011-02-19T13:48:46.100+03:00

So, I know it's nearing the end of February, but I figured I should blog about Christmas.  It was, afterall, my second Christmas here in Kapsowar.  It wasn't so hard being away from home this year - although I did miss my family, of course.  I think this was because my mom, sister, and Carson had just been here, and because this is starting to feel more and more like home.  Christmas started out

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-36424138303081107442011-02-05T13:53:00.000+03:002011-02-05T13:53:41.545+03:00

Never in a million years would I have dreamed that I would take 3 safari's in one year.  But, how can I have my family come all this way, to one of the best places in the world for big game safari, and not take them?  Also, April would have killed me if we wouldn't have gone, since she's a huge animal lover. We went back to Mara Safari Club, which is now my favorite place to go for safari.  Mom

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-48283041903265971722011-01-05T19:35:00.002+03:002011-01-05T20:12:42.649+03:00

While my family was here, we received many dinner invitations to various homes.  Kenyans are very hospitable and everyone wanted to meet my family.  We only had time for 2, but they were fun. My house helper and friend, Ednah, was our first visit.  She had been promising for a long time to teach me how to milk a cow, so we decided this would be a good time for that and make a great surprise for

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-68603427546049644452010-12-19T17:13:00.000+03:002010-12-19T17:13:51.119+03:00

Ok, so you can now stop emailing me about the blog drought.  Things have been busy, but it's no excuse. The biggest thing that has happened since my last blog was my family's visit.  My mom (Cathie), sister (April) and nephew (Carson) flew in on Nov. 21st and stayed through Thanksgiving.  It was such a blessing to have them here for the holiday.  More than that, though, I was so excited to be

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-76922395918965146092010-12-19T16:30:00.000+03:002010-12-19T16:30:40.169+03:00

It is now easier than ever to support the work going on here at Kapsowar.  Samaritan's Purse now has an online giving option. Just go to www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/giving/wmm_doctors/ and follow the directions. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate those of you who financially support me and the work to improve women's health care here in Kapsowar.  I hope this helps make it a little

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-59643135708073951252010-11-11T20:20:00.000+03:002010-11-11T20:20:47.566+03:00

Time is flying here.  It's so hard to believe that it has been nearly 15 months since I arrived in Kapsowar.  Each day is full of sometimes routine and sometimes out of the ordinary (and challenging) patients.  However, God's grace is sufficient and thankfully His wisdom is much more than my own.  Thank you to all of you who are praying for strength, wisdom and compassion.  I can feel your

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-77137339569325173092010-10-27T18:42:00.001+03:002010-10-27T18:46:13.392+03:00

Yesterday, for the 3rd year in a row, I celebrated a birthday in Kapsowar.  In 2008, I came to Kapsowar for a visit, knowing that I might be coming here for 2 years with World Medical Mission's Post-Residency Program.  That year, I celebrated a milestone birthday with the Kenyan medical students that were here at the time.  I enjoyed the fact that it was very low-key.  Last year, I had been in

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-26149346933976830182010-10-23T19:01:00.000+03:002010-10-23T19:01:06.569+03:00

Pictured above are all of the Samaritan's Purse Post-Residents that are in Kenya currently along with families.  This was the first time we have all been together in one place and what a joy it was!  We gathered in Nairobi on Oct. 2nd to have lunch together - I think it took about 15 pizzas!  We enjoyed hanging out, sharing stories, and encouraging one another.  If anyone had gotten hurt, we

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-79531806045813094382010-10-19T19:37:00.002+03:002010-10-19T21:16:13.437+03:00

(WARNING - This is a long, but important, post)I recently had an experience that left me convinced, more than ever, of the importance of donating blood. We all hear that it's life-saving, but maybe you've never heard just how life-saving it could be. So, let me share with you how just a few pints of blood can not only save a life, but save 8 children from growing up without a mother."B" came to

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-82932049540284958732010-10-17T18:01:00.006+03:002010-10-17T22:50:53.474+03:00

The second weekend of September we headed back to Pokot for our 2nd official outreach clinic. We were excited to go as the first trip had been such a blessing. Remember how I said last time I would need a valium for the trip? Well, that wasn't an option this time as I put my car to the test and drove to Pokot! More details to come when I get some of the pictures, but let's just say that my

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-41325677874285955372010-09-26T19:38:00.008+03:002010-09-27T13:21:38.283+03:00

Being so far away from my family and friends back home, it's nice that those here on the mission station have become like a second family to me. Here are some pics of some of the fun things we do.Jude helping me make chocolate chip cookiesProudly displaying his batterIsaac crawling over for a visitHudson helping me pick lemons from my lemon tree - not sure what Jude is doingGetting ready for a

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-12818287625556692412010-09-09T10:41:00.002+03:002010-09-09T11:02:45.141+03:00

B is a very sweet 21 year old lady who presented to Kapsowar Hospital when she was 33 weeks pregnant. She was complaining of abdominal and joint pains, headache, and fevers. While this might not sound like anything familiar to those in the West, here those are the classic symptoms of malaria. B is from Kapsowar and malaria is not actually common here because we sit at 7500 feet altitude. I

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-72525417405974922762010-09-09T10:33:00.004+03:002010-09-09T10:40:08.425+03:00

So, after much thought and consideration, I decided that my days of depending on matatus (the public transport here that is usually packed with 30+ people) and my subsequent nausea during travel are over.A couple of weeks ago, while I was in Nairobi, I met with my friends' car guy (apparently everyone has one here) and he showed me a couple of cars. By the end of the day, I was a car owner and

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-61982572494477903962010-09-08T20:02:00.013+03:002010-09-08T22:32:47.433+03:00

At the end of their time here, Jen, Corney and I went to Masai Mara so they could experience an African safari. We had such a great time and commented over and over again how amazing God's creation is!This is one of the coolest things we saw - a lioness had just made a kill and she called her cubs over to share in the feastWe saw a family of 11 elephants. Here were a few of them, with 2

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-58316677109016825912010-09-05T15:41:00.003+03:002010-09-07T20:01:39.751+03:00

I was so blessed last month to have two of my dear friends from Romania - Jen Schroeder (an American living in Romania) and Cornelia Fieraru (a Romanian I have known since 1999) - visit me for 2 weeks. It was so much fun! I hadn't seen either one of them for so long and it was so great to be with them as they experienced Africa for the first time.While here, they spent most of their time on

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-17562756056188511132010-08-05T19:40:00.008+03:002010-08-05T23:38:23.378+03:00

The third week of July, I was extremely blessed to be able to head to a much needed retreat at Brackenhurst Retreat Center, just outside of Nairobi. This 4 days of rest, relaxation, pampering, and spiritual encouragement was provided by a wonderful organization called Christian Hospitality Network and CFC church in TN. CHN was started to provide R&R for missionaries around the world. They have

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-58716286207452992302010-08-04T17:25:00.011+03:002010-08-04T22:35:27.816+03:00

The second weekend in July, we loaded 17 people into 2 (yes 2) vehicles and headed to our neighboring district - Pokot. The Pokot people are nomadic herders. They tend to be fairly uneducated. The girls are usually married by age 12 and start having babies about age 14-15. We are their closest hospital, and my experience with them has been that by the time they get to me, their babies are

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-55394063134268019122010-07-16T12:36:00.006+03:002010-07-16T18:48:32.531+03:00

A few weeks ago, the Jones family and I decided we needed a little getaway and so we used Isaac's birthday as an excuse to get away to Nairobi for the weekend. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying good food that we didn't have to make. One of the highlights was visiting the Giraffe Center where you can get up close and personal with the gentle giants. We got to feed them and got completely

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-33714476005316346242010-07-15T18:56:00.004+03:002010-07-16T12:32:12.800+03:00

I know that I have taken an especially long hiatus from blogging and for that I apologize. So, I'll try to catch you all up on recent happenings.This is winter in Kenya (it gets down to the 50's at night, which is very cold for here) and time for the heavy rains. The rains have been better than last year, when there was a drought, but haven't been too bad. Along with the rains, though, come a

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-42699164543193398652010-06-01T08:22:00.008+03:002010-06-01T14:00:09.672+03:00

Yesterday, we celebrated Isaac Jones' first birthday. It was fun to watch him do the typical first birthday things and enjoy time with the Jones family. It was especially good because yesterday was a rough day at the hospital. So, the birthday fun was just what I needed!Jude, Me, and Hudson in our party hatsIsaac wasn't quite as happy about hisHe was excited about his cake though :)Hmm, there

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-30544535415383552010-06-01T08:20:00.001+03:002010-06-01T08:21:47.206+03:00

Just a quick update. Bill and Laura will be back in Kapsowar tomorrow. Their son Jude has made a full recovery. We praise the Lord for His protection of all of them. And, we were able to find some help for a few days and have made it through the others just fine. Thank you all for all your prayers!

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-11480905740989270232010-05-23T22:13:00.003+03:002010-05-23T22:17:17.146+03:00

About 3 days ago, Bill Rhodes, our surgeon here at Kapsowar, his wife Laura, and youngest son Jude were in a significant accident in the US that totaled their van. They were rear-ended by an 18-wheeler and from the details of the accident, it is indeed a miracle that they are alive. They are all okay and out of the hospital. Jude sustained a head injury but is okay. Please pray for their

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-40712075832398626542010-05-22T22:00:00.003+03:002010-05-22T22:10:54.209+03:00

Part of what I love about living on the mission station here is all the kids that are around. I have to admit, sometimes the repeated knocks on the door for "sweets" can get old, but I love chatting with them on my way home from work. 3 of the girls have become regulars to my house and love to play with my "mzungu" (foreigner) hair. I reward them with 10 shillings (about 15 cents) and a piece

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-62869329881246898602010-05-22T15:26:00.010+03:002010-05-22T21:58:22.101+03:00

It's amazing how much work was done on the new theatre while I was gone. It now has a beautiful roof, the ceiling is going in and there are even working lights. You can really start to see how great the new building is going to be. In addition to all of that, there are 3 men here from California who have given a large chunk of their time (almost 2 months) to come and help out (including one

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-7157365826985970712010-05-16T18:07:00.002+03:002010-05-16T21:51:44.666+03:00

While I was in the States, I had the opportunity to share with some special groups of people about the work that the Lord is doing here in Kapsowar. I just wanted to give a special shout out to each one of them.My first Sunday in the States, I was able to share with 2 groups at once. My parents' small group gathered together at my friend Dee Kotschwar's house along with the board of Orchard

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-26306969162280850552010-05-15T17:32:00.011+03:002010-05-15T18:19:57.188+03:00

One of the highlights of my time home was my visit to Ft. Wayne to see my best friend, Amanda Hubartt, and her family. Her kids have been like my nieces and nephew and I was present for the birth of her oldest (Violet, bottom left) and delivered her youngest (Edison). I was also at the airport when they brought Anara home from Kyrgyzstan. They are like family to me and I was really excited to

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-8842871850202292002010-05-15T16:17:00.012+03:002010-05-15T17:31:15.392+03:00

I can hardly believe a month has passed since my last post, when I was getting ready to head home. I am now back in Kapsowar (after a very long 3 day trip home with many delays and missed flights) and have been back at the hospital for a week.What a blessed homecoming it was! My mom, sister April, and new nephew Carson picked me up at the airport. It was so great for them to be the first

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-45893216225428524772010-04-13T17:55:00.004+03:002010-04-13T18:10:23.976+03:00

As many of you already know, I'm coming home for a visit. I'm actually typing this at the Nairobi airport, waiting for my flight. My sister, April, delivered a healthy baby boy on April 9th and I am coming home to see him (among others). It was a safe delivery and they are both doing well. We praise the Lord for this!Carson JamesIn preparing to come home, I've been thinking about all the

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-51208325034407171392010-04-12T20:08:00.001+03:002010-04-12T20:12:51.164+03:00

I know I often have sad stories to share from Kapsowar, as many of our premature babies do not survive. I am happy to tell you about 2 miracle babies.Karen was born a few days ago and came out weighing 800 gms (less than2 lbs). Her brother had died inside of their mother and came out first. They were only about 27 weeks, which here means almost certain death, as we have no way of helping

Nathan, Amanda, Violet, Anara, and Edisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-80926868989261055332010-04-12T20:03:00.001+03:002010-04-12T20:07:32.402+03:00

So, I haven't talked a lot about the Jones family, but I am so blessed to have them here. Their kids are so much fun and I really enjoy fellowshipping (is that a word) with Kyle and Vanessa. After Brandyand Deb left, I spent the weekend in Nairobi with the Jones'. It wasHudson's (their oldest) 5th birthday and we wanted to do something special. On Saturday, I went with them to Splash, a water

Nathan, Amanda, Violet, Anara, and Edisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-50851427780382538202010-04-12T19:24:00.004+03:002010-04-12T20:02:48.280+03:00

Deb and I on the beach at Lake Nakuru Baboon at Lake NakuruMe with a lion right in front of our vanThe 3 of us in our safari mini-busA beautiful view of Mt. Kenya A lioness on the prowl Me by Thompson Falls, on the way to Lake NakuruBaby elephant - my favorite!

Nathan, Amanda, Violet, Anara, and Edisonnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-3348026881475734452010-03-27T16:42:00.003+03:002010-03-27T16:51:48.274+03:00

As I alluded to in my previous blog, my friends Brandy and Deb took me on safari the 2nd week of their visit here. We had so much fun and it was definitely an amazing experience! I was expecting it to be fun, but I had no idea how incredible it would be to see so much of God’s creation and to see all of these animals in their natural habitat. Also, it provided a great time of relaxation and

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-3346810786832129092010-03-27T16:31:00.003+03:002010-03-27T16:40:59.453+03:00

Brandy, Deb and me at the airport in Eldoret The last week of February, I had my first official visitors! Deb and Brandy are good friends of mine from residency and are both practicing OB/GYN’s in Indianapolis. It was such a blessing to have them here. We had all been looking forward to it for months.I had scheduled several surgeries for the week they were here in Kapsowar. Not all the patients

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-12220100288967108862010-02-21T09:43:00.003+03:002010-02-21T09:59:54.548+03:00

Yesterday I experienced yet another Kenyan cultural first, although this one was one I wish I could have avoided. I attended my first Kenyan funeral. It was for a patient and a friend.E was a wonderful Christian woman who I actually met last year when I visited Kapsowar. She and her husband ran a convenience shop just outside of the entrance to the station and I enjoyed many conversations with

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-73235907289117480002010-02-16T17:46:00.002+03:002010-02-16T17:53:07.597+03:00

As I said in my last post, one of the great things about being at thisconference has been the time to network and fellowship with othermedical missionaries from all over the continent of Africa. LastFriday, we (me, the 2 other OB/GYN's in the post-residency program,and Stephany, a post-resident pediatrician) decided we needed what wetermed a mental health day in Nairobi. All of us have been

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-14734736709246841502010-02-11T12:50:00.000+03:002010-02-11T12:50:35.354+03:00

So, I've decided that I am in heaven in Kenya. I am currently at Brackenhurst conference center in Limuru, Kenya (www.brackenhurst.com) for a continuing medical education conference put on by CMDA (the Christian Medical and Dental Association). The purpose of this conference is to provide continued education that is up-to-date and pertinent to physicians on the continent of Africa (and beyond)

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-83271278572746268852010-02-10T14:24:00.004+03:002010-02-10T17:01:13.143+03:00

I can't believe it's been so long since I've blogged. I apologize to the faithful readers out there :) The rest of January finished just as busy as it has started. We did about 120 deliveries in January which is a lot for us.January also brought the Jones family to Kapsowar. I have been eagerly awaiting their arrival. Kyle is a family practice doc through Samaritan's Purse's post-residency

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-69038598912969172872010-01-24T15:26:00.002+03:002010-01-24T15:58:19.239+03:00

I've been putting off writing this post to my blog because the thought of putting down the emotions of the last month or so into words was a little overwhelming. But, I know that this needs to be shared. And, for those of you who are faithfully praying for me, you need to know what you prayers are accomplishing and what you can continue to pray for.It all started the day after Christmas. I

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-8126001448634628542010-01-24T14:51:00.003+03:002010-01-24T15:25:20.939+03:00

Getting my hair cut here is not the easiest thing to do. I have recently found someone who does a good job cutting "mzungu" (white person) hair. However, this requires a 2 hour drive. So, needless to say, my hair has, at times, become unmanageable. A few weeks ago I had reached my wit's end with it and decided to give into Mama Brian who had been after me to braid my hair. She did a great

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-87547009600767901152010-01-16T18:27:00.003+03:002010-01-16T18:33:44.572+03:00

Mwaka mpia mzuri! (Happy New Year in Kiswahili). So, I’ve been a little delinquent in my blogging lately and I apologize for that. Things are going well here in 2010, although they have been very unusually quiet. I asked about this, as the change is easily noticeable. I’ve been told by several people that it’s because of school fees. You see, in Kenya, parents are responsible for paying fees for

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-91482329253911983732010-01-04T18:35:00.002+03:002010-01-04T18:48:34.845+03:00

I want to thank all of you for the warm Christmas wishes as I spent this Christmas away from my family and friends back home. Thankfully, the Lord provided a wonderful group of people here in Kapsowar to celebrate this season with. And I have to say, it was refreshing to celebrate this season away from the hustle and bustle and consumerism of the West. It really provided an opportunity to focus

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-57937823825087342142009-12-20T17:47:00.002+03:002009-12-20T17:53:54.957+03:00

Having a gynecologist at Kapsowar is a relatively new thing – there hasn’t been one here for over 20 years. As such, word is spreading quickly and I’m seeing more and more gynecologic patients, which is a great thing. The not so great thing – there was no good set-up for doing a decent gyn exam (every woman’s favorite thing). I was making do with seeing patients in the ultrasound room and then

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-13137482495232255072009-12-20T17:40:00.003+03:002009-12-20T17:46:43.634+03:00

A couple of weekends ago, I had the distinct privilege of attending my first real Kenyan wedding. It was a special one, too. Many of you might remember me writing in my blog a few months ago about reversing a woman’s circumcision. Well, this was her wedding. She asked me to come and ride in the bridal car with her, which is a huge honor. So, of course I went. Little did I know I would basically

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-38643363468966566822009-12-03T08:00:00.000+03:002009-12-03T08:00:04.093+03:00

Last weekend I decided to get away and go visit some friends at Tenwek Hospital. If you have read much about medical missions, you have probably read about Tenwek Hospital. It was started back in the 1930’s as a dispensary and became a full-fledged hospital in 1949 when Dr. Ernie Steury (a native of Berne, IN) arrived as the only doctor for about 300,000 Kipsigis people. It is now known

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-73858789608990291162009-12-02T08:00:00.000+03:002009-12-02T08:00:03.954+03:00

One of the great things about Kapsowar is that we always have people coming and going from station. We almost always have medical students rotating here, from all over the world. From Oct – Nov, Kim and Eleasa were here. We were told they were Australian medical students – so I was very surprised when I first talked to them and they didn’t have a hint of an Aussie accent. Turns out, Kim is

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-70651088644733747262009-12-01T16:44:00.003+03:002009-12-01T16:57:01.395+03:00

As many of you know, construction is currently going on to build a new theatre (operating room) building at Kapsowar. This is much needed as we currently only have one theatre (see previous blog about this). Just to re-emphasize our need for more than one theatre, I recently again did a C-section in theatre at the same time as a general surgery case (actually more a plastics case) was going on.

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-7310165870915399392009-11-21T15:51:00.001+03:002009-11-21T15:53:13.678+03:00

This is the beautiful rainbow that I saw just before I sat down to write my last blog. Once again, I’m amazed at the beautiful reminder the Lord gives us of His hope. Thank you all for the prayers and the comments after my last blog. The prayers have definitely been felt! Last weekend was restful and a time of refreshing. During Bible study last Sunday, a comment was made that went something

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-53665813867173273752009-11-15T17:06:00.002+03:002009-11-15T18:09:52.369+03:00

I am now nearing the end of a weekend of rest after what has definitely been the hardest week I have had here in Kapsowar. I had a wonderful time this morning worshiping with my new church family here and marveling in the sounds of about 200 Kenyan children as they praised the Lord with their voices. And now, as I type this, there's a beautiful rainbow over the valley outside my window - a

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-63793462587712978072009-11-06T22:35:00.002+03:002009-11-06T22:42:03.248+03:00

While we were in Eldoret, Ben bought a video projector to give to the local church to use for outreaches. We decided collectively that we should try it out to make sure it worked properly before he gave it to the pastor. So, we made a Mexican feast (it was great!) to share with everyone. Then, we set up the video projector and hung a bedsheet in front of the window and had a theatre experience,

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-71931771448013217832009-11-06T22:25:00.004+03:002009-11-06T22:35:57.349+03:00

Last weekend, we took a walk to a nearby orphanage. It is a place I have wanted to go to and this is the first chance I’ve had to go. The walk there was, like most hikes here, breathtaking and challenging. But definitely worth it (see picture below).This is a children’s home run by AIC (Africa Inland Church). It is home to 35 children, 25 of whom are there during the school year – the other 10 go

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-26922674444123699112009-11-06T22:12:00.003+03:002009-11-06T22:25:09.347+03:00

So, for the second year in a row, I celebrated my birthday in Kenya (October 26th – I’m a little behind on blogging). It was a very busy day at the hospital that day. However, the night was great and very relaxing. Mikel, one of the hospital employees and our station “hostess” and my Kenyan mom, hosted my birthday dinner at her house. We had about 12 people there and had a wonderful pot-luck

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-33872375675012712252009-11-06T17:40:00.002+03:002009-11-06T17:57:44.324+03:00

More blogs are coming, I promise. For now, I wanted to ask for prayers for a patient and friend. E.S. is a very sweet lady in her 50's who has become a dear friend. She is also a wonderful woman of God. About 4 weeks ago, I did a hysterectomy on her for abnormal bleeding. At the time of surgery, we were suspicious that she might have cancer, as she had enlarged lymph nodes. I finally got her

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-4359723818520568452009-10-20T19:57:00.001+03:002009-10-20T20:01:04.897+03:00

In Kenya, a shamba is a small farm or garden. Nearly everyone has one. Not wanting to be left out, I asked Edna if she could help me plant mine, as there was already a spot for it in my backyard. So, I now have a shamba planted. No plants yet, but they should be here soon with all the rain we’ve been getting. Currently, I have the following things planted – tomatoes, basil, cilantro, sukuma

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-34353929940667449192009-10-20T19:39:00.003+03:002009-10-20T19:45:02.197+03:00

This past weekend, I took my first trip to Nairobi. This is no small feat. Friday morning at about 10:30, in the midst of a downpour (El Nino has come to Kenya), Drew and I boarded a matatu for the first leg of our trip. A matatu is the main form of public transportation in Kenya. It is either a van or a pick-up truck with the back covered and benches installed. They are built for 14

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-69058470703440244602009-10-20T19:34:00.004+03:002009-10-20T19:39:33.780+03:00

What a wonderful day today was! It started very slow. You see, today is Kenyatta Day in Kenya – a national holiday that celebrates the first Kenyan president after Kenya became an independent nation. I’ve asked several people what the traditions are on this day and received many answers – family gathers for a large meal, there are public celebrations, the president gives a speech honoring

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-64199886778197692892009-10-13T18:58:00.001+03:002009-10-13T19:05:36.777+03:00

Well, for those of you who have been wondering, we took Stella to the OR today for surgery. She is the patient I wrote about that I feared had ovarian cancer. She was very stoic as she came into theatre and said she was ready for whatever we found. We prayed together before she went to sleep and I, especially, prayed for wisdom. I knew the possibility of her needing multiple things done was

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-66682777081184814812009-10-09T20:36:00.002+03:002009-10-09T20:41:54.172+03:00

So, one of my goals while I’m here is to see as much of Kenya as possible and to get into better shape doing it. Last Sunday, I went with Mama Brian (so named because her first-born is named Brian), Drew, and the Petersons on what was deemed by Mama Brian to be an easy walk. I have now learned not to believe this when I hear it! Although, I have to say, the views were definitely worth it.The

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-47890393367986402342009-10-09T20:27:00.004+03:002009-10-10T19:02:21.136+03:00

Victor, a patient of the hospital for nearly 3 months, with his gorgeous smile and dimplesThe crew from children's ward, including the gogo's (grandma's)Victor (L) and Marsalis (in wheelchair), two of the patientsOne of the children's ward patients with his mom. He's still a little scared of the mzungu (white person)!Today was a great day. It started out with the reading of Psalm 73, which

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-17689228283301696622009-10-04T18:29:00.002+03:002009-10-04T18:30:37.726+03:00

This is a big name for a procedure that reverses the destructive effects of female circumcision (aka Female Genital Mutilation) and I did my first one ever (haven’t ever even seen one) last week. Female circumcision is an extremely destructive practice that unfortunately is still practiced in this part of Kenya, despite the fact that it is illegal. Many people are actively campaigning

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-28968070714100045122009-10-04T18:15:00.005+03:002009-10-04T18:31:02.463+03:00

Last Sunday, Dave Peterson offered to take us for a Sunday drive to the valley overlook. Dave and Trudy Peterson are here from Alaska through Samaritan’s Purse. Dave is a contractor and is overseeing the building of the new OR building at the hospital. Trudy is a teacher and is teaching at the local girls’ high school. They will be here until next summer. It is a blessing to have more

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-38892112931490006532009-10-04T18:05:00.002+03:002009-10-04T18:15:40.094+03:00

the “river”looking up from the riverSome kids on the stationFamous last words. This is what I was told about the walk to the river. Last weekend, Abi, Drew, Isaiah (the grandson of a visiting surgeon), and I walked down to the local river. The walk there wasn’t bad at all, apart from a few steep parts. Once we got there, the view was spectacular (see pictures below). While the water isn’t

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-7030519938255251752009-10-04T17:56:00.003+03:002009-10-04T18:05:16.781+03:00

So, I have a lot of catching up to do. Two weeks ago, Edna, who helps me out at my house twice a week, invited Abi and I to her house for lunch. When I say she helps me out at my house, I mean that she does my laundry, does some cleaning, does a lot of my shopping and cooks some sort of marvel for us. She is such a sweet woman who loves taking care of others and, much to my delight, loves to cook

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-64053311783567369752009-10-03T08:15:00.002+03:002009-10-03T08:24:06.239+03:00

I promise I haven't been a delinquent blogger. My friend Amanda has been helping me out by posting my blogs, but she has been on vacation. So, there's a little bit of a backlog right now. There's more to come, though, I promise.For now, I thought I would recount an interesting experience at the hospital about a week or so ago. I was sitting in the female surgical ward doing some paperwork

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-75643382915646769682009-09-16T18:24:00.002+03:002009-09-16T18:27:38.952+03:00

The other day, it had rained just a bit and as I walked to my first Swahili lesson (very excited about that), I looked up and saw a rainbow. I always think rainbows are pretty, but this one was especially pretty for two reasons. One, the backdrop is beautiful! Every day, I am amazed by the beauty of this place. I am trying to remember to thank God every time that thought hits me for His

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-64667932544996828402009-09-14T15:47:00.004+03:002009-09-16T18:24:33.644+03:00

So, I was planning on writing a blog about the theatre (operating room) and then last night (Saturday), I had another first ever experience there which will make the perfect intro. We were having dinner at Salome’s (the hospital administrator) with a whole group of people from Samaritan’s Purse who are here to begin construction on the new theatre building and I got a call from maternity. The

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-56193013437655882242009-09-13T02:02:00.002+03:002009-09-13T02:04:26.437+03:00

Last Sunday, Abi and I decided to go to a different church. My first Sunday here, we had gone to the chapel service that is held at the hospital every Sunday. This was a great experience and it was neat to worship with the patients that we are serving. However, we wanted to experience a more typical Kenyan service. So, we headed to Roroc, a church that is about a 5 minute walk from my

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-28020840490001462592009-09-07T16:26:00.001+03:002009-09-07T16:26:00.219+03:00

I recently received a newsletter that had the following passage in it. It was very encouraging and challenging to me and I wanted to share it with you all.“. . .who for the joy that was set before him . . .” (Hebrews 12:2 ESV)“On July 6, 1415, when Johannes Huss was led to his execution, he laughed as his accusers burned his life’s works in the church yard. Later as they piled the wood to his

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-87004249272333611932009-09-06T16:38:00.002+03:002009-09-06T16:43:34.459+03:00

So, I have now been working in Kapsowar for one week, and I think I've done and seen more than I would have in a few months at home. Apparently, the word has gotten out that I am here and it seems like patients are coming out of the woodwork. I am thankful for this, though. I can't tell you how many people have told me that they are so thankful to have someone here to focus on women's health. I

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-56872024054250071172009-09-01T22:16:00.005+03:002009-09-01T22:25:05.218+03:00

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

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-65837152278969759992009-08-30T22:31:00.005+03:002009-08-30T22:43:04.868+03:00

So, last time I came to Kenya, I flew from Nairobi to Eldoret (the closest big city to Kapsowar) and then drove 2 hrs from there to Kapsowar. It is certainly the most expedient way to get here, but it didn't allow for me to see a lot of Kenya. So, this time, given the fact that I had 9 pieces of luggage, I opted for the drive. I had been told that it could take up to 8 hours, but I was excited

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-22043605434511826292009-08-29T01:15:00.001+03:002009-08-29T01:32:38.729+03:00

I wanted to back up a little bit. The second week of August, I had the pleasure of traveling to Boone, NC to the Samaritan’s Purse headquarters for a week of orientation. It was a very full week, but I was so encouraged. I knew that Samaritan’s Purse did a lot of work all over the world in the name of Christ, but had no idea exactly how much they did. Mostly, I was so encouraged to know that I am

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-40300819187356133882009-08-25T22:51:00.000+03:002009-08-25T23:03:15.556+03:00

I had probably the smoothest trip I've ever had getting here. Praise the Lord! It started with a very nice woman at the airport in Indy letting a few pounds for each of my 9 bags slide without overage charges. Then, my plane landed slightly early in Amsterdam, turning my nearly impossible 45 minutes between flights to a very easy hour and a half. Both long flights were smooth - especially the

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-69478253376426734782009-08-24T00:20:00.000+03:002009-08-24T00:32:11.692+03:00

Well, I figured it was high time I update this blog. I am currently sitting in the Detroit airport waiting to board my flight to Amsterdam. From there, it's on to Nairobi. It's so hard to believe that the time has actually come. The last week has been filled with many tearful goodbyes as I said goodbye to very dear friends and my family. It was definitely bittersweet. I know that I am

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-87004185582076314842009-06-23T03:21:00.000+03:002009-06-23T03:46:39.127+03:00

Ok, so I know it's been a long time since I've blogged. I'm going to try and be better about it now. A lot has happened since last October. I have graduated from residency (whoo-hoo!) and am currently in the process of studying for boards. I put my house on the market and am still waiting for it to sell (prayer request). The Lord has blessed me so much and has opened the doors for me to go

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-61190665395034944752008-10-29T19:20:00.000+03:002008-10-29T19:21:19.923+03:00

So, the previous blog was actually from Tuesday. Now it is Wednesday, and I have worked my last day at the hospital. It was a bittersweet day as I said goodbye to everyone. During my morning rounds, Katherine, the head nurse of maternity told me that during chai (tea) today, a hallowed daily tradition, we would all gather so that I could say something to everyone. I figured that meant me and

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-72509712297733181292008-10-29T19:01:00.000+03:002008-10-29T19:02:33.209+03:00

What a great couple of days it has been. The rain has gone away and the skies have been beautiful blue with hardly a cloud. I cannot begin to describe how beautiful it is here. I know I've said that before, but it continues to strike me day after day. There's a view on the way from the hospital to my house that is just breathtaking when the weather is nice like this. I think I have about 10

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-27734207580443730442008-10-25T18:58:00.000+03:002008-10-25T19:00:41.777+03:00

The Lord was merciful today (Friday). Let me start by explaining my state of mind when I arrived at the hospital this morning. Yesterday proved to me that the previous rains were a drop in the bucket. It POURED yesterday. All of the mud road from the hospital was like a mudslide with water rushing. One of Dr. Larson's daughters, Juliana, had come by the hospital earlier in the afternoon to

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-50516711535084252692008-10-22T09:38:00.001+03:002008-10-22T09:40:01.034+03:00

Yesterday, I experienced the full force of rainy season in Kenya. It rained most of the day, turning my path from the hospital to my house into a mudslide. Needless to say, the rain boots that I contemplated buying before I came here would have definitely come in handy. I am told that yesterday was an odd day as usually it rains at night only. It then got pretty cold last night – all the

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-83897233321852124592008-10-20T12:13:00.000+03:002008-10-20T12:14:37.467+03:00

So, here is why I love the practice of OB/GYN. I arrived at the hospital this morning to find out that we had no scheduled C-sections, no one in labor and I only had one postpartum patient to see (the nurses see all of the routine postpartum patients). I thought "I hope this won't be a boring day." No sooner had I told Lydia, one of the nurses, that we needed some business did she get a call

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-24019688567536198252008-10-18T11:06:00.000+03:002008-10-18T11:16:28.143+03:00

Well, I have a little bit more time to write now, so I thought I would write about little things that I find interesting here. Before I start, the connection is way too slow to try and upload pictures right now, so I'll just have to show them to you all when I get home.I just returned from "chai" or tea. Every day at 10:30, everything stops for tea time. It's actually a wonderful time to talk to

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-19206380495637168372008-10-17T14:24:00.000+03:002008-10-17T14:41:31.416+03:00

Hello to all. I hope you are all doing well.I have had an interesting last couple of days. Since my last post, the VBAC that was laboring developed fetal distress and we took her back for a C-section. Even though I knew it was what she needed, I hesitated because it was my first time making the decision myself. Then, the path to get a patient to the theater (OR) from the maternity ward is very

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-10439933700661958202008-10-15T12:30:00.000+03:002008-10-15T12:32:42.855+03:00

Karibu! This is a word I have heard many, many times since arriving in Kenya 2 days ago. It means welcome and the people here are more welcoming than most other places I have been. After LONG plane rides, I arrived in Nairobi Monday night. I arrived at the guest house I was staying at around 9:30pm and promptly took a shower and crashed. Then, it was up at 5:30 Tuesday morning to get ready. I

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-34819292228015357292008-10-07T03:28:00.000+03:002008-10-07T03:39:16.176+03:00

Wow - it has been a long time since I've posted. Well, I now leave for Kenya in 6 days. I'm so excited and thankful for this opportunity. As I said in my previous blog, I will be working at Kapsowar hospital as an OB/GYN (and whatever else is needed) for three weeks. This trip has 2 purposes. The first is to be a servant and minister to the Marakwet people as well as hopefully somewhat

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-84615153974333661582008-03-28T01:34:00.000+03:002008-03-28T01:59:48.169+03:00

Sorry I've been gone for so long. My life isn't really all that interesting most of the time, so you haven't missed much. Taking a hint from my best friend, though, I've titled this post "Hello Kenya." As I'm sure you can guess, Kenya is my next destination. I'm very excited about the doors that the Lord is opening up. For quite some time now, I have known that the Lord was calling me into

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-1467790777797562182007-11-28T07:58:00.000+03:002007-11-28T08:04:49.438+03:00

Well, I thought I'd write one last blog from here in Kabul. It is about 9:30 Wednesday morning, and I leave the hospital at 10:30. My flight leaves at 2 and makes a quick stop for more passengers in Qandahar (be praying for that). Actually, the airport there is under US control.In case any of you heard about the suicide bomb here in Kabul yesterday, I am fine. The blast was heard here at the

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-18817581727949029562007-11-24T14:19:00.000+03:002008-12-10T12:02:52.790+03:00

Let me just start by saying that I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. It's never fun being away for Thanksgiving, but I was able to have a wonderful Thanksgiving feast even here in Kabul. There was a large meal and Thanksgiving service at the UN guest house here and we went to that on Thursday. I had turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, stuffing and pumpkin pie - just like home! It was

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-54164952757580741242007-11-21T15:04:00.000+03:002007-11-21T15:16:42.376+03:00

Ok - today's blog is going to be full of venting. I'm so frustrated with this culture right now. Although it has many beneficial features - they are very hospitable, they value family to a fault, they are kind - I have to say that I am so tired of men who know nothing medical dictating (and I mean dictating) the medical care of their wives. I saw a woman in clinic today who has lost 2 babies

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-169241954988359192007-11-18T13:51:00.000+03:002008-12-10T12:02:53.025+03:00

Wow, have I got a lot to blog about. I think a day-by-day approach would be the easiest. Let me just first say that I am well and continuing to see the beautiful as well as the harsh aspects of this country.So, last I wrote, I was excited about getting to operate. On Thursday, I spent the whole day in the operating room (or operating theater as they call it here). I watched a vesicovaginal

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-68269037784831530532007-11-14T12:47:00.000+03:002007-11-14T12:51:28.274+03:00

Well, I know a lot of people were wanting an update on this precious lady. I spoke with her today and she says she is doing well. She still has not delivered. I couldn't talk long as my phone was about to die, but she said that she was doing well and thanked me for praying for her. Please continue to keep her in your thoughts and prayers.I don't have much to blog about today. My lecture

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7671029535249892504.post-71875243788971267902007-11-13T14:44:00.000+03:002007-11-13T14:50:47.174+03:00

Well, the IT guy says my computer is hopeless. Either the hard drive is crashed or my operating system has some fatal flaw. Very frustrating considering I have a presentation tomorrow and everything for it was on my computer. But, I was able to look up the articles again, and I think I will have it done in time. Thankfully, I have some very nice roommates here who are willing to let me use

Christinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11116078956858394990noreply@blogger.com4