Christmas - in February?

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 with the annual hospital Christmas party for all of the staff the week before.  This was convenient, as it was right outside my house.  It was a fun time of games and a live nativity play directed by Vanessa Jones and starring most of the station kids.  It was also a fun time for all of the hospital staff to hang out together.

Isaac Jones dressed up as a shepherd for the nativity.  Shepherds have paci's right?

Agather, one of our cleaning ladies, transferring beans with a straw

Hudson and Jude Jones enjoying the party

I decided to do something special for the nurses that I work with - those on the maternity and female wards.  I decided to have them all to dinner.  However, since this involved about 20 people, I figured it was easier to order out.  So, I ordered some Kenyan dishes from Elegance Hotel (restaurant) and got more than I bargained for.  The rice could have fed about 50 people.  They all enjoyed it, though, and I hope they felt appreciated for all of their hard work.

All the food ready to go in my kitchen.  The big black pot under the counter is the rice.

James, one of our Kenyan docs, with several of the nurses

The guys enjoying their food

Just like last year, on Christmas Eve, we did candlelight caroling around the wards.  It was, once again, a very neat experience and it was so great to be able to bring joy to the patients who were spending their Christmas in the hospital.  Afterwards, we all went back to the chapel and I shared with everyone about the risk that Mary took when she carried Jesus and how we should not allow what people think to sway us from what God has called us to do.  It was a good time of fellowship.

Caroling on the children's ward

Me with a special patient

Christmas morning I got up and went over to the Jones' to open presents.  It was so fun getting to be with my Kapsowar family for that.  After going into the hospital to round, I came back and we had a big brunch with my new favorite breakfast food - pumpkin pancakes.  Yum!  That night, we invited all of the medical students and visiting staff over for a big dinner together.  It was a good day - even though I did get called away from dinner for an emergency C-section.  Ah well.

Hudson and Jude with their stockings

Hudson showing off the Spiderman puzzle I gave him

I made buckeyes for our dinner.  They were great!

Family Visit Part 3 - Safari!

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 and April were very impressed with our tent accommodations and they loved standing and watching the hippos in the Mara River right outside our tent.  We also got to sit on the deck of our tent and watch Calabas monkeys playing in the trees around us.
It was so much fun watching mom and April see all the animals in their natural habitat for the first time.  And, since I've been there before, it was fun to just sit back and enjoy the scenery and the animals.  My other job during our game drives was to hold Carson, which I didn't mind one bit :)  It was also fun to see his reaction to the animals - although a couple of times he got so excited we thought he would scare off the animals!
April was a star animal spotter and at one point our driver joked he was going to hire her.  Her best spot was a female leopard that was hiding in some bushes.  We were very lucky, seeing 3 leopards during our safari.  Even our driver, who does this every day, was excited.  A lot of people don't even get to see one. 
We had a great time relaxing and spending some quality time together.

Back from our first early morning game drive.  Lovin' the Colts outfit!

Warming up in front of the fire

Ready to see some animals!

 

So amazing!

Carson enjoying the big comfy bed

Carson and April with a Masai warrior

Mom after her massage

Enjoying lunch outside

Monkey outside our tent

Family Visit Part 2 - Visiting Kenyan Homes

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 April (who thinks she should have grown up on a farm).  We had a great time visiting with her many family members and eating the burritos she made for us (not quite the Kenyan fare I had told my family about) - I guess she's spent a little too much time with Americans :)  The view from her house is quite beautiful as well.  It was a memorable visit!

Some of Ednah's young relatives

April loved this little baby and playing with all the kids

Everyone wanted to hold Carson

The view from Ednah's house

April learning how to milk the cow

Not as hard as I thought it would be

Ednah, Carson, Mom and April with the newly-milked cow

Mom and April with PART of Ednah's family

Our second dinner was at Michal's house.  If you read my blog regularly, you've seen many pictures from various dinners here, as she is our station wazungu hostess.  She is also my Kenyan mom.  It was fun introducing my two moms to each other!

April and Carson with Michal's boys

My two moms :)

Family Visit - Part 1

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 able to show them this place that I have come to love.  After braving two 8 hour flights with a 7 1/2 month old, they arrived safely in Nairobi.  We stayed overnight and then they endured the 6-7 hour drive back here to Kapsowar.  They were troopers and Carson did so great!  They were taken, as I have been, with how beautiful it is here.  They agreed with me that pictures don't even begin to do it justice (hint, hint - you should visit!).  It was wonderful to have them come to the hospital with me, see what I do each day (including watching a C-section!) and have them be involved in the ministry as well.  They really enjoyed spending time with the kids on the children's ward.  This blog shows some of their time around my house and at the hospital.

Carson enjoying a bath in Nairobi

Having breakfast at Java House, one of my fave places in Nairobi

We stopped at the Rift Valley on our way back to Kapsowar

April, Carson, and Mom with the ladies that sell produce outside the hospital

Carson playing with one of the patients on C-ward

Mom with a set of "surprise" twins she saw me deliver

April with her 2 buddies - Moses and Dennis

Quality time with Carson - what a cutie!

Right after watching me do a C-section

Our family's Dr. Dolittle - April loved all the farm animals that are around!

April and Carson handing out gifts on the children's ward

Mom with Chesoot, a long-term patient here

Online giving

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 easier.