Cheating

     I have a goal of updating my blog twice a week, so that anyone interested (Hi Mom!) can stay apprised of the goings on in my life. The problem is that this week I find myself lacking words. I've been trying to put a post together since Monday, but an emotional roller coaster in clinic and an abundance of tasks demanding completion mean I have not come up with anything. So, I'm cheating a little and reposting a picture that went up on Facebook yesterday of some clinic activities from the day.

Back in business

                This was my first full week of regular clinic since I got back to MOHI in January. Inventory was necessary, but being back with my patients was absolutely lovely. As any of my former roommates can attest, I have always preferred being with people to organization!

We had a number of follow up appointments, or as we call them, randevous this week in the clinic. We give out cards for randevous when we need to monitor a patient’s blood pressure, or their response to a new prescription, or for children’s height and weight rechecks. One of the particular joys of follow up appointments is that by definition, it means I see the same patients over and over. I get the chance to chat with them about their families and their lives. This is an opportunity for me to learn about the community I live in, and how to be a better part of it.

One family I was particularly excited to see this week includes two year old twin girls who come in monthly to ensure they are growing and gaining weight. The girls are a little leery of me, but I have a budding friendship with their mama and grandma. It was a delight to see them again, to see that their mama is following up as we ask her to and taking an active part in their care. This was their first visit since I got back, and I was happy to see that the girls are slowly gaining weight, not something I can take for granted here.

                Speaking of thesetwins, we had a string of malnourished and undernourished little ones in clinic this week. Will you join with me in prayers for grace and discernment as we consider our next steps towards providing better care for these precious little ones?

And this is why I only answered a few emails yesterday

Yesterday, after I finished seeing patients, I let a couple of my boys hang out in the clinic. This is what happened.

It's a rough life I have ;)

(Side note: my complete and utter lack of technology skills is on display here, since I don't know how to edit the video, or cut out the sideways part. Sorry.)

Finally finished

   

           I am beyond delighted to report that we have (finally) finished inventory in the clinic. Many thanks to Tammy and the many other people who have helped make this a reality!

 Here are some pictures of our shelves, stocked, sort and organized by expiration date:

Those of you who have been here before may remember our crowded wound care cart. Now we have bins and labels and everything is so much easier to find!

Even my desk is easier to get to now.

We will resume regular clinic hours this week. I am so looking forward to seeing patients full time again!

Conversations with my boys

     I have written before  about the pair of brothers I have fallen in love with since coming to MOHI, Dieury and Dieunison. Conversations with these boys are always a highlight of my day. I love talking to them about life and what they are thinking about. We discuss everything from what music they like to names for any future children I may have. Dieury is so serious about so many things, lecturing me on my language skills and the appropriate length for my shorts, in between assuring me that I am old enough to have a boyfriend now, so I should go ahead and get on it. Dieunison makes me laugh until my sides ache.  He has been helping with inventory in the clinic, counting things and putting them in bags, giving us lots of time to chat.

Snippets from recent conversations include:

“Leah, my birthday is May 9^th. What are you going to get me?”

“Leah, my birthday is May 9^th. Don’t forget.”

“Leah, you need to take care of those or someone could get poked in the eye.” (Referring to sharps in the clinic. For the record, we do dispose of them in an appropriate manner, he just wanted to give me his opinion on the subject.)

“Leah, ask Pastor Kevin if I can drive the 4-wheeler.” (No.)

“In America do you have electricity all the time?”

“Pastor Kevin, my birthday is May 9^th.”

“I’m going to be a doctor when I grow up.” (30 seconds later.) “I’m going to be an airplane pilot when I grow up.”

  And finally, lest anyone forget:

“My birthday is May 9^th.” 

Clinic Update

     We are still inventorying away in the MOHI clinic. We have been able to share some supplies with a local hospital we are working on building a partnership with, which was exciting. While we have been inventorying, some of the electricians that work with MOHI redid our lights and fans. Instead of a standing fan and two light bulbs, we now have four gorgeous light strips and two ceiling fans. It's fantastic! (Sorry! I just couldn't help myself.) We are still planning to get the ceiling painted, and I hope to post pictures of the newly organized and well lit clinic just as soon as it is complete.
     This week we are seeing patients with follow-up appointments and students in the mornings and working on inventory in the afternoons. I am so happy to be seeing patients again. It was amazing how much I missed it when we shut down the clinic for just a week. I have been doing some follow up from when the last medical team was here. Seeing a preschooler who was wheezing severely breathe with ease, and an older gentleman who is recovering from a stroke walk up my steps were high points.
     Will you join with me in prayers of gratitude for patients who are healing and for joy in the midst of inventory for Tammy and I? I'm not a strong organizer, so grace in this area would be appreciated. Thanks everyone!