Today was a little tougher. Joel is feeling a bit lost at the hospital. The procedures aren't like they are in Grand Rapids - he may not be notified of a new patient waiting to be seen until hours after they have arrived, the operating room light hasn't been working since last Wednesday, communication is difficult, there are nearly 50 patients to round on daily (he's the only surgeon), there are many orthopedic cases that he faces with very limited training in ortho - so he spends extra time reading up on what to do, and things just go more slowly in general. But .... He is enjoying being here - there are so many ways he is able to bring relief! The other day a 10 year old boy came in with a bowel obstruction ... After exploring his belly, Joel pulled out a whole bowl full of worms! Disgusting. But it's the result of normal living & just drinking water that isn't clean. There's a little baby at the hospital now with a bowel obstruction, a 50 year old lady who had a box dropped on her ankle while at work & the bones were sticking out of her skin, another lady fell while carrying her baby tied to her back - the baby's femur is broken. .... And on & on. He actually just walked in the door ( at 9pm) - was called in during dinner to fix a 4 year of whose colon turned inside-out. He's tired - still trying to get enough sleep, get up before the kids to have a moment to pray & prepare before the day begins, and then work a full day while being on call every night. I don't know how the guy before us (Dr. Tim Berg) did it for a whole year by himself .... And he's returning for several more years! God gives grace... And not a moment early.
The kids & I have been passing the time playing with the bunnies (kept here as food for pediatric malnourished kiddos), playing with Greenie, the tiny chameleon (hopefully he makes it through the night after Lauren squeezed him all day with love!), watching the pigs who eat up the trash & feeding the chickens (whose eggs we hard boil and deliver to the peds center (again, for the malnourished kiddos). We have explored the old school house that is here & found a bunch of great books to read. We are reading the first Hardy Boys story together during the day & at bedtime. (Ultra spiritual, I know). We take walks around the neighborhood - about once a day - it's a lot of stress on all of us to be stared at constantly. This morning we took a bag of beads & elastic string out to the entrance of the mission & made bracelets & necklaces with whoever walked by. We ran out of beads after about 1 hour - and we were too hot; Lauren's cheeks were flushed bright red from being in the direct sun. It was fun - a whole spectrum of people found it fun to bead! Little old ladies, teen boys, moms with babies on their backs, hospital workers, kids - everyone!
The kids are a big hit :) we get so many belly laughs whenever any of them speak, especially Lauren.
Better get some sleep! Keep praying for Joel's strength, grace & favor. And pray the kids & I find a good place to be useful.
Love love!!!!
Love hearing from you!!! Your lives are so full, so demanding and we can hear that God is using each of you in awesome ways. Dad and I prayed a beautiful scripture over all of you tonight: "And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." II Cor. 9:8 May He give strength! Wish we could be with you! We're wrapping each of you in love and prayer!
ReplyDeleteCan't believe all the things you have experiensed already. Dad & I pray for all of you without ceasing. Joel, you are an amazing man, can't believe what you are doing. So proud of all of you. Next time you go we will have to fill one of your "trunks" with beads and elastic string. Love hearing from you and give kisses to all the kiddos from us.
ReplyDeleteLove "hearing" about your experiences!! Makes me wish we were doing it together....maybe someday! Love and prayers to you!! Keep honoring the Lord with your work like you already are!!
ReplyDeleteErin