Chai Time. An obligatory break in the day at 10 am. The entire compound, including the hospital, stops every morning to take chai - a very hot, sweet tea. In fact, if you stop in somewhere to do business around 10 am and they've started taking chai, you will offend them if you do not join them. So - we drink chai. Chai does have caffeine, so the kids drink a modified version called "chocolate chai" - weak chocolate milk. Now this is a practice we started here in Kenya and it will stay here in Kenya. Their morning snack used to be a piece of fruit and a cracker or two. Now it's fruit, chocolate chai and some biscuits or mandazi. Mandazi is like a donut without any sugar or frosting. Delicious and totally unhealthy. Only in Kenya!
The kids don't always know what these Kenyan kids are saying, and vice versa. But they all understand Chai, a universal language.
Speaking of food, the kids had a sleepover at our place with Anna, whose parents were gone overnight. We baked, decorated and ate lots of cookies. This was the first sleepover for our kids...and for us. It brought back memories of staying up late and talking, giggling, jumping around the room. They all did well - Eric and I are the tired ones.
Eric's on call this weekend. The hospital is busy these days. There are lots of visiting doctors, very few long termers. We're enjoying our time here and feel blessed by the many we've been in contact with here. As I've said before, time is going so fast. We spent so many months planning this trip and looking forward to it. Now it's finally here and going by too quickly. We received a number of letters last week giving us detailed updates of happenings in Holmes County, which seems so far away right now. Even though we're only here a few months, I think we'll have quite an adjustment when we return. But in the meantime, eat and be merry!
Jodi
Medical Perspective
It is amazing what we get used to.
I gave a tour to an American physician’s assistant today. I showed him our pediatric ward. He was amazed to see an 11 year old boy with tetanus and a 17 year old boy with rabies. Even the meningitis, TB, HIV, malnutrition and malaria were things he had never seen before. It struck me that what was originally so amazing to me is now commonplace.
Death has also become commonplace. There is a Family Medicine resident here right now that I thought was going to pack up his bags and go home after 2 of his first few c-sections turned up with dead babies. I received the babies and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate them, but was not effected in the same way when they died. When the resident asked me how the sickle cell kid he admitted the night before was, he was almost crushed when I told that he had died. There is another visiting doc here now that was beside himself with the death of patient from hepatitis on his first day here.
These people got so upset that I actually had to laugh at them. I can be so comforting, you know.
But they have rightfully kept perspective on how important these people are. They are no less important than you and I.
I gave a tour to an American physician’s assistant today. I showed him our pediatric ward. He was amazed to see an 11 year old boy with tetanus and a 17 year old boy with rabies. Even the meningitis, TB, HIV, malnutrition and malaria were things he had never seen before. It struck me that what was originally so amazing to me is now commonplace.
Death has also become commonplace. There is a Family Medicine resident here right now that I thought was going to pack up his bags and go home after 2 of his first few c-sections turned up with dead babies. I received the babies and tried unsuccessfully to resuscitate them, but was not effected in the same way when they died. When the resident asked me how the sickle cell kid he admitted the night before was, he was almost crushed when I told that he had died. There is another visiting doc here now that was beside himself with the death of patient from hepatitis on his first day here.
These people got so upset that I actually had to laugh at them. I can be so comforting, you know.
But they have rightfully kept perspective on how important these people are. They are no less important than you and I.
Do we really believe it?
3 comments:
Those cookies look finger linkin' good! Your pictures tell 1,000 words, you know!!
I saw Dr. Tamara Miller last week. It was good to connect with her in Phoenix. We went out to eat Ecuadorian and then I got to see her house.
Stay well as you give and receive...
Hi Eric and Jodi, I had my Dad (Jack Irwin) in to see Dr. Boyd?? today for an infection in his finger and was told you had a blog going. I came home and read the whole thing. It is amazing to hear the good and bad stories and see the pics of your family. We will certainly be praying for you. My husband would love to go to Africa sometime. He has been to Ecuador 12 times on mission trips and that is what he is feeling God calling him to do. Well take care and keep up the good work. Mom and Dad (Jack and Ethel Irwin) says hello and they will be praying also. We will see you in November.
Nancy Hewitt
Thank You, Eric & Jody, for sharing your insight (through your very interesting posts and pictures) of Kenya and of your work, Eric, and the living provisions that you temporarily call HOME. To make yourself available to minister to and to fulfil the needs of the patients at Tenwick Hospital, Eric, shows the passion you have for God and the compassion you have for His people. The "story-telling" pictures which you have been taking, will be of real value and interest to the children as they grow older and recall the experiences of traveling to and living in Kenya.
Sent with our good wishes of GOD'S BLESSINGS to all of you for safety on your travels back home in November to 2610 SR 39.
Duane & Vivian
P.S. FYI: The MOCH CAFE in Sugar Creek has a most delicious, most luscious, most exquisite tasting CHAI TEA that you have ever tasted!! You will NEVER tire of this drink!!! fun,funny,funnier!
Post a Comment