Monday was packing and travel day to Bongolo. Literally the whole day was traveling. Our flight was a few hours late which is normal for it not to be the time that it says on the ticket. We then had a two hour drive to our destination which the roads if you can call them roads was not smooth. The Chinese though are working on putting paved roads at least from the airport to the village near Bongolo maybe more thats just what I saw only. By the time we got to the house, it was dark. The house is amazing. Never would I expect such a house in the middle of the jungle. It is something I would see in HGTV as a summer vacation home in some exotic island. Words can not describe how great this house. The brick and tile floors, the modern bathrooms, the fireplace, and the word work is amazing. I got pictures and a video of the house just to show you that I may have went to Africa but it sure does not feel like it. After putting all the luggage in the house, we then went over to Karen's house for dinner. She is a nurse here who has been at Bongolo hospital or the Congo for like over thirty years. It was great to talk to her about it all. She gave us a little history of hopsital and of herself. It just is great to listen to people and hear their stories.
Bongolo is where the first missionaries of the CMA came in the 1930's (not the first missionaries of the CMA but at least to Gabon). Which honestly I think that is amazing that they came all the way from the states and came to the middle of the jungle. Since then it has grown and there are so many churches. God is working in Gabon. It's great to see how two people came and made a huge difference. The hospital is amazing. Because the hospitals in Libreville charge outrageous prices for things most people travel here (which by car from Libreville is 10 hours average). This hospital has a lot: OR, ER, HIV/AIDS clinic, denistry, radiology, lab to do blook work and other things, peds, maternity, prenatal care, eye clinic, optomology, ICU, and a few others that I am probably missing. Along with all that they also have a nursing school and a PAAC program for residency for surgeons. Medical missionaries are not only helping the people here but also training people here so that they can be either stay here and work or they can go back to their villages or the city to practice medicine. And a really cool thing about the hospital is they get their own electricity from the river therefore they don't have to pay for it. I am sure that saves them a lot of money.
Tuesday was a great day for we got the tour by another nurse here. She has also been here for over thirty years. Kelli and I then were allowed to scub into the OR. We saw a lap chole and a goiter surgery. Let me say the differences between here and the states as in the OR. One it is a lot warmer in the rooms where they operate because in the states I always wore leggings and shirts underneath my scrubs. They do have AC its just not that strong. They also have emergency lights in the OR because often they lose power about once a day or every other day. The surgery tools and a few things must be reused where in the states they don't reuse. But it is hard to get supplies and even if they could it would be too expensive. No worries though they do sterilize it so it is good as new, but just part of doing medicince in a third world. I did get pictures of the surgeries which I would not be allowed to do in the states. Here they welcomed it and one of the surgeons even gave me his camera to take pictures. Half way through the goiter surgery though we stepped out to get lunch. The surgery is a long one since it is the neck and screwing up was not an option therefore they probably had a few more hours to go. We ate a late lunch and then took a few pictures of the area. That night we went over the Hoffman's house for dinner. They are here with Samaritan's Purse. She is an optomologist and he does all the book keeping for the hospital and all the missionaries. He makes everyone's life easier. Once again we were showed great hospitality. The people here are just so nice and really do make us feel welcomed. It was great to talk to Wende Hoffman. She actually grew up near Seattle and attended University of Washington for medical school. But she knew that she wanted to be a medical missionary since she was young. Actually a lot of the people say that here.
Wednesday, Kelli and I were invited to do rounds with Dr. Thompson and the residents. This is the day when I learned a lot and never before felt so emotionally drained. Before the rounds began all the doctors, Kelli and I stood outside and prayed. They do this every day which is a great way to show all the people who come to the hospital that God is much bigger than us but so cares and loves us. At the moment when walking with them all and seeing the patients it did not bother me until later that day when I journaled about it. There were people with AIDS, ulcers, cancer of all kinds, ectopic pregnancies which means the baby grew in the fallopian tubes due to not traveling down to the uterus most likely because of STDs, a women had severe burns because her husband burned her (domestic violence is more common here), a girl also had severe burns but this was because of a gas fire in her house which killed her mother and it did not look that promising that she would make it (Grace is her name if you would like to pray for her), a baby with many problems and looking at several surgeries to help her. Those are the ones I remember. It made me sick to think about how much pain they are in and probably have been in. But once again Dr. Thompson stopped even though he had a busy day ahead to pray for some patients in particular Grace. I am still processing a lot of what I saw that day. It was a lot to see, yet there are people here that see it every day. It makes me wonder if I could someday. It is so different than what I saw when watching Dr. Irwin this summer. The conditions that they do it in to are not that great. There is no AC in the other rooms (just the OR has it) and its hot and humid here. Also people are not bathing like we do in the states so the smells just are so overpowering. Some of the rooms just don't feel that clean where the patients stay over night.
After rounds and lunch, Kristi, Kelli, Heather and I all went down to the storage where there are medical supplies to help organize it with Melodee. That has been one of her many jobs here. She and her husband Paul retired and came to Africa to do so. They are just another amazing couple. Paul actaully works harder than he did back at home. He is ahead of all the maintance so he works all day and then is on call if a pipe were to break or really anything he goes. The storage room is packed with supplies although some supplies that people give them honestly I don't think they will ever use. But its Africa so they keep it all. We sorted for a few hours and made some good progress. For dinner that night Melodee and Paul had us over for dinner. I feel like I dine every night with great food and dessert. I feel like every night we get dessert. It really makes the whole Africa trip an ideal trip. Carbs and dessert what more could I ask for.
Thursday day which brings me up to date, we all went back to the storage room to do more organizing and sorting. The day slipped by so fast. Soon we were at this restaurant in the town near by with Paul and Melodee. The dinner we had might be my favorite this whole time during our trip. The chicken was amazing and also the homemade fries. I really am getting used to life in Africa. Work and eat well. Tomorrow we leave to go back to Libreville. It will probably be a whole day adventure. Saturday, we are meeting up with the people who work at the clinic because Kristi made a database for them to help them keep track of their patients. Kristi will then get to explain to them how to work it. After that we will get to go to Hope House which will be great to see the children again. Then Sunday we will go to church and then that night we leave to go back home. Hopefully, no one has a heart attack on this plane ride.
Anyways the is most of my trip. I spared some of the details. So far I am and will continue to learn a lot as I process through things. I do have videos thanks to the Hamiltons! I also have pictures that I will post them somewhere. But I want to say there are a few things that I want to live by Joshua 1:9 which might be my favorite verse and also this story/quote "there are two men talking. One man says that he when he meets God he wants to ask him why all the pain, diseases, poverty and injustice in this world. The other man says I fear God will ask me the same question."
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Sundays are really the best day of the week
Sunday, we went to church in the morning. Now we did not speak French so I was lost when we were singing, during the sermon and also in the announcements. But it was great though. It was very lively during worship that people were dancing. I actually got asked to go up and dance. Let me just say this white girl has no rhythm. I waited until the man who helps out with the CMA in anything who is native to Gabon gave me the okay to come back. I was so relieved because I could not dance nor really sing. They asked Kelli to do the same thing as well but then they made Kristi go up on stage and dance next to these two guys up there. Now they were doing some fancy feet work but it was hard to say what because their clothes like their shirt was really long and was hiding their feet. It was fun to watch her. As Steve said she made white people proud. ha ha
The sermon as the verses that it was based on was great. It was Micah 6:8 which talks about "the Lord requires us to act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." The next verse was Titus 3:5 where it talks about how Jesus has saved us not becuase of our righteous things we had done but out of mercy. We are justified by grace and not by our works. then the last verse that the sermon was on waas 1 Corinthians 13:3 about how if we don't have love all we do is nothing. I was able to get the verses because I was sitting by the guy who helps the CMA out in Libreville who is native here. We call him Jonny Romance. He is a great guy. He does a lot I know for the church which there are like 22 churches just in Libreville and more churches throughout Gabon.
After church, we went back to the house where we ate and then left for the beach. The beach was a little cold due to the breeze and wind. But there is something about beaches and what it does to the soul. It is so refreshing and calming. Just overall just a good day. Other things happen but I don't want to bore you any more on those details. Also just want to say that I never spell check nor ever look to see what I say makes sense. Sorry for that. I am just too lazy here to do so. And it definitely is not eloquent.
The sermon as the verses that it was based on was great. It was Micah 6:8 which talks about "the Lord requires us to act justly and love mercy and to walk humbly with your God." The next verse was Titus 3:5 where it talks about how Jesus has saved us not becuase of our righteous things we had done but out of mercy. We are justified by grace and not by our works. then the last verse that the sermon was on waas 1 Corinthians 13:3 about how if we don't have love all we do is nothing. I was able to get the verses because I was sitting by the guy who helps the CMA out in Libreville who is native here. We call him Jonny Romance. He is a great guy. He does a lot I know for the church which there are like 22 churches just in Libreville and more churches throughout Gabon.
After church, we went back to the house where we ate and then left for the beach. The beach was a little cold due to the breeze and wind. But there is something about beaches and what it does to the soul. It is so refreshing and calming. Just overall just a good day. Other things happen but I don't want to bore you any more on those details. Also just want to say that I never spell check nor ever look to see what I say makes sense. Sorry for that. I am just too lazy here to do so. And it definitely is not eloquent.
Hope House
Friday-
In the morning we went to the clinic in Libreville. I got to help with the pharmacy area. That day this mother with an eight month old baby boy named Jeremy who must be the most beautiful baby I have seen this whole trip has malaria. Kelli and Heather were trying to figure out what meds to give to a baby since a lot of them were larger doses. But the thing was they could not cut the pills in half for it was not the kind of pill where the medicine was evenly distrubuted throughout the whole thing. But they figured it out what to do and then before the baby went home we prayed over the baby. That's the cool thing here is that doctors and nurses will stop and pray over patients. There is no fear of offending others and its a great way to show that really medicine can only go so far and that God is much bigger and can do miracles.
After our time at the clinic, we went back to the house to eat lunch where afterwards we went to Hope House. It is not an orphanage but it is a house of children that were left behind or the parents could not take care of them anymore. They say it is not an orphanage because orphanages don't have hope and can carry almost a negative feeling but this house does have hope and is lively hense why it is called Hope House. Hope House was started by Pastor Isreal and his wife. They had a hard time getting pregnant so that is when God called them to start this house. They did adopt one child which in Gabon is very difficult. Gabon does not allow adoption that much because they want to appear to take care of their children and therefore adoption makes them look bad to their eyes. The other children are just taken in due to the difficulties with the law. They were able to finally conceive a child her name is Grace. Hope House in total has 28 children. The max they can have is 30. It is just amazing that they are able to do all of that. I don't think I have explained but Gabon is expensive. Back in the 1960s they gained their independence from France and shortly after had a good fortune with a few exports. The exports made the nation rich compared to the rest of the countries near by, but the wealth is not shared equally therefore you see mansions where the government people work and then you see shacks. But even though most of the country is poor, it is expenseive to live which makes every day at the Hope House a miracle. 28 children is a lot and for good nutrition it is costly.
Christi and Kelli brought toys for the children. Christi runs the children church back at her home where the kids there raised money for the children here. It was really cool to see them get excited for bouncy balls, soccer balls, and other toys. We played a lot with them with bouncy balls. There is one girl that I played with more than the others which made me feel bad that I did not hang out with more of them or divide my time up more. But this one little girl is 2 and she had so much energy. Also she is known as the brat because it is her way only. She throws the biggest fits when another child takes a bouncy ball. Since I don't know French I could not talk to her to calm her down. But the afternoon was great just to see how all the children got along. The older children definitely helped out with the younger ones. It was really cute to see.
Saturday-
Our Saturday was about helping the Kellys-the missionary family in Libreville. We got to paint and help move a few things over to the house. I got to prep the walls before they got painted, and it was not the most glamerous job. These walls when I actually got to prep them and look closely at them was just disgusting due to all the dirt around and the windows are always open to let air in since there is no AC. But the paint job did wonders to the house that is for sure.
That night we had street food for it was street food Saturday. Now it is not doctor reccomended but they always do it and don't get sick so I thought might as well too. We had some amazing chicken, fries, fried bananas and donuts. It was all street food and so tasty.
Weird and fun facts
1. We saw monkeys hanging upside down ready to buy as meat for food
2. People of Gabon love Obama. They have shirts with his face on them with HOPE on it. they have paintings of him. They even have cafes named after him. But when they are told he is for abortion and homosexual marriage, it shocks them terribly. For both those things in Gabon they are totally against.
3. People are not afraid to ask us for things like anything. In fact a lot of girls when they come here are asked by the men for their hand in marriage. For men and women here are allowed a few husbands or wives. And they praise people if they do have more than one spouse. When we were at the market and there were a few of us women to one guy. People would tell the guy nice work on all the wives. He knowing French just to make it simple said we were his sisters.
In the morning we went to the clinic in Libreville. I got to help with the pharmacy area. That day this mother with an eight month old baby boy named Jeremy who must be the most beautiful baby I have seen this whole trip has malaria. Kelli and Heather were trying to figure out what meds to give to a baby since a lot of them were larger doses. But the thing was they could not cut the pills in half for it was not the kind of pill where the medicine was evenly distrubuted throughout the whole thing. But they figured it out what to do and then before the baby went home we prayed over the baby. That's the cool thing here is that doctors and nurses will stop and pray over patients. There is no fear of offending others and its a great way to show that really medicine can only go so far and that God is much bigger and can do miracles.
After our time at the clinic, we went back to the house to eat lunch where afterwards we went to Hope House. It is not an orphanage but it is a house of children that were left behind or the parents could not take care of them anymore. They say it is not an orphanage because orphanages don't have hope and can carry almost a negative feeling but this house does have hope and is lively hense why it is called Hope House. Hope House was started by Pastor Isreal and his wife. They had a hard time getting pregnant so that is when God called them to start this house. They did adopt one child which in Gabon is very difficult. Gabon does not allow adoption that much because they want to appear to take care of their children and therefore adoption makes them look bad to their eyes. The other children are just taken in due to the difficulties with the law. They were able to finally conceive a child her name is Grace. Hope House in total has 28 children. The max they can have is 30. It is just amazing that they are able to do all of that. I don't think I have explained but Gabon is expensive. Back in the 1960s they gained their independence from France and shortly after had a good fortune with a few exports. The exports made the nation rich compared to the rest of the countries near by, but the wealth is not shared equally therefore you see mansions where the government people work and then you see shacks. But even though most of the country is poor, it is expenseive to live which makes every day at the Hope House a miracle. 28 children is a lot and for good nutrition it is costly.
Christi and Kelli brought toys for the children. Christi runs the children church back at her home where the kids there raised money for the children here. It was really cool to see them get excited for bouncy balls, soccer balls, and other toys. We played a lot with them with bouncy balls. There is one girl that I played with more than the others which made me feel bad that I did not hang out with more of them or divide my time up more. But this one little girl is 2 and she had so much energy. Also she is known as the brat because it is her way only. She throws the biggest fits when another child takes a bouncy ball. Since I don't know French I could not talk to her to calm her down. But the afternoon was great just to see how all the children got along. The older children definitely helped out with the younger ones. It was really cute to see.
Saturday-
Our Saturday was about helping the Kellys-the missionary family in Libreville. We got to paint and help move a few things over to the house. I got to prep the walls before they got painted, and it was not the most glamerous job. These walls when I actually got to prep them and look closely at them was just disgusting due to all the dirt around and the windows are always open to let air in since there is no AC. But the paint job did wonders to the house that is for sure.
That night we had street food for it was street food Saturday. Now it is not doctor reccomended but they always do it and don't get sick so I thought might as well too. We had some amazing chicken, fries, fried bananas and donuts. It was all street food and so tasty.
Weird and fun facts
1. We saw monkeys hanging upside down ready to buy as meat for food
2. People of Gabon love Obama. They have shirts with his face on them with HOPE on it. they have paintings of him. They even have cafes named after him. But when they are told he is for abortion and homosexual marriage, it shocks them terribly. For both those things in Gabon they are totally against.
3. People are not afraid to ask us for things like anything. In fact a lot of girls when they come here are asked by the men for their hand in marriage. For men and women here are allowed a few husbands or wives. And they praise people if they do have more than one spouse. When we were at the market and there were a few of us women to one guy. People would tell the guy nice work on all the wives. He knowing French just to make it simple said we were his sisters.
Mobile Clinic
Thursday was mobile clinic day. Which means the nurses from the clinics with the medicince they have loaded up into a truck and went to a village to set up a clinic. We-Kristy, Kelli, Heather, Tim and I- all got to go along.
Before describing the clinic let me give you a background on who the people I was with. Kristy lives in Virgina Beach and works at a Chirstian corporation. She makes databases for computers in short. She really can't explain her job to me for I just in no way would understand. Her sister is Kelli who came as well. She is a PA. It has been great to be next to her on clinics and rounds because she can explain things to me that I have yet to learn. Heather has been here for almost 6 months and soon she goes home back to the states. She is a nurse and has been doing various things in these past months here. Tim and Meredith are the missionaries that we are staying with. They live in Libreville and host groups up to 30 people.
Back to the mobile clinic. We drove about 45 minutes to this village which I can't remember the name nor would I be able to spell it correctly. But this village is more what I think about when you think Africa. I also have pictures and videos of it but wont be able to post it until I get back to the states. While Kelli and Heather stayed with the clinic, Kristi, Tim, a few others from the clinic and I got to walk around this village. We did this to tell others about the clinic and to come to it. Since a few us were white it helps the people trust us and want to come to it. It was very interesting to walk around and see how they live. They do live in poverty but the weird thing is that the village people had cell phones. Everyone here has cell phones despite if you are poor or not. So I would see this lady step out of her village house with a cell phone. This particular village had four devil worship temples. The people here live by fear. They believe in vampires and evil spirits. Therefore their lifestyle is based on that. For instance not a lot happens late at night for the fear of the dark. And at this particular village there are devil worship dances to appease the devil. All of this is just so foreign to me.
When we got back to the clinic which was set up by the CMA church in the village, Kristy and I got to hand our the medications. The way medicine works there. People hold on to their own medical infomation rather than the doctors. It is this booklet that they keep which the meds they are prescribed are written down. They after being consulted come to the pharmacy section where they are given meds. A lot of the meds we give out is malaria meds, typhoid meds, vitamins, high blood pressure meds and a few others. I wish I could explain the people but they were very hospitable to us. They even cooked us lunch. Now I do have a picture of our lunch. Although it was probably not doctor reccomended that we ate the lunch due to the water they cooked with for their water supply was not the conditions like America. But we did and no one got sick. Not being sick thus far is a blessing and an answer to prayer.
That was the majority of the day. We then went back to the place where we are staying. That night though I got to paint. Thanks to my mom and the school I knew had to paint and felt right at home doing that. We got to paint because the upstairs of the house we were at was like its own little apartment was soon going to be the home of the missionary family- the Kellys.
Before describing the clinic let me give you a background on who the people I was with. Kristy lives in Virgina Beach and works at a Chirstian corporation. She makes databases for computers in short. She really can't explain her job to me for I just in no way would understand. Her sister is Kelli who came as well. She is a PA. It has been great to be next to her on clinics and rounds because she can explain things to me that I have yet to learn. Heather has been here for almost 6 months and soon she goes home back to the states. She is a nurse and has been doing various things in these past months here. Tim and Meredith are the missionaries that we are staying with. They live in Libreville and host groups up to 30 people.
Back to the mobile clinic. We drove about 45 minutes to this village which I can't remember the name nor would I be able to spell it correctly. But this village is more what I think about when you think Africa. I also have pictures and videos of it but wont be able to post it until I get back to the states. While Kelli and Heather stayed with the clinic, Kristi, Tim, a few others from the clinic and I got to walk around this village. We did this to tell others about the clinic and to come to it. Since a few us were white it helps the people trust us and want to come to it. It was very interesting to walk around and see how they live. They do live in poverty but the weird thing is that the village people had cell phones. Everyone here has cell phones despite if you are poor or not. So I would see this lady step out of her village house with a cell phone. This particular village had four devil worship temples. The people here live by fear. They believe in vampires and evil spirits. Therefore their lifestyle is based on that. For instance not a lot happens late at night for the fear of the dark. And at this particular village there are devil worship dances to appease the devil. All of this is just so foreign to me.
When we got back to the clinic which was set up by the CMA church in the village, Kristy and I got to hand our the medications. The way medicine works there. People hold on to their own medical infomation rather than the doctors. It is this booklet that they keep which the meds they are prescribed are written down. They after being consulted come to the pharmacy section where they are given meds. A lot of the meds we give out is malaria meds, typhoid meds, vitamins, high blood pressure meds and a few others. I wish I could explain the people but they were very hospitable to us. They even cooked us lunch. Now I do have a picture of our lunch. Although it was probably not doctor reccomended that we ate the lunch due to the water they cooked with for their water supply was not the conditions like America. But we did and no one got sick. Not being sick thus far is a blessing and an answer to prayer.
That was the majority of the day. We then went back to the place where we are staying. That night though I got to paint. Thanks to my mom and the school I knew had to paint and felt right at home doing that. We got to paint because the upstairs of the house we were at was like its own little apartment was soon going to be the home of the missionary family- the Kellys.
Libreville, Gabon
Tuesday evening I made it to Libreville, Gabon. I was so excited to actually to make it. It took awhile to get through customs and security where I then got my bags. It is a humbling experience to travel in a different country and not speak other languages. I finally got to leave the airport where I then was to find someone to pick me up. I realized I did not ask who would nor did I look up people to see what they looked like. Game plan I was just looking for an American. I found Tim Brokopp the missionary who lives in Libreville. There was a huge moment of relief because I MADE IT! And I did it with help but traveled solo.
We then got in a car that had Kristy, Kelli, (which are the two I was to meet up with in Frankfurt with), Heather the intern, and Steve who is the pilot who lives here. Which a little background on him and his work here. They have a plane here in Gabon although right now it is on the way to America to be fixed. But when it is here and working, he flies people from Libreville to Bongolo where the hospital is that is ran by other missionaries and the church. I don't know why the church does not talk more about what is going on here.
God is working here and doing amazing things with amazing people. There are clinics in the city where they see patients five times a week and give medicine. Not only do they get consulted with a medical person but they also get medicine on the spot all for a good price. Now if they were to go see someone else in the city. They would get charged to see someone but also then charged for the medicince and most likely its not the medicine they needed. And I will explain Bongolo hospital later.
But on the way to the stmo center where I was going to stay, I got to see to the city. It is always hard to see poverty mostly because I know I have so much in the states and then to go somewhere where there is much less, makes you feel uncomfortable. I know that I need to be uncomfortable at times. And that quote like much has been given therefore much is expected goes throught your head. I do have much to give is the point. We then made it to the place where Tim and Meredith live downstairs and I with the ladies here got to go upstairs to stay. This house is amazing. Definietely not what I was expecting. In fact because it is such a big house in Libreville, it is expected that they have a guard 24 hours and house help. It has always been like that for this missionary house. So I am definitely safe in this house. Also violence is not an issue in Gabon. I did not see people holding guns in the streets. Although issues like STDs and HIV are more prevalent. For there 1.5 million people in Gabon and 10% of them are HIV positive. There is also domestic violence for a husband feels that he has the right to hit his wife.
The next day which was Wednesday, I got to go to the clinic. I have pictures and a video of it all to give you a visual sometime. I got to go into the consultation room with Kelli who is a PA. I wanted to see what medicine is like here and how it can be used just so that maybe someday I could be coming out here when I am a doctor. This clinic though has two parts to it. A regular clinic and also an eye clinic. Due to the sun, there are a lot of eye problems. The clinic depending upon the day can see patients from 15 to 50 people. After our time at the clinic we got to walk up this hill where there is a CMA church and Christian book store. I did find books that I would even want to buy it just was in French. But that took up the majority of our day. The other details aren't as interesting.
We then got in a car that had Kristy, Kelli, (which are the two I was to meet up with in Frankfurt with), Heather the intern, and Steve who is the pilot who lives here. Which a little background on him and his work here. They have a plane here in Gabon although right now it is on the way to America to be fixed. But when it is here and working, he flies people from Libreville to Bongolo where the hospital is that is ran by other missionaries and the church. I don't know why the church does not talk more about what is going on here.
God is working here and doing amazing things with amazing people. There are clinics in the city where they see patients five times a week and give medicine. Not only do they get consulted with a medical person but they also get medicine on the spot all for a good price. Now if they were to go see someone else in the city. They would get charged to see someone but also then charged for the medicince and most likely its not the medicine they needed. And I will explain Bongolo hospital later.
But on the way to the stmo center where I was going to stay, I got to see to the city. It is always hard to see poverty mostly because I know I have so much in the states and then to go somewhere where there is much less, makes you feel uncomfortable. I know that I need to be uncomfortable at times. And that quote like much has been given therefore much is expected goes throught your head. I do have much to give is the point. We then made it to the place where Tim and Meredith live downstairs and I with the ladies here got to go upstairs to stay. This house is amazing. Definietely not what I was expecting. In fact because it is such a big house in Libreville, it is expected that they have a guard 24 hours and house help. It has always been like that for this missionary house. So I am definitely safe in this house. Also violence is not an issue in Gabon. I did not see people holding guns in the streets. Although issues like STDs and HIV are more prevalent. For there 1.5 million people in Gabon and 10% of them are HIV positive. There is also domestic violence for a husband feels that he has the right to hit his wife.
The next day which was Wednesday, I got to go to the clinic. I have pictures and a video of it all to give you a visual sometime. I got to go into the consultation room with Kelli who is a PA. I wanted to see what medicine is like here and how it can be used just so that maybe someday I could be coming out here when I am a doctor. This clinic though has two parts to it. A regular clinic and also an eye clinic. Due to the sun, there are a lot of eye problems. The clinic depending upon the day can see patients from 15 to 50 people. After our time at the clinic we got to walk up this hill where there is a CMA church and Christian book store. I did find books that I would even want to buy it just was in French. But that took up the majority of our day. The other details aren't as interesting.
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Destination: Africa
Almost done with my trip to Africa but I thought now I would blog about it. I am not the most eloquent with my words but I hope you still enjoy reading what I have been up to.
Day 1- My direct flight...
In the morning that I was to leave from Seatac, Leiv, Jonathan, Lowell, Jordan Birch and I all went to church. The scripture the sermon was based on was Luke 10 with the parable about how the workers are few and the harvest in plentiful. Which gives comfort to me for I feel that over the years with the school and other organizations I have noticed there are few who are devoted and work around the clock and sacrifice so much. And then there are many who just watch. The comfort comes to realize that Jesus preached this that it would happen like that. My prayer is that I am one of the few workers.
The guys dropped me off at the airport. I know I am going to see them soon, but I still broke down. Sorry about that guys. I was just finally realizing that I was not only going on a mission trip far away but also I was going straight to school afterwards.
When waiting in all the lines at the airport, I kept telling myself I am going to Africa. And then I would say it again. For a few years I have wanted to go (ever since Rebecca Verhage got to go in high school I thought it was the coolest thing ever) but I always thought I would later in my life. I kept thinking that I would go if I was a doctor and I would go to set up a clinic. But job shadowing Dr. Irwin this summer made me realize why not now? Therefore off I went.
I have never traveled internationally before, so when a man had a heart attack on my flight which made the direct flight stop somewhere far north in Canada (near Alaska)! We actually had to back track like an hour to land so that this man could medical assistance. Now my connecting flight left no room for me to back track in an hour and then wait two hours at this airport. I knew I was going to miss my flight in Germany. And how many trips are there to Gabon, Africa? One! I called Leiv right away. He has traveled the world and knew he would save me. I got an international plan so I could email the missionaries at Gabon that I most likely would not make it as planned. I did make it to Germany hours after I was supposed to and completely missed the flight like I thought. I was tired and a little nervous. Not the best combo. But the man I was sitting with on the plane was a nice guy and helped me out since he was German and knew German. He actually helped me where to go next. I was so thankful! The airline then told me that they only have one flight every other day flying to Gabon but that Air France was going the next day. I stayed the night in Frankfurt. (Sorry mom and dad I did not tell you earlier I just did not want to worry you). Looked like a complete idiot with all my bags and trying to find the bus I would take to the hotel they put me up in for the night. I literally had people laugh at me when I tried to get on the bus. Luckily I just did not care at all. I ws that tired. That afternoon and night I slept so well. I should have explored Frankfurt but I knew that if my parents and Aunt Valerie heard I did they would be upset. A girl all by herself in a foreign city. I could just hear them then that it was not a good idea.
I woke up that morning at three. I was so messed up on my sleeping schedule but I had to take the shuttle to get to the airport early. I was not going to miss this flight. I then took a flight to Paris. The Paris Airport actually made me more nervous. I always hear that French don't like Americans and I knew it was a huge airport. I had to idea where to go. Let alone knew if my bags was going to follow me or if I had to pick them up and then recheck them. Looking back now, only by the grace of God and asking the workers where and what next I made it to my terminal. But I realized I had to ask and in between asking people to act confident in what I was doing and where I was going. I did not want to look confused because I felt like I am way old enough to figure out to go for one terinal to completely to another terminal with a different airline. Also I was going to Africa. If I could not even fly there how was I going to do in Africa?
Anyways that was my first and second day. It was adventure that I did not count on. It turned out great. I definitely was nervous at times but the verse Phillipians 4:6-7 I repeated to myself several times. It all worked out and now I have a more interesting story.
This was a long post but I thought I should explain a little more my thoughts and my traveling experience.
Day 1- My direct flight...
In the morning that I was to leave from Seatac, Leiv, Jonathan, Lowell, Jordan Birch and I all went to church. The scripture the sermon was based on was Luke 10 with the parable about how the workers are few and the harvest in plentiful. Which gives comfort to me for I feel that over the years with the school and other organizations I have noticed there are few who are devoted and work around the clock and sacrifice so much. And then there are many who just watch. The comfort comes to realize that Jesus preached this that it would happen like that. My prayer is that I am one of the few workers.
The guys dropped me off at the airport. I know I am going to see them soon, but I still broke down. Sorry about that guys. I was just finally realizing that I was not only going on a mission trip far away but also I was going straight to school afterwards.
When waiting in all the lines at the airport, I kept telling myself I am going to Africa. And then I would say it again. For a few years I have wanted to go (ever since Rebecca Verhage got to go in high school I thought it was the coolest thing ever) but I always thought I would later in my life. I kept thinking that I would go if I was a doctor and I would go to set up a clinic. But job shadowing Dr. Irwin this summer made me realize why not now? Therefore off I went.
I have never traveled internationally before, so when a man had a heart attack on my flight which made the direct flight stop somewhere far north in Canada (near Alaska)! We actually had to back track like an hour to land so that this man could medical assistance. Now my connecting flight left no room for me to back track in an hour and then wait two hours at this airport. I knew I was going to miss my flight in Germany. And how many trips are there to Gabon, Africa? One! I called Leiv right away. He has traveled the world and knew he would save me. I got an international plan so I could email the missionaries at Gabon that I most likely would not make it as planned. I did make it to Germany hours after I was supposed to and completely missed the flight like I thought. I was tired and a little nervous. Not the best combo. But the man I was sitting with on the plane was a nice guy and helped me out since he was German and knew German. He actually helped me where to go next. I was so thankful! The airline then told me that they only have one flight every other day flying to Gabon but that Air France was going the next day. I stayed the night in Frankfurt. (Sorry mom and dad I did not tell you earlier I just did not want to worry you). Looked like a complete idiot with all my bags and trying to find the bus I would take to the hotel they put me up in for the night. I literally had people laugh at me when I tried to get on the bus. Luckily I just did not care at all. I ws that tired. That afternoon and night I slept so well. I should have explored Frankfurt but I knew that if my parents and Aunt Valerie heard I did they would be upset. A girl all by herself in a foreign city. I could just hear them then that it was not a good idea.
I woke up that morning at three. I was so messed up on my sleeping schedule but I had to take the shuttle to get to the airport early. I was not going to miss this flight. I then took a flight to Paris. The Paris Airport actually made me more nervous. I always hear that French don't like Americans and I knew it was a huge airport. I had to idea where to go. Let alone knew if my bags was going to follow me or if I had to pick them up and then recheck them. Looking back now, only by the grace of God and asking the workers where and what next I made it to my terminal. But I realized I had to ask and in between asking people to act confident in what I was doing and where I was going. I did not want to look confused because I felt like I am way old enough to figure out to go for one terinal to completely to another terminal with a different airline. Also I was going to Africa. If I could not even fly there how was I going to do in Africa?
Anyways that was my first and second day. It was adventure that I did not count on. It turned out great. I definitely was nervous at times but the verse Phillipians 4:6-7 I repeated to myself several times. It all worked out and now I have a more interesting story.
This was a long post but I thought I should explain a little more my thoughts and my traveling experience.
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