Village Medicine

We have finished a whirlwind three days of clinics in the bush. We are all doing well, God is good.

After driving crazy through camels, goats, and a few baboons, we would set up our makeshift clinic, and treat people all day.
These clinics were far better organized, and we were able to practice good medicine. J and I both diagnosed and prescribed medication alongside the doctors instead of doing triage, (but we wrote out standing orders in collaboration with them first). The stress of getting it “right” was much higher when you know that no doctor is going to double check your diagnosis and these people may not see another doctor for months or even years. Thankfully our doctors and nurses work hand in hand and whenever we weren’t sure, we asked.  I enjoy the autonomy, but it also makes me nervous – I always want to provide the best care that I can. I arrived home tonight feeling good about it, feeling like we really did help those who were sick.

We met many people – some grateful, others not. Between old ladies throwing the ibuprofen we prescribed back in our faces, and the women who kept pulling in children from the local school, and stealing medications from them, there was the beauty of actually helping sick people. Of making a difference in the malaria outbreak for these few villages. Of treating a village elder’s crippling arthritis. Of paying for the baby with hydrocephalus to receive surgery in town. Of sitting beside the mother with the disabled child as she held her head up proudly, just daring anyone from the village to mock her  precious son. And then of course there is the helplessness. Watching as a grandmother took our bottle of vitamins to crush and supplement the cow’s milk she has been feeding an 18-day old baby whose mother died in childbirth, wondering if the child will survive. Knowing that your patient needs a hip replacement when all you can give him is a little bit of Tylenol. Hoping that the appalling death rates somehow don’t apply in this village, with this child in your lap.

 The new stories every morning of kidnappings and explosions put small nuggets of fear into our hearts that are immediately driven out by the prayers Awaken people put together for us combined with the devotions that KB leads us in every morning. He provides hope and strength for us each day, by leading us into Scripture and helping us remember what it means to have faith. Last night he shared his own story – about growing up in another part of the country, fighting hard to marry outside his tribe, of finding Christ and being called to this region. We are starting a new venture of telling our own stories, to get to know one another better. It is fitting that he started, because he keeps this team solid.

As KB finished his story, the sky filled with lightning and the rains hit. It was torrential. I was drenched through after just running to my tent, so I stopped and started to dance. What else can you do? Most people thought that the rains were over for this season, but they have come again, which is great because it gave the first rains time to soak into the ground. All the prayers for rain are being answered – now we must keep praying for peace.

Our spirits are high and even as others ask why these mzungos would head into the bush when the other ones are leaving, we keep our eyes fixed on the One who has called us. We still choose not to take unnecessary risks, and the fact that we travel with government health officials whenever we head into the bush ensures our protection.  We are still joyful and having fun, and have a team with a great sense of humor, which keeps us all laughing.  When God calls you somewhere, you go. You do your best, and you trust that whatever happens, it’ll all work out in the end.

Please keep praying for us. When you are sitting outside all day in the heat in the bush, treating patients and working your brain, you end each day with exhaustion. Pray for restful sleep, appropriate diagnoses, organized clinics, and protection from those that intend harm. Pray for these nations as they wade through war, famine, and instability. And pray that humanity will prevail in this land.

God is good.