Once again, a busy week has past at Kalene. The hospital is suffering for a shortage of both Zambian staff and missionaries as many are away on meetings, language training or furlough. This has meant that we've done some shuffling around the hospital. I spent Saturday helpng out on the Paediatric ward...it was utter chaos. There are nearly 50 admitted children and there was only one nurse scheduled. Thankfully, the parents are expected to take care of the cleaning, toileting and feeding, however, doing observations or medications and a nursing round on 50 patients takes hours! It didn't help that the day began with a mama rushing in with an unconscious toddler in arms. The little girl, Annie, had begun to seize an hour before and was still in status epilepticus (constant seizures) when they arrived. Her blood sugar was 1.3 (norm is 4-6) and even with glucose and anti-epilepsy infusions she did not wake up, though her seizures less frequent. She is negative for malaria (which can often go cerebral) so we're still working on a diagnosis. It could just be that this is her first presentation of epilepsy. Please pray for her and the healthcare team involved!
Well, enough about medicine. Lots has been happening around the mission, too. A few new arrivals have meant that there are more people to drag up Kalene Hill with me (I got lost again on the way down, and ended up in one of the maternity staff's backyards! oops) With so many short-term workers and visitors, 2 couples and 6 singles, we've started Bible studies on Friday evenings and pizza/movie nights on Saturdays. Its been great to have a place to unwind and hang out, outside of the OR!
I'm still struggling with the length of time I am to stay here, please pray that I will get direction of whether to stay until August as originally planned, or to stay to cover other missionaries' furloughs.
I only know that Psalm 16:11 says" You make known to me the path of life and in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore" I am trusting the Lord to guide me in the decision, but please pray!
Well, it's 6 days now until I fly out for my Safari, will have to post photos of the trip once I get back!
Thanks for reading and Thanks for praying! Keep in touch, R
Glad U keep us up to date so we can pray! We surely are praying for guidance about your decision to stay on, as well as for daily help. I've been encouraged by the names of the Lord in 1Peter 2:25 - "You were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls." - I've long known how much we need and appreciate Him as Shepherd (and not just of the body, but the soul!) - but I just noticed recently the meaning of Overseer - "one charged with the duty of seeing that things to be done by others are done rightly" - glad we can trust the One who died for us to do that too!
ReplyDeleteIn Him,
Harold & Mary Smith