Jambo!

Hey friends!

Our team finally made it to City of Hope in Ntagatcha, Tanzania.  The compound is beautiful.  There's a mission house where I stay (many of us, multiple bunk beds in each room) and a children's home where the orphans live (and have dance parties at night, multiple times a week) and a school (where we met for "children's church" this morning) and a Chai House (open to anyone, almost like a huge gazebo - it's where our whole team congregates each morning for devotional) and several acres of farm land where they grow crops.  The children basically run this place.  They work on the farm in the early morning and then attend school.  There are hundreds of other children who come to City of Hope for school but live outside the compound in nearby villages.  Some walk for miles to school each day!  The others who live here are orphaned or unable to be cared for by their families.  Our full team of missionaries, medical professionals, interns and so on total to about 35 I would guess.  We've got 3 Kenyan guys on our team who are here for the course - Foundations in Health and Development - and that's been so fun getting to know them.  Last night after dinner a bunch of us sat outside on the steps of the mission house singing together, both Kenyans and Americans- singing songs in Swahili and English, teaching each other worship songs.  It has been one of my favorite times as of yet.  The church group of doctors (Love & Faith) and myself arrived on Wednesday afternoon.  We were greeted by all the children in red sweaters and green shorts and skirts, singing a welcome song in Swahili.  It was the most wonderful welcome!  We visited the clinic (which is about a 5 minute walk from City of Hope) and toured the TCOH compound.  We had dinner and crashed.  Thursday, Friday, and Saturday we worked all day at the clinic.  Breakfast at 7:30a, devotional time at 8a, clinic from 9-6p, then dinner at 7p).  They split up all the doctors in separate exam rooms (which are bare minimum - no clean water, no chairs, maybe 1-2 stretchers total at the clinic, etc).  Well, I was put into one room with a couple nursing students and another nurse and a translator.  YEAH, what?!  I was definitely given an opportunity to practice, little did I know I'd be given this kind of independence so quickly!  And actually, it wasn't so bad.  The translator we had on Thursday in our room (exam 2) is actually a doctor who works at the clinic.  His name is Doctor Ben.  He was a huge help but mainly let me assess, and diagnose, and treat mostly on my own.  He and I would often discuss what treatment would be best.  The next two days we did not have Dr. Ben but rather other excellent translators (Fri - Hudson, Sat - Jack) who were not medical.  But all of them were prayer warriors.  After we diagnosed and prescribed medications for each patient (if needed), we would pray for them.  It has been such a blessing to meet and serve all of these villagers who come from so far and have so little to seek help.  I have been able to use some of my assessment and diagnostic skills I've learned in school.  Though I am still lacking confidence in my abilities but am asking the Lord to use me, teach me, and increase my knowledge and abilities to serve these people well!  I know it's a learning process for sure.  The last few days were long and today it is Sunday.  On Thursday night, many of our whole team got sick- we believe it was Traveler's Diarrhea.  It was not pleasant and some of us got high fevers, had n/v and diarrhea.  I only experienced the ladder, along with some serious fatigue.  So I took the afternoon off on Friday to rest.  Most all of us were feeling well by Saturday to finish up our last clinic day.  So many people come to the clinic.  Many people are in need and there are so few of us and we are so limited in supplies!  All of these factors have been really hurting my heart and motivating me to do all I can do to help.  It has inspired me to grow in my knowledge and skills to better care for these people who are truly the last, the lost, and the least. Many of the patients we see have marks all over their body from the Shaman (witchdoctor) in their village.  These people need your prayers!  And please pray for us to care well for these patients.  We are completely reliant on the Lord because we know He's the only one who can heal and meet their needs, know their hearts.  Our team is strong again and bonding together well.  I already feel very welcomed and included in the community here which was a fear of mine since I would be joining everyone two weeks into the mix. I just tried posting pictures but had no luck :( Will try again another day.  

Love,

Laura