Ernest & Hemingway.... Returning Home

This is Brian,
Start by saying sorry for not blogging lately.
The Internet has auctually been worse and completely unavailable for last few days.

I'll like to point out we are freezing our butts off waiting for our delayed flight.
Funny, checked weather.com and heat advisory is awaiting us when we make it.
We've been up since 7:00 am, now 12:30am next day, plane to leave 5 hours late at 1:40 am.
16.5 hours of flying to Atlanta and we don't know what our connection is going to be because will will miss scheduled flight and they won't assign new flight until we are in air and have better guess of our arrival. So we may get there by Sunday night,,36-40 hours after we started.

Kids have done great, this Africa thing has really toughened them up and made them much more flexible. Except for Toby and his eating... Who still refuses to eat anything different.
We went to restaurant in Johanasberg mall today and had fish sticks/chicken Nuggets and fries....kids were like a pack of lions on a "pajama donkey" (zebra).
Saw the first McD's in 6 weeks and kids didn't even ask to eat there.

So we've been here at airport for 9 hours now, all our electronics (iPhone, nintendo dS, computer) all dying and no stupid converters or plug ins here, was going to be long trip.
Was....is key word..in McGuyver greatness, I found that the fancy LG flat screen advertising TV's have USB ports in back that can be plugged into and charge some of our electronics!!!!

Would love to add pics, and may if we have time in ATL, but will see you on the other side of pond.

BI

All things mountable in Africa!

So these are the spiders in South Africa.  This is the second one we've killed in the bedroom.  Grace is getting used to all the creepy crawlies and just says, "dad there's another spider" without freaking out!  Just another day in the African hood.  We are thinking that the next one we might have to send to the taxidermist with the other mounts as it seems to be near trophy size!

Yesterday we took a break from hunting and took the kids out on an adventure to see some animals close up.  Did not realize how "close up" they let you get here.  Started in the lion cub petting area.  Yes, we got to pet lions!  It was a real treat for everyone.  After the cubs, we were only a fence away from lions.  Wow, it was a little nerve racking.  No trenches here.  And then it was feeding time.  Man, face to face with a very hungry tiger and lion really hits home the ferociousness of these animals.  Magnificent, and to be feared.  I am certain that before the feeding truck arrived my kids (and myself) were looking like good lunch to them!

After the lions we ventured to the Markele National Park for some sight seeing and animal viewing.  It was pretty amazing.  Animal pictures when we get home.  The Internet is really slow and hard to upload, but we saw some wonderful creatures.

Another fabulous meal, traditional SA stew (lamb and game with veggies) over rice and home aid bread!  Bellies full and off to bed. 





Check out Gracie's expression!  Just a little freaked!  Daddy left with only five holes in his shirt.  And if you are wondering these cubs are 4 month old.







Winter in South Africa...BBBBrrrrr!!

Ok, so I have to start by saying that I got all unpacked and made it with only one roach in my clothes!  Yah!  But have had a lizzard and a HUGE spider waiting for me in my room, surprising since it's so cold.  Hope they are not warming themselved under my down comforter. 

Brian took grandma and the boys out last night and came home with a trophy Waterbuck.  These animals are so regal and stoic looking.  I can't wait for you all to see them.  I am not sure where we are going to put all of them when we get home though.  Tavi (one of the guides) and Brian are already discussing the "man cave lodge" that needs to be buildt out at the farm.

It has been really cold and windy yesterday and today.  It was about 35 degrees this morning, so only Brian went out.  The rest of us slept in, or at least stayed in the rooms.  I definitely did not pack enough cold weather clothes for this.  If it stays this way we may need to go find a fleece store.

Last night after another amazing meaty meal, we all sat around the fire pit.  We talked Gigi (our hostess) into buying ingredients for smores (or as close as she could get).  We introduced them to our favorite campfire dessert.  It was a hit!

Daddy just returned.  This morning he got a tsesebbe. I'll post a pic.  Now time for hot brunch and down time before we head out again.

BEEP...BEEP...BEEP (I'm thinking Toby's Pretend Big Truck Backing up BEEPS)!!

Backing up to our Tuesday since I didn't get it blogged, Brian jumped the gun on me (no pun intended given our current arrangements). 

Brian was done with spine cases because Dr. Nana was out of town and only did ortho trauma stuff on Monday and Tuesday, so I'm sorry to say that I don't have anything interesting to give you from him.  I think it was just another typical day in the ortho hood, i.e. bone infections, broken femurs, external fixators, those sorts of things.  He was busy though, just nothing too exciting.

I on the other hand, Tuesday had one of the best experiences that I had had in my time spent in Mbingo.  I was given the opportunity to tag along on a home counseling visit with one of the chaplains to an HIV patient that had decided to discontinue all medical treatment.  Comfort (the chaplain) and I started out after breakfast.  We took a cab to Bello, a little town about 15 min further up the mountain from Mbingo.  In Bello, we got moto drivers to take us even farther up the mountain (in farther I mean where cars do not travel!).  And for those of you wondering, yes I had Brian's blessing but only if I wore a helmet.  What makes you stand out more than being white in Cameroon?  Being white with a helmet!  It was all good!  As the road got narrower and narrower, steeper, ruttier, and the driver says "move closer", I'm starting to wonder what I've gotten myself into!  All is good!  We make it to our destination (almost), a traditional tribal compound.  We have to hike over a creek and up a steep section of hill to make it her house.  All the while passing many village men work on building a bridge by hand over the creek and many children playing, all of them very excited to see me and all stopping to watch me and say hi.  I wonder how often a white person has come into their compound?  After we make our journey there, we finally find Miss Justine.

Justine is a 27 yo that is HIV positive.  Her husband died from the disease two years ago and she has two beautiful little boys.  Several months ago she stopped taking the medication, quit coming to the hospital for follow ups and decided that she just wanted to die.  Comfort visited her a month ago and she was not wanting any help or treatment.  Comfort was hoping to visit with her again to encourage her to change her mind.  I was delighted that she invited us (me) into her home, I was not sure how we (I) would be received.  After some positive support and discussion, Comfort was able to convince her that she needed to have the children tested even if she was not going to further her treatment.  I think that the possibility of them having the disease is what was scaring her more than anything.  She agreed, we were able to test them right there in their home!  I didn't mention that their home was like stepping back into the 1800s.  It was a dirt floor hut, fire pit in the middle, no ventilation, no electric, no plumbing, the whole one room house was prob 12x12.  There were 4 beds smaller than twin size with what looked like straw mattresses, I could hardly wrap my head around the fact that there are still people that live like this.  We really have no idea.  Comfort said the last time she came the boys did not have clothes on because they were drying on the line, laundry day and they each only have one set of clothes.  So here we were performing a rapid HIV test on a two yo and an 11 month old in their primitive home in the mountains of West Africa.  Can I say that was about the longest three minutes of my life.  I was glad that I was holding and playing with the baby  to distract me (and praying at the same time), cannot imagine what sweet Justine was feeling!  IT WAS NEGATIVE!!!  Praise the Lord, praise the Lord!  It was negative, both of the boys!  We were all so relieved, my stomach feels sick again reliving those moments.  Ok, where from here?!?!  God is Good, Justine was so happy and relieved that I saw hope in her.  That is what she had lost...HOPE!  We all talked about her strength, her need to be healthy for her HEALTHY boys, and she agreed to come back to Mbingo to start treatment again!  Now with a glimpse of hope again, I asked to take her and her families picture, she said yes.  Comfort and I both hugged her tight and then we left.  I also forgot to mention that this disease is very much shunned in this culture.  Mainly because of ignorance towards it which makes it hard to live with it because of social issues along with the health issues.  Family members will not even touch you if you are HIV pos.  I told her that I would hug her every day if I could, I pray she will feel my hug for a long time!





I love this picture!  I printed these two pictures before I left and gave them to Comfort to give to her.  I would guess that she has never had a picture of her and her kids

 

So, we trecked back down the hill, I shook everyone's hands along the way.  They all thanked me for coming to their village, got back on our motos and headed to Bello.

In bello another interesting adventure when we hailed the cab back to Mbingo...How many people do you guess can fit into a Toyota corolla?  Why you say, because I was one of EIGHT!  Yes, eight adult people were in the car ride back.  One next to me was a very pregnant lady, which actually counts as nine I think.  It was unreal.  I'm pretty sure Brian would have gotten mad at the cabby if he would have touched me the way he touched the man sitting with him in his seat while he was shifting!!  When we made it back, I told the cabby that he'd probably go to jail if he tried that in the states.  Then we all unsardined ourselves from the car and Comfort and I had a good giggle.  She said I did good today for a white girl!

We finished the rest of the day making sure all of our luggage was ant, roach, termite, snake, spider, and mice free.  We marathon packed and got ready to head out early the next morn.

Thurs morn we were up early for chapel, then ready to leave.  Some of our friends were even there to see us off.  Richard from next door came to say goodbye (it was about the eighth time he'd been there).  I think Mbingo might miss the Ipsen's and grandma Roxy.  We assured them all that we already we discussing our return!

Made to long six hour drive to Douala, made it to the airport relatively uneventful.  Flight good, three hour drive to lodge in South Africa on early Thursday morn.  It is more like you picture Africa in your head here, dry season so brown, grassy, but it's cool.  Already seen tons of animals.  It's crazy to drive along and see giraffes and zebras.  As you know Brian has already "thrown some lead"  and taken down a couple magnificent animals.  We have had some meat from a couple already and it is very tasty.  Kudu sausage for breakfast was delicious.  We cannot wait to try more.  Kids tried to swim yesterday, a little chilly but still made it in (came out blue)! 

This morning I went out to test my rifle skills, hit the spot twice dead on.  They told me no worries, lead up!  So the whole fam went out.  Unfortunately it was rather windy and we saw very little animals and neither of us got a shot at a single thing.  Maybe the next outing will be better!

I will try to get some pictures up from here.  Mom has the camera with her right now.  The internet is a little slower too, so I'll try to keep up as best I can, but hope to show some of the awesome wildlife here.

Hug the one next to you!  We miss you all and love you much. 
Till I blog again-  al

Meat Wagon!!!!

We made it!!!!
To the land of milk and meat :)
So glad to see regular milk, frozen milk sucks on cereal and advice to any future safari hunters. Go vegetarian for the month before, and something is going to die when you arrive.

We had a long, relatively uneventful trip down to South Africa.  Made it thru immigration, and then had to beg to get back thru, into Cameroon so we could eat, we were starving while waiting for our plane.  Only open restaurant had one menu choice... Ham omelets and pomme frits (wound up being hotdog omlets nd french fries)  It was a long flight, almost had to stop at some central African nation to arrest the guy behind me and the boys who was getting unruly and wouldn't turn his cell phone off during flight as the attendant asked.  Started to get very heated words and threats of police, ect... Boys slept through it, long sleepless night for me though.

Made it to Johannesburg at 4:30am and drove for 3 hours to get to lodge.  South Africa is very much like the states, had a "Quicktrip" equivalent to go to get Red Bulls and Soda to stay awake.  Interstate driving was also very nice.

Got settled and had brunch and had our first hot shower, not warm trickle shower in a month and we were feeling set.  It is beautiful here as well.  Much more as you picture Africa to be.  Scrub brush plains, tall grass.  Huge open spaces, lots and lots of animals just driving in to the place.

Our Thatched roof lodge.



Bar/Pool over river.

 Once we were feed, washed and content, Amy and I headed out with Tavi and Hink to look for some animals.  It is crazy how many animal are within 15 minutes of the lodge.  Within 5 minutes of hunting a herd of zebra's walked by and the guide is saying "Brian, take him, take him!"  I couldn't do it, I had just started and wasn't sure I really wanted a stripped donkey on my wall yet.
It only got better from their.  We saw giraffes, gemsbok, warthog, impala, waterbuck, red hartebeest, blue wildebeest, tsessebe, sable,  kudu and nayla.  The amount of birds is also amazing.
So the first day, I got three very awesome animals.  Started with the Kudu, then coming home found a nice impala, and at the gate of the compound at dusk, shot an amazing nyala.  Pretty astounding first day of safari.

Kudu

Nyala

Impala

We came home to a huge T-bone dinner, all got stuffed and sat around the fire pit.  It over all was a phenomenal start to the end of our trip.  Need to run.
\
BI

Home is wherever we are!

As I lay in bed last night, unable to sleep, this is the thought that I kept coming back to when I was reflecting on our days here in Mbingo...our home is wherever we are!  I love it here as much as I love my home in Missouri. 

I had an amazing day yesterday, but do not have enough time to blog it now as we are waiting for our ride to show in about 10 min.  I just wanted to end my thoughts sitting here in Mbingo with the song we sang in Chapel this morning.  It was so appropiate to our journey, another way God has spoken that he is leading us!

Brighten the Corner Where You Are

Do not wait until some deed of greatness you may do.

Do not wait to shed your lights afar;

 To the many duties ever near you now to be true,

Brighten the corner where you are.

Chorus:  Brighten the corner where you are! 

Shine for Jesus where you are!

Brighten the corner where you are!

Some one far from harbor you may guide across the bar,

Brighten the corner where you are!

Just above are clouded skies that you may help to clear,

Let not narroid self your way debar;

 Tho 'into one heart alone may fall your song of cheer,

Brighten the corner wher you are.

Chorus

Here for all your talent you may surely find a need,

Here reflect the bright and morning star,

Even from your humble hand the bread of life may feed,

 Brighten the corner where you are.

Chorus:  Brighten the corner where you are! 

Shine for Jesus where you are!

Brighten the corner where you are!

Some one far from harbor you may guide across the bar,

Brighten the corner where you are!



Ohh...Gotta run, vans here!  Love you all.  Till I bog in South Africa! -al

...And the Adventure Continues

Hello dear blog followers, you haven’t heard from me yet. Not that I’ve been extremely busy. I’ve spent time watching the kids so Amy can do work at the clinic and other things which you’ve been reading about. I’ve become a champion “Free Cell” player on the computer and, as you’ve already heard, hand washed a lot of laundry and dishes. (Brian forgave me for the pink tee shirt.) Since today is our last full day here in Mbingo, I decided to share a few of my thoughts on this adventure, or as I’ve come to call it, the adventure of a life time. 

 The verse that comes to mind every time I look out the windows from any room here in the house, or for that matter where ever I walk to in this village, is Psalm 121:1, “I will look to hills, from where cometh my help? My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth.” This little village, as it is literally surrounded by the mountains and waterfalls, is nothing short of breathtaking. (At first I thought it was just the elevation.)   The pictures you have seen on the blog do not come close to doing justice.  Then there is the fact that God is without a doubt most certainly here, and He has been our help from day one.  I have seen His hands at work in many, many different ways, a lot of which have been through watching what Brian has been able to do.  Mona and Allan, you started a good work in him and God is bringing it to completion.  I have seen God using him not only in the medical work he has been doing, but also with the way he interacts with his colleagues and plays with the children in “the hood”, as we have come to call it.  He has been challenged in many ways, and shows “no fear” in  concurring them all.  Then there is Amy, and her amazing love for these people.  She has gone places were most people wouldn’t dare because of the living conditions, hugging parents and children who have unknown, and very unwanted illness, all because of her love for her Lord.  Watching her work here has been a wonderful experience for me. What can I say…she is my inspiration?

Then there are the children…my grandchildren that is…we have had some ups and downs, thankfully mostly ups.  Have they gotten on my nerves…yes. Have I grown to love them more…if possible...yes.  I can only hope to see what the future holds for them as the experiences, that their parents have given them, will be used in their lives.   Just another way to witness God working.

The people in Mbingo have been blessed to have Brian and Amy here, but we as a family have also been blessed.   We’ve made new and wonderful friends who are always lifting us up in prayer, and who love to “Farkle”. (Friends just don’t get better then that!) We’ve seen some of God’s beautiful handy work and felt our faith in Him grow daily. Yes, it will be a little sad to leave, but the next part of the adventure will be good too.  In closing I would only ask that you, our blogger friends, who have been praying for us as we have been traveling in Africa, will continue to pray for Brian, Amy and the kids as they make their return home to Joplin. It will undoubtedly be their biggest challenge.  Thanks for following,   and as Grace has said many times….Grandma’s crying again.

--Roxy

My Babies are Turning African!!

Pictures do not do justice!

Ok, so I'm a little glad that we are heading out soon...I am afraid that if we stay any longer that my children would use all the water supply in trying to stay clean!  Seriously, this dirt is unbelievable.  It is so hard to get off, it like stains the skin and rumor has it that it is worse in the dry season.  YIKES! 

Let's see...
Sunday Church, you saw our very nice family tailored dresses and shirts.  It was fun to wear local attire!  The best service and singing yet since we've been here.  I wish I could just bottle up the passion and praise that these people have for our Lord!



Able, Godlove, me, and sweet Hannah



Grace and her friend Becky

After church the kids got invited to the Palmer's house for a hot dog roast, french fries, mac & cheese, and roasted marshmallows.  It looked like they had a great fun time with the other missionary kids.  I even heard that the hot dogs were really good despite the fact that they came out of a can!

Dr. Palmer roasting canned hot dogs

Watermelon seed spitting contest!

While the kids were away  having fun, daddy and I spent the afternoon washing up laundry and dirty dirty dirty dirty shoe in preparation for packing is week.  All in all a good Sunday!

Today the kids and I took the blankets to the nursery that were made and donated by "Project Linus" in Joplin.  The midwives were very excited to have them and wanted us to make sure love and thanks were sent to the women who made them.

Notice the cute little pink bundle in the middle!  If the mommas wouldn't notice I'd think about stickin' one of those in my suitcase!!

The kids then went to play with some friends and I headed to the dental clinic for a farewell and well wishes.  Today watched them prep a patient and take impressions for partial dentures (they make them in their two room office, it takes three to five hours to make a partial).  More extractions, an exam for severe swollen lymph nodes (referred to ENT, prob not a good diagnosis), and made a SHORT list of must need items to make their lives and patient care better. 

Patient ed material

Uncle Jess taking impressions for partial dentures

Merriam is the "Dental Technician".  She is head of the clinic.  Her two year training allows her full Dentist skills at Mbingo clinic.  She daily does extractions, fillings, cleanings, root canals, makes partial dentures, dispenses prescriptions, whatever needs to be done.  Only limit, she can only practice at Mbingo for CBC.

After lunch Grace worked on a little video project on malaria in the children's ward for VBS. We are really excited about it, but realized that it did not record very well, :( .  While she was doing that, I did my thing and handed out love and goodies again (my new favorite thing to do!)!  Today several of the kids really got into the bubbles and were enjoying them a lot!

This is Favor.  She has been in hospital since we have been here.  She has a severe skin rash that they cannot identify and do not know how to treat.

This little man mastered the bubbles!



Dr. Snyder and Grace on children's ward

 Mom found the answer to a little mystery she's been trying to solve.  The other day there were a group of women who early in the morning went marching past our house on the road chanting and banging large sticks on the ground.  Asked several people why?  No one knew, till today.  Story goes, that the women (who are crop farmers) had a herd of cows in their field and the cows had eaten their crop.  The law is very lax here but apparently are more motivate to act if a mob of angry women show up on their doorstep with fist full of grass and pounding sticks.  The women had marched from "a long way away" in order to summon the police to come and rectify the problem of the cattle eating their crop. Not sure how it turned out, but made for some interesting conversation as we speculated what they were up to!  Tami just wondering, how fast do you think your dad would move if this scene showed up at his office? 

I have to throw in here today for my friend Liz, I've been thinking about you and your family lately.  Why you may ask?  Well...because, we have been having spaghetti omelets!  Yes, you heard right,  spaghetti omelets.  It is on the menus quite regularly here and every time we have it or I see it I think of the Erickson!  Love you guys!

What else, Brian says to tell you busy busy day.  No spine, but lots of trauma.  His second scoliosis case that he did last week is doing very well.  The first one went home!  Praise God and Alleluias!

Ended our evening with a good bye party for one of the missionary families that are moving to Ghana.  They leave tomorrow.  Super nice people with great kids.  Joe, at the party got attacked by the biting ants though and we had to leave rather hastily.  This is our third encounter with the ants since we've been here.  They are nasty and their bites hurt!  So Joe was showered down (they were in his clothes) and all kids went to bed. 

I think it's my turn too.  Praying tonight for sunshine tomorrow so that my clothes will dry before we have to pack it!  It will be a bit sad for me to leave here.  I rather like it.  But it is time to move on. 

-Good night friends, al

"So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you."  -Dueteronomy 31:6

Shagga-delic Father's Day!!!

Had a great Father's Day.  We all wore our Groovy new outfits, with Big Collars.

BI

Saturdays Adventures

So I have this new friend, his name is Benjamin.  I have been giving Benjamin bubbles.  Every day (sometimes twice) he comes to my house with the empty bubble bottle and I give him another one.  Friday I asked him if he was really using all these bubbles as it seemed excessive compared to all the other kids (maybe he was washing with them or spilling them, I didn't know).  He said yes, he has two sister that are younger than him and they really like them and he plays with them.  So Friday I gave him two bottles of bubbles.  Saturday morning Brian woke me at 7am to tell me this kid was wanting me outside, to sell me something?!?!  WTH, drug my butt out of bed to find Benjamin (who knew how long he had been waiting for us to get up since they get up here at like 5 every day!) at my door with this 6 ft stalk of sugar cane and his empty bottles of bubbles!  Asked him what he was doing with the sugar cane and he said it was a gift for me.  Heart smiled again in Africa!  I gave him four bubbles and silly bandz, my kids have never eaten sugar cane this should be fun.  When we got home from our hike he was at my door waiting for me again, this time with pears (avocados).  Thanks to my Joplin gal pals I just gave him a big bottle of bubbles and told him not to tell anyone where he got them!  He is so sweet.  This morning, Sunday, we were woken again at 7am to the door bell (he's probably been waiting outside for an hour and got tired) by Ben with a bag of potatoes!  Tomorrow he said his mother told him to bring beans.  AAAWWWW, what have I done!!!  I am going to have to break his heart and tell him that we are leaving on Wed.  Next trip...Bubbles for Ben!

 

Trails pretty good here, not too much under brush, but lots of tree canopy.  There were also these pretty flowers all over the ground that had fallen from trees above us, kinda neat section of the trail.



Saturday we took another hike, this one was what you would think of as in true African style.  Brian, myself, and the boys, along with the Palmers, and Stephanie, Lauren (the dietitians), and Jaimie (the PT) drove about 40 mins further up the mountains outside of a volcano lake called Lake Oku.  Just a bit of FYI... Lake Oku is apparently inhabited by the spirits and you are not suppose to swim or get in it (bad luck).  The tribal chiefs do sacrificial offering at this lake for the good fortunes of their people.  Parked on the road and hike through true African jungle to get as close as we could to the lake.  It was a nice hour hike through thick vegetation to our destination then back to the car for a picnic before heading back down to Mbingo through the small villages and many corn and bean fields.  

There were goats on the mountainside.  This was the shepherd shack that we stumbled upon in the middle of no where.

Lake Oku, about as close as we could get from this side of the lake.  It was cool and very cloudy .

At some points the tree canopy was so dense it became rather dark, was nice and made it cooler than our other hikes.



Daddy had to make Tobs a walking stick early into the hike.  Most of the leafy vegetation hit right at his face and he didn't like it much.  Needless to say, the walking stick didn't even help much.  After walking with his hands in the air for a while and crying, daddy decided to carry Tobs.

When the mountain got to steep, Tobs hung out with Mrs. Palmer and had a snack.

Joe at the shepherd's shack

Daddy sneaked a picture through the hole in the side to see how it looked inside.  He teased the girls by telling them there was a tv and a sink!

Aside from Daddy having to carry Tobs for some of it and Joey falling on a prickly plant that made him whelp up a bit and his leg burn, it was a good day a good adventure to end our last week in Cameroon.




Daddy won't be able to do this much longer!

 

To end our day Grace and the boys played in her restaurant, "Daral Baral", that she has set up in the back room.  Then we had homeade ice cream which I must say was delicious considering I winged it and we did not have an ice cream maker!  Anyone who would like to try some home made African style ice cream when we get home, let me know, I'd love you make you some!

Here are some other pics and video he wanted me to add from this week. 

Ingenious reusable cautery grounding pad,that I pay big bucks for disposable ones...Why?



I've seen this on the Discovery channel, but is more amazing in person.  They (the ants) marched like this in a continuous stream for more than 30 minutes while Brian was standing there waiting for the family.  The next day, you couldn't tell they were ever there, and haven't seen them since..

From the Boy's hike last week, video from the top of Mt Mbingo...



SSIOLFIM (So Sad Its Our Last Friday In Mbingo)

Another good day for everyone.
We did two spine surgeries today.  Made me think of the proverb of teaching a man to fish... I told Dr Nana I just wanted to stand and assist today...Which for those of you who work with me in the OR you know how very,very, very hard it was to sit there and not do much...I know Ashley my PFCST (private, first class scrub tech) already can't believe I could do it, but I did pretty well.  Only a couple of times did I grab the instruments from him and helped a bit. He did really good, especially in light of the fact, it was the worst the power outages have ever been during surgery.  Had to call security twice and tell them they really needed to run up and turn on the generator, because we were waiting to finish surgery and needed the electric on so our lights, suction and cautery would work.  Pretty hard to do spine surgery without electricity.
I was feeling pretty pleased with what Dr Nana was able to do, and I think that reasonable basic spine care will be achievable here in Mbingo.   Today was officially my last spine cases for this trip because next week Mon/Tues I will be filing in doing the general ortho cases and trauma that comes in as Dr Nana is going to be visiting another hospital.  

Ortho Team
David, Oliver, George, Dr Brian, Raymond and Amos

Today's First Spine patient who as you can see, the traditional medicine of "letting the evil spirits out!!"
hence, all the cuts on her back, failed to work..

We were invited to one of the neighbors house tonight for dinner which was very nice.  Comfort, who is one of the chaplains and mother to several of the kids that our kids play with had us all to her house.  We had her version of fufu N'jamajama, rice, potatoes, hot slaw, and fruit.  To top it all of and make Grandma Roxy super happy, she showed up with puff-corn (popcorn) for dessert, which she apparently has been craving for the last 3 odd weeks. 

Toby was like a "POWD" pack of wild dogs on the "puff-corn" popcorn.


 The tailor, Belta (one of the surgery residents wives) showed up with our new shirts and Grace's dress.  She started on Tuesday... Now 3 matching tailored button down, collared shirts and a fancy dress later.. I'm amazed.  Never owned a hand tailored shirt before.  The cost, $6.60 plus cost of fabric...all of the above for $22.00.  Belta is an amazing seamstress with an incredibly infectious laugh.

Belta and her work.

The Boys

Amy's figuring out how to do her African head wrap.

That's all for today, quick tumor surgery in the morning then off to hike to one of the Volcano lakes that is nearby... Should have some great pics to show..

BI