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| Charlie and Dr Brian |
Charlie- So Dr Brian, what do you call someone who speaks two languages?
Me- Bilingual
C- Correct, what about someone who speaks three languages?
M- ? Trilingual
C- Right, what about someone who speaks only one language?
M- ?? Unilingual
C- No... An Americian :(
He's true and correct about how spoiled and privelaged many of us are to know only one language. These are an extremely bright, talented resourceful people...most who speak at least two, three, six languages...well. My brain hurts just thinking about how much they keep straight.
Our view upon arriving at clinic.
Driving to clinic, I feel terrible for the patients who walk 4,6,10,20 miles to come see us down these dusty roads.
The football players even jog and exercise down these dusty roads.
So Amy is still having a ball in her Dental realm..lots and lots of teeth to pull with Dr Sara Walls.
Getting to hold more babies.
I even barrowed a baby for awhile. As many of you know, I really don't like babies, not until they are old enough to toss around and wrestle with, and this one didn't fit that criteria, so I ditched her pretty quick.
I have really enjoyed getting to spend time with my wife in clinic together, which is something we have never in our lives gotten to do. It has brought both of us much joy to see each other in our "element"
The view from the front window of our clinic.
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| Hundreds of people waiting for a chance to get a "ticket" to be seen. |
Got to see Fatou yesterday. She is the girl who came to Ortho-4-States to get her arm reconstructed...kuddos to my hand partner, Dr McNemar. She is doing awesome.
Amy fetching water from pump. Glad she doesn't have to do this every day..
Lots more surgery today in the clinic. We continue to remove lots of stuff. TeVo is getting to be pretty brave about what he is tackling, he pretty much kicked me out of my room and I had to steal a dental chair so I could work at same time.
Took out a breast mass in 16 year old. That made my butt pucker a bit. Got Dr Soh to help, going to turn him into a surgeron.
Then the one that really, really puckered my butt was the 7 year old with chest/abdomen mass...dentist, Dr Sara assisted, and was really happy I didn't find a heart or bowel when I got in there.
Pics to follow on that one.
Amy, the ladies from the team with the village women who accepted Jesus Christ praying together on our way home.
Yes, that is the view from the top of the van, as TeVo and I decided to Africa Up and ride back into town on the luggage rack, my trip was shortened by the prayer above, then Cindy hijacking me to meet a regional official... I do think TeVo got to finish out most of the trip, much to Cindy's disapproval. There is usually a whole lot of kids screaming "toubab" (white man) as you drive by normally, inside the van, imagine the excitement TeVo created sitting up top, African style, grand Marshall of the parade, like a pope-mobile..literally hundreds if not thousands of excited Senegaleese youth getting to see Terry "Toubo" Vogt!!!
Lastly Amy, Mamma Cindy, Pastor and I took a late evening 2 hour trip down an extremely rutted, dusty, bumpy road even further into the bush to meet with the Assistant Regional Prefect ( person in charge of 15,000 villages in the region and over our clinic) who had not been informed of our clinic and what we were doing. We went to extend our greetings and request approval to continue, thankfully and extremely gracious and pleasant man, who understands and appreciates the services we bring. So the coolest thing about a two hour trip into the Bush where there is very little electricity or lights...probably one of the single best star gazing experiences Amy and I have ever had..
I'm sure this picture will not do it justice and it may just look black, but it was literally breath-taking the beauty and immenseness of it all..
Got the news this afternoon we are approved to do surgery on another girl with a burn injury to her hand. The new surgeon in the region is going to assist me and let me use his operating room, should be great. I feel much more prepared to operate in Africa 3 years later as opposed the the utterly eye opening experience Dr Coy and I had in our first surgery together in Africa on Fatou...
Pray and wish me luck, it's never simple or straight forward here...
God's peace.
-B
4 comments:
So very proud of the witness both of you are making. Amy, continue to be brave in witnessing, but also be very careful in a Muslim country where you are probably considered an infidel by the extremists! Safe travels and God's continued blessings on all that are in your travel party.
SO glad to read/see all of these posts! thanks for taking the time I know you have to put in to write/snap and post these for us who can't be there with you. brian, love the picture of you and the baby girl! :-) and especially the great, healthy looking Fatau! amy, so glad you are getting to hold babies and do dental work - a perfect combination - a trifecta when you add witnessing! but do please come home, God needs you here, too! your kids are amazing, and are thinking of and praying for you regularly. toby asked, "how many more days?" several times...love all of you and trusting you to God's care. have fun!
I am in awe of the gifts you leave behind. May your work be blessed as you do God's work for all his children.
Had the blessing of wishing you well in your office before you left, but you documented this so well, many can now share in the praises to God. This is so moving - lives changed by your sacrifice and compassion. Thank you Dr.and Mrs.Ipsen and team. Thank YOU, JESUS. - B. Ross
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