24 August 2011

This week I have been working with someone in consultation.  His job is somewhat similar to a nurse practitioner.  He listens and examines the patients then follows protocols on writing the needed prescriptions.  It is very interesting, and I enjoy trying to figure out what is going on.  It has also helped me learn a lot of French medical terms.  We have seen different respiratory infections, anemia, malaria, typhoid, amoebas, and much more.  Many of the children come in with severe anemia due to the malaria.  There are different types of malaria and ranges of severity.  There was a little girl today who had a severe type of anemia that affects the brain. 

We were done with the consultations today, so I went over to the injection room to see if there was something I could do.  I saw Doté, whom I work with in consultation, in the injection room next to the little girl we had seen only 30 minutes before with malaria.  I came up and realized he was pushing on her chest trying to revive her.  I was so shocked and saddened.  I had seen many with this type of malaria treated, but this little girl was gone.  There was nothing else to do.  It was the first time I had ever seen a patient or anyone for that matter die right in front of me.   Doté then wrapped a cloth around the little girl.  The family was not in the room, but a few minutes later I saw the mom come in crying with another girl in her arms that needed a shot.  I wish I could have said something to her, but I did not know how or what, so I just prayed for her and her family.  The woman that works in the injection room kept saying “jumelé.”  I had to look it up, but I realized she was saying the girls were twins.  Hearing this and seeing the mother crying made me so sad.  I feel like having twins in your family for some reason makes you interested in twins everywhere.  I do not know God’s plan, but I just prayed that through this situation that they might come to know Him. 

There are many times I am not certain why things happen or why I was meant to see them.  I just know that God has a reason for everything.  Death is a part of life.  If nothing else this experience reminds me that I have a limited time here on earth.  I want every moment to be glorifying God.  That means that daily I have to die to myself, so that I can live with Christ (Romans 6:8) and have a fruitful life (John 12:24).             

15 August 2011

Today I helped work at a build site.  One of the missionaries here is getting a girl’s school built.  It is going to be a four-year program and girls can come live in dorms at the school.  It is a few minutes away from the clinic.  The missionary has lived here in Cote d’Ivoire for most of here life.  She used to be a nurse and work at the clinic.  She now helps teach literacy classes for some of the women in Korhogo.  This girl’s school has been her project for the past few years.  Today they were pouring the cement in to form one of the floors of the dorm building.  It got started a little late because they did not have enough people.  We came around 10 AM or so, and they were just getting started with pouring the cement.  It seemed like a full family affair.  Most of the men, young boys, and young women were on the top of the building helping filling in the floor.  Men below would get cement from the machine, put it in a bucket, pass the bucket to men hanging onto a ladder, and pass the buckets all the way up to the people on the top.  Then on the top there was just lines of people, and we would take the bucket and pass it on to the person next to us.  It would go down the assembly line till the end where it was poured into the daul (I have no idea how to spell this word that is just what they called it and how that word sounded to me).  Then someone would help smooth it out once it was full.  Then there were a bunch of women down in the courtyard hired to cook lunch for everyone.  Then all the little kids were below hanging out.  I was up on the top floor passing buckets in the assembly line.  It was quite funny at times.  I had cement everywhere, and at one point someone flung a bucket and cement went all over my face and head.  Christie and I stayed and worked there for a few hours.  It was nice to get to hang with all the people and help out, but after those few hours I was exhausted.  Thankfully, we were able to eat a late lunch and then go back.  Apparently when you do this the whole entire floor has to be done at once.  The missionaries and some of the men were working till 2 AM to get it finished.  It was a long workday for them, but they got it all finished.  God worked the weather out perfectly because the area has to be wet every day after it is done.  It rained every day after that except for the day we worked, so it was perfect.  The school still has a ways to go till it is finished, but I cannot wait to hear when it is finished.  It will be such a great ministry and opportunity for the girls here.  Please pray that God will provide the rest of the funds that are needed, so it can all be finished soon.

14 August 2011

God does not work in time limits or deadlines.

I want to be totally open and real.  There are some things that I have just been laying before the Lord in prayer.  He is so wonderful and amazing.  I have given him my life and my future.  I have asked that He would align my will and desires with His.  He has given me a peace and a faith to know that He is going to lead me in the right direction.  At first, I was worried.  I was thinking, “what if I miss something and miss out on His amazing plan.”  Then I realized He says in His Word that He will guide me.  He has men’s hearts and “turns them where He wishes (Prov. 21:1).”  He is my Shepherd who will lead me and be beside me telling me what direction to go.  I am waiting on Him.  But man is it hard sometimes.  I have waited for the past few years, so I know how to wait, but then the future was never so close!  Now the “future” is here right before me – and I am still waiting to hear from Him.  I know is He is going to guide me.  I have no doubt about that.  It is just hard to be in that spot of not knowing where to go or where He wants me.  I am sure many can relate, but I have to admit its kind of difficult when you are currently in that spot.  I wonder what Abraham was feeling when obeying the Lord meant that “he went out, not knowing where he was going (Heb. 11:8).”  Sometimes the Lord does not reveal His plans till the last possible second.  I think I am in that category.  But there is no greater category to be in than obeying the Lord.  Yes, it is incredibly difficult sometimes, but I have the hope that He has amazing things.  I am in amazing situations right now.  I did not know what this trip held for me.  I do not know what He has after, but I know this is where He wants me.  It is unreal that I am actually here and doing things I was only dreaming about a few months ago.  I do not know the time frame or where God will continue to lead me.  I just know I want to live every moment giving witness to His greatness.  Pray that my life is a living example of Him.  Pray that I am open to whatever He wants.

Daniel

I have been reading in Daniel since I came to Africa.  I have so enjoyed reading this book that I had to share about it.  Although very cliché, I started reading it here because he had lived in a foreign land and that was what I was doing.  Little did I realize that he was such a great man of God.  He is taken from his homeland, not desired to go like I did.  He even does well while in a foreign land, and the royalty and power notice.  I personally would not want to be such a hard-worker for people who took me away from my own people and family.  God uses Daniel to do things no one else is willing to or able to do.  Whenever he interprets a vision, such as for King Nebuchadnezzar, he first gives all credit to God as one “who reveals secrets.”  Other people cannot even find a fault in him “unless we find it against him concerning the law of his God.”  I certainly wish that was all people could see in my life!  He puts his faith in God first and foremost.  He is even willing to risk his life for it. 

Another thing that really struck me about Daniel was how much he cared about others.  He was a prophet, so I had to do a lot of research and looking at commentaries to understand some of the book, but he has a vision about the Israelites.  He does not just say “here is the horrible vision I had about the destruction of you as a people and your temple.”  He is so moved by this vision.  He cares so much about his people that he was “grieved in my spirit within my body.”  He prayed with fasting, sackcloth, and ashes.  He prayed for forgiveness and for God’s mercy (Daniel 9:18-19 show how intensely he prayed and pleaded for them).  How often am I so grieved for people I love that I completely prostrate myself in dirt and forsake food for them?  I am moved and convicted by Daniel’s actions.  The very last verse at the end of Daniel says, “But you, go your way till the end; for you shall rest, and will arise to your inheritance at the end of the days.”  In Adam Clarke’s commentary, he writes four points on this verse that I thought were really interesting that say, “1.    Thou hast a way—a walk in life, which God has assigned thee; walk in that way, it is thy way. 2.    There will be an end to thee of all earthly things. Death is at the door, and eternity is at hand; go on to the end—be faithful unto death. 3.    There is a rest provided for the people of God. Thou shalt rest; thy body, in the grave; thy soul, in the Divine favor here, and finally in paradise. 4.    As in the promised land there was a lot for each of God’s people, so in heaven there is a lot for thee. Do not lose it, do not sell it, do not let thy enemy rob thee of it. Be determined to stand in thy own lot at the end of the days. See that thou keep the faith; die in the Lord Jesus, that thou mayest rise and reign with him to all eternity. Amen.”

9 August 2011

Today was filled with many things that as a nursing student (and now nurse) I do not like to do.  It is really funny because I prayed that the Lord would use this time to help me learn and grow in my faith and as a nurse.  I feel like today accomplished both of those things – at least just a little bit.  I started working in the IV and injection room today.  The nurse who worked in the room only spoke French, so I had no idea what she was saying or what she wanted.  She also did not talk or smile very much, so it was a long morning.  Patients come to the door from the pharmacy.  They are given the medication they need along with the syringe and needles.  At first, I had no idea how to read the prescription.  I saw IM but sometimes it is so hard to read their numbers.  Most of the medications are given IM (intramuscular), and most of them come in the dark glass bottles with the top that you have to snap off.  Any nurse or nursing student will know what I am talking about.  I hate those kinds of bottles!  We went over how to open them in school, but I crushed the bottle one time.  They are not seen as much in the US, so I really have not gotten a lot of practice.  I also am terrified of breaking the whole bottle in my hand and wasting that whole medication.  Then most adults get the medications in their buttock.  Giving medications in the buttock is another thing I hate!  They made me so nervous in school about hitting the sciatic nerve and paralyzing someone’s legs that I never wanted to give one.  I never had to do it at school or at the pediatrician’s office, so I had never done one before.  Then when she gave it in the buttock she did not do any of the things I had learned, so I had no idea how she came up with where to put it.  I was freaking out on the inside, so the whole morning I just watched.  Then during lunch and nap time (Yes, I take a little nap every afternoon.  It is wonderful.) I just kept praying that the Lord would help me conquer all my little fears and that I would not paralyze anyone.  I went back to the clinic with a peace that it was going to be okay and a determination to conquer my fears.  Then that afternoon I gave my first of many ventrogluteal shots in the buttock, and I successfully opened a ton of glass bottle medications.  I even was able to crack a smile on the woman’s face, and she helped me learn how to pronounce French words.  A great ending to the day, but as I am writing this I keep thinking that these are such silly things to be afraid of.  Sometimes I let the simplest fears control me.  Then I realize I am not trusting God when I do fear.  There are so many verses against fear.  I John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment.  But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.”  I Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”  Proverbs 29:25 “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord shall be safe.”  When I give Him control, I do not need to worry and fret about things in my life.  Life does not have to be so stressful if we cast our cares upon Him!

4 August 2011

This week at the clinic I switched with the other intern, Christie, and went to the chart room.  The chart room is pretty boring.  It is not very complicated or very interesting, but I know I am helping them a lot so I do it.  Then during breaks I look at my French book.  The Lord has been good though and I have not had to be in the chart room the whole time.  For the past couple days I have been preparing patients to see the doctor by obtaining height, weight, blood pressure, and temperature.  Being with and doing things for the patients is much better than just sitting in a room looking for charts.  This week a different doctor from Ferke (pronounced like “fair-kay”) is at the clinic, Dr. Michael.  He is from Congo, and he is hilarious.  He and the other doctor have allowed Christie and I to come in and watch or assist with many of the procedures.  They usually involve incision and drainage of an abscess, dressing a wound, removing skin lesions, or something like that.  They do not do huge procedures at the clinic, but each procedure involves wounds and lesions I have never seen before.  A woman even came in this week that was bitten by a viper!  It just seems crazy all the different types of stuff seen here at this clinic.  I had wanted to come last summer, but it did not work out.  But God knew exactly what he was doing because a lot of what I have been doing at work and school this past year has prepared me to see and do the things at the clinic.  I would not have known any of the lab work without having been at Richeson Drive Pediatrics.  I would not have been as knowledgeable or as practiced in certain skills without this senior year of nursing school.  I was so confused last year when it did not work out to go, but I am seeing some of the reasons why now.  It is just continued proof that God works out every detail for a reason, and He works it out much better than we can ourselves.  Not every twist and turn am I able to see the results or reasons, but He knows exactly what is happening.  My mission’s journal has a quote in it by Hudson Taylor that says, “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply.”

J'apprends le francais

French is the official language in Cote d’Ivoire. Does everyone speak French?  No.  How many different dialects in this area?  Too many to count or remember.  Basically, I am lucky to get past greeting someone and asking how they are.  And even then I keep learning new greetings to say to people that it is even hard sometimes to remember who to say what to and how to respond.  The first week has been slightly frustrating to say the least.  It is not the same as sitting in a class and learning what the French words mean and how to conjugate verbs.  People are actually saying lots of foreign things to me (at a great speed I might add) and expect me to know what they are talking about.  I guess people always say you learn a language faster and better by actually going and using the language among native people.  The reason must be because if you do not learn it then you may not survive.

After I graduated, my whole family kept saying, “Nan, what are you going to do now that you do not have school and stuff to study?”  I think I have found my answer.  Learning a new language is such a profitable skill.  It is definitely difficult.  Trust me.  It is not always easy to have people talking around and to you and have literally no idea what they are saying.  I hope to continue French when I come back home, but I also hope the Lord reveals to me the language of the people He wants me to minister to for the next few years of my life whether it is French or Spanish or any other language (although I would prefer it to not be Mandarin or something similar because those language classes may just kill me in the process).  There is a point to these paragraphs of rambling so let me mention that now. 

            Today (August 1, 2011) the Lord blessed me with the opportunity to have a conversation with a worker at the clinic.  I felt really discouraged last week about the language difficulties, and I was feeling like I would NEVER understand any French.    So every day I have been bringing my French book to the clinic to look at when I have a break.  The workers love to look at it and read the phrases and laugh.  One worker in particular was really looking through it today.  I would try and say a phrase in French.  She would tell me if it was good or bad, and then she would say it in English.  I am trying to remember everyone’s names so the conversation started like that.  Then she said something to me, and I had no idea what she said.  We looked through the book and finally found the meaning in English so I could answer.  From then she would ask questions in French and some English, and I would try and answer in French and then ask her a question in French.  Now I will admit it was not a very in-depth conversation just basic things about family and such, but it felt wonderful.  I still only know a few words and phrases, and I still have a hard time forming sentences, and I really butcher people’s names, but the Lord said through that conversation that it is possible.  Probably not in three months alone but with time and practice He is going to help me.  Every day is a new day, so I will probably do a really bad job with my French tomorrow, but I have a hope in Christ.  The maker of mouths is going to help me learn how to talk to these people.  I am so thankful that He cares that much, and His power is so great that learning a language is most definitely not too big a task for Him. 

The Clinic

The first week in the clinic I worked in the labo (laboratory).  I loved it!  I was able to do quite a few of the things I usually do at the Pediatrician’s office at home.  I did many finger pricks to check hemoglobin, blood sugar, HIV tests, and malaria tests.  The techniques and equipment for some things are slightly different but basically the same.  I also got to do some venipunctures for blood draws.  I was so nervous at first, but it has been wonderful practice.  We also plate urine and stool on slides to look at under the microscope.  They also plate sputum for tuberculosis testing.  Thankfully I did not have to do that.  One thing I am not good at is identifying what is seen under the microscope.  The lab guys always want me to tell them, which was always hard because I did not know how to say “I do not know how to do this.”  One day I was able to help get blood pressures and temperatures on the patients.  Just in case you ever perform medicine in a foreign country:  Check first and see how they write their numbers and values.  They actually use commas and decimals when they write number values here.  Many of the doctors also pull me aside and show me interesting patients that come in.

            In the first week, I saw so many crazy things.  I was able to see a baby less than 2 months old with Steven Johnson’s syndrome.  The baby had not been on any medications, so it was probably due to a Strep or Staph infection.  I saw a little girl who had burns on her back and buttock from hot water.  I was also able to see lots of different infected wounds.  There were some late night calls, so I was able to help take care of a young girl with malaria.  It is just amazing to me some of the things I have seen and done already in one week.  It is always sad to see these poor patients, but it makes me so excited about nursing.  It is amazing how many patients this little clinic sees, and how they make do with so few supplies.  This week I move on to the chart room.  Not as exciting, but hopefully I can work on my French.

*Sorry if you are unaware of what any of this means.  Feel free to Google or just skip this one!

31 July 2011

July 31, 2011

I cannot believe it has already been almost 2 weeks since I arrived in Cote d’Ivoire.  I knew it would be different, but nothing can completely prepare you till you get somewhere.  The culture is quite different in many ways from greeting people, to how and what you eat, and especially the language spoken.  But there is one wonderful similarity:  we all feel God’s love and grace.  We can all worship and glorify Him because He has given His life for each of us.  I have been able to go to a few Christian church services and even a Christian wedding.  The services are similar in structure and purpose, but worship and music play a large part of the service.  There usually is a choir but everyone gets up and sings, claps, and dances.  No one goes crazy around the room, but most everyone, especially the women, dance.  Hopefully I can upload a video for you to see.  It is very fun, but it is something very hard for me to get involved with because I have no rhythm.  Mostly I just sway and clap.  Clapping and moving my feet at the same time is almost too difficult for me (haha).  Every week I am going to try a little harder.  Hopefully by the end I will able to join in – at least a little bit. 

Although it is something quite different and difficult for me, it is an amazing sight to see people who love the Lord and worship with their whole bodies.  The pastor was sharing in I Peter 5, and he was talking about the devil.  I was reading verse 9, and I felt that this is what is important.  We may have different cultures, different skin colors, different worship, but we do all have to remain steadfast in our faith.  We all have a common enemy in the devil.  We all experience the same sufferings.  So even though we may live differently, we know how to support and pray for each other because we go through similar things.  I do not understand everything about this culture, but I am learning.  And despite all the differences, we all have a great God!

**Note:  I apologize for not updating this very often.  It is really hard to get on the internet here, so I have not been able to that often.  I am going to try and write them during the week, and then when I can get on the internet uploading multiple blogs at one time.  I thank you for your patience, and I hope it is interesting.  So far it has just been random stuff that I share, so if you have a specific question or request on some information just let me know.  I also apologize if this is either really boring or not well-written.  I hate writing and even more I hate having people read it, so just bear with me.  I am praying that the Lord gives me the words you need and/or might want to hear.