Sooooooo it's been quite a while since we have updated the blog and we apologize for that. It gets really busy around here and the internet is real sketchy.
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(Alicia's typing here:)
I started working at the clinic last Tuesday. The first day was quite an experience. They started me off right away with consulting several patients. It was very frustrating because I had not even been given a tour of the clinic yet and was unsure of what it had to offer. I felt like God had totally thrown me in the middle of no where and uncapable of doing what was expected of me.
I talked over my concerns with Tim (our site coordinator) and he explained that in the Gabonese culture, instead of starting a person at the bottom of the totem pole and working their way up, they start them as high as possible and work them down the totem pole from there. This is so that someone does not feel disrespected.
So starting that next Wednesday...I went into the clinic with a completely different attitude. I know God has me here for a reason, and it may or may not be for my medical experience. It has been different for me to fall into the supportive role instead of the active role. I shadow a nurse everyday and by the end of this current week I will be consulting patient's on my own. I was also informed today that I will be the main consultor the first week of August because the nurse is going on vacation. Talk about trusting in God!
Working in the clinic has opened my eyes to many things so far. I am still trying to compile them and organize them in my head. The thing that people really need the most is a loving smile and someone to truly listen to them.
(dan now) Hi all! since getting back from the bush I have been busy being a handyman around the complex building bunks to house the incoming tems and other small projects. today we spend the morning at a place called hope house which is a home for abandoned children. the house is in total disrepair and while the teams played with the kids some of the men and i adressed some issues with security fixing doors and windows, some minor plumbing, and fixing a bed that was badly needed. there are 23 chldren living in a house that should really only hold 8 max. Hope of a new place for them is on the horizon, a woman from a local church donated land for them to build a complex. be praying for hope house, the kids there and the future of that ministry.
tomorrow I will start work building the foundation for a new church about 30 minutes outside of the city with a team from ohio, between that and ongoing work at hope house i should be busy the next few days.
Thank you again for all of the prayers and support, I love being here showing these kids and people we help that somebody cares about them and by doing so spreading the love of christ.
in his service,
Dan and Alicia
Monday, July 13, 2009
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Monday, July 6, 2009
Back from the Bush
Wow! Is all we can say as far as first impressions go. We were literally dumped into the African rainforest with a few Africans to trust to guide us. They were amazing, AMAZING people.
The first village we arrived at was very.....African. There were goats running around everywhere (which is a common theme in any African village). The goats and dogs live their own lives with humans living around them. There were no "toilettes", and getting used to mosquitoes (breeding malaria) biting your butt while trying to use the bathroom took some getting used to.
We then moved into our next village via a ferry (with large tractors) where we would be staying for the next 3 nights called Makouke. We were so blessed to have a place to stay that had a toilet and a running water....even if the water was brown.
The first night, we ate GAZELLE. How many people can say that? We had some fermented banas root....it was alittle rough keeping that down. In this culture, what you take on your plate you must eat. After dinner, we had a random worship session with the Africans. We sang in English and they sang in French. It was so amazing to see the love of God, even if we couldn't understand what each other was singing about.
The next day, we started the medical clinic...Alicia was sent to consult and diagnose! while Dan took blood pressure and body weight. Most people here have hypertension...mostly from their lack of water and their high intake of salt and animal fats in their diet. A lot of people have STD's and most children and older men and women have malaria or tchikungunya (which is the same as malaria but they also have such a hard time walking because of extreme pain in their hips). Also, many people have tumors that would have been taken care of in seconds in America.
A really sad thing was to see an 18-year old woman, who most likely has breast cancer. There were so many tumors in her breasts, and we had to send her to hospital for a mammogram. Who knows if she will actually be able to make it?
Later on that night, we ate ANTELOPE....gazelle was better (it reminds us of goose meat).
we went to the CMA church here in Makouke, the church only had about 50 people but i have never heard people worship the Lord any louder! it was awesome to see them worshiping God with such passion.
Riding around here is......Interesting. That is for sure. You either feel like you are going to die or hit the pedestrians. It is really fun though to ride in the back of a truck and feel the African breeze.
this next week Alicia will be working 9-2 in a clinic about 5 min. away with the aid of an hired interpreter, while Dan builds bunks and unloads a shipping container filled with supplies for Bongolo hospital.
a few pictures from the last few days should be soon to follow.
-Until next time,
-Dan and Alicia
The first village we arrived at was very.....African. There were goats running around everywhere (which is a common theme in any African village). The goats and dogs live their own lives with humans living around them. There were no "toilettes", and getting used to mosquitoes (breeding malaria) biting your butt while trying to use the bathroom took some getting used to.
We then moved into our next village via a ferry (with large tractors) where we would be staying for the next 3 nights called Makouke. We were so blessed to have a place to stay that had a toilet and a running water....even if the water was brown.
The first night, we ate GAZELLE. How many people can say that? We had some fermented banas root....it was alittle rough keeping that down. In this culture, what you take on your plate you must eat. After dinner, we had a random worship session with the Africans. We sang in English and they sang in French. It was so amazing to see the love of God, even if we couldn't understand what each other was singing about.
The next day, we started the medical clinic...Alicia was sent to consult and diagnose! while Dan took blood pressure and body weight. Most people here have hypertension...mostly from their lack of water and their high intake of salt and animal fats in their diet. A lot of people have STD's and most children and older men and women have malaria or tchikungunya (which is the same as malaria but they also have such a hard time walking because of extreme pain in their hips). Also, many people have tumors that would have been taken care of in seconds in America.
A really sad thing was to see an 18-year old woman, who most likely has breast cancer. There were so many tumors in her breasts, and we had to send her to hospital for a mammogram. Who knows if she will actually be able to make it?
Later on that night, we ate ANTELOPE....gazelle was better (it reminds us of goose meat).
we went to the CMA church here in Makouke, the church only had about 50 people but i have never heard people worship the Lord any louder! it was awesome to see them worshiping God with such passion.
Riding around here is......Interesting. That is for sure. You either feel like you are going to die or hit the pedestrians. It is really fun though to ride in the back of a truck and feel the African breeze.
this next week Alicia will be working 9-2 in a clinic about 5 min. away with the aid of an hired interpreter, while Dan builds bunks and unloads a shipping container filled with supplies for Bongolo hospital.
a few pictures from the last few days should be soon to follow.
-Until next time,
-Dan and Alicia
Thursday, July 2, 2009
We are Finally HERE!
After leaving Detroit at 11:00 AM on July 1st, we arrived in Gabon on July 2nd, at 12:00 PM Michigan time. Over 24 hours of traveling can be lots of fun when you are traveling with the right person. :)
We are now in the process of settling into our homestead, and we are off for our 4-day trip into the Jungle (Ebel Abanga) for a mobile medical trip. There will be no running water or electricity. Dan will be doing construction, and Alicia will be helping out in the clinic. Talk about jumping in right away.
We are PUMPED!
We are now in the process of settling into our homestead, and we are off for our 4-day trip into the Jungle (Ebel Abanga) for a mobile medical trip. There will be no running water or electricity. Dan will be doing construction, and Alicia will be helping out in the clinic. Talk about jumping in right away.
We are PUMPED!
Monday, June 29, 2009
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Can you believe it?
We are leaving for Africa in 7 days!!! It seems like just yesterday that God blessed us with this opportunity!
We have multiple flights in order to get to our destination. We fly from Detroit to Atlanta, Atlanta to Paris, and from Paris to LIBREVILLE, GABON!
Please continue to keep us in your prayers and thoughts. We are going to need as many as we can get! haha
Thanks for all your love and support!
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
So...we are getting super pumped for our upcoming adventure. Vaccines and Visas are taken care of, and now we are on to shopping for bugspray, sunscreen, etc.
As you may have heard, the president of Gabon died this week. We are unsure what that means as far as our travel circumstances go. Please continue to pray for us!
Love,
Dan and Alicia
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