Tough Stuff

 Just had a really meaningful time with Solaily, Diana, and Fabiene. Talked for over 2 hours about missions, sharing with each other prayer requests (Fabiene – job in Europe, Solaily – to be able to withdraw money, Diana – to be able to see her family again in the states—whom she hasn’t seen since 2010!), and the difficult mission field that Chad is. Fabiene shared what a spiritually dry country this is; she contributes much of Chad’s spiritual poverty to a non-literate culture – it is just not the culture here to read! Let alone read the Bible. People expect to get most of their Bible knowledge once a week from the pastors, who according to her, know very little of the Bible in the first place.

On another note, yesterday I accidently skimmed a dirty needle—of a patient who happens to have HIV. So Danae had me start antiretrovirals. Side effects are awesome. Today I had to step out in the middle of a surgery due to intense nausea. Came home and the explosive diarrhea which began this morning continued. Both Danae and Diana have taken the meds and they reported terrible symptoms. For a whole month. Awesome.

Today I also got to teach a 2-hr practicum on suturing to the nursing students. Loved it.

Today I ALSO got to deliver twins! Baby B was breech so thankfully Danae was around and I grabbed her because I had never delivered a breech baby before – let alone twins! So that was fun J Baby B had to be resuscitated; thankfully all moms and babies are doing well. Immediately afterwards I delivered a primipara whose baby also had to get resuscitated.

Today I also found out our preemie baby girl whom we delivered last week passed away last night. So did my patient who was one of my consults a few days ago. So did the soul of our 18-year old young man who had to get his leg amputated above the knee today from a soccer accident.