Posts
Vutsiki mwane (Mbunda for "Good Evening")! It's evening out here, & I'm writing to you all by candlelight (it's kinda neat watching the occasional moth go straight into the flame) as cricket-like creatures & bats make their noises outside in the relatively quiet night.
I just finished my 2nd week of call; it's nice to know I'll be allowed to sleep through the night. I'm not yet sure if I'll take nother week of call before I leave.
Loma Linda seniors: can you believe that we're graduating in a month??!!!! How're all of you're residency preparations (moving, etc.) coming along? Match Day surely was a emotion-packed day, wasn't it? I praise God that He's put each of you (& your spouses & kids, if applicable) in exactly where He wants you for the next few years. How surprised I was to open my match-envelope & find out that I'm staying @ Loma Linda U for the next 4 years! I really needed that time of prayer & meditation before opening the envelope. The Lord seems to be giving me additional opportunity to spend time with friends & family, which in some ways was actually quite a relief! Kushangazala Njambi ("Praise the Lord")!
It's only been 2 days since I wrote the last email to you guys, & I can't think of any more stories to share with you, so if you don't mind, I'd like to share some prayer requests for the remainder (3 wks) of my stay here:
- health, which right now means complete recovery from a minor viral illness (only symptom now is sore throat), & also protection from tuberculosis & malaria (I'm actually a little concerned with the TB since so many of our patients have it).
- humility & a heart of service toward both my patients & my coworkers
- focus! being ready to share the Gospel with each opportunity, as patients are open to it
- preparedness in taking part in different ministries: I'm leading our households' Men's Bible study group this Thu. evening on Isaiah 36-39, sharing my testimony (how Jesus became a personal part of my life) next Sunday evening, & speaking on I Peter 1:22-2:3 the following Sunday evening.
- rel'ps with the neighborhood boys ("boys in the 'hood," I guess you could say). I think I've shared before that I regularly play games/sports with these elementary & junior high aged boys. It's kinda fun, really, for a few reasons: there aren't any single guys my age out here (I miss you guys back home!), I need the exercise (badly), & it gives me a kick to watch kids play. This Thu. afternoon we're planning to go to the area behind the hospital (for patients & their families) again to play group games with the children (some are prob'ly my age!). Last time was great fun, & I even got to share a Bible story with the small crowd, translated by my "Boyz in the Hood." Pls. pray that in our time together I'd be able to talk with these boys abt. selfishness & service, which God seems to be reminding me abt. in my life, too.
Thank you so much for your prayers. Pls. let me know how I may pray for you.
Good night,
Sidney
Dad: It was nice to hear/read the details of your Taiwan trip; I'm glad it seemed to be a very good & meaningful one. Did you hear anything abt. the Hsu/Kho family (my host parents) in Tainan? Thank you for your prayers; I'm praying for you & Mom, too. I just read abt. Grandma & will be praying abt that situation. I've already talked to Mom abt paying my Citibank bill, but only paying the minimum for the Discover since I have a special rate on it. Wish I could join family in Sacramento. Believe it or not, the mosquito bites I'm getting here are not as bad as those I get in Taiwan. It's just that the mosquitoes here carry malaria! I'll see you & Mom soon, @ 11AM May 20 Santa Ana, as scheduled. I'll be sure to call you when I get to Eric & Ruth's place, though. Love you!
Dr. Elder: glad to read you got the album, & that your family was able to see it. Isn't it neat that God's letting me stay @ LLU for another season? I trust He has a lot in store for me here (well..... there). BTW, did you get the "African Biology Trivia Question" abt mosquitoes from the last email right?
Frank: Ding-dong, Ding-dong! How're the preparations coming? The bells are so fast approaching, I can even hear them from 10,000 miles away! Glad I'll be around to see it happen. How was Luther's, by the way?
Houston relatives: When will I hear the wedding bells from there? Say 'hi' to Kelly's friend for me. =)
Matt: how're the moving arrangements coming along? Did Dr. F replu to your letter? Excited abt. graduation? I just can't believe it's actually happening....
Kelly Yung: thanks for passing along that recollection from Taiwan! Wow-- I'm so glad God is not easily discouraged (as you said), & was (& is) persistent also with me. Don't forget to send a photo of yourself to Dr. Elder!
EFC: Just a few reminders: Pls. let me know details as you know them abt. Mexico Missions. Not sure yet, but I may be able to go. Dr. Doughten: are you going? Any medical aspect to it? Also, this upcoming Sunday is the last of the month. If you're able, pls. visit the convalescent home from 3:45-5:00pm. Maybe you can sing some Easter-theme songs, maybe "Because He Lives," or "Blessed Assurrance"? I'm praying for you guys re: finding a pastor for the English-speaking fellowship. May God cause us to grow through this experience.
Anneta: Again, thanks for the cont'd prayers!!! Throught it was funny abt. the disappointing McDonald's breakfast (think I've had the same experience). Wish I could go river-rafting with you & Johnny (have fun & pls. be careful!); @ that time I'll be visiting Victoria Falls (one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World - I think the Grand Canyon is one of them, too), & maybe doing a day-safari. Wish you & the other guys could see it, too. Please say hi to your Grandpa for me. Hope the Easter celebrations continue to go well. Been praying for you. Glad to hear that it was helpful talking to Dr. Elder. Guess what?.... not much longer & you'll no longer be a 1st-year teacher!! Yahoo!!! Praise the Lord!!!
Monday, April 24, 2000
Saturday, April 22, 2000
Bio trivia
written 22 Apr 00
Greetings, Everyone!
Before I go into anything else: a piece of African biological "trivia" (it's actually not that trivial):
************************************************************************************************
What animal kills more children in Africa than any other?
a. the lion
b. the hippopotamus
c. the crocodile
d. the elephant
e. other: _________________
************************************************************************************************
Anyways, although I don't have much time to write this time, I wanted to say THANK YOU for all your prayers & for the emails that you've sent. Your own stories have warmed my heart immensely, particularly when you've shared how God has been working in your hearts, etc. I don't have time for individual comments this time (I'll try to before the next time we connect), but just let me say a blanket PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! for how He's been faithful to each one of you. Wow! He is doing some pretty amazing things in your lives, and I thank Him for it. What a lift!
Not everything, of course, that I got was all a bed of roses for each of you. Please know that I'm keeping you & your situations in my prayers. God says He is near to the brokenhearted.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, but by the time you receive this, it'll already have passed, I'm sure. I hope that the day was a very meaningful one. Praise the Lord that He not only died for our sins, but conquered death through His resurrection. I know that for many of you Jesus' resurrection has very deep meaning, and as your emails attest, that very same resurrection power is still at work. I've been on call again this week, & it'll last until Monday morning. Hopefully I'll be able to go to church.
Guess what happened on Monday night, the first PM of my call week? I saw an ambulance, and I never expected to see one since those who are not able to walk are usually handcarried to the hospital, or carried on makeshift stretchers. The closest thing to an ambulance I saw before Monday was a wheelbarrow. So anyways, as you can imagine, I was quite surprised to hear that an ambulance brought a patient. He was a young adolescent, (re)transferred from another hospital, who'd sustained a serious injury to the head. No CAT scans here, but his diagnosis on his chart was "subdural hematoma," meaning there was a blood collection in his skull that was putting dangerous pressure on his brain; the child was in a coma already a day & a half. He was sent to us because we have equipment to put the necessary "burrholes" in his skull, which would be like pressure-relief holes. Anyways, at conferences in the past, I'd heard of missionaries doing surgeries while reading textbooks, but this was the 1st time to see it 1st-hand, & I didn't expect it to be a neurosurgical procedure!!! How weird it was: I was the one reading the textbook to the surgeons while they were operating. Thankfully we found the subdural hematoma, along with an epidural one (more dangerous), although unfortunately his neurologic status hasn't changed since. Please pray for the boy & his family.
Thanks again for your prayers! And again, PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Sid
************************************************************************************************
ANSWER TO AFRICA BIOLOGICAL 'TRIVIA' QUESTION:
The correct answer is "e." None of the animals listed are close to the most dangerous animal, whose bit is so severe that it kills one Jumbo-Jet-full of children under 5 EVERY HOUR!!! This animal is the mosquito, which harbors the parasite Plasmodia, causing the disease MALARIA. (Actually, I got a little scare this week when Tue AM I woke up with a fever, headache, and sore throat. I've been getting mosquito bites fairly regularly, and got a little worried since I'm taking malaria-prophylaxis meds! With the help of my "Sanford's Guide" & the "Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple", it turns out I've got herpangina instead, caused by Coxsackie A virus.) It's sad to think that this disease receives little of the world's attention since it takes place in places that are not socioeconomically, and thus politically, unimportant. Pray for this, especially as we're seeing increased resistance of the microorganisms to even the 3rd- & 4th-line drugs we have.
************************************************************************************************
Greetings, Everyone!
Before I go into anything else: a piece of African biological "trivia" (it's actually not that trivial):
************************************************************************************************
What animal kills more children in Africa than any other?
a. the lion
b. the hippopotamus
c. the crocodile
d. the elephant
e. other: _________________
************************************************************************************************
Anyways, although I don't have much time to write this time, I wanted to say THANK YOU for all your prayers & for the emails that you've sent. Your own stories have warmed my heart immensely, particularly when you've shared how God has been working in your hearts, etc. I don't have time for individual comments this time (I'll try to before the next time we connect), but just let me say a blanket PRAISE THE LORD! PRAISE THE LORD!! PRAISE THE LORD!!! for how He's been faithful to each one of you. Wow! He is doing some pretty amazing things in your lives, and I thank Him for it. What a lift!
Not everything, of course, that I got was all a bed of roses for each of you. Please know that I'm keeping you & your situations in my prayers. God says He is near to the brokenhearted.
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday, but by the time you receive this, it'll already have passed, I'm sure. I hope that the day was a very meaningful one. Praise the Lord that He not only died for our sins, but conquered death through His resurrection. I know that for many of you Jesus' resurrection has very deep meaning, and as your emails attest, that very same resurrection power is still at work. I've been on call again this week, & it'll last until Monday morning. Hopefully I'll be able to go to church.
Guess what happened on Monday night, the first PM of my call week? I saw an ambulance, and I never expected to see one since those who are not able to walk are usually handcarried to the hospital, or carried on makeshift stretchers. The closest thing to an ambulance I saw before Monday was a wheelbarrow. So anyways, as you can imagine, I was quite surprised to hear that an ambulance brought a patient. He was a young adolescent, (re)transferred from another hospital, who'd sustained a serious injury to the head. No CAT scans here, but his diagnosis on his chart was "subdural hematoma," meaning there was a blood collection in his skull that was putting dangerous pressure on his brain; the child was in a coma already a day & a half. He was sent to us because we have equipment to put the necessary "burrholes" in his skull, which would be like pressure-relief holes. Anyways, at conferences in the past, I'd heard of missionaries doing surgeries while reading textbooks, but this was the 1st time to see it 1st-hand, & I didn't expect it to be a neurosurgical procedure!!! How weird it was: I was the one reading the textbook to the surgeons while they were operating. Thankfully we found the subdural hematoma, along with an epidural one (more dangerous), although unfortunately his neurologic status hasn't changed since. Please pray for the boy & his family.
Thanks again for your prayers! And again, PRAISE THE LORD!!!
Sid
************************************************************************************************
ANSWER TO AFRICA BIOLOGICAL 'TRIVIA' QUESTION:
The correct answer is "e." None of the animals listed are close to the most dangerous animal, whose bit is so severe that it kills one Jumbo-Jet-full of children under 5 EVERY HOUR!!! This animal is the mosquito, which harbors the parasite Plasmodia, causing the disease MALARIA. (Actually, I got a little scare this week when Tue AM I woke up with a fever, headache, and sore throat. I've been getting mosquito bites fairly regularly, and got a little worried since I'm taking malaria-prophylaxis meds! With the help of my "Sanford's Guide" & the "Clinical Microbiology Made Ridiculously Simple", it turns out I've got herpangina instead, caused by Coxsackie A virus.) It's sad to think that this disease receives little of the world's attention since it takes place in places that are not socioeconomically, and thus politically, unimportant. Pray for this, especially as we're seeing increased resistance of the microorganisms to even the 3rd- & 4th-line drugs we have.
************************************************************************************************
Friday, April 14, 2000
a letter from Luampa
Subject: a letter from Luampa
Date: 10‑Apr‑00 at 16:06
From: Luampa Hospital, 1106104
written Fri, 14 Apr 00
Hello, Everyone!
Well, it's been almost 4 wks since I arrived in Zambia, so I'm in the middle of my experience here. In some ways I've become much more settled in, yet of course there's much to learn (esp. when you're 10,000 miles from home!).
Today alone was quite a full day. (Take a deep breath: long sentence ahead...) When I learned a few days ago that there's a meat market (literally, not figuratively) near the mission station, I the Western (actually, why do I say "Western"? If it's as opposed to "Eastern," what then is Africa considered?) CITY SLICKER whose experience with carrots is "they come in sprayed‑down bundles under supermarket lighting" & with beef is "it comes in clean‑cut slabs on polystyrene rectangles wrapped in plastic," I made an appointment with one of the Zambian nationals I've gotten to know through a men's Bible study, to see how a cow is slaughtered. I'll spare you the details: suffice it to say, it made me glad God doesn't require animal sacrifices anymore. (God of the Bible required sacrifices until Jesus' own sacrifice on the cross.) Several of the men doing the slaughtering thought it was funny that this "white man" made these weird expressions & kept taking pictures. For those of you who DO want details, you'll be able to see the photos later.
For the rest of the morning, I was at what's called a "Primary Health Clinic," which the Luampa Mission Hospital coordinates in conjunction with the Zambian gov't & sponsoring communities. This was my 1st significant distance away from the mission station since I got here, & my 1st look into a typical village. The whole trip ‑‑ in addition to my conversations with the hospital staff, incl. missionaries ‑‑ has given me a better understanding of good approaches to missionary medicine. It
really is critical to have community involved in their own health care. One statement I heard was pretty enlightening, esp. b/c I've often heard the generalization of women's better communication skills mistaken as only negative; it's very often a great strength. The statement was "When you teach men [how to prevent, recognize, & treat diseases], you teach INDIVIDUALS, but when you teach women, you teach WHOLE COMMUNITIES." I laughed (respectfully!) when I heard that fact.
One thing that I noticed abt. life here in the last few weeks before today is something I discovered this week when learning to ride a dirtbike in order to go to the PHC today (another thing I didn't expect to learn: to ride a dirtbike in the Kalahari Desert!): according to the bike's odometer, my life before today has been lived all within a 3 km (<2 miles) radius of the hospital. I compared that with life back home where I routinely drive 20‑50 miles a day, & thought abt. why life couldn't be simpler (ie: wake up, work hard @ my job, love my family, spend time with
God, go to bed) & how modern "conveniences" often make life more complicated. To be sure, it's a blessing also to have been able to fly to Africa in one short weekend, but sometimes it seems life'd be easier without a car. (maybe I'm being naive...)
Thank you so much for your prayers. God has been teaching me quite bit, both in ways I expected (abt. medicine and culture) & ways I didn't expect (abt. how I wrongly base much of my feelings of self‑worth on others' opinions of me & my performance). Please continue to pray for me, particularly with regard to having peace in God's great love, having godly humility before others, & also understanding what God has in mind for me with mission medicine as a possible career.
You may also pray for increased understanding of & sensitivity to cultural issues & language for the remainder of my stay here. One issue that I came across once in clinic was polygamy, in which the female patient had travelled a long distance to come to the hospital for help with getting pregnant, which she had been unable to do in her 2nd marriage, this time to a polygamist whose other wife already bore him 6 children. Although she didn't say it, she seemed to be struggling because her value as a person was being measured in her culture by her ability to bear children,
& she had bought into it. I must admit that in my mind I was pretty quick to condemn the culture (unfortunately we weren't able to address the spiritual issue during clinic), but just days later God reminded my squarely in my face how I have bought very much into the equally wrong lie in my culture that my worth is determined by how many people appreciate me, or my line of work. Call me a 'brown‑noser' if you will, but the fact that days ago when I was hurt to the point of becoming seethingly angry inside when one of my supervisors used very negative language to evaluate my clinical skills, probably showed me more abt. my own misplaced values than abt. his own. (He later apologized & asked for forgiveness, by the way.)
I don't know if any of you are dealing with some of these issues, but perhaps God's putting them in the forefront of my own life might open us this area in your own. May God have mercy on all of us.
Well, I think it's abt. time to go to bed now. I'm 'pre‑writing' this letter by candlelight, and Tui our housedog is snoring from across the room. I hope you don't mind the long letter. I really would not mind it one bit if you only skim through my emails (it IS a mass mailing, after all); this is just the easiest way to do things from this end. If you have the time, I'd be honored to hear how I may pray for you.
As the song goes, He's [REALLY!] Got the Whole World in His Hands!
Sid
EFC people: has there been any talk of Mexico Missions? Please let me know ASAP if anything's being organized.
Dad & Mom: please don't worry about the motorcycle. Usually there are very few people on the roads, and the 'roads' themselves are made of very deep, soft sand in case I fall. But I haven't fallen yet!
Eric (my brother‑in‑law): I know it's still a month away, but please don't hesitate to let me Greyhound from Atlanta, and don't let Ruth 'guilt‑trip' you into driving all the way out! Hee hee. I've been praying for you guys & really look forward to visiting.
Ruth: don't misuse those feminine powers! In the next few wks I'll put together a talk for hypertension & stroke; how long did it need to be again?
Anneta: sorry to hear abt. Bingo; hope he comes back. Continuing to pray for the situation with S's family, and also your living & work situations. Notes are VERY encouraging; thanks! There's been no change in my itinerary.
Men's Group: Funny thing: since I've been taking malaria‑prophylaxis meds, I've had much more VIVID dreams (one of the side effects), and Tue night I was dreaming abt food & woke up Wed AM almost chewing my blankets!
Date: 10‑Apr‑00 at 16:06
From: Luampa Hospital, 1106104
written Fri, 14 Apr 00
Hello, Everyone!
Well, it's been almost 4 wks since I arrived in Zambia, so I'm in the middle of my experience here. In some ways I've become much more settled in, yet of course there's much to learn (esp. when you're 10,000 miles from home!).
Today alone was quite a full day. (Take a deep breath: long sentence ahead...) When I learned a few days ago that there's a meat market (literally, not figuratively) near the mission station, I the Western (actually, why do I say "Western"? If it's as opposed to "Eastern," what then is Africa considered?) CITY SLICKER whose experience with carrots is "they come in sprayed‑down bundles under supermarket lighting" & with beef is "it comes in clean‑cut slabs on polystyrene rectangles wrapped in plastic," I made an appointment with one of the Zambian nationals I've gotten to know through a men's Bible study, to see how a cow is slaughtered. I'll spare you the details: suffice it to say, it made me glad God doesn't require animal sacrifices anymore. (God of the Bible required sacrifices until Jesus' own sacrifice on the cross.) Several of the men doing the slaughtering thought it was funny that this "white man" made these weird expressions & kept taking pictures. For those of you who DO want details, you'll be able to see the photos later.
For the rest of the morning, I was at what's called a "Primary Health Clinic," which the Luampa Mission Hospital coordinates in conjunction with the Zambian gov't & sponsoring communities. This was my 1st significant distance away from the mission station since I got here, & my 1st look into a typical village. The whole trip ‑‑ in addition to my conversations with the hospital staff, incl. missionaries ‑‑ has given me a better understanding of good approaches to missionary medicine. It
really is critical to have community involved in their own health care. One statement I heard was pretty enlightening, esp. b/c I've often heard the generalization of women's better communication skills mistaken as only negative; it's very often a great strength. The statement was "When you teach men [how to prevent, recognize, & treat diseases], you teach INDIVIDUALS, but when you teach women, you teach WHOLE COMMUNITIES." I laughed (respectfully!) when I heard that fact.
One thing that I noticed abt. life here in the last few weeks before today is something I discovered this week when learning to ride a dirtbike in order to go to the PHC today (another thing I didn't expect to learn: to ride a dirtbike in the Kalahari Desert!): according to the bike's odometer, my life before today has been lived all within a 3 km (<2 miles) radius of the hospital. I compared that with life back home where I routinely drive 20‑50 miles a day, & thought abt. why life couldn't be simpler (ie: wake up, work hard @ my job, love my family, spend time with
God, go to bed) & how modern "conveniences" often make life more complicated. To be sure, it's a blessing also to have been able to fly to Africa in one short weekend, but sometimes it seems life'd be easier without a car. (maybe I'm being naive...)
Thank you so much for your prayers. God has been teaching me quite bit, both in ways I expected (abt. medicine and culture) & ways I didn't expect (abt. how I wrongly base much of my feelings of self‑worth on others' opinions of me & my performance). Please continue to pray for me, particularly with regard to having peace in God's great love, having godly humility before others, & also understanding what God has in mind for me with mission medicine as a possible career.
You may also pray for increased understanding of & sensitivity to cultural issues & language for the remainder of my stay here. One issue that I came across once in clinic was polygamy, in which the female patient had travelled a long distance to come to the hospital for help with getting pregnant, which she had been unable to do in her 2nd marriage, this time to a polygamist whose other wife already bore him 6 children. Although she didn't say it, she seemed to be struggling because her value as a person was being measured in her culture by her ability to bear children,
& she had bought into it. I must admit that in my mind I was pretty quick to condemn the culture (unfortunately we weren't able to address the spiritual issue during clinic), but just days later God reminded my squarely in my face how I have bought very much into the equally wrong lie in my culture that my worth is determined by how many people appreciate me, or my line of work. Call me a 'brown‑noser' if you will, but the fact that days ago when I was hurt to the point of becoming seethingly angry inside when one of my supervisors used very negative language to evaluate my clinical skills, probably showed me more abt. my own misplaced values than abt. his own. (He later apologized & asked for forgiveness, by the way.)
I don't know if any of you are dealing with some of these issues, but perhaps God's putting them in the forefront of my own life might open us this area in your own. May God have mercy on all of us.
Well, I think it's abt. time to go to bed now. I'm 'pre‑writing' this letter by candlelight, and Tui our housedog is snoring from across the room. I hope you don't mind the long letter. I really would not mind it one bit if you only skim through my emails (it IS a mass mailing, after all); this is just the easiest way to do things from this end. If you have the time, I'd be honored to hear how I may pray for you.
As the song goes, He's [REALLY!] Got the Whole World in His Hands!
Sid
EFC people: has there been any talk of Mexico Missions? Please let me know ASAP if anything's being organized.
Dad & Mom: please don't worry about the motorcycle. Usually there are very few people on the roads, and the 'roads' themselves are made of very deep, soft sand in case I fall. But I haven't fallen yet!
Eric (my brother‑in‑law): I know it's still a month away, but please don't hesitate to let me Greyhound from Atlanta, and don't let Ruth 'guilt‑trip' you into driving all the way out! Hee hee. I've been praying for you guys & really look forward to visiting.
Ruth: don't misuse those feminine powers! In the next few wks I'll put together a talk for hypertension & stroke; how long did it need to be again?
Anneta: sorry to hear abt. Bingo; hope he comes back. Continuing to pray for the situation with S's family, and also your living & work situations. Notes are VERY encouraging; thanks! There's been no change in my itinerary.
Men's Group: Funny thing: since I've been taking malaria‑prophylaxis meds, I've had much more VIVID dreams (one of the side effects), and Tue night I was dreaming abt food & woke up Wed AM almost chewing my blankets!
Friday, April 07, 2000
Life at Luampa!
Subject: Life at Luampa!
Date: 07‑Apr‑00 at 00:17
From: Luampa Hospital, 1106104
HELLO EVERYONE; SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED WHAT LIFE IS LIKE OUT HERE; HERE'S A COPY OF A LETTER TO MY FOLKS THAT SHOULD ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS; I'M SURE I'LL REPORT MORE STORIES AS THE WEEKS GO BY, & WHEN I RETURN.
Dear Dad & Mom:
How are you doing? I'm glad to hear that you're home from Taiwan, Dad, and that the trip went well. How much weight did you gain, anyway? I remember all the Sa‑ba hi (milkfish) I ate when I was in Tainan summer '96. Yum‑yum. I could use some Chhoa‑peng right now.... You must be really happy that Tan Chui Pi (A‑pi) won the election. How has China reacted to the news? Here, although there is radio news available, I don't listen to it much. I haven't watched TV in almost 3 weeks now since there isn't one to watch, so I've had more time to read.
I'm glad you got my previous emails. It has been already almost 3 weeks since I left California; it'll be abt. 5 more weeks before I go to see Eric & Ruth in Georgia. Life here in Zambia, & specifically at this mission hospital, has been quite different. There is electricity only 8 or 9 hours a day (8am‑noon, 6pm‑9 or 10pm), more if there is an emergency surgery, so I use a flashlight or candle afterward. I am staying in the same house with Dr. Peter Nicodemus, a surgeon from Germany and the acting medical superintendent of the hospital, who has been very kind to me. We also have a dog Tui. The house is actually fairly large for us (a little smaller than our old 3 BR house)‑‑ it's a 3 BR "Western style" home, and
we employ a housekeeper who comes 5 1/2 days a week to wash dishes, clean the bathrooms, take care of the huge garden, & even do the laundry!!! His name is Chimbali, and he is also very nice. I'm also trying to learn some Mbunda (the predominant vernacular language here) from him, and he is very helpful.
This week I have been a little busier because I started taking call, which is only for nighttime (9pm ‑ morning) for the whole week. At 1st I was scared but it hasn't been too difficult, & I have been learning a lot. My schedule usually is like this:
7:30 AM Chapel
8:00 go to see patients (I have been assigned a section of the female/pediatric ward, discuss care plans, examine patients, or help with surgery
1:00 PM Lunch
2:30 Clinic
6:00 Come home, eat dinner
Weekends I go to the hospital for a few hours if I'm on call.
Sun PMs dinner with Peter & other single missionaries
Mon.PMs Bachelors' dinner
Wed PM prayer meeting
Thu PM Bible study with some men
The schedule is a quite flexible, esp. when we have emergency surgeries. Before I was on call, I had a good amount of time to read some good books & study. Life here is fairly relaxed, & I like living within 5 min's walking distance to the hospital. Even when I'm on call, I get to sleep in "my own" bed. Most of the extra time beyond reading I spend playing & talking with the neighborhood children, which has been quite fun & meaningful. Some speak English pretty well; others don't so I have the ones who do translate for me. I'll show you their pictures when I get back.
Are you wondering what I eat? Again, just as with the laundry, I have been surprised with what I'm eating. Most of the time, I boil water & make some instant soup, pasta, or potatoes, since Peter's mom sends big boxes of dried instant foods for him. You could say that I'm eating more German foods than African food! The Zambian staple food is maize (corn) which is made into a mashed‑potatoes like mash and eaten with different kinds of meat &/or vegetable sauces, which they call relishes. It's eaten with bare hands, & I'm pretty clumsy/messy with it. Maybe when I get back we can try using our hands for our rice & "relish" just for one meal.
What abt the hospital? By US standards, it would never pass inspection, but it serves the great needs of the surrounding people. In the short time here, I have seen diseases of all kinds, many of which I'd never seen before: malaria, Borrelia, Bilharzia, etc., most of which is an infection of one kind or another. The 1st week I was here I really felt overwhelmed because of the terrible living conditions that people here have to live in, esp with regard to health. Alo, I really felt like there was no way I could help these people. Praise God, though; He has helped me learn how to treat some of the most common problems. I really think this'll help me
with being ready for residency, which begins frighteningly soon.
I've been going to church abt. 15 or 20 minutes away by foot; I usually walk with Gifti, a neighbor boy whom I really like. It's a really blessing to hear some of the preaching, esp. by Zambian pastors. Also, the singing is really great! I hope to record some of it so you can hear it. The church building is actually an old leprosy center, located on what is now a Bible school campus.
Hopefully this answers most of the questions you had about life here. I really do appreciate your prayers. I have made a commitment to pray for you daily, too.
Thankfully, we have email here, which we access twice a week. Although it's theoretically possible to make phonecalls, it's done by satellite phone & is quite expensive, so email is the best way to communicate. I haven't even seen a real phone (one that calls outside the mission station) since I got here! Also, in case you'd like to send anything, it takes a little over 3 weeks, so if you haven't sent anything by Monday or Tuesday, just hold onto it until I get back to CA.
Yes, God has been very, very good. See you soon!
Love, Stephen
PS: Thanks, Anneta, for the encouragements. I have D15 in my Bible. It's the one that says "..., man?" at the end of each question. How FUNNY!!!!! BTW, how's your new doggy? Johnny wrote & told me a little about him. Ours here is quite funny but just a little hyper. I've never had an inside dog before, and she's quite a character. She's fast (very fast!) & playful, and whines a lot when Peter & I are eating, even after she's finished eating her own meal. We let her lick our plates clean after we're done. She knows how to sit, shake, and (now) lie down. I'm trying to teach her to catch, but she just lets the ball hit her nose or bounce in front of her. Still praying for you & S's family, & also your job situation for next year.
Date: 07‑Apr‑00 at 00:17
From: Luampa Hospital, 1106104
HELLO EVERYONE; SOME OF YOU HAVE ASKED WHAT LIFE IS LIKE OUT HERE; HERE'S A COPY OF A LETTER TO MY FOLKS THAT SHOULD ANSWER SOME OF YOUR QUESTIONS; I'M SURE I'LL REPORT MORE STORIES AS THE WEEKS GO BY, & WHEN I RETURN.
Dear Dad & Mom:
How are you doing? I'm glad to hear that you're home from Taiwan, Dad, and that the trip went well. How much weight did you gain, anyway? I remember all the Sa‑ba hi (milkfish) I ate when I was in Tainan summer '96. Yum‑yum. I could use some Chhoa‑peng right now.... You must be really happy that Tan Chui Pi (A‑pi) won the election. How has China reacted to the news? Here, although there is radio news available, I don't listen to it much. I haven't watched TV in almost 3 weeks now since there isn't one to watch, so I've had more time to read.
I'm glad you got my previous emails. It has been already almost 3 weeks since I left California; it'll be abt. 5 more weeks before I go to see Eric & Ruth in Georgia. Life here in Zambia, & specifically at this mission hospital, has been quite different. There is electricity only 8 or 9 hours a day (8am‑noon, 6pm‑9 or 10pm), more if there is an emergency surgery, so I use a flashlight or candle afterward. I am staying in the same house with Dr. Peter Nicodemus, a surgeon from Germany and the acting medical superintendent of the hospital, who has been very kind to me. We also have a dog Tui. The house is actually fairly large for us (a little smaller than our old 3 BR house)‑‑ it's a 3 BR "Western style" home, and
we employ a housekeeper who comes 5 1/2 days a week to wash dishes, clean the bathrooms, take care of the huge garden, & even do the laundry!!! His name is Chimbali, and he is also very nice. I'm also trying to learn some Mbunda (the predominant vernacular language here) from him, and he is very helpful.
This week I have been a little busier because I started taking call, which is only for nighttime (9pm ‑ morning) for the whole week. At 1st I was scared but it hasn't been too difficult, & I have been learning a lot. My schedule usually is like this:
7:30 AM Chapel
8:00 go to see patients (I have been assigned a section of the female/pediatric ward, discuss care plans, examine patients, or help with surgery
1:00 PM Lunch
2:30 Clinic
6:00 Come home, eat dinner
Weekends I go to the hospital for a few hours if I'm on call.
Sun PMs dinner with Peter & other single missionaries
Mon.PMs Bachelors' dinner
Wed PM prayer meeting
Thu PM Bible study with some men
The schedule is a quite flexible, esp. when we have emergency surgeries. Before I was on call, I had a good amount of time to read some good books & study. Life here is fairly relaxed, & I like living within 5 min's walking distance to the hospital. Even when I'm on call, I get to sleep in "my own" bed. Most of the extra time beyond reading I spend playing & talking with the neighborhood children, which has been quite fun & meaningful. Some speak English pretty well; others don't so I have the ones who do translate for me. I'll show you their pictures when I get back.
Are you wondering what I eat? Again, just as with the laundry, I have been surprised with what I'm eating. Most of the time, I boil water & make some instant soup, pasta, or potatoes, since Peter's mom sends big boxes of dried instant foods for him. You could say that I'm eating more German foods than African food! The Zambian staple food is maize (corn) which is made into a mashed‑potatoes like mash and eaten with different kinds of meat &/or vegetable sauces, which they call relishes. It's eaten with bare hands, & I'm pretty clumsy/messy with it. Maybe when I get back we can try using our hands for our rice & "relish" just for one meal.
What abt the hospital? By US standards, it would never pass inspection, but it serves the great needs of the surrounding people. In the short time here, I have seen diseases of all kinds, many of which I'd never seen before: malaria, Borrelia, Bilharzia, etc., most of which is an infection of one kind or another. The 1st week I was here I really felt overwhelmed because of the terrible living conditions that people here have to live in, esp with regard to health. Alo, I really felt like there was no way I could help these people. Praise God, though; He has helped me learn how to treat some of the most common problems. I really think this'll help me
with being ready for residency, which begins frighteningly soon.
I've been going to church abt. 15 or 20 minutes away by foot; I usually walk with Gifti, a neighbor boy whom I really like. It's a really blessing to hear some of the preaching, esp. by Zambian pastors. Also, the singing is really great! I hope to record some of it so you can hear it. The church building is actually an old leprosy center, located on what is now a Bible school campus.
Hopefully this answers most of the questions you had about life here. I really do appreciate your prayers. I have made a commitment to pray for you daily, too.
Thankfully, we have email here, which we access twice a week. Although it's theoretically possible to make phonecalls, it's done by satellite phone & is quite expensive, so email is the best way to communicate. I haven't even seen a real phone (one that calls outside the mission station) since I got here! Also, in case you'd like to send anything, it takes a little over 3 weeks, so if you haven't sent anything by Monday or Tuesday, just hold onto it until I get back to CA.
Yes, God has been very, very good. See you soon!
Love, Stephen
PS: Thanks, Anneta, for the encouragements. I have D15 in my Bible. It's the one that says "..., man?" at the end of each question. How FUNNY!!!!! BTW, how's your new doggy? Johnny wrote & told me a little about him. Ours here is quite funny but just a little hyper. I've never had an inside dog before, and she's quite a character. She's fast (very fast!) & playful, and whines a lot when Peter & I are eating, even after she's finished eating her own meal. We let her lick our plates clean after we're done. She knows how to sit, shake, and (now) lie down. I'm trying to teach her to catch, but she just lets the ball hit her nose or bounce in front of her. Still praying for you & S's family, & also your job situation for next year.
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