 |
| We are off to the long awaited Nursing Leadership and Governance Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We nearly didn't make it due to health issues. Paul was so very sick requiring IV re-hydration and strong antibiotics. It is very hard to keep healthy here, even with all the precautions we take. We pray daily for strength to do the work the LORD has given us. Even in illness, we are learning so much and identifying with the dear folks that we work with and minister to daily. |
 |
| We usually fly Delta and affiliates so it was a different experience flying this airline. We didn't eat any food as we were scared after all our illnesses. The flight was just under 5 hours and we enjoyed the rest, reading and listening to music. |
 |
| We made it! The picture of the monkey (on the poster behind Paul) is for our grandchildren. They are always asking about what animals we are seeing in Africa. Of course in the city we see only donkeys, camels, goats, sheep, chickens, dogs, cats in the streets. We have seen the giraffes outside the city. We did manage to see some monkeys in Ethiopia but they were so quick and hard to photograph. |
 |
| This is a picture of the Hilton garden. This was a great rest spot before the conference began. We needed to regroup and put final touches to our presentations. I was desperate for a hair cut and manicure! |
 |
| Day One of the Conference. Here I am with Fatchima the Nurse manager of our Ward at CURE Niger. She gifted me with the material and we had same dresses made. We are twins! We have the same Father in Heaven! The uniform, same material for outfits is very common in West Africa. The women at church select at Christmas, Easter and other special occasions, a pattern of fabric for their 'uniform'. Of course in the USA, women would die if they showed up to an event in the same dress as someone else. Love these cultural differences. Fatchima and I get along so well. She is the mother of three boys. Her husband works with an NGO and does trauma counseling. |
 |
| This is a view from our hotel room in Addis Ababa. The view is of the bus station. It was very noisy!! This city has a population of 10 million. Every morning instead of the call to prayer by the Imams as in Niamey, Niger, we had the call to prayers and worship by the Orthodox Priests. In Ethiopia, it would go on for hours if it was a special saint of angel's day! Seriously, the singing, chanting and prayers in Ghez (ancient church language related to Hebrew) on many days was 3 hours in the morning and more in the evening. It was pretty convicting about praying and worship. |
 |
| Ah, this is the good stuff! Paul and I needed to get some healthy food after all the illnesses. Ethiopian food is so good and healthy. On this plate at 9-11 o'clock is injera the local bread made with protein and iron rich teff flour. at the top of the plate you are looking at two kinds of wat.....what is wat? It is a sauce. The caramel colored one is made with lentils. The redish one is made with ground beef, tomatoes, onions and spices very different to the USA. The rest of the plate is covered with fresh lightly steamed veggies. Oh this was so delicious. The blue labeled bottle in the background is called AMBO. It is a local spring water that has been carbonated. Paul and I were quite addicted to it. It was good to find something that Paul would drink to keep his fluids up! |
 |
| This is a group photo after dinner. We are missing Fatchima who went staight up to bed, after not sleeping the night before! |
 |
| Here we are, matchy-matchy! How very West African! |
 |
| On the left is Trudy, the chief nursing officer at CURE's Oasis Hospital in the UAE. Trudy asked each nurse manager to give a ten minute presentation about their hospital. I helped Fatchima to prepare the PowerPoint but insisted that she present in English. She practiced with me and it payed off. She did a smashing job! |
 |
| Here she is presenting with Trudy and I looking on proud as can be! |
 |
| My joy was to present the Christian Worldview of Nursing. I get very animated as it is a passion to see CURE Nurses give excellent care with Christ's Character, CURE Values and Biblical Perspective! |
 |
| Why not? As Christian Nurses we must serve to bring glory to God! |
 |
| On the left is Dr. Becky (PhD Nursing and new Director of Nursing of CURE Network), Anne (Nurse Matron CURE Kenya), ourselves and Trudy from the UAE....TEAMWORK! |
 |
| Diane Lawrence the American Heart Association Course Trainer and Irene the Theater Matron of the Beit CURE Hospital in Zambia are two precious colleagues. Diane had to leave the conference early to attend to a family member's health needs back in the USA. |
 |
| We had an unscheduled visit from the Spiritual Directors across the CURE Network who were having their conference in another town outside of Addis Ababa. We took a few moments to greet one another, take a quick photo and pray together before getting back to our nursing sessions. |
 |
| Paul and I enjoyed an evening after meetings with a dear friend from many years ago. Mismak has a restaurant and we were spoiled with a wonderful meal. |
 |
| The whole team of servers and the chef Abby (in the blue) came out for a picture. |
 |
| We had our own coffee ceremony which includes parching the green coffee beans, pounding them, boiling the water over a charcoal fire, burning of incense.....and of course served with popcorn! It is like this all over the country. I had not had any coffee since my illness in Sept 2017 so I wasn't sure if I could handle the coffee but I had a very small cup and it was good! I don't think I'll necessarily be a coffee drinker again but it was good that I didn't hurt anyone's feelings by not participating in this special ceremony. |
 |
| Mismak and Paul.....brothers!! So grateful for our Ethiopian family! |
 |
| Oh, yes, matchy-matchy again! We had so much fun at the conference meeting, learning and collaborating with such wonderful people! |
 |
| Here we are visiting the CURE Ethiopia Hospital. Paul went back another day to visit the OR, He had such a good time and enjoyed collaborating with the surgical and anesthesia team, |
 |
| This is the Spiritual Director of the Tebow CURE Hospital in the Philippines. Pastor W is so joyful and passionate about serving the LORD. I have enjoyed the privilege of working briefly beside him in the Philippines. |
 |
| A parting coffee ceremony at the end of the Nursing Leadership and Governance Conference. |
 |
| Coffee, coffee, coffee....Bouna? (Amharic for coffee) |
 |
| Everyone is getting ready to leave but one last coffee has to be enjoyed together. |
 |
| Paul and I are with Juliane from Zambia. We have enjoyed the times with her family and look forward to visiting Beit CURE Zambia in the near future, Lord willing! |
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Proverbs 27:17
Come to Me, all you who are weary and are burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me,
For I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
Matthew 11:28-30 NIV
