Thankful and Thanksgiving

Dr. Margo Short and I are preparing an apple crisp for Thanksgiving dinner.

Here is the unbaked dish-Before!

Here is the after picture. I was so happy to have a basket to tote it to our friends home. I felt like Martha Stewart :) So thankful that I can bake something without my usual kitchen things like a mixer.

Julie and I are looking at the beautiful Thanksgiving dinner table that she set with some paper goods from the Dollar Store! She is an amazing hostess, just like her Mom Liz Kopp. So thankful to be a recipient of their hospitality!

We love Julie! Note the cute Thanksgiving decorations that she made even though they are leaving us before Christmas. We are going to miss the Korn family so much. I met them 7 years ago when we lived in the CURE guesthouse together.

Here is precious baby Emmett who is 9 months old wearing an 18 month outfit from Cracker Barrel. He is a big boy and so lovely.  His other brother Leon was at another party when this picture was taken. Leon is a popular young fellow with his friends. Josh and Julie are amazing parents!

At home in our apartment, we are thankful for the camping chairs that Mark bought for us to watch our grandson, George's soccer matches. They were so light and compact that we thought we would bring them to Niger with us. We did not know that we would use them every day! Sadly the two couches in our apartment are really terrible to sit on. They are not bad to lay down on at least!

Nurses are so thankful to Pappa Paul for buying them a new couch set for their break room. You cannot see it but it is black sturdy leatherette (AKA vinyl). It is very professional looking. He bought a similar set for the nurses in the Pavilion (Ward)

We are so thankful for Paul's generosity and commitment to training his residents from the University of Kentucky and all of the anesthesia and OR staff.

Thank you dear Dr, Margo for bringing her skills, kindness and love for the dear children. The feeling was mutual. They loved to run up to her and greet her. This particular day, Dr. Margo was having a sticker-fest. The children and even the mothers loved getting a few stickers on their arms, foreheads and clothing :)

Thank you to Josh (in the blue shirt) and his wife Julie for their service to CURE. Josh is the outgoing executive director of the CURE Niger hospital. Julie is the outgoing art therapist, par excellence! This week, even though she is packing, she made time to do special crafts with the children and give advice on some of the difficult patient situations. We are so thankful for these dear ones. Josh is wise beyond his years. It has been such a joy to work with him over the years. Thank you Josh and Julie!

George (our new executive director), Jacques (Controller) and Hannatou (our Spiritual Director) presented words or thanks and of course some parting gifts of thankfulness to the Korns. Thankful that our goodbyes are not forever! Josh and Julie will be relocating in the USA for now with new responsibilities with CURE. They have family in Cincinnati so we plan to catch up when we return to the USA in the summer.

Deux frères avec la même Père...this rhymes in French! It means two brothers with the same Father! Amen!! Emanuel works on our spiritual ministry team. He is awesome with the children and an excellent personal evangelist one on one. We are so thankful for his passion and faithfulness to the LORD and this ministry at CURE Hôpital des Enfants au Niger!

I know we are supposed to be thankful for our food....this is lamb entrails (intestines, stomach, liver etc0 in a sauce that is served before the roasted lamb. Many of us said....I 'll pass on this course of the meal! We are so thankful though that we were able to feed all the hospital staff, patients and their companions with the sheep that were bought for the farewell party for Josh and Julie.

Some didn't mind it too much. The tray with the green stuff was the salad course. It was Moringa leaves in a sauce with onions, tomatoes and green peppers served with powdered 'piment forte' very spicy pepper. I liked it with the piment, Paul skipped the extra spice. Thankful for the nutritious fresh green vegetables. We are eating a lot of canned vegetables as some are hard to find and spoil so quickly when you buy them. Carrots turn rubbery very quickly!

This grandma is thankful for baby cuddles when I am so far away from my own dear grandbabies. The Lord is so good to allow us to be involved with dear friends and their little ones. We are thankful!

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for Dr. Margo's visit and my A-Team nurse manager Fatchima!  We were all given CURE shirts for a group picture of all the hospital staff. When I get a copy I'll post one.

This blog post I have not shown any of our work at the hospital but instead attempted to show you our thankfulness during this season of THANKSGIVING! It has nevertheless been a full time of training and working with the staff on various aspects of patient care.  Every encounter with our patients, caregivers and staff we hope there is the love, light and language (word and deeds) that show the LORD Jesus Christ, out Savior's love.  We cling to the following verse in our daily work at the hospital:

Whatever you do, whether in word of deed, do it all in the name of the LORD Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father though Him.

Colossians 3:17

It is all for Jesus Christ our LORD!

Abundant Times!

Heading to Galmi Hospital for a couple of days to consult with the medical director

Paul and our pilot Joe! We are so grateful for the SIM pilots.

We had our noise cancelling earphones on....too loud without them

Up up and away as we fly over the airport in Niamey

We flew over farms attempting to grow vegetables in this hot and harsh climate

Yes, this is a desert! Very dry, sandy and desolate for the large part of the country

Dr, Margo Short in the OR at Galmi with the required long skirt! LOL a first for a University of Kentucky Anesthesia Resident

Paul and Dr. Margo doing anesthesia within minutes of landing!

Galmi Mission Hospital compound had some very pretty flowering bushes!

Dr. Anne-Sophie sharing morning devotions in Hausa. I understood the French sign behind her at least!

This was the hymnal. We sang Amazing Grace in Hausa. I can sing in Hausa because the words are written phonetically...aren't you impressed LOL!

Sweet nurse caring for a premature baby of about 2 lbs (1800gms)

This woman put the baby in my arms. I was not sure what this was all about. It turned out this was one of her twins and she was looking for help to feed the two. She did not not have enough milk. She was wanting another woman to help nurse the twins. The poor mother looked undernourished and dehydrated and suggested we find more food and water for her. Patients at the Galmi hospital have their food brought to them by the family members. Life is so complicated here.

Homeward bound to Niamey! We were so happy to be going home to our apartment and CURE Hôpital des Enfants au Niger

Home to Friday afternoon traffic!

Cattle have the right or way!

We are experiencing so many new things. We are seeing different types of healthcare in Niger. Paul has visited several clinics and other hospitals with his resident Dr. Margo Short. It has truly been an abundant time. Next blog I will post about our Thanksgiving.

It is easy to get so caught up in the needs and newness of all that we are seeing and experiencing. Each day we try to make sure that we turn to the LORD for strength, direction and wisdom. He is our peace and our Heavenly Father. His desire is that we grow more and more like the LORD JESUS CHRIST.  It is not so much what we DO but who we are in Him! Below is a hymn or prayer that is very old but it is one of desiring to grow daily. Do not be turned off my the old English. The message is sweet!

O Jesus Christ, Grow Thou in Me

 O Jesus Christ, grow Thou in me, and all things else recede!

My heart be daily nearer Thee,  from sin be daily freed.

Each day let Thy supporting might my weakness still embrace;

My darkness vanish in Thy light, Thy life my death efface.

In Thy bright beams which on me fall, face every evil thought;

That I am nothing, Thou art all, I would be daily taught.

More of Thy glory let me see, Thou Holy Wise and True!

I would Thy living image be, in joy and sorrow too.

Fill me with gladness from above; hold me by strength Divine;

Lord let the glow of Thy great love Thru my whole being shine.

Make this poor self grow less and less, be Thou my life and aim;

Oh make me daily through Thy grace more meet to bear Thy name! 

J.C. Lavater-translated by H.B. Smith

Public Domain

Trusting in the little and large things

Our first visitors-the Negrini family (minus JF)....we need to show hospitality. It is in our DNA!

This week was unexpectedly quiet in some ways. Both surgeons were out of town so that meant that the ward was empty and the operating room was in cleaning mode.  Does that mean that we did nothing last week? Not at all. There are always many children and a few adults (special cases) who were having wound care. The consultations and follow up clinics continued as well.
I spent some time preparing the equipment for the SIR (Soin Immediate Reanimation). Actually it took a lot of time. The materials had been packed away in the container for some time so everything needed dusting, washing and reorganizing for our first class November 26th. Hint: when planning a task or project here, one must take into consideration, cuts in electricity, water, lack of supplies and unavailable assistance for whatever you want to do. Paul and I are learning that we must be interdependent within the community at home and the hospital. We need one another to do our work!
Paul spent a lot of time organizing for the arrival of his first University of Kentucky Anesthesia Resident to arrive.

• We needed help to confirm Dr. Margo Short's flight. 
• We needed help to confirm the driver to take us to meet her at the airport
• We needed help to make up the room at the guest house for Margo
• We needed a lot of help when she arrived without her luggage!!!
• We needed someone to help Dr. Margo buy a few supplies
• We needed another driver to go to the airport a couple of days later to find the luggage
• Paul needed help to make arrangements for Dr. Margo and him to visit the university hospital

I think you get the idea! We cannot do many things because we lack the knowledge of the many local languages. Although we can get by with our French most of the time, we lack Hausa and the many other languages spoken.  We also lack knowledge of directions to find places etc.  Most streets are not named although Google Maps have been awesome! They even show the unpaved, dirt roads we have to drive on to go many places.

This week I too needed help in translating my story to a group of about 27-30 mothers/grandmothers of long stay patients.

• I needed help to translate my presentation into the several language groups that were represented
• I needed help to understand the questions the women were asking me
• I needed help to join in the dancing and singing when invited to do so by these caregivers!

In many ways we are helpless without the assistance of the hospital staff who go to the bank to exchange our money, who show us how things work and who carry equipment and so on for us.
There are so many things that we need!!

What a great privilege to worship a God who knows our needs and wants! He knows our failings and frailties. He understands our Western thinking of accomplishing things by the list rather than through prayer and relationships.  We are learning and loving being here!  We are seeing that our God is all wise, all knowing, all powerful, ever faithful, everlasting and GOOD!!!

We need friends and fellowship outside our hospital work.

Dear Children who stay a long time for treatment at the hospital need encouragement and activities...and they get plenty!

Mothers and grandmothers need to be encouraged too!

And little ones need to giggle! This giggle was in response to a funny face that I made.

We need a lot of help with shopping at the market!

We need friends and fellowhip....we are all here together. Pure joy!

 This hymn has been going through my mind......

Trust Him when thy are many;

Trust Him when thy friends are few;

And the time of swift temptation 

Is the time to trust Him too!

Trust Him for the grace to conquer--

He is "able to subdue";

Trust Him for the power  for service;

Trust Him for the blessing too.

Trust Him when dark doubts assail thee,

Trust Him when thy strength is small,

Trust Him when to simply trust Him

Seems the hardest thing of all.

Trust Him! He is ever faithful;

Trust Him--for His will is best;

Trust Him--for the heart of Jesus

Is the only place of rest.

Lucy A. Bennett (1850-1927)

Public Domain

We have been so blessed this week as we have laid our needs before the Lord in prayer. He has faithfully provided all that we have needed and more! Thank you for being a part of this journey with us! Thank you for praying! We are enjoying "learning to lean on Jesus"!

Everyday life-It's cheaper in Africa, right?

We have enjoyed the many firsts this past week.
First grocery shopping trips
First driving to work and for errands
First complete work week
First African church service etc.....
But one of the most often questions asked of us is....Isn't everything cheaper in Africa?

The answer to that question is complicated.

A baguette is 200 CFAs which is about 30 cents...that's cheap!
A local mobile phone was 10,000 CFAs including a few CFAs to charge it up as it has no contract. That is about $17.40 US.
Somethings seem cheaper.
Some things look or seem the same but are often different in flavor, quality and durability.

If one is trying to cook and eat 'just like back home', it will be fairly expensive.
We are having some friends over for dinner Tuesday night so I thought I would make my standby chicken dish. Onions were cheap but I could not find any decent carrots in the market so I bought them in the grocery store and did not pay attention to the price. When I got home I realized that I payed $12.80 for about 8 good sized carrots---yikes!
Paul tries to eat an apple a day to keep to the doctor away so he picked 6 apples at the International grocery store called Hadad's or Scores. The man asked me twice if we wanted them.  Paul and I said yes! They were 12580 CFA $20 US. They are like gold! Haha. We had bought apples at a street market last week at a reasonable price of 1500 CFA $2.60/Kg
Good meat is 4500 CFA per Kg $7.78/ Kg
Crackers are 2170 CFA per box $3.75
Christmas garlands were a bargain at 500 CFA each which makes them $0.86  We bought 4 as Paul loves Christmas so much!! No tree this year but we will have 4 festive garlands!

All this is to say that we cannot afford to shop all the time in the international grocery stores. We will need to get more market smart. Sadly with our foreign faces, the prices leap up unless we have a Nigerien with us. We are learning.

We are living in a one bedroom apartment with very good security. It is about $600/month plus electricity, plus a little extra to have our laundry and floors done. Honestly, we are so happy to pay for these services because the heat and work have exhausted us at the end of the day.

Our car is not particularly gas efficient as we have used at least half a tank to go to and from work, church twice,  out to dinner once and run simple errands. Gas is $4.00 a gallon approximately.
Are we complaining?
No! We are beyond blessed to be here!
We are learning to adjust and appreciate the many blessings that we have enjoyed over the years. This is a season of really learning how to live more simply.  It has been such a blessing to be here. We are feeling such peace in our little home. We are enjoying the challenges and joys of the hospital work.
As we look around our neighborhood we see stark contrasts of abundance and poverty. It truly has caused us to think and rethink about our lives and attitudes towards the poverty and God's kingdom solutions. It is challenging for sure. We have much to learn and so grateful that we have such kind teachers (our brothers and sisters in Niger!). We are studying God's word daily to listen to His leading of us in all these new things.

Paul shared in French his joy in being invited to this church where many of the employees of CURE attend. He was truly touched by the warmth of the fellowship and simplicity in worship.

It was a great privilege to share for about 15 minutes in French my testimony. Three point message was God's Call, God's Preparation and God's Mission of work for Paul and me. This service was part of a weekend conference on the subject of career preparation for the Christian Youth of Niger.

Douda is talking to me after the service regarding the need of education and preparation for the serving within the church for the young people. He is such a passionate young man for the LORD! Note the stark simplicity of the church property.

The contrast was our lunch in a pleasant garden restaurant. It was very modest by US standards but certainly a luxury for most people here. 

 

 

"O teach me what it meaneth Thy love beyond compare,

The love that reacheth deeper than depths of self despair.

Yes, teach me, till there gloweth in this cold heart of mine,

Some feeble, pale reflection of that pure love of Thine. "

Lucy Ann Bennett (1850-1927)-public domain

A Baker's Dozen-Some Firsts of our Adventures with CURE in Niger

Ready to Roll after many months of preparations and many prayers!

First flight with noise canceling headphones

Second flight....still looking perky

Poor Paul had to sleep on the way to Niamey!

First sunset on the way to our first dinner with friends

We made our bed up first thing! Note the pink stuffed giraffe that George and Anna Lee game me when I was in the hospital. I will keep it close by to remind me of our dear grandchildren and their love for us!

It didn't take long to unpack our few clothes.

We are very happy with a clean and spacious bathroom with hot water...not that we need it!

Our first breakfast on Friday morning was special as we brought placemats from home.

This is a view of the courtyard of our apartment building called The Link Outreach Center.

We are so glad that we packed the folding camping chairs that Mark and Shannon bought for Daddy and me. Here we are enjoying our first Saturday morning tea and coffee on the roof terrace. It is nice to have a little breeze and view of the few treetops.

Cheers! It is not Starbucks but it is just fine!

 First attempt at cooking was an omelet. It will take a little getting used to this type of stove, but we will manage.

It has been a great few days in Niamey, Niger. There have many firsts, many new experiences and many friendly reunions with dear ones. Getting set up in our new apartment has taken a little time but we are very happy here. We have all that we need and more.  We were offered a cable TV package but we refused. We never watch TV. It will be more fun visiting and reading etc in the evenings. Paul has even started to drive. Next blog I will post pictures of the hospital and every day life. Will also post some of the everyday prices so you can see what daily life costs. What do you think? Is food cheaper or more expensive in Africa? (where we are living?) See next blog for the answer. Thank you for your interest in this adventure and your faithful prayers.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. Everytime I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

Philippians 1:2&3