Exciting week

Exciting week here - have been working with a team from International Medical Assoc. who came to do MDA (Mass Drug Administration) for the Filiaisis parasite which causes elephantitis and also for worms - a big problem for the children here. Taking this treatment also decreases malaria by about 50%. We have done MDA for about 300 people every day while 3 docs and 2 NPs ran a general medical clinic with meds also provided. An amazing process. It was good to be out in the villages again though the poverty there is even worse than here near the hospital, children who are malnourished and clothed in rags.

The other event this week was that Natalie and I were robbed. Someone must have had a key as there was no break in. They found and stole all our carefully hidden money and almost worse - our weeks supply of cadbury chocolate. But the good news is that they left our credit cards, passports and computer, so it could have been alot worse. Our doors are now thoroughly padlocked at all times and I put a sign on the refrigerator asking "please do not steal our chocolate". Think it will work? Oh yes and Nat now sleeps with the large stick we use to make ugali.

Baby Moses

I have been here in western Kenya for a month now. Internet access limited.  I have spent time in maternity as well as teaching. I am in love with a very small baby named Moses. He was found in a pit latrine covered in feces and maggots at 1 day old. The priest named him Moses because he was drawn forth out of the latrine, as Moses was from the river. He is 2mos old now, still small and skinny but gaining. He lives in the maternity ward and is dearly loved by all the student nurses. The maternity building is close to my house so it is easy to stop by for a Moses snuggle. Unfortunately at 9 months he will go to an orphanage. The nun I work with has suggested I take him home to the US with me. Hmmmm.

Week one

Arrived at St Elizabeth Mukumu in Western Kenya a week ago. It has been an amazing week - full of warm welcomes by all here and shock at the poverty of the people. The hospital has well educated, creative, dedicated staff but so few resources. Two O2 tanks in whole hospital, wooden incubators which don't work, intermittent water and electricity. My house is quite comfortable and I think I've figured out when the water will be on. There is a resident rat whom I have named "Blackie." I try not to mind him because my neighbor says a house with rats means there are no snakes in the house. Clearly a good thing. I have a self appointed gaurdian angel, who, along with her side kick Sister Teresa, take good care of me. They are correcting my Kiswahili and teaching me to make Ugali.

 The view from my front porch

Home sweet home!


Will try to be regular in my posts but internet access is sketchy.
Habari leo
Patricia

Ready, Set, almost to Go

9/22/2011

My first blog, my first overseas medical mission trip. A year in Kakamega, Kenya teaching at St Elizabeth Mukumu for CMMB (Catholic Medical Mission Board). Just 2 weeks until the predicted departure date, predicted because no ticket in hand yet - and I have learned already one characteristic I need to remember is flexibility. I am very excited and a little bit terrified, but mostly I feel awed by the enormous outpouring of love and support I have recieved already.