The third night was really busy. Both 20 month old babies who were going for cataract surgery were postop that night and were fussy most of the night. Their eyes were wrapped with bandages and their hands were also wrapped so they couldn't pull at the bandages, but, boy, did they try. By the time I went in on Thursday night, they both had been discharged. Some of the nurses who were there that morning said they were looking around at everything once the bandages were off. Praise the Lord, for they have received sight! Very encouraging.
Thursday night was by far my favorite. There was only 6 patients. They had discharged four during the day, so it was a quiet, very laid back night. I had my first Krio test, which Harry left for me to take during the shift, and I recevied another lesson from Kadiatu, the mother of a 6 year old patient. She speaks very little English and speaks Krio and Temne. She spoke to me only in Krio and I was very happy to be able to understand as much as I did. We talked about our families, and I showed her a picture of mine. She wanted me to take a picture of her so I could show my family, but I didn't have my camara. I told her I would come to the ward on Friday so that I could get one. She asked many questions and when I started to respond in English, she pretended like she really couldn't understand and made me respond in Krio :) Her and Esther, a patient, stayed up until about 1am with me, talking about things in Sierra Leone and sharing some of their lives with me. I was doing some charting while talking and Kadiatu told me how she didn't know how to write and how she was unable to go to school when growing up because she didn't have the money to do so. In Sierra Leone, all schooling, from elementary school through university has to be paid for. She explained that she has taught herself some of the letters, but can't read or write them. I grabbed a piece of paper, pulled out a pen and wrote her name down. I then gave her a piece of paper and handed her the pen. She copied her name; she wrote so beautifully and then with excitement showed it to me. She then wanted to write her sons' names (Ali and David) and her husband's name. I helped her do so and then celebrated with her in her accomplishment. The joy that she had after writing the names is indescribable. She showed Esther, and the other day workers and told them how she wrote them herself. She then told me that she was going to write the names over and over again until she filled the page and would give it to me the next day. Since I wasn't going to be working, I told her I would come after I woke up. I was so thankful the Lord allowed me to share this moment with her.
Esther and Kadiatu also knew where the church my aunt was telling me about was and Kadiatu said she would take me there the next day so I would know where it was. We made plans to meet after a woke up in the early afternoon on Friday. I really enjoyed my time with them. After they went to bed, I spent some time talking with the day workers, Sahr and Abu Bakaar. I learned so much about them and Abu Bakaar says I have to go to his house so I can meet his mother and so she can teach me some "African" things :)
Friday, I got up at 12:30pm cutting my sleep time almost in half so I could meet with Kadiatu and so I would get back on a normal sleeping schedule. When I went to the ward, Esther told me that Ali had been discharged and that they had left that morning. I was very sad to hear that I had missed them. I had missed the opportunity to get a picture with Kadiatu and to spend time with her as she showed me the town. Esther did tell me that she had left a message for me saying that when she returns to the ship, possibly for the followup appointment, she would bring me the paper of names :) I am touched to know that this means so much to her.
Friday evening, I went to Word of Life for the music celebration for the end of the revival. Michael had been preaching there everyday this week and for the last day they were going to have just a music service. There was alot of singing and dancing. They even pulled me forward to dance with everyone for two of the songs. This is Abu Bakaar's family's church. His father is the pastor and I did get to meet his mom; both his parents are very warm and welcoming people and were really happy I came to their church again. I really enjoyed myself and, retrospectively, I even enjoyed dancing up front (I was so out of my comfort zone and was quite embarrassed at the time :)
I keep meeting so many people and am really thankful for my new friends. That's what the title says in Krio " I love my new friends." I am really really enjoying myself, and love being a witness of all the Lord is doing here in Sierra Leone.
As a matter of prayer:
- Pray for the surgeons as they do great work on the patients here
- Pray against infections and for good healing
- Pray for the strength of all the workers, both on the ship and in the hospital
- Pray for the eye team and dental team
- Pray that all will have attitudes of Jesus and see the people as Christ sees them- as His children, people created in the image of God
- Pray against malaria (I have a few bites myself)
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