Since I’ve been here at
AWC, a team of us has been working toward something impossible in my mind and
unfathomable in West Africa. We sat down at the drawing board to sketch out a
plan to triple our numbers. I did the calculations in my head and was first one
to say- this will not work. There are not enough beds on the wards, nurses to
cover the shifts, and supplies to do sixty operations in two weeks. I try to
keep a positive outlook on most things in life, but this has been a time to
trust God down to the tinniest details of this Fistula camp. Daily, I have been
reminded everything is possible with God as we overcome the hurdles.
Our hospital director,
Jude, went to a meeting with the ministry of health and through a series of
events- we received twenty hospital beds. Now, we already have about 12 beds in
each ward- where are we going to put twenty more? So, the hospital classroom
and eventually our team dining room will become makeshift wards. On Thursday
evening, I helped set up the classroom after our amazing maintenance guys
constructed all the beds. It took me a minute to remember how to fold hospital
corners on the flat sheets, but after twenty- I was pro. One bar of soap, a
toothrush, a lappa (African skirt), and a t-shirt was placed on each pillow.
The mosquito nets were hung and by the time VVF ladies arrived from the
screening trip- the camp was ready.
As nursing supervisor, I
had to make out the duty roster for a normal week on the wards- and that took
me all day. As I was working on placing nurses on day, evening, and night
shift- it came to be, we wouldn’t have enough nurses to cover two more wards
for the camp. I found myself next to Bernadette, the national ward supervisor,
on Friday night making a roster for Fistula Camp. Finally, at eight o’clock we
completed the impossible task- and had just enough nurses to cover five wards.
Another setback until God provided just this week, six on-call nurses that have
experience in VVF. The supplies will be stretched thin (pray for diapers-is my
new motto) and staff will work extra hard, but at the end when these women
celebrate their healing in the Gladi-gladi ceremony- I will be giving thanks
that “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” Matthew 19:26
2 comments:
Very amazing, but I could say you had me at gladi-gladi. When I read those two words I burst into tears. I'm not a nurse, I'm probably worthless on the wards, but I just want to come and hold those ladies tight...and you also.
Hi, I just stumbled across your blog and I loved every single word. I have always wanted to be a missionary since I became a Christian. I first thought being a missionary doctor was what God wanted me to do, but I have been thinking about nursing a lot lately. Can you tell me what it's like to be a nurse missionary? My email is tnlashle@uncg.edu
Post a Comment