Today is Sunday. What to do on a Sunday in Njinikom?...
Well, we had attended Saturday evening mass within the hospital chapel with many patients and that was very nice. It was like a complete circle of why we are here. The Sisters, Priest, patients, and caregivers, all of us… celebrating and glorifying God together. It was very special to me. I have made many mission trips before, mostly with non-denominational groups, and the experience has been just as great. To share God with those of different faiths is a unique experience in which there is openness, curiosity, and a variety of spiritual expression, while still together sharing the commitment to loving God and loving others.
This mission is one in which we are praying together in a familiar faith. Sharing morning mass in the convent with the Sisters is a blessed experience. Their voices are like angels, the songs express their tender love for Jesus and Mary with a beautiful rhythmic beat from their traditional instruments, and just being in their presence… which carries a fragrance of devoted love to Christ.
Showing posts with label medical missionary. Show all posts
Showing posts with label medical missionary. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Renewed
As for the day in the clinic, I wasn't quite as overwhelmed. The first day, after going through the first ward, the pediatric ward, and seeing all the very sick children...I felt like I was kicked in the gut. Seeing all these little young lives with malaria or HIV positive... I have never seen anything like this. I was very quiet for the rest of the evening. Thank goodness for the patience and compassion of Tim...he could see the exhaustion and overwhelming feeling I had. I pray every morning for God to give me strength (especially this morning), and wouldn't you know that this morning when I walked Milan to the orphanage, a nun stopped and welcomed us and thanked us for our courage. That small comment renewed my spirit... it was like a kiss from God.
Today was better. I feel stronger.
By the way, Milan is eating casserole/type dishes here. Rice with vegetable mixed in it! Of course he's flavoring it with some of the local spices, but nonetheless, eating the vegetables! Had to come to Africa to get THAT to happen!!
Thursday, June 23, 2011
The Orphanage
Milan had his second day in the orphanage and it is going well. He usually teaches reading and math to Terrence when he first arrives, then they play with the little ones, feed them, play and put them to bed. Then the older ones have some play time of futbol (soccer).
The older children have their responsibilities in the orphanage; cooking, washing, holding the babies, changing them, etc., before play. This is a little bit tough for Milan as he is not used to the responsibilities of little ones... Louis is the one that Milan is feeding in the picture. He is three years old and has some sort of paralysis of his lower extremities. He usually drags his lower body around on the floor with the good strength that he has in his arms. His mother abandoned him perhaps a year ago, and his father comes to visit him every so often in the orphanage. Louis is the happiest, most bubbly child there. His big brown eyes and huge smile just draw you to him. And, as Milan would tell you, he's the best eater!
The older children have their responsibilities in the orphanage; cooking, washing, holding the babies, changing them, etc., before play. This is a little bit tough for Milan as he is not used to the responsibilities of little ones... Louis is the one that Milan is feeding in the picture. He is three years old and has some sort of paralysis of his lower extremities. He usually drags his lower body around on the floor with the good strength that he has in his arms. His mother abandoned him perhaps a year ago, and his father comes to visit him every so often in the orphanage. Louis is the happiest, most bubbly child there. His big brown eyes and huge smile just draw you to him. And, as Milan would tell you, he's the best eater!
Monday, June 20, 2011
We made it!
Got here okay, getting ourselves acquainted on Njinikom time and weather.
Milan finished a 400 page Redwall book during the 3 1/2 day journey here. We left Windber about 1:30pm on the 14th of June and got to the Pittsburgh airport okay. Sat in the plane for 4 hours on the ground before they decided that the mechanical malfunction could not be fixed and the fuel tank was not good enough to go over the ocean to Paris. So... they flew us to NY Kennedy airport where we waited for a plane to come from Atlanta to pick us up and take us to Paris. That was about 1am on the 15th. We got to paris about 2:30pm their time (they're about 6 hours ahead of PA).
Once there, with the delay, we missed our connection to Douala and had to wait for the next day's flight. It was a 4hour wait in line for the complimentary hotel, but we met 2 gentlemen from Kosice, Slovakia who I ended up having to translate for. The following day we left at about 2pm and got to Douala at almost 9pm (with 1hour back from Douala-9pm to Paris-10pm).
We were so happy to see Sr. Xaveria and Emmanuel, our driver. I considered myself pretty tan amidst my American friends, but in Africa, I am very white!! There were many, and I mean MANY helping hands at the airport, and even Sr Xaveria had some difficulty explaining to them that we did not need assistance. Anyway, we got to the car and came to our place of sleep at the Shishong hospital with the Sisters there. We had french fries, green beans with carrots, and some beef stew with orangina (an orange soda). All of the Sisters were very nice, welcoming us and embracing us. The following morning we didn't leave as early as planned which allowed us to witness the raising of a blue water buffalo on top of a building. No, not the animal... not that exciting!! But a huge blue container, (the size of a buffalo) that had to be hoisted on top of the builiding for the well to function and provide water to the hospital. That was a very long process, and I'll figure out how to connect video so you may see this. Needless to say, most of the hospital was outside coaching them and suggesting different ways to getthis buffalo up... and at the end was a great round of applause.
And then began the 8 hour drive to Njinikom... Thanks God, neither of us got carsick. That was but by the grace of God. About 3/4 of the roads were paved, while the last part of the trip was dirt roads and very bumpy. We stopped for the most delicious pineapple, so sweet, and a fruit called Leechee. Half way we had lunch of pizza, which was surprising to me, and it very good too.
So this brings us to now, today we slept in because we had such a hard time getting to sleep. Milan and I were making up stories and telling them to each other to help get each other sleepy. We hope to visit the orphanage today and will attend mass at 5pm. We have lunch and dinner with Tim, the doctor here that lives above us, and he is very nice and great to have conversations with. He is thoroughly impressed with Milan's yoyo and spintop tricks. Milan needs tape to fix a spintop so we'll see if this is possible.
We will update soon, hopefully with pictures next time.
Milan finished a 400 page Redwall book during the 3 1/2 day journey here. We left Windber about 1:30pm on the 14th of June and got to the Pittsburgh airport okay. Sat in the plane for 4 hours on the ground before they decided that the mechanical malfunction could not be fixed and the fuel tank was not good enough to go over the ocean to Paris. So... they flew us to NY Kennedy airport where we waited for a plane to come from Atlanta to pick us up and take us to Paris. That was about 1am on the 15th. We got to paris about 2:30pm their time (they're about 6 hours ahead of PA).
We were so happy to see Sr. Xaveria and Emmanuel, our driver. I considered myself pretty tan amidst my American friends, but in Africa, I am very white!! There were many, and I mean MANY helping hands at the airport, and even Sr Xaveria had some difficulty explaining to them that we did not need assistance. Anyway, we got to the car and came to our place of sleep at the Shishong hospital with the Sisters there. We had french fries, green beans with carrots, and some beef stew with orangina (an orange soda). All of the Sisters were very nice, welcoming us and embracing us. The following morning we didn't leave as early as planned which allowed us to witness the raising of a blue water buffalo on top of a building. No, not the animal... not that exciting!! But a huge blue container, (the size of a buffalo) that had to be hoisted on top of the builiding for the well to function and provide water to the hospital. That was a very long process, and I'll figure out how to connect video so you may see this. Needless to say, most of the hospital was outside coaching them and suggesting different ways to getthis buffalo up... and at the end was a great round of applause.
And then began the 8 hour drive to Njinikom... Thanks God, neither of us got carsick. That was but by the grace of God. About 3/4 of the roads were paved, while the last part of the trip was dirt roads and very bumpy. We stopped for the most delicious pineapple, so sweet, and a fruit called Leechee. Half way we had lunch of pizza, which was surprising to me, and it very good too.
So this brings us to now, today we slept in because we had such a hard time getting to sleep. Milan and I were making up stories and telling them to each other to help get each other sleepy. We hope to visit the orphanage today and will attend mass at 5pm. We have lunch and dinner with Tim, the doctor here that lives above us, and he is very nice and great to have conversations with. He is thoroughly impressed with Milan's yoyo and spintop tricks. Milan needs tape to fix a spintop so we'll see if this is possible.
We will update soon, hopefully with pictures next time.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Introduction
Beginning as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1996, I went on for my RN and worked all night shift for 10 years on a trauma/surgical step-down unit in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. I had always felt called to missions and began this future by asking the US Army to send me wherever they needed nurses the most. Later as a mother, Milan became my sole "mission" until he was about 7 years old. While we didn't go to any missions, the mission at home as a mother was just as diverse, exciting, and challenging. At the age of 7, we began our experience as missionaries together. We started out slowly and locally, beginning in the Appalachia Mountains of West Virginia and stretching to the Indian Reservations of South Dakota. Later we ventured to Mexico where we spent our time with the children of an orphanage. These were not medical missions yet, as I wanted to gently introduce Milan to missions. So it was in these early missions that our purpose was minor home repairs, painting, playing with the local children, sports ministry, and sharing the love and Word of God. Having been "cradle Catholics", this was a new experience in which we joined other faiths in a type of ecumenical experience of being Christ's hands and help to others. While we all had different backgrounds for the practice of our faith (Pentecostal, Baptist, Protestant...), it was wonderful how He brought us together in a common understanding of His love for us and sharing His love with each other and others.
Through the experience of missions, I needed to expand my medical knowledge so that I would be able to do more for those who were sick, and so over the past 5 years, I completed my doctorate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. During my schooling, Milan and I had our first "medical mission" in Managua, Nicargua with my instructor from Robert Morris University, Dr. Carl Ross. I was a bit nervous in that I wasn't sure of how Milan would feel in this trip. What would he do while I was seeing patients?... Well, it seems that God always has the answer and He knew just what to do with Milan. While I did community home inspections, he played soccer with the local children. While I was in the clinic, he played ball with the children in the waiting room. During evening preparation for the clinic, he counted out tylenols and ibuprofen for the "take-home" baggies for our patients. It amazed me how naturally he adapted to all the different situations...
Hi, my name is Milan. I am 12 years old and just finished the seventh grade at St Benedicts Catholic School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. My favorite hobby is yo-yoing and I tied for first place in our school talent show with it. My favorite subject is social studies because my teacher makes it fun. I play basketball, soccer, and hockey. Hockey is my favorite. I am going to work in an orphanage in Cameroon, which is pretty close to the equator in Africa. Well that’s it.
We are excited for this new opportunity, not only to serve those of Cameroon, but to serve side-by-side with those who share our same faith. We thank Mission Doctors Association, especially Elise and Jessica for opening those doors to us. Above all, we thank God for all of His blessings and pray for His guidance and strength. Thank you all for following this experience...
God be with you,
Maria and Milan
Through the experience of missions, I needed to expand my medical knowledge so that I would be able to do more for those who were sick, and so over the past 5 years, I completed my doctorate as a Family Nurse Practitioner. During my schooling, Milan and I had our first "medical mission" in Managua, Nicargua with my instructor from Robert Morris University, Dr. Carl Ross. I was a bit nervous in that I wasn't sure of how Milan would feel in this trip. What would he do while I was seeing patients?... Well, it seems that God always has the answer and He knew just what to do with Milan. While I did community home inspections, he played soccer with the local children. While I was in the clinic, he played ball with the children in the waiting room. During evening preparation for the clinic, he counted out tylenols and ibuprofen for the "take-home" baggies for our patients. It amazed me how naturally he adapted to all the different situations...
Hi, my name is Milan. I am 12 years old and just finished the seventh grade at St Benedicts Catholic School in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. My favorite hobby is yo-yoing and I tied for first place in our school talent show with it. My favorite subject is social studies because my teacher makes it fun. I play basketball, soccer, and hockey. Hockey is my favorite. I am going to work in an orphanage in Cameroon, which is pretty close to the equator in Africa. Well that’s it.
We are excited for this new opportunity, not only to serve those of Cameroon, but to serve side-by-side with those who share our same faith. We thank Mission Doctors Association, especially Elise and Jessica for opening those doors to us. Above all, we thank God for all of His blessings and pray for His guidance and strength. Thank you all for following this experience...
God be with you,
Maria and Milan
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