ahh dear. Sorry it's been such a long time. If you haven't guessed by now, blogging isn't my strongest point. So I have a month to catch up on. For the last 4 weeks I was in the eye ward, but assisted in the operating theater. I still have a lot to learn about the instruments, and I'm afraid I wasn't the greatest assistant. I was the co-assistant, so there was another nurse helping me. THe week after that I was in the outpatient department, in the maternity section. Most of the patients were either coming in for prenatal checkups or for post delivery checkups. One of the patients that came in I had helped care for a few weeks earlier in the maternity ward, and it was so nice to see her again and talk a little. Then I was in the children's ward for a week. One little baby named Dev sticks out in my mind. Just the way his fuzzy hair always stood on end and his little green shirt. I was sad to see him go, but so glad that he was getting better. Then back to the maternity ward again. I think I've spent the most weeks there. I'm definately the busiest here, but I think I love it the best when we have some spare time and the students and I hang out in the nursery and talk while we hold the babies.
Outside of being in the hospital I've loved riding the rickshaws and shopping. I bought my sari, and am now just waiting for the blouse to be made and then I can wear it. I love riding the rickshaws because I really feel more like a part of the city than when I just drive through in a car.
In church one Sunday we had communion and feetwashing. It was a really special experience. We went up and had the Lords' Supper at a little table in the front, and it was very neat to take it that way rather than sitting in our seats.
That's all for now, I shall try to do better with this, but no promises!
Love you all! Sarah
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Friday, August 19, 2011
rickshaw and saris
Hey! Photos are in the process of being uploaded to facebook. I will have to figure out how to get a few here. I got my first rickshaw ride the other day when we went to shop. I want to buy a sari, so we went to look at some. We visited a lot of shops, and I have a pretty good idea of what I would like to get. The silk ones are so soft, and the there are a zillion patterns and colors. I loved riding in the rickshaw. It felt smaller than I thought it would, and bumpier. It was so much fun though, it gives you a totally different perspective of the city. John (if you read this) I was thinking of one song from that CD you gave me. It had a line about riding in a rickshaw. Love, Sarah
Monday, August 15, 2011
a short little one
I figured I should post something new, :) so here it is. I went to chapel this morning, and it was raining. Yesterday was the official end of the rainy season, but it still rains some going into the fall. Can't really tell the weather what to do :) I got the back of my pants wet from the splashing as I walked, but it was fun walking in the rain. I just have to be careful not to slip! Then I stopped by the hospital to say hi to the morning nurses. I work the evenings this week. I know it's short, but maybe I"ll be better off doing short ones than longer ones. til later, Sarah
from an email
Hello everyone!
Looking back through my journal there has been so much that has happened this week. Time has a funny way of passing, some of it was just a few days ago, but it seems like a long time back. I know you had camp meeting last week, and I thought of you all there. I was sad to miss it, but if I had to trade it for something, it would have been my week here. I'll start with the children's ward because that is where I worked. Most of what I saw was bronchitis, pneumonia, or diarrhea. One of the patients who was there the first day died later in the week during the night. It was sad and sobering for me when I got back in the next day. There have been 2 or 3 babies that have died since I came, and it just makes me realize how short life can be. My heart goes out to the families, they wait nine months for their child and then they only get a few days or weeks with him or her. I don't think I can imagine how difficult that must be for them.
On Wednesday of this week we got the most rain since I've been here. It poured most of the day, and all over the country it was flooding. Even here in Bogra, which doesn't flood as often, people were fishing in the streets! I was at the hospital that morning and I was enjoying watching it come down and fill the courtyard 5 inches deep. One of the nurses I was with told me that her house was flooded too, and then it gave me a totally different perspective on the rain. It can mean a lot of hard work for some of the people here when it rains so hard. Later that evening the Alberts and I drove out to see how the country side looked after the rain. In a lot of places where the rice fields had been it was just a wide flat pond. There were groups of people fishing by the road, which is elevated. We stopped a few times to get out and look, which I really enjoyed. Once we got home I went the the prayer meeting and one of the songs was "Dhonobad, Dhonobad" meaning thank you, thank you. That's how the chorus goes, and as it's the only one I can sing part of, they sang it so I could join in. It was really nice that they thought of me.
On Friday we went to Khanjanpur again, and while they Mr. Dewan did most of his paperwork, some of us went to Parharpur. It was an 8th century Buddhist monestery, the oldest one south of the Hymalayas. It was incredible to see. I think though that I enjoyed the drive out to it almost more than the place itself. We turned off of the main road down a smaller country road. As we drove I felt a sense of wonder that here I was, on the other side of the world, driving down a dusty road climbing in and out of potholes, watching the jute and sugar cane fields slip by, feeling almost carsick because of the bumps and turns, but then coming round a bend and seeing mud houses, cows and jute drying along the walls, under the open blue sky with giant white clouds. The country side was beautiful, and I was so thankful that God had let me come this far to see it all.
Also on Friday on the way to K. I got to see elephants! The first one I didn't see until we were almost up to it, and then as we drove by a truck drove in between us and it, so I didnt' get to see much of it. My first thought was, "Wow, I didn't just see an elephant walking down the road, did I?" About half an hour later we saw another one, and this time I got a much better view. They like to stop the elephant in the middle of the road and won't let you drive by until you pay them a little money. So we got stopped and I was glad! I could have reached out to touch it as it walked on by us. Mr. Dewan said in the seven years he has been going that way, this was only the second time he's been stopped. Most of the elephants are down in the south, so i was very happy that it happened while I was here!
Sunday we went to a church about an hour and a half away in Santahar. It was a small one, maybe only 25 people in all, and we sat on the floor. I enjoyed meeting them and worshipping with them. Maybe it seems obvious, but it was cool to realize that we were both serving the same Lord and were brothers and sisters in Christ. Someday in heaven I'll meet them again and we will be able to understand each other much better! Coming home we got stopped for a while as a truck ahead of us broke down, and it gave me time to watch a group of boys play soccer in the mud and then jump in the water to swim.
Looking back through my journal there has been so much that has happened this week. Time has a funny way of passing, some of it was just a few days ago, but it seems like a long time back. I know you had camp meeting last week, and I thought of you all there. I was sad to miss it, but if I had to trade it for something, it would have been my week here. I'll start with the children's ward because that is where I worked. Most of what I saw was bronchitis, pneumonia, or diarrhea. One of the patients who was there the first day died later in the week during the night. It was sad and sobering for me when I got back in the next day. There have been 2 or 3 babies that have died since I came, and it just makes me realize how short life can be. My heart goes out to the families, they wait nine months for their child and then they only get a few days or weeks with him or her. I don't think I can imagine how difficult that must be for them.
On Wednesday of this week we got the most rain since I've been here. It poured most of the day, and all over the country it was flooding. Even here in Bogra, which doesn't flood as often, people were fishing in the streets! I was at the hospital that morning and I was enjoying watching it come down and fill the courtyard 5 inches deep. One of the nurses I was with told me that her house was flooded too, and then it gave me a totally different perspective on the rain. It can mean a lot of hard work for some of the people here when it rains so hard. Later that evening the Alberts and I drove out to see how the country side looked after the rain. In a lot of places where the rice fields had been it was just a wide flat pond. There were groups of people fishing by the road, which is elevated. We stopped a few times to get out and look, which I really enjoyed. Once we got home I went the the prayer meeting and one of the songs was "Dhonobad, Dhonobad" meaning thank you, thank you. That's how the chorus goes, and as it's the only one I can sing part of, they sang it so I could join in. It was really nice that they thought of me.
On Friday we went to Khanjanpur again, and while they Mr. Dewan did most of his paperwork, some of us went to Parharpur. It was an 8th century Buddhist monestery, the oldest one south of the Hymalayas. It was incredible to see. I think though that I enjoyed the drive out to it almost more than the place itself. We turned off of the main road down a smaller country road. As we drove I felt a sense of wonder that here I was, on the other side of the world, driving down a dusty road climbing in and out of potholes, watching the jute and sugar cane fields slip by, feeling almost carsick because of the bumps and turns, but then coming round a bend and seeing mud houses, cows and jute drying along the walls, under the open blue sky with giant white clouds. The country side was beautiful, and I was so thankful that God had let me come this far to see it all.
Also on Friday on the way to K. I got to see elephants! The first one I didn't see until we were almost up to it, and then as we drove by a truck drove in between us and it, so I didnt' get to see much of it. My first thought was, "Wow, I didn't just see an elephant walking down the road, did I?" About half an hour later we saw another one, and this time I got a much better view. They like to stop the elephant in the middle of the road and won't let you drive by until you pay them a little money. So we got stopped and I was glad! I could have reached out to touch it as it walked on by us. Mr. Dewan said in the seven years he has been going that way, this was only the second time he's been stopped. Most of the elephants are down in the south, so i was very happy that it happened while I was here!
Sunday we went to a church about an hour and a half away in Santahar. It was a small one, maybe only 25 people in all, and we sat on the floor. I enjoyed meeting them and worshipping with them. Maybe it seems obvious, but it was cool to realize that we were both serving the same Lord and were brothers and sisters in Christ. Someday in heaven I'll meet them again and we will be able to understand each other much better! Coming home we got stopped for a while as a truck ahead of us broke down, and it gave me time to watch a group of boys play soccer in the mud and then jump in the water to swim.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
rain!
Yesterday it rained and rained all morning. It rained all over the country, and even here in Bogra, which doesn't normally flood, the streets were covered in water. On tv they showed people fishing in the streets! One of the nurses who I worked with had her house flooded. I was enjoying watching the water in the courtyard rise, but then I realized that what I enjoyed was bringing a lot of hardship to some of the people here. That gave the rain a whole different perspective.
I've been working this week in the children's ward. Some days there are 10 or 12 patients, and yesterday when it was raining, there were only 2! Most of them are still infants, it's sad to see them sick.
Yesterday during the Wednesday prayer meeting we sang the song "Dhonobad, Dhonobad." That is part of the chorus, and it means thank you. It is the only song that I can sing along with, at least for that part. I do miss singing myself, but I have gotten to listen to the music, and it's beautiful. I recognize a lot of them, but I just don't know the words.
I've been working this week in the children's ward. Some days there are 10 or 12 patients, and yesterday when it was raining, there were only 2! Most of them are still infants, it's sad to see them sick.
Yesterday during the Wednesday prayer meeting we sang the song "Dhonobad, Dhonobad." That is part of the chorus, and it means thank you. It is the only song that I can sing along with, at least for that part. I do miss singing myself, but I have gotten to listen to the music, and it's beautiful. I recognize a lot of them, but I just don't know the words.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Khanjanpur
Yesterday I went to visit the Khanjanpur eye clinic and school with Mr. Uttam Dewan and a few others. It takes about an hour and a half to get there, and it was pouring almost the whole way. As we drove through Bogra some of the streets were totally flooded, and there weren't very many people out at all. I was happy to be out in my first downpour. The roads once you are out of the city are lined with trees and elevated above the fields. You could see people way out in the distance working in the rice paddies, even in the rain. Once we got to Khanjanpur, the rain had slowed to a sprinkle. I met Dr. Costa, who is the eye specialist there. He showed me all around the clinic, operating room, and the out patient department. He said he does about 20-30 surgeries a day, he is a very busy man! Then I got to see the girls hostel for the school their. There are about 150 students living there, but they were all away on vacation for Ramadan. I hadn't realized it before but all the schools have off for a month. I got to meet the cooks, who were still there. The last students had left that morning. Then after lunch I got to go back to the OR to see them setting up for the surgeries that afternoon. Sometime later on my trip I will be able to go back and work for a week there too, assisting with the surgeries. I'm looking forward to it! I've never done that before. Then driving home it wasn't as rainy, so I got to see more of the country. THere are haystacks all along the road, and goats and cows everywhere at times. Once we came across a tractor that was parked across the length of the road to to load something up, and we had to squeeze around it.
I have been enjoying all the pictures in the papers, and today there was one of a bazaar down by the coast, the water was up to peoples waists!
Love, Sarah
ps- if I sometimes repeat information here, I'm sorry. I can post new things, but for some reason I can't get back to look at old posts,to remember what I've written. I think i will try to post parts of my emails here too, just in case some of you don't get them.
I have been enjoying all the pictures in the papers, and today there was one of a bazaar down by the coast, the water was up to peoples waists!
Love, Sarah
ps- if I sometimes repeat information here, I'm sorry. I can post new things, but for some reason I can't get back to look at old posts,to remember what I've written. I think i will try to post parts of my emails here too, just in case some of you don't get them.
Monday, August 1, 2011
week 2
Hey Everyone!
I know it's been almost a week since my last post. I'm not the best blogger, for keeping frequent updates. Sorry! Last week I worked the day shift, and this week I will be doing the evening shift in the maternity ward and nursery. It does get hot in the hospital wearing the sari. Last evening it rained for only the second time since I've been here. It's been a pretty dry rainy season over here. This morning I was able to watch Munju make lunch. She makes the ginger paste by grinding it to a pulp with a rolling stone. The green beans are almost a foot long. THey make lunch and supper at the same time, and just save it for later. It saves time in the evening, just have to get it out of the cupboard. I had doi for the first time a few days ago. It is a cross between yougurt and pudding, and it tastes delicious. It's really rich and creamy.
I still struggle at the hospital to be able to communicate and understand sometimes. There is a lot that goes on that I don't understand, and it makes me lonely sometimes. Yesterday was especially hard for me. I'm hanging on tight to God and he has been giving me grace for each day. There is a lot I am still getting used to. I have been learning new words every day, which is good. For some reason I find myself thinking in Spanish when i want to say something and I don't know the words. Aba daka hobi. (See you later!)
Sarah
ps- hopefully my next post will be be for the next week is out. I'm going to Khanjanpur on Friday for a day.
I know it's been almost a week since my last post. I'm not the best blogger, for keeping frequent updates. Sorry! Last week I worked the day shift, and this week I will be doing the evening shift in the maternity ward and nursery. It does get hot in the hospital wearing the sari. Last evening it rained for only the second time since I've been here. It's been a pretty dry rainy season over here. This morning I was able to watch Munju make lunch. She makes the ginger paste by grinding it to a pulp with a rolling stone. The green beans are almost a foot long. THey make lunch and supper at the same time, and just save it for later. It saves time in the evening, just have to get it out of the cupboard. I had doi for the first time a few days ago. It is a cross between yougurt and pudding, and it tastes delicious. It's really rich and creamy.
I still struggle at the hospital to be able to communicate and understand sometimes. There is a lot that goes on that I don't understand, and it makes me lonely sometimes. Yesterday was especially hard for me. I'm hanging on tight to God and he has been giving me grace for each day. There is a lot I am still getting used to. I have been learning new words every day, which is good. For some reason I find myself thinking in Spanish when i want to say something and I don't know the words. Aba daka hobi. (See you later!)
Sarah
ps- hopefully my next post will be be for the next week is out. I'm going to Khanjanpur on Friday for a day.
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