Dear Family and Friends,
Its been a while since we wrote because we have been
busy, as Im sure all of you have. We just finished
our Meningitis season with 60 patients in house and
now we are down to 15. Feast then Famin. Feast was
good we finally caught up with all of our back
salaries, but now with it as slow as it is we will be
going backwards again. The local population just does
not have enough to support the prices necessary to
support a self sufficient hospital. We are praying
for other sources or ways to augment our income to
continue the quality of care we want and should give.
So now that meningitis is done we now have the
vomiting and diarrhea season starting. Now it has
rained a few times and whenever there is standing
water it is much easier to get and use that water than
to look for it a number of kilometers away from your
house and carry it in a clay pot back to your house
every day. So it is no supprise that they get the
diarrhea and vomiting. It has been especially hot up
to 110 deg F and down to 95 deg during the night.
Feels like a sauna when the fan blows that hot of air
on you. For the last week we didnt have to worry
about the fan, We had NO electricity. We attempted to
start the generator for the hospital to replenish the
water tower and recool the refrigerator with the
vaccinations… in it but it was connected to the
battery incorrectly and blew up the starter. So after
spending a few days and a bit of money we were
fortunate to get it fixed and get it started. We ran
it for 4 hours (5 liters an hour $1/liter) Wow, thats
expensive. Also didnt have long enought to get the
fridge cool or the water tower full. So we gave up on
it. Did another surgery by Petzel headlamp, a
strangulated inguinal hernia. It was terribly hot and
I couldnt keep from dripping on the patient. Terrible
sterility that night and nothing I could do about it.
We just kept on wiping our brows hoping to stop the
dipping without avail. When all done it looked as if
we had showered with our cloths on we were so wet.
We were blessed recently with a visit from the Appells
form Bere, Chad. They came here for about a week to
let the unrest in Chad die down before going back to
their hospital. We were very happy to have them with
us for a few days and James Appell helped on that
surgery as well. What a wonderful few days it was
with them.
We are still counding the time till we get to come
back to the US. Still trying to find out about
tickets, but plan on being there end of June to mid
August. We hope to see as many of you as possilbe
though our travels will be primarily limited to the
East and our families.
Please keep us and this hospital in your prayers.
There is much to do both spiritually, physically, and
financially. Thank you for all your notes and help.
In His Service, Greg