There are some of you who are wondering what has happened to the Shanks and their newsletter. As you know we left Koza and have returned home to be with Sarah and nearer our parents. In August, 2010 we spent the month with family then put Sarah back in school at UCA. During September and October we interviewed for positions around the Northwest. We also did a locums (temporary job) during that time frame. After much thought and prayer we decided to move to a small town on the west coast in Oregon. We moved here in January of this year.
This year has brought many changes: As far as work: western medicine, with western disease, seeing patients only with my area of expertise, doing the same procedures over and over, screening for diseases, electronic medical records, concern of frivolous lawsuits, ability to get a CAT scan, MRI, nuclear medicine scan, PET scan, ultrasound with a report from a radiologist, well developed X-rays that can actually see body parts well, lab work that if not done here can be sent to Portland, Seattle, or around the globe for a result, and most annoying, endless paperwork! For living: Now living in a neighborhood with mostly Caucasian neighbors, cut grass, flowers, garages, trees, and rain! Oh how we miss Pierre and Isaiah. Pierre, who in Koza fearlessly “protected” us while asleep on our front porch and pulled the grass in the front “yard” dirt to keep it “clean”, ignoring the countless plastic bags blowing around from the market across the soccer field. And Isaiah, we miss his constant whistling a happy tune, preparing our meals for whenever we were able to return from the hospital in the evening, starving after a day of work. And tirelessly ironing each of our articles of clothing to kill the fly eggs that could be deposited on them while hanging to dry outside (to avoid the …………..worm)? Tumbu larvae? For getting food: Go to the grocery store and pick up whatever kind of fruit, vegetable, meat, cereal, flour, dairy product you want to make whatever is planned for the evening. Or maybe go to the Mexican, Thai, Chinese, Subway, McDonalds…fast food or local diner you want to go to. For travel: If we want to go to a town “nearby” (maybe 30 miles away), we get in our car and drive down paved roads at high rates of speed to get there quickly. If it is many states away, we may get in an airplane and go. Now an airplane: the ones here do not require paying off the head of the airline at the airport to get a seat aboard, you can pay your ticket with an agent, online, or by phone. Then just show up with time to get through security and get on your assigned seat! No running to get an available seat and the remaining people standing have to get off and go another day. No more bike rides to the market, motorcycle taxies, minibus taxies with 18 people inside before they are willing to travel to their destination! We now walk for exercise, but not to get to work, go to the market or visit friends. For church: a building with heat and air-conditioning, a paved parking lot, a congregation that is primarily elderly, mildly ethnically diverse, sings to organ and piano music, a amplified sound system, special music, listen to a sermon in only one language (English) and understand every word. For society: to be impressed by some superficial friendships (which we easily fall into), the materialism, the desire for something for doing nothing, the apparent entitled feeling many Americans have, the seeming mockery of elders wisdom, the “obeying” of laws and traffic signals, the lack of corruptness visible in day by day interactions with authorities, Youth: who mock teachers, text while talking to adults, and revere pop icons and wish that Justin Beiber lived next door, and dream of a future major take with some new internet business, shun physical work, have no apparent work ethic yet their parents work two or three jobs to pay for their schooling, and “know more” than any previous generation yet can’t pass math, spanish, but make an “A” in computer science. (Maybe hoping that “texting” will be a new major in college, so they can pass through easily).
We are missing the simplicity of living life day by day, moment by moment! Fortunately we will not miss it all this year. We are planning on returning to Koza in a few weeks. We hear that the hospital is functioning with two new Congolese graduate physicians that have been there for six months or so. The administration with the help of the two doctors have kept it running since our departure. We appreciate those of you who continue to help Koza. Your prayers, financial support continue to support the medical care in that rural area. With your donations we are taking lab tests to Koza to replenish their machines, provide suture to do surgeries, supply multivitamins to malnourished children. In addition to these we hope to take infrared temperature probes, surgical towels, sterile gloves, and whatever else we have kept since years past that hasn’t made it over there yet. As usual we will have suitcases full of medical supplies and very little of our own gear. Guess we may have a little more of our own this year as we don’t have clothes there any longer, need insect repellant, deodorant, and other personal supplies. So we thank you for continuing to think of Koza. Though I do not know who of you donate directly to the koza hospital fund at the Summersville SDA Church, I appreciate it very much. May God continue to bless you.
Life is very different now. It makes us wish for rural African life, but also thank God for the blessings we are fortunate to have in this country. Greg