Brooke was on her way to the Gondola Hospital to sit with the HIV nurses and learn their system. Because she is licensed as a nurse in Mozambique, she is able to work in the hospital once a week. Sometimes I go into town with her during this time, but today was to be a day of rest...
Soon after she left, our neighbor Nana came by to let me know that she was going to be treating a baby who has a abscess on her chin in her clinic. Nana is a nurse who was trained in Africa and has worked here her whole life. She is a precious resource who teaches us many things about practicing here. She started and ran the general clinic at Maforga for 20+ years, but has since "retired." Rebbecca took the clinic over, but had to return to the UK for several months to have a baby. The clinic has been closed during this time, so I had never seen it. This was a good opportunity to learn from Nana and see the clinic.
The clinic is very impressive, stocked with many medications, supplies and necessary examination equipment. We first treated the baby, then a man who was burned last Saturday when a paraffin lamp exploded in his face.
While I was with Nana, I told her about a child that we saw in the community with Kwashiorkor. This is severe malnutrition caused by protein deficiency. (see pictures of Augusto in later entries) She gave me good insight into how to care for him and nurse him back to health. The vovo who is caring for him is looking after 11 orphans. Their primary food comes from an assistance program that is providing one week of food for 3 of the orphans every Thursday. They said that food lasts for 2 days between all 12 people. We will talk to the vovo about bringing the child here to Maforga with a caregiver for 1-2 weeks so that we can train the caregiver on how to provide proper nutrition to the child and nurse him back to health.
After visiting with Nana, another nurse with Maforga stopped by. Jackie is from South Africa and is responsible for looking after the orphans and the baby clinic. She was talking to Nana about a young girl who grew up here, Candida. She has a chronic illness and was just discharged from the hospital after getting treatment for Malaria. It is possible that she has TB again, even though she was treated last year. She is married, but her husband nor his family is able to take care of her. She is unable to keep her infections meds in control and is still very weak. To the left is a picture of Heida, Candida and Auntie Mav.
Jackie and I had a very good conversation about how we can best care for Candida. Together we walked to the main house where Candida is now living. Auntie Mavis came out to greet us. She said that Candida is doing a bit better and is wanting to come outside. Jackie, Heida (a nurse from Germany) and me helped Candida into a chair and carried her out to the veranda. It was good to see her outside.
Shortly I will go back to the main house to take some music to Candida. It is good that she is here. I pray and ask that you would pray as well that she would know and feel very loved by her family here and the Lord. Please pray that she receive the Lord's love and that the Lord would give us all wisdom regarding how to care for her in these days.
Isn't the Lord amazing! He has brought a nurse from South Africa, the US, Germany and Zambia (Nana) to care for Candida. May she know just how loved that she truly is.
(can you believe that all of this happened before 10am! you can see how full our days are here! after I returned from the main house with Candida, I was able to begin my "day of rest.")
Soon after she left, our neighbor Nana came by to let me know that she was going to be treating a baby who has a abscess on her chin in her clinic. Nana is a nurse who was trained in Africa and has worked here her whole life. She is a precious resource who teaches us many things about practicing here. She started and ran the general clinic at Maforga for 20+ years, but has since "retired." Rebbecca took the clinic over, but had to return to the UK for several months to have a baby. The clinic has been closed during this time, so I had never seen it. This was a good opportunity to learn from Nana and see the clinic.
The clinic is very impressive, stocked with many medications, supplies and necessary examination equipment. We first treated the baby, then a man who was burned last Saturday when a paraffin lamp exploded in his face.
While I was with Nana, I told her about a child that we saw in the community with Kwashiorkor. This is severe malnutrition caused by protein deficiency. (see pictures of Augusto in later entries) She gave me good insight into how to care for him and nurse him back to health. The vovo who is caring for him is looking after 11 orphans. Their primary food comes from an assistance program that is providing one week of food for 3 of the orphans every Thursday. They said that food lasts for 2 days between all 12 people. We will talk to the vovo about bringing the child here to Maforga with a caregiver for 1-2 weeks so that we can train the caregiver on how to provide proper nutrition to the child and nurse him back to health.
After visiting with Nana, another nurse with Maforga stopped by. Jackie is from South Africa and is responsible for looking after the orphans and the baby clinic. She was talking to Nana about a young girl who grew up here, Candida. She has a chronic illness and was just discharged from the hospital after getting treatment for Malaria. It is possible that she has TB again, even though she was treated last year. She is married, but her husband nor his family is able to take care of her. She is unable to keep her infections meds in control and is still very weak. To the left is a picture of Heida, Candida and Auntie Mav.Jackie and I had a very good conversation about how we can best care for Candida. Together we walked to the main house where Candida is now living. Auntie Mavis came out to greet us. She said that Candida is doing a bit better and is wanting to come outside. Jackie, Heida (a nurse from Germany) and me helped Candida into a chair and carried her out to the veranda. It was good to see her outside.
Shortly I will go back to the main house to take some music to Candida. It is good that she is here. I pray and ask that you would pray as well that she would know and feel very loved by her family here and the Lord. Please pray that she receive the Lord's love and that the Lord would give us all wisdom regarding how to care for her in these days.
Isn't the Lord amazing! He has brought a nurse from South Africa, the US, Germany and Zambia (Nana) to care for Candida. May she know just how loved that she truly is.
(can you believe that all of this happened before 10am! you can see how full our days are here! after I returned from the main house with Candida, I was able to begin my "day of rest.")
3 comments:
greetings Jean Aimee from Dallas! Yesterday at Hillcrest Jeff N told me how awesome your posts are in reporting the amazing things that God is doing! He is so right… and you are in the right place. God bless you abundantly with the strength and wisdom, and everything else you need, to do all that the Lord has put within your heart!
Paul and Cindy, Lauren and Robert
Jean Aimee, your writing is such sunshine and hope!!! I was in tears reading your thoughts and experiences today... living them with you... longing to be there too. I am so glad that YOU are there, my friend. Keep on writing... it's a great blessing. Mozambique, well, I can't think of anything to type but I'm just smiling looking at the name. We are together!!! :)
Hi Jean Aimee.
We're so glad to hear that the little guy (Agusto?) is going to get some respite @ Maforga. His plight has haunted us since you and Brooke took us out into the bush with you. Thankyou so much for doing that. It was very distressing at times, but it was a privilege to see how much our God cares for people.
Incidentally Nana said to us that you and Brooke both had "big hearts". Coming from Nana that is a compliment!!
The Lord bless you both.
Andy and Barbara ( Auntie Mave's English friends).
Post a Comment