Soup Supper for Sudan - info

St. Paul's Episcopal Church's African Mission Ministry invites you to 
A Soup Supper for Sudan
Friday, January 7, 2011 from 5:30 to 8:00 pm
Located on the corner of Morton Avenue and Lane Drive in St. Joseph
Donations welcome.
Donations will go towards the purchase of medicines for Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok, South Sudan and medical education of Werkok area Sudanese

Here are some of the people we serve

Peter helps Gabriel with his studies

Planning and planning and planning, yikes

Aaron

Dr. Ajak

Planning is the name of the game at this point.  I will be leaving in just over a month.  Now is crunch time.  My plans this year are different from other years.  I will be flying into Juba, the capital of South Sudan.  I will meet Aaron and, hopefully, Dr. Ajak.  We will be purchasing medicines to take to Memorial Christian Hospital in Werkok. With all the NGO's in Juba, it should not be too difficult finding meds for sale.  Purchasing meds in Sudan saves me hundreds of dollars in excess baggage fees - money that could be used for meds and supplies.  I will also make contact with International Medical Corp.  I did drop in on them in 2008.  Will be good to reconnect. Somehow we will make our way north to Bor town and then to Werkok. 

 I am also preparing for a Soup Supper Fundraiser at St. Paul's Episcopal Church.  It is planned for January 7, 2011.  I am hoping for a nice turn out.  Please tell all your friends about it.  I am also interested in helping a Sudanese friend become a professional in the medical field.  Much will depend on if war breaks out or if he has the luxury of taking three years to become a Clinical Officer (equivalent to your Physician Assistants).  He may have to do a nursing program (one year) for the time being, if there is war.  Here is some additional information:

 

No, Really this is my LAST Word

My new best friend

OK, so here I am in Nairobi and all I can think of is to share some of my experiences here. I have never spent more than one night here and am usually running for airports. Now I am three days here. Yesterday I rode the bus, went to lunch, actually ran into someone, Deb Williamson, and was reminded that I can't go anywhere without running into someone I know.

Had a visit with a woman, Suzy Kuj. She is a Brit by birth but is now a U.S. citizen. She came to visit where I am staying in Nairobi. She is married to a Sudanese and they have three children. They live in a town called Tonj in Southern Sudan. They have been there for 10 years. I think they originally started a pastor training school but have also started a clinic - four years ago. There is much more violence in their area than there is in Werkok. She is in Nairobi because she flew out a very young boy who was shot in the face and it blew out the right side of his face. At Kijabe Hospital a pediatric plastic surgeon has made repairs. The boy will be discharged from the hospital on Saturday but they will all stay here in Nairobi until after the elections, April 11. Truly a remarkable woman. She would like for me to come to her clinic. We will see where the wind blows me.

Today Joy Mueller and I went to Village Market. It was my first time really seeing downtown Nairobi. It is beautiful. All my garden club cohorts would just be crazy with all the plants, trees, landscaping, etc. We were driven by a guy named Joe. He was a very famous futbol player for Kenya in the late 50's, 60's and 70's. As we drove around, people would honk at him, police would wave and people in general would start to talk to him. He was very very famous. Like what Bekham is now. There are even streets named after him throughout Kenya. Crazy, man.

Village Market has the Massai market today. Ton of stuff and lots of bargaining. I was a pro after about 20 minutes. I had Joy there to give support. We had lunch in a beautiful outdoor setting. The amount different nationals is mindboggling I very well could have been having a luncheon in San Francisco or some other urban city in the United States. It was most fun. And all sorts of food. After goat and antelope being my only meat for 5 weeks, I will admit I had a bit of beef. But I could have chosen gyros, Chinese, Thai, German.

Tomorrow I will go to the Nairobi National Game Park. Hopefully see some animals. I figured I should go on safari at least once while I am here.

Peaceable Kingdom

I think I am very glad to have these days in Nairobi to recoup. I work on Tuesday and so I know that I will hit the ground running once I get stateside. Again, thank you all for your support, prayers and friendship.
God's peace
C

Parting Words

Writing from Loki:
The day was warm and there was much work to be done in the hospital. I continue to feel sad about leaving. Babies weighed, foley flushed, IV lines inserted, formula made for diarrhea kids. Word came the plane is half hour out. Finishing up last minute things. Standing by the window hearing the drone of the plane, James stoking my hair, pulling it out of my eyes as the wind whipped it around. Yes, I will miss this.

Shaking a little hand

Last rounds

James' son is so much better, will go home later today

I know he will improve

Snoozin' Babe

One last look at the ward

Standing next to the plane, I look over all those whom I so love. I say bye to all, pausing at my Sudanese son, Ajak, telling him I will miss him the most. Somehow, I felt a little like Dorothy as she said bye to her new friends in Oz. Remember the lion saying he now knows he has a heart because it was breaking? My feelings exactly.

Bye my Sudanese Family

I think I will take a few months to supply pictures to each of my entries so you can have a visual. I do have pictures of most of what I wrote about. I will let you know when this is done - or occasionally check this blog.

Bye Home

To further learn about or to help this incredible project, please see the Partners in Compassionate Care (PCC) Sudan website at http://www.pccsudan.org/, contact St. Paul’s Episcopal Church African Mission Ministry at 269-983-4761, or contact me, Catherine Thomas, at 269-290-4770. We need so much help. Thank you for your interest and God’s peace to you all.
C

My Last Full Day

Started cleaning up my abode this AM before morning coffee. Maybe I have been in Sudan too long - picking up clothes a large black scorpion ran out after me. I did turn a little and he scurried back under stuff. I did not scream, run or wet my pants. Ahhh, time to go, maybe? This harsh place is really not so harsh. After finishing, mr scorpion crawled into a crack in the wall. Hope he stays there until I leave.

Busy morning at the hospital. All the babies gained weight!! The government, who will help supply their formula, wants them here at the hospital for a year and a half. They want the dad to work here and they will give a stipend and provide food for the family. This is a good thing. and now Werkok Memorial Christian Hospital will have resident triplets. We discharged two of the diarrhea kids. Then Ajak and I went to do surgeries. Had lots scheduled. Little stuff - hemorrhoidectomies, hernia, lipoma, hydracele. Also, the Governor came by. When I walked out of the OR he was so surprised to see me. Besides meeting him last year, I met with him last summer with several PCC board members, in Grand Rapids. It was really funny. He saw the babies and then went on his way. The mama is just beside herself with all these dignitaries coming to see the babies.

The day has been very hot. Even the locals are complaining about the heat. Not too much going on this afternoon. Did inpatient care and discharged some of the surgicals. At one point, I looked over at the cooking tukel and Mary the wise (sounds better than old Mary) was draped over two chairs and not moving. Young Mary was doing all the work. I don't think I have ever seen Mary not working. Our thermometer hovered around 120. And there was a hot hot wind.

Peter Kuchcon (known as Quickcorn) was stung by a scorpion this evening - several times on his foot. He is in alot of pain. He was in the cooking tukel to get boiled water for me. I needed to take it to the hospital. Peter dragged me into the tukel to look for the scorpion. OK, so I'm not THAT much Sudanese. I told him I was not standing there while a crazed scorpion hunt was being conducted. Simon, the lab tech, got out his bloodstone and taped it to the area. He said it would draw out the poison. We also gave him benadryl, prednisone and diazapam. We set up a bed for him here as he lives in North Compound. I hope he feels better by morning.

My time here winds down. I am not sure I will blog tomorrow. It will be sad for me. Some surgeries are scheduled and I'll work until the plane arrives. I really have no idea the time - just whenever it gets here. Off to Loki, then we catch a flight to Nairobi. If all works well, we will be in Nairobi by six pm. I just feel that there is so much work left to do. It is hard to walk away. Once again, I have had a blast in Sudan. Each of my trips here has been unique and wonderful. I am certain I will return. To each of you who have hopped on board my adventure, I say thanks, God's peace and good night.
C

Babies, Babies, Babies

They did not gain any weight. My mission, should I choose to accept, is to get food down them. At 10 AM I began the feedings. Every two hours. Then I put the little peanut on my lap, belly down, to burp them. All the mama's think this is the craziest thing. But I stuck to my guns and did it. It is difficult to teach the mama, who is illiterate, has no concept of time and can not even read the numbers on the side of the bottles. But this mama is observant and by the time I arrived for the 5 pm feeding, she was already finishing up the last one and had him on his stomach on her lap. He belched (go Ajak) and mama laughed. She gets it, I expect a weight gain in the AM. She is also supplementing with breast feeding.

Ahhhhh, no gain

#2 No weight gain

Feeding #1

Feeding #2

Trying to wake up #3 for his turn

I gave all the mama's on the compound some new flip flops and some fragrant soaps. Today is international women's day. In many areas of Sudan and in many African countries, this is a big deal. They were so surprised because they had not ever celebrated this before. They were really pleased. This place could not work without these mama's. They do our cooking, they do the wash, clean and keep the place going. Two of the mama's work in the hospital. Not onnly cleaning, but rocking babies, comforting people and praying with those in the ward. They are amazing. They are made of strong stock and have been through more than any of us can even imagine. And they are very lovable.

Giving gifts for Woman's Day

Receiving a Dinka "thank you" pat

Some of the Mama's who make my life easy on the compound

My time is winding down. It was really busy at the hospital. Typical Monday. We continue receiving diarrhea kids. John Makach, Aaron and Matt went to Juba to get the white land cruiser fixed. Something has been wrong with the starter for some time. The part is here, now to get someone to fix it. We did receive word that they arrived safely and had the car already in the shop. I do miss them. Mike and I spent the early evening going over our time here. It is amazing the things that have been accomplished. Even having the hospital building here is an act of faith and perseverance. PCC keeps chuggin' along. I hope all involved in the organization realize the impact this hospital is having on so many people's lives. Truly a miracle. We are watched by God, I am sure of it.

John, Aaron and Matt off to Juba

God's peace,
C

Another Lazy Sunday

Church this morning. Went to the Pentacostal Church since the Episcopal church was having a joint service in another area. Did not really want to travel. Many of the hospital staff go to this church. It was fine. Preaching about the word of God, then some prayers and then music. Drums primarily. Lots of jumping up and down and dancing around. Lots of fun. The Pastor, while preaching, made some comment like "even the old kawaja mama..." pointing to me. He backpedalled and said "with the very young face". Hmmmm, nice recovery. Everyone was crackin' up. The mama's from the compound were howling. After the service everyone came up to me calling me Kawaja Mama Dinka??? It was crazy. I was laughing.

Listening to the Word of God

Hok dancing

Mary & Lual playing drums

Came back to the compound and did rounds. Everyone is doing really well. Hopefully the diarrhea siege is starting to wane. Also, the triplets held their own. One had a weight gain and the other two held at their same number. While weighing them the Commissioner of Bor stopped by with his wife. He is a great guy - he said they were driving by (with a little bit of an entourage) and pulled in the "see the kids". I think his wife really likes the kids. She is amazed by their size. They have about five grown kids - one set of twins. He did see us when we were headed to the leper colony. He ask me if I saw him waving at me. I said "of course, didn't you see me waving back" I think he likes me.

It was so hot this afternoon. I went hunting in one of the containers and came across a hose and sprinkler. So we set it up. We were running through the sprinkler. All the Dinka were watching us. Very strange behavior seemed to be what there thoughts were. They just shook their heads. But it was really refreshing. It made our afternoon. Otherwise, lazy day. Reading Sookie Stackhouse books. My Kindle is workable - I dropped it (serves me right after coveting it so much) and now I have a blank spot on the top line. But I seem to manage in understanding the story ok.

Dr. Mike and Aaron cooling off in the sprinkler

This is heaven

Aaron all cooled down

Well, off to the shower. I enter my last week. It is sad for me.
God's peace
C

Ahh, The Weekend

Saturday, the day of rest. Oh wait, that is tomorrow. Confused for a moment. We were praising God this morning as all three babies gained weight!! This is the first. They weigh 2.7, 2.8 & 3.2 lbs. They are all looking good. Mom is feeling good and moving around alot more. Dad is handling the babies and helping - very undinka like. I made bracelets for them to tell them apart. Khor, which means lion and is Peter the nurse's given name, is yellow, Ajak is blue, and Michael is orange. I also put these colors on their bottles so we can measure how much each is eating. Then into the ward. Sick babies all resting - at least for now.

They are growing

Oops spoke too soon. Baby Khor(not one of the triplets) screaming. Gave ORS and he immediately started the routine of poopin' but he is so thirsty. Has had an IV going and is not dehydrated. I walked around holding him, massaging his belly for about 40 minutes until he calmed down. This is so frustrating.

Baby Khor did recover after several days

In the afternoon, Ajak, John Makech and I went to Bor. I bought stuff for the mama's who work on the compound. A thank you for all they do for me. I have also found out that Monday is "Women's Day" sounds similar to our Mother's day. So it will be perfect to present the goodies I got for them on Monday.

We met with Dr. Deng. Had a lot of fun just talkin' and visiting. Deng is director of SMC - Sudan Medical Corp. He heads up about 12 clinics. We talked about the leper colony. He also has visited them and has some proposals in to the government. We talked about their needs - a fence that outlines their property, currently there is a secondary school encroaching on their land. The school has already built a fence right over the road used to get to the leper colony. That is why we had to hike through the jungle to get to them. There is also a need for new shelter. Their homes are really falling down. And it would be a great project for someone to go in and evaluate and teach agriculture. It is right along the Nile so there is plenty of water. It would be nice for them to be able to grow food for their consumption and some for providing an income.

Gathering together, lots to talk about in Sudan

Dr. Deng making a point about the clinics he runs

Taking some time to relax

We also had long conversations on different projects for South Sudan that would generate jobs and revenue. The people lost so much during the war. The main thing they lost was their knowledge. They spent 25 years moving around and trying to avoid the conflict. They lost their knowledge of commerce, of agriculture and there were no schools during that time. That is why Gabriel is 37 years old and just finishing up high school. He started his senior year last week. Lots of people stopped by our table and joined in the conversation. It was interesting to hear their views. Nobody has the illusion of another country or an NGO saving them. They know they must do it on their own.

The time passed quickly and before I knew it, John was pulling my arm saying we must be on our way. It was rapidly becoming dark and it is not safe to travel in the dark. I said my good-byes to all, knowing I would not see them again this trip. It is a really hard thing to think about - leaving.

John Makech, the best driver in Sudan, navigated the dirt roads as easily as I navigate the bumps on Ridgeway. He knows them all. Most of the time we are on the wrong side of the road, it is smoother. The sky quickly turned black, the wind picked up and in the distance we could see lightening flashing over the bush. It truly was a beautiful and awesome sight. We passed the villages and before I knew it, went around that last curve and saw the lights of the hospital - the generator is on. Once again, delivered safely back to my home in Sudan.

John getting me back safely

Thanks be to God,
C

I Can't Believe This Day

Early to hospital, couple of trips there during the night. Still have a problem child with this diarrhea. I am so concerned. He is the son of someone I know. Dr. Samuel, Administrator of Bor State Hospital, said they have also seen this increase in little ones with diarrhea. One symptom is intense abdominal pain and watery poop every 10 minutes. Hope you are not reading this during a meal!! Any suggestions from anyone?

James and his sick son

In the afternoon, we went to the leper colony. It was incredible. But let me back up to the trip there. We were on the road to Juba, sounds like a great opening line for a novel. We turned into the village of Malek and drove through towards the river Nile. We then had to park the car and walk the rest of the way. We really were in a jungle! Waiting for Tarzan to swoop down. AhhhhAhhhhAhhhhAh. We were on a small path and a herd of sheep came running towards us, yikes a stampede. They were being chased by a HUGE baboon. One little sheep in the front had a mangled face. It was crazy, you can't make this s*** up! Then Ajak grabbed a huge stick with thorns in it and John Makech grabbed rocks - they were going to protect us. This was so hilarious. The baboon saw us and hit the brakes and the guys chased him away.

Stampeding sheep, baboon off in the distance

So on with the lepers. As we all know, leprosy is an ancient disease. Not much has changed here. They are ostracized from society. Their village is really very beautiful along the Nile, but their conditions are just horrid. The tukels are falling down, not really shelter from rain. The clinic, that used to be used and has not seen any medical staff since 2003, is now used to house chickens. The age of the people there was odd. There were young children and old people. No one above about 25. I think that they leave to work, they do not have the disease at this point, and they leave their children there with the old folks.

The older folks all had missing fingers and toes. They did not seem too sick. The children were really quite healthy looking. I believe this is in part to their being sequestered from society and not being exposed to the everyday ills. Very curious. It was a really incredible experience.

Beautiful children

Dr. Ajak and a new friend

We all gathered around the chief as he told his people's story

New friends

Living with a terrible disease

Beautiful smile

I had promised to keep these shorter. I have not done a very good job. Sorry about that. So I will sign off now.
C

What a Difference A Day Makes

OK, I know I was wordy on the last two posts. Will try to keep it down. Very busy morning. I spend a couple of hours teaching mama's how to feed with a bottle. When I put the baby on my shoulder to burp him, their eyes went wide and an old mama started cursing me. Or at least that is what it seemed like. So I belched to let them know the baby needed to do this or have a tummy ache. Right on cue, baby Khor let one rip. All the ladies laughed and Khor snuggled into my shoulder to sleep. He was a great prop.

Feeding every two hours then a good burp

The Minister of Health paid us a visit

The triplets are losing weight. Of course it is to be expected, but they really can not afford to lose any. We are trying to figure out a schedule of feeding and seeing if the mama needs help. She is tired. Her husband, contrary to Dinka custom, has been at her side and is now even holding the little guys. But you can tell he is terrified.

Too tiny, losing weight

The good news is that the Minister of Health and the Director General paid us a visit today. They have gotten support from the Governor and other agencies and will provide money to the hospital to then purchase formula. Sounds like they are talking for a year to a year and a half. Also, they are insisting that they live near here in case there are medical problems. Once the kids hit 2 kilos, I think we will move them to the building we use for family members. No one really uses it, so it will be perfect. I think we will start raising kids here! Yup, the new poster children for South Sudan social services. I figured. They also gave some sorgum and sugar.

Gifts of formula and food for the family

Then the Minister for Bor County came by with his wife. They also are willing to help on the county level. The couple were just speechless. They are simple folks. They are beside themselves and overwhelmed. It has been a very good day. Quite happy after the tragedy of yesterday. Ahhh, God is good.
C