I come from a long line of wanderers so it is not strange that I go to South Sudan - Now called The Republic of South Sudan - to work at Memorial Christian Hospital. I have been doing this since 2008. The hospital is located in the bush near the village of Werkok. It is northeast of Bor, if you look on a map. People walk, sometimes for days, to get medical care. Dr. Ajak is the Dr. Boss-man. He arrived a week after I did in 2008 and has graciously stayed, keeping the place open and allowing me to continue to visit and work.

Memorial Christian Hospital & Compound

Memorial Christian Hospital & Compound
I will be returning to South Sudan next month, October, 2011. I am very excited to be on my way back to the land I so love. I miss the people and hardly a day goes by that I don't think of my colleagues and friends. And, as I said in the past, I come from a long line of wanderers and the call to get back wandering is very strong!

I have recently added pictures to my blog. Please go to the beginning of the blog and read forward to see the work that is being done. This puts faces on all the people I have written about. Learn about Gabriel and his family, Dr. Ajak's work and all the Mamas. I will begin writing again as I prepare to go next month. I hope you join me on this adventure.

Monday, February 21, 2011

Ahhhhh, Monday

Up and moving early.  Plane expected around 10:20 with three more people coming here.  One is Tim Williams, one of the board members of PCC.  I promise to behave.  Got their beds ready, got some meds together for the pilot to take to Pibor (village northeast of us) and went over to the clinic for some work. Headed to the airstrip around 10:30 but the plane did not come until 11:30.  Also, a guy from the government was here, he was catching a ride to Pibor to pay all the government workers there.  And he was a Murle.  You know, that tribe that wreaks havoc on the lives of Dinka.  When he came into the compound,  there were audible gasps.  I knew he was coming and I said to someone "Is that the Murle".  Yup.  So I told them I was expecting him.  I had to tell them all to be on their best behavior and welcome him.

Clinic today was so busy.  Did not finish until after 7 pm.  The plane came back to drop off Ajak and Jacob.  Turns out the pilot, Jon Hildebrandt, did not yet have the paperwork to continue on with "The Team" to Congo, or where ever they are going.  It will be ready tomorrow.  So the team is back in Werkok.  They had a fairly horrific time in Pibor - I guess it depends on how you look at it.  500 patients per day, no facility, no food, just what they brought in.  This place is like the Hilton compared to that.  And they said so.  They truly seemed glad to be back.  See, it's not so bad here.

After doing clinic stuff, I went into the pharmacy to help.  Peter, James and I were working like crazy.  Some of the people were so impatient.  But when you have as many patients as we had, each getting 4 to 6 prescriptions, it takes awhile.  I started making up a game, I would see how someone was acting and then imagine who they reminded me of in regards to my patients in ER at home.  Some would call them frequent flyers, but in case Dr. Hamel is reading, it would not be me or any of my coworkers in ER who would dare use that terminology.

It has been  a long day.  Jon Jok said I did good for an old woman.  Hmmmm, he almost got a knuckle sandwhich.  All is good here, beautiful night, hoping to sleep tight.
Blessings, sweet (I almost wrote sweat) dreams (I crack myself up)
C

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