This week has been crazy busy. Lots of people with colds and sinus stuff. Not surprising as it is the time of year that the Harmattan is blowing. Fortunately we don't get it here very bad, but there is a lot of dust in the air and it is dry season as well. Many suffering from allergies as well. My real challenge has been all the other crazy things that have coming through the clinic. It has kept us on our toes to say the least.In the last couple of weeks I have been dealing with many strange things. Wounds that don't want to heal , that seem simple but just don't heal. Infections that are resistant to medications, broken bones from sports injuries, torn muscles in healthy young people,someone who was hit by a motorcycle and stroke like symptoms in a young healthy 30 year old. There have been many other strange things as well. I ask for your healing prayers for all of these and more. I also ask you to pray for me and the Crew Physician Alex as we strive to care for all of these in a challenging environment that sometimes lacks the tools we are accustom to .
On a higher note this week I had a very unique opportunity to go and tour the American Embassy here. Due to our government shut down it was a scaled down version with no parties or frills, but I enjoyed it very much. A group of about 40-50 of us took 1/2 a day off and caravaned to the Embassy. Security was high and impressive as we passed through multiple layers of security to enter the compound. For obvious reasons I will not share the details of that.
Our host we very welcoming and apologized for not being able to host us properly due to the government shut down. We did however get to hear from many of the different people working there, and learn about what they do and why they do it.
We heard from representatives from the Military, CDC, USAID, Security, and others. All in all about 10 different agencies that interact within the embassy. We learned more about the history of Guinea and how young the current government is and how well it is doing in spite of challenging circumstances. It was very encouraging. We learned that the some of the doctors and nurses that were trained by the US and others during the Ebola Crisis here, are now in Democratic Republic of Congo helping and teaching others with the current Ebola Crisis there. It made me proud to know that America has been part of helping there.
It was also nice, if even for a few hours, to feel like I was home. Inside the Embassy it felt like you were in America, with all things familiar. The building itself, the light fixtures, the furnishings, the carpet, all felt familiar and did not look or feel like what you normally see here in Africa. I was also proud to note that it was all done in simple taste, not over done or showy. We were allowed to see the office of the American Ambassador who did not happen to be there, and even His office was very simple and humble. It made me proud in a place where government power and money is often abused and used for ones own interest.
Different things stood out to different people as we chatted about it after our visit. Little things that looked like home. Art on the walls. Marines in uniform standing their posts. carpet on the floors. Pictures of America on a wall in the back of the room. A bathroom sign with a wheelchair and braille on it just like home. Pictures of the president and vice president hanging the wall. And of course, flying high in the center of the courtyard, flapping perfectly in a gentle breeze, the American flag. That was one of my good moments too.
Sadly due to security we were not allowed to take pictures, so you will just have to imagine. But it was a neat trip and I feel honored to have been allowed such a privilege.
Until next time, thanks for your prayers and support. Keep praying. This surgery block will be large head and neck surgeries and plastic surgeries. Pray for the surgeons, the patients and their families.
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