Thanks for all of your prayers and gifts toward our big african adventure!
kerry for the team
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
Home again, home again, jiggety jig!
Well, we made it home to 13 degrees and snow! The contrast was invigorating! We'll post some photos and some more thoughts in the days to come.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Time Flies...
Well, it's Sunday, and tomorrow we fly to Conakry, and prepare to board an 11:50pm flight to Paris, and then on to Cincinnatti.
We enjoyed a trip into the jungle yesterday to see chimps in the wild, and today had a phenomenal worship experience with a strong, lively Mano church, here in the village of N'Zao. Kerry got asked to preach and it was a fun experience for him, although he did his share of praying!
All in all, the team is ready to reunite with loved ones and eat some Chik-fil-a or similar. We've had terrific hospitality here and have hardly missed any creature comforts, but it has been extremely hot and humid. The ice storm in KY will moderate that in a matter of hours!
pray for safety and good flights,
peace,
the Guinea Team
We enjoyed a trip into the jungle yesterday to see chimps in the wild, and today had a phenomenal worship experience with a strong, lively Mano church, here in the village of N'Zao. Kerry got asked to preach and it was a fun experience for him, although he did his share of praying!
All in all, the team is ready to reunite with loved ones and eat some Chik-fil-a or similar. We've had terrific hospitality here and have hardly missed any creature comforts, but it has been extremely hot and humid. The ice storm in KY will moderate that in a matter of hours!
pray for safety and good flights,
peace,
the Guinea Team
Friday, January 30, 2009
Some Pictures!
Judy & Tracey
Mural at Conakry Airport
Mano village Futbol!
Stephen, Lori, and Hannah Albright, HOPE Clinic Directors
Our trip to N'Zerekore, landing on a dirt airstrip!
Everything is Groovy with Mark at the beginning of the trip!From Mark...
Hello from Africa!!! This has certainly been an eye opening experience for me. I came here to minister to these folks, but they ministered to me. The Hope Clinic has come a long way in such a short period of time (2003 - 2009). They see ~ 100 patients per day and serve their physical and spiritual needs. It's a blessing seeing how the staff here hold each other up and witness to the patients.
Since I don't deal with medical things very well (usually pass out at the sight of blood) they've kept me busy doing other things. Kerry & I have been mounting doors, installing interior window shades to skylights (16' up in the air) (did anyone know Kerry is a trapeze artist?) and mounting a x-ray machine in the dental unit. We're having fun! :) We frequently make the parts we need. There are no Home Depots nearby. :)
The accomodations are fantastic and the food is great! I think I'll end up gaining weight before we get back.
Thank you for your prayers for us, our missionaries, the staff here at the Hope Clinic and the special people in need that come here for physical healing. Please pray that their hearts would be open to the Gospel.
P.S. It's about 90 degrees here this afternoon! :)
Mark
Since I don't deal with medical things very well (usually pass out at the sight of blood) they've kept me busy doing other things. Kerry & I have been mounting doors, installing interior window shades to skylights (16' up in the air) (did anyone know Kerry is a trapeze artist?) and mounting a x-ray machine in the dental unit. We're having fun! :) We frequently make the parts we need. There are no Home Depots nearby. :)
The accomodations are fantastic and the food is great! I think I'll end up gaining weight before we get back.
Thank you for your prayers for us, our missionaries, the staff here at the Hope Clinic and the special people in need that come here for physical healing. Please pray that their hearts would be open to the Gospel.
P.S. It's about 90 degrees here this afternoon! :)
Mark
When You're Hot, You're Hot!
A lot of you are in frigid weather, but we're certainly not! We're having a great time, I think that God is using us in good ways and we're learning some things also.
This morning, I got to preach a simple salvation message to all of the patients waiting to be seen. They do this every morning, but they let the white guy do it today. It was an amazing experience to share through 3 translators, and also to share about Jesus with people who have NEVER heard the good news. A priviledge and joy! I hope to paste some photos tonight, but the internet isn't copperating with me right now.
peace,
kerry
This morning, I got to preach a simple salvation message to all of the patients waiting to be seen. They do this every morning, but they let the white guy do it today. It was an amazing experience to share through 3 translators, and also to share about Jesus with people who have NEVER heard the good news. A priviledge and joy! I hope to paste some photos tonight, but the internet isn't copperating with me right now.
peace,
kerry
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
View From Another Perspective
Don't want to make all of you in Lexington feel bad, but................while you are suffering through a major ice storm, we're quite toasty. Actually, it's pretty cool in the morning but by noon it's getting hot.
We've been seeing patients in consultation, probably 15-30/day depending on the needs and the complexity of their problems. Today was Clinique Maladies for patients with chronic conditions like epilepsy, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure. Visits were much quicker and mostly happier as patients are feeling much better on their medications than they did before being treated. The difficult ones are those that have waited so long to come in for treatment, that there is little that can be done for them.
On the lighthearted, frustrating side think about seeing patients and trying to figure out what is wrong when the patient and one to two family members are all talking at once, they speak a different language than the interpreter, who is then translating it all back into English for me, and the medical record is written in French! Let's just say that time efficiency is non-existent! At one time - long, long ago- I was fluent in Spanish, now I would say my skills are rudimentary at best, but the Lord is good and I'm remembering enough that I can basically read the French medical records, and can communicate some ideas with one or two words and pantomime. Deciding on treatments is both easier and harder at the same time, the pharmacy and laboratory services are limited - you only have a few choices, but you only have a few choices.
For me personally, it's been wonderful to be returning to Hope Clinic. Many of the staff remembered me and were particularly happy to know that someone would choose to return to Guinea. The people associated with Hope Clinic, missionaries and locals alike, are some of the nicest people! It's not hard to want to come back. The addition of being able to fly down here rather than drive for two days makes the return even easier. They are appreciative of all the "gifts" of food that you all have sent along! We had a food shopping party the other night - anything chocolate or salty was the first to go!
That's all for now,
Judy
We've been seeing patients in consultation, probably 15-30/day depending on the needs and the complexity of their problems. Today was Clinique Maladies for patients with chronic conditions like epilepsy, hypertension, diabetes, and heart failure. Visits were much quicker and mostly happier as patients are feeling much better on their medications than they did before being treated. The difficult ones are those that have waited so long to come in for treatment, that there is little that can be done for them.
On the lighthearted, frustrating side think about seeing patients and trying to figure out what is wrong when the patient and one to two family members are all talking at once, they speak a different language than the interpreter, who is then translating it all back into English for me, and the medical record is written in French! Let's just say that time efficiency is non-existent! At one time - long, long ago- I was fluent in Spanish, now I would say my skills are rudimentary at best, but the Lord is good and I'm remembering enough that I can basically read the French medical records, and can communicate some ideas with one or two words and pantomime. Deciding on treatments is both easier and harder at the same time, the pharmacy and laboratory services are limited - you only have a few choices, but you only have a few choices.
For me personally, it's been wonderful to be returning to Hope Clinic. Many of the staff remembered me and were particularly happy to know that someone would choose to return to Guinea. The people associated with Hope Clinic, missionaries and locals alike, are some of the nicest people! It's not hard to want to come back. The addition of being able to fly down here rather than drive for two days makes the return even easier. They are appreciative of all the "gifts" of food that you all have sent along! We had a food shopping party the other night - anything chocolate or salty was the first to go!
That's all for now,
Judy
Vive la difference!
Yesterday, our first full day of work was a day full of new sensations. Our nurses saw several patients with unusual and sometimes tragic issues. It's a daily occurence for those who are here all the time, but telling people that you can't help them because their problem is beyond the care this facility can provide isn't something that we're used to in the states.
There were prayers and tears and a deeper burden for Jesus to come and wipe away every tear from all of the eyes!
Mark and I are hanging doors, and it's a little bit like Abbot and Costello but we managed to wind up with two working doors. Today? painting and varnishing. Kenny is instructing both Robert and his staff on the proper use of instruments that are 20+ years old. These are obsolete in the states, potentially very useful here, but nobody knew what they were for until Kenny came along!! They were taking copius notes and marking them with a sharpie!
Tracey has a first class dental clinic running, and has marvelously trained Martin, a national worker. Tomorrow we are hanging some x-ray machines for her. She'll be spoiled! Actually having the ability to take x-rays of her patients mouths. What a concept!
We'll check in later....peace to you
kerry
There were prayers and tears and a deeper burden for Jesus to come and wipe away every tear from all of the eyes!
Mark and I are hanging doors, and it's a little bit like Abbot and Costello but we managed to wind up with two working doors. Today? painting and varnishing. Kenny is instructing both Robert and his staff on the proper use of instruments that are 20+ years old. These are obsolete in the states, potentially very useful here, but nobody knew what they were for until Kenny came along!! They were taking copius notes and marking them with a sharpie!
Tracey has a first class dental clinic running, and has marvelously trained Martin, a national worker. Tomorrow we are hanging some x-ray machines for her. She'll be spoiled! Actually having the ability to take x-rays of her patients mouths. What a concept!
We'll check in later....peace to you
kerry
Monday, January 26, 2009
HOPE!
We've made it to HOPE Clinic. Yesterday, we flew a pretty small plane the 1 1/2 hours and landed on a dirt airstrip! That was a first for me. We flew into N'Zerekore, a city of about a million people. They've just recently gotten 1 flight in and out per week.
They gave us a tour of the place, we had a great dinner with all of the staff last night, and today we start work in earnest.
Mark Fischer and I have elected to hang doors instead of do surgery! It was a tough decision, but one that I think will have the best outcome.
So far everyone is feeling well, but perhaps a bit tired. The dogs, chickens, and party-ers keep the night alive around here.
Thanks for the prayers....we have felt them and continue to covet them.
As I walked over to the compound this morning, dozens of the sick, halt, lame, desperate people were already lining up. Scenes remeniscent of the days when Jesus walked dusty roads.
Peace to all who are reading, and we'll keep posting as we go along.
Kerry for the team
They gave us a tour of the place, we had a great dinner with all of the staff last night, and today we start work in earnest.
Mark Fischer and I have elected to hang doors instead of do surgery! It was a tough decision, but one that I think will have the best outcome.
So far everyone is feeling well, but perhaps a bit tired. The dogs, chickens, and party-ers keep the night alive around here.
Thanks for the prayers....we have felt them and continue to covet them.
As I walked over to the compound this morning, dozens of the sick, halt, lame, desperate people were already lining up. Scenes remeniscent of the days when Jesus walked dusty roads.
Peace to all who are reading, and we'll keep posting as we go along.
Kerry for the team
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Flying Away!
Leaving Lexington at 3, Cincy at 7:45, arriving in Paris sometime tomorrow morning, then into Conakry at 9:30 pm local time...which is only 5 hours ahead of us! So tomorrow, when you're getting up from your afternoon nap, we'll be absorbing the sights and sounds of a very different place than Wilmore, KY!
Thanks for all of the donations of food and dental items for HOPE clinic and the missionaries serving there.
We'll keep you posted!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Before you know it...
Pretty soon we'll be on our way! Five of us, heading to a little village near a huge city in the smallish country of Guinea. Here's some pix of my last trip there to whet your appetite!
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