Ok so it was awful!
I first want to say thank you for all of the letters and prayers. It was so encouraging to see that you all are with me in spirit. It really touched me and made me not feel so alone in all of this.
We went over to the hospital and went into the surgery room. We had a hard time getting started because the three doctors that were helping me were all new as of this week and we couldn't find everything. We finally got things ready to go and here I am with three doctors and they don't normally start IVs in the states. One of them tried and after feeling a little like a pin cushion they went and got one of the local nursing aides to help out and he took care of me with no problem. Yeah! So now they are ready to get started. I laid down on my stomach and propped my head on a couple gowns and tried to relax. The first thing they put in the IV was dyasapam (not sure of the spelling) which chilled me out like Valium but it burned like fire going into my veins. Then came the crazy stuff, Ketamine but this time it didn't make me as crazy as the first time and I just went right to sleep. Eventually I end up waking up to several voices and one being James Appel. As I try to focus and get my bearings straight I was instructed by all four doctors that I am not suppose to let my foot touch the ground for at least a week. Also I am to lay down and get up for nothing but potty breaks. I wasn't prepared to hear all that yet. They put me in a wheelchair and wheeled me over to the house. I was still very confused and having a hard time focusing on much of anything being said on the way. We got to the front door and Jamie and Michelle helped me up the steps and then I hobbled through the house to the couch where they let me go. At this point all I could think or feel was pain and the pain was getting stronger and stronger. I felt like I had to hold my breath and work through it. I began to moan and then come the tears. Oh! No! I need pain medication right now. Each of my kids came and did whatever they could to help me and get me what I needed. Finally Dr. Liz came over with some glorious pain medication and after about 45 minutes the pain started to let up. Thank you, Jesus!
The part that bothers me the most is that this is going to be a long road of healing. I understand that because the infection is so deep that they have to keep it an open wound for a while so that means I will be getting a dressing change every day. But the problem with that is that the way they keep it open is they stuff the wound with sterile packing and remove it and repack it every day. I am going to need prayer for strength to get through those dressing changes. I wonder why it is that God wants me to understand what the local people are going through at the hospital when the hospital is doing this sort of thing on so many people every day. I admit it, I am not as tough as the people here. I have no idea how I am going to do it. The first time they packed it and Jamie and I took the packing out I cried through the whole thing trying to get that out. I don't know, this will be interesting how my life is going to be this next week. I will keep you informed on my drama though cause it sounds like I won't have much of anything else to do.
Till tomorrow, I am getting tired real fast now. Thank you for everything.
* Love, Tammy
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Mar 03, 2010
Well friends and family,
I find myself under a situation that I have to go back under the knife. There is a lot of infection deep down in my heal. It is causing me a lot of pain. It is not getting better but worse with redness and lovely oozing. Nice huh? Well around here we talk to each other about all kinds of body functions. Dr. Liz (a new volunteer doctor from the states) is going to try and put me under again with that tripping medicine and then cut right into me and try to clean out the infection. This will all take place in a couple of hours when things die down at the hospital. I tell you all of this cause now I am feeling concerned and I need prayer warriors for my foot. I see now how fast it can go from bad to worse in such a short time. I know it is going to kill me too to not be able to walk around. Any of you who know me know what I am talking about. I am going to have to keep my foot up and not walk on it. Boring!!!
I want to thank all of you who sent me encouraging letters. I feel so blessed to have so many good friends. I miss you all so very much.
Love,
Tammy
I find myself under a situation that I have to go back under the knife. There is a lot of infection deep down in my heal. It is causing me a lot of pain. It is not getting better but worse with redness and lovely oozing. Nice huh? Well around here we talk to each other about all kinds of body functions. Dr. Liz (a new volunteer doctor from the states) is going to try and put me under again with that tripping medicine and then cut right into me and try to clean out the infection. This will all take place in a couple of hours when things die down at the hospital. I tell you all of this cause now I am feeling concerned and I need prayer warriors for my foot. I see now how fast it can go from bad to worse in such a short time. I know it is going to kill me too to not be able to walk around. Any of you who know me know what I am talking about. I am going to have to keep my foot up and not walk on it. Boring!!!
I want to thank all of you who sent me encouraging letters. I feel so blessed to have so many good friends. I miss you all so very much.
Love,
Tammy
Mar 01, 2010
I spent my Saturday afternoon at the hospital in the surgery room. I have been having some real trouble with one of my feet on the heal. Something at one point got inside and then it got really infected and I couldn't walk on it anymore. This place is so hard on your feet. Jamie has always had soft smooth nice feet and now they are sometimes unrecognizable. Your feet are in the dirt so much there is just no way to keep them clean. No way! And they are so dry and messed up. I can't wait to come back to the states and get one pedicure after another.
So there I am on the gurney and I have all my family there plus 3 American doctors, 1 anesthesiologist, and 2 nurses. I was in good hands. But when the anesthesiologist tried to numb my foot it was just not getting it (and I was being a big baby) so they decided to put me out with some crazy, crazy tripping medicine. It felt like at least an hour but they said it only took 10 minutes to open it up and clean it out. Dr Appel had to go really deep to get all of the infection out so I am very sore and glad it is over. By the time I was waking up everyone had left and gone to the river. Jamie, Michelle and Franklin the anesthesiologist stayed behind to be sure I was going to wake up okay. I did (of course) but it was quite the experience. This place is so hard on your body in so many ways. The rest of my night was spent feeling out of this world.
I just wanted to share my pain with all of you that I care about. Just another episode at the Parker house in Africa.
Love you all and miss you very much!
Tammy
So there I am on the gurney and I have all my family there plus 3 American doctors, 1 anesthesiologist, and 2 nurses. I was in good hands. But when the anesthesiologist tried to numb my foot it was just not getting it (and I was being a big baby) so they decided to put me out with some crazy, crazy tripping medicine. It felt like at least an hour but they said it only took 10 minutes to open it up and clean it out. Dr Appel had to go really deep to get all of the infection out so I am very sore and glad it is over. By the time I was waking up everyone had left and gone to the river. Jamie, Michelle and Franklin the anesthesiologist stayed behind to be sure I was going to wake up okay. I did (of course) but it was quite the experience. This place is so hard on your body in so many ways. The rest of my night was spent feeling out of this world.
I just wanted to share my pain with all of you that I care about. Just another episode at the Parker house in Africa.
Love you all and miss you very much!
Tammy
Feb 23, 2010
I just thought I would share one of my days in Africa with you.
Yesterday I took Cory and Tony on my new scooter that Jamie recently got me, to Lia. It is the closest town from here. Usually it takes around 20 minutes to get there. But when you leave here that is when the adventure starts. One of the reasons I wanted to go was to take Tony cause he has never been anywhere before. It is hard for me to think of the little town of Bere being my life and that is it. So anyways here goes the three of us on the scooter in the sand. We start out well and then a little less than half way there our tire pops. We pull over and try to think what in the world are we going to do. Well I of course call Jamie. He tells us to flag down another motorcycle and see if they have a pump and if so try to get to Lia then get it changed. So we did and the first guy didn't have one. The second guy didn't either but had a better solution. First of all the guy driving was a mechanic and the guy on the back was the tailor at the school that is making all the uniforms and he recognized Tony. Thank you Jesus! They were headed back to Bere and said that they would get me another tube and the mechanic would come back and put it on for me. It took him a while to get back and I told the boys that he may have made his quickest 2000F and kept the money or that he is just enjoying a nice cold coke in the market as we sit here out in the middle of literally nowhere. They laughed! I gave the guy 2000F to get me another tube in faith that he would come back. He did! He changed the tire and we were on our way again. Once we got into Lia I got stopped by the police. I thought ok here we go what do they want. I knew that I had all the papers I needed to be legal. We have only had the scooter for about 1 1/2 weeks and have been stopped two times already. Let me explain, if you don't have all their proper papers then you get charged for each piece of paper you don't have. I had confidence cause I knew already that I had all the right papers. I did know that I kind of went through my first stop sign coming into Lia. I am not use to stop signs anymore and whoop there one was. Anyways I think the boys got a little shook up but I didn't. Thank you Jesus again cause I think it came across that way too in the way I dealt with them. So he wasn't stopping me cause I went through a stop sign so, he stopped me cause I am not suppose to have 3 on a scooter. Now if I was a regular motorcycle then it would be ok. So I told them that I didn't know that rule cause the scooter was new. They talked a lot among themselves and kept asking me questions. They finally got to the question about where I worked and if I worked for the hospital in Bere. I told them no but that I was a teacher at the school and that my husband worked at the hospital. Something like that piece of information is very good information to share. As they were trying to decide what to do with me cause they were telling me that I had to pay 3000 F for having three people. I sent the boys on to the market and I told them I would meet them there. Right after they left they told me that they were going to let me go without a fine. Esp. since we are from the hospital. Yeah! I got to go without a fine. As I am driving the scooter toward the boys near the market I thought to myself. "I cannot believe I am doing all this." I promise 6 months ago I would never leave Bere alone. What was I thinking? What would my mother think if she could see me now? Well we got to show Tony around Lia and do a little shopping. We had a really good time after all the drama. It was fun to see Tony "out in the world". I could tell that he was a little out of his comfort zone but I think it is good for him. I am still not use to the market in Bere and am out of my comfort zone. And most of the people in the market are Arabic and Tony does not know a lot of Arabic so he could feel what we feel everyday at the market in Bere. One outfit, one mat, one pump for the scooter and some limes later we were on our way back to Bere but not all three of us. Cory took a "klondo" a motorcycle taxi back to Bere. He was really afraid to do it but when we saw him in Bere he had faced his fear and was happy he did it.
It is just one adventure after another here. You never know what one day after the other is going to bring you. That is surprisingly one of the things I like about this place. I feel like I am really living! This has really been the best experience of my life. Yes, I have been out of my comfort zone and yes, I have done things that I never thought I would but that it part of the fun. To look back and say yes, I did it! I look back at everything we all have experienced here and it is just an amazing thing. Not easy that is for sure and yes, I have shed a lot of tears but nevertheless it has all been worth it.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mum
Many people call me Mum. I am happy to have the name cause here it is a sign of love and respect. Sometimes they call me "Mama Cory" and for the first time yesterday was called "Mama Tony" I love it. I am so happy to say that now I am receiving thank you letters and I want to share them with you. Cause if it were not for all of you we would not be able to have this opportunity to receive all the blessings that comes from loving the people here.
Dear Mum!
How are you? Hello! I hope you are fine with all your family. Dear Mum, just to thank you so much for you kindness towards me and all my family. I thank God so much because I am an Orphan, I didn't know how to do in my life, but God had a plan for me. I thank God again for bringing you in my country "Chad" particularly in my village "Bere" to help people. I wish God to use each of us for his mission. I am so glad to see your help on the other orphans in our college and primary school, as we are human beings, we don't know what to do exactly to make you happy, but God is the only one that can make you happy. I will be praying for you and your family. Have a good stay in my country "Chad".
Your son, Valery
Dear Mum!
How are you? Hello! I hope you are fine with all your family. Dear Mum, just to thank you so much for you kindness towards me and all my family. I thank God so much because I am an Orphan, I didn't know how to do in my life, but God had a plan for me. I thank God again for bringing you in my country "Chad" particularly in my village "Bere" to help people. I wish God to use each of us for his mission. I am so glad to see your help on the other orphans in our college and primary school, as we are human beings, we don't know what to do exactly to make you happy, but God is the only one that can make you happy. I will be praying for you and your family. Have a good stay in my country "Chad".
Your son, Valery
Feb 8, 2010
My eyes opened quickly as the thoughts of all the things that had to be done came rushing to the front of my mind. The morning had a chill to it and I could hear the pounding of grain by hand by the women who work so hard to feed their children so early in the morning.
I jumped out of bed to get things ready for the day. I had Zashee (the cook) coming because James and Sarah are out of town and the wash lady was coming and I needed to sort the clothes for her. I began my morning thinking I was going to get a lot of things done early and be on top of things. That is just not how things work around here.
I was interrupted by a knock at the door. Emmanuel, came to me looking very sad. This is the boy that had spent many months in the hospital due to the amputation to his arm. I looked at him and asked why he was not going to school. He just looked at me in sadness knowing if he talked to me I would not understand him. I took him over to the hospital to have Michelle interpret for me. I learned that his 15 y/o brother just died the day before in a car accident and he needed to get to his village to be with his family. His village is about 20 miles away so I knew we would need to get him a "klondo", that is, a taxi motorcycle. I quickly got myself together to head to the market with Emmanuel. We walked in silence as thoughts came rushing to my head about all the sadness this place has to offer the children. I realized that my sensitivity toward death was becoming numbed. I have seen and heard of more people dying in this place in 7 months than I have in my whole life. As I walked with him I took in the scenery of the place. The dirt trail and all the grass huts. I began to really look and saw a really broken down hut with trash everywhere and two children home alone. The children were about 2 -3 year of age. They come running out to the trail to great the Nasara with their dirty hands stretched out to touch me. As I looked into their snotty nose faces I thought about how crazy it was that they were all alone. I just prayed that God would take care of them as I went on my way feeling a sense of helplessness knowing that there was nothing I could do for them. As we approached the market I saw another 3 year old little girl walking along and buying something to put into water to flavor it. She was so tiny but acted as though she owned the place. My next encounter was a little girl about 8 years old and she is a friend of mine. Our first encounter was when we had been here just about 2 months and she was working hard trying to sell what looked like tiny pancakes in a bag. She would walk around the market making what money she could. I felt impressed to buy a bunch which was equivalent to 2 US dollars. I bought everything on her plate on her head that day and ever since we have been friends. I help her when I can and suddenly an old lady comes for money for food. I thought "perfect" the old lady wanted food and the young girl wanted to sell her food so I overpaid the little girl for two bags of pancake food and handed it to the old lady knowing the old lady was really wanting the money. I just looked at her with a smile and handed her the food and walked away as I wished her well. Emmanuel still with me and making noises to let me know he can't believe what I go through just going to the market. Some things you just know what a person is thinking without all the words. He just looked at me and made a wow noise and we continued on. I told Emmanuel to go to the klondo man without me so he could get a better price "without the Nasara". So I sent him on his way and I took a walk around the block. As I approached the klondo I asked Emmanuel how much it was going to cost him, he said 2000 F and I was thinking wow that is really great. But then my plan broke, the klondo man came over and now said it was going to be 4000 F. Trying to argue as much as my broken French would allow I finally gave up and let Emmanuel just go but I let it be known I was not happy with the "Nasara tax". I wished him well and sent him on his way. As I made my way back home I just prayed for him and his situation. As I walked through the market again I felt as though I was in a movie. I had people saying things to me as I walked by. Mostly not knowing a word they have said. I prayed begging that God would allow me to grasp this language. I would look up for a moment long enough to see an Arab man pass me and say something into my face as he moved along quickly. I suddenly felt so alone and so sad. "God take all of this from me". I stand out in the market like a light in the dark and everyone turns and looks. This is something that has been so hard for me since we have moved here. You can't walk a block and not hear them calling the "Nasara". The rest of my journey home was spent just talking to my Lord. Sometimes you can be around so many people but yet feel all alone. I got home and looked at the clock 9:30 a.m. I still had my whole day ahead of me. Again God just help me to not get overwhelmed and help whoever and however I can.
I jumped out of bed to get things ready for the day. I had Zashee (the cook) coming because James and Sarah are out of town and the wash lady was coming and I needed to sort the clothes for her. I began my morning thinking I was going to get a lot of things done early and be on top of things. That is just not how things work around here.
I was interrupted by a knock at the door. Emmanuel, came to me looking very sad. This is the boy that had spent many months in the hospital due to the amputation to his arm. I looked at him and asked why he was not going to school. He just looked at me in sadness knowing if he talked to me I would not understand him. I took him over to the hospital to have Michelle interpret for me. I learned that his 15 y/o brother just died the day before in a car accident and he needed to get to his village to be with his family. His village is about 20 miles away so I knew we would need to get him a "klondo", that is, a taxi motorcycle. I quickly got myself together to head to the market with Emmanuel. We walked in silence as thoughts came rushing to my head about all the sadness this place has to offer the children. I realized that my sensitivity toward death was becoming numbed. I have seen and heard of more people dying in this place in 7 months than I have in my whole life. As I walked with him I took in the scenery of the place. The dirt trail and all the grass huts. I began to really look and saw a really broken down hut with trash everywhere and two children home alone. The children were about 2 -3 year of age. They come running out to the trail to great the Nasara with their dirty hands stretched out to touch me. As I looked into their snotty nose faces I thought about how crazy it was that they were all alone. I just prayed that God would take care of them as I went on my way feeling a sense of helplessness knowing that there was nothing I could do for them. As we approached the market I saw another 3 year old little girl walking along and buying something to put into water to flavor it. She was so tiny but acted as though she owned the place. My next encounter was a little girl about 8 years old and she is a friend of mine. Our first encounter was when we had been here just about 2 months and she was working hard trying to sell what looked like tiny pancakes in a bag. She would walk around the market making what money she could. I felt impressed to buy a bunch which was equivalent to 2 US dollars. I bought everything on her plate on her head that day and ever since we have been friends. I help her when I can and suddenly an old lady comes for money for food. I thought "perfect" the old lady wanted food and the young girl wanted to sell her food so I overpaid the little girl for two bags of pancake food and handed it to the old lady knowing the old lady was really wanting the money. I just looked at her with a smile and handed her the food and walked away as I wished her well. Emmanuel still with me and making noises to let me know he can't believe what I go through just going to the market. Some things you just know what a person is thinking without all the words. He just looked at me and made a wow noise and we continued on. I told Emmanuel to go to the klondo man without me so he could get a better price "without the Nasara". So I sent him on his way and I took a walk around the block. As I approached the klondo I asked Emmanuel how much it was going to cost him, he said 2000 F and I was thinking wow that is really great. But then my plan broke, the klondo man came over and now said it was going to be 4000 F. Trying to argue as much as my broken French would allow I finally gave up and let Emmanuel just go but I let it be known I was not happy with the "Nasara tax". I wished him well and sent him on his way. As I made my way back home I just prayed for him and his situation. As I walked through the market again I felt as though I was in a movie. I had people saying things to me as I walked by. Mostly not knowing a word they have said. I prayed begging that God would allow me to grasp this language. I would look up for a moment long enough to see an Arab man pass me and say something into my face as he moved along quickly. I suddenly felt so alone and so sad. "God take all of this from me". I stand out in the market like a light in the dark and everyone turns and looks. This is something that has been so hard for me since we have moved here. You can't walk a block and not hear them calling the "Nasara". The rest of my journey home was spent just talking to my Lord. Sometimes you can be around so many people but yet feel all alone. I got home and looked at the clock 9:30 a.m. I still had my whole day ahead of me. Again God just help me to not get overwhelmed and help whoever and however I can.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Dear Friends and Family,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your missionaries in hot Africa.
We are very sorry that we have let so much time go by since our last letter to you all. We have been extremely busy around here and I am excited to share some of the adventures with you.
The holiday season for us this year was so different. Christmas day was spent trying to make the other volunteers feel at home as much as possible. We invited them to spend the night at our house Christmas eve. We ate together, sang together, prayed together and gave together. We had many visitors throughout the day that we gave what we could to each one.
One of my visitors was a scheduled visitor. It is a little boy that comes by every Friday to get a food package from us. I have written about this little boy before. He has no parents and I found out that he lives very poorly with his grandmother who is having a hard time supporting them. The first time I gave him a package I walked to his house so he didn't have to carry it all by himself. I really wanted to see where he lived and under what condition. Well I was glad I did. It just confirmed for me that I was doing the right thing. He lives in a hut about 8 foot in diameter and that is it. I even had the opportunity to go inside so that all the onlookers wouldn't see what I was giving the boy. Inside was a few cooking pots and a couple of really worn out mats for them to sleep on. But to get back to my original story, he came by on Christmas Friday. Another volunteer, Michelle, helped me put together a package for him. In the gift bag we had plenty of food for the week and a plate full of candy and cookie goodies. Then, we had put a new shirt in recycled wrapping paper and had it on top. He was completely overwhelmed. First of all he thought that the wrapped present was the present. He had no idea to open it. Another item I have had to provide him with was a lock for his door. He told me some boys came in and stole all the food I gave him. I'm telling you it is one sad story after another around here. It was after his visit that I thought to myself, now that is what Christmas should always be like. It was so fulfilling.
We also went as a family over to the hospital and handed out candy to everyone we saw. We made an extra trip over to the pediatric ward and handed out shoes, clothing, cars and balloons, whatever we had. It was so much fun.
The week between Christmas and New Years we had 5 visitors from the states. One couple that was here came here as a gift to each other for their 25th anniversary. They paid for everything for a new TB ward and the wife helped paint it while she was here. The husband on the other hand stayed very busy pulling teeth. He is a dentist and took a lot of time teaching a few of the nurses how to pull teeth and one of his students was Jamie. On the last day Jamie was giving injections and doing blocks then pulling teeth at one chair while I was assisting him and another nurse at another chair while the dentist just sat back and watched them from afar. Jamie has missed his calling. He loved pulling teeth. Gary and Wendy Roberts got here New Years Eve. Gary is the missionary pilot that just lost his 4 year old son to malaria 6 months ago. Well, he is ready to get things going on taking portable dental kits that the army uses and go out into the bush. Jamie and I are very excited about that mission. I am also going to go on regular medical clinics with Wendy soon out in the villages. Can't wait! Women bible studies are also in my future to lead out in. Please pray!
Another thing that happened that was not of the norm happened one Sunday morning. Jamie and I were still sleeping in our bed as we heard a loud knock on our front door. We jumped out of bed and as we were trying to get something appropriate on to go to the door we heard another loud knock. I got to the door and found James standing there with scrubs on dressed as though he had just been in surgery. He looked at me and said, "do you want to help me keep a baby warm?" . I looked at him very confused and said what baby? Just then he pulled his shirt up and there she was a tiny 7 month preemie. I quickly invited him in and he took a seat in the living room and asked for some warm water in a basin. I then got a pan on the stove and began heating up water. James asked Jamie if there was some sort of light that could be used for warming and Jamie was out the door in a flash as he already had something in mind that could work. I ran down the hall to wake up Cory and Brichelle in their separate rooms. I said to them each separately "you need to come see the baby James has here". Their reply was, "baby what?". I just laughed and said "a baby human". They ran to the living room where the baby had already been placed into the basin with warm water. Brichelle had a turn holding the baby as she looked at the tiny fingers in amazement. Next we fed it through a extra new syringe, that I coincidentally had in the house from all our sickness, with sugar water. James told us that the two reasons that preemies don't make it is because of hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Unfortunately the babies heart beat was slowing down and then she stopped breathing. James worked on her for a long time to keep her alive but she just didn't have what she needed to make it. We were very sad. James said that we will see her again. And the other thing he reminded us of was that who knows what kind of life she may have had to endure here. I'm telling you the things we have experienced here are priceless. We have learned so much.
One of the things we have added to our responsibilities are the volunteers. We have opened up our home for those who want to pray come to our house by 8:00 p.m. every night. We have found this to be a great tool for binding us together as foot soldiers for the Lord. We have seen miracles happen that has been a great tool for strengthening our faith. Please continue praying for us. The responsibility is really big. We are up against Satan and it is so clear he is working very hard. That must mean we are doing something very right.
At the moment we are all well. Praise the Lord! Jamie has had malaria 3 times, Brichelle 4 times and Cory 5 times. Cory has also had ameba's. We have been too busy with our own sickness. But the rainy season is over and we see things lightening up. But as far as the hospital that is busier than ever. I think that as I write this every bed is full over there. The nurses are really tired and need prayers for strength. They stay so busy.
I also don't know if everyone there knows the big news for James and Sarah Appel. They are having a baby!!! We are so excited for them. Sarah is about 4 months along. They will be leaving in March to go to Denmark to have the baby just in case it comes early. I believe she is due in May.
The Moundou surgery clinic project is coming along. Jamie and I, along with the kids, went for a week to help paint the outside of the new surgery clinic. James will be going to spend some time there in the next couple of months to keep things moving. Right now he has a friend here, that is a doctor, that is able to help out in Bere so James can get some time away for the new project in Moundou. I think that will probably be a place both James and Sarah will spend more time at once the clinic is finished.
Well God is blessing us left and right. He is molding us. He is coming soon. He is needing us to reach the last percentage here that needs to be reached so that we can go home and be with Him. Thank you so much for all you are doing to help keep this mission going. There is so much to be done here. I see God bringing us people to influence all the time. It is such a big responsibility and we need those prayers.
We miss you all and hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you and may God pour out His blessings upon you.
Love, The Parkers Jamie, Tammy, Cory and Brichelle
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from your missionaries in hot Africa.
We are very sorry that we have let so much time go by since our last letter to you all. We have been extremely busy around here and I am excited to share some of the adventures with you.
The holiday season for us this year was so different. Christmas day was spent trying to make the other volunteers feel at home as much as possible. We invited them to spend the night at our house Christmas eve. We ate together, sang together, prayed together and gave together. We had many visitors throughout the day that we gave what we could to each one.
One of my visitors was a scheduled visitor. It is a little boy that comes by every Friday to get a food package from us. I have written about this little boy before. He has no parents and I found out that he lives very poorly with his grandmother who is having a hard time supporting them. The first time I gave him a package I walked to his house so he didn't have to carry it all by himself. I really wanted to see where he lived and under what condition. Well I was glad I did. It just confirmed for me that I was doing the right thing. He lives in a hut about 8 foot in diameter and that is it. I even had the opportunity to go inside so that all the onlookers wouldn't see what I was giving the boy. Inside was a few cooking pots and a couple of really worn out mats for them to sleep on. But to get back to my original story, he came by on Christmas Friday. Another volunteer, Michelle, helped me put together a package for him. In the gift bag we had plenty of food for the week and a plate full of candy and cookie goodies. Then, we had put a new shirt in recycled wrapping paper and had it on top. He was completely overwhelmed. First of all he thought that the wrapped present was the present. He had no idea to open it. Another item I have had to provide him with was a lock for his door. He told me some boys came in and stole all the food I gave him. I'm telling you it is one sad story after another around here. It was after his visit that I thought to myself, now that is what Christmas should always be like. It was so fulfilling.
We also went as a family over to the hospital and handed out candy to everyone we saw. We made an extra trip over to the pediatric ward and handed out shoes, clothing, cars and balloons, whatever we had. It was so much fun.
The week between Christmas and New Years we had 5 visitors from the states. One couple that was here came here as a gift to each other for their 25th anniversary. They paid for everything for a new TB ward and the wife helped paint it while she was here. The husband on the other hand stayed very busy pulling teeth. He is a dentist and took a lot of time teaching a few of the nurses how to pull teeth and one of his students was Jamie. On the last day Jamie was giving injections and doing blocks then pulling teeth at one chair while I was assisting him and another nurse at another chair while the dentist just sat back and watched them from afar. Jamie has missed his calling. He loved pulling teeth. Gary and Wendy Roberts got here New Years Eve. Gary is the missionary pilot that just lost his 4 year old son to malaria 6 months ago. Well, he is ready to get things going on taking portable dental kits that the army uses and go out into the bush. Jamie and I are very excited about that mission. I am also going to go on regular medical clinics with Wendy soon out in the villages. Can't wait! Women bible studies are also in my future to lead out in. Please pray!
Another thing that happened that was not of the norm happened one Sunday morning. Jamie and I were still sleeping in our bed as we heard a loud knock on our front door. We jumped out of bed and as we were trying to get something appropriate on to go to the door we heard another loud knock. I got to the door and found James standing there with scrubs on dressed as though he had just been in surgery. He looked at me and said, "do you want to help me keep a baby warm?" . I looked at him very confused and said what baby? Just then he pulled his shirt up and there she was a tiny 7 month preemie. I quickly invited him in and he took a seat in the living room and asked for some warm water in a basin. I then got a pan on the stove and began heating up water. James asked Jamie if there was some sort of light that could be used for warming and Jamie was out the door in a flash as he already had something in mind that could work. I ran down the hall to wake up Cory and Brichelle in their separate rooms. I said to them each separately "you need to come see the baby James has here". Their reply was, "baby what?". I just laughed and said "a baby human". They ran to the living room where the baby had already been placed into the basin with warm water. Brichelle had a turn holding the baby as she looked at the tiny fingers in amazement. Next we fed it through a extra new syringe, that I coincidentally had in the house from all our sickness, with sugar water. James told us that the two reasons that preemies don't make it is because of hypothermia and hypoglycemia. Unfortunately the babies heart beat was slowing down and then she stopped breathing. James worked on her for a long time to keep her alive but she just didn't have what she needed to make it. We were very sad. James said that we will see her again. And the other thing he reminded us of was that who knows what kind of life she may have had to endure here. I'm telling you the things we have experienced here are priceless. We have learned so much.
One of the things we have added to our responsibilities are the volunteers. We have opened up our home for those who want to pray come to our house by 8:00 p.m. every night. We have found this to be a great tool for binding us together as foot soldiers for the Lord. We have seen miracles happen that has been a great tool for strengthening our faith. Please continue praying for us. The responsibility is really big. We are up against Satan and it is so clear he is working very hard. That must mean we are doing something very right.
At the moment we are all well. Praise the Lord! Jamie has had malaria 3 times, Brichelle 4 times and Cory 5 times. Cory has also had ameba's. We have been too busy with our own sickness. But the rainy season is over and we see things lightening up. But as far as the hospital that is busier than ever. I think that as I write this every bed is full over there. The nurses are really tired and need prayers for strength. They stay so busy.
I also don't know if everyone there knows the big news for James and Sarah Appel. They are having a baby!!! We are so excited for them. Sarah is about 4 months along. They will be leaving in March to go to Denmark to have the baby just in case it comes early. I believe she is due in May.
The Moundou surgery clinic project is coming along. Jamie and I, along with the kids, went for a week to help paint the outside of the new surgery clinic. James will be going to spend some time there in the next couple of months to keep things moving. Right now he has a friend here, that is a doctor, that is able to help out in Bere so James can get some time away for the new project in Moundou. I think that will probably be a place both James and Sarah will spend more time at once the clinic is finished.
Well God is blessing us left and right. He is molding us. He is coming soon. He is needing us to reach the last percentage here that needs to be reached so that we can go home and be with Him. Thank you so much for all you are doing to help keep this mission going. There is so much to be done here. I see God bringing us people to influence all the time. It is such a big responsibility and we need those prayers.
We miss you all and hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you and may God pour out His blessings upon you.
Love, The Parkers Jamie, Tammy, Cory and Brichelle
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)