December Mobile Clinics
The clinics this month went very well. I was a little concerned because Rene Wagner who is my partner was on furlough in the states. For the well child clinic at Mapongala I was blessed with the help of a young visitor to the mission. Steven Akins from the states spent 2 months here and was of great help this month especially at this clinic. We saw 83 children. The day was fun and productive.
Today, we held our 2nd mobile clinic at Mfumbi. Again, my partner Rene was still in the states, but I was blessed with the help of Thresa Clavier from Oklahoma who arrived just last weekend. Thresa was of great help. We did not see as many patients today as we did the first day we held this clinic. However, I believe each month will bring us different challenges.
![]()
Our numbers were only 46, but we were able to handle a couple of challenges which some of the people were dealing with. One lady had attended our clinic last month with bilateral lymphomas on her thighs. We informed her she should have surgery to help her mobility, however, she did not come to the hospital. She did come to clinic today and explained that she wanted to have the surgery but did not have anyone to help her after surgery while she recovered. After talking with a couple of the church members, it was decided that the church would discuss how they could assist this woman with her care. This is exactly how the church should work to show others God's love in action.
A second challenge was a woman who I saw last year when I was here. She has a large scar-like area covering one-half of her face. When I left last year, we felt the area was improving; however, it is much the same now. Dr. Mwakeposa who helps me with the clinic feels she needs to be seen by a dermatologist in Mbeya, but someone will need to assist her with travel and navigating the medical system. It may actually take several trips to the city before she is successful in seeing the specialist. Again, the members of the church and myself discussed our options and were able to come up with a plan. We will begin working on our plan this next week to see if we can successfully get her to the Dr. in Mbeya.
We started our clinic with praise and prayer. Every patient was prayed for by one of the church members and then we ended the clinic with discussion of the people who are in need of help and prayer for them and that we as God's children will be able to glorify Him through our service.
Now on a different note. As several of us stood outside discussing one of the cases, a snake was noticed just a short distance away. I have no idea what possessed me at that moment, but I picked up a board which was between me and the snake and went after it. As I got nearer, the snake turned toward me and a black cape opened around its head! It was a cobra! Someone yelled for me to get back, but once the snake turned to head away again I continued after it. Again it turned toward me opening its cape. At that moment, I decided it was time to show that snake who was bigger and I slammed my board down on it behind its head. Hamisi, my interpreter, then came with another stick and completed the killing process. I was so proud of myself. I would have hated to left that snake get away and then have a child from that village come to the hospital with a cobra bite. One less threatening snake!!!!
Today, we held our 2nd mobile clinic at Mfumbi. Again, my partner Rene was still in the states, but I was blessed with the help of Thresa Clavier from Oklahoma who arrived just last weekend. Thresa was of great help. We did not see as many patients today as we did the first day we held this clinic. However, I believe each month will bring us different challenges.
Our numbers were only 46, but we were able to handle a couple of challenges which some of the people were dealing with. One lady had attended our clinic last month with bilateral lymphomas on her thighs. We informed her she should have surgery to help her mobility, however, she did not come to the hospital. She did come to clinic today and explained that she wanted to have the surgery but did not have anyone to help her after surgery while she recovered. After talking with a couple of the church members, it was decided that the church would discuss how they could assist this woman with her care. This is exactly how the church should work to show others God's love in action.
A second challenge was a woman who I saw last year when I was here. She has a large scar-like area covering one-half of her face. When I left last year, we felt the area was improving; however, it is much the same now. Dr. Mwakeposa who helps me with the clinic feels she needs to be seen by a dermatologist in Mbeya, but someone will need to assist her with travel and navigating the medical system. It may actually take several trips to the city before she is successful in seeing the specialist. Again, the members of the church and myself discussed our options and were able to come up with a plan. We will begin working on our plan this next week to see if we can successfully get her to the Dr. in Mbeya.
We started our clinic with praise and prayer. Every patient was prayed for by one of the church members and then we ended the clinic with discussion of the people who are in need of help and prayer for them and that we as God's children will be able to glorify Him through our service.
Now on a different note. As several of us stood outside discussing one of the cases, a snake was noticed just a short distance away. I have no idea what possessed me at that moment, but I picked up a board which was between me and the snake and went after it. As I got nearer, the snake turned toward me and a black cape opened around its head! It was a cobra! Someone yelled for me to get back, but once the snake turned to head away again I continued after it. Again it turned toward me opening its cape. At that moment, I decided it was time to show that snake who was bigger and I slammed my board down on it behind its head. Hamisi, my interpreter, then came with another stick and completed the killing process. I was so proud of myself. I would have hated to left that snake get away and then have a child from that village come to the hospital with a cobra bite. One less threatening snake!!!!
Comments
Post a Comment