(From Sunday, July 17)
My second week at the Apostolic Hospital in Banga is coming to a close. It is Sunday evening here, and all is quite as people sit in their houses watching TV. Speaking of TV, the hospital bought one for the guesthouse on Monday, but it is still sitting in the box. Let’s just say that Africans are not the most punctual about getting things done :) I also finally received a new gas stove, complete with an oven, so I can finally cook my own food. However, I don’t have matches, so I will have to go and buy those tomorrow so I can actually cook.
Update on the camera: I traveled to Douala yesterday and found a camera. It cost me $140, but it is worth it. The cameras here are very very expensive, and they make the price even higher when they see the color of your skin. However, I did get the price down from $180, so I was a little proud of myself. The trip itself was long-we left at 7:30 am and didn’t get back until 5:30 pm, with driving time being around 4 hours. We had to drive all over the city looking for cameras, and they were few and far between. However, we did succeed, which I am very happy about. I have already taken pictures of the hospital, where I live, and some of the people so that I can make up for the last week:)
As I mentioned in my last update, I was working in the lab this week. It was good to learn and be able to run different tests including: HIV, malaria, typhoid, syphilis, pregnancy, urinalysis, gram staining, staining, and blood grouping. I only saw the doctor a couple of times because he was gone for half of the week, and he is very very busy. Before I came, I thought that I would be spending most of my time with him. However, he is the only doctor here, and he is a surgeon, specializing in plastic surgery, so he often leaves this hospital to work at others. Surgeons, particularly plastic surgeons, are a rare thing in Cameroon, so he is very very busy.
Back to the lab. It was nice to be able to work in one department for a whole week because I got to know the lab techs and the students working there. I worked with Pamela, Juliet, Mirabel, Amelian, Mois, Daniel, and Lawrence. After a couple of days, I felt like we knew each other pretty well and conversation was easy. It was really nice to be able to talk to people, and I think that really helped be through the week.
Today I attended the local apostolic church. It is a Pentecostal church with deacons, elders, and a pastor. However, the only thing the pastor did was pray over the offering while one of the elders gave the message and did all of the announcements. I found that interesting. We will see if that is the same next week. I was really excited for church, but came away a little confused and frustrated. Between last week and this week, both of the messages have focused on money and how the people need to give more. The elder talked about how people are forgetting their first love, and the reason he knows this is because the offering has been lacking. At the end of the message, I came away with the idea that the people do not love God as much because they don’t give as much money as the church believes they should give. I don’t know if it is a cultural thing or what, but I came way from the service with an unhappy feeling in my heart Anyway, that was my week. I will try to update again midweek and let you know what I am doing. Feel free to e-mail with questions, comments, or general information :)
Update on the camera: I traveled to Douala yesterday and found a camera. It cost me $140, but it is worth it. The cameras here are very very expensive, and they make the price even higher when they see the color of your skin. However, I did get the price down from $180, so I was a little proud of myself. The trip itself was long-we left at 7:30 am and didn’t get back until 5:30 pm, with driving time being around 4 hours. We had to drive all over the city looking for cameras, and they were few and far between. However, we did succeed, which I am very happy about. I have already taken pictures of the hospital, where I live, and some of the people so that I can make up for the last week:)
As I mentioned in my last update, I was working in the lab this week. It was good to learn and be able to run different tests including: HIV, malaria, typhoid, syphilis, pregnancy, urinalysis, gram staining, staining, and blood grouping. I only saw the doctor a couple of times because he was gone for half of the week, and he is very very busy. Before I came, I thought that I would be spending most of my time with him. However, he is the only doctor here, and he is a surgeon, specializing in plastic surgery, so he often leaves this hospital to work at others. Surgeons, particularly plastic surgeons, are a rare thing in Cameroon, so he is very very busy.
Back to the lab. It was nice to be able to work in one department for a whole week because I got to know the lab techs and the students working there. I worked with Pamela, Juliet, Mirabel, Amelian, Mois, Daniel, and Lawrence. After a couple of days, I felt like we knew each other pretty well and conversation was easy. It was really nice to be able to talk to people, and I think that really helped be through the week.
Today I attended the local apostolic church. It is a Pentecostal church with deacons, elders, and a pastor. However, the only thing the pastor did was pray over the offering while one of the elders gave the message and did all of the announcements. I found that interesting. We will see if that is the same next week. I was really excited for church, but came away a little confused and frustrated. Between last week and this week, both of the messages have focused on money and how the people need to give more. The elder talked about how people are forgetting their first love, and the reason he knows this is because the offering has been lacking. At the end of the message, I came away with the idea that the people do not love God as much because they don’t give as much money as the church believes they should give. I don’t know if it is a cultural thing or what, but I came way from the service with an unhappy feeling in my heart Anyway, that was my week. I will try to update again midweek and let you know what I am doing. Feel free to e-mail with questions, comments, or general information :)
Praises:
--I was able to have meaningful conversations with multiple people
--I was able to purchase a camera
--I am feeling more comfortable here
--Because I am alone, I have spend more time with God and in His word
Prayer Requests:
--I am able to conserve my remaining money and use it wisely
--I do not get sick—I have been feeling a little down lately
--I am able to connect more with the staff and learn about them
--God gives me patience with cultural differences
--My relationship with God continues to grow and develop
God Bless and Good Night!
--I was able to have meaningful conversations with multiple people
--I was able to purchase a camera
--I am feeling more comfortable here
--Because I am alone, I have spend more time with God and in His word
Prayer Requests:
--I am able to conserve my remaining money and use it wisely
--I do not get sick—I have been feeling a little down lately
--I am able to connect more with the staff and learn about them
--God gives me patience with cultural differences
--My relationship with God continues to grow and develop
God Bless and Good Night!
No comments:
Post a Comment