Hello everyone! We are very sorry that we have not been able to update our blog for sometime! We have all been crazy busy with Mother Teresa homes and Good News Chirldrens Education Mission... But i just wanted to let you all know we are leaving tonight at 11:50pm here and will be in Singapore for debrief for a few days, which may or may not have internet.
Our flight arrives at LAX on Monday the 15th around 1:00pm for all of those who would like to know! We love all of you and will see you all real soon!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday 5/30 and Sunday 5/31
Saturaday-
So we went to the boys home that is associated with Missions of Mercy. Our friend Phillip attended it when he was growing up so it was cool getting to know him in such a personal way. Natalie, Tyler, and Phillip played soccer with the boys, while the rest of us watched in the heat. It was great fun seeing Phillip playing in his shorts and tshirt. We ate lunch there and got to eat with our right hand again.... that is always a fun experience for us. We then finished the afternoon up with hanging out with the boys, playing ping pong and foosball with them and watching TV (101 Dalmations with Glenn Close). The home is an amazing evironment for the boys to grow in their faith and become men. We all really enjoyed it. As for the drive there... it is never as it is told. The hour drive turned into an hour and a half, but we have learned to accept and love this. Natalie, Tyler, and I (Katie) went to Cafe Coffee Day to work on our presentation for the CEO of Missions of Mercy. it is about our observations of the hospital. Most of the presentation is on safety ( SHARPS bins, handwashing, shoes, patient care, OR regulations, gloves when drawing blood or starting IVs on patients). We also talk about the compassion aspect of the hospital. Amitab wants us to feed it to him directly and bluntly, as a "cucumber" they way he stated... not "salad". We then spent the rest of the night at BMS... hanging out and talking, singing and playing guitar (jenni and mandy), etc. It was a good and productive day overall.
Sunday-
Not much happened. We all split up and went to different churches. Jenni and I went to AG, Natalie, Tyler, Mandy, and Andreina and Sarah went with Lizzy to Grace, and Catherine went with a few others elsewhere. Then was lunch out... Jenni and I ate at One Step Up. We had Naan and Milkshakes... mmm. And the others went to Flurrys for salads and sandwhiches. Cafe Coffee Day soaks up the rest of the afternoon. Tonight we plan on going to Pizza Hut for dinner and dancing =]
Love and miss you guys,
Katie
So we went to the boys home that is associated with Missions of Mercy. Our friend Phillip attended it when he was growing up so it was cool getting to know him in such a personal way. Natalie, Tyler, and Phillip played soccer with the boys, while the rest of us watched in the heat. It was great fun seeing Phillip playing in his shorts and tshirt. We ate lunch there and got to eat with our right hand again.... that is always a fun experience for us. We then finished the afternoon up with hanging out with the boys, playing ping pong and foosball with them and watching TV (101 Dalmations with Glenn Close). The home is an amazing evironment for the boys to grow in their faith and become men. We all really enjoyed it. As for the drive there... it is never as it is told. The hour drive turned into an hour and a half, but we have learned to accept and love this. Natalie, Tyler, and I (Katie) went to Cafe Coffee Day to work on our presentation for the CEO of Missions of Mercy. it is about our observations of the hospital. Most of the presentation is on safety ( SHARPS bins, handwashing, shoes, patient care, OR regulations, gloves when drawing blood or starting IVs on patients). We also talk about the compassion aspect of the hospital. Amitab wants us to feed it to him directly and bluntly, as a "cucumber" they way he stated... not "salad". We then spent the rest of the night at BMS... hanging out and talking, singing and playing guitar (jenni and mandy), etc. It was a good and productive day overall.
Sunday-
Not much happened. We all split up and went to different churches. Jenni and I went to AG, Natalie, Tyler, Mandy, and Andreina and Sarah went with Lizzy to Grace, and Catherine went with a few others elsewhere. Then was lunch out... Jenni and I ate at One Step Up. We had Naan and Milkshakes... mmm. And the others went to Flurrys for salads and sandwhiches. Cafe Coffee Day soaks up the rest of the afternoon. Tonight we plan on going to Pizza Hut for dinner and dancing =]
Love and miss you guys,
Katie
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Halfway mark...crazy.
Alright so let’s try this thing again… I wont run out of time on this one…
So on Thursday, we were able to participate in one of Mercy hospital’s community clinics. We hopped on the bus after our morning chapel with Mandy sharing her beautiful testimony. We were definitely all incredibly impressed with her boldness to tell about what is going on in her life… SPEAKING OF MANDY… IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!!! Wooo! (more on that later)
We were told the bus ride was supposed to be about an hour and a half, but in our experience of the Indian culture thus far we know to double every travel time estimate… and sure enough we were correct. It was a three hour bus ride our to the clinic, but a amazingly three hours it was. We drove through a ton of the huge city of Kolkata, then slowly into the outskirts, into the rural countryside, and into and through the villages. Some of the ladies took some picture along the way so I’m sure you’ll be able to get a look of them once we arrive home in about two plus weeks (man, time flies!) I know it kind of seems like quite a long drive, especially if you add in the 3-hour drive home, but there is definitely an importance for these clinics that has been communicated by the hospital. 700 MILLION people live in the villages of India and live poorer than even the homeless here in Kolkata. We were having a discussion with one of the CEO’s of Mercy hospital and he made mention of their 3 year plan of turning the 14 rural clinics into 40, and in 20 years having 400.
These clinics are completely free to the community and consist normally of a doctor and a medical assistant that takes the blood pressures as well as gives out any prescriptions needed if they are available. In the clinic we were at all our nursing girls were able to step in and take the blood pressures and fill out some charts… you parents would have been proud! Natalie, Catherine, and I were able to hang out with the doctor (and some of the other girls when they weren’t doing blood pressures) and see him talk with the patient about their symptoms and diagnose them. It was almost like little mini episodes of House (and none of them here Lupus, if any House fans were wondering) but most every patient we saw, and they were mostly mothers, were in with indigestion and complaining of weakness. The doctor explained that everybody he sees at these clinics in the rural settings suffer from anemia due to their diets. He went on to describe the mothers’ days in the rural setting: It is so filled with cooking for the other members of the family (breakfast, then start lunch right away, then dinner) that the mothers only have a chance to literally eat once a day between lunch and dinner. So sad. And as a result of this, they develop anemia, and the even sadder thing is that even though the doctor tells them they have to eat earlier in the day and more often, he said he will see the same patients the next time the clinic occurs because they are so set in the ways and relied upon by their families that they will continue with their unhealthy habits.
Friday was Mandy’s birthday! And the girls decorated their room for her with some pink and purple streamers! We all headed off to our last official day at Mercy Hospital wearing our scrubs for the last time (I think all of us are excited about that, the scrubs and Kolkata heat are not a good combination). We split up into small groups on the different floors to spend our last time with patients and learn from the nurses and doctors. Katie and Mandy went to the Gynae ward, Sarah and Catherine to the Peds, Andreina and our English friend Lizzie to the women’s ward, Natalie and I (Tyler) to the men’s ward. Jenni sadly wasn’t feeling so hot so she was escorted back to BMS to rest for the morning (but she is feeling better now!) And after a tour of the mens ward Natalie went to join Lizzie and Andreina in the Women’s ward while I walked around the hospital to take some picture of the facilities for our presentation on Monday to the hospital.
One specific story from the day was of a woman that Natalie, Andreina, and Lizzie met in the women’s ward. And Natalie will jump in to tell the story. I came into the women’s ward and met this 72 year old sweet lady who was a paraplegic of the lower limbs. Her upper limbs were still functional. Andreina and I began to do range of motion on her legs and massaged her legs too. She seemed very grateful. She said that she felt pampered because none of the nurses or physical therapists had been moving her that way. She expressed that she has been feeling neglected. I was so happy to have brightened her day and to have alleviated her of any pain. I was able to notify the doctor that she felt that way so hopefully a change will take place in their patient care towards her.
Ok, I’m back. Sad stuff, but I know they really are trying hard at Mercy hospital so it’s sad that these things happen.
After the morning shift, we grabbed a lunch like normal and our friends/advisors Orijeet and Phillip brought out a delicious chocolate cake for Mandy’s birthday!
Those guys are great! We plowed through it and then had some fun with the left over frosting as you can tell by the picture.
Jenni joined us as we traveled to the nursing school associated with Mercy hospital where Katie and Andreina gave their presentations for the Transcultural healthcare class. Katie discussed mental health assessments while Andreina gave a talk on CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. Both were well done and the first year nursing students seemed to soak it up. After a generous tea and biscuit discussion with the principle of the nursing school we headed back home for the day.
As I promised, here are more pictures… enjoy everyone! We all love and miss you!
This is the girls' bathroom during the storm from the cyclone. Crazy wind...
This is Kolkata's busy downtown area on Park Street.
A picture from the auto ride to the PT clinic, Rehab Center for Children (RCFC).
Natalie and Sarah working on a girl with polio with the physical therapist at RCFC.
Me messing around with some Theraband with two boys with casts on for their club feet at RCFC.
Displaying all the bead and pipe cleaner beauty at the RCFC
The beautiful ladies in their Salwars (i think thats how you spell it) for church.
The kids and us as STARS.
A few of us in the OR.
So on Thursday, we were able to participate in one of Mercy hospital’s community clinics. We hopped on the bus after our morning chapel with Mandy sharing her beautiful testimony. We were definitely all incredibly impressed with her boldness to tell about what is going on in her life… SPEAKING OF MANDY… IT WAS HER BIRTHDAY YESTERDAY!!! Wooo! (more on that later)
We were told the bus ride was supposed to be about an hour and a half, but in our experience of the Indian culture thus far we know to double every travel time estimate… and sure enough we were correct. It was a three hour bus ride our to the clinic, but a amazingly three hours it was. We drove through a ton of the huge city of Kolkata, then slowly into the outskirts, into the rural countryside, and into and through the villages. Some of the ladies took some picture along the way so I’m sure you’ll be able to get a look of them once we arrive home in about two plus weeks (man, time flies!) I know it kind of seems like quite a long drive, especially if you add in the 3-hour drive home, but there is definitely an importance for these clinics that has been communicated by the hospital. 700 MILLION people live in the villages of India and live poorer than even the homeless here in Kolkata. We were having a discussion with one of the CEO’s of Mercy hospital and he made mention of their 3 year plan of turning the 14 rural clinics into 40, and in 20 years having 400.
These clinics are completely free to the community and consist normally of a doctor and a medical assistant that takes the blood pressures as well as gives out any prescriptions needed if they are available. In the clinic we were at all our nursing girls were able to step in and take the blood pressures and fill out some charts… you parents would have been proud! Natalie, Catherine, and I were able to hang out with the doctor (and some of the other girls when they weren’t doing blood pressures) and see him talk with the patient about their symptoms and diagnose them. It was almost like little mini episodes of House (and none of them here Lupus, if any House fans were wondering) but most every patient we saw, and they were mostly mothers, were in with indigestion and complaining of weakness. The doctor explained that everybody he sees at these clinics in the rural settings suffer from anemia due to their diets. He went on to describe the mothers’ days in the rural setting: It is so filled with cooking for the other members of the family (breakfast, then start lunch right away, then dinner) that the mothers only have a chance to literally eat once a day between lunch and dinner. So sad. And as a result of this, they develop anemia, and the even sadder thing is that even though the doctor tells them they have to eat earlier in the day and more often, he said he will see the same patients the next time the clinic occurs because they are so set in the ways and relied upon by their families that they will continue with their unhealthy habits.
Friday was Mandy’s birthday! And the girls decorated their room for her with some pink and purple streamers! We all headed off to our last official day at Mercy Hospital wearing our scrubs for the last time (I think all of us are excited about that, the scrubs and Kolkata heat are not a good combination). We split up into small groups on the different floors to spend our last time with patients and learn from the nurses and doctors. Katie and Mandy went to the Gynae ward, Sarah and Catherine to the Peds, Andreina and our English friend Lizzie to the women’s ward, Natalie and I (Tyler) to the men’s ward. Jenni sadly wasn’t feeling so hot so she was escorted back to BMS to rest for the morning (but she is feeling better now!) And after a tour of the mens ward Natalie went to join Lizzie and Andreina in the Women’s ward while I walked around the hospital to take some picture of the facilities for our presentation on Monday to the hospital.
One specific story from the day was of a woman that Natalie, Andreina, and Lizzie met in the women’s ward. And Natalie will jump in to tell the story. I came into the women’s ward and met this 72 year old sweet lady who was a paraplegic of the lower limbs. Her upper limbs were still functional. Andreina and I began to do range of motion on her legs and massaged her legs too. She seemed very grateful. She said that she felt pampered because none of the nurses or physical therapists had been moving her that way. She expressed that she has been feeling neglected. I was so happy to have brightened her day and to have alleviated her of any pain. I was able to notify the doctor that she felt that way so hopefully a change will take place in their patient care towards her.
Ok, I’m back. Sad stuff, but I know they really are trying hard at Mercy hospital so it’s sad that these things happen.
After the morning shift, we grabbed a lunch like normal and our friends/advisors Orijeet and Phillip brought out a delicious chocolate cake for Mandy’s birthday!
Those guys are great! We plowed through it and then had some fun with the left over frosting as you can tell by the picture.Jenni joined us as we traveled to the nursing school associated with Mercy hospital where Katie and Andreina gave their presentations for the Transcultural healthcare class. Katie discussed mental health assessments while Andreina gave a talk on CPR and the Heimlich maneuver. Both were well done and the first year nursing students seemed to soak it up. After a generous tea and biscuit discussion with the principle of the nursing school we headed back home for the day.
As I promised, here are more pictures… enjoy everyone! We all love and miss you!
This is the girls' bathroom during the storm from the cyclone. Crazy wind...
This is Kolkata's busy downtown area on Park Street.
A picture from the auto ride to the PT clinic, Rehab Center for Children (RCFC).
Natalie and Sarah working on a girl with polio with the physical therapist at RCFC.
Me messing around with some Theraband with two boys with casts on for their club feet at RCFC.
Displaying all the bead and pipe cleaner beauty at the RCFC
The beautiful ladies in their Salwars (i think thats how you spell it) for church.
The kids and us as STARS.
A few of us in the OR.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Tyler's first post since the airport....
Ok... so this is Tyler and I love how most of you think that I am one that have been posting all these great updates... not so much. The only one i have done is the update of our crazy layover at the singapore airport, the only reason that it says "posted by Tyler" is because I set up the blog... shouldnt been more clear, my bad. Haha but anyway here I am and there you are at the computer so lets get right into the day shall we?
As a quick addition to Sarahs post yesterday, Manday, Nat, and I had a great day with our new English friend Lizzie that is also staying here at the BMS and is the one who showed us the Rehab Center for Children (the PT place that has been mentioned). Mandy went early with Lizzie to hang out with the kids and do some crafts. Nat and I came a little later after working on a program for the physical therapist from Nat's work, Team PT. We joined Lizzie and Mandy with playing with the kids and have a blast as always and then got a quick lunch of rice, vegies, and a fried egg with onions (Nat passed on the egg like always due to her fear of catching Salmonella like on a previous mission trip of hers)... and we ate it all with our hands of course! Mmmmm! After lunch mandy and lizzie went home and Nat and I stayed for the physical therapy clinic where Nat basically ran the session. It was awesome... I got to be her assistant along with the PT. The kids are very willing to do the exercises, definitely good patients!
That night we went to coffee to debrief and on our way back after feeding a few of the homeless Nat gave a cliff bar to one girl that was seemingly trying to sell us gum to make money and she started to walk off with it after we made it clear it was food... I always wondered where they went or what they did with this food we have been giving them so I decided to follow her. I crept around the building and saw my fears came true, I saw her hand it to a much better dressed young man. As he inspected it, she looked to him for approval... Sure enough, many of these kids we have been struggling with and trying to help out are members of "organized poverty". If you have seen Slumdog Millionaire, the organization the main character and his friends go through, we are told is a perfect representation of what happens here in India and what we just witnessed... It was truely heartbreaking, while almost infuriating for me personally....
I'm afriad I'm running out of time here at the internet cafe, they close in 20 minutes so I'm going to write the rest of the blog (of todays, March 28th's events) and post it tomorrow. BUT I do have a surprise for you! Here are some pictures!! Again, since im running out of time I'll get some more up real soon with captions.... but for now I'll just put a bunch up....
SOrry... completely ran out of time, they are closing... post soon!
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Stars
Today Katie, Andreina, and I went back to Stars--the school for the slum children. We were able to help them with their English lessons and color with them. We got to play games and watch them dance. They are amazing children and I feel blessed to have been able to spend more time with them. When it was about time for the three of us to leave, they gathered us up and made us all stand together and presented us with a letter. The children had written us this letter, in English, to tell us how much they appreciated us. Here is part of it:
"We give you all a lot of thanks for coming over here and encouraging us in such a way. You all made us happy; we could have learn many things from you all. Once again we give thanks to you all, for your esteemed presence with us in our school. We know you all are very kind and lovely ones. We pray for you all. We welcome you all once again to our school.
We love you all.
Thanking you all
By,
Kids
Students"
These children have really made an impact in my life as well as the live of my teammates.
Jenni and Catherine spent the day connecting with the Vice Principle of the nursing school and working on a project that the CEO of the hospital asked us to work on.
Natalie, Tyler, and Mandy all went back out to the rehabilitation center and are still there. They will probably write more about their day when they return.
Much Love,
Sarah
"We give you all a lot of thanks for coming over here and encouraging us in such a way. You all made us happy; we could have learn many things from you all. Once again we give thanks to you all, for your esteemed presence with us in our school. We know you all are very kind and lovely ones. We pray for you all. We welcome you all once again to our school.
We love you all.
Thanking you all
By,
Kids
Students"
These children have really made an impact in my life as well as the live of my teammates.
Jenni and Catherine spent the day connecting with the Vice Principle of the nursing school and working on a project that the CEO of the hospital asked us to work on.
Natalie, Tyler, and Mandy all went back out to the rehabilitation center and are still there. They will probably write more about their day when they return.
Much Love,
Sarah
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Catherine 's Report
Sorry for the delays in writing. Too much going on here in Kolkata, India. Saturday went to Children's Rehab Center where each one of the team had such memorable encounters with the children there. Catherine and Katie did bead work with several boys and girls. Catherine spoke to two of the teachers there about nutrition and issues regarding malnutrition. One of the teachers provided Catherine with a chart in which she went through various foods to describe the vitamins, minerals, and phytochemicals in the foods and their important functions. Because the rice purchased from street vendors is not fortified, we talked about other ways that pregnant women could get the B-vitamin folate. Club foot is one of the deformities seen at the rehab center. There is some evidence in the literature that club foot may be the result of folate deficiency in the pregnant woman.
It is great to see Natalie at work at the rehab since physical therapy is her expertise. She was able to show us how to do some of the exercises with the children in the PT room. Such a blessing for all of us. We all did beadwork and pipecleaner art with the children. We ate lunch with our hands! We took the subway there and back which was another amazing experience.
Sunday we went to AG church and then lunch afterward. We went to a local restaurant for dinner called "One Step Up" inviting another visiting nursing student along from Texas to join us. Such great food and buttered and cheese nan was the biggest hit! Many visitors from around India and outside the area (U.S.) are coming through BMS. We each have opportunities to share our learnings with the visitors, making new and important connections. Even dietitians come through here (from other parts of India) which gives Catherine more hours to stay up at night in conversation. Our hosts both at hospital and BMS are so wonderful! Phillip richly blesses us in chapel each morning during the week at hospital with real life stories of suffering. We are humbled. Many of us want to return to India to continue these important relationships and build upon them; develop new ones.
Monday the weather changed with predictions of a cyclone (Aila). The winds picked up and rain was hard. Trees fell and signs on buildings blew down. Our windows blew out in the bathrooms at BMS. The staff stayed on to prepare and clean up for a hurricane. Our team met and we prayed. The storm passed on and we were protected. Is that amazing or what????? We stayed up fairly late with much to be thankful for. I think Jenni must have written fifty pages in her journal last night! In all of this, we become stronger and like family. We have had our peaks and valley during this journey, but those peaks are tremendous and full of hope! I met a family from Siligri who knows close friends of ours who also lived in Siligri. It is a small world indeed.
Today we went to hospital. Tyler and Jenni led worship. Tyler shared testimony and important message. We were blessed. We were driven to STARS program by hospital transport vehicle---I mean ambulence, literally! It was the only mode of transportion out there at the time. Once there, the team was amazed! This program is a social services program for children living in poverty. It is a place where impoverished children can go to learn how to read, learn how to draw, dance, grow in the love of Jesus! While we went there to serve them, of course we were served. They performed their very best songs, music (including bongo drums), dance, and behavior. Wait until you see the pictures. Some of us took 100 pictures or more this afternoon because we did not want to miss one moment! Sarah and the beautiful little girl she held will melt your heart once you see them together in photos. Mandy danced with a girl. Tyler had an audience of young children around him and his guitar. Jenni laughed at the small child who fell asleep leaning against a chalkboard. Catherine enjoyed the many pictures the children colored and proudly displayed for her camera shots. Andreina and Katie were a joy to look at while they worked with and loved the many children. Natalie was a natural in this environment. We played 'duck, duck, goose .' Hokey Pokey was another game. These children just don't wear out or wear down! And the dancing performances. We could take some lessons! We were deeply blessed and want to return to this ministry. The host gave each one of us her card and a brochure describing the ministry there. Don't forget to ask us about it upon our return to U.S.!
I grow weary, now as I write and know I cannot capture each detail in this post for you. Tonight we debriefed at Coffee Cafe (a regular hangout in evenings it seems to unwind and share God 's showering of blessings upon us). We all wish you could see this transforming work in us at the moments they occur!
From a leader 's perspective, please know that this team will come home changed forever. I feel especially privileged to be here with them at this time. We are here at the right time and for the right reasons.
Blessings! Catherine
It is great to see Natalie at work at the rehab since physical therapy is her expertise. She was able to show us how to do some of the exercises with the children in the PT room. Such a blessing for all of us. We all did beadwork and pipecleaner art with the children. We ate lunch with our hands! We took the subway there and back which was another amazing experience.
Sunday we went to AG church and then lunch afterward. We went to a local restaurant for dinner called "One Step Up" inviting another visiting nursing student along from Texas to join us. Such great food and buttered and cheese nan was the biggest hit! Many visitors from around India and outside the area (U.S.) are coming through BMS. We each have opportunities to share our learnings with the visitors, making new and important connections. Even dietitians come through here (from other parts of India) which gives Catherine more hours to stay up at night in conversation. Our hosts both at hospital and BMS are so wonderful! Phillip richly blesses us in chapel each morning during the week at hospital with real life stories of suffering. We are humbled. Many of us want to return to India to continue these important relationships and build upon them; develop new ones.
Monday the weather changed with predictions of a cyclone (Aila). The winds picked up and rain was hard. Trees fell and signs on buildings blew down. Our windows blew out in the bathrooms at BMS. The staff stayed on to prepare and clean up for a hurricane. Our team met and we prayed. The storm passed on and we were protected. Is that amazing or what????? We stayed up fairly late with much to be thankful for. I think Jenni must have written fifty pages in her journal last night! In all of this, we become stronger and like family. We have had our peaks and valley during this journey, but those peaks are tremendous and full of hope! I met a family from Siligri who knows close friends of ours who also lived in Siligri. It is a small world indeed.
Today we went to hospital. Tyler and Jenni led worship. Tyler shared testimony and important message. We were blessed. We were driven to STARS program by hospital transport vehicle---I mean ambulence, literally! It was the only mode of transportion out there at the time. Once there, the team was amazed! This program is a social services program for children living in poverty. It is a place where impoverished children can go to learn how to read, learn how to draw, dance, grow in the love of Jesus! While we went there to serve them, of course we were served. They performed their very best songs, music (including bongo drums), dance, and behavior. Wait until you see the pictures. Some of us took 100 pictures or more this afternoon because we did not want to miss one moment! Sarah and the beautiful little girl she held will melt your heart once you see them together in photos. Mandy danced with a girl. Tyler had an audience of young children around him and his guitar. Jenni laughed at the small child who fell asleep leaning against a chalkboard. Catherine enjoyed the many pictures the children colored and proudly displayed for her camera shots. Andreina and Katie were a joy to look at while they worked with and loved the many children. Natalie was a natural in this environment. We played 'duck, duck, goose .' Hokey Pokey was another game. These children just don't wear out or wear down! And the dancing performances. We could take some lessons! We were deeply blessed and want to return to this ministry. The host gave each one of us her card and a brochure describing the ministry there. Don't forget to ask us about it upon our return to U.S.!
I grow weary, now as I write and know I cannot capture each detail in this post for you. Tonight we debriefed at Coffee Cafe (a regular hangout in evenings it seems to unwind and share God 's showering of blessings upon us). We all wish you could see this transforming work in us at the moments they occur!
From a leader 's perspective, please know that this team will come home changed forever. I feel especially privileged to be here with them at this time. We are here at the right time and for the right reasons.
Blessings! Catherine
Friday, May 22, 2009
Thursday May 21 and Friday May 22
Wednesday: Yesterday was a long day! We all woke up yesterday at about 5:30 except for Sarah (she enjoys sleeping in). We decided to check out mass at the Mother Home where Mother Teresa is buried. After mass, we ate breakfast and then headed to the hospital around 8:00 AM for chapel. Tyler and Jenni led worship and Catherine shared her testimony. They all did a wonderful job. : ). Natalie and Tyler went off the PT/Rehab center for children which is about an hour away. Catherine, Sarah, Katie and Jenni headed to the operating room to watch surgeries. They saw cleft palate and lip surgeries along with a C section. Mandy and I (andreina) went on rounds with Pastor Joshua and prayed over patients throughout the hospital. We were able to pray over a young man that was getting ready to go in for cleft lip surgery, and after rounds with the pastor Mandy and I were about to go into the operating room and watch the same man get his lip repaired. We were also informed in the morning that all 8 of us were going to be eatting lunch with the CEO and some of the administrative team of the hospital, but problem: Tyler and Natalie were about an hour away. So they were called and had to come back to the hospital. They took a cab as far as they could get (in India traffic switches the direction it's going at 1PM). So they walked about "5 miles" and were lost in the city of Kolkata. Thankfully they made it to the hospital in one piece. After lunch, we went back to BMS to change out of our scrubs and into some real clothes. We took an auto to park street to go to a coffee shop. After having a long, indepth conversation about life, value and poverty, we deided to go to . We brought two buckets of chicken and corn and on the pathway back home we passed out chicken and corn to people who were sticking out their hands for food.
Thursday: After breakfast, we headed over to the hospital around 8:00 AM for chapel. Tyler and Jenni help led worship again : ). After chapel, Katie and Catherine went on rounds with Pastor Joshua to pray over patients in the hospital. Natalie and Tyler were able to go into the PT room of the hospital and work with a patient with parastalysis and 2 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They were also able to go to the operating room and watch a cleft lip repair. Jenni and I watched a cleft lip repair, a hysterectomy, and a hip prosthesis surgery; Catherine and Katie were able to join us for the hip prosthesis surgery. After some time in the operating room we ate lunch. On the way back from lunch, we ran into a lady we usually see who has a baby with what seems to be a severe ear infection. Both mom and baby are severely malnourished. Tyler, Natalie and I took the mom and baby to the emergency room of Mercy Hospital. Unfortunately, there was no pediatrician at the hospital in this afternoon but we are going to bring the mom and baby back to the hospital tomorrow morning. On the way back Tyler took the mom to the store to buy baby formula. Mandy stayed back today; she has a fever and does not feel good. So we ask for prayers for her. Later today, not sure what the plan exactly is, but it looks like we are making a trip to new market. Tomorrow, we are all going to the PT/rehab center for children, where Natalie has been doing AMAZING things at. We are really excited. Miss you all! bye!
Thursday: After breakfast, we headed over to the hospital around 8:00 AM for chapel. Tyler and Jenni help led worship again : ). After chapel, Katie and Catherine went on rounds with Pastor Joshua to pray over patients in the hospital. Natalie and Tyler were able to go into the PT room of the hospital and work with a patient with parastalysis and 2 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. They were also able to go to the operating room and watch a cleft lip repair. Jenni and I watched a cleft lip repair, a hysterectomy, and a hip prosthesis surgery; Catherine and Katie were able to join us for the hip prosthesis surgery. After some time in the operating room we ate lunch. On the way back from lunch, we ran into a lady we usually see who has a baby with what seems to be a severe ear infection. Both mom and baby are severely malnourished. Tyler, Natalie and I took the mom and baby to the emergency room of Mercy Hospital. Unfortunately, there was no pediatrician at the hospital in this afternoon but we are going to bring the mom and baby back to the hospital tomorrow morning. On the way back Tyler took the mom to the store to buy baby formula. Mandy stayed back today; she has a fever and does not feel good. So we ask for prayers for her. Later today, not sure what the plan exactly is, but it looks like we are making a trip to new market. Tomorrow, we are all going to the PT/rehab center for children, where Natalie has been doing AMAZING things at. We are really excited. Miss you all! bye!
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Day 4
Today was our second day on the wards at the hospital, and several of us got some unique opportunities. Tyler was able to shadow the doctors on their rounds and learn how things work. He also spent some time in the CCU/ICU. He really learned a lot.
Jenni and Katie were able to go on rounds with Pastor Joshua, the chaplain for the hospital. They were able to pray for most of the patients in the hospital. Jenni felt really blessed when one of the student nurses, after hearing Jenni pray for a patient, asked Jenni to pray for her. Jenni was very happy to be able to minister to her in this way. Jenni and Katie also got to spend time in the pediatric ward.
Andreina and Sarah spent their whole day in the pediatric ward. They brought crayons and coloring books for the children there. They were really touched when a few of the children colored pictures for them to take home.
Catherine was able to go to one of the clinics run by Mercy Hospital today. She was able to take some blood pressures and learn about all of the different people that came to the clinic. She really enjoyed the drive out there and being able to see a different part of the city.
Mandy and Natalie had an amazing opportunity. Lizzie, one of the girls who is staying at BMS, works two days a week at a rehabilitation center for children. These children have many different orthopedic problems, from club feet to polio. This center is a place where they and their families can go to get therapy and surgery if needed. Natalie was really able to use her PT training and experience to help out. The physical therapist there was really blessed by her willingness to help and her knowledge. Both girls thoroughly enjoyed their time the the center.
Overall the team is doing well. We look forward to all the other exciting service opportunities that are presenting themselves to us.
Jenni and Katie were able to go on rounds with Pastor Joshua, the chaplain for the hospital. They were able to pray for most of the patients in the hospital. Jenni felt really blessed when one of the student nurses, after hearing Jenni pray for a patient, asked Jenni to pray for her. Jenni was very happy to be able to minister to her in this way. Jenni and Katie also got to spend time in the pediatric ward.
Andreina and Sarah spent their whole day in the pediatric ward. They brought crayons and coloring books for the children there. They were really touched when a few of the children colored pictures for them to take home.
Catherine was able to go to one of the clinics run by Mercy Hospital today. She was able to take some blood pressures and learn about all of the different people that came to the clinic. She really enjoyed the drive out there and being able to see a different part of the city.
Mandy and Natalie had an amazing opportunity. Lizzie, one of the girls who is staying at BMS, works two days a week at a rehabilitation center for children. These children have many different orthopedic problems, from club feet to polio. This center is a place where they and their families can go to get therapy and surgery if needed. Natalie was really able to use her PT training and experience to help out. The physical therapist there was really blessed by her willingness to help and her knowledge. Both girls thoroughly enjoyed their time the the center.
Overall the team is doing well. We look forward to all the other exciting service opportunities that are presenting themselves to us.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Day 3
Today we began our first rotation in the hospital. Sarah and Andreina went to the community clinic and said the doctor didnt speak English and it was one bumpy ride out there. Catherine and Tyler were on the CCU (cardiac care unit) ward. Mandy and Natalie were on Neonatal and Gyne ward. Jenni and Katie were on PEDS. The day was a little frustrating to begin with. There was definately the language barrier with the patients; most only spoke Bengali. The nurses showed us the patients and let us look at charts and follow them but mainly we felt in the way of everyone. Our job is to serve the hospital staff and patients, not hinder the treatment process and be a bother. After a team meeting and prayer we went back onto floors and things felt a little better and with ease. At one point Natalie, Mandy, Jenni, and Katie went back to BMS to get coloring books and stickers and toys for the kids on the PEDS floor. On they way back a homeless woman stopped us and asked if we were doctors who could treat her mom (we were wearing our scrubs and stethoscopes and stuck out like a sore thumb). The mom had a fever and skin condition. We went back to BMS got water bottles and granola bars to take to them. They were so greatful and the mom, daughter, and her two kids followed us back to Missions of Mercy where Natalie paid 75 Rupi ($1.50) for the mom to see a doctor. The kids on PEDS loved the coloring and loved showing us their masterpeice. It was so great to see the smiles. Working on a PEDS ward at QVC you have about 4-10 patients during the summer months - mainly all with influenza, bronchitis, or appendicitis. At missions of Mercy, a majority were Cleft Palate kids recieving free surgery (its a 10 yr process). A couple had hepatitis, thalassemia, and severe dehydration. There was such a contrast in the types of suffering between the children patients in the US and the children in Kolkata. After the hospital we had lunch and talked Orijeet and changes will be made so we feel more productive and more of a service to them. Possibly working with slum children and shadowing the Pastor as he makes his rounds in the hospital each morning. Today was such a good day and good learning experience. So many blessings.
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Second Day
Today we got a tour of the Mercy Hospital that we will be working at. It is so amazing to know that the hospital is completely funded many donators. It is a 8 floor hospital and it offers free care to all patients. Little kids with cleft palate or lip can come receive surgery for free which is a 10 year process. They also have a blind school and offer eye surgeries for free such as cataract surgery. The goals for the hospital is to have up to 40 medical clinics in the upcoming years. There is a very small physical therapy clinic too. We are all very excited for our first day of work tomorrow and ready to begin doing patient care. We will all be split into groups of two and will have chances of working on the different floors doing patients care, shadowing surgeries in the operating rooms, feeding patients, working in the cardiac care unit, etc. This hospital and the founders are doing amazing things and they are completely relient on God providing the funds to keep it running so that the people of Kolkata can receive free treatment. The rest afternoon we will be heading our way into the local markets and then dinner at the baptist mission tonight where we are staying. We are sitting in the Hope House right now across from the hospital and we got to meet two litle girls that had holes in their heart at birth and had them fixed. They are beautiful shy little girls that have been drawing us pictures. We hope everyone is doing well at home. Love you all -Natalie and Team
We are here!
We are finally here!! We landed in Kolkata last night around 1030. Today we went to church at the church that is affiliated with the hospital. It has been good to reunite with some people we met last year as well as meet new people. Everyone has been very welcoming and friendly.
The hospital was finally able purchase land for their college of nursing, which is a miracle. Apparently land is incredibly hard to purchase in Kolkata. Today, we were able to join some of the hospital staff in dedicating the property. This provided us not only with the opportunity to see the property, but also the outskirts of the city of Kolkata.
The city is such an experience. All of the colors and smells and sounds are so vibrant. The traffic is unbelievable.
We are all tired and jet lagged right now, but incredibly excited to be here. Everyone is doing well and we are all very excited to start in the hospital tomorrow.
The hospital was finally able purchase land for their college of nursing, which is a miracle. Apparently land is incredibly hard to purchase in Kolkata. Today, we were able to join some of the hospital staff in dedicating the property. This provided us not only with the opportunity to see the property, but also the outskirts of the city of Kolkata.
The city is such an experience. All of the colors and smells and sounds are so vibrant. The traffic is unbelievable.
We are all tired and jet lagged right now, but incredibly excited to be here. Everyone is doing well and we are all very excited to start in the hospital tomorrow.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Little miscalculation...
Soooo... We are here enjoying the incredible Changi airport here in Singapore... it has been so quiet since we arrived at 2am. The word got around in our team that our flight to Kolkata left at 11am, and most of us have stayed up and explored, read, or had coffee.
When we were checking the boarding passes and doing the math with the times changes and realized that we are not leaving at 11am, but 8pm! We all have had a good laugh about this and are actually pretty excited about it. In our explorations we have found a free movie theater (showing Juno, I Am Legend, and such), great coffee, and amazing architecture...
So finally we will be arriving in Kolkata at about 10:30pm (10 am on Saturday, west coast time)! Love you all!
When we were checking the boarding passes and doing the math with the times changes and realized that we are not leaving at 11am, but 8pm! We all have had a good laugh about this and are actually pretty excited about it. In our explorations we have found a free movie theater (showing Juno, I Am Legend, and such), great coffee, and amazing architecture...
So finally we will be arriving in Kolkata at about 10:30pm (10 am on Saturday, west coast time)! Love you all!
Singapore airport
Hey guys, we are sitting in the Singapore airport right now for a 9 hour layover. It is 3:30am in the morning Saturday here. We just got off a 18 hour flight! yikes..... we just all sat down for some amazing Belgian coffee. We will be leaving in a few hours on our last flight straigth to Kolkata. We miss u all! Everyone is safe!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)