week twenty eight- ANC

lectures again, obstructed labour! then i was in ANC for the rest of the week. tuesday i was sick so i stayed back, haven’t been sleeping well lately. sunday night i didn’t go to sleep till six am and had to get up only an hour later.... the next night wasn’t a whole lot better, sleeping on and off all night so by tuesday i think my body had had enough and i felt yucky all morning. i was asked to go and get tested at the clinic for malaria. one of the other girls also was going to get tested... mine was negative but hers positive. i’m very thankful i didn’t get malaria. i slept the remainder of that day and felt much better by evening. wednesday and thursday i went to the hospital, in ANC.

it wasn’t super busy and nothing ‘crazy’ happened but it was a good time. i got to practice more VE’s and get the hang of it, i was able to tell the doctor my findings and have him completely agree with me! that was very exciting! there was a delivery as well in ANC because the women was on the drip (medicine to help with labour) but also i think because her sister worked in ANC and she wanted to do the delivery. the next day i worked in the postnatal end of things. many of the women were still bleeding and a few babies had fevers so i spent the day monitoring everyone. it was a steady day. a little sad with three women who had lost their babies. i got to pray for one of them and just hug her and sit with her for a bit while she cried. she spoke a little bit of english so i was able to talk with her for a bit and try my best to encourage her. but what can i say to encourage a women who had just lost her child? i hope she felt the peace of God and that me just sitting with her meant something.

friday was an exciting day for our team. we found out wednesday that we were moving! there had been some challenging things at the place we lived. the location, general conditions and other things that contributed to the idea for the move. we are still in contact with the base, and there are no hard feelings so that is very good. so we spent the morning cleaning and packing and then moved into the city! its very exciting to be living in the city, closer to the hospital and shops and things. we’re now living in a compound, to be specific in a guest house ran by monks! the compound is like a village. there also nuns here! so funny but its nice. i’m really enjoying it, we have our own kitchen to use which means we are cooking our own food and we’re two to a room instead of the seven that we were in the old house. its a more homey feeling and feels good to come home to after a long day out. plus a huge blessing is we have AC! who knew eh? there’s also an orphanage in the compound and maternity clinic that we’ll hopefully be able to help out at.

saturday we celebrated Naomi’s birthday! (its really monday) we went out to buy a khanga from the team, then out to lunch at this place called Steers. its a little joint that has a few different western restaurants in one. so i got pizza and she got her chicken burger she’s been wanting. and we both got milkshakes! weird drinking milkshakes here! it was neat cuz the whole team came out for lunch, we pretty much filled up that place! then ten of us went to the mall and saw a movie, Gallagers Travels... or something like that. it was good, i’m sure those of you reading know what i’m talking about, but to us all movies are so new, i’m gonna get home and think things are new when there really a year old! it was a fun day!

sunday we had church and a free afternoon. in the evening we met to discuss the food situation because we are now preparing all our own food opposed to back at the base they prepared breakfast and dinner for us.

there will be a bit of figuring out our new area and how the team works in this place, but its a huge blessing for us and i am very grateful!

till next time.....