Food in Ghana

Our family loves this dish called "fufu." We eat it with ground nut soup. It's basically a peanut sauce like you might find in Thai food. We don't eat it very spicy like the Ghanians do. Colt loves that you can eat it with your hands, too!

Making Fufu

Last Dec Photos

Dec 23-Happy 46th Birthday, Joel!

From Joel

I was asked to share a good news story. The story may be somewhat graphic for some, so if you want, you can stop reading now. We treat many patients here at BMC in Nalerigu, many are very sick and may not have a good outcome, it is our hope that they meet the Ultimate Healer prior to their departure. This is the story of a young girl that the Lord has spared to live a while longer.

First some background information. Infertility is a common problem and a big reason for referral here. Some clinic days, I may see 10-15 infertility patients along with the other patients we see. Unfortunately, there is little hope other than for a miracle as the majority have tubes that are destroyed and surgery is rarely successful. On the other hand, we also see many young girls who do not desire to be pregnant and try to "spoil" their pregnancy. It is my hope and prayer that these two groups would meet and that adoption would become a common practice here. During one particular week we had one patient who took poison to try to "spoil" her pregnancy, unfortunately, it took her life as well. Another had a large laceration in her vagina requiring repair and blood transfusions. The third patient took something to destroy the pregnancy, however, she did not expel the pregnancy and got a severe infection of her uterus. We tried doing a D and C to remove the infected and necrotic contents of her uterus, but she bled profusely requiring transfusions and required placing a pack in her uterus to stop the bleeding. We were left with a young, 16ish, girl whose only chance of survival was a hysterectomy.

We started the hysterectomy and what we found was one of the biggest messes I have ever been a part of. Pus was literally coming out through holes in the uterus. The uterus was dead and necrotic. Attempts to put clamps across the uterus just tore it to pieces causing severe bleeding. After a big bloody mess, we kind of just cut the uterus out leaving a big bloody hole. We then found a large sterile stocking, filled it with gauze sponges to fit the size of the pelvis and brought the open end out through the hole we had created in the patients vagina. We attached it to a rope which we attached to a weight off the end of the patients bed creating traction on the pack in the pelvis. At the beginning of the surgery I really thought the patient had about 0% chance of living. Through the Grace of God the patient survived and went home about a week later.

I told her that the Lord must have special plans for her since she was spared. I tried to share with her the hope that she could have through Jesus (the best I could through an interpreter). I also had the chaplains come and share with her in her native language. Please pray for the many patients like her who need to know of the Savior's love for them.

I have been trying for over an hour to get some photos uploaded to the blog in a variety of ways now that we have internet again at the school house. We got it back last night and are so glad for that!  I'll keep working on the photos.  I'm not sure why I'm having such trouble as I did not have trouble previously here at the school house.  

I'm 13 weeks pregnant now, nearly 14, really.  I am doing well overall.  Colt is doing great in school.  I am glad to continue to be able to teach him.  Abigail walks all over the place and is close to running now.  She loves to give hugs and kisses and also loves to play outside.  She is quite the talker sometimes, as well.  We all enjoy her a lot.  

Joel is doing well in his work at the hospital.  He plans to post on the blog soon now that we have internet without having to go to the internet cafe again.  

We are expecting Hollie Aycock here today and are glad she is coming.  She is from San Angelo and is a missionary in Kenya.  On her way back to Kenya from the states, she will spend some time with us and at the hospital with Joel.  We are having foo foo (sp?) and ground nut soup for her arrival tonight and are excited about that!  

Again, stay tuned for photos as I am able to post them!  More to come!