The Body

We have been blessed to have many great volunteers to come help at BMC. Roy Renfro is a retired surgeon from Nashville. Roy celebrated his 79th birthday with us the other day. Roy was gracious in helping me with an especially difficult case today. A patient came in a while back complaining of no movement of her baby. Unfortunately, fetal heart tones could not be heard and the baby had died at approximately twenty weeks gestation. We tried multiple medications to try and get her to deliver without success. We then proceeded to do a C section. We were surprised to find an extrauterine gestation. The baby had formed outside of the uterus and the placenta and membranes had densely adhered to the bowel and other internal organs. Roy helped assure that the bowel was not injured during the operation. We are so grateful to Roy and the other volunteers who give up their time to come and serve here.

The other missionary families at BMC have also been so helpful in helping us get situated. The Hewitt's, Faile's, Jane Paysinger and Tommy Harrison have all been helpful in sharing their food, helping us get supplies, making us feel welcome, and in helping getting AC set up in our bedroom :). Our closest missionary neighbors, the Esala's and Federwitz's, live in different villages an hour or so away (down some of the bumpiest roads in the world). They are with Lutheran Bible Translators and are involved in translating the Bible into a tribal language which has not had the Word. They have also helped in our transition. We are so thankful for the Body of Christ coming together.

Joel's Post: Fulani and update

The Fulani are a nomadic tribe throughout Western Africa. They are a people group primarily of a different faith with little access to the gospel. We have had some patients come to the hospital that are Fulani. One patient presented in labor with twins with a knee presentation of the first twin. We proceeded with a C'section. She had been in labor for a long time and had a relaxed uterus, or uterine atony. We gave her some medicines (oxytocin and cytotec) which initially improved her bleeding, however, throughout the day, she continued to have bleeding despite the medicines. We proceeded to do a hysterectomy as a last ditch effort to save her. She made it through the surgery, but was in need of more blood transfusions despite the family donating several units (there is no blood bank here, the family is responsible for donating blood to the patient at the time it is needed). One of the nurse/midwives graciously donated her blood to the patient so that the patient could live. This gave us a great opportunity to tell the Fulani patient and her husband about someone else who gave his blood and life so that we might live. I had gone to find Alex, a nurse who also pastors the local Fulani outreach church. Before I could find him, he had already began sharing with the Fulani patient in their own language about the love of Christ. The family said they would seriously consider what Alex had shared with them.

We have had many visiting doctors and other volunteers come through. These people are a great blessing to us and allow us to spend more time with our families. This week Dr. Dewey Dunn and Roy Renfro from Nashville have been here. Dewey had the chance to lead two people to Christ during clinic this week.

There may be 400-500 patients show up for clinic each day on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The clinic shuts down for a thirty minute period to allow a presentation of the gospel. During these presentations there were I believe 19 decisions to follow Christ on Wednesday and 15 on Friday. We have also had a visiting medical resident say that she is near coming to a decision to follow Christ. Thanks for your prayers!

Joel's Post: Fulani

Chicken Recipe

It has been fun to use the internet to find new recipes to use here. Rob & Debbie Patyrak got some pecans over to us. And another missionary here, Tommy, brought some back from his last trip home awhile back. So, I found a delicious recipe that uses crushed pecans as the breading/crust for chicken. It was delicious. Joel wants me to make it again! I'm sharing the recipe with you in case you'd like to try it. Let us know how it turns out. I have also been making granola, yogurt, herb bread, among other things. Click here to see the recipe.

Triplets

Joel's Post: Unexpected Blessing

The midwives do all of the uncomplicated deliveries, including twins and breech deliveries. I was called to evaluate a patient who was not progressing in labor. A cursory ultrasound showed twins, both in the breech or bottom down position. The chance of successful vaginal delivery was small as the woman's labor was not progressing well. We elected to do a cesarean section. We delivered the twins and to my surprise there was another child at the top of the uterus, lying in the crosswise or transverse position. Thus was my first delivery of triplets! There are two ways of looking at this. The first being that I could use a refresher course in ultrasonography. And although we would enjoy it if someone would send us to Hawaii for an ultrasound course, I tend to look at the situation a second way. As one of those unexpected blessings from the Lord. Lamentations 3:23-24 " Because of the Lord's great love we are consumed, His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, great is your faithfulness."
(Hollie should post pictures of the triplets soon)

I know it's been awhile since we've posted anything. In case you're wondering why our postings are not very close together now, being pregnant, teaching Colt in the mornings (when I have more energy and it's not as hot yet), having a 1 year old, no dishwasher or dryer, having no internet at our house, and living in the middle of the hottest season in Africa are a few of the varied reasons! We are doing well, over all. Abigail seems to have gotten over another ear infection. Praise God. Joel is a wonderful father and husband, as always. Colt enjoys climbing trees outside in our front yard.

Some of you would like to be able to help the people here in Africa. Here is an opportunity the Lord may be calling some of you to. There is a group of disabled Ghanians here locally who cannot provide for themselves. A nearby church has a fund to help feed them. It takes about $300 a month to feed this large group of people. Currently, the funding is nearly $200 short each month. Some of you already know this is for you to help with. Others know you are not at all the ones called to this. If there is anyone who is called to help, email us at 2ghana@gmail.com and we'll give you further instructions. Also, feel free to ask any questions and we'll try to get them answered.

On a lighter note, sometimes I like to play a pretend game of "We're back in Texas" by telling Joel I'd like to go to the river walk in San Antonio soon. Today, as we were washing dishes after lunch, I told him I'd like to run to Target for a few minutes. Joel has now caught on and told me that's fine, to go ahead! :) I know anyone who's ever lived outside of the US has had similar thoughts!

Aaahhh!!!!