inotice: 2010

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Transitions: a Way of Life at Galmi

We have a telephone system connecting the expatriate and medical residences and many locations in the hospital, which helps us communicate and saves us a lot of running around. I just noticed that our kitchen phone list is two months old. I glanced down the list of the houses, and suddenly realized how many names are no longer here, just a short time later.

Dr. Ron & Dr. Peter, both surgeons, were here for two weeks, and they did a lot of surgery in a short time. Dr. Aaron spent ten days here, his second visit, and among many other things, did a fabulous job of conducting training in neonatal resuscitation for our nursing and OB staff. Dr. Graham did a massive quantity of orthopedic surgery and his wife Marilyn was a huge help with Guest House during their (roughly annual) three weeks with us. Dr Iris spent three months with us brushing up her OB and C-section skills before returning to Tanzania, where she'll be running a remote rural clinic. Amy and Cheryl, both senior medical students, spent 8 weeks doing a tropical medicine rotation with us. All of them are back home now, and when we stop and remember, we miss them.

In the next few weeks, Alice, retiree, Dr Ted, surgeon, and Dr Roger and Dr Claudia, residents, will all leave. We're preparing our hearts already for the next round of goodbyes.

Welcoming people we've never met because we share a sense of calling, for however long or short a time; growing to love them and allowing our lives to intertwine; and then blessing them with gratitude and grace as they leave; this is a cycle we repeat, again and again.

We're very grateful to have such a strong core team to carry the many responsibilities related to welcome, orientation, hospitality, and mentoring during their time here. All those who come to Galmi enrich our lives, teach us new perspectives and skills, and help us give competent and compassionate care in the name of Jesus to the suffering many who come to us for help.

It's an exclusive club, Galmi Alumni, with amazing members. We are richly blessed.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

He's doing better.

This is one of the kids who arrived at Galmi recently, malnourished and sick enough to require hospitalization. He got help in time. His mom and he will hopefully spend a month at our residential Nutritional Rehab and Education program, where she'll learn about best food-preparation practices for healthy children using foods available in her area.

He's doing better. There is much to be thankful for. There is hope for him. (Thanks to Ann Birch for the photo!)