I'm not sure how to sum up the past couple days. They've been pretty busy or just full. And by not writing every day it's challenging to remember all the details.
Friday was a good, semi-relaxing day. After my FULL day in the theatre on Thursday I planned nothing for Friday morning. All I HAD to do was stop by the Halestrap's place to pick up a set of keys before the left town.
I had the privilege and blessing of being in a home over the weekend. What a wonderful gift. A hot shower (in a bathroom used ONLY by me), a kitchen to myself, couches, a fireplace, a large movie library, a washing machine.... And Solly - a beautiful "teenager" German shepherd. Oh, and a real mattress!
I got the keys, and then got all the phone replacement stuff sorted out with the hospital. I'm gonna say that if you're going to lose a phone, Kenya is the place to do it. It cost 1000 ksh (Kenyan shillings, approx $13) for a new phone, 100 ksh for a SIM card, and then another 100 ksh for a few minutes. So well under $20 to replace it. Thank you Jesus that I wasn't lent and iPhone! 😉
Then I went back to the guesthouse to pick up all the donations (or as many could fit in my backpack) that had been given to me by Deven (one of the girls in my class) and her daughter. With a full backpack I went and delivered clothes to the kids in paediatrics. They were thrilled, and loved seeing the pictures after I took them.
I moved into the Halestrap's did laundry, made supper, FaceTime with my family... Had a wonderful evening. One of my favourites was when mom called and Caleb could hear my voice... And I could hear him yelling from upstairs "I hear auntie JJ!!!!" And 'demanded' that mom bring the iPad upstairs so we could chat. What a lol monkey. Miss him so much. So hard to explain to a three year old why you're in Africa though.
Didn't get much sleep Friday night and was up SUPER early and at the hospital to join the staff from Wairegi for their staff retreat day. I was told to be at the hospital at 4am because that's when the bus was leaving. In true Kenyan fashion we left the hospital a lil after 4:30.
After an 8 hour bus ride with only one bathroom break 5 hours in we arrived at Mount Kenya National Park. We didn't get too far on the "hike" and didn't get to see the mountain because it was all clouded over. But, had some good conversations with some of the nurses... And everyone had a pretty good time.
It was a CRAZY long day though, I finally got back to the Halestrap's around 1:30am. Poor Solly had a lonely day. He was pretty excited to see me! Haha. Once home I NEEDED a shower and something to eat. Unfortunately those two things woke me up... So I was woke awake for another 2 hours, and then only slept for about 3 hours.
All of Sunday was a chill day of laundry, reading, eating, a little walk, and watching movies. Absolutely wonderful. Not really much to share about. Just nice and restful. I have clean clothes put aside for my flight home... I can't believe I only have just over a week left here.
This morning it was actually really difficult to motivate myself to get to the hospital. Knowing that this is my last week, and that I'll just be turning around and saying goodbye to the friends I make this week makes it a lot more challenging.
This week I'm on the private wars, which feels like a North American hospital in comparison to some of the other places I've been. So much cleaner, quiet, not smelly, 1-2 people per room (instead of 10) and a much lower nurse-patient ratio. Nothing really exciting happened today. No crazy stories to tell.
Managed to fit in a 10km run this evening which was wonderful. After being sick a few weeks ago... It's been raining like crazy and I haven't been able to get out for a run. It's just too slippery here when it's wet/raining... Not like at home where the rain doesn't bother me at all.
Now it's already 10 and I've really gotta get some sleep. Haha. Have to catch up after a crazy relaxing yet sleepless weekend.
Day 30 (Tuesday June 9, 2015)
I'm actually writing this while "at work" today. It's been slow. Because the nursing duties here are a littler different than at home, there is a lot of down time in the middle of the day. So I'm standing at the nursing station on my phone!
The family of a woman who passed away early this morning just came in to visit her, and they don't know that she actually isn't here. I'm not sure what to do... But I can say that I'm glad that it isn't y responsibility to inform them.
However it was my responsibility this morning to prepare/pack her body before she was taken to the morgue. Well, actually it wasn't my job... I was told to do bed baths so that I wouldn't be scared. But I asked if I could do it. So Simon and I worked together to get her ready. Removed the NG tube, IV and foley. After filling her mouth, nostrils, ears, and genitals with cotton we had to label her body, wrap her with a purple sheet, and then labeled the outside.
It's tough. Death is one of those things that I am oddly comfortable with... Which I realize makes others quite confused - and maybe slightly horrified by how comfortably I am able to manage it. When I talked to some of the Love Africa team this afternoon about what I'd done... They looked shocked and maybe even slightly disgusted.
The thing is that death isn't something that I fear anymore. Not at all. I understand that not everyone feels that way, and that the thought of a dead body, or doing what I did today is horrifying and disgusting to them. And it actually surprises me that I don't feel that way too. In the past that's definitely how I felt. I don't think that I've become calloused or uncaring... I honestly think that God has just given me peace and understanding about it. I'm really not sure how to explain it, but I'm thankful for it... Is that ok?
After my 10km yesterday (after not having run for 2 weeks) today's run was a lot less than what I hoped it would be. 5km and I'm feeling done. Oh well, there's always tomorrow! Every day can't be a marathon day. Haha.
Only 3 more days left in Kijabe hospital. I can't believe it. In some ways it feels like just yesterday that I landed. As much as I'm looking forward to coming home, I'm sad to be leaving the wonderful people I've met here.
I'm sitting in the courtyard at RVA writing this and it's starting to get chilly, and I'm getting hungry. So I'm gonna sign out pretty quick here.
I'm encouraged that through my life God is able to touch the lives of others. I don't ever want to undermine the significance of that. I pray that in life and death, through all circumstances I may bring glory to his name and encouragement to others.
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