Tuesday

Up and on the bus by 7:40 am, even with Paul & Paul's alarm not going off til 7:25.  Typical breakfast was served after a singing prayer. After morning instructions and encouraging words from leadership we headed off to Sebekenta.  1.5 hour drive through very heavy traffic.  Senegal roads are much improved but there are twice as many vehicles.  There are hawkers on the roadways who dash between vehicles and may tap you if are by an open window.  Kat knows well.
There was a lot of sand in the air blocking direct sunlight and showing up in our noses and eyes.  Pastor Paul was out in the "sun" all day and showed no signs of sunburn.  Yes, dear spouse, he did put on sunblock at the beginning of the day.

We unloaded the bus after arriving at our clinic point and unpacked. Before beginning we met with the village leaders who thanked us for coming and offering a free clinic in their community.   Bob had a "God Moment" as his morning devotion was on Jesus saying how blessed we are when we "minister to the least of these" and the Muslim leader said those very words.
We went to work with our clinic starting a bit slow as most spoke only Wolof requiring two translators at near all stations: Wolof to French to English.  Some of the local translators were not very good slowing us down.  We made adjustments there and changed a few roles to increase efficiency so that we would see about 150 people by the end at 6:15 pm.  Kat started doing advance triage to separate out who really needed to be seen by the Docs and who had simpler needs that nurses Nicole and Katy could address with translator/chaplain Morley.  Donna V was shifted to translating French to English for nurse practitioner Andre who doesn't speak English, and Christine was brought in to translate Wolof for the the nurses replacing a local person who struggled.  Christine is the missions financial officer.  We make these kinds of changes every day to adjust to our situation and available  staff.
We were upset after working for an hour and half to discover that the local people were charging people 500cfa (about 2 dollars) to be seen. After thanking us for offering a "free" clinic at the beginning, they were charging entrance at the outer gate.  Our leadership conferenced and made the the decision to let it be known that no future clinics will be offered if such charging was done.  We could not alter their practice today without causing a major scene with those who had paid and already been processed and left versus those who had not.  As it was, they had to manage people who had paid but we're not able to be seen at the end of day even when we stayed an hour late. A few were a bit angry but we're reimbursed . We deferred people to the next village over where we would be the next day. 

We continue to see lots of hypertension,  dehydration,  worms, diabetes,  high blood pressure. 
We did want to give a woman an Academy Award: she came seemingly unable to walk and was given a lift to the Dr's room where she collapsed on the floor.  After examination Doc Strong gave her two Tylenol she rested for a few moments and miraculously walked away without any problems.  Hallelujah!

Despite a few glitches in the day there were many joys.  We identified a man with a severe diabetic situation.  He was given an IV to stabilize him and called for a taxi to take him to the hospital.  Numerous people were given relief from their infirmities and offered thanks.  Pastor Paul emptied his shoes of sand many times as he was running the most between stations.  Socks were quite soaked in sand as well.
After a farewell picture for the local press we headed home.  Lots of singing, storytelling, and laughter on the way back to the mission.  We did learn that Andre, the nurse from the mission, had been in medical school and was half way through when he got word his father had been murdered back in the Congo.  His father was a professor of gynecology at a university. Andre had to stop school and go home.  Without his father's income he could not continue in school and hopes for a scholarship to complete his degree.  Andre does valuable work for the mission's medical program.
Dr Strong was able to see Nurse Valerie's daughter whom he had helped medically on a prior visit.  She is 21 now, and doing great.  She hopes to go to medical school and has been earning grades that can get her there.  Pastor Paul also enjoyed seeing her again as she said in Avatar movie style, "I see you."
We returned to the mission for a typical supper and reflection on our day.  God is blessing us on this trip.  Again, this is an amazing team.
Our last blessing of the day was getting Laundry back from the Gibson's (missionaries from Wisconsin) housekeeper.  It was cleaned and folded flat just like out of the store.  Amazing.  Perfect for packing a suitcase for the way home. More laundry will be done later this week.
Thanks to Doc, Sue, Kat, Pastor Paul for doing the evening data entry of medical info.
Time to rest.  Six hours to wakeup.
Pastor Paul for the team.