Life in Kalene

It has been a while since the last blog but we are having some difficultly with blogging! Unfortunately the blogging site is blocked here in Kalene so my blogs are going to have to be put up by someone in New Zealand via email so they may not be as often as I had hoped.

Kalene

We have been in Kalene for 12 days now and are really starting to settle in the work here. Praise God Chris was not sick on the 3 hour plane ride here despite some of the ride being a bit bumpy. Kalene is at a greater altitude than Lusaka so it is a bit cooler here which is a relief. The rains have just started in the last couple of weeks and heavy downpours accompany the amazing lightening and thunder. I am enjoying the weather here, it is hot but not uncomfortable and the storms are spectacular to watch and listen to. Kalene itself is beautiful at this time of year- green and lush, lots of beautiful flowers and trees that are ladened with ripe mangoes at this time. It is far from what I imagined of Africa- the dry and dusty landscape with little vegetation often depicted in movies and books. 

Flying on the small plane to Kalene

The Hospital

My first day at the hospital was a real eye opener. Going around the wards I felt like a 4th year medical student again- I knew nothing. More than half of the children in the children’s ward were being treated for malaria, something I had never had to deal with before. The other problems included malnutrition, HIV and TB which I had also never seen treated in New Zealand. Moving onto the men’s and women’s ward it was much the same. Malaria is the main cause for hospitalisation at this time of the year- definitely a good incentive to be taking our prophylaxis! Of the conditions that I could recognise they were a lot further along than most conditions I had seen. Abdominal masses are one of the example of this. The second day was an operating day and the large masses that had been seen the day before were removed- an ovarian cyst the size of a soccer ball, then an ovarian cancer the size of a basketball! I have had to catch on very quickly to this different type of medicine. The nursing staff here are very knowledgable about many of the illnesses such as malaria and will often begin treatment themselves. Their knowledge was been particularly helpful in the first week. The only full-time doctor for the hospital, Dr Felix, was called away suddenly as his pregnant wife was unwell with preeclempsia (high blood pressure doing pregnancy) and malaria. Suddenly my dad and I were the doctors for the whole hospital. He joked that he has the medical experience and I have the medical knowledge as I just finished my 5th year exams, but I definitely did not feel prepared for the medical problems that are seen on the wards. The nurses helped us along with the drug regimes where we were stuck and we are slowly we getting into the swing of it. It is incredible busy here with 4 wards, the surgical theatre and outpatients to get through. It is a lot more intense than in New Zealand and you have to get through patients quite quickly.

We are really grateful this week for the arrival of a Canadian doctor, Dr Alison, who is working in one of the mining communities. She was meant to arrive earlier but had trouble getting away from her regular job but praise God she is now here. She has worked for a while in Africa and has great knowledge and is also a great teacher. Her arrival has provided good relief for my dad and I am also getting some great teaching from her.

Me, Chris and Dad outside the Hospital

Reflections

Last weekend was a hard one for the hospital however. There were many very sick patients. Most of them would have gone straight to ICU in NZ and undergone extensive testing and treatment but with the limited resources here there was not much that could be done. 4 of the patients died. It is hard seeing people, some of them young, dying were in NZ they may have had a chance but this is just part of life here in Kalene.  My dad ended up dealing with most of the hospital stuff over the weekend as it was Chris’ and my first wedding anniversary. We were able to go to a place called ‘ the Orchard’ which was built as a place were missionaries could have a place to have some time out. We had a great time just relaxing, swimming in the pool and reflecting on our first year of marriage. We have really grown over the last year and are even more in love now than a year ago.

Chris has also been put to work, building a archway for “The Orchard” which had termite rot right through!  He is enjoying being a helping hand and taking on projects here.  He has just finished reading Pilgrims Progress and is raving about it so it must be a great read!

Its been eye opening for us coming here to see the missionaries and the things they have to give up to be here, on a daily basis.  Although there is good housing and food etc, many comforts we take for granted aren’t available here.  Thank God for sending people like them who give up so much to be here.

Me jumping for joy at the top of Kalene Hill

Prayer

We now have 2 weeks left here in Kalene. Some prayer and praise points over this time:

- Praise God for good health so far and pray for continuing good health (No malaria especially)

- Praise God for the arrival of Dr Alison and the work that she is able to do here, and pray for Dr. Felix’s wife also - Lawsia, who needs good health at this time.

- Pray that in the business we will have time and patience to really care for and share the love of Jesus with these people.