Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Whose house is it anyway,



The other day I was walking home from work and saw the fellow who works for the neighbours walk into my house – I barely missed a step as I remembered I gave my extra key to the neighbours so they could use my washing machine – and he was doing their wash.

A few months ago I came home walked into my kitchen and found the 2 year old son of one of the missionaries in my kitchen; he looked at me as if to say “what are you doing here?”. The lady who watches with him was chatting with the lady who helps me out two days a week and so of course he came along.
Two weeks ago I had a friend and her two daughters stay with me and during the day we had about ten people using my home for a home base. They were part of a team of nursing students spending a few days at Tenwek.
Today while home for lunch J, the lady who helps me around the house is making stew for the group I am having for bible study tomorrow tonight. When I get home I will make a stirfry for some missionaries who are passing through, one of whom is sleeping in my bedroom.
As I am sitting here, I hear some talking outside of my door the guys from industrial have brought down a a cylinder of propane as mine ran out.
This Saturday my house is going to be invaded by 10-15 interns as we are having a pizza night. I have told them if they want pizza they must come early to help me make it – some of the guys groaned at this so I did give them the option of washing the dishes after, we will see how it goes.
So whose house is this, When I moved to Tenwek I requested not to have a roommate. I love having people around me but when you have a roommate you need to respect their space and their needs and the amount of busyness going on  this week is one thing to do to myself but something else to do to something else. Also I do need time alone and since my house is always so busy the times when it's great to be able to just spend a few moments alone.
So whose house is this – well it's God’s house. It’s a space I have been given to use, many people use their gifts and talents for many uses, but I think God has given me this wonderful space of my current home to share. To use/develop my gift of hospitality to his Glory.

My house from the front door, living room, and dining room, the bright lights are coming from the kitchen.



Tuesday, June 17, 2014

Do I tell you about...

So I apologize it been a long time since I have written. Things here no longer seem new or different, it is easy to write about those things. I have been here long enough that the lines are becoming blurred. So what do I write about?

Do I tell you that I am hoping to get my driver’s license? I am looking into making trips all by myself into Bomet, town a few KM down the road. That I am excited about the opportunity to drive again but at the same time scared. What side of the road do I drive on? What if the police stop me? Do I still remember to drive a stick?

Do I tell you about the patient I lost last week? The pregnant mom who was on a ventilator with bad lungs  (ARDS), when she pulled out her own breathing tube we could not get her intubated and  back on full support (PEEP =20) before her heart stopped. We did CPR on this mom for 10-15min before deciding that the chance of getting her back was minimal so we decided to save the baby instead. The doctors quickly cut out the baby. We stopped trying to save mom and worked on baby instead. I was not the only one crying as this all took place. When I heard that new born baby cry at last some hope. I have gone to visit this little girl daily and Praise the Lord for her life but mourn the life of her momma, and struggle with what ifs and if onlys.

Do I tell you about the good-byes I’m saying as missionaries are leaving on to the USA for a few months to a year so they can raise support? As my trip back to Canada will be in March, I may not see some of these missionaries again until I return in 2016.

Do I tell you about the frustration I feel when after being a year I have not been able to get some things completed, and I start to wonder is there ever a chance of changing things from how they have always been?

Do I tell you about the fact that I’m tired and wish there was more hours in a day to get everything done, but other times I wonder if I spent my time better I would be able to get things done?

Do I tell you about the joy I feel when a patient who recovered from sepsis and ARDS is sitting in a chair and asking for a drink of water?

Well this blog post got long, with all sorts of things. I guess I do have something to say.