Orientation and such

Hard to believe that I have been here almost three weeks now!  Official "orientation" is wrapping up.  This past week I began my days by rounding on the OB ward, and then on to the outpatient clinic for the rest of the morning.  I felt quite rusty with my medicine at first and it seemed like I was referring to my reference books for every patient I saw.  Thankfully that is getting better!  We see a variety of things from low back pain to malaria to pregnancy to...  The outpatient docs also cover the ER.  I have drained pus out of a multitude of body parts just this week.  Oops... sorry to you non-medical folks out there.  I also scrubbed on two c-sections this weekend!  It is good to be back in the OR.

Afternoons were filled with Pidgin study.  Margi was my language tutor.  We spent hours conversing (or Margi talking and making a feeble attempt to talk back), reading, singing, etc. all in Pidgin!  I feel that my comprehension has really improved, although I have not completely achieved getting the words out in the correct order.  The patients and hospital staff are all very helpful!  I think they appreciate my attempts to speak their language.  So official instruction is now complete, but I will continue studying on my own.

I am unpacked and settled, getting into the routine of this place.  My roomie Becky has only been home briefly, but I so enjoyed my time with her.  I am so happy that we are sharing a home.  Still working on my cooking skills, which after years of working like a crazy women had pretty much shriveled up and blown away.  I did venture to make tortillas, salsa, and sour cream this week.  Yes, I made sour cream.

Looking back over these weeks... so far so good!  I really do feel like I am home :).  Thanks for your notes and prayers.

New hospital dedication

Drs. Andy, Bill, and Jim played the PNG national anthem on their trumpets.

The new Kudjip Hospital was dedicated on January 30, 2009. Here are a few pics from around the new building and the dedication celebration. Thanks to Mike and Diane Chapman for the use of some of their pictures!

New and improved Kudjip Haussik

Friday, January 30 was a long anticipated day:  dedication of the new and improved Kudjip Nazarene Hospital.  The festivities began with a parade of special guests, including church leaders, representatives from Australia, hospital administration, and missionaries.  We marched to the beat of kanduk drums and through the Tari gate.  Hospital staff and community members lined the pathway, singing and and showering us with flower petals.  A large tent had been erected for the occasion.  The program continued with some special songs, including a wonderful trumpet trip by Drs. Jim, Bill, and Andy.  Mr. John Feaks, Deputy High Commissioner for Australia, gave his greetings.  And he was followed by several others who had been invited to share a brief remark (LOL... so much for brief, the speeches continued for almost three hours).  Dr. Jesse Middendorf, General Superintendent for Church of the Nazarene, was the keynote and final speaker.  From there we proceeded to the new hospital.  Dr. Middendorf offered a prayer of dedication and cut the red ribbon!  Wow, what a day.

The current Kudjip Hospital has been in use for about 42 years now.  The structure itself is old and beginning to crumble.  The hospital has capacity for 100 inpatients, though this number is often exceeded.  Overflowing patients may sleep on the floor because there is no where else to put them.  Thanks to financial support from AusAID and PNG Incentive Fund, construction on the new hospital began last year.  The building is now about 85+% complete.  It will almost double our capacity for inpatients, and will also expand the outpatient area and ER.  We hope to move in sometime in the next couple of months!