Surprise!!

Monday was my birthday......and I must say that I was not looking forward to it.....because I am vain and instead of being thankful for all these years of life......I was dreading the significance to me that I might be getting old.......I say might because let's face it, none of us feels older on the actual birthday so why dread it?  We are all in process.....but this was not my feelings prior to the actual day when you are not just looking at the change in number of years......but feeling like it will change me.....and now that it is past.....and I look and feel the same.....I don't have the same distress.....and also....my dear husband, Bryan, made the day into something special......

Happy Birthday

I was able to go to the office for the first time and help the doctors scan medical files into the computer.  This is not something that takes a nurse to do but still it was doing a job that helped in the medical area here......so I was so glad to be invited.....  Bryan had said we would go out to dinner for a special evening....and you must remember there are only two restaurants we usually go to eat at that we don't come away with tummy concerns......so I figured it was Kinwicka....a nice place that is also a hotel with cabanas.....so nice enough ambience......  but this was not the plan.  Bryan had invited all the expatriate friends we have here to come to our place and have a barbecue.....and so here are the photos of that delightful evening.....

Bryan and me

Pastor Eduardo

Pat, Kris, Craig and Mary Anne

Artur and Andy

Drs. Gabi and Artur

Mo and Pat

David and Debbie

Nyles and Cindy

Joan (her husband, Bernie, took the photos)  

Sarah and Bez

decorations

Kris, Craig and Mo

Mo......and then.....

Texas Sheet Birthday Cake

Bez and me

note the decorations on the dryer....

Gabi and Sarah

Mary Anne and Cindy

Nyles and Joan

In times like this I realize how special it is here in Soyo....not because of the place....but because of the people.  Everyone took time at the beginning of a very very long work week to come and surprise me and spend time together......  This makes me feel very special indeed.

Letting Go ...

It has been such a long time since I have posted anything about living in Soyo.  Partly this is because I was in the USA for several months visiting family and getting started on a new visa for Angola.  I have been back for several weeks and today I am going to begin writing again.

I first came to Soyo 18 months ago.....seems impossible.....actually seems much longer and I think that is because everything here is so normal for me now.

I came with dreams of starting a Hospice and have waited for these 18 months hoping that somehow I could use the supplies that I shipped out here from my Hospice agency in Concord, CA, Hospice of the East Bay.  The nurses there were so willing to gather things that could be donated to help the needs of patients here who have so little.  Finally it was time to give the items away to those who could use them and not hold on to the dream that was apparently not going to be possible.  So last Thursday two other ladies, Kris and Cindy, helped me go through the boxes and divide the precious supplies to share with two maternity clinics and the Provincial Hospital.  Surprisingly everything was still in great shape and usable.  Then Friday we took 3 of the cars and loaded them up and delivered the supplies with no warning to the facilities that were to receive them.  I have photos below of one of the clinics that we gave to.  This was a Catholic maternity clinic that also has a pediatric clinic and space for adults as in patients.  I must tell you that this place has a generator but the gasoline is so expensive that they don't use the electricity frequently at all.

medication tray

incubator

laboratory

laboratory

outpatient clinic

Sister at Mpinda Clinic

area for family to cook meals for inpatients

Treatment area

pharmacy that is surprising well stocked a few dollars at a time

delivering supplies

Just too cute!!! Had to include this

I must say that although I felt a sadness in finally letting go the hope to be able to start the hospice here.....I felt such a satisfaction and pleasure in bringing the much needed supplies to the clinics and hospital for them to us with all those in need.  Interestingly, the sister at Mpinda asked when I could start helping as a nurse in her clinic.....and was so sad when she was told that I could not get the necessary papers to work in Angola but she understood.

So....I share this to thank again the ladies who gathered the supplies.....prayed with me about the possibility of a Hospice....and also to thank God for helping me to let go and move on and share what I have with the people here.