Hello Praying Siblings,
Thank you for your continued support in prayer. I have since returned from Nepal and am still sorting through feelings being back in Canada. My experience re-entering the developed world has been most shocking of all and perhaps I've taken a really fatalistic and cynical view of things I see around me.
My first encounter would have been a night spent in the middle east. My anticipated stay in the airport terminal overnight turned out to be a excessively luxiourious stay in a beautiful hotel staffed by immigrants many of which would have to break from their families to come work here. This stay was complimented by several all you can eat meals all within the span of 9 hours. Which some of it was beyond what I could take in after living in a developing country for the last little while, I took full advantage of the pressurized running water and showered.
This last weekend, I had more time to consider the lavish ways of the west at an amusement park. Many Nepalese long to have another hour of sunlight so that they can work and hopefully glean just a bit more to prolong the imminent effects of malnutrition. And here we are finding ways to amuse (a-not; muse-think) ourselves waiting for hours to take a 5 minute ride locked down in a metal box that will run its course along an abdomenally unfavourable kinematic path planned by some engineer who's job it was to bring about the most terror possible. This area is staffed by 'the future of tomorrow' who are gaining invaluable experience of working in a reputable centre that promotes mindless activities to include on their resumes that will get them that dream job in the future. What is really being taught here?
indeed to some, the 'mind eraser' was the best ride of their lives. To compare and contrast this to the lifestyle of those living in a developing world is unfair, but you simply have to go and immerse yourself in the lives of our fellow human to understand life as they know it.
My hope is not to make you feel sorry for the lives that these people live, but merely to challenge you to consider another way of living (living as God desired). People in the developing world really know the cost of basic necessities like electricity, water, food. They work long and hard in very practical ways to ensure that these basic needs are obtained. ( e.g. waking up periodically throughout the night to check to see if there is water to be pumped into their reserve tank (that is if they are lucky enough to have one). Do we know the cost at which this comes? Do we know the cost of what it means to have life (to the full - John 10:10?)
Let us reconsider each breath that God has given - for this is what we will be held accountable for one day.
Although the tone of this update may be rough, I'm still trying to decipher what I'm to gather and share with those who have asked me to. Please pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit not my own thoughts that God might be glorified through the words and actions of a life redeemed by His Son guided by His Spirit for the Father's glory. soli Deo gloria.
eric.
ps: for those interested, Sunday, August 5, 2007. There will be lunch at my place at which time I also hope to informally share with you in much greater details of God's work in Nepal. Please RSVP to me via email.
1300---> whenever you decide to leave.
26.7.07
26.07.07 update from Canada
The return trip was definitely something.
I got on the plane next to an older Nepali woman. I wasn't sure what to call her as I'm only accustomed to women either around the same age or around my mother's age. So I defaulted to use 'didi' which means older sister. When asking how she was, she was the ONLY person who ever responded with a 'ramrosa' (very good). Most often, people say 'tik-cha' (OK) which is the most common thing to say to anything. Because I think it's culturally wrong to be angry or upset, people always say that they are fine. This is one thing that pissed me off SO much. I know realized why my mother was so indiginant when I used to start & conclude my journals with "Today was fine." It says nothing. Nevertheless, it was too bad our conversation was abruptly ended at my lack of Nepali and inability to converse with her.
Meal time came and I was suddenly put on the spot to translate fish and chicken. Chicken was no problem, but I was at a loss for fish. So I ordered the fish and showed her that and then asked 'kakra' (chicken) or this.. she choose this, not realizing it was fish which she didn't eat. No problems though, cause she gave it to her adopted 'babu' (little boy) for the trip ( i.e. me). Anyway, I quickly came to my senses and realized that she was Nepali and probably eats a Nepali diet. So I went thru all the things that a good Nepali should eat and sure enough, she was happy with carbs, but she didn't take any sugar. So I ended up writing on the placemat her food preferences so that she could keep it for the remainder of her journey to Los Angeles. She'll be staying there w/ family for 6 months. But seriously, if I hadn't been in Nepal, I would have found her and her eating habits to be quite strange. But coming from a place where you eat meat once a week, I can definitely understand why eating large amounts of meat in one shot simply don't sit well with them. I on the other hand joyfully devoured all the 'masu' (meat) she didn't want.
By the time I arrived in Qatar, I was ready to sleep the night in the airport. But the gentleman after the security check told me to line up somewhere else. After doing so, I soon realized that it was standard procedure for passengers with a layover longer than 8 hours to get a hotel room. No complaints there, just some disbelief. I don't think I've ever stayed in a hotel room alone - always with family or some other people, it's just a waste. Since I had to wait for the shuttle, Qatar Airways (QA) decided to give me a free dinner voucher at the airport. So I enjoyed my second dinner (one fo the most tender lamb curries i've ever eaten in my life with some guy dressed in a suit and tie serving me fanta in a ghetto cup at the airport cafe.).
I was SO excited to have meat, but also somewhat guilty of the fact that I was enjoying so much when those in Nepal where I just came from live in such grave conditions. So, I decided not to participate in the third dinner offering from QA at the hotel (it was a buffet). The student side of me had actually kicked in as I was saving myself to consume some gourmet breakfast the next morning. If that wasn't a big enough contrast, the room that they gave me was hands down the nicest designed room I've been in. It had 3 different methods of wiping yourself down after dropping your offering to the porcelain god. Doha, Qatar was extremely nice, but very heartbreaking as well. It was a sad reminder of the unequal distribution of wealth in the world. Ke garne? (what to do?)
Both are ways of surviving. The typical Nepali does it minimally and the developed world person does it in comfort. But what does it really mean to live? During my time there, the pastor at Ganeshwor church spoke about the same thing over and over again - it was the theme of the church for the year. "We not only survive, but we live". Indeed, how often are we consumed with survival? We are concerned about the foods that we eat, so we learn about nutrient. We are concerned about ourselves and operating efficiently according to our skills and talents, so we take psychological tests, IQ tests, DNA sample tests. We are concerned about appeasing God, so we go to church, give tithes, etc. But to what extent shall we concern ourselves with these things. Physical, mental and spiritual things can keep us from the heavenly Father - who is only interested in our hearts before Him. (Psalm 51:16-17). I nevertheless, indulged in a long warm shower at high pressures to clean myself thoroughly. The way Nepali's live is hard and tough, it's very ruggid and will take a while before things change. In a place such as this with a whole lot of corruption it's really difficult even for those interested and capable in doing good to actually do anything.
But fear not, my friends, God will continue to convict the hearts of people. May we His children seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Let Him be made known that we might have strength to endure tomorrow. To Him be the glory as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever Amen.
I got on the plane next to an older Nepali woman. I wasn't sure what to call her as I'm only accustomed to women either around the same age or around my mother's age. So I defaulted to use 'didi' which means older sister. When asking how she was, she was the ONLY person who ever responded with a 'ramrosa' (very good). Most often, people say 'tik-cha' (OK) which is the most common thing to say to anything. Because I think it's culturally wrong to be angry or upset, people always say that they are fine. This is one thing that pissed me off SO much. I know realized why my mother was so indiginant when I used to start & conclude my journals with "Today was fine." It says nothing. Nevertheless, it was too bad our conversation was abruptly ended at my lack of Nepali and inability to converse with her.
Meal time came and I was suddenly put on the spot to translate fish and chicken. Chicken was no problem, but I was at a loss for fish. So I ordered the fish and showed her that and then asked 'kakra' (chicken) or this.. she choose this, not realizing it was fish which she didn't eat. No problems though, cause she gave it to her adopted 'babu' (little boy) for the trip ( i.e. me). Anyway, I quickly came to my senses and realized that she was Nepali and probably eats a Nepali diet. So I went thru all the things that a good Nepali should eat and sure enough, she was happy with carbs, but she didn't take any sugar. So I ended up writing on the placemat her food preferences so that she could keep it for the remainder of her journey to Los Angeles. She'll be staying there w/ family for 6 months. But seriously, if I hadn't been in Nepal, I would have found her and her eating habits to be quite strange. But coming from a place where you eat meat once a week, I can definitely understand why eating large amounts of meat in one shot simply don't sit well with them. I on the other hand joyfully devoured all the 'masu' (meat) she didn't want.
By the time I arrived in Qatar, I was ready to sleep the night in the airport. But the gentleman after the security check told me to line up somewhere else. After doing so, I soon realized that it was standard procedure for passengers with a layover longer than 8 hours to get a hotel room. No complaints there, just some disbelief. I don't think I've ever stayed in a hotel room alone - always with family or some other people, it's just a waste. Since I had to wait for the shuttle, Qatar Airways (QA) decided to give me a free dinner voucher at the airport. So I enjoyed my second dinner (one fo the most tender lamb curries i've ever eaten in my life with some guy dressed in a suit and tie serving me fanta in a ghetto cup at the airport cafe.).
I was SO excited to have meat, but also somewhat guilty of the fact that I was enjoying so much when those in Nepal where I just came from live in such grave conditions. So, I decided not to participate in the third dinner offering from QA at the hotel (it was a buffet). The student side of me had actually kicked in as I was saving myself to consume some gourmet breakfast the next morning. If that wasn't a big enough contrast, the room that they gave me was hands down the nicest designed room I've been in. It had 3 different methods of wiping yourself down after dropping your offering to the porcelain god. Doha, Qatar was extremely nice, but very heartbreaking as well. It was a sad reminder of the unequal distribution of wealth in the world. Ke garne? (what to do?)
Both are ways of surviving. The typical Nepali does it minimally and the developed world person does it in comfort. But what does it really mean to live? During my time there, the pastor at Ganeshwor church spoke about the same thing over and over again - it was the theme of the church for the year. "We not only survive, but we live". Indeed, how often are we consumed with survival? We are concerned about the foods that we eat, so we learn about nutrient. We are concerned about ourselves and operating efficiently according to our skills and talents, so we take psychological tests, IQ tests, DNA sample tests. We are concerned about appeasing God, so we go to church, give tithes, etc. But to what extent shall we concern ourselves with these things. Physical, mental and spiritual things can keep us from the heavenly Father - who is only interested in our hearts before Him. (Psalm 51:16-17). I nevertheless, indulged in a long warm shower at high pressures to clean myself thoroughly. The way Nepali's live is hard and tough, it's very ruggid and will take a while before things change. In a place such as this with a whole lot of corruption it's really difficult even for those interested and capable in doing good to actually do anything.
But fear not, my friends, God will continue to convict the hearts of people. May we His children seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. Let Him be made known that we might have strength to endure tomorrow. To Him be the glory as it was in the beginning, is now and will be forever Amen.
13.7.07
13.07.07
Just returned from trip to the Tibetian boarder. The bus ride which took over 8hrs each way was an eventful experience Without fail.
I'll only highlight important details.
Had the weirdest feeling as I approached the Tibet(China) and Nepal boarder. I was all excited about being able to cross midway the Friendship Bridge and enter into my 'motherland'. However, this was not the case as Lonely Planet failed me this time. I'll get Ernest to send a picture of HSS/MD at their birthplace...
At the boarder there we decided to trek up to Liping Monastary. On the way up, we kept on seeing these porter people coming through a narrow trail, about 30 seconds apart. When we finally reached the monastary, we were greeted by non other than Tenzin. Well this guy had a different last name, but he shared a little about the Buddist culture and also pointed us to another monastary in the mountains that we could visit. He also explained to us that the path that the porter were taking was a 2hr hike into Tibet. There were a LOT of goods coming in from china. Anyway, that's quite crazy that porters would bring goods in on foot. I was really tempted to take the trip into Tibet. The prospect of being in China never appealed to me, but perhaps I remained content with being able to empasize with Moses' feelings outside the promised land. Except for me, I'm probably more like a lost prodigal son returning to what I believed is my motherland. (I'm not sure where I stand on this Tibet/China issue, I'm not informed enough)
The next day We trekked toward the Bakang monastary that took us up the moutain beyond the clouds to where the air was cool and fresh. We took a wrong turn but ended up at a Sherpa village where we were warmly greated by locals who shared a snack of sour milk tea and potatoes with us. photo attached. People are extremely hospitable. Night and day difference from the city. Water is also in abundance, but EXTREMELY cold. had the coldest shower of my life.
Anyways, back today. Think I may go to Lumbini next week depending on how work goes with this project that I've been working with CEN on and the potential hospital fund.
As time winds down, I realize that my time here is limited and I'm started to really miss the people in Canada. Peace of Christ with you all!
I'll only highlight important details.
Had the weirdest feeling as I approached the Tibet(China) and Nepal boarder. I was all excited about being able to cross midway the Friendship Bridge and enter into my 'motherland'. However, this was not the case as Lonely Planet failed me this time. I'll get Ernest to send a picture of HSS/MD at their birthplace...
At the boarder there we decided to trek up to Liping Monastary. On the way up, we kept on seeing these porter people coming through a narrow trail, about 30 seconds apart. When we finally reached the monastary, we were greeted by non other than Tenzin. Well this guy had a different last name, but he shared a little about the Buddist culture and also pointed us to another monastary in the mountains that we could visit. He also explained to us that the path that the porter were taking was a 2hr hike into Tibet. There were a LOT of goods coming in from china. Anyway, that's quite crazy that porters would bring goods in on foot. I was really tempted to take the trip into Tibet. The prospect of being in China never appealed to me, but perhaps I remained content with being able to empasize with Moses' feelings outside the promised land. Except for me, I'm probably more like a lost prodigal son returning to what I believed is my motherland. (I'm not sure where I stand on this Tibet/China issue, I'm not informed enough)
The next day We trekked toward the Bakang monastary that took us up the moutain beyond the clouds to where the air was cool and fresh. We took a wrong turn but ended up at a Sherpa village where we were warmly greated by locals who shared a snack of sour milk tea and potatoes with us. photo attached. People are extremely hospitable. Night and day difference from the city. Water is also in abundance, but EXTREMELY cold. had the coldest shower of my life.
Anyways, back today. Think I may go to Lumbini next week depending on how work goes with this project that I've been working with CEN on and the potential hospital fund.
As time winds down, I realize that my time here is limited and I'm started to really miss the people in Canada. Peace of Christ with you all!
10.7.07
10.07.07
Again writing updates as webpages load.
I really know that i shouldn't be counting down, but perhaps the countdown is a bit of a wake up call to make the most of every opportunity as the NIV would put Eph 5:15-17. Will be in Kodari (boarder of Tibet for a couple days to reflect on last week of stay in Nepal. Thoughts of considering starting a fund here whereby poor patients can access this and receive essential surgeries.
Here's the plan revealed. I trust the surgeon who has been taking us around. Based on his work and his strong allegiance to communism, I trust that he will not be corrupt and 'steal' money. When he first returned from Belarus worked very long hours at Kanti - the government hospital. However, since people get paid a flat rate there and not per operation, many of the other staff were in disagreement. This is further motivated by the fact that if they work elsewhere they will receive higher pay. So the current situation has the operating theatre (OT) in operation from 1015-1400 for 4 days a week. We've ended as early as 1100 and ended as late at 1530. This is pretty shotty for a hospital who has been well funded by the Japanese (http://www.kantihospital.org.np/index.php). State of the art equipment that came in 1994 still stands unused. What happens is that when qualitfied Nepali people go to Japan for training, they get trained but don't return to serve at Kanti. It's quite sad here for our surgeon friend who returned to Nepal to serve the poor here. He also mentioned that working in Belarus wasn't all that fulfilling as foreigners are not respected as much as nationals.
After OT hours decreased, he started working at Gorkha Hospital which he has dreams to make into a Children's hospital, but shareholders are pushing for it to become a general hospital to be more profitable. Currently, it's underused. The idea and what the surgeon does is operates at prices slighty higher than at Kanti. Patient who usually come are poor and can't afford to pay in full, so many times he pays out of pocket for the operation that he does. It's quite frustrating for a qualified surgeon to be doing simple cases over and over again, but he's happy as long as he's working.
Patients travel from as far as 300km, on bus and foot to get to Kanti. Since the elective surgery wait time is 2 years. Many patients will forget to show up. Those that need to be operated on also need to wait - the way they seem to stall is by telling them to get a test done and bring results back the next day, or tellign them that the wait time in long. When patients return for their 6-7th time they are usually rewarded with an admit. But this usually doesn't occur unless they are in pretty bad shape. There are a ton of urinary tract infections here and abcesses. perhaps lack of hygiene?.. Regardless, it's heart breaking to see scrotums larger than a child's fist due to a hydrocele or hernia. Abcesses are also quite common in both genders also varying in size and placement from head to toe up to an adult sized fist in size.
The idea is to have a fund which patients to take from if they need assistance. Especially for those patients who travel for days to come and won't have money for a return trip to the hospital in 3 months for an essential surgery. Since OT hours at Kanti are limited, surgeries will take place at Gorkha (Children's) Hospital. This hospital is infinitely more sanitary than Kanti. It's much more of a hospital. One of the problems with this is that there's no contingency if anything happens to the surgeon. He's mentoring 2 medical officers but neither is interested in a surgical specialization. There are many others tho. Your input (constrictive and skeptical) would be greatly appreciated. Ideally, it'd be nice to be training up people with the quality work he does. Please reply asap as time here is limited.
http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/ngo_in_nepal.php
in the race by the grace of God,
e.
Heb 12
I really know that i shouldn't be counting down, but perhaps the countdown is a bit of a wake up call to make the most of every opportunity as the NIV would put Eph 5:15-17. Will be in Kodari (boarder of Tibet for a couple days to reflect on last week of stay in Nepal. Thoughts of considering starting a fund here whereby poor patients can access this and receive essential surgeries.
Here's the plan revealed. I trust the surgeon who has been taking us around. Based on his work and his strong allegiance to communism, I trust that he will not be corrupt and 'steal' money. When he first returned from Belarus worked very long hours at Kanti - the government hospital. However, since people get paid a flat rate there and not per operation, many of the other staff were in disagreement. This is further motivated by the fact that if they work elsewhere they will receive higher pay. So the current situation has the operating theatre (OT) in operation from 1015-1400 for 4 days a week. We've ended as early as 1100 and ended as late at 1530. This is pretty shotty for a hospital who has been well funded by the Japanese (http://www.kantihospital.org.np/index.php). State of the art equipment that came in 1994 still stands unused. What happens is that when qualitfied Nepali people go to Japan for training, they get trained but don't return to serve at Kanti. It's quite sad here for our surgeon friend who returned to Nepal to serve the poor here. He also mentioned that working in Belarus wasn't all that fulfilling as foreigners are not respected as much as nationals.
After OT hours decreased, he started working at Gorkha Hospital which he has dreams to make into a Children's hospital, but shareholders are pushing for it to become a general hospital to be more profitable. Currently, it's underused. The idea and what the surgeon does is operates at prices slighty higher than at Kanti. Patient who usually come are poor and can't afford to pay in full, so many times he pays out of pocket for the operation that he does. It's quite frustrating for a qualified surgeon to be doing simple cases over and over again, but he's happy as long as he's working.
Patients travel from as far as 300km, on bus and foot to get to Kanti. Since the elective surgery wait time is 2 years. Many patients will forget to show up. Those that need to be operated on also need to wait - the way they seem to stall is by telling them to get a test done and bring results back the next day, or tellign them that the wait time in long. When patients return for their 6-7th time they are usually rewarded with an admit. But this usually doesn't occur unless they are in pretty bad shape. There are a ton of urinary tract infections here and abcesses. perhaps lack of hygiene?.. Regardless, it's heart breaking to see scrotums larger than a child's fist due to a hydrocele or hernia. Abcesses are also quite common in both genders also varying in size and placement from head to toe up to an adult sized fist in size.
The idea is to have a fund which patients to take from if they need assistance. Especially for those patients who travel for days to come and won't have money for a return trip to the hospital in 3 months for an essential surgery. Since OT hours at Kanti are limited, surgeries will take place at Gorkha (Children's) Hospital. This hospital is infinitely more sanitary than Kanti. It's much more of a hospital. One of the problems with this is that there's no contingency if anything happens to the surgeon. He's mentoring 2 medical officers but neither is interested in a surgical specialization. There are many others tho. Your input (constrictive and skeptical) would be greatly appreciated. Ideally, it'd be nice to be training up people with the quality work he does. Please reply asap as time here is limited.
http://www.visitnepal.com/nepal_information/ngo_in_nepal.php
in the race by the grace of God,
e.
Heb 12
09.07.07
Today began in the ER. I was doing night shift with another medical officer. There were a couple of patients who came in with falls and needed some stitches. It's really heartbreaking to see these kids hurt. One kid got 5 stitches to the head. He was so cute, but didn't cry at all. He clenched his fists and grunted, but didn't cry. It was nice to see a brave kid and also his father holding him in his arms during the suturing. His mother was also there. Family support here is really strong. It's a beautiful sight to see a father carrying his child. Perhaps the place isn't too beautiful to be, but it's a redeeming sight in this hospital.
We talked with Dr. Nepal til about 0300 then I reflected a bit til 0400 and slept til 0500 when Ernest and I decided to head home for some rest before surgery today. I arrived home at 0530 and the door was locked, so I slept on the roof for the next 1.5 hrs. This was the most relaxing rest I've ever had. The beautiful thing about this country is that every house hasa roof that people can hang out on.
Surgery was very interesting today and perhaps gives hope as a child with an imperforated anus with a anal urinary fistula was operated on. (Essentially the child does not have a fecal output port). Within 3 hours, the child was finished. There are some complications and time will tell, but it is nice to see hope for this child. Surgery is nice, but preventative medicine is much more beneficial - some of the cases we saw yesterday during OPD were seriously heartbreaking. The lack of education and hygiene here is a real killer.
Memorizing scripture is very key. Indeed scripture memory has been keeping my mind focused. Thanking God for His word!
ok it for now. Think I'll be going to the Tibetan boarder this Wednesday til likely Saturday. Please pray for continued sensitivity to the Spirit as I'm discerning what to do in response to all that I've seen. Please pray for wisdom and conviction.
We talked with Dr. Nepal til about 0300 then I reflected a bit til 0400 and slept til 0500 when Ernest and I decided to head home for some rest before surgery today. I arrived home at 0530 and the door was locked, so I slept on the roof for the next 1.5 hrs. This was the most relaxing rest I've ever had. The beautiful thing about this country is that every house hasa roof that people can hang out on.
Surgery was very interesting today and perhaps gives hope as a child with an imperforated anus with a anal urinary fistula was operated on. (Essentially the child does not have a fecal output port). Within 3 hours, the child was finished. There are some complications and time will tell, but it is nice to see hope for this child. Surgery is nice, but preventative medicine is much more beneficial - some of the cases we saw yesterday during OPD were seriously heartbreaking. The lack of education and hygiene here is a real killer.
Memorizing scripture is very key. Indeed scripture memory has been keeping my mind focused. Thanking God for His word!
ok it for now. Think I'll be going to the Tibetan boarder this Wednesday til likely Saturday. Please pray for continued sensitivity to the Spirit as I'm discerning what to do in response to all that I've seen. Please pray for wisdom and conviction.
3.7.07
03.07.07
More time at the hospital. The Bible continues to be a great encouragement to me. However, I believe that this morning’s reflection showed me that I need more time in the word with other people. The time with the SGP ppl was great, but far too little. My discussion with Kamal the money exchanger who is being witnessed to by JWs was also encouraging as we looked into Scripture together. Hopefully we’ll have more chances to do that.
We went to Tripushwor to buy medical equipment for the hospital with the surgeon today and none of these stores seem to stock anything. You ask someone, and then they send someone to get the goods. So we were sitting there for what seemed like an eternity (probably 20 minutes), but we were kept on being told it’d be a minute. The surgeon noticed my irritability and laughed at me. He likes to ask “so why you come to Nepal?” a lot. Anyways, I was happy when we walked out of the store only paying 4500 when the bill said 4675. I think the surgeon was ready to walk out paying only 4000. (This is a new was of forcefully bargaining. Only drop what you’re willing and walk out.)
Prayer items:
We went to Tripushwor to buy medical equipment for the hospital with the surgeon today and none of these stores seem to stock anything. You ask someone, and then they send someone to get the goods. So we were sitting there for what seemed like an eternity (probably 20 minutes), but we were kept on being told it’d be a minute. The surgeon noticed my irritability and laughed at me. He likes to ask “so why you come to Nepal?” a lot. Anyways, I was happy when we walked out of the store only paying 4500 when the bill said 4675. I think the surgeon was ready to walk out paying only 4000. (This is a new was of forcefully bargaining. Only drop what you’re willing and walk out.)
Prayer items:
- relationship with host family, bridging the cultural gap and mutually blessing each other.
- relationship with surgeon: the bulk of the day seems to be spent with him. He’s really keen on getting a small group of dedicated doctors to practice good medicine. Already, he’s established another hospital, but he’s thinking of downsizing to a smaller more manageable lot. But that requires finding a plot of land that’s in a good location and developing it. The current hospital (Gorkha Hospital) is situated in a congested part of the city most conducive to ambulance ambulation. As well, the lot is a bit too big. I’m convicted to take action, but ‘what to do’ is still in the air. Please pray for discernment. I will also share more with you about the medical situation here when I return. But this guy is very serious about doing quality work. The sisters and patients at the hospital and outside the hospital genuinely respect him and not just because of his rank – the caste system is pervasive in this country. They respect him because he genuinely cares about his patient and the patient care providers doing quality work. One of the sisters in the burn ward say he’s the only doctor who actually touches the patients. During rounds he usually changes dressing for those who he is around for. As well, he’s also taken a lot of time out to help us buy the right equipment for the hospital. This is huge, especially in a hospital that most of the staff don’t really seem interested in. It’s a government hospital so treatment is for the poor. Since the poor don’t have high expectations the quality of care is low. As well, doctors don’t seem interested in maintaining equipment here as they many seem to come for the experience – they get to see a lot here, not contributing (This is from my personal observations) more later…
- how to process all that I’ve been seeing and experiencing
- spiritual walk – Matthew 5 is good. And psalms continue to be huge encouragement putting the thoughts in my mind and mediations of heart to words.
- what to do with remaining time. I think next week, I’ll be bck in the villages visiting people from a village church network; the following week, Ernest and I are planning a trip to the Tibetian boarder and then more time in Bhaktapur considering Nepal.
- perhaps also trying to realize how to be light as per Matthew 5:16.
Ok it for now. I guess that was a long list.
02.06.07
Didn’t end up goignto church, but had a very good discussion with a young man who works here in Kathmandu. Educated in a Christian school, he is familiar with it and wants to dedicate his life to Jehovah. He’s being witnessed to by a JW, but can’t make any decisions due to the Hindu family background. People hold very strongly to tradition and Hindu culture. Some of the practices seem absurd, but are still carried out (essentially similar to Old Testament practices, but for different purposes. We spoke Jesus and wine. Please continue to pray for Kamal’s growth and reading the Scripture. Currently, he’s only got the New World Tranlsation of the Bible.
The rest of Saturday was spent in Bhaktapur with Ernest. Beautiful place and going with someone more culturally appreciative allowed me to have a new look at what I thought wasn’t too special of a city. Reading thru the lonely planet guide also helped in appreciation the town and people.
This week has been another 2 crazy days at the hospital. We had an unfortunate case of a child with Hirschsprung disease pass away. The doctor was blamed for killing the child, when they had tried their hardest to help this child. The doctors here are quite immune to these words of discouragement. They sayit’s due to lack of education. Parents even after instructed on proper patient care will commonly do things that accelerate the disease process thinking that they are doing the best for their child.
The surgeon that we’re shadowing has dreams of opening a smaller pediatric hospital, the estimated cost to get this off the ground would be 10 million rupees (~$170,000 CAD). This would cover property. The bank will then be able to provide a 110% loan at a 7% interest rate. The goal of this hospital would be to serve the people who need surgery but can not necessarily afford it. Patients who can pay will also be accepted. Currently, many of the patients that come to Kanti Children's Hospital (the only government children's hospital) come from the villages ( i.e. they will travel for days sometimes by bus and foot). Because this is the only pediatric hospital available to them, the standard of care is quite low. In my time here, I have seen some sloppy work, but also some very good work. this surgeon does exceptionally good work, but is hindered by the lack of resources here (ie. equipment that has broken or is in need of replacement parts.) The idea of constructing a similar hospital that provides quality patient care at a slightly inflated cost would create some competition and hopefully encourage the government to pour more resources into the hospital. But this also comes with a whole other problem with administration corruption. This I have also witnessed not only at this hospital but another highway hospital that I stayed at last week. I’m currently debating whether or not this is the best option for the people here, or whether efforts should be spent reviving a perfectly good hospital. ‘What to do?’ Ke garne!
The problem is, with corrupt administration it’s difficult to do anything, there comes and time when you just have to start from scratch. (I’m guessing, but need to know what to do.). One thing I know for sure is that I’ll probably have to do something. The situation here is ridiculous, but perhaps one might say the same about North America. Here you have education deficient people, in NA we have education obsessed people. Neither realizes the need to address the needs of people who need it most. People here, want to help, but end up making matters worse with their limited knowledge, people in NA don’t care. Stereotyping big time here, but show me your faith by actions as James 2 would say.
Psalms continue to be huge encouragement. Ps 43, 48. Hope!
The rest of Saturday was spent in Bhaktapur with Ernest. Beautiful place and going with someone more culturally appreciative allowed me to have a new look at what I thought wasn’t too special of a city. Reading thru the lonely planet guide also helped in appreciation the town and people.
This week has been another 2 crazy days at the hospital. We had an unfortunate case of a child with Hirschsprung disease pass away. The doctor was blamed for killing the child, when they had tried their hardest to help this child. The doctors here are quite immune to these words of discouragement. They sayit’s due to lack of education. Parents even after instructed on proper patient care will commonly do things that accelerate the disease process thinking that they are doing the best for their child.
The surgeon that we’re shadowing has dreams of opening a smaller pediatric hospital, the estimated cost to get this off the ground would be 10 million rupees (~$170,000 CAD). This would cover property. The bank will then be able to provide a 110% loan at a 7% interest rate. The goal of this hospital would be to serve the people who need surgery but can not necessarily afford it. Patients who can pay will also be accepted. Currently, many of the patients that come to Kanti Children's Hospital (the only government children's hospital) come from the villages ( i.e. they will travel for days sometimes by bus and foot). Because this is the only pediatric hospital available to them, the standard of care is quite low. In my time here, I have seen some sloppy work, but also some very good work. this surgeon does exceptionally good work, but is hindered by the lack of resources here (ie. equipment that has broken or is in need of replacement parts.) The idea of constructing a similar hospital that provides quality patient care at a slightly inflated cost would create some competition and hopefully encourage the government to pour more resources into the hospital. But this also comes with a whole other problem with administration corruption. This I have also witnessed not only at this hospital but another highway hospital that I stayed at last week. I’m currently debating whether or not this is the best option for the people here, or whether efforts should be spent reviving a perfectly good hospital. ‘What to do?’ Ke garne!
The problem is, with corrupt administration it’s difficult to do anything, there comes and time when you just have to start from scratch. (I’m guessing, but need to know what to do.). One thing I know for sure is that I’ll probably have to do something. The situation here is ridiculous, but perhaps one might say the same about North America. Here you have education deficient people, in NA we have education obsessed people. Neither realizes the need to address the needs of people who need it most. People here, want to help, but end up making matters worse with their limited knowledge, people in NA don’t care. Stereotyping big time here, but show me your faith by actions as James 2 would say.
Psalms continue to be huge encouragement. Ps 43, 48. Hope!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)