by Steve Bakunas
Greetings from Koutiala, well its hard to imagine that this is the last email I'll be sending all of you (at least for this trip). The team had a really good day today - - we started with devotions and then most of us headed to the work site to install what we could of the remaining roofing material. As I mentioned in my email yesterday I had plans to spend some time in prayer with James who is the 12 year old boy who is literally starving to death due to a blockage in his intestine. As I thought about this opportunity, and the power of prayer, I decided to ask two of my team mates to join me. After Dr. Nettleroades explained to James, in French, what it was we were wanting to do he left the room and Jan, Jim and, myself either knelt down beside James or sat softly on his bed. I spoke to James in very low and gentle tones as we prayed over him for the next 15 minutes - - it was obvious to us all that God was right there in the room with us. As the three of us finished up there wasn't a dry eye to be found between us. It was a very powerful and moving moment - - it is God who has the power over life and death and it was our prayer that He would bring His healing power upon this young boy .....please continue to keep James in your prayers.
I am really proud of this team from Christ Community Church ! ! .........we were able to complete ~97% of the roof installation. The construction team worked hard - - both day and night to make this happen .......Bob Braffhart is very pleased with what we were able to accomplish. All in all, Elizabeth saw about 77 patients over the past two weeks - - both adults and children .....good dental hygiene and not so good dental hygiene. Dr. Kris assisted with 6 deliveries - - some being C-sections and saw many patients with diseases ranging from HIV to malaria to typhoid.
Later in the day Bob Braffhart took some of the team members to the black smith section of town - - I've been there before but it was just as interesting the second time - - its like stepping back in time several hundred years. Everything is done by hand (no mechanical equipment is used at all) and these guys truly earn their money. It was a real eye opener and probably something that the team will remember for some time to come.
Tomorrow morning we head to Bamako, via Segou where we'll stop off in the artisan district for a little souvenir shopping and lunch - - then its on to Bamako where we'll have dinner and hang out at the guest house before heading to the airport for our 11:40 PM departure to Paris. We have a brief layover in Paris and then its off to Chicago - - then to Omaha where we arrive at 4:15 PM Saturday afternoon. Thanks to all of you for praying for my team's safety while here in Africa and while traveling - - please know that it is much appreciated. That's it for now - - talk with you all later.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Mali Team Update - Feb 24
By Steve Bakunas
Greetings from Koutiala, today started out pretty much as normal with morning devotions and prayer but today something was very different. Our morning devotions are held outside on a long patio where 20-30 people gather while seated on long benches. Today, as I looked across all the faces of those gathered there I noticed one face that I wasn't familiar with - - it was the face of a 12 year old boy, a boy that was trapped in a body that was severely malnutritioned ....... below his small, fragile face there was nothing but skin and bone. Having no knowledge of the situation I could only think of one thing to do and that was to pray. As this young boy sat there next to the hospital pediatrician he appeared somewhat distraught yet relieved that he was at the hospital being cared for. During the course of our devotions I learned that this name was James and that his relatives had brought him to the hospital to be examined. As I later found out, this young boy, who had been previously seen and operated on by doctors at another hospital, was suffering from some sort of intestinal blockage that was preventing any sort of food consumption to occur.
I thought about James many times through the course of my day today and, when I did, I stopped and prayed. I prayed that James had the strength to make it, the will to survive. Tonight at our weekly Bible study with the local missionaries I asked that they be in prayer for James - - most of them were familiar with the situation and gladly offered up their prayers of support. Dr. Nessleroades, who was in attendance, told us that James was suffering from some sort of intestinal blockage that he was unfamiliar with - - he could see the mass on the xray but it didn't provide enough evidence as to what it might be. Dr. Nessleroades struggled with the fact that if this boy had been seen by another doctor just a few short weeks ago why hadn't the mass been removed then? You see, medical records in Africa aren't anything like those we're accustomed to in America - - doctors don't have access to a data base full of patient information ......in this case, the only record and results of the operation were the scar's on this boys body and input from his relatives.
I ask for your prayers for James tonight - - that God would choose to heal his body and in doing so it would be His Name that is Glorified. I've asked Dr. Nessleroades if I could spend some private time with James tomorrow morning following devotions - - I feel this incredible compulsion to sit by his side, hold his hand and pray over him. Please remember James in your prayers.
Greetings from Koutiala, today started out pretty much as normal with morning devotions and prayer but today something was very different. Our morning devotions are held outside on a long patio where 20-30 people gather while seated on long benches. Today, as I looked across all the faces of those gathered there I noticed one face that I wasn't familiar with - - it was the face of a 12 year old boy, a boy that was trapped in a body that was severely malnutritioned ....... below his small, fragile face there was nothing but skin and bone. Having no knowledge of the situation I could only think of one thing to do and that was to pray. As this young boy sat there next to the hospital pediatrician he appeared somewhat distraught yet relieved that he was at the hospital being cared for. During the course of our devotions I learned that this name was James and that his relatives had brought him to the hospital to be examined. As I later found out, this young boy, who had been previously seen and operated on by doctors at another hospital, was suffering from some sort of intestinal blockage that was preventing any sort of food consumption to occur.
I thought about James many times through the course of my day today and, when I did, I stopped and prayed. I prayed that James had the strength to make it, the will to survive. Tonight at our weekly Bible study with the local missionaries I asked that they be in prayer for James - - most of them were familiar with the situation and gladly offered up their prayers of support. Dr. Nessleroades, who was in attendance, told us that James was suffering from some sort of intestinal blockage that he was unfamiliar with - - he could see the mass on the xray but it didn't provide enough evidence as to what it might be. Dr. Nessleroades struggled with the fact that if this boy had been seen by another doctor just a few short weeks ago why hadn't the mass been removed then? You see, medical records in Africa aren't anything like those we're accustomed to in America - - doctors don't have access to a data base full of patient information ......in this case, the only record and results of the operation were the scar's on this boys body and input from his relatives.
I ask for your prayers for James tonight - - that God would choose to heal his body and in doing so it would be His Name that is Glorified. I've asked Dr. Nessleroades if I could spend some private time with James tomorrow morning following devotions - - I feel this incredible compulsion to sit by his side, hold his hand and pray over him. Please remember James in your prayers.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Mali Team Update - Feb 23
by Steve Bakunas
Greetings from Koutiala, we just got back to the mission home after having dinner with the Hanscombs - - what an awesome couple they are! ! ......Marilyn served two authentic Malian main course dishes and one other that was a traditional dish from the Ivory Coast (that is where they have lived for the past 25 years serving as missionaries). The team had a wonderful time and had to the opportunity to ask both Craig and Marilyn lots of questions about being minssionaries in Africa, the hospital project and Malian culture and traditions. While we were there some Malian friends stopped by for a visit - - as I was introducing myself to them I decided to try out some of my French that I've been practicing with the locals - - well, it must have sounded okay because they both started to rattle off French right back at me but it was coming at me so fast I had no idea what they were saying .......I simply had to confess to them both that my French was pretty weak and they were talking faster than I could hear ( - : It was a great night and we truly enjoyed their company.
We changed up things a little bit at the construction site today given we were at a stand still waiting for the trusses to be welded into place. A couple of team members did some painting, a few more started to build some cabinets from scratch, by hand (the wood they used came from some old solid wood doors that someone in the states had sent over to the Hospital (about 50 of them) - - these wooden doors are rock solid and will make some great cabinets. Others were assigned different odds and ends and I spent most of my day cleaning sinks that have been installed in the examination rooms in one of the new buildings - - the sinks were donated by a hospital back in the states that was in the process of renovating their facility and replacing the sinks they had. It is just amazing what can be done with some of these recycled materials - - most of the equipment and supplies used at the Koutiala hospital has been donated......everything from tables & chairs, beds, wheel chairs, stainless steel surgical cabinets, face masks and baby powder ......you name it, its been donated.
Elizabeth had a good day with her patients and has been doing wonders for these folks - - some of the people she is seeing haven't seen a dentist forever and anything she can do to help them is a major blessing. Dr. Kris assisted with a couple of C-sections today and I think this experience has really opened up her eyes to a totally different approach to medicine and delivering babies - - Kris has been in practice for about 25 years and told us that the methods she is using in the delivery rooms is 1950's - 1960's style medicine ......you simply don't have the technology here that is available in most modern countries.
Tomorrow the construction team is hopeful that we'll get back on the roof and continue pressing forward with its completion. If we're unable to do that then there's plenty of other things we can do.
Greetings from Koutiala, we just got back to the mission home after having dinner with the Hanscombs - - what an awesome couple they are! ! ......Marilyn served two authentic Malian main course dishes and one other that was a traditional dish from the Ivory Coast (that is where they have lived for the past 25 years serving as missionaries). The team had a wonderful time and had to the opportunity to ask both Craig and Marilyn lots of questions about being minssionaries in Africa, the hospital project and Malian culture and traditions. While we were there some Malian friends stopped by for a visit - - as I was introducing myself to them I decided to try out some of my French that I've been practicing with the locals - - well, it must have sounded okay because they both started to rattle off French right back at me but it was coming at me so fast I had no idea what they were saying .......I simply had to confess to them both that my French was pretty weak and they were talking faster than I could hear ( - : It was a great night and we truly enjoyed their company.
We changed up things a little bit at the construction site today given we were at a stand still waiting for the trusses to be welded into place. A couple of team members did some painting, a few more started to build some cabinets from scratch, by hand (the wood they used came from some old solid wood doors that someone in the states had sent over to the Hospital (about 50 of them) - - these wooden doors are rock solid and will make some great cabinets. Others were assigned different odds and ends and I spent most of my day cleaning sinks that have been installed in the examination rooms in one of the new buildings - - the sinks were donated by a hospital back in the states that was in the process of renovating their facility and replacing the sinks they had. It is just amazing what can be done with some of these recycled materials - - most of the equipment and supplies used at the Koutiala hospital has been donated......everything from tables & chairs, beds, wheel chairs, stainless steel surgical cabinets, face masks and baby powder ......you name it, its been donated.
Elizabeth had a good day with her patients and has been doing wonders for these folks - - some of the people she is seeing haven't seen a dentist forever and anything she can do to help them is a major blessing. Dr. Kris assisted with a couple of C-sections today and I think this experience has really opened up her eyes to a totally different approach to medicine and delivering babies - - Kris has been in practice for about 25 years and told us that the methods she is using in the delivery rooms is 1950's - 1960's style medicine ......you simply don't have the technology here that is available in most modern countries.
Tomorrow the construction team is hopeful that we'll get back on the roof and continue pressing forward with its completion. If we're unable to do that then there's plenty of other things we can do.
Mali Team Update - Feb 22
by Steve Bakunas
Hi everyone, I hope you all are doing well. It was another good day at the hospital - - Dr. Kris assisted with a few baby deliveries, Elizabeth saw patients all day and is now officially speaking Bambara ....that's the local dialect spoken here for those who don't speak French, and the construction team got as far as we could before catching up with the metal workers again. Our goal is to have the roof completely in place prior to our departure in a few days but that will depend on whether or not the remaining trusses get fabricated and hung. A couple of our team members know how to weld so one of them, Scott and Bob Braffhart (our host and construction boss), worked from midnight until about 10:00 AM this morning building trusses to help get things caught up - - they're going to give it another go tonight as well.
We started the morning with our daily devotions - Elizabeth, myself and the team absolutely love starting our day out this way. Yesterday, the Pastor asked if I would like to deliver the morning message to the staff and missionaries who attend these devotions - - I told him I'd love to but also wanted to involve another member of the team .....it went well and was a Blessing for both Sonja and myself to have the opportunity. Following devotions the construction team headed to our site to continue with the roof .....unfortunately, our team was down a couple of guys (a few others were drafted for welding activities) so we didn't make as much progress as we wanted -- but hey, I'm sure our progress was exactly what God had intended for us to accomplish !
After dinner this evening we were invited over to the Nessleroades for dessert and a Malian tea ceremony. Drinking tea is like a really, really big deal over here and there is an entire ritual associated with it. The team had a great time and it was a good opportunity for them to hear the complete story of how the hospital came into existence. Dr. Nessleroades and his family have been here since 2005 so he is very familiar with the story as he and his family are a large part of it. We stayed at their place for about two hours, prayed together as a team for them and then headed back to the mission home. We got back home kinda late this evening so there wasn't much time for our nightly round of Pictionary - - but there is always tomorrow ( - : ......we are really having a great time with one another in the evenings while playing this game.
Tomorrow night we've been invited over to the Hanscombs (Craig is the hospital Director) for another authentic Malian meal .....however, this time there will be plates and silverware ......ah man! I'm sure the team will have a great time and it is very thoughtful of the Hanscombs to have us over (remember, there are 12 of us). Well, it looks like its about 11:00 PM so I probably should be getting to bed. Thank you again for all your prayers - - it is truly appreciated.
Hi everyone, I hope you all are doing well. It was another good day at the hospital - - Dr. Kris assisted with a few baby deliveries, Elizabeth saw patients all day and is now officially speaking Bambara ....that's the local dialect spoken here for those who don't speak French, and the construction team got as far as we could before catching up with the metal workers again. Our goal is to have the roof completely in place prior to our departure in a few days but that will depend on whether or not the remaining trusses get fabricated and hung. A couple of our team members know how to weld so one of them, Scott and Bob Braffhart (our host and construction boss), worked from midnight until about 10:00 AM this morning building trusses to help get things caught up - - they're going to give it another go tonight as well.
We started the morning with our daily devotions - Elizabeth, myself and the team absolutely love starting our day out this way. Yesterday, the Pastor asked if I would like to deliver the morning message to the staff and missionaries who attend these devotions - - I told him I'd love to but also wanted to involve another member of the team .....it went well and was a Blessing for both Sonja and myself to have the opportunity. Following devotions the construction team headed to our site to continue with the roof .....unfortunately, our team was down a couple of guys (a few others were drafted for welding activities) so we didn't make as much progress as we wanted -- but hey, I'm sure our progress was exactly what God had intended for us to accomplish !
After dinner this evening we were invited over to the Nessleroades for dessert and a Malian tea ceremony. Drinking tea is like a really, really big deal over here and there is an entire ritual associated with it. The team had a great time and it was a good opportunity for them to hear the complete story of how the hospital came into existence. Dr. Nessleroades and his family have been here since 2005 so he is very familiar with the story as he and his family are a large part of it. We stayed at their place for about two hours, prayed together as a team for them and then headed back to the mission home. We got back home kinda late this evening so there wasn't much time for our nightly round of Pictionary - - but there is always tomorrow ( - : ......we are really having a great time with one another in the evenings while playing this game.
Tomorrow night we've been invited over to the Hanscombs (Craig is the hospital Director) for another authentic Malian meal .....however, this time there will be plates and silverware ......ah man! I'm sure the team will have a great time and it is very thoughtful of the Hanscombs to have us over (remember, there are 12 of us). Well, it looks like its about 11:00 PM so I probably should be getting to bed. Thank you again for all your prayers - - it is truly appreciated.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Mali Team Update - Feb 20
by Steve Bakunas
Well, I had an interesting start to my day today - - we arrived at the hospital about 7:30 AM and after gathering our tools and equipment needed for that days work I noticed one of the missionaries, Doug, walking around in the hospital's dirt parking area with his head down as if he were looking for something he'd lost. As I approached him I shouted "hey Doug, is there something I can help you look for?" ....his reply was no - - he hadn't lost anything, he was just looking to see if "The Snake" had been through the compound during the night. "Snake", I replied, "what Snake would that be?" .......he began to tell me that over the course of the past few days the locals had pointed out to him that a rather large snake had been moving through the property during the night time hours and had left his trail in the dust of the parking lot. "Any idea what type of snake it might be there ....ah, Doug?" "Well"....he began to reply ..............probably just a COBRA .........maybe a PYTHON". Well, guess what, I don't do snakes very well so I quickly headed back to the safety my ladder and started my days work on the roof. Well, hey ......that's just Africa - - and I'm happy to report that no snake was seen and life goes on at the hospital.
The construction team had another good day today and I'm happy to report that the crew from "Triple-C" Had It Goin' On - - half the roof is now up......we only stopped due to catching up with the iron workers ........although they were there working today we won't be able to resume work on the roof until sometime on Monday ......after they've gotten some additional trusses in place.
Tonight the team was invited over to Batama's house for an authentic Malian meal - - Batama is our house keeper and he, his wife and children live in a section of town that isn't too far from the mission house. The team really appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with a "true to life" Malian family. The dinner was fantastic ! ! ....it consisted of rice w/ pork, sweat potatoes, cabbage, okra, peppers and an out of this world peanut sauce - - all eaten with your fingers. There were probably about 25 us there and it was a great opportunity to share a meal with some of the locals right there in the court yard of their home.
Tomorrow we attend church services beginning at 9:00 AM followed by a BBQ lunch at the Braffharts', pool side, with all the missionaries - - yes, I said pool. Between the time I was first here, and now, Bob has installed a very nice sized swimming pool in his back yard - - I'm guessing that its the only one of its type in the entire town of Koutiala. After lunch and visiting with the missionaries we're going to take a trip out to the village of Baramba to visit the girls boarding school and the new church - - I'm really looking forward to seeing Pastor Simone again and I know the team will enjoy their time there.
Well, that its for now - - its about 10:55 PM and I'm running out of gas quickly......hope all is going well for everyone. Hope those of you located in Omaha make it through the next snow storm - - up to 6 inches? ......yuck - - probably won't snow here tomorrow ( - :
Well, I had an interesting start to my day today - - we arrived at the hospital about 7:30 AM and after gathering our tools and equipment needed for that days work I noticed one of the missionaries, Doug, walking around in the hospital's dirt parking area with his head down as if he were looking for something he'd lost. As I approached him I shouted "hey Doug, is there something I can help you look for?" ....his reply was no - - he hadn't lost anything, he was just looking to see if "The Snake" had been through the compound during the night. "Snake", I replied, "what Snake would that be?" .......he began to tell me that over the course of the past few days the locals had pointed out to him that a rather large snake had been moving through the property during the night time hours and had left his trail in the dust of the parking lot. "Any idea what type of snake it might be there ....ah, Doug?" "Well"....he began to reply ..............probably just a COBRA .........maybe a PYTHON". Well, guess what, I don't do snakes very well so I quickly headed back to the safety my ladder and started my days work on the roof. Well, hey ......that's just Africa - - and I'm happy to report that no snake was seen and life goes on at the hospital.
The construction team had another good day today and I'm happy to report that the crew from "Triple-C" Had It Goin' On - - half the roof is now up......we only stopped due to catching up with the iron workers ........although they were there working today we won't be able to resume work on the roof until sometime on Monday ......after they've gotten some additional trusses in place.
Tonight the team was invited over to Batama's house for an authentic Malian meal - - Batama is our house keeper and he, his wife and children live in a section of town that isn't too far from the mission house. The team really appreciated the opportunity to spend some time with a "true to life" Malian family. The dinner was fantastic ! ! ....it consisted of rice w/ pork, sweat potatoes, cabbage, okra, peppers and an out of this world peanut sauce - - all eaten with your fingers. There were probably about 25 us there and it was a great opportunity to share a meal with some of the locals right there in the court yard of their home.
Tomorrow we attend church services beginning at 9:00 AM followed by a BBQ lunch at the Braffharts', pool side, with all the missionaries - - yes, I said pool. Between the time I was first here, and now, Bob has installed a very nice sized swimming pool in his back yard - - I'm guessing that its the only one of its type in the entire town of Koutiala. After lunch and visiting with the missionaries we're going to take a trip out to the village of Baramba to visit the girls boarding school and the new church - - I'm really looking forward to seeing Pastor Simone again and I know the team will enjoy their time there.
Well, that its for now - - its about 10:55 PM and I'm running out of gas quickly......hope all is going well for everyone. Hope those of you located in Omaha make it through the next snow storm - - up to 6 inches? ......yuck - - probably won't snow here tomorrow ( - :
Friday, February 19, 2010
Mali Medical / Construction Team - Feb 2010
Feb 19, 2010 Update (by Steve Bakunas)
Hello again from Koutiala, it was another great day here at the hospital - - after devotions the construction team got off to a good start on the roof, Dr. Kris began her maternity rounds (she is actually the chief OBGYN in charge right now as Dr. Dan is still in Nigeria at a medical conference - so she's been on call 24x7 for the past few days) and Elizabeth began seeing dental patients.
The construction team has made so much progress that we're going to have to slow down in order for the metal workers (the guys who build and set the roof trusses) can get back out in front of us - - we had a lot of cloud cover today so it wasn't as hot as its been the past few days which makes our job that much better. To date, I believe Dr. Kris has assisted with the delivery of 3 babies and after Elizabeth got her operatory cleaned, and her dental chair operational, I think she's seen about 15 patients in the past two days - - the needs are so great here that anyone with medical/dental skills could literally work nonstop.
Working around a hospital deep inside the heart of Africa you get to experience a lot of things you don't normally get to see. One thing that has hit home with myself and the team is the very real struggle between life and death for so many Malians - - for many of the very poor it is something that they may face each and every day. Since poverty in Mali is such a reality many Malians either refuse to go to a doctor or wait until the last moment before seeing one - - it simply comes down to economics. Several of us got to witness the unfortunate results of this decision making process while working at the hospital. As we were waiting in the van for Dr. Kris to finish up with a patient before calling it a day we saw a car pull up to the side of the building - - a lone driver was its only occupant. Before long a nurse emerged from the hospital, approached his vehicle and after a brief conversation the two of them walked back into the hospital. Before long he returned to his car with a nurse following several steps behind him holding his dead, lifeless child in her arms - - as she placed the child on the back seat of his car the child's mother could be seen coming out of the hospital..... doing her very best to constrain her emotions but was struggling to do so - - you see, in Islam you are not allowed to mourn the loss of a loved one .....no one....... not even the loss of your 4 year old child. Death is considered to be the will of Allah and showing emotions is a demonstration of mocking his will. As I watched their car leave the hospital compound I couldn't help but feel the pain this couple was undoubtedly feeling but simply weren't allowed to express.
This trip has been a growing experience for all of us - - it has stretched our faith and increased our awareness of our complete dependency on God ............please pray that God will continue to teach us as we serve Him in an environment that is so very different than our own.
Feb 18, 2010 Update (by Steve Bakunas)
Hello everyone, as I lay in bed this morning I could see the alarm clock said it was just a little after 5 AM but my body said it was 11:00 PM ........as I lay there thinking about what the day had in store for the team I could hear the beginning of the Muslim call to prayer off in the distance. For those of you who have never experienced this ritual it is a real eye opener (and yes, I mean a literal eye opener - especially early in the morning). As you lay in bed you realize that you aren't at home anymore but somewhere far away from the familiar. I've heard this before but this was new to Elizabeth and I'm certain she won't forget it for some time to come. (we've had the windows shut the past few days but not last night)
As the team was gathering for breakfast I noticed that one of our members wasn't with us - - we soon found out that Lou was still in bed and not feeling well ........after a brief exam by a couple of my team members who work in medicine (a doctor and a nurse) they determined that he had gotten himself dehydrated yesterday at the work site. It is pretty hot here (daytime about 100 degrees) so it's extremely important to drink lots and lots of water - - we take regular breaks at the work site but being up on a tin roof for a couple of hours a day can take its toll. Given that we're so close to the hospital it was decided that we could get an IV Bag going and bring his fluids back up to where they needed to be - - so that's what we did right here at the missions house. Alan, who is a team member and nurse spent the better part of the morning administering IV's to Lou and before long he was back up on his feet and feeling better. He's decided not to join us this evening as he thought it would be a good idea just to get his rest and turn in early.
The team finished up about noon today and after lunch Dr. Nessleroads wife Marcy took us down to the market. The market was extremely busy today given that it was "Market Day" in Koutiala - - this means that folks from all the villages surrounding Koutiala come into town to buy and sell goods. If you've never experienced this first hand its kind of hard to explain - - there's lots and lots of commotion with people going every direction on foot, by motto (motor scooter), donkey cart, you name it. The team had a terrific time and everyone was able to pick up a few things for loved ones back home.
Tonight we're back at the mission house and its our "family night" - - this is an opportunity to get to know one another better by playing games, cards, etc. - - I can hear an intense game of Pictionary off in the distance and I'll be joining them as soon as I've finished up this email. Our neighbor, who is a missionary from Holland, sent her house keeper over this evening to make an authentic Malian meal for us and it was DELICIOUS ! ! ..........fried fish, rice and some type of slaw .....did I mention that it was really, really delicious !
Tomorrow we're back at it full time and hope to get another few sections of the roof in place - - please continue to keep the team in your prayers. Hope all of you are doing well ! !
Feb 17, 2010 Update (by Steve Bakunas)
Hi everyone, well it was another great day here in Koutiala - - we started the morning out with devotionals with the hospital missionary staff and the Christian Malian's who work at the hospital. Its really cool to hear them singing praise/worship songs in their native tongue which is Bambara. After morning prayers the team received a tour of the hospital - - I was absolutely blow away with all the construction that has occurred since I was here a year ago in October - - there are three new buildings that have been put up with more on the way. The building we are working on is one that members of Christ Community Church provided the funding for - - its about the same size (about the length of a football field) of the building that we put the roof on last time. We've been charged with putting a tin roof on this building as well and the eight of us got off to a really good start - - all the trusses were in place this time which really make's the work go quickly.
After dinner the team was asked to join the missionary team for Bible study and prayer time - - these are truly great people and it was and honor to join them this evening. Right now we're all just kinda sitting around talking our experiences thus far and its really fun to hear how this trip has already affected the lives of my fellow team members.
Tomorrow afternoon we're going to take a couple hours off work and head into the city - - Thursday is market day in Koutiala so the team will have full access to true, Malian shopping - - its a hoot and I'm looking forward to seeing the teams reaction to this experience - - it should be a really fun afternoon and everyone will get the opportunity to buy some fabric to have some authentic Malian clothes tailor made.
Hello again from Koutiala, it was another great day here at the hospital - - after devotions the construction team got off to a good start on the roof, Dr. Kris began her maternity rounds (she is actually the chief OBGYN in charge right now as Dr. Dan is still in Nigeria at a medical conference - so she's been on call 24x7 for the past few days) and Elizabeth began seeing dental patients.
The construction team has made so much progress that we're going to have to slow down in order for the metal workers (the guys who build and set the roof trusses) can get back out in front of us - - we had a lot of cloud cover today so it wasn't as hot as its been the past few days which makes our job that much better. To date, I believe Dr. Kris has assisted with the delivery of 3 babies and after Elizabeth got her operatory cleaned, and her dental chair operational, I think she's seen about 15 patients in the past two days - - the needs are so great here that anyone with medical/dental skills could literally work nonstop.
Working around a hospital deep inside the heart of Africa you get to experience a lot of things you don't normally get to see. One thing that has hit home with myself and the team is the very real struggle between life and death for so many Malians - - for many of the very poor it is something that they may face each and every day. Since poverty in Mali is such a reality many Malians either refuse to go to a doctor or wait until the last moment before seeing one - - it simply comes down to economics. Several of us got to witness the unfortunate results of this decision making process while working at the hospital. As we were waiting in the van for Dr. Kris to finish up with a patient before calling it a day we saw a car pull up to the side of the building - - a lone driver was its only occupant. Before long a nurse emerged from the hospital, approached his vehicle and after a brief conversation the two of them walked back into the hospital. Before long he returned to his car with a nurse following several steps behind him holding his dead, lifeless child in her arms - - as she placed the child on the back seat of his car the child's mother could be seen coming out of the hospital..... doing her very best to constrain her emotions but was struggling to do so - - you see, in Islam you are not allowed to mourn the loss of a loved one .....no one....... not even the loss of your 4 year old child. Death is considered to be the will of Allah and showing emotions is a demonstration of mocking his will. As I watched their car leave the hospital compound I couldn't help but feel the pain this couple was undoubtedly feeling but simply weren't allowed to express.
This trip has been a growing experience for all of us - - it has stretched our faith and increased our awareness of our complete dependency on God ............please pray that God will continue to teach us as we serve Him in an environment that is so very different than our own.
Feb 18, 2010 Update (by Steve Bakunas)
Hello everyone, as I lay in bed this morning I could see the alarm clock said it was just a little after 5 AM but my body said it was 11:00 PM ........as I lay there thinking about what the day had in store for the team I could hear the beginning of the Muslim call to prayer off in the distance. For those of you who have never experienced this ritual it is a real eye opener (and yes, I mean a literal eye opener - especially early in the morning). As you lay in bed you realize that you aren't at home anymore but somewhere far away from the familiar. I've heard this before but this was new to Elizabeth and I'm certain she won't forget it for some time to come. (we've had the windows shut the past few days but not last night)
As the team was gathering for breakfast I noticed that one of our members wasn't with us - - we soon found out that Lou was still in bed and not feeling well ........after a brief exam by a couple of my team members who work in medicine (a doctor and a nurse) they determined that he had gotten himself dehydrated yesterday at the work site. It is pretty hot here (daytime about 100 degrees) so it's extremely important to drink lots and lots of water - - we take regular breaks at the work site but being up on a tin roof for a couple of hours a day can take its toll. Given that we're so close to the hospital it was decided that we could get an IV Bag going and bring his fluids back up to where they needed to be - - so that's what we did right here at the missions house. Alan, who is a team member and nurse spent the better part of the morning administering IV's to Lou and before long he was back up on his feet and feeling better. He's decided not to join us this evening as he thought it would be a good idea just to get his rest and turn in early.
The team finished up about noon today and after lunch Dr. Nessleroads wife Marcy took us down to the market. The market was extremely busy today given that it was "Market Day" in Koutiala - - this means that folks from all the villages surrounding Koutiala come into town to buy and sell goods. If you've never experienced this first hand its kind of hard to explain - - there's lots and lots of commotion with people going every direction on foot, by motto (motor scooter), donkey cart, you name it. The team had a terrific time and everyone was able to pick up a few things for loved ones back home.
Tonight we're back at the mission house and its our "family night" - - this is an opportunity to get to know one another better by playing games, cards, etc. - - I can hear an intense game of Pictionary off in the distance and I'll be joining them as soon as I've finished up this email. Our neighbor, who is a missionary from Holland, sent her house keeper over this evening to make an authentic Malian meal for us and it was DELICIOUS ! ! ..........fried fish, rice and some type of slaw .....did I mention that it was really, really delicious !
Tomorrow we're back at it full time and hope to get another few sections of the roof in place - - please continue to keep the team in your prayers. Hope all of you are doing well ! !
Feb 17, 2010 Update (by Steve Bakunas)
Hi everyone, well it was another great day here in Koutiala - - we started the morning out with devotionals with the hospital missionary staff and the Christian Malian's who work at the hospital. Its really cool to hear them singing praise/worship songs in their native tongue which is Bambara. After morning prayers the team received a tour of the hospital - - I was absolutely blow away with all the construction that has occurred since I was here a year ago in October - - there are three new buildings that have been put up with more on the way. The building we are working on is one that members of Christ Community Church provided the funding for - - its about the same size (about the length of a football field) of the building that we put the roof on last time. We've been charged with putting a tin roof on this building as well and the eight of us got off to a really good start - - all the trusses were in place this time which really make's the work go quickly.
After dinner the team was asked to join the missionary team for Bible study and prayer time - - these are truly great people and it was and honor to join them this evening. Right now we're all just kinda sitting around talking our experiences thus far and its really fun to hear how this trip has already affected the lives of my fellow team members.
Tomorrow afternoon we're going to take a couple hours off work and head into the city - - Thursday is market day in Koutiala so the team will have full access to true, Malian shopping - - its a hoot and I'm looking forward to seeing the teams reaction to this experience - - it should be a really fun afternoon and everyone will get the opportunity to buy some fabric to have some authentic Malian clothes tailor made.
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