Dear Family, Church and Friends,

 

Hopefully I don’t melt while writing this to you. I brought our computer to the office I share with the Matron (director of nurses) and discovered that there is only one single outlet for the whole “Office” and so my fan is off. And I imagine I’ve mentioned it before that only a few rooms like the Lab and ultra sound room have air conditioners. But it is with anticipation that I write this letter to you. It is just 23 days till we touchdown in the USA! It will be so-o-o good to hug you, have less humidity, and to just be home. I can hardly wait to play the organ and a real piano, to drive again, and to soak in the hot tub in Austin, Nevada. And of course there is all the business we must take care of----like paying income taxes ect. But at least our first “duty” will be delightful. Our youngest son Travis is getting married September 25, to Nancy! So we will land in Lincoln, Nebraska first. It will be so awesome to be with all our boys and other relates, and family friends!
 

But before we come, let me share some more local news and events. I think I will start with our VBS at New Life Church. Our highest attendance was near eighty! Whew, so much energy in one spot. Jerry, friend Tony and I had the song service each morning. This year the music video from the Review and Herald was fabulous. All the action and hand motions were fun. I imagine the kids can still sing “Jesus is our King!” Then after the story and main program we had the juniors which consisted mostly of craft time. The juniors and the youth loved the activity beads and I managed to get the iron hot enough to melt most of their designs. We also did tie-dyed t-shirts and some ribbon weaving for book marks. Quite a challenge, but loved the enthusiasm. Also, each day they learned a Bible verse with hand motions. And those Sabbath School crowns that I brought fit right in with the theme of “Crowns and Castles”. They were a real hit and worn at different times by all. I will try and attach a picture or two.
 

Then we had our summer volunteer groups for Health Clinics here at the hospital. The “Bridge of Life” came in late June into July for two weeks and traveled to several places that were new for me. I loved the New Amsterdam area and the church people had an exceptional lunch for us. We saw close to one hundred persons that day. The field is sure open for teaching and preventive medicine. It is hard to imagine how some persons just walk around sick part of the time with no knowledge of how to improve or correct their high blood pressure or elevated blood glucose level.
 

Then in between groups Jerry and his crew mostly finished up our new filtered water system for the hospital. We owe a huge vote of thanks to MassG.A.M.E for their donations to accomplish this project. Pure, water is such a blessing. We no longer need to scrimp on water but can freely share it. I can’t tell you how many times previously the hospital would run out of bottled water, especially over the weekends. I can remember lugging my five gallon bottle from our apartment on the 2^nd floor over to the nurse’s station at night. Thank you maintenance crew for all your hard and diligent work. I will attach a picture of the first glass of filtered water!
 

Then one of our hospital Ambulance drivers Denzel is an EMT instructor. The maintenance workers and practical nurses plus a housekeeper took an intense (8-10 a day) one week training class. There were certificates issued to about ¾ of the 12 students who passed. Jerry took the class and could hardly find time to breathe that week, but he did pass!! Each evening there were 6-7 pages of work sheets to fill out and 3-400 pages of reading to do. There were only five books and so the students would stay after class and take turns reading from the available books. At nine of ten pm Jerry would lock the room up. Amazing, but our ambulance crew is much improved. So it was well worth the effort to organize it.
 

Then about two weeks ago Kettering University students were here. There were three instructors and fifteen students. Dr. Susan Price brought a portable Ultra sound that was used at some of the clinics plus the large one used here at the hospital. Plus they did eye exams with free reading glasses and cholesterol and Hb. Levels and of course the BP, height and weight and blood glucose levels. They also taught some dental hygiene and gave out free toothbrushes. Dr. Paula Reams loved to see the children and kept things rolling. I believe that the students began to realize how valuable their teaching and counseling of the public was. Their services were such a blessing, even the classes they gave for the hospital staff. We sure are pleased that they come each year!
 

Then just this evening I was brushing my teeth and out of my bathroom tap poured huge hunks of green and brown slime. Our apartment is on city water. But to think I had just brushed my teeth. Ugh, I may need to use bottled water more. And I try never to just put my clothes in the washing machine before I start it as sometimes the water is mud brown or rust colored. Even with a filter on the machine I’ve ruined a number of whites. But, it still beats washing in the creek.

Well, back to two weeks ago when we were with our friends Tony and Gary for a mission adventure. We headed for the far away village of Siparuta to bring the head teacher “Granny” in to live. We traveled three to four hours up the coast to Skeledon and then Friday afternoon we hung up our hammocks on a little fishing like boat and “slept” and traveled to three AM and then hiked into the little village of Siparuta! Now Granny is a sixty-five year old black lady with lots of “go get it” and love for students. She has lived there before and the people just love her too. Then Sabbath we each helped with Sabbath School, or church or afternoon AY (Adventist Youth) services. What an inspiring weekend. And our boat on the way back at least had a toilet! When we boarded it was so hot and the hammocks were sometimes three deep and touched (In our section of the boat there were 11 hammocks in 10 feet). So at one spot where we loaded on more lumber Tony and I went swimming. I wasn’t going too as Sabbath I’d seen a snake go into the river, but you can get hot enough to take your chances! In fact a lot of my perspective has been rearranged!
 

Well, I’ve started and stopped this letter several times. But I must add that this Sabbath we had such a HUGE surprise. I was up in our Junior Room corner when Jerry asked me to guess who had showed up at church. I was thinking perhaps some of the workers from the interior had come in. But I nearly fell over when it was Kathy and David Folks!! We used to visit them a lot in CA and even celebrated birthdays together. What a special surprise it was for us, and just so good to visit and catch up. They are going out to our school( academy like) in Paruima to head it up. We’ve never been there but I am sure we will visit it sometime now!
 

I can’t close this letter without mentioning a few hospital needs. We have a Loma Linda Dentist coming Sept. 15. This will prove such a blessing. But our head nurse in surgery, an LPN, is retiring in December. We desperately need an RN replacement. Any one up for a mission adventure? Our doctors are really great to work with. And we still need a woman OB Doc. Our Muslim women will not see a male Doctor. And then we sure could use someone with an x-ray background to run our new ultra sound. 
 

And then as we come home I have a list of things we hope to ship back to us in a barrel. I esp. need nursing books and they are heavy. So with all the weight regulations that is why the barrel idea.    For my Fallon friends I am esp. looking for white lab coats any size. One of our doctors needs a scrub set Jerry’s size. And I will be looking for junior room crafts and supplies. I will be looking for medical teaching CD/VHS, l00cc bags of NS. Right now we give our Roseiphen (Rocephin) IVP and rather rapidly. It is hard to be slow enough not to cause patient discomfort. And we could use a few peri bottles. And did I mention before that we wash our disposable plastic medicine cups after patient use and reuse them over and over again. So if you should come across anything you think we might use just save it for us. Thank you ever so much.

See and hug you soon!!
Love nurse Lanelle & Jerry