"Tiny Glimpses of Hope" or "Nearing the End": Take Your Pick

7 weeks down, 3 to go. Actually though, I count it as 2 weeks because the team will be here the final week. You know what they say about many hands and work. Life has been pretty heavy the last couple of weeks. The patients have all been fine (more or less). So, that has been a huge blessing.

Reflecting on the expectations I had of this journey, I realize that many have been fulfilled. I expected that small behavior changes in the nurses should be counted as victories. I expected to get food poisoning at least once. I expected to learn a little Kurdish. I expected that it would be challenging adjusting to a culture that is very foreign to me. Check on all counts.

The third session was held yesterday (Thursday). I am encouraged each time a session actually happens. It is encouraging because the nurses that attend seem to be really engaged and want to learn. The challenge is getting the staff to translate the classroom knowledge into patient care practices. I have been told many times that this is one of the limitations of the educational system here.

On Thursday I received extra encouragement when I was seeing patients on the ward with one of the nurses. I noticed that each patient had a paper taped to their bedside table. On this paper, he had made a chart that kept track of the what each patient ate and drank and how much they went to the bathroom. All the nurses reading this will know how simple this is; but trust me, this a huge accomplishment. I was positively thrilled and told him so. The work has been quite tough, but helping people make these big changes warms my heart.

This exchange came at the end of my most difficult week here. Actually, this has been the coolest part for me. Through all of the struggles I've had at work, God has been revealing himself to me in truly staggering ways. Ways that have stopped me in my tracks in wonder. I have been spending more time reading the Bible this summer than I have in a long time. And each time God has shown me something new. The word has been a balm to my weary body & soul.

I will leave you with this anecdote. I was eating my lunch with the female nurses in the ladies locker room. Someone put on some music & before I knew it we were all dancing--Kurdish dancing. It was exactly what I needed--a good laugh!

Whistling While I Work

Allow me to start by saying, "Thank you (to the power of infinity)!" for everyone that sent me a message, posted to the blog, emailed me, said an extra prayer or two, or thought about saying a prayer. Your encouragement has touch me deeply, and rest assured that God has and is answering your prayers for me, for the patients, and for the staff daily. A Christain worship song I know asks God to put a new song in our hearts. Well for me God has placed old songs in my heart. I have been humming and singing to myself lately old hymns of my childhood, many of which I haven't heard in years ("Amazing Grace," "Just a Closer Walk with Thee," & "I Walk Through the Garden Alone"). I've also been singing "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life." This is a great song from Monty Python's Life of Brian. It's hilarious.

Also, thank you to everyone for the birthday wishes. I got online today and my inbox was very weighted down with delightfully wonderful messages. I spent yesterday evening with a wonderful family I have met here. She is a pharmacist, he's a neurosurgeon, and their 2 sons are great. We went to one of the mountaintops here; it overlooks Sulaymaniyah. We were there in the evening so the city was mostly lit up (the areas that had power anyway). It was about 10 or more degrees cooler up there which was great. Afterwards we had birthday cake and coffee; a wonderful combination!

Life at the hospital is getting better. I have recently noticed some small behavior changes in the nurses. I'm am celebrating those little victories and encouraging the nurses who have really shown an interest in learning. Oh and another bonus--no one else has died. I am little more aware/diligent now. This is not to say that is the reason no one else has died.

As of this past Thursday, 2 lectures have taken place (really 1.5--but who's counting?--oh yeah, me)! I am so excited to have the opportunity to spend a concentrated amount of time (with reliable translation) talking about key principles in nursing. Word has gotten around the hospital why I am here, and I have been asked to give a lecture to the nurses and residents of the regular intensive care unit about pediatric neurotrauma. So, that will be this Thursday morning.

Neurotrauma is something they see a lot of here; most is from falls or car crashes. I don't know if I mentioned it before, but driving and riding here is just plain scary. There seems to be no rules. I have riden in a lot of countries that have disorganized and chatoic driving; you know, the kind where there is no evidence of any real rules of the road, but people manage somehow. Suly takes the cake. Hands down. Lots of people on the road, going very fast, and going where ever they want. Those of you that know about what happened in Kosova last summer can imagine my anxiety here. It's getting better though. I rarely feel like jumping out of skin anymore--vast improvement.

All things considered, I am doing quite well. I am enjoying the work and the people still. I am also enjoying the few hours of recuperative sleep I get at night. The team is coming 4 weeks from today & I am looking forward to seeing them. That will be great!

Pictures next time. My internet connection is down right now at my penthouse--only the best for the Princess of Festus. The penthouse almost always has TV, AC, internet, electricity, and water! Hope you all are having great days, and I hope you did some celebrating in my honor yesterday!