I wish I could bring each of you here to see this amazing place! I feel like I’m in some other world here in the Nuba Mountains of Sudan—and somehow I think I am. I made it hear safely just after Easter and am in full swing serving in our out-patient department of the Mother of Mercy Hospital trying hard to diagnose patients in Arabic. Three African “Clinical Officers” and myself see over 200 patients a day that come from as far as Khartoum to be seen, while others come from Darfur—including those who are causing the problems there. I’m really impressed with the young men’s quality of service and love for the patients, along with the over 100 staff members of the hospital.
While we’re seeing patients, Dr. Tom Catena does surgeries from anything to taking out goiters, repairing hernias, and amputations to small cosmetic fatty tumors, and then after surgery attends to the 200+ inpatients and emergency cases. Our Ugandan Midwife is often up in the middle of the night delivering complicated deliveries. Are there any brave surgeons who want a vacation in the Nuba? We need help!
I stood outside the consultation room today marveling at the vast array of people that were waiting to be seen. All shades of Arab and African brown, some with rings in their noses, others with turbans on their heads, many with their white religious robes and caps, while others with decorated clothes and body stains and scars that only hidden tribes in the north exhibit. National Geographic would go nuts here taking photos.
What an amazing privilege it is to be here and get to know these beautiful and diverse people of Sudan. A Dinka family has traveled for five days to receive TB treatment for the mom and child and seem to feel quite alone being the only Dinkas in the hospital. So, today I brought my computer with Dinka singing and videos of Turalei which just brightened up the whole ward!
That evening, unconscious 9 year old ‘Adam’ was ‘rushed’ to us which took the neighbor 2 hours on a motorcycle. I don’t know how they managed. He was dying from neurotoxicity of a venomous snake bite. We had 1 vile left of anti-venom, but he needed 5 vials for his size. He didn’t improve after administering it. I told the Muslim parents that we needed a miracle. I was awakened at 3 am with the feeling that he was close to dying. “In Jesus Name, Adam will live!”
Eagerly I went to see him in the morning. His bed was empty and everything cleared away—my stomach sank for the poor parents. “Adam meiten?” (Where’s Adam?) Happily the other patients said, “He’s outside eating.” I danced around the room! Like Mary Magdeline who saw Jesus alive, when I beheld the happy little boy outside, I shouted, “Halleluiah! Shukuran Rabunah!”
Pray for all of us to have the strength to endure daily any hardships (like over 120 degree heat and nothing cold to drink or fans to cool us off) and to continue to love each one that comes to us with the joy and healing love that God intends, including those we treat who are perpetrating many of the atrocities in this area and in Darfur.
Thanks to all of you praying for us and sending money. We appreciate it all and thanks for being such a part of us! Tomorrow is the first day in Nuba History that people will be able to vote for their own Governor. Please pray for peace in the Nuba Mountains—something the northern president has recently stated he will not uphold. Amidst this, we are going to continue to sing and declare over this place that, “Halleluiah! Our God reigns!”
God bless you!!
Katie
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