Last day of 2011

Porch looking back to the edge of the 'hood'

Waking up at 8 o'clock felt like getting out of bed at 1 am with the time change (even with a full night's sleep.)  I'm not sure how my awesome brother in India does it with his short stints back to the US. However, the unexpected and delightful surprise of having a coffee maker at the house helped me get through the jet lag, along with some excellent reading.

My goal was to finish "When Helping Hurts: How to Alleviate Poverty without Hurting the Poor... and Yourself" before starting work next week - though I'm finding it more helpful to work slowly through it (as it comes with thoughtful questions at the ends of chapters.)  Dr. Roskos, thanks for the recommendation!  I agree that it is a book I would recommend to all Christians feeling called to do good work whether it be overseas or inner city.  I brought my Brazilian Portuguese Bible to help acclimate to the language, and am going through different verses from the book in Portuguese.  The book is a great summary of why I'm here, in how it describes the four kinds of relational poverty at work in the world that affect what most people commonly try to treat in material poverty *spoiler* which are: poverty in lacking relationship with God, poverty in relating to self, poverty in relating to others, and poverty in relationship with the rest of creation.

Home for the next couple months

 Here's why I love studying in different languages, because sometimes different expressions help me grasp important concepts.

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us.  And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers.  If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity for him, how can the love of God be in him?  Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and truth."         1 John 3:16-17

"...Quem tiver bens de mundo e, vendo o seu irmao necessitado, cerrar-lhe o seu coracao, como estara nele o amor de Deus?" (I John 3:17)  or "Whoever has goods of the world while seeing his brother in need, and closes his heart, how can the love of God be in him?"

Feliz Ano Novo!!

Lasts and firsts

Tracking the 7,000+ mile flight

First off, thanks to my awesome family for dropping me off at the airport in Denver and putting up with all the last minute stresses.  Next a big thanks goes to Julie Johnson (dear friend and classmate doing research at Jamaica Hospital and NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases) for being such an available host in Queens for the overnight layover in NYC.  Last meal in America was enjoyed at a Jewish bakery called Knish Nosh (first time eating knish was delish.)  Last pumpkin latte and bag of chips went well with last phone calls at JFK with my family before disconnecting the phone for the duration.

Marilyn & Claude - Jo-burg, S. Africa (after our 14 hour flight)

Birds' eye of Beira

Plane to Beira

International Airport of Beira :)

First time landing in Africa was a little surreal especially after 14 hours in flight.  The flight was great in a plethora of movies and the providential occurence (out of 80 rows) of sitting one empty seat away from Claude and Marilynn Meyers (my house hosts in Beira).  Being somewhat sleepy on arrival, the opening line from my favorite book about South Africa kept echoing in my head "there is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills..." and I yawningly searched the windows for that road.  Unfortunately, Johannesburg from the airport, while improved from the last soccer world cup, is urban Africa and lacks the beauty of Alan Paton's rural descriptions.  The people were all friendly with mixed dialect accents and the ever attractive South African drawl.  Afrikaaners remind me of the Dutch we have in Michigan but I was welcomed especially warmly by a native S. African orthopedic surgeon and his entire family who said I had to return to Johannesburg and see South Africa.


As I sit writing this, I'm lying under a mosquito net in a large bedroom in an old home with all the barred and screened doors and windows open to maintain a steady breeze.  Children are calling to each other in Portuguese outside as various passer-byers and vendors greet each other.  This afternoon we went to Shoprite (probably the same grocery that Katie and Josh Loveland and Cherie Bieber visited while here!) It was especially crowded and maneuvering through small aisles with locals staring and trying to talk with us with "Hello! Hello!  How are you!?!" was a warm and expected welcome.  While driving home the Meyers' car decided to die twice while Marilynn was giving me a tour, and since she didn't have a cell phone and couldn't remember her husband's Mozambican cell phone number, I spent some time praying in the car while she tried to get help.  Somehow the car restarted twice and we barely coasted home with wilting groceries. :P  I write this only because it's one of those common lessons in patience we learn to expect in being in a third world.

I discovered our house is located at the edge of the 'hood.'  While busy during the day, it's like a small street party going on outside the house at night.  Children (I mean dozens!) were playing with each other this evening in the streets; the grown-ups stood talking with each other.  I was told I could use air conditioning in my bedroom not only for the heat but also to block out all the street noise.  Tonight I'll attempt without in order to acclimate to future work in a non-AC clinic. :)  As a side note, in regards to future entries, as I assimilate to portuguese I've noticed already less alacrity in spelling so please forgive whatever errors will naturally arise!

Boa noite! G'night! So pleased to be here safe and sound!  Thanks for all your prayers.

The setup

The decision to go to Africa was a long process that involved prayer, talking to a lot of people, lots of applications/paperwork/emails, prayer, more paperwork/emails, hiccups, more prayer - and finally decision time. 

Most of the decision traces itself back to working under my mentor Dr. John Umhau two summers ago in DC.  He was the initial person to tell me about the MAP International Fellowship that pays for airfare for fourth year medical students to do a minimum of 8 weeks of clerkships under a Christian physician overseas.  Dr. Umhau is a strong Christian who did MAP in Africa when he was in medical school and recommended me applying.  I was a bit apprehensive because my last overseas medical mission to India (with a secular program) was extremely exhausting and spiritually the opposite of encouraging.  However, because of his praise for the program I went ahead and applied - only to find out that my interviewer was Dr. Steve Roskos who I knew from my church and from faculty at my school.  He again had positive recommendations and a strong testimony to its role in his own life.  So I began moving forward in earnest with plans.

The doctor and his wife, whom MAP had gotten me in touch originally (the Meyers - serving with World Ventures), were enthusiastic about my coming.  However, after the joyful surprise of discovering they were pregnant and due at the same time as my stay, regretfully decided to deliver in the US.  Fortunately, another American doctor Dr. Peter Millard was able to step in as preceptor for my coursework there.  The plan is still to stay with the Meyers' parents Claude and Marilyn Meyers who are now retired missionaries from OMS working with a school in educational administrational roles.

Here's an overview of the whats-its: (or you can scroll to the bottom to upload my prayer request and overview pdf)

Where I’ll be working: Beira is the second most populous city in Mozambique with a population of approximately 450,000. Beira serves as the major port along a shipping corridor to inland African countries which contributes to its high HIV prevalence (40% seropositive).

            Clinic stats: 1) ~25,000 patient consults per month

2) common diagnoses: hypertension, URI, malaria, HIV, pioderma, gastroenteritis, parasitosis, micose, pneumona, abscess, fever, cough, pain, etc

3) focused research on HIV prevention

What I’ll be doing: I am doing two international rotations in infectious disease and family medicine in Beira, Mozambique at a Catholic Hospital and medical school.  My time will be spent between a hospital clinic called St. Lucas, an orphanage on the edge of the city, and possibly rural clinics in the northern part of the country.

Please join me in prayer!
1. Mission: that the Gospel would be shared through the medical work with patients and amongst the staff
2. Work: for the patients that they would heal quickly, have openness to hear our message, and for staff to work together well
3. Health and safety: working around a higher prevalence of infectious diseases and foodborne illnesses that the staff (including myself) would keep in good health
4. For me: That communication in Portuguese would develop quickly, that medical skills would grow quickly, and that I would grow in grace and faith as I serve and share the story of Jesus.