Working Hard

Tuesday, March 17, 2009
8:20 PM Tenwek

Well the team has spent another day working hard in our workroom! Some of us are still up here pluggin' away. It's only 8:20 here, but it gets dark at about 6:30 so it feels pretty late. Things are coming together with the architectural plans and engineering design. The surveyor has also made lots of progress.

We enjoyed a nice lunch with Ben and Jen and dinner with another missionary doctor family here at the hospital. Everyone is so kind and hospitable. There are lots of people coming and going, so they know how to take good care of us!

The weather here is wonderful. I used to think I would never like to live somewhere where there wasn't much change from season to season, but if the weather was like this year-round, then I think I could handle it! It's in the 70s during the day and drops maybe as low at the upper 50s at night. The Kenyans bundle up in sweaters and heavy jackets at night, but we all laugh because it's pleasant to us! It has rained hard every afternoon which the Kenyans are very thankful for. It's the start of the rainy season in March.

There isn't airconditioning or even ceiling fans, but it's relaly not necessary. There are always lots of windows open and the hospital was designed with open corridors and courtyards and such for airflow. Our team is incorporating the same type thing into the new dental and eye building.

The hospital isn't as clean and stark feeling as an American hospital, but I believe the quality of healthcare is still very high for Kenya. The hospital was recently inspected by the country government and got the highest ranking of any missionary hospital and was 6th in all of Kenya. Today a plastic surgeon came in for about a week's stay to do lots of surgeries that were saved for his visit like cleft palletts.

I'm finally starting to sleep better at night, which is very nice. I've even gotten a little used to the mosquito nets! The team is working well together. There are 3 of under 25 and the rest range from 40 to low 70s. We're also from all over the country, but being thrown in with everyone all day everyday, you get to know each other quickly.

Well I better get to work! Thanks for reading! Internet has been on and off, but I'm trying to update everyday if I can!