Sad leaving of Almamie from orphanage

Some of you may remember me talking about an orphan in Michaels orphanage that I was training to treat Michael when I was not there. Almamie was a great learner and handled Michael in such a gentle and loving manner. Having severe burns and an awful story of being orphaned too, I was sad to hear that he had left the orphanage after some problems. I've seen him since and he is safely staying with a local Pastor. I will meet him again I'm sure, but please keep him in your prayers.

Michaels chair

At last, the chair was finished for Michael. Abdulai the carpenter (on left in photo) has done a wonderful job of making my design a reality!

A few minor adjustments,

a hole for toileting.....

adequate pelvic support and a tabletop

and the finishing touch – Michael's name and a smiling, satisfied patient!

Gutted – bag snatched! Phone stolen :o(

Ok, so it was likely to happen, but it still wasn't nice to be the victim. My friend Sandra put it so well on her blog (http://www.sandralako.blogspot.com/) that I've nicked it (with her permission!)

Unfortunate Friday evening...
I was pretty excited about the upcoming weekend, however, it didn’t start out very well. Late afternoon on Friday (it was still light!) 4 of us (all women) decided to walk home, which we often do. However, on this particular day we were unlucky. One of my friends had a purse on her side and unfortunately a young guy that was running past must have spotted it, because he turned around and later snuck up behind us. Before we knew what was going on he grabbed the purse, ripped it off of her shoulder and attempted to get away. As my friend grabbed his arm, the purse fell to the ground. We thought he was unsuccessful. Unfortunately, however, we soon realized that all that remained in the purse was Le 10,000 (=£2); the phone had been stolen. My friend and I dashed across the street after him but to no avail. I have to be honest and say I was cautious in going after him because I was afraid he might have a knife. He quickly jumped over the wall at the golf course and we never saw him again. We shouted “thief” but the road was pretty deserted, other than a girl with a basket of goods on her head.
A group of people outside one of the beach bars only 5 minutes down the road heard the commotion and had actually seen the guy earlier on, before he ran past us. Some guys offered to go and look for the thief; “a guy in a purple jersey”. Which they did, but I’m sure he was long gone. And I’d never be able to recognize him if he wasn’t wearing the same purple shirt. We thought of going to the police station to file a report but figured that would probably take 3 hours, maybe a bribe, us providing paper and pen and in the end it wouldn’t bring the phone back. So we didn’t bother.
I felt really bad for my friend. It wasn’t an expensive phone, but had a lot of important contact information. Also, it’s just plain frustrating to have someone steal something from you, especially when you’re in another country, trying to help others. Sorry friend! Anyway, yes, this happened to us here at Lumley beach, in an area that is known for events as such. But to be honest, this happens to people in Freetown all the time. And for that matter probably in a number of big cities all over the world. We were just unlucky.


So there you have it – I was got! Discouraged me for a bit, but I'm up and running again now – there was nothing more I could really have done to have been an safer in that situation, but still I walk with more caution and am thanking the Lord it wasn't a worse attack – it could have been nasty.

Would quite like to get a car now too – not only for protection, but also to make work home visits easier and therefore be able to see more patients in less time, and move bigger bits of equipment around with me more easily. I've got my eye on a good one – a Landrover named Gertrude (my it's current owner!), but need to see if the finances can stretch that far. Please pray with me for provision.

Thanks you all again.

Ward aerobics - The ladies love it!!!

Just another little idea of mine to keep our ladies busy, fit, breathing deeply, and of course my speciality – SMILING! At the Mercy Ships hospital where I work one day a week, these ladies are waiting for, or recovering from surgery to repair fistula's (holes down below often caused by obstructed labours, causing incontinence, which in turn often casts them from family and society – the Dr's here will hate that description as it's much more complicated than that, but trying to keep it simple!). Anyway these ladies can be admitted from 2 weeks or longer. As well as their medical care, they also join in with literacy, skills, colouring, peer support, devotions and informal counselling. But some of the time they sit around with not a lot to do. So in I come with some gentle but very fun group exercise classes, it gets them moving, breathing, and blood circulating – we have a ball!
Just look at those smiles! It got to be good for you!

Coke can Hand splints!

Who would have thought that a last minute hand splinting course I found myself on literally 2 days before I left UK to come to SL, would come in use this quickly!! Ok so my materials were somewhat more basic than we had learnt with, but I was pretty chuffed with my first attempt at a coke can splint for his little boy Alfred who was born with Erbs Palsy.

Ever had your nose picked by somebody else??

Ok, so the truth be told - even though I blush a little telling....
I was innocently having a drink with a friend this afternoon, who had just accompanied me on a 3 hour walk up and down and round and round a mountain (ok, maybe hill, but it was HOT!), in search of 3 patients (only found 1)

anyway, back to the story,

when they said 'hang on just a minute, you've got something.........
.....................................'
as they loomed toward me with a pointing finger......
before i knew it THEY HAD THEIR FINGER UP MY NOSE getting out the offending bogey!!! Presumably from all the heavy breathing in of dust and dirty as i coped with our little trek!
I was so embarrassed, but they were not at all,
our conversation continued on as if nothing had even happened!

it's made me laugh since though!
can you imagine??

Calling Skypers!

So you might have thought that Facebook was the latest craze - but I want you to think again!

(although I love facebook too)

I want you all to become SKYPERS!!

then i can call you for free! and you can call me for free!

not only that my lovely housegroup gave me a webcam, so no more do you need to pine for my smiley face - but if you become a skyper, you can even see me live too!!!!



what you waiting for....



x x x