Cameroon Shank steps #8

Cameroon Shank steps #8
At times we are up, at others we are down.  It seems
our emotions are like the rivers here.  At times dry
and other times of the year flowing.  A lot of the
feelings depend on whether we feel like we have helped
someone that day or whether someone has died.  As
mentioned before it seems is very much a part of life
here and accepted very differently.  But for us with a
western mindset it’s sometimes harder than it seems
for some of the family members.  I had another child
die in front of me yesterday.  Many children are
brought in by parents very late in the malaria process
when the child is already worn down by repeated
malaria and also malnutrition.  In children like this
even a few days may be too much.  Their hemoglobin may
be very low and they bring them in when there is
difficulty breathing from the anemia and they seem to
die often before or while the blood transfusion starts
running into them.  This is one of our most common
difficulties to deal with.
The other is the constant strain of insufficient
money.  Again this month the workers were paid only
1/3 of their salaries because the hospital doesn’t
have enough to pay them.  We ran out of Quinine today.
This is one of the essential, most used, medications
for treating malaria.  Nearly every patient in the
hospital and clinic receive this.  Today the
“pharmacist” came to us saying they were out.  And of
course the nearest place to get it is 3 hours away in
Maroua.  So the hospital ends up sending patients to
surrounding dispensaries to fill the necessary
medications.  Not a good move to have to take.  But
since we just paid the 1/3 salary we don’t have enough
to buy today.  We may be able to buy a few essential
medications tomorrow after seeing some patients and
discharging others.  It is also hard for us to hear a
worker say “It’s hard to treat the patients well when
you’re hungry”.  Or “My family hasn’t eaten in 3 days
because the salary is late.”  The needs here are very
real and at this time of insufficient funds, are
amongst our staff too.  Often it is more common
amongst those without jobs or income who are waiting
for their crops to produce.  But now since the
hospital is behind a few months the crunch is real and
also amongst those with a job.  Our administrator has
just had a baby boy in the hospital in the capital of
Cameroon.  He hasn’t been able to travel there now for
a week because of lack of funds to go.  Unfortunately
some parents and husbands also make medical decisions
based on cost.  We had a child who’s father took them
home today with cerebral malaria because he was
worried about the bill getting to high for him to pay
so he paid and left.  Another mother came in with a
child with a broken tibia and fibula (leg) and when
the nurse mentioned the child should be hospitalized
and casted she left with the child.  So along with the
joys of working for Him in this place amongst these
very friendly and hospitable people there are real
challenges.  Please pray for us and for this hospital
that we may grow to be the people and institution that
God wants us to be and that we will some day have the
ability to provide more care and aid to those here who
really need it.
We are still not able to use our ham email yet.  We
are waiting for the permit to use it.  Also pray for
this that we may get it soon so that we can stay in
more constant contact with you all.  Unfortunately it
is hung up in the telecommunications department here.
When it is rough I am reminded of the Bible text:
Isaiah 40:28-29, 31 “Do you not know?  Have you not
heard?  The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of
the ends of the earth does not become weary or tired.
His understanding is inscrutable.  He gives strength
to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases
power.  V 31. Those who wait for the Lord will gain
new strength:  They will mount up with wings like
eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will
walk and not become weary.”  God is giving us the
strength to do what He has called us to do.  We praise
Him for this.  We serve an awesome God who is
interested in each issue in our lives and has
experiences the same difficulties that we have.  I am
very thankful for a God who understands our
difficulties and is interested in each aspect of our
lives.