Relationships

Hi there!!

I apologize for my long absence from the blog. I have seem to have been wrapped up in work. The Giles, a Max fax Surgeon and his wife have arrived and now have left. They are having a lot of success in finding Max Fax, VVF and general surgeon. I'm really excited about being able to serve the ones that are least likely to have access to care. We have a great team of translators up there with them also.

Since I don't currently feel like talking about work and my last screening was Friday, I'm gonna change the subject. What has been on my mind lately is relationships. With family, with translators, with roommates and with friends. Since work has actually been winding down a bit I have more time on my hands. I find that I don't know who to talk to, who to hang out with. I'm not on the wards, so I don't have a relationship with the nurses like last year. The friends I have outside the ward are wonderful, but young. They are 18 to 20 years old, were I just celebrated my 30th birthday. They are also all "coupled". So, I don't quite fit.

I'm and currently also in the process of trying to figure out where to live when I return to the US in October. Should I stay in New England near my family?? Should I try and branch out and find a new place to live?? Right now it is between Denver CO and Portland ME. I do fear, though, that not living close to my family will fracture my relationship with them. I don't want a niece that doesn't know me or that I never see. But, going back to New England feel a bit like going backwards.

Everyone needs a place. To belong. And it is hard when you don't quite know where that is. I trust that God has a great plan and I'm firmly in his grasp, but I'm curious where I am to fit.

Anyway, that is where I am personally.

On the patient front, there is little Tani. Tani is a 9 year old from the most northern part of Dapong. I received a picture of her in the first few months here. My heart went out to her. She was severely burned years ago. She is now missing her nose, her lip and an eye. Despite the deformities she is full of joy and mischief. She loves to play, to steal memory cards and chase balloons. Before a week ago, she had never been outside her village. She is here in hopes that our plastic and Max Fax surgeon can rebuild her nose, lip and cover the place her eye should occupy. Pray that they have the tissue to do all that they want to. I'll keep you updated on her progress.

I'll have pictures of the last screening soon.