Picture Blog

Today we want to share some random pictures that will give you a bit of an impression of what we have been up to the last few months!

In January, we had a visit from a medical team from the USA, which included two dentists with a dental assistant and an oral hygienist who worked long days to address the needs of the many patients who came to the hospital. Mattru had not seen a dentist for many years!

Patients waiting patiently in long lines to pay the small contribution required to see the dentist. 

Just after the team left we got the message that our ambulance driver had overturned the ambulance. The driver had only some minor injuries, but the ambulance is beyond repair, which has already created some challenging situations when we need to transfer patients...

Last year we decided to trade our 2004 Toyota 4Runner (which had major issues anytime we traveled, leaked like a sieve during rainy season and perpetually displayed over 10 warning lights) for a 2002 4Runner which has been nothing but a blessing. Due to the aforementioned accident it has already several times doubled as an ambulance!

In February we opened a small Birth Waiting House which was built with support from the Christian Health Association of Sierra Leone and furnished by the church of Dr. Dan & Elaine Metzger.

It was appropriately opened on a Friday morning, when expectant mothers come to the hospital for their check-ups.

Mothers from far-away villages who are at higher risk of a complicated delivery can spend the last few weeks before the birth of their baby in the Birth Waiting House. We are hoping that this will help decrease the still-high maternal mortality rate in the district. 

Guess what we are cooking here?! Ultrasound gel! We ran out of the usual stuff and were given a recipe using cassava starch and salt! Although a bit smelly, it works fine!

Also in February, we got a surprise visit of Ms. Audrey Fiederlein, a former missionary to Mattru! (the lady sitting on the blue couch to the left) We had a delightful time with her and the two friends she brought along.

And again, also in February, a team from Engineers without Borders built a toilet/shower facility for the Pediatrics Ward.

Well-built, with beautiful tiles - what a blessing for the patients and their parents!

In March,two of our long-time friends from Freetown, Sandra and Suzanne, came to visit! We had such a good time with them. Sandra & Suzanne are both working in the medical field and show a lot of understanding for our situation here.

Sandra & Suzanne brought along their friends Phil & Shantelle and we got introduced to the game Bonanza. We had a lot of fun with that! 

Somewhere in between activities, Heleen (together with our Matron Fatmata) made an attempt to teach our cleaners something about hospital hygiene. It brought back memories from many years ago, when Heleen used to clean the Pediatrics and Maternity wards of the local hospital over the summer break and on Saturday mornings. It remains to be seen how much the training will actually affect the cleanliness of the hospital...

In March a team of workers arrived to assist with the renovations of the Maternity ward. Here is Brad building trusses.

Nick with Tamba, our hospital maintenance man. 

The new roof was designed by Ray Proud, who came along to oversee the project. Sadly we don't have a picture of him!

Issues with the purchase of materials delayed the project and when the team left after two weeks Jon's job description was yet again expanded to include building supervision. Thankfully the Sierra Leonean contractor has been very pleasant to work with.

Today the roof was completed, which is a blessing because the rains came early this year. A LOT of work remains: building ceilings, replacing rotten, termite-infested boards, tiling, electrical wiring, painting, etc. etc. 

While the building project was going on, Heleen received another visit from the World Hope International Team that works with children with disabilities. Here our friend Anna evaluates a little boy with the help of Heleen's colleague Sylvanus.

Heleen's work with the children with disabilities is expanding and brings us much joy - just look at the faces of these children and the mother! We will soon tell you more about some exciting developments.

Heleen has handed over the Psychosocial Unit at the hospital to local staff. In March she trained three more nurses and Esther, who volunteers in her work with the children with disabilities. In the picture also John, a Community Health Officer who co-leads the Unit with Mary, a nurse.

We continue our walks in the evenings and are currently enjoying exploring some of the new rice fields.

A bit more adventurous path.

As the dry season comes to an end, we enjoy the flowers blooming in the hospital compound.

Flowers welcoming us at our front door.

Our backyard is slowly beginning to show some color again...

Like this beautiful red and yellow flower!

And then we were blessed by a few visits of our favorite bird here, the majestic Great Blue Turaco! 

Another view...

We have lately been enjoying watching "BBC Life" episodes, which - although thoroughly evolutionary in approach - deepen our faith and joy in our Creator. And sometimes we get some BBC-Life-like glimpses of nature, like on Sunday morning when these little creatures hatched just outside our window by the breakfast table! They seem to be in the mantis or walking stick family. 

And lastly, here we are with Adama, one of our nurses who got married last Saturday. 

We hope you have enjoyed this picture journey. Please continue to remember us in your prayers.