HSU Insider

Jos, Nigeria - Checking In

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted August 15, 2008 2:16 PM
• 0 Comments

Our physical therapy group checked in after getting settled and establishing a daily routine in Jos. I'd joked that Jos is so remote that Google Earth takes a while to get there, but it's truly about as far from the world our crew has come to know as they are likely to experience for the rest of their lives. The students' descriptions are great and I'm just going to put them up as they are....fresh and real.

Kaysi Atkinson: This week has been a very educational week for me. I have been working in wound care, where we also have the opportunity to observe surgery. We have not had a course in wound care yet so all that we have been able to do this week is new for me. I really enjoy watching surgery, the surgeons are great at explaining to students what they are doing and why. Watching surgery makes it easier to work with the patients later, because we have seen exactly what the doctor did for them. It gives a better whole picture approach to determining treatment.

Lindsay Luker: The hospital is keeping me busy and challenged. I see something every day that I am not quite sure how to treat, but eventually problem solve my way through. And the people continue to be so genuinely grateful for our help...thanking God first, then the "white woman". And the outreaches in the afternoon are still my battery charger! The children continue to touch me in ways I didn't expect. I find they minster to ME more than I do to them. It's quite the paradox. Our visit to Mashiah Foundation, the HIV/AIDS outreach, was also a defining moment for the trip. The women there are the most joyful and grateful women I have ever met. We also had our trip to Yankari Wildlife Park this week, which was a nice escape. I can't believe we are going into our last week. I want to capture and savor every moment. I miss my family, but I could stay a little while longer..... God bless!

Kelsey Jones: Wow, I can't believe two weeks have already gone by and we only have one left. I spent the past week in the wound care and surgery area of the hospital with Kaysi. It never ceases to amaze me at how so much can be done with so little. We haven't had our wound care class yet, but it seems like in the States we do more for a wound than scrub it with saline and put sugar on it, then wrap it up. Yet that is how many wounds are cared for here; they may take longer to heal, but it works for them. I've also learned how to be more patient with a culture that does not seem to very efficient. My go-go-go nature has been put on hold until I get home. We have spent more time with the kids at transition house and another home (with girls in it) at Gyero. I continually learn something every day from them about life, whether it's making the absolute most of almost nothing or giving God the glory for everything (even though it may seem very small). My greatest lessons learned here are the ones being taught to me by these beautiful children.

Rebecca Warminski: I am constantly amazed by the attitude of the Nigerian people. Many are facing numerous hardships and challenges but there has yet to be a time when I wasn't warmly greeted. This afternoon we went to a neighborhood soccer game. Mathias's (the Palmer's driver from their previous trip) team was set to play in a tournament and I was excited about seeing how the game would be different here. However, I was much more impressed by the ministry Mathias is performing though his team. The idea is to supply entertainment, goals, and personal growth through team play and more importantly a way to bring others to Christ. Unfortunately the match was cancelled because the referee was in a car accident, but the team still scrimmaged for a couple of hours. The team looked great in their new warm ups that were donated from Cooper High School in Abilene, and you could sense the excitement among them. Even though the players were only scrimmaging, everyone gave an excellent effort. The players were all encouraging and supportive of one another. I couldn't help but feel that these young men understood much more of what it means to be for one another and a contributing member of a team than many players who have been playing organized sports their entire lives. As I gazed down from the stands (aka quite a large rock) that we were observing from I took in the kids with torn t-shirts, the soccer cleats with socks peeking out from the toes, and the amazing talent that very possibly could earn top dollar in the U.S. In my mind I thank God for all the opportunities I have been handed and pray for those around me who have not been born in such a fortunate situation. I hope I am able to use all of my blessings, talents, and gifts God has given me to help those who are striving to achieve something better for their life.

Aaron Pierson: I feel like it would be impossible to encapsulate what has happened here the past two weeks in less than an hour long conversation, so I'll do my best in this paragraph. Today after the soccer game that we watched, I had a similar feeling that I have had many times this week. I feel blessed and enlightened simply by being involved in certain situations; common everyday activities that teach me so much about the culture, the people, and by extension myself. It has been very helpful to experience so many different areas of the hospital, and I have had great opportunities to visit with these people who we are able to minister to. We are able to provide simple help to those previously deprived of appropriate therapy, like teaching exercises to post surgical patients to help get them on their feet faster. In the outpatient clinic, we are able to provide more in depth treatments with stroke and chronic pain patients. We have treated a lot of patients, but I feel like I have benefitted more than they have. Experiencing each specific patient situation, hearing the stories, and seeing the genuine gratefulness in their eyes has taught me a lot. Working with the kids in the care centers has been a similar situation for me... they have been an unexpected source of blessing and ministering to me as we have developed real relationships and spent time hearing about their lives. We have one week left, and I feel like we have more work to do and that God has more work to do in me. I can't wait...

VVF Sewing School

Michael: I have spent mornings in the last week helping as needed in the hospital. It has been so amazing watching the PT students' progress and learn with each new case they receive. I am still amazed at how the people are able to get better here after seeing the conditions of the hospital, yet we have seen quite a few patients discharged. Our afternoons have been spent at different ministries around town including an AIDS outreach center with women who were so happy to be alive and learning sewing as a means to provide for themselves. We were able to witness nine of the women receiving donated sewing machines and their singing and dancing for joy was definitely something I will remember for a lifetime. The boys continue to touch all of us with their hearts, and I can't wait for my final week here where I will spend most of my time helping with their annual camp. I still can't believe we only have one more week left.

Cori Lane: This week I spent the mornings in the hospital doing inpatient physical therapy. I have been very surprised by how much I like inpatient care. Most of the patients were being treated for injuries relating to traffic accidents. I think what I enjoyed most about the week at the hospital was seeing the patients improve. The patient that I enjoyed treating most was a man with a recent nerve surgery due to an amputation. His attitude is great, and he is very happy to be improving. In addition to the hospital, this past week we spent the afternoons at different community centers around the Jos area. I really enjoyed Mashiah and Gyero. Mashiah is a home where women with HIV/AIDS, and AIDS orphans are able to receive care. The women in the program are provided with healthcare, housing, and work training so that they can care for themselves and their children. The Mashiah experience was incredible. The women told their stories, danced, and sang. While we were there, some of the women received their own sewing machines; the pure joy and excitement on their faces was extremely uplifting. In addition to Mashiah, I enjoyed Gyero. Gyero is a village outside of Jos where many young boys and girls are cared for. We spent time with the children, jumping rope, and playing games. This week we also went to Yankari, an animal reserve where we saw baboons, wild pigs, water buck and water buffalo. I am excited for next week!

Elayne Palmer: As everyone has already said, we have really packed a lot into 2 weeks. This diverse group of people has really become a team, caring for each other as well as the people of Nigeria. I spent this afternoon with Kelsey, Lindsay and Cori at the Gyero girls' care center. We had a wonderful time decorating hot pink girlie t-shirts, and sat and helped with knitting projects (caps for babies that have turned into treasured caps for each knitter). After the t-shirts were finished and drying, the rain that has been a daily event began again - this time it was more like Nigerian "monsoon!!!!!" It rained for over an hour, the dirt patio area was flooded, and all 16 care girls, the 4 of us and "Kaaka," the grandmother, sat in a small room with no electricity. The girls sang, danced, knitted and read to us, and our girls read to them. We had some very close "girl time" together. I'm so honored to be here, learning from "the least of these." Please keep us all in your prayers as we close out our time here.

Dr.Phil Palmer: Yesterday, I overheard one of the team members say, "I think I'm going to miss this place." As I continued eavesdropping, I heard, "It is so beautiful!" Nigeria is beautiful this time of year; green is the most prominent color. In the midst of the beauty, however, we have discovered much suffering and need. We have tried to be faithful to God and to help those he has called us to help, but the needs are so great, the resources so little, and the time we have to be here is so short. I do believe, however, that we have made an impact. Just this morning, a chief from a local tribe thanked us for coming to help his wife. He said, "See how Jesus has blessed us!" We are the ones who have been blessed as we've seen the work of God through us reaching out to the people of Jos, Nigeria.