26th September weekend

After two lip and palate procedures we had operated on 27 patients and completed 29 operations. We had to finish palate procedures before our last weekend to give time for healing before our departure. Tony & Ann came up to Dreamland with me on Saturday morning with 9 litres of porridge, did a wardround, and then cleaned up, photographed and discharged three more patients. We all had a quiet day reading, lunched at Mount Crest Hotel, and Bjorn was recovering from his cough. Tony & Ann busy themselves with photographs on their computers, so that Becky can forward the Smile Train papers ASAP for quick funding hopefully before the end of October.

Bjorn on Saturday night his pillow had eucalyptus oil sprayed liberally on it, and as he turned his face into it, he got an eyeful!

I was keeping touch with Sue & Naomi on their travels via LGW to Rome. Trevi fountain being hidden from view, and a boxroom for a bedroom. Fortunately they were upgraded!

Sunday was Tony's opportunity to preach at the Anglican church. Ann & Tony got them singing Alleluia, Praise the Lord with women taking Alleluia and standing, while the men sat, then the men stood for their Praise the Lord parts. I was more worried about them dropping the roving microphone on the tiled floor! Jo & Becky were in the back row with Simon (surgeon/radiologist) and his wife Jane (oncologist) who have built up this place. Simon has organised the building with generous donations from Guernsey and a family-linked business. They are back to see the results of their efforts. Mike Nightingale (Becky's husband) did a facebook comment on our work here. One of the mother's of the first three children put up a positive facebook comment on the IcFEM website, the day of her child's discharge. I look forward to reading it. The patients come from poor as well as educated families, but this Mount Elgon area is poorly served by Government health facilities. 

On Sunday, Bjorn & Anne-Marie did the porridge run, and checked on the patients. A ten-month old arrived with a cleft lip & palate weighing 3.9kg. We have agreed that the infant is not strong enough to have a good chance of benefitting from surgery now: A feeding programme is required first. An adult relative also has a cleft lip with two affected daughters. We have tried to make contact; we shall see the outcome. We could operate on Wednesday if we have cleft lips to do.

Monday's patients have all been on the feeding programme. Their ages go from 5 to 14 months, and their weights from 4.6 to 5.4 kg. Simon & Jane have been into theatre to see how their brainchild is working. They left a shell in December when they went back to the UK to move up to the Peak District village of Eame celebrating 350 years since the Plague. They are thrilled with Becky's management of the ward and theatre development.

Bjorn had shared with his Norwegian Church in Christiansand our need for prayer as we got to the tiny malnourished babies. One of the elders texted him at 0400 about God's good purpose veing fulfilled. If Sue is reading the same Encounter with God notes as me we were in Philippians chapter 2. Verse 13 stood out for me before Bjorn told of his text message. It talks of God's purpose being done in and through us. So when Bjorn And I started the walk home at 1500 in glorious sunshine, we chatted about how well the day had gone. Thirty minutes later as we approached the guesthouse dark clouds and long rumbles of thunder were heard. Fifteen minutes later the heavens opened.