Christmas sweat

Christmas started with a modest tree and decorations, but moved up a gear with coconuts and pineapples in baskets brought by Santa.

With perfect timing we discharged our last patient on Christmas eve, so in the afternoon our team of 14 drove down to ‘River number 2’ beach for a couple of nights in some beach huts. The early morning photo shows the site of our camp fire. That day we went in search of crocodiles, birds and waterfalls. The crocs didn’t show, so the girls felt it safe to swim instead!

The following morning Helen & I explored a nature train in the jungle, where there were monkeys and giant hornbills. We had good fun swinging from lianas like the monkeys! This week we als hope to visit a chimpanzee reserve.
We are back in the UK for three weeks from 4th Jan.

Under-tree class turned school

As we walked home in the evenings we would see a group of ragged children, who can’t afford school perching on rocks, squeezed together on benches, crowding around a blackboard and a teacher. Over the last seven months we have got to know Pastor Samura, the enthusiast behind this 3 year-old street school. After challenging him what his dreams were if he had the resources, together we came up with a proposal to move this school from the roadside into a proper building and resource it with teachers. This week saw the launch, with a hundred and two children attending the first day. The school will run for 2 hours, three afternoons a week, Helen attending on Wednesdays. The building we use is an extensive but almost empty children’s home opposite the team house. We have provided, thanks to donations benches, books and small pay for volunteer teachers. How will it end up? Watch this space for what you might do.

100th fistula repair!

Yesterday I took the theatre staff to a restaurant to celebrate my 100th repair. Each case means challenge and excitement to me, but hard work and sometimes boredom for them in the 2-4 hour cases. Tom French, the bumptious nurse (next to me) who also does field trips to fetch patients said “The economy in Sierra Leoneans is wrecked by people preferring foreign chickens to local ones.” He then ordered a huge piece of foreign chicken for himself!

Learning has been a hard, bumpy and slow ride, a true West African experience, but my current Nigerian trainer (first on right) said “With more experience you will definitely get there.” Also “The set up here with Mercy Ships is very sound.” He has added a lot to my enjoyment and ability. Thank God.