Our penultimate week in Meskine!

Salut! Our week began with us both getting some kind of bug so we didn't spend as much time in the hospital as normal! Despite this we were able to enjoy the  "Fete du travail" - an annual celebration on 1st May for employees to have fun together & be recognised for all the work they've done...this year the celebrations involved an early morning hike (which we skipped!), a friendly volleyball match against another hospital team, a march in the nearby town of Maroua (the hospital came 3rd!) & a formal 'ceremony' at the hospital with speeches, awards & a buffet! During our limited time in the hospital we both saw babies being born although with 2 very different outcomes...one (Vicki's) was a normal birth although the baby struggled to breathe initially but the other (Sarah's) was a caesarean section for a women who had been hit by her husband - unfortunately the baby died as a result of both the trauma & also a delay in the operation due to the lack of family members present who could consent it. Sarah spent some more time assisting with operations in the 'bloc' (some by torch light due to the ongoing power problems) & Vicki spent more time in the paediatric and maternity wards. We're praying for the power problems to be resolved quickly and that God will quickly provide a new surgeon to work at the hospital - although we've both seen the excellent skills of the surgical team, they really need the leadership & wisdom of a medically trained surgeon - and for legal reasons it is also important to always have a doctor present in the theatres.
This weekend we escaped the heat of Meskine as we visited some of the villages in the Mandara mountains next to Nigeria...it was fascinating to discover more about village life (see the photos for more info) and also to talk to some of the local people. Our guide in Rhumsiki was an active Christian so we had some good discussions with him & we also got to spend time with 3 boys from the village who became our unofficial guides...despite their challenging circumstances (2 had lost their dads & 1 - the boy with the liverpool shirt - has a mum with a severe foot problem so she is unable to work) they loved life & have great aspirations...to be a doctor, policeman & chef all working & supporting their village...please pray that they would fulfil their goals & that through going to church they would come to have a personal relationship with God.