Dr. Wong's Experience at the Koutiala Hospital

19 August 2007

Hello-- I am an OBGYN coming to the end now of my month in Koutiala, working at the CPAM hospital, and I want to express my thanks and gratitude to all who have made my working here possible. This has been a truly remarkable experience for me and I will treasure the memories. At the hospital, I want in particular to thank Gail, Betsy and Carey for their help and support. Language was a problem and I appreciate those who put up with my feeble attempts to learn some French. I promise to study French before returning in the future. I also want to thank the CMA mission staff, Bob, Becky, Barry, Terry and others for their hospitality during my visit.

I was impressed by the dedication and faith of the local staff at the hospital. I was interested to learn how many things could be recycled and used over and over again in the hospital, which only emphasizes how wasteful we are in the US. I am pleased with whatever I have been able to contribute to the health and welfare of the local people in the short time I have been here.

I pray that the hospital and mission work in Mali will continue to be blessed in the future.

Richard Wong, MD
Portland, Oregon

People along the Path

August 4, 2007

by Carey Schlieker

I have been reflecting this month on how many people have crossed my path lately. They are often unexpected blessings that just "arrived" when I least expect them. They all have an impact on my life in various ways and I'm so grateful!

I have been having a great time this past month spending time with the Malian nurses I work with at the hospital! They are dear people and I have grown to love them all. Betsy and I had a movie night in July. We made them dinner and then watched "Ever After". The nurses were more entertaining than the movie as they openly cheer the heroes and heroines and then boo the villains! The night was to simply to enjoy time together without the stress of work. They are dear sisters in Christ and I will always be grateful for their impact on my life.

Thanks to our great friends in Shelby Ohio, another 40-foot container of medical supplies arrived this past month as well. As we were unpacking supplies and machines, my Malian friend Bintou said, "Kadia, doesn't this remind you of before the hospital opened?" I was thinking the exact same thing! Before we opened the hospital we sorted hundreds of boxes of supplies. Remembering how overwhelming that task was helped us all keep perspective this time around as we unloaded boxes and thought, "this is nothing compared to the last time."

We had a "changing of the guard" a week ago as Dr. Petty handed over the medical responsibility to Dr. Wong. Dr. Wong, also an OB/GYN physician, will be staying until the end of August, then Dan will be returning. Dr. Wong got initiated in his first few days by 3 c-sections in 3 days. He is doing great and a joy to work with. We are so thankful for him!

We have 7 new nurse interns at the hospital now. Needless to say, we are busy training, training, and more training! Some are nurses and some are nurses' aids and have various levels of experience so it's always a challenge to determine what level each is at and then teaching them appropriately. We are thankful for missionary nurse, Brenda Michelson, who came to help us for 7 weeks. She is a blessing and also has become a good friend. A nurses' aid from France, Wendy, is also here helping training nurses' aids. She was here last October and decided to come back! We can't thank these ladies enough for being willing to share their expertise with our staff.

God bless you all for your interest and support of the work here in Mali at the Koutiala Hospital for Women and Children. Speaking for the team as well as myself, "We couldn't do it without you!"

Visits to the Village

About 20 miles from Koutiala, on a good dirt road, is the village of Baramba. It hosts one of six clinics in Mali that have been started by C&MA missionary nurses several decades ago. All of the clinics are now directed and staffed by Malians. Each clinic has an ambulance available in case of an emergency that cannot be treated on site. As I arrived in Baramba with some visitors, the local pastor was just beginning to give an evangelistic message to the patients who were waiting to be seen. After a tour of the very clean clinic and maternity, we visited the Baramba Christian Girls School. Seventy or so young women, ages 12 and older, live on the school campus from November through April. There is a literacy class for those who arrive at school not knowing how to read or write. The girls take classes ranging from Bible to health to sewing and weaving. They also organize their meals and take turns cooking. We had a wonderful visit with the staff of the clinic and the school and were grateful for a glimpse of the impact they are having in their community and on young women.

Anesthesia and More Language Learning

My friend and colleague Carey has been patiently teaching my anesthesia this past month. I still have a lot to learn, but have some of the basics down of how we do things here (we keep things as simple as possible!). This past week our visiting doctor from the U.S. said he feels like he's at the tower of Babel when he hears French and Bambara being intermixed and spoken around him in the OR/hospital. I'm grateful I have patient teachers who continue to help me in my language study so that I can make sense of the languages spoken here and so that I will be able to communicate well, both as I teach in the hospital and share the message of hope in Jesus.

Praise God for several new nurses and nurses aids at the hospital. Pray for them as they go through training in the coming months. Pray for me as I continue to learn anesthesia.

Thanks for your prayers and encouragement which mean so much to me!

Jessica Schaeffer

A note from Dr. Petty- May-July 2007

A note from Dr. Petty- May-July 2007

This, my second visit to Hopital Femmes et Enfants, was at the time of the celebration of the hospital’s one year anniversary and over 1000 deliveries later.

It is a blessing that each weekday, the day starts with one half hour of worship and devotions both in French and the local Bambara language. Words like Yesu (Jesus), Aleluya (Allelujah), Ala (God), Matigi (Lord), and Amiina (Amen) fill the songs. A prayer time is held for personal and corporate needs after a devotional. At the end of the worship, everyone shakes everyone else’s hand and says, “May the Lord bless you” in any language. It is a wonderful way to reestablish relationships for that day and start the day in a positive frame of mind.

My experience was excellent. Some knowledge of French is most helpful even though it might have an American accent. The staff is most supportive.

Patient problems cover the gamut. The hospital has a reputation for excellence. This is well deserved because everyone works above and beyond in order to give excellent care. The hospital is a sought after place of employment. So those hired have excellent skills or excellent learning potential if they are coming on to be trained. Each is committed and compassionate.

Because obstetrics is a day and night activity, the staff is equipped to handle emergencies at all times. The post partum care for premature babies is exceptionally outstanding. After one premature baby was helped through many difficulties for one month, finally she had a problem causing her death. Her mother and grandmother had been at the bedside, watching the excellent 24 hour care. When they left, the grandmother said, “I want to follow Jesus.” Jesus said, “…let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” Mt. 5:16. This is being done 24 hours a day at the Hopital Femmes et Enfants in Koutiala.

I have been blessed to be a part of this effort.

William M. Petty, M.D.