Meanwhile, somewhere on the Equator...

So I made it to Uganda and have started to settle into life here at the hospital! Been overwhelmed by the generosity and hospitality of foreign missionaries and Ugandans alike.

Internet is rare, and power is dodgy, so I'll be brief! (Thanks to the legendary Marina for lending me her laptop) I've been based on the female medical ward this last week and a half, and it's been a strange mix of familiar and new. Some of the diseases are the same as you'd see on any English medical ward - stroke, heart failure, pneumonia, and some is startlingly different - malaria, typhoid, sickle cell, late presentations of neurological deficits. It's challenging but really enjoyable. All the medical staff are being very patient with my mistakes and lack of knowledge!

It's been a real shock to the system to try and reconcile good medicine and keeping costs down for patients. Not to mention that often there are no supplies for tests - currently we have three patients with diabetes but no strips for the glucometer! Patients have to pay for treatment, and it's hard not to feel guilty when you write a plan containing treatment the patient really needs, but you know the family can barely afford.

The hospital has a chapel service before each work day begins, and it's fantastic to be able to spend half an hour in prayer and Bible study with staff and anyone else who comes. Every single day, the patients and staff are prayed for - how encouraging is that?

Also, I have a Ugandan phone number - +(256) 787-363-982 in case of emergency/Wimbledon scores.

There are some things I'd really appreciate prayer for - do get in touch if I can be praying for any of you:
- Continued good health (been really blessed so far with no health upsets)
- Continued energy and enthusiasm

The only things I'm really missing at this point are tea with proper milk and hot showers!
Much love
J