Greetings, earthling...

This morning, before the start of our staff meeting I approached Dr. Jacqueline. I was hoping to ask her to see one of my patients before she left the hospital that day. However, rather than launching right into my request, I stopped myself and said “How are you?”

She laughed and both she and the nursing supervisor stated that I was truly “Cameroonian”:-)

One of the most difficult things for me to learn about living here was the importance of the greeting. In the states a simple “Hi how are you?” while breezing past someone will suffice, but not in Meskine.

Here it’s “Hi, how are you? How’s your health? How’s the fatigue? How’s your family? How’s the work? How’s the heat/cold.” and on, and on, etc.

A few important points;

When greeting, it is preferable to stop walking, stand still and say hello.

When swapping salutations with one person in a group, all of the group needs to be addressed.

Before requesting something, one must greet.

When I burst into the wards in the morning, wanting to get the rounds started as soon as possible, I grit my teeth, and consciously remind myself to slow down and say hello to everyone before getting the workday rolling. When I am running like a chicken with my head cut off and someone stops me in the hallway, it takes all my strength and concentration to stand still and focus my attention on that person.

It has taken some practice, and it doesn’t come naturally, but I can appreciate the need to recognize the presence of another, to take a moment to say hello.

Aissa

Last May, while passing by the pharmacy, I noticed a woman and small child. The child's head was wrapped in a dirty rag and she was covered with flies. Knowing that this case was serious, I asked the woman to bring the girl to my office.

Upon removing the rag, I found a huge sore extending from the eye, which was swollen shut, down to the jaw and from the corner of the lips back to her ear. She was quickly hospitalized.

Aissa had been abandoned by her parents. She was brought in by her grandmother and uncle, who were currently caring for her. At 7 years old she weighed only 24 pounds. She was diagnosed with cancrum oris, an illness which starts with a simple infection, like an abscessed tooth and once neglected begins to eat away at the face.

She was admitted on a Friday, and her uncle promptly left to look for money to pay the hospital bills. By Monday her grandmother, who did not speak the local language and who had stayed with the child all weekend alone, without food, was thoroughly discouraged. That morning as I was passing by the pediatrics ward, I encountered the grandmother, crying. She had Aissa on her back as she packed up her things and carried them outside, intent on going home immediately. The uncle arrived on the scene and it was a tense 20 minutes as I attempted to find a translator and convince them to stay. A crowd had gathered, and in the midst of this mess, I turned and saw Aissa out of the corner of my eye, a miserable little bag of bones, completely powerless as we discussed her future and survival.

We finally convinced the uncle to stay with Aissa and that evening removed the infected portions of her face in the OR, placing a nasogastric tube so that she could be fed. The following day, she was placed on the “poor fund” meaning that her care would be completely covered by the hospital. In addition, she and her uncle are being provided with food on a daily basis.

Since her arrival, Aissa has made amazing progress! Her anemia is completely resolved, her nasogastric feeding tube has been removed, her appetite is enormous, and she has been putting on weight! Her facial sore has been clean for a number of months now, and it has significantly decreased in size. All of us have been amazed at her truly miraculous recovery. She is so different from the emaciated, miserable creature who came to us 4 months ago!

She is a favorite of the staff and a well known fixture at the hospital. The Cameroonians often give her little gifts of money, food and clothing which she joyfully displays. She has come to love the missionaries and calls and waves to the doctors in the morning on their way to work. One afternoon, as I was walking on the path heading to our missionary compound, I heard something behind me. I turned and there was Aissa, running after me, legs churning, arms pumping, silent yet determined to catch up. I rewarded her with a hug and soft words and we stood enjoying each other for a few moments before I put her down and she skipped away.

The staff has confided to some of our missionaries that they have been touched by the love that Aissa has been shown. She has been a very great blessing to us all and God has proven once again his faithfulness and power.

Aissa will be leaving for reconstructive facial surgery next spring. Mercy Ships, which will be docked in Togo has agreed to conduct the operation. Thanks to the generosity of Calvary Chapel Battle Creek, we are putting together a little goodie bag for the plane. Aissa has gained so much weight during her time here that all of her clothes were much too small! We had some new dresses made for our little "baby doll". Trying everything on... Buttoning the last button... Taadaa! Aissa's little cousin, who stays at the hospital to help out with her care, was also badly in need of some new clothes. He was thrilled with his new duds. Getting organized and packing up to head back to the hospital. Would you please pray for Aissa and her family? Pray that the surgery this spring would be successful and that this experience might help Aissa's family to accept the love and salvation offered by God.

Thank you.