By week two, most of us have settled into our groove in Tanzania. Just in time to welcome the second half of our group to Ilula! After a long treacherous bus ride, complicated by a flat tire on the way, our new friends arrived yesterday evening. It’s been fun welcoming Ken, Birdie, Cari, Steve, Norm, Deb, the Dudeks, Leslie and Chandra (sorry if I butchered anybody’s name). I look forward to getting to know them all better in the coming weeks.
We had a very busy Sunday, including long church services and meetings with the King foundation and hospital administration. I think the highlight of my day was going to Dr. Saga’s house for dinner. He shared many stories with us about his family and upbringing in Tanzania. As one of 10 children of a farming family, prospects of getting a higher education looked grim when he was growing up. But Dr. Saga was determined and continued to pursue opportunities to go back to school. He started out as a clerk helping to Swedish missionaries treating patients in Ilula. At that time, only a few decades ago, Ilula was a very rural village with only 4 houses! Overtime he worked his way up to assistant medical officer. With some help from friends abroad he was able to help transform Ilula Hospital into what it is today. It was a good reminder for me to never take my education for granted. I am so lucky to have had the opportunities in my life to pursue a career in medicine. We truly have amazing jobs!
Volunteering at Ilula has been a wonderful and eye opening experience. Apart from all of the medicine I’ve learned on ward rounds, Witnessing the beautiful relationship that Ken, Randy and others have formed with our Tanzanian colleagues has been truly inspirational. It gives me hope that through hard work, collaboration and faith anything is possible.
We had a very busy Sunday, including long church services and meetings with the King foundation and hospital administration. I think the highlight of my day was going to Dr. Saga’s house for dinner. He shared many stories with us about his family and upbringing in Tanzania. As one of 10 children of a farming family, prospects of getting a higher education looked grim when he was growing up. But Dr. Saga was determined and continued to pursue opportunities to go back to school. He started out as a clerk helping to Swedish missionaries treating patients in Ilula. At that time, only a few decades ago, Ilula was a very rural village with only 4 houses! Overtime he worked his way up to assistant medical officer. With some help from friends abroad he was able to help transform Ilula Hospital into what it is today. It was a good reminder for me to never take my education for granted. I am so lucky to have had the opportunities in my life to pursue a career in medicine. We truly have amazing jobs!
Volunteering at Ilula has been a wonderful and eye opening experience. Apart from all of the medicine I’ve learned on ward rounds, Witnessing the beautiful relationship that Ken, Randy and others have formed with our Tanzanian colleagues has been truly inspirational. It gives me hope that through hard work, collaboration and faith anything is possible.
No comments:
Post a Comment