Tuesday, May 8, 2012

The Man in the Avocado Tree

It is great to be back in Njinikom. We arrived last Saturday from Douala and have had a great first week here. There are many familiar faces as well as a few new ones. We are staying with Jim and Terry Hake again and they are both wonderful people. We feel just like at home here and they are a great reason why. Terry will be leaving at the end of May to go home and then Jim leaves about the same time as we do at the end of June.

Sister Xaveria, the hospital matron and Sister Relindis the mother superior are still here as well. They have not changed a bit and like last year are doing everything possible to make us feel at home.

Dr. Dabo, the OB/GYN I am covering for here while he is on leave, does not leave until Monday and so it has been great seeing him and his family again. It has been an unexpected treat having him here this first week and getting me back into the swing of things here. He is a very nice young man and a good doctor. His wife and children are great. Madam Dabo has prepared dinner for us twice already in the week we have been here!

Several of the children that were at the orphanage last year are now gone. There are a few new ones along with their guardians also. Some of the babies from last year are still here and have grown into little toddlers already. They all seem very happy. Also, the Dutch orthopedic surgeons were here in March doing their “crooked leg” surgery and so there are many, many children here with their casts still on. We visited 3 wards today filled with them, there must be close to 30 kids. They will be here for another 10 – 12 weeks before they go to Bafot for rehab. It is an incredible program that happens here twice a year.

As expected the weather has been quite different than Douala. It is cool enough that we wear jackets when we go to mass in the mornings. The rainy season is here and so it rains nearly everyday, at times quite heavy. Despite this there has been at bit of a water shortage because there was an extended dry season this year. At times, for example when the OR is running, water is turned off to the rest of the compound. It was off for several extended periods this past week. Rose, Terry, Jim, and I all agreed that we would rather be without electricity than water.

There is a large avocado tree right in front of our living quarters. Avocados are called pears here. One man was apparently given the assignment to climb the tree and pick them yesterday by one of the sisters. Quite a crowd gathered to watch him as he ascended higher and higher. He got quite far off on some branches and explained to us that you must pick them, you just can’t shake them off the limb. He was very successful and left with a basketful - both he and them completely intact.




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