Dr. Larry & Lynn---Now that is Quality !

September 9, 2007

This is the longest time between Blogs so far and it may just be the beginning of a new trend. I seem to have less need to write out my feelings and experiences and more need to internalize them or “talk them out”. Hum, change is always interesting, so here we go---------
I wanted to tell you about the wonderful meeting we had with the visiting Dr. from Quality Assurance –Minister of Health. It all started the week before with our regular biweekly meeting on Aug 29th. I expected a small turn out where I would talk for 10 minutes and then go home to spend the weekend doing the end of the month statistical work I have taken on since I arrived here. Well the first surprise was that nine people attended the meeting, missing only Dr. Ssenjonjo and Mr. Pascall, our Clinician.who I knew were both in Kampala and would be unable to attend. So that is why I anticipated minimal participation from the other less active team members, but did I ever have a shock coming to me. It seems all were jazzed up and ready to participate and the meeting lasted a good 90 min, discussing everything from HIV- Testing , CD4 testing to how we might decrease the many steps a typical patients has to take when coming for a outpatient visit, to how to reach areas for testing that so far have been overlooked. ..
It felt like a real team with participation from everybody from the Pharmacist, to the Counselor to medical personal serving each department of the hospital. It was a most pleasant surprise and I skipped home feeling the after glow That was a Wed. and on Thursday , my day off, I went into Kisoro with Grace to shop and start picking up items for Dr. Larry and Lynn’s arrival in a month.
Yes, barring the unforeseen, it looks like they will be in Kampala the 30th of Sept and in Kisoro Oct. 3rd. We are all getting so excited! I have been overseeing the preparation for their home and though it is far from ready, it really is in process. Unlike the rest of the compound which is painted in the limited colors of yellow, blue, grey and black trim(much like we would use a baseboard), they will have white bedrooms with off white (kind of creamy colored) sitting room and hall and bathroom. I even got them to paint the small room in the “cook house” which will be Larry’s study. I requested a roof put between the regular house and the cook house, so that they can go back and forth without getting rained upon, but typical of Uganda it has become a major project with a cement walkway( completely covering an absolutely gorgeous red brick pathway that preceded it-smile) ). In any case, I am sure it will all turn out quite acceptable for a “missionary couple-“ha ”They will have a sitting room, a very small bedroom, a second small bedroom that I see as being Lynn’s office, sewing room etc., as well as the guest room and then Larry’s private little office, art room in the back of the house.
You see all the housing here has a “cook house” built about twelve feet behind it, where the cooking is done and there is usually another attached room that the help lives in I don’t use my cook house, as I have an indoor kitchen, but , have used it when I had to cook on the small charcoal cooker which is the norm here. Then the other room will makes a perfect guest bedroom if and when I have a lot of company
In Larry and Lynn’s case there are two cook houses attached with a hall way which has a toilet room and another room with a shower.. The toilet room is a traditional hole in the ground and I expect the shower is cold water only but that can be fixed for good back up when needed. The actual cook room is very small but twice as big as their inside kitchen from which you can touch all four walls while standing in the middle of the room-ha, but I am optimistic that with some creativity and humor Lynn will somehow have the use of both kitchens and be a two kitchen home.
I am really looking forward to Lynn having a full oven as there are many things I am unable to cook on my two electric burners. I can see it now;: I go to their house to bake and they come to mine to make microwaveable popcorn in my sophisticated microwave oven-Ha
Sr. In Violeta, who has been raising the turkeys, is saving the last one for our Thanksgiving Dinner and since I haven’t had turkey in over 6 mo., I am afraid there will be no pardon for this turkey (sorry) . It is definitely “free range” as it roams about eating and unfortunately destroying flowers and vegetable gardens as it goes, that is why the other sister insisted Sr. Inviotela get rid of it’s buddies
Ok back to the original topic of Quality Assurance Meetings for HIV-AIDS: Let’s see I was basking in the glow of a team meeting where the members actually participated Well I did finish compiling the data for both the MOH (Ministry of Health) and the Quality Assurance for ART’s (Anti Retroviral Therapy) and was about to email and/or mail them to the appropriate places when we received word that a visiting Dr. would be coming on Oct. 3rd . This didn’t excite me as we seem to get someone new each 6 weeks or so and then have to go thru the same dance each time- not at all rewarding.
But I had yet another surprise when Dr. Augustine arrived, on time, bearing bottles of soda’s and a unique attitude of encouragement and even appreciation for the work I have done in compiling the data. Can you imagine my surprise when he thanked me for coming to their country to help in the AIDS crisis and even said to the team how fortunate they were that I was there and so “organized and efficient”. I am still in shock over that one! He said we were doing well and would certainly be on the list for the next group of trainings in Pediatric HIV-Care, ARV’s and PMTCT (which is an important area here, that is to control pregnant women transmitting the HIV Virus to their unborn and newly born babies.)
So, for the second time in a week I floated home feeling I really was making a difference in the lives of Ugandans infected and affected with HIV-AIDS.
Don’t misunderstand, there have been equal frustrations: very limited internet service, days without cell phone network service, frustrations with my limitations with the local language and, of course, the never ending lack of “warm showers”. And to really make you feel sorry for me, I ate my last Ritz cracker yesterday! HA. Peanut Butter and Jelly Ritz crackers has become my “comfort food” , so until the next batch arrives ,I’ll just have to enjoy all the wonderful Chocolate Bars that Bert has sent me.(smile)
I have some personal stories to relay but they will have to wait until I return from my retreat next week. Bishop Callist has invited all the Lay Mission Helpers and Mission Dr. to a two night two day retreat in Kabale from the 12th to the 14th. I’ll see my fellow missionaries Diana and Kate and Dr. Bill and Courtney (heard Jeff will stay home with the kids) as well as get to shop for butter and a few other treats that I can’t find in Kisoro
Happy Birthday to Carolyns husband Larry on his Sept 12th birthday, Rebecca Wilson Southard on her Sept. 13th natal day and special love to Bert Self as he begins his travels to China near his beloved Becky’s birthday on the 17th. Would have been her 54th, but instead she is spending it in the heavens .with Jesus and His Mom
We begin and end most meetings with a prayer and I found this “contemporary prayer” that is liked and has been somewhat adopted by our team . I’ll end with it and a photo of Sr. Invioleta and others dancing during Mass last week.
----------- Blessings
----------- Marie

--------- Leading the Way
Lord, inspire us today with the
qualities of good leadership.
Give us insight to make wise
decisions, integrity to face the truth,
courage to make difficult choices
and compassion for the needs of others,

Make us a model of justice and honor
to the world, and let us never forget
that our job is to Serve
both You and others.

---------- Amen