Chavuma Mission Hospital
June 23, 2011
This past Monday we met in the ICU at 6:30 a.m., checked on our sick patients, then loaded up in Dr. David’s four-wheel drive vehicle and headed north from Chitokoloki toward the Angolan border. For most of the trip the roads were soft sand, often nothing more than a narrow path through the high grass that brushed the sides of the vehicle as we drove through. We rarely passed a vehicle; most of the traffic was ox drawn wagons. We went north past the town of Zambezi to within 12 kilometers of the Angolan border to the Chavuma Mission Hospital.
This is a small hospital (probably 50 in-patient beds) that services a wide area of this part of Zambia. Two young Japanese nurses who felt that God has called them to this part of Africa and now work full-time at Chavuma run the hospital. The hospital is very clean, efficiently run and has male, female and pediatric wards, an active maternity service and one very well equipped operating theatre. Dr. David makes the trip once a week to Chavuma to see patients and do surgery. During the week, if they have an emergency at Chavuma, they quickly transport the patient to Chitokoloki.
The nurses took us on rounds through the wards and then we began a busy day of surgery. We took a few minutes for a great lunch they had prepared for us (grilled perch, rice, carrots, cookies and coffee) then started back with our surgeries in the afternoon. We operated until well after dark—I think we did 14 surgeries in all. After checking to make sure our post op patients were doing well, we said our good-byes and loaded up the vehicle for the 3-hour trek home.
When we arrived back at Chitokoloki at 10 p.m., we checked on our ICU patients again. I walked back to my cottage in the pitch-black African night with what looked like a million stars in the sky above. I was so grateful to have been able to share in one day of ministry at Chavuma. I was so thankful to have met the two missionary nurses who are so courageous in their faith and faithful in their ministry. Needless to say, it was a satisfying day and I slept very well that night.
Paul
Good to hear that you are enjoying yourself while doing what God has called you to do. Your sharing makes everything come to life for me and I can picture it all. Thanks for answering the call on your life and being such as blessing to all that you come into contact with and showing Jesus.
Know that I am praying for you and looking forward to you coming back.
Keep up the ‘God” work. Isn’t it awesome when our professional life and spiritual life meet. Faith, Health and ‘intentional care of the spirit!’ I doesn’t get any better than this. You are truly ‘Blessed to be a blessing.’ I was invited to join some physician’s, medical students and interns in the Texas Medical Center, the first nurse to be invited by way of something I ordered from California for Faith Community Nursing (she forwarded my email to them). To fellowship freely sharing Christ with healthcare professionals, the Holy Spirit flowing and be a part of forming the legacy for the next generation of physician’s what an honor. I spend a lot of time in interreligious settings in the underserved communities of Houston, vegetarian meals, ‘religion’ and see how hard they have it. It gives me such renewed apprepriciation for ours, Chrisitianity, soooo simple yet profound!!! Thanks again and to your family as they are willing to share you with the world.
Hey Paul,
We love reading your posts and staying in touch. Sounds like you’re having an awesome time and staying really busy! I’m sure you’re loving it. We are praying for you and just wanted to tell you we love you, miss you and are proud of you! Keep the posts coming!
love you,
Tamara, Jim and fam
We have 120 beds1
My elderly mum for many years has been crocheting baby layettes for Chavuma Mission. This morning we packed another box – 6 baby layettes, babygrows, toys etc. My mum is 86 and my dad died earlier this year after 62 years of marriage. Her crocheting and knitting continues to keep her busy and occupied. She does know that her parcels can take many months to arrive. However Mum has had very little contact with Miss White in recent years and I would love it if she could be assured that the parcels are slowly arriving – and her knitting is still suitable for the new babies.
DO you have an email address for Miss White?
Having been brought up at Chavuma it is good to read the comment on this site. My parents Fred and Dorothy Barnett were missionaries at Chavuma. My father lost his life below the Chavuma falls. The book “Like a River Glorious” tells of the life of Dorothy Barnett and her four children. The website http://www.thevisiblehand.co.za is a relevant contact.
Lord bless you all
Gvin
Having been brought up at Chavuma it is good to read the comment on this site. My parents Fred and Dorothy Barnett were missionaries at Chavuma. My father lost his life below the Chavuma falls. The book “Like a River Glorious” tells of the life of Dorothy Barnett and her four children. The website http://www.thevisiblehand.co.za is a relevant contact.
Lord bless you all
Gavin