The Camel Picture was from Kuwait.
Monday, August 8, 2011
The First Week
I am through the first week. Things here have not been to bad. Yesterday I had dinner at the Italian DFAC complete with authentic pasta and fresh baked bread. I got to watch the Rockies beat the Nationals on AFN. And I went to church and found out my scrub tech is a believer too. I am thankful that God is abundantly providing for me here. We've only done one case so far....loop colostomy for a GSW that caused a rectal injury. We'll see how things change and evolve over the next six months. But for now, I couldn't ask for more.
The Camel Picture was from Kuwait.
The Camel Picture was from Kuwait.
Friday, August 5, 2011
Day One
I got in last night at about 3 AM. I found a phone directory by a special phone in the welcome briefing tent and found the number for the TOC at the 115th. There was a very nice specialist there that was over in about 20min to pick me up. After a short drive I was taken to my living area which is a small wooden cubical about 10 ft by 10ft that is inside a large tent and dropped off all my bags. My “room” has a bunk-bed in it with a real mattress that is quite comfortable. It has a few shelves and that’s it. Pretty Spartan. But after I dumped my stuff, I went on a quick tour of the FOB and the Hospital. Then at about 03:30 I went to bed.
The next morning I woke up at about 05:45 and had a quite time (Gen20-22). I felt God’s intentionality in the timing of this QT. It is the section with Hagar and Ishmael when they are wandering in the desert and God provides them some water. This place is certainly a desert and there is a huge need for water in the desert. I could empathize with the thirst.
After QT was shower and breakfast by myself. I sat with some Jamaican contractor named Kirk who was a nice guy and lived in the same area in Jamaica that I went to in 1992 on a medical mission trip. Then I went back to the hospital and met the rest of the Docs I will be working with.
We all went to Lunch together. Then I came back and took a nap. Then we went to dinner. Then we were rocketed. After that we all sat on the “front porch” of our living quarters and talked about “stuff”. Then I was tired and went to bed.
It seems like a pretty low key area out here. So far, I like the people that I am working with . The internet access is pretty sketchy so we’ll see how that goes. It is very windy and the internet goes down when the wind is gusting.
There is a lot of promise and adventure that this place holds. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us.
The next morning I woke up at about 05:45 and had a quite time (Gen20-22). I felt God’s intentionality in the timing of this QT. It is the section with Hagar and Ishmael when they are wandering in the desert and God provides them some water. This place is certainly a desert and there is a huge need for water in the desert. I could empathize with the thirst.
After QT was shower and breakfast by myself. I sat with some Jamaican contractor named Kirk who was a nice guy and lived in the same area in Jamaica that I went to in 1992 on a medical mission trip. Then I went back to the hospital and met the rest of the Docs I will be working with.
We all went to Lunch together. Then I came back and took a nap. Then we went to dinner. Then we were rocketed. After that we all sat on the “front porch” of our living quarters and talked about “stuff”. Then I was tired and went to bed.
It seems like a pretty low key area out here. So far, I like the people that I am working with . The internet access is pretty sketchy so we’ll see how that goes. It is very windy and the internet goes down when the wind is gusting.
There is a lot of promise and adventure that this place holds. I can’t wait to see what God has in store for us.
Brothers
I was thinking of family today…specifically my brother. There are few bonds in this world as special as that of two brothers. In brotherhood, one experiences life always with the presence of one’s brother, growing and maturing into manhood shaped by the presence of each other. As a male, the body is designed to be strong, and the mind to master all that it is able. Left by himself, a boy can grow and become a man, but a boy with a brother has the advantage. A boy learns from his own life experience as well as that of his brother’s. As they mature, brothers must adapt to each other and thus mark each other’s life. Certainly, of course, parents mark and influence a child’s life, but a brother is “in the trenches”. Whether for good or ill, brothers uniquely shape the lives of each other in ways that no one else can.
In brotherhood, a man’s ability to live life skillfully is honed by his brother’s influence. In order to live peacefully brothers must reconcile with each other. This process teaches each brother the importance of self-control, teamwork, and honor. Conflict that arises from brother’s innate desire to do the same thing at the same time, constantly forces opportunity to learn these qualities. Maturing through the adolescent years, brothers begin to understand the effect that one brother’s reputation has on the other brother’s life. Thus the concepts of honor and respect begin to take baby steps in the life of each brother.
Time seems to pass quickly as boys become teenagers and then go on to be young men. And as brothers navigate through these chapters of their life, they may realize that they have been unknowingly relying on each other’s presence to form an opinion of themselves. Unfortunately, by the time they are old enough to realize that their brother has played this crucial role in their life, the complexity of adulthood no longer affords them access to each other. At this point they are left with merely nostalgia, thinking to themselves, “I have a brother. I am glad I have a brother.” and remembering fondly even fights that they had been in.
But good brothers never allow life to become too complex. They may be separated, but still stand side by side, each complimenting the other in aptitude and ability. They value each other for who they are and the effect they have on those around them. They continue to learn from the other’s life and wisdom they demonstrate. And in the end they will both bow before the throne of God giving thanks to God for giving him a brother.
I have a good brother. I love you Erin.
In brotherhood, a man’s ability to live life skillfully is honed by his brother’s influence. In order to live peacefully brothers must reconcile with each other. This process teaches each brother the importance of self-control, teamwork, and honor. Conflict that arises from brother’s innate desire to do the same thing at the same time, constantly forces opportunity to learn these qualities. Maturing through the adolescent years, brothers begin to understand the effect that one brother’s reputation has on the other brother’s life. Thus the concepts of honor and respect begin to take baby steps in the life of each brother.
Time seems to pass quickly as boys become teenagers and then go on to be young men. And as brothers navigate through these chapters of their life, they may realize that they have been unknowingly relying on each other’s presence to form an opinion of themselves. Unfortunately, by the time they are old enough to realize that their brother has played this crucial role in their life, the complexity of adulthood no longer affords them access to each other. At this point they are left with merely nostalgia, thinking to themselves, “I have a brother. I am glad I have a brother.” and remembering fondly even fights that they had been in.
But good brothers never allow life to become too complex. They may be separated, but still stand side by side, each complimenting the other in aptitude and ability. They value each other for who they are and the effect they have on those around them. They continue to learn from the other’s life and wisdom they demonstrate. And in the end they will both bow before the throne of God giving thanks to God for giving him a brother.
I have a good brother. I love you Erin.
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