PT Anual Conference

A week ago today, I finally arrived in Mbingo after my 2 weeks stint in Mutegene and Douala. I had about 4 or 5 days and then half of the PT staff traveled to Banso to have our anual PT conference. The meeting only lasted 2 days, but it was good to see people and catch up together. We announced that we will be starting to develop PT centers in Bamenda (Nkwen) and Kumba. Our new students that will graduate this August will be put to good use.
I also taught on chest PT and how to perform a neurological evaluation on a patient. Above is a picture of all who attended this year's conference.

Catching up...

With vacation and traveling to different places every 3 or 4 days, I've been pretty bad about keeping up with all the events going on in Cameroon. When I came back from vacation, I decided to stay in the Douala area and do 2 supervisory visits to Mutegene and Mboppit Baptist hosptial that have PT staff there. These PTs have many patients with very little space to treat them in. We would see all of the patients together and go over treatments, evaluation tests, and go over back evaluation/exercises.
One of the things I did in Douala besides work at Mboppi was do a 4 day seminar to a physical therapy class at one of the universities. I was pretty nervous beforehand because I had no idea what to expect, Douala is in the French speaking part and I had no idea if they would even understand me, and communication was not the best beforehand and I didn't know where I was staying or how the program would go. Needless to say, God was with me the whole time and it went so much better than how I thought it would go. I did morning classes with just the PT students and focused on rehabilitation for children, especially children with Cerebral Palsy. I also did evening classes that were open to everyone that focused on basic things like transfers, bed sores, and what PT exactly is. The picture above is of the PT students at the university and me during a break in lecture.

A 'Thank you' shout of to the Oak Hills VBS kids

Last July the Oak Hills VBS kids raised money for bandages and braces for the physical therapy department in the Cameroon Baptist Convention. When my mom went to purchase the items needed, the guy at Lewis gave her a huge discount-many of the items were purchased at 70% off or more! I couldn't believe it when I came to South Dakota for vacation and found 3 or 4 big boxes full of bandages and braces! When I went back to Cameroon, I tried to stuff as many as the weight allowance would hold into my luggage. I told the Cameroonian staff that I wanted to take of picture of them enjoying the braces to which they decided they should put as many on themselves and have me take a picture :) It reminds me of the story when Jesus fed the 5,000 people with 5 loaves and 2 fish. We are all soooo grateful for these braces and bandages- there were many things we were running low on and patients were in great need of them. THANK YOU!!!!!

A month back 'home'

Being the first to 'hold' my neice.


Visiting Oregon...


I decided to take my month of vacation in November since my students at Mbingo will not be starting the physical therapy curriculum until January. Wanting to see family and loved ones, I was really super excited. Knowing how hard it was to enter the States from my last visit to Cameroon, I was dreading it. Last time, I came back and was swept up with how different and lonely it felt being in our American individualistic culture. I remember being frustrated and annoyed that some people didnt understand or that they maintained their subtle (maybe even unknown to themselves) prejudice that their culture is superior to that of 'savage' Africa. Hence, I overly prepared myself for my re-entry back to the States. But this time-it was different.
This time it was so much easier. Maybe it was because I knew I was coming back to Cameroon in 4 weeks or maybe it was because I didn't have time to settle completely back in my own culture. I prepared myself on what to say when people asked that open ended question 'how is Africa?' because believe it or not-that's such an overwhelming question. It's like explaining to the Cameroonians what your whole life involves being in the States-explaining the type of food you eat, how you make it, where you buy it, the cost of it, and that's just explaining one tiny tiny aspect of your life.
This time, I was able to 'see' parts of Africa in the States and parts of the States in Cameroon. My two homes have blended together for me and I don't know how to describe it since they are so different. It's funny how making homemade pancakes and mango sauce in the States made me feel like I am back in Cameroon. Or how now, being in community with my family and friends feels more like being in a community in Cameroon. And now, being back in Cameroon-how driving the flat highways to visit Mutegene hospital felt like being in the States because the road was straight and flat and there were electrical lines alongside it.
Each time I cross the Atlantic, I feel myself putting a my Cameroonian or American 'hat' on and it seems easier each time it comes.

Trying that something new on my own

Today I actually made fufu and njama njama (country chop) on my own! My cook bought me a nice 'sifter' for my corn flour, and went to the market for the njama njama leaves (Pigeon English for huckleberry leaves). The people in Kom village LOVE fufu and njama njama. They eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. They like to try my 'white man' cookies, but a whole 'white man' meal is not appetizing to them at all. Hence, in order to have my friends visit and enjoy a meal I knew I had to be able to make Cameroonian country chop.
My first tasters was my friend, Frieda, and her mother, Ma, who is sick in the hospital with TB. Both of Frieda's brothers work in the PT department so I've gotten to know their family pretty well.
Frieda came over to my house after work to find me finishing off my meal and we headed to the hospital. I was worried that Ma would not like it. She poked my fufu and started talking in her native dialect saying 'my white daughter knows how to make fufu!' I am so proud of myself!!

Learning Something New

One of my favorite things about being in Banso was that the PT staff was so excited to learn but also teach me. One of my colleagues took me out on the town to visit the fon's palace (the chief of the area). I also spent a night with the Timothy the head PT's, family in which his wife taught me how to make their country chop- fufu and jamajama.

Banso

View of Banso with Banso Baptist Hospital in the front

Teaching on how to evaluate a patient with low back pain to the PT staff in Banso

Doing a home visit

For the past 3 weeks I have been at Banso Baptist Hospital working with the PT staff. It has been really nice having a bit of a break from Mbingo and do something a little different and new. There have been so many opportunities to use my PT skills in different ways here in Banso. I went on some visits my first week to surrounding people with disabilities in the Banso area. There are volunteers to each area that are trained to identify children or older people with disabilities and the PT staff make frequent visits and suggest exercises, positioning and provide encouragement and support to the families. The above picture is of a 7 year old boy with cerebral palsy. A month ago, this boy was not able to move around and the PT staff gave him a walker. Now he is independently walking around his compound-it's amazing in how much he has improved in his functional mobility since he's been given the walker.
Most mornings, I have been giving lectures and labs on evaluating and treating patients with low back pain. The PT staff here in Banso are so receptive and eager to learn new information. Two of my 4 students that just graduated have been posted here, so its been fun to see them working as PT assistants and teaching the other staff what they have learned.
At the end of this week, I will be heading back to Mbingo to start developing the curriculum for the next batch of students starting this October. We have interviewed and accepted 10 bright, energetic, new students just out of school. I'm really looking forward to getting to know this next batch of students.

Graduation!

Here are some pics of my students graduation in Banso. The ceremony lasted only 3-4 hours and ended in celebration of fufu and jamajama. I have said this time and time again, but I really am so proud of them. They have learned so much in the last few months and it has been amazing to see them grow and use the skills they have learned in the classroom and apply it to patients. I am proud to see them go to their different posts in the Cameroon Baptist Convention, but am still missing them. A new batch of 10 students will be starting for a one year PT course this October and I am really looking forward to getting to know them and see how this class blossoms.

Graduation is near...

In two weeks my students are graduating. I can't believe my time with them is coming to a close. This past month has been filled with practical exams, written exams and presentations. I don't know who was more nervous when handing out the written exams, them or me. I wanted them to pass so badly and to understand the material. I was so proud grading their papers and seeing that they had all passed! I remember wondering if I was going to have any teaching affect when I started. Its been such a blessing to watch them learn and grow. To see them use tests and measures with patients to draw a correct assessment is amazing and so very rewarding.
So in honor of all the students passing my exams, I had them over for dinner the other night. I had their country chop (fufu and njamajama) and made sphaghetti so they could try 'white man chop'. Needless to say, the country chop was gone and I had a lot of spaghetti for leftovers. It was such a great evening of relaxing and enjoying each other's company before they graduate and are scattered throughout the Cameroon Baptist Convention hospitals.

VBS Take #4

Hello Oak Hills VBS kids! I hope that you have all had a great week of getting to know each other and getting to know more about Jesus. One of the coolest things about being a missionary oversease is I get to see how people from all different cultures and backgrounds worship the same amazing God. The Cameroonian people love the drums, singing and dancing and that is how they praise God. Each Sunday for church we sing songs with the African drums and dance while we're singing. When I come back to church in the States, it seems so quiet and still without those drums and all the people dancing while singing to God.
Here are some pictures of 3 different people. The first two people are in the hospital because they just had their legs amputated. They stay in the hospital for a few weeks after their surgery so that there won't be any infection from the surgery. It is so important for these patients to have ACE wraps right after surgery. This is because there is a lot of swelling in the legs after surgery and the ACE wraps decrease the swelling and help keep a good shape of that amputated limb. If there wasn't an ACE wrap on their leg, their limb will swell and then they will not be able to fit any prosthetic leg on. The last man had his leg amputated 2 years ago. Can you tell which leg is the prosthetic one? It's the right leg! He still uses his ACE wraps when he doesn't have his prosthetic leg on, but he can walk all over his village and in the market now because of his prosthetic leg!
One of the main languages here in Cameroon is called Pigeon English because they use mostly English words but the order of them is different. When you say good bye to someone that you won't see in a while, you say 'walka fine'. This means to walk good and strong in terms of health, life, and most importantly-God. As this is the last VBS post for the week, I wanted to send you off with saying 'walka fine' to you all. There are some times being over here when I miss my family, friends and Oak Hills family. However, knowing that you are praying and thinking of me really encourages me and lifts me up. Thank you all!!

VBS Take #3

Hello again Oak Hills VBS kids! Hope you are all having a great day. In Cameroon, there are only 2 seasons-rainy season and dry season. Right now it is rainy season so almost everyday it starts to rain in the afternoon. I went hiking in the mountains yesterday and it started raining so much that my pants had mud up to my shins. I have to bring an umbrella everywhere I go just in case it starts to rain.
This is a picture of a little boy named Joel. He is over 2 years old. When he was a baby, something happened in his head that blocked the flow of fluid in his brain. It's called hydrocephalus. That's why his head is so big. All that extra fluid in his head affected the way he sees, hears, thinks, talks and moves. His muscles are really tight, especially in his arms. If your arms are tight, you can't do things like reach for food, feed yourself or even use your hands to get up. So we made a splint for both of his arms to stretch his muscles out. We melted some material to shape it perfectly to his arm and then we used wraps to hold the brace on. If we didn't have someone deliver the supplies to make this splint, his arms would stay tight. We are so thankful to people like you who are willing to donate money for the supplies so that kids like Joel will have a better life.

VBS Take #2

Hello Oak Hills VBS kids! I hope you are all having fun and learning a lot! I am always learning something new here. Today I learned how to make ice cream because there are no stores here to buy ice cream.
This is a picture of a boy who got an infection in his leg and had to have it amputated. He is doing really well and is staying at the hospital for a few weeks for physical therapy to learn how to walk with a prosthetic leg. In this picture, he just got done walking with physical therapy and took his prosthetic leg off so he could rest. Whenever he takes his prosthetic leg off, he puts on an ACE bandage. If he doesn't put on his ACE wrap, his leg could get swollen and then his prosthetic leg wouldn't fit. If his prosthetic leg doesn't fit, he can't walk. That's why it is so important that he puts his ACE wrap on everyday. Isn't it cool how such a little thing like an ACE wrap can change this boy's life so he can walk?

VBS post #1

Hi to everyone but especially the kids at Oak Hills VBS that is starting next week! The Oak Hills VBS team has decided that the offerings from the kids are going to go towards the Mbingo physical therapy department! We are always in high need of bandages, splints and other materials. For every $3, an ACE wrap will be purchased and used to help somebody who really needs it here in Africa. This is so great because we see many patients in the hospital who need these ACE wraps in order to get better faster.
In the States, people who need a bandage or splint can just go to the store or get it in the mail. But here in Cameroon, there are no stores that people can go to to get bandages. All of our bandages have to come from Europe or North America which is very expensive and hard to get for us.
For this post I wanted to show you what the hospital looks like. There are about 150 hospital beds here at Mbingo for patients who are sick. The physical therapy department helps these patients get stronger and walk again.
There are 10 physical therapy staff here at Mbingo including my 4 students. My job is to teach the Cameroonian people how to do physical therapy. The Cameroonian people are so friendly and great to work with. If you don't great everyone you walk past in the morning, they think you are being rude. The Cameroonians love to sing and dance and they have even tried to teach me how to dance a little bit. We are so excited that the Oak Hills VBS kids are learning about our hospital and are willing to donate and make a difference in someone's life who needs healing!

I'm a Proud Teacher

With trying to cram as much information about neurology and orthopedics into my students heads this last month, I have often wondered how much they are actually retaining. This week after lecture, we have been going to see some patients all together to evaluate and treat. It was my 'ta-daa!' moment of the week. They were evaluating a patient with a stroke and coming up with how the patient had Brocca's aphasia, visual neglect and all these other things that I had taught them in lecture and from doing labs. They were remembering AND putting it to practice! I have about a month and a half with them before they take tests and graduate in August with their physical therapy assistant certificate. I'm becoming a proud teacher!

Taking one stride at a time...

Making fufu corn at a African wedding

Lade Oku

Getting stuck in the mud on our way to Banso

'To realize it takes all sorts to make a world, one must have seen a certain number of the sorts with one's own eyes. There is all the difference in the world between believing academically, with the intellect, and believing personally, with the whole living self'
-Aldous Huxley

It's been a little over 3 weeks since I've been in Cameroon. I'm really glad that I had the time and energy to blog about my experiences entering Cameroon when I was here in 2009 because things have been so busy for me this time. I have settled in my house and getting the last touch-ups accomplished. I have started organizing and teaching the current physical therapy students. Last week, I went on a short trip to Banso (about 3 hours away from Mbingo) to meet with the head of P.T. there and further plan what my goals are for these next two years. The roads aren't the best, but from what I understand they are ten times better than what they used to be. We only got stuck in the mud once in a place where there were a few men to push us out of the ditch.
Some days are better than others, but most days have been very positive. The physical therapy staff have welcomed me back with open arms and big smiles with laughter which makes the days go by fast. One of my friends got married a couple weeks ago and I got to participate in a traditional Kom Cameroonian wedding. It started at 8 PM and I left at 1 AM and it was only just beginning. The elderly women had me help make fufu (their main food dish) in this little smokey hut for all the people celebrating the wedding and I got to African dance with them. It feels weird stepping into this world that seems to 'fit' when I have just left a completely different world that also seems to 'fit'. I suppose it will always just be a reminder that the only place I will ever completely be fulfilled is my Father's kingdom.

Learning to Walk Again

As a physical therapist, I see a lot of patients in the hospital who have undergone a knee replacement, had a stroke or have simply been too sick to get out of bed and have become weak. What do they all have in common? They all have to learn how to walk again. It's such an odd thing to think about because walking is something that for most of us comes so naturally and we do it without having to think through every minute process. However once you start thinking about all the biomechanics of simply taking a step, you start to understand the difficulties people have who have had some part of their biomechanics altered.
That is the best way I can describe my initial week back in Cameroon. I drove up to Mbingo thinking that I wouldn't have an initial culture shock because I've been here before. I've already learned to walk here before. Yet, I forgot all those intricate biomechanics of 'walking'. I forgot the smells, the feel of the air, the way the mud feels between my toes when I walk anywhere in sandals on the crooked roads. While stepping out of the car and bringing my luggage out to my house it all hit me at once. Most patients think that walking again will be easy because they've done it all their lives and once they take that first step after surgery with too much confidence, they stumble or fall back-and that's what I did. I stumbled, this overwhelming feeling of forgetting so many things about a place that I called home was over powerfully confusing.
But I am learning now to take baby steps and I am learning how to walk African style once again. My house is unpacked. I have gone shopping and have basic food to start cooking. I have gone to the hospital and started organizing my focus of ministry in teaching and started treating patients. I have been welcomed by the missionary community and welcomed back by my Cameroonian family. It will take time, but I am starting to walk again.

Goodbyes...

"To dare is to lose one's footing momentarily. Not to dare is to lose oneself.”
-Soren Kierkegaard

"I will cling to that old rugged cross"
-George Bennard

These last few months of waiting have been such a jumble. In the midst of waiting for VISA to go through, both of my grandpas passed away. I remember sitting in church on Easter with everyone celebrating Christ's resurrection and the gift that came because of that, but what I felt was still the hurt, pain and death of it all. Yet there is hope and joy because I know both of my grandfathers are with Christ in their heavenly homes. Through the pain, we have clung to that old rugged cross. It is the only thing that brings comfort and hope.
Saying earthly goodbyes to my grandpas have definitely changed my goodbyes to people before leaving for the field. We've all been so preoccupied with my grandfathers' passing that me heading out to Cameroon didn't really 'hit' me until 4 days before I am leaving. All of these emotions hitting me at once: excitement, fear, scared, ready, not feeling ready. Can you tell I'm a mess of mixed emotions right now?

So here I am...bags are packed (had to sit on my luggage for it to zip), VISA is in hand, plane is booked for May 14th. Daring to take that step to the next chapter in my life. Clinging God's hand as he guides me through the step...

Waiting

'Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait on the Lord' Psalm 27:14

I had originally hoped to leave for Cameroon in February. With the delay in the U.S. on my paperwork I had hoped for March. With the delay of paperwork in Cameroon I had hoped for mid April. Now I am hoping that the paperwork will get signed so I can leave by the end of April. I find myself figdety and anxious to get everything together so I can finally leave. Waiting. Did I mention that I hate waiting?
In the Old Testament, God tells the people 43 different times to 'wait. wait on the Lord.' The people of Israel had to wait 40 years before entering the promised land; why can't I have enough patience to wait a few more weeks?
I find myself continually identifying with the disciples in Luke 8:22-25. Jesus and the disciples are on a boat when Jesus falls asleep. As a storm comes the disciples panic, thinking they are going to drown and wake Jesus up. Jesus calms the storm and ask the disciples "Where is your faith?" So many times this past year things have not gone according to my plan to get to Cameroon. It feels like a big storm trying to overtake me and to me it seems like God is sleeping and not noticing what's going on. Every time I am reminded those words in Luke- 'Where is your faith?' because each time a door opens or a word of encouragement is given when I need it the most. Jesus is never sleeping on doing His work in me but I am still continually reminded to find comfort and rest in him.

What Sarah Said...

I was supposed to be in Africa last month. I hate waiting. I am impatient. I hate not being in control of what will come. I wanted the next chapter of my life to simply begin. But I now realize why; I had to go through another journey before leaving for Cameroon. God allowed me to be here for the passing away of my grandfather. And I am so blessed by that gift.

There's a song called 'What Sarah Said' by Deathcabforcutie and the chorus repeats 'Love is watching someone die; so whose going to watch you die?' As grandpa's status decreased, we made sure at least one of us was with him 24 hours a day. There was no doubt that my grandpa was loved and there was no doubt that he loved us as he kept repeating 'I love you, I love you, I love you...' In the end, it doesn't matter what you accomplish or do- it's who you love, and who loves you, and how that is encompassed in God's love.

2011!

'For still the vision awaits its appointed time, it hastens to the end- it will not lie. If it seems slow, wait for it; it will surely come; it will not delay'
-Habakkuk 2:3

Merry Christmas and Happy New Years! This Christmas was my first (of many) being away from my family. Even though I missed my family in South Dakota, I really enjoyed being with my new family in Oregon! I had my first tree cutting experience, snowshoeing in Crater Lake, and just some good relaxation/reflection.
I've been reflecting on this past year and the year to come. The past 2 years have been filled with traveling physical therapy job after traveling physical therapy job. I never knew where exactly God was calling me and I knew that's the way it was supposed to be...not knowing, but knowing that whatever happens, God provides. And He did. Last year, I knew from the beginning that God was leading me to a certain point-somewhere more permanent. I had an idea in mind (Colorado? Oregon? Africa?) but it wasn't until Spring that it was very apparent I was being called to Cameroon for a few years to continue Pat's ministry of teaching physical therapy to the Cameroonians. So as 2010 lead me to an actual destination. 2011 will be actually getting to my destination and 'setting' in one place for longer than 3 months. Today, I just sent in all my paperwork to start the VISA application process. Yay! So now, it's the waiting process. I hate waiting...but it seems like waiting is the virtue God like to teach me time and time again...maybe someday I will fully learn to be patient and simply to lay everything down at His feet. This is going to be an exciting year...