Settling In

After 2.5 months, we are finally settling in to life here at MBH (Mbingo Baptist Hospital). Work, although challenging, is more familiar, and we are becoming more comfortable with patient management. The hiking and the views have also greatly improved now that the rains have come. Sorry for the lack of posts, we've been a little busy with work, and Lindsay and Cathen have been fighting colds (I have somehow managed to stay well), so here are a few pictures to catch you up from Easter Sunday to this weekend.

Lindsay and Cathen: Easter Sunday. We are in our front yard, and Mbingo Hill is in the background. There was actually a sunrise service that took place halfway up Mbingo Hill, but the trek up began at 4:30am, and we weren't sure Cathen was up for such an endeavor. Hopefully next year we'll be able to join in the celebration. 

JR & Cathen: Easter Sunday. Mbingo Hill in the background.

The back waterfall. This is about a 90 minute hike back behind our home. There are at least 6 other waterfalls that are visible nearby, but this one is the most fun to hike to. If feeling adventurous, you can actually scramble down the embankment and wade/swim up underneath the waterfall. It is pretty awesome, but not for the faint of heart!

Lindsay and Cathen at the back waterfall. The fall is in actually in front of them from this viewpoint. 

View of MBH from on top of Mbingo Hill

Panoramic view of the back side of the valley from the top of Mbingo Hill. The hospital is about another 90 degrees to the right. The new blog photograph at the top of the page is the panoramic view from the front side of Mbingo Hill. Chuck and I hiked up this morning, leaving around 6am to try and catch the sun as it broke through the clouds. The photos might have been a little better an hour or so later, but I had to scramble back down the mountain to make it to ward rounds! 

View from the top of Mbingo Hill, looking east into the sunlight. The sunbeams are just breaking through the morning fog. 

Another photo from the top of Mbingo Hill. The mountains just ahead in the center of the backdrop are located near the entrance to the back waterfall (shown a few pictures up). Our home lies about 300 feet below the eucalyptus forest on the far right of the photo. The landscape is breathtaking, and the rains have turned this into a tropical paradise.  

On a more serious note, please pray for wisdom in caring for our patients. We have had a number of perplexing cases these past few weeks, and would appreciate your support. Thank you!