Nearing the End!

Nearing the end of WHAT? In September 2007 I proctored an entrance exam for the Bongolo Nursing School. This photo was taken during the first two weeks of orientation for the new class which started in January 2008. I was helping to teach practical techniques, like using a wheelchair.

Tomorrow I will start teaching the students' last class before graduation. It will be a 2 1/2 week intensive course in Ethics and Nursing Management.  The first week in May the students will take comprehensive exams over all their courses from the 29 month schooling. Then Graduation is scheduled for May 9th.

The class of 2008-2010 is nearing the end of their formal schooling! Then the cycle will repeat itself with Entrance exams scheduled for June 12th.

Today's Positives:
1. I've had a nice two weeks free from teaching.
2. Classes start again tomorrow.
3. I went shopping today and bought groceries for the week.

BUG SPRAY before Church?

Do you apply insect repellent before going to church? I do! I live and work as a nurse in Gabon, Africa. Gabon is on the West coast of Africa, right on the equator. I've been working here since 1977.

Over these last 33 years I have attended various churches/chapels, most of which are in small villages. Rather than attend the large church near the hospital, I drive to help out in a small chapel. Since January I have been attending and helping out in Nzoundou, a village just a 15 minute drive from my house.

Before going out the door I spray my legs and arms with insect repellent so I don't get bit while in church. I do not wear repellent on other days but somehow, there are more insects in these little villages. We have what is called a "no see-um" Yes, called that because they can't usually be seen! Very little gnat type insects that leave "red dots" all over the skin. They can be itchy but I have been here for so many years that they do not cause me to itch, even though I still get red dots over my skin. I mostly do not want to get bit by a malaria carrying fly!

Above see me greeting people as they leave the church.

Today's Positives:
1. We had a good attendance in chapel this morning, 34 people.
2. I have a crock pot and it is full of chicken, potatoes and carrots which I will serve to visitors coming for Sunday dinner at 1pm! (I just heard the plane overhead so they arrived from the capital city ok)
3. "American Idol" is on satellite TV later this afternoon and evening. We are behind in the actual showing of the program in the States so don't anyone ask me about it nor tell me what is happening! :-)

P.S. In case you are interested, we do NOT have Daylight savings time here on the Equator. Year round we have light for 12 hours of the day and darkness for the other 12 hours of the day. It only varies by about 30 minutes.

Have a great Sunday!

Cookie Party!

A couple of weeks ago Joanna Thelander invited all of us ladies over along with a number of African ladies for a Cookie baking party! Many types of cookies were made and lots of chatting done. It was a good way to form friendships. Joanna loves to party and we like to be invited! Everyone went home with a platter of cookies.

New Edition!

Yes, the Bongolo Hospital Nursing School has a new edition. I used some "Work Of" monies to special order a nice, large bookshelf for the school office. We had had one cupboard which would  not, could not hold all of our teachers' medical library. How much fun I had organizing our library in this nice "huge" sturdy bookshelf. Thanks to all who have sent me money for my ministry.

Teaching CPR!

I teach in a Bongolo Nursing School. This quarter I have been teaching Traumatology (Emergency Room). Included in this course is the technique of doing Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. The school has a teaching mannequin that the students named "Madame Claude". Each student had his/her turn at doing CPR on Madame Claude.

Feeling the Heat!

In Gabon Africa where I live the hottest months of the year are March and April. February is also a hot month, working up to March. We've really been feeling the heat more these past few days, literally.

This link has an interesting chart that explains how Temperature + Humidity feels.
www.usatoday.com/weather/wheat3.htm

Right now, at 5am, it is 80 degrees F with 80% humidity. According the the chart in the above link it "feels like" 86 degrees rather than 80 degrees. Yesterday when I was walked outside it was 85 degrees. I did not look at the humidity but suppose that it was the same, 80%. That would make the 85 degrees "FEEL" like 97 degrees!

March and April will BE and FEEL hotter!

Last evening I walked for 45 minutes while standing directly under my ceiling fan. That helped get me through my steps for the day! I also was thirsty and drank more plain water as I walked!

Today's Positives:
1. I have been keeping up drinking my 8 glasses of water a day.
2. I have ceiling fans in several rooms in my home.
3. I will increase my steps to 10,000 today!