Hello again my friends,

The rainy season has come, meaning it literally rains for upwards of two hours (and sometimes all throughout the night) every day! Everything is very green, things take forever to dry (and often smell moldy when they do- ick) and we are enjoying the increased variety of vegetables again. 

I have become slightly more african in my habits- for example, when the temperature falls below 28 degrees celcius I automatically put on a sweater. I also have taken to heating water on the stove to bathe like the locals do- I believe this is what we call becoming climatized! Unfortunately I think the coming winter in Canada is going to be a bit of a shock. 

Other things- yam pilé- have I talked about this? It is the Beninois dish- made from yams pounded in wooden pots using long wooden poles ...and your entire body weight (often they will each take a pole and two or three will take turns and pound rapidly in succession), adding water until it becomes dense and dough-like. Then they serve it with sauce- peanut, sesame, vegetable, tomato.The first time I ate it I found it so heavy and tasteless I never ever wanted to eat it again, but now it is definitely my favourite dish. I know it will be difficult to find in Canada, which is a definite downer.

At the hospital right now the nurses’ aide students are finishing their training, which means part of my job has a teaching element- things like NG tube and foley insertion, proper technique when changing dressings, and other various skills. My mother and two sisters work in teaching, and I have always said I wasn’t gifted in that area- but I have realized through this time that I actually have a great passion for teaching, especially in practical skills! The exciting thing is that at an evangelical hospital I am able not only to impart my nursing knowledge, but also my spiritual convictions to these students at the same time. 

Prayer requests- pray for pediatrie, very overcrowded and chaotic. With the rains come the mosquitos, and so malaria season is upon us. Pray that the staff will get the rest they need and will not become discouraged by the many deaths and heavy workload.
Please continue to pray for more Christian staff to come and work at the hospital. Please pray that the existing staff would be growing and strong spiritually and living exemplary lives, that the message of the gospel would be seen as the most important piece in the care of these patients and not just the medical care.

Thank you and God bless you.
With love, Charity