Students for International Mission Service (SIMS)

Outlook 2001

Ethiopia

Amy Mullen
School of Medicine sophomore

Diary entries from the journal of Amy Mullen

Jul. 24… Last night the stars were awesome! Would’ve slept outside if it weren’t for the hyenas. Heidi was up twice in the night, chasing the rats away from our food. I can hear them right now—squealing as they run across the roof…. We saw all sorts of patients—some very sick babies with pneumonia who should’ve been hospitalized but the family couldn’t afford it.

Jul. 25… What a day! We saw 49 patients with scabies, TB, leprosy, fungal infections, and of course tons of hookworms, escaris, etc. After we had seen all the patients, Heidi and I went for a walk. The clouds were amazing—all different colors and shapes.

Jul. 26… Woke up at 3:00 am with a clatter—the rats had somehow gotten on the table and knocked a pot off. We were wide awake, so we lit the lantern and read a while. When 7:30 a.m. came around, we did not want to get up, but there was already a line of patients forming outside the clinic and there was no one else to see them.

The first patient Heidi and I saw was a lady who thought she had been pregnant for two years! Tomoru, the health assistant, explained that he often sees women who have reached menopause with this same complaint. Basic medical information is so lacking. We were asked to examine her and reassure her that she was not pregnant and that the pain was only a urinary tract infection that we could treat
.
After a supper of beans and kale, Heidi and I had some of the young people over and taught them how to play UNO. The language barrier made it even more entertaining; we laughed until our stomachs were sore. Then we sat down on the front porch with our new friends and sang and played the guitar as the stars came out.

Jul. 27… Last night after falling asleep, I woke to a tap on my door. It was a messenger sent from the hospital to call me for a surgery. I was up and dressed and in the hospital in less than ten minutes…

Aug. 7… Tried a new kind of fruit called “trango.” It’s as big as a papaya and similar in shape, but it’s green when ripe. Inside it has a hollow center with seeds. The fruit has a faint citrus flavor and is a bit crunchy like an apple, but not juicy at all. I’ve seen jackfruit around but haven’t had a chance to try it yet. They say it’s an acquired taste….

Aug. 8… It’s interesting to see the qualities they value…. Here, the people they admire are ones who have a way of cooperating with everyone and are able to connect with the people. There is more focus on teamwork and cooperation…. They do a [great] job of supporting each other emotionally too.

Aug. 15… Finished War and Peace tonight. I told Dr. Walters to send for me if there were any surgeries in the night so I could assist Dr. Ursoles and he could sleep for once. Guess I’d better get some sleep now just in case.

Aug. 16… What a good day! Not that all days aren’t good, but today was even better than most. Got up by Heidi prodding me…it was only 6:45 a.m.! But she was awake and I should be too. We took off for a walk to the river and through a jungle part. It was awesome with the mist rising slowly off the hills. We decided that Ethiopia was definitely the best place we could’ve picked.

Got back in time to wash off the mud and head up to the hospital. Saw patients till the doctors finished doing rounds, then worked with Dr. Walters again.

[Outlook 2001]

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