August 31, 2014

We have had 3 days without rain except a little sprinkle this morning. There was thunder and lightning tonight but probably rain later. Maybe the mud and water will start to dry out a little bit. The water table is almost to the top of the ground so water can't soak away very fast. The crops are looking good with millet and sorghum headed out and cotton and peanuts blooming. The rice is beginning to head out. The rice fields are flooded like the local people like them to be. It is nice and green everywhere and the temperature has been in the 70's F most of the time. There is still plenty of water over the "roads". The main transportation is motor bikes or oxcarts In the early mornings one can hear the cooing of the doves or the singing of the gonalek or the rooster crowing somewhere or the dogs barking.

Yesterday we had a ruptured appendix then had a c-section for face presentation of the baby that was her first baby. All are doing well. It was our first c-section in a month which is unusual. We have had a few prostatectomies for urinary retention. Pediatrics is slowing down a little but Medicine service is full right now. Three people with large epigastric masses. One patient with edema, proteinuria, hematuria and a heart murmur. Of course there is malaria, typhoid, and HIV. Not sure why Pediatric malaria seems to be slowing down now at end of August. It was that way last year also. Mason is doing a great job on Pediatrics. I do the rounds on surgery, maternity, and medicine. Kim (Mason's wife) is doing a great job with the malnourished kids. It takes a lot of money to keep the program going. DONATIONS FOR MALNOURISHED KIDS WOULD BE HELPFUL.

We are all healthy. No Ebola or cholera in our area that is known. Pray that we remain healthy. Pray for Jamie Parker that had recent back surgery that he can have a rapid recovery and can get back to Bere for the maintainance and construction work that is so desperately needed.
Our emails are drbland@sbcglobal.net and dfbland01@gmail.com

Love, Rollin and Dolores