things i'll miss and things i won't

things i'll miss:

• the Nigerien children
• the greetings every day, all day (see post)
• the level of acuity/degree of illness (see "things i won't miss" for the other side of this)
• feeling like i'm really meeting a need, engaged in a real battle every day
• wednesday morning gathering for cinnamon buns and coffee
• making yogurt in a jar on the kitchen counter
• the community of missionaries here
• working with others to share the hope of Jesus Christ being the focus of our task
• the quietness and slowness of life (outside the hospital)
• the lack of paperwork (compared to my work in the US)
• the break from 1-3pm each day
• the pastors who preach the Gospel and pray with patients every day

things i won't miss:

• the smells as one walks to and into the hospital
• the flies in the one part of the hallway just outside of B Ward
• the limitations of the hospital (nursing care, staffing, resources)
• the weight of death every day
• malnutrition
• fighting against deep-rooted beliefs and superstitions and lack of education
• the heat
• the bugs - though i've been a victor over a lot of insect life this month
• the lack of value on life
• the scarcity of green vegetables
• call every 3rd night :)
• checking my shoes (and shower and clothes and bed) for intruders every time in put them on
• being far away from loved ones. i'm looking forward to coming home.