Brian has been home from Ethiopia for just over a month now. About four days after he got home we left for California, where he will be working until May. Blogging about Ethiopia was put on the back burner as we packed up for our two month trip here and have tried our best to adjust and figure out a good routine here. Although we've been so busy and haven't yet blogged about his trip, his time in Ethiopia has been on the forefront of our hearts and minds.
Brian's time in Ethiopia was amazing and it did confirm for us that the Lord wants us there. His time at the hospital was eye opening and tugged at his heart. He enjoyed everyone he worked with, as well as all of the patients. Everyone was so friendly and kind. The spiritual environment is something he has longed for as a doctor. To have Christ in the center of everything that was done at the hospital was like finding an oasis in the desert. His job in the States can be incredibly spiritually dry, so to have the freedom to practice medicine the way he desires was amazing.
Below are pictures (LOTS of them!!) from his trip. Most of the ones he took were surgery pictures, but I have spared you those! The pictures below give a great idea of what it was like there. He cannot wait to go back. We are all anxious to go. In fact, we have officially applied for the
Samaritan's Purse World Medical Mission Post-Residency Program. We will be hearing back from them in the next few months as to whether or not we have been accepted. We have complete peace about God leading us to Ethiopia and how and when He will get us there. We are excited about the Post-Residency Program though and can't wait to hear back from them!
In about a year and a half the kids and I will be able to see all these places with Brian first hand. We can't wait!!
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| On the way through Addis Ababa from the airport, heading to Soddo. |
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| Scenery from Addis Ababa to Soddo. |
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| Taxis...called a "bajaj" |
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| A traditional Ethiopian home. |
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| A young girl driving a cart with fresh water. |
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| Getting closer to Soddo. It is very green there. |
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| More traditional homes. |
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| Front gate of the hospital. |
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| Entering the hospital gates. |
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| The hospital grounds on the way to his housing. |
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| Some of the housing for the Soddo missionaries and their families. |
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| Dr. and Mrs. Anderson. Dr. Anderson is Soddo's only Orthopaedic Surgeon. |
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| Lots of banana trees! |
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| Brian with some of the residents from the hospital in Addis Ababa, and another man visiting from Norway. |
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| The view from the missionary homes on the hospital grounds. |
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| Brian had a great time connecting with this little boy that he took care of! |
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| Feisty and fun! |
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| One of the hospital hallways. |
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| Patients waiting to be treated. |
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| Patient rooms. |
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| Missionary housing within the hospital gates. |
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| The playground shared by the missionary families. |
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| Playground |
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| View from the missionary homes. |
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| Wednesday morning Chapel attended by all hospital staff. |
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| Nurses posing for a picture with one of their patients. |
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| Thursday morning Bible Study with operating room and clinic staff. |
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| Brian with the operating room nurses and scrub techs. |
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| The ER waiting room. |
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| View from the hospital grounds. |
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| Brian's ride to the airport in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia's capital city. |
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| I Belong to JESUS! |
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| Brian's driver to Addis Ababa. |
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| Marketplace on the way to Addis Ababa. |
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| Herds of animals were all over the roadsides, and not uncommonly in the road. The vans just swerve around them and keep going! |
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| Horse or donkey cart taxis were a popular mode of transportation. |
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| Night lights in Addis Ababa. |
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| Brian operating with a headlight...he loved his time working in Soddo!! |
