A funny thing happened on the way to your room...

As it gets closer to my departure date, I am being "filled in" with all kinds of information.  As I get the information I plan to post it here on the blog, more for my own journaling about this adventure than anything.

So, read at your own risk :)

Today I received a phone call from a woman who has spent the last few months in Burundi teaching at the same place I will be going.  She had a lot of useful information to share in only a few short minutes...
Although I have been told that the students are to know English to be in the nursing program, I was informed today, that usually by the time they finish the program they know some English, and that is because their instructors often speak English and that is how they learn.  

So, I will be teaching my students in English, and they will understand little to none of it.   It was suggested to find a student in the room that speaks some English and have them translate for me as I lecture.   She said, it is very hard to keep control of the classroom, because even if you raise your voice, they don't have a clue what you are saying, so it doesn't matter much.   At this point in the conversation the image of the teacher from Charlie Brown pops in my head, where all the students hear from the teacher is "mmmwaaah mmmwaaah mmmwaaah".   Well of course it is hard to keep control of the class like this.   I guess the first thing on my list to do before I go is learn how to ask them to be quiet in French!

When I asked her what I should plan on teaching, she said, "med-surg".   When I pressed for more specific information to this, she said, well "just teach them what you know and you are comfortable with, even if they have had it before, they won't know."  Ha!  Okay then, this is going to be fun :)  But, really we do not realize how blessed we are here in the U.S. to have universities that have curriculum's and standards and course objectives, textbooks, etc.  These students are left to the mercy of who ever happens to volunteer to teach them. 

This instructor shared with me a few things to expect about the students....she said that they have little to no manual dexterity skills, and just taking a blood pressure or weighing a baby is a huge task for them.  She attributes this to the fact that they have never had any toys or anything to play with to work on these types of skills with their hands.  When I think about teaching my beginning students here in the U.S.  they too struggle with taking blood pressures in the beginning, but once you show them one time how to put the blood pressure cuff on, and how to inflate the cuff and where to hold the stethoscope, they pretty much get it, and the rest of the learning curve is learning how to listen for the correct sounds, and what that means for the patient.  For these African students, just learning how to put the cuff on takes many many tries, because it is such a difficult skill for them.  Makes me think how difficult it must be for them to learn to start an IV.

There is a group of masters students at the university that I will be asked to help with their research and thesis projects as well.  This is not something I have done in the U.S. as an educator and was a little concerned about taking on this task....until I heard what the thesis projects were.   One is about hand washing before caring for pediatric patients (not just patients in general, but just pediatric patients!  Yikes, that makes me think they probably do not see a need for washing your hands prior to caring for adult patients), and one is on the effects of giving pain medications after surgery.   Wow....such a different world I will living in for 2 months!

A brand new hospital just opened across the street from the university.  This is where I will doing part of my teaching.  Apparently when they built the hospital they forgot to put any electricity in the neonatal area, but they put up beautiful long and expensive golden curtains on every window.   They built the operating room on the first floor, but all the patient rooms are on the second floor, and their are only stairs.  *insert screeching halt sound here* Yikes, I can not imagine transporting a patient after surgery -- up stairs to get to their room!  This sounds dangerous for both the patients and the people that are carrying the patients.  I can't even imagine the injuries and complications that can come from this little excursion after surgery...hence the title of this blog...a funny thing happened on the way to your room!   Maybe I can suggest this as a research project to one of the masters students...

I was feeling overwhelmed before this conversation, thinking, "I don't know if I am going to know enough or be able to teach them anything valuable."  But now I am seeing that there are so many things they need help with and need to be educated on, this is surely going to be a grand adventure!  It is probably a job big enough for a whole team of nurse educators!

Preparing....

It seems like for so long I have been saying, "I am going to Africa next summer," but as I am looking at my calendar, I am realizing that I will be leaving in 2 1/2 months.  I am so excited, yet admittedly nervous too.   As I am making preparations to go, I am getting a lot of questions about what I will be doing, and how I feel about it etc.  I have learned already, that when working with the people in Africa, I need to be flexible and not get too set into any one idea.

Originally I had been asked to go teach students at the Kibuye hospital in the rural area of Kibuye.   Recently those plans have changed, and now they are planning on having me teach on the main campus in the capital city of Bujumbura.  Just last month a new clinic was opened, that is across from the University campus.   The plan right now, is that I will be teaching a group of 20 students in the clinic in the mornings, and then teaching a lecture class in the afternoons to 60 students!  Towards the end of my 8 weeks in Burundi, I will then plan to go to the rural area clinic/hospital and work with the nurses there.  As the nurses there are all recent graduates of the program, and could use some help as well.  Although this is different than I had originally been planning on, this new plan will allow me to have contact with so many students.  I am excited to be able to share with them some knowledge so they can go back to their homes and villages and start impacting the health of those around them.   How exciting, and I couldn't be doing that without all of the support from all of you!!

Yikes!  This is a big load!  The availability of supplies and resources will be limited, so I will need to prepare my lecture notes and handouts ahead of time and take enough copies for all of my 60 students.  I also need to bring my own chalk and pens and paper, etc. Pretty sure I will forget something :)

But, I am ready.  I might not be packed and have all the items I need, but I am ready to go, I am ready to serve and ready to do the best I can with what I have and be open to what God has in store for me and for the Burundian nursing students.  I am certain I will learn just as much from them as I am able to share with them.   I recently heard a new song by the Sidewalk Prophets that speaks to how I feel about my trip coming up...it really hit home.  Especially this part.... "I want to live like that,  And give it all I have, So that everything I say and do, Points to You"

It is called:  Live like that (click on the link below to listen to the video)

Sidewalk Prophets: Live like that

Sometimes I think
What will people say of me
When I'm only just a memory
When I'm home where my soul belongs

Was I love
When no one else would show up
Was I Jesus to the least of those
Was my worship more than just a song

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Am I proof
That You are who you say You are
That grace can really change a heart
Do I live like Your love is true

People pass
And even if they don't know my name
Is there evidence that I've been changed
When they see me, do they see You

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that


I want to show the world the love You gave for me
I'm longing for the world to know the glory of the King

I want to live like that
And give it all I have
So that everything I say and do
Points to You

If love is who I am
Then this is where I'll stand
Recklessly abandoned
Never holding back

I want to live like that
I want to live like that

Thank you!!

I want to thank everyone who has helped support my trip to Burundi so far....my two fundraisers were a huge success, and I could not have done this without all of you!  (Check out the money thermometer on the side bar).  Thank you for partnering with me to help make a difference in Burundi!

Ipad winner

Thank you everyone for all your support in buying raffle tickets to support my trip.  The winner was drawn this week, and Marci Williams of Jefferson City, Montana was the lucky winner!

I PAD 2 raffle tickets

My mom is selling raffle tickets for an IPAD 2 to help me raise money for the trip.  
Tickets are $20 each, and she is only selling 350 tickets, so the odds are pretty good.
Give me a call or email me if you want a ticket or two :)

mikeljonelle@gmail.com  or 509-570-4121

Fundraiser February 4th!!!

Join me for my silent auction fundraiser to help raise money for my trip.   Check out the details below:
When:  Feb 4th 6pm-8pm
Where:  Market Place Wine Bar
             32 West 2nd Avenue
             Spokane WA


Details:
No Host Wine Bar
Music by Nicole Lewis
Desserts and light snacks provided

Check out the great silent auction items:
Items include a variety of art work and handcrafted items from the Northwest and Africa, 
and a variety of themed baskets.

I hope you can join me for a fun evening!  Invite your friends!!

Silent Auction Donation Items Received!!

Thank you so much everyone that has already offered donations for the silent auction. Here is a running list of what I have so far:

Crocheted blanket -- JoAnn Huebsch
Embroidered dish towels --- JoAnn Huebsch
artwork --- John and Marcia Allen
Beads from Bead for life
4 piano or voice lessons from Nicole Lewis Piano and Voice Studio --- Nicole Lewis
bronze of mtn sheep on Wildhorse Island --Helen and Ed
Cora Bloom painting framed in an old window---Helen and Ed
wood carving for your auction  -- Helen and Ed
Several art pieces -- Tom Leonard
Feed me with words Masai tribe framed art piece -- Ed and Carolyn Holmes
Rwandan Sculpture -- Ed and Carolyn Holmes
Anuak tribe grain basket from Africa -- Ed and Carolyn Holmes
Pottery wine chiller and Wine--  Calista
Homemade purses -- Pat Wood
Handmade scarf --
Baby blanket
Dog themed basket
Man themed basket
Kid themed basket
Coffee basket
Wine basket
Diaper cake
Cooking basket