Weeks 12, 13, 14, 15, 16
After the decision was made to bulldoze the existing hospital in Koh Thom, Dan has spent hours, days, weeks working with a designer helping to identify needed areas and floor plans for this new hospital. With his 30 years as a surgeon they recognize that his knowledge is invaluable to this process, although there has been a bit of a turf war between two designers. Unfortunately, some of them can't see beyond what they are used to and therefore create designs that aren't much of an improvement, only newer. We will not be here to see the project to its conclusion as it is anticipated to take up to 2 years to complete.
Along with the new hospital project comes the question of where patients will go for their hospital care during construction. Again, Dan has spent countless hours, along with our two translators visiting the existing 12 health centers, mapping out distances between them, distances to the existing hospitals, timing and services currently offered by each. In another meeting with His Excellency Sun Chantal along with many government leaders, health center and hospital directors and Elder Meurs via Zoom, Dan presented another powerpoint presentation showing his findings. His recommendation is to identify two health centers that would be most convenient to the population affected, renovate them and arrange for x-ray, labs, basic equipment and needed structural repairs. Urgent needs will be required to go to the hospital in Phnom Penh.
We currently have several projects that we've submitted for approval: Kho Thom health centers, Takeo hospital equipment (emergency Covid project), Pea Reang hospital renovations and grounds, Bati Hospital equipment and Chaktamuk Hospital equipment.
Dr. Ron and Kiem Anderson finally arrived with the Yans arriving three days later--different quarantine hotels. We were able to take treats to them a couple of times and also jog past their hotels in the mornings and wave. After two weeks of quarantine, Andersens went with the Lewises to Kampong Cham where they will be living, and Yans came to our building. The Andersons will be mentored by the Lewises who will be leaving for Mongolia on September 2.
On our first visit to the section of Takeo Hospital which has been set up for Covid patients, we were greeted by several stacks of coffins--just to instill confidence that one would be getting the best care upon being admitted to the Covid hospital. Several weeks later the boys and we went to the back for a final visit to assess their Covid supply needs during a big rainstorm. Dan expressed interest in touring the ward with one of the doctors who was a bit reticent in allowing him entrance to that restricted area. Nevertheless, Dan prevailed and donned his hospital attire while his attending doctor put on his hazmat suit and together they went. I was smart enough to wait in the car. Dan reported that there was absolutely zero equipment in their ICU, an operating room with one small portable light, a definite lack of decent bathroom facilities, overflow patients (about 10 patients plus their attending family menber(s)) outside with an awning shielding them from the rain and with one bathroom for all .
I have been asked to teach piano lessons to the mission president's two sons, 12 and 10 years old. Peter is catching on quite fast in spite of the lack of piano books but the younger one has quite an attention disorder. However, he continues to come and I go at a rate that he can handle. Last week Peter was plunking out a tune that he'd been listening to on YouTube so I went home, found it, simplified it and transcribed it for him on my new music notation program. Now I will do the same with some Primary songs and even a few of his favorite hymns. It's exciting to see how fast he's progressing.
I was asked by the Mission President to direct a missionary choir singing 'Heark All Ye Nations' to join with other mission choirs throughout our Asia Area as a group presentation for the upcoming Mission Presidents' Conference. It was fun to do and a first for many of these Cambodian missionaries singing in four parts. A week later he asked me to get a choir together to sing 'High On the Mountain Top' for the groundbreaking ceremony for the Cambodian Temple. I spent the next week making an arrangement of that hymn, recording parts and transcribing it on the new program mentioned above. It will be filmed prior to the ceremony as there can be no more than 15 in attendance due to Covid restrictions. I'm anxious to see and hear the final product!
I've been helping Sister Jensen with her music classes that she has developed. We meet in the empty room across the hall from us each weekend. There are about a dozen members who come as well as half a dozen on Mondays at the mission home teaching rhythm to missionaries. It's a very elementary approach to learning music for those who've never been exposed to any type of a musical experience.
We were given the grim news a week or so ago that the money in the 2021 budget has been will be insufficient to cover all our planned projects this year, let alone any new ones, with our projects not even gotten off the ground. A small portion of the budget was earmarked for some of our projects but we have been awaiting approval while the powers that be decided the fate of the overall budget. This was disheartening to us and to the Andersons as we haven't had the go ahead to actually begin putting any skin in the game. However, today, August 26, we received word that money has been appropriated for ALL of our projects and we can begin our actual work on the projects in limbo. Happy day!
The SELLERS are amazing!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your work and experiences.
Bless you and protect you both.
Gary & Loretta Nielson
Tell the Yan’s hello from the Edgar’s! So fun to be together again with old Hong Kong friends.
ReplyDeleteGrateful to Heavenly Father who sends both of you there to show His love and care. Will continue to pray for your health and strength
ReplyDeleteGuarde le foi, mon amis
ReplyDelete