December 24th

This morning I did rounds in the men’s ward with Solomon, I really enjoy doing
it and if I would trade in an instant to work in the hospital rather than teach.
I can do the teaching, but I don’t like it and do not plan on making it a
career. However medical missions could be an interesting. It’s way early to
speculate that but I think I could be happy doing it. I don’t know about doing
medicine in the US because from what I’ve heard from Tom, Karen, and other
visiting doctors being a medical professional in the US is just way more
difficult than necessary, and mostly because of the patients and the things that
they had/have to deal with. After lunch I was going to visit the orphanage to
see Alusine but I ran into him downtown. He had to go back to the orphanage so I
went with him and we retrieved his bike and brought it back to Kamakwie to get
repairs done on it. They really use things here until they can’t possibly be
used again, his tire tube had at least five patches on it. After getting it done
Alusine left to go play in a soccer match at some village and I returned home
and rested for a while. I haven’t been feeling very well lately. My stomach has
been really irritated and the heat didn’t help any. We had walked to and from
the orphanage during the hottest part of the day. It was definitely over 100
degrees in the sun, I’ve never ever been that hot before. This evening I watched
a movie called Faith Like Potatoes with Tom and Karen, it’s a pretty good movie.
After that I went down and visited Solomon for a little while before coming home
and going to bed. Alusine called me at 4 am to apologize for not coming to visit
this evening after the soccer match. I told him it was ok, I hadn’t expected
he’d make it that far after a soccer game anyway. Good night!

Blessings from Kamakwie,
Ryan Brooks