Wednesday may 18th

Good day with more challenges.

The days begin here at a little after 5 when the rooster that lives behind our bedroom window starts his morning crow. This is no subtle rooster. So, might as well get up. This morning Warren and I when on a 5 mile run, the weather and views were great . We ran along a dirt road going out of town (all the roads are dirt) past fields with cattle and goats and even some tobacco fields. They grow tobacco in small fields then dry it in square brick silo like buildings. It looks like they build fire in ovens underneath or base of them. The weather is in the 70s and 80s and so far hasn't rained even though it's rainy season.

The people are very gracious and quick to welcome us. They joke that they don't get many visitors to "the Congo". The devotions include a lot of old hymns but they are in the local language Lingala. They have hymnals we can follow in easily, though like at home, I think they would just as soon me stay quiet.

Today, Warren and I removed the huge tumor on the 2 year old. Greg and the young local anesthetist gave great sleepy medicine as usual. This was important as we had to do a fore quarter amputation of his left arm and shoulder. The next case was significantly harder, working in an abdomen that had been visited several times and had things draining into things it shouldn't.

All for today, love you all

Mark and Mary