Sofie, Ahni, and Mely Nattier holding the triplets.
Natasha Nattier holding the triplets.
Went to visit the Nok Grottos (Grottes de Nok). They are caves in the sides of the cliffs that are just South of Dapaong. The Moba would use these caves as protection from invasion from the Tchokossi.
View from the top of the cliffs.
Ladder down to the caves.
Mortar and pestle
Our guide explaining the history
The room where they made their poison arrows
Hello there!
Our adventure group for the day! Me, Dena, Sam, Lisa, Derek and Esther
With our guide. His name was difficult, I wasn't able to remember it :(.
with Esther, Dena and Sam
with Lisa
Divider inside the storage vessels. Three different compartments for three different grains.
Me, Esther and Lisa
L to R: Esther, Sam, Dena, me, Derek, Lisa
After leaving the caves we stopped at our guide's village for tchoukoutou. (They had their own local word for it, "calebassa" if memory serves correct) It's the local millet beer drunk from a calabash (gourd). This view was seen in every village we passed. Open air grass covered shelters with villagers gathered underneath, each with calabash in hand.
Quick pass through the Dapaong market.
Frequent site. Lady at her sewing machine hard at work. This is at the Dapaong market, but would see it outside various homes as well.
Evening view from the compound water tower.
Village of Kadjitieri
Front door of the church building, village of Kadjitieri
Service in French, translated to Anufo and Moba. (Pastor this morning is the principal of the Bon Berger (the Good Shepherd) which is the local christian elementary school which is yet another branch of the mission work being done in Mango, Togo.) The usual pastor is Henga who is one of the techs I work with in the OR and Eric is one of the aides I work with in the OR. Eric is from Kadjitieri and did the Moba translating.
Thought this little guy was the cutest ever. He was actually content for a short while, letting me hold him. Usually at this age, they are scared by white skin and immediately cry.
Even so, he did eventually cry, so I got a picture of him smiling with his mama instead.
Kids concert at the end of church.
Absolutely love their mischievous little grins.
Sunday sport on my last Sunday in Mango. African hockey.
My last elective scheduled case. Ventral hernia with loss of domain.
Continued construction on compound.
Our amazing OR team including surgeons, anesthetists, techs and aides.(a few missing faces) L to R: Luc, Kombieni, Daoud, Yacoub, Eric, Richard, Henga, Fildje, Sam, Emma, Ben, Dena, Sweni, David, Bryce, Esther, Yannick
Finally made it to the radio station for a tour. 93.1 Radio L'Esperance is a Christian radio station, another branch of the mission here in Mango, Togo. I arrived shortly before closing time. After work, the workers sit in the shade of a tree outside the station building and drink Atai tea. A strong herbal tea, the process of making it as important as the actual tea itself.
Forget his name :(. But in his retirement he is growing trees!
Sunset walk with the Drake family. Cows.
Baobab tree
Delivered yesterday via cesarean. Dena was surgeon. Still alive as of this morning.
Guesthouse ladies: L to R: Enyonam, Assana, Martine, Marguerite (not pictured, Catherine)
White coat and Feet washing ceremony for the PAACS residents. They scheduled it for last night, so I could attend before leaving.
I worked most with Sweni over the past 4 months. We became a pretty good team.
Hospital of Hope Surgeons: Josh Paulick (long-term), me (short-term), Dena (mid-term), Tom Jurich (short-term), Bryce Nattier (long term), Sweni & Yannick (residents)
Sweni & Yannick
Sweni, Moise (PAACS secretary), & Yannick
The OR team present for Sweni & Yannick L to R: Luc, Daoud, Dena, Moise, Kombieni, Eric, David, Ben, Abalo, Yacoub, Fildje, Emma, Sweni, Moussa, Sam, Yannick, Henga, Bryce, Josh, Amidou, Tom, Esther, me
If the French to anything well, it's ceremony. Must be documented! Josh & Beth Paulick, me, Sweni, Yannick, Bryce & Natasha Nattier, Dena & Sam Ferguson, Tom & Tina Jurich
Went into the hospital this morning to round on my patients and turn in my keys. Took a picture of the station before leaving.
Much Love.
