Wednesday
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| Dr. Jeff Kornelsen teaching on pregnancy. |
We felt the students needed a bit of encouragement today so
Dr. Bjorn Nilson and I let them have it with both barrels. First I opened with
an encouraging bible verse and Bjorn followed with a cute puppy video. If that
does not lift your spirits I don’t know what will. The verse I opened with was
Hebrews 10:23-25 and reads “Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess,
for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one
another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as
some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another- and all the
more as you see the Day approaching.” Bjorn had a cute video of his dog Riley
playing with their new puppy. We
added in a little motivational speech to encourage them to lift each other up,
work together, enjoy the experience, and approach the day as children coming
before Jesus. The students seemed a little down to us and that is to be
expected after 3 weeks or more away from their homes. We reminded them that
this is a life changing experience for them and for many people they will help
because of this knowledge.
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| Women during a break out session |
Fittingly, the subject for today was maternity care and childbirth.
In general this is a happy subject. However, the students knew of 5 women who
died from childbirth in the last year! One of the students told us about a
woman who was having difficulty delivering so they correctly decided to
transport her to the hospital. The journey took 4 days on foot! Miraculously
they made it to the hospital and surgery was performed saving the mother. Sadly
the baby did not make it.
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| Dr. Jeff Kornelsen teaching |
There were a lot of great questions and discussion for this important
subject. Dr. Jeff Kornelsen was able to bring a baby and pelvic model to show
how a baby is delivered. The model added to Dr. Kornelsen's lecture by providing
the students an opportunity to do hands-on activity.
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| Student working with birthing model |
This subject reminded many of the instructors and staff of
Dushin, a student from our last graduating class. Dushin was from a very remote
mountain village. We received word about 2 years after her graduation that she
died in childbirth. With the nearest hospital over a week away on foot, and Dushin
being the only trained medical worker in that area, there was no help for her when there was
a problem. The thought of this still makes us emotional but illustrates the
very real importance of this subject.
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Dushin with Rick on graduation day 2012
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Until tomorrow,
Rick
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