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23 June 2002
Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Dearest Friends and Loved Ones,
We're back! After a 32-hour flight through Dallas and London,
and a four-night stay in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh
(dealing with jet-lag and running errands), we're back "home"
in Rajshahi. In many ways it's like a time warp returning here:
the open garbage/sewage, the rough roads, the crude housing—in
other ways it's just plain overwhelming: beggars sleeping on the
side of the road, the stench, and the noise. But, we're here,
and everyone seems to be glad we are. Sheba and her two kids (our
goats), Heather, Knightly and Snowball (our rabbits), and Ginger
(our cat) were all here to greet us as well.
Upon our arrival, the toilet wouldn't flush, the phone was out
of order, and there was no water for the one meager hot water
tank we have connected to our shower head. With all of the rain,
ants are moving inside with their eggs in tow, so I've had to
gently shew a few swarms away—from our bed and kitchen cabinets.
The other things have all gradually been tended to as well (a
rat had chewed through the phone line in our back yard).
We've already been out to a friend's home for rice and curry—a
feast actually—complete with jackfruit (a slimy loculated
yellow fruit) and mishtis (dense sweets), we've also attended
some meetings and have joined in on hospital rounds. I start seeing
patients in the clinic tomorrow morning.
I have one special patient already named Silva Star. At 6 years
of age he weighs only 23 pounds. He has been sick for 9 months
with visceral leshmanias, a disease common among the tribal poor
here. Les has a special patient on the female ward named Morium
who has Graves disease (hyperthyroidism).
It's hot now—low 100s most days—90 degrees inside when
we go to bed. We live lined with a film of sweat. Ev reckons it
must be good for our skin—like a perpetual sauna. A few days
I've had to take a brief afternoon nap to regain enough energy
to make it through the rest of the day. The electricity was out
for 3 hours on Friday—that's when one really feels the heat.
Last night was the first night I haven't needed a table fan beside
the bed in addition to the ceiling fan (our requisite mosquito
net cuts half of the breeze generated), because it rained all
night. In fact, it rained 22 hours straight!
Once again we are blessed to awaken to the live mural of a full
grown mango tree just outside our bedroom window, and at meal
times we get to eat mangoes to our heart's content! All from our
own yard! I delight in letting the juice drizzle down my arms
to the elbow.
We've had several visitors—the first came to extend an invitation
for our family to attend a wedding in a remote village, some come
to ask about treatment, others for financial assistance (a family
with two children whose dad is temporarily out of work and a widowed
mother arranging her fourth daughter's wedding), and an occasional
person/family just to visit. Les attended the all-day wedding
the day after our arrival (it was for the sister of one of his
special patients).
Stew got back into the swing of playing over in the field with
all of the neighborhood kids right away, but then got bold and
played "let's jump off of the top of the swing-set."
On his third jump he landed on his foot wrong and had to have
an X-ray and an orthopedic consult to assure it wasn't broken.
He's confined to crutches for the next three weeks though.
We've started a new family "chapter book" to read together
as a family at night. We found that essentially impossible to
do while in America. After we read, we sing a hymn together and
pray. It's great getting to re-live our family "tradition"
one last time before the children all head their separate ways
for schooling.
It rained all through church this morning which was a delight!
The windows were open and as we worshiped I could see the fields
and palm trees and feel the mist off of the rain. It felt right
to be in the midst of nature while praising God.
Les left yesterday for a week. Today he met with people at the
Church of Bangladesh head office and then he's off to conduct
a malaria workshop in the northern part of the country with leaders
from five different church communities. Last night the kiddies
and I played Clue together—we'll save the reading until he
returns.
This has been long, but I wanted to give you a "taste"
of what it's like to be back while the impressions are still fresh.
It was great having time with so many of you while we were in
the States. It was a pleasure meeting so many of you for the first
time and reuniting with family and friends. Thanks to all of you
for your interest in what we are trying to be about here. Your
prayers mean everything.
Gratefully,
Cindy and family
PC(USA) Mission Co-Workers in Bangladesh
E-mail addresses:
- Les: lymorgan@citechco.net
- Laura: lamorgan@centenary.edu
- Everett: Everett@librabd.net
- Stewart: Stewart@librabd.net
The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 152
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