the one with a trip to the hospital

Trips to the hospital are not much fun here. It is kind of like when you have to go to the emergency room in  America, except much worse, and many more people.

We usually leave quite annoyed and extremely tired.

The worst is when people are smoking inside the hospital.
Last pregnancy, Soo had to spend 2 nights in the hospital. She stayed in a room with 7 other patients and their families (yes, i stayed the night too). Most of the other patients were having babies.
There was one public bathroom for that room and another. No one cleaned it. And toilet paper didn't flush.
The pile of bloody & poop-stained paper was taller than me.

Outside of the room with all the expecting mothers, the father were smoking. Some would try to hide in the stairwell, others didn't care at all. i came out and gave a glare and they would put out their cigarette.

Soo on the otherhand doesn't always receive that support.
Most people are pretty good about it when we're at restaurants or in a taxi - but somehow at the hospital, no one cares.


Anyway, it is mostly a waiting game...

·       we have to get there at least an hour 15 minutes before the doctor arrives to register… Everyone shows up at 1:15… some go at 12:30 to make sure they are first in line (though honestly I don’t know if being first is all it is cracked up to be). I think if you get there by 1 you’re ok.. if you get there at 1:15 you could be 1^st or you could be 12^th …

·      Once in line, we have to battle all the people who try to crowd you and cut in front of you… 

·      Then we wait again… then have to run all over the hospital and wait again…

·      Then after all the tests are done… we waited again…

·      People are walking around with open containers of urine

·      The place is crowded

·      And it FREEZING

Still, i am thankful

Today i am thankful for

1. foreign doctors who come to serve God by serving others

    for all our trouble, i can't imagine all the stress and difficulties they deal with

2. not only for qualified doctors, but doctors who speak english and are quite helpful

3. We know where to go now. A few years ago we never knew which hospital to go to. We never knew who to trust, now we know

4. God takes care of us. No matter what health we may be in, God is in control. And He has given us good health

5. After our trip, though frustrating, we know Soo is healthy and the baby looks good too

6. friends who help us by watching Halle so she doesn't have to go or Soo doesn't have to go by herself

7. Doctors & hospitals in general. God has equipped people & given wisdom so we can experience healthier lives.

i hope in the midst of frustration, we don't lose sight of God