Making "Rash" Decisions

The mission nurse and her husband finished their mission a few weeks ago.  There are no other mission nurses on the horizon.  I was elected to fulfill the role temporarily.

• No, I'm not a nurse
• No, I have no medical experience, other than as a patient- lots of experience there
• I am a mom, and sort of know when to bring in the experts
• This is not the run of the mill, take two pills and call me in the morning.

The first two weeks of my tenure we had:

• three cases of dengue fever, thus the picture of the mosquito below

• two missionaries hospitalized, thank goodness not life threatening, they are both better
• 4 cases of parasites
• multiple rashes
• body aches and pains normal for missionaries
• various run of the mill ailments

Basically my job is to receive calls from the missionaries, give them basic information on OTC treatments for colds, etc. They also need permission to go to the doctor's.  I am the one who screens this.  As you can see, the first week was a bit overwhelming.  Sometimes the missionaries themselves are the cause.  I talked with lots of missionaries about drinking enough water.  Most weren't drinking enough.

One thing I have noticed is that I truly feel the spirit guiding me.  There are some calls I agonize over what to do, but I go with what the spirit is guiding me to do.  I can hear similar symptoms and some I'm inspired to send to the doctor's and others I give OTC recommendations.  It has been a truly humbling experience to work with these young missionaries and to comfort them or encourage them.  Sometimes I think they just need a "mom" to tell them it will be okay.  Most of the rashes are heat related and easily treated.

I was also impressed with the medical care our missionaries received at the hospital.  They were very thorough.  I was glad I was able to see it up close and personal.

The first week, I had missionaries call and when I followed up they hadn't done anything.  When we met with the new missionaries arriving, we had an orientation.  I told them that I was also a busy missionary and if they weren't going to follow my advise, not to call.  They got a kick out of that.

I have also been touched by the care the missionaries have for each other.  A companion will call me, worried about their companion.  A district leader will call for the sisters in his care.  One elder, when bringing his companion into the hospital said, he'd carry him if he needed to.  When I got there, I smiled when I saw that his companion was probably twice his size.  "He ain't Heavy, He's my brother" came to mind.