Patients arrive early, sometimes even coming the previous evening and sleeping on the ground! Most come by small motorcycles ("motos").
The outpatient clinic was named in honor of Dr. David Clutts, an early surgeon here. He trained in Grand Rapids a few years before us and is now in Illinois. Another surgeon who served here for many years is Dr. Bob Cropsey, who is from Ann Arbor.
This is the scene at 7 AM in the waiting room - already packed!! While they are waiting, one of the hospital chaplains shares the Gospel with them.
Everyone who works on the base, from the guesthouse ladies to the pharmacy staff to the PAs and docs all have name tags - we were happy to see that the Medical Director, our old friend Dr. Michael Gayle, labelled us as "Dr. Susie and Dr. Dave" !!
Pastor Komla Gaglo is an amazing man!! When the hospital was being built 35 years ago, he was a mason who practiced animism/spirit worship. He became a Christian, was identified as being very bright and was taught by Dr. Cropsey to function as a PA - completely by "on the job" training! He later became a pastor at one of the local churches. Gaglo is very wise and thoughtful - on our first trip here in 2007, Dave spent some time with him to "learn the ropes".
Susie has spent some time in the clinic working with Kodjo, one of the new PAs. She loves to teach and this has been a good experience for her.
Dave has enjoyed working with his translator, FoFo. He is very proficient in English, French, and the tribal language Ewe. He enjoys sharing the Gospel with patients while I am writing my clinic visit notes.
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