Our tour of the hospital continued on that Sunday afternoon we visited. We saw the various projects teams were helping with- including improving the nurse and staff housing. There are always many projects needing to be done at Maua Methodist Hospital and it’s amazing to see how the gifts of visitors or locals are put to work.

Both Tim and I were fascinated to visit the hospital kitchen. There, we met Peter and Jonathan- two of the cooks.

Cooking for such a hospital is hard work. Peter showed us how every grain of rice is inspected before being cooked. The rice they receive is local and fresh from the rice patties. Although farmers inspect the rice to take out the pebbles or other foreign objects, it must be sorted grain by grain again before being cooked and served.

Tim and I were blown away by this process. It makes absolute sense, but we were amazed by the precision, patience, and time it takes to prepare a normally “simple” aspect to a meal.

The rice is kept in the storage room with vegetables (potatoes and carrots, fruits (bananas and tomatoes), flour, and maize.

Ugali is a common meal in the hospital, Peter explained. It is a porridge made of maize.

There are a dozen or so potable water spickets on site at the hospital. These can be used as drinking water. Otherwise, water from cisterns or wells are used for bathing, washing, or are boiled and used as drinking water. Dad and Sue do not have potable water in their home so we washed dishes and let them air dry. Apparently, if dishes air dry, it kills potentially harmful bacteria. There was a potable water spicket outside their home in a common area that we could use.

Both Peter and Jonathan said they enjoy working at the hospital. They enjoy the people and the rewarding work. But imagine, cooking like this for 350 patients, plus staff or other visitors. What incredibly difficult work. Peter and Jonathan will forever have my respect.

We visited a mural that the 2014 Oregon-Idaho UM Conference Team had painted outside one of the buildings. It was beautiful and colorful.

Touring the hospital was an amazing experience. They have created so many resources in the Maua area. People come from miles around to see a doctor or get treatment. I can’t imagine life in Maua without the hospital. They serve those who come. And yes, it may take people months to pay off their debt, but they eventually do or they leave through the GBGM Service Fund support.

Doctors at the hospital have done heart surgery, laser eye surgeries, burn and wound care, organize mobile clinics or other outreach support. They help mothers give new life (in fact, one night we were there, it was announced that there were five births in the hospital overnight) and when possible, they help people peacefully pass away.

In fact, all of the projects we did while in Maua were a part of the Outreach programs at the hospital.

The hospital represents to me an example of hope and healing in the midst of poverty and despair. The people who work at the hospital work hard for the community they love.

The hospital stands because of the community, not the other way around. A phrase Sue taught me fits the hospital and staff well: “I Am Because We Are”.

How to Give: http://www.umcmission.org/Give-to-Mission/Search-for-Projects/Projects/09613A