First Week at Kudjip – Finding Our Feet

Tuesday marked the real beginning of work here at Kudjip Hospital. After settling in over the weekend, it was time to step back into the rhythm of hospital life.

At 7:30, Ric headed off to the maintenance devotions, while I joined Christina on the medical ward for rounds. It didn’t take long to be reminded of the realities of medicine here. The ward was full, and as is so often the case, many patients were very unwell.

We saw several cases of typhoid—patients often present late, and many had altered levels of consciousness. It’s hard to see how advanced illness can become before people are able to seek care. This week, there were also a couple of patients who had suffered heart attacks. The limitations in treatment options here are stark, and at times it feels like we can offer so little compared to what we’re used to.

I later started in clinic, only to realize—somewhat dishearteningly—that I had completely forgotten how to use the computer system! A humbling start, but a good reminder that it doesn’t take long to get out of practice. Thankfully, it slowly came back.

Clinic itself has been full of challenging cases. Many patients arrive late in the course of their illness, and almost every day I have seen someone presenting with cancer at an advanced stage. And yet, despite this, the people are incredibly gracious. There is a deep sense of gratitude for even the simplest care.

There are also harder realities to process. Many of the women here endure significant hardship. It’s not uncommon for men to have multiple wives, leaving women to carry the responsibility of raising children, often in very difficult circumstances. And yet, their resilience is remarkable. Their faith is deep and genuine, and there is a quiet strength in the way they trust God through it all.

One case that has stayed with me was a sweet nine-year-old boy who had been experiencing abdominal pain for six months. He had been treated locally with anti-parasite medications and antibiotics, but without improvement. With help from a local doctor I scanned him, and we found an abnormal mass in his abdomen—very concerning for cancer. It’s heartbreaking to think how long he had been unwell without answers.

Malnutrition is another constant challenge. Many babies are cared for by grandparents or extended family, and they often struggle to thrive. Walking into a ward filled with malnourished children is deeply moving.

The missionary doctors here are extraordinary. Their compassion, knowledge, and perseverance in the face of limited resources is inspiring. They carry a heavy load, yet do so with such grace.

On Wednesday, I was on call overnight, with Daniel as backup. We admitted a patient with typhoid who had altered consciousness. We performed a lumbar puncture—thankfully negative for TB and meningitis, making typhoid the likely cause. We also drained a large abscess from a woman’s back.

It was this same patient, despite how unwell she had been, who later gave me a bilong—a beautifully crocheted bag. Such generosity in the midst of so little was deeply moving.

I wasn’t called in overnight, which was a small mercy. Although usually you have the day off after being on call, I decided to head back to clinic on Thursday.

It turned out to be another full and varied day—a possible cancer of the chin which had eroded into the jaw ( present for a year with repeated aspirations), a failure-to-thrive baby, a fractured arm, and just as I was leaving, a student needing a medical.

Life here isn’t just about the hospital, though. There’s a lovely rhythm to the week—pickleball on Monday and Tuesday nights, and prayer meeting on Thursday evenings. There is always something happening, always community, always connection.

While my week was centred in the hospital, Ric spent much of his time working with the maintenance team. He was happy to reconnect with Falau and the rest of the team, which made it especially meaningful.
He worked alongside Jenny installing wiring for security doors in the administration building, changed many light bulbs around the station, and even got up early one morning to replace a breaker while the generator was off. It’s been wonderful to see how his skills can be used in such practical and important ways here.

As the week comes to a close, I’m reminded again of both the challenges and the privilege of being here. The needs are great, but so is the faith. In the midst of suffering, there is hope—and it is humbling to witness.

“_{^{The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.” – Psalm 34:18}}