Malgorzata from Poland

Today at supper we have officially thanked Dr Malgorzata from Warsaw, in Poland.

She has a very difficult polish name for me to remember: that is why in Chaaria she has been called Margaret from the first day of her presence with us.

She will go back to Poland on Thursday evening, but we have celebrated the fare well today because tomorrow I have a class to attend in Meru.

Margaret has come to Chaaria the same day I have come back from Italy.

Actually we met at the airport of Nairobi and we travelled to Chaaria together, reaching the mission when it was already night.

I have immediately liked the smile of Margaret and her open mind. She has been very friendly to me from the first moment we met. Even with the other staff members she has been extremely nice, and I am sure many people will miss her very much.

Margaret has been hard working all through her one-month-experience with us: she has worked in the general ward, dividing herself between the male and the female rooms. Often she has cooperated in the management of the outpatients.

From time to time she has been with us in the operating theater, helping for caesarean sections or for other operations.

I cannot forget the fact that Margaret has even prepared a lecture for a thursday class.

What I have greatly appreciated is the fact that she has been very cooperative: she always agreed to work where the need was greater.

When there were no surgeons, she was happy to be in theater with us; when the surgeons were many, she has been happy to remain in the ward, taking care of the very sick patients. I strongly appreciate the fact that she has always come to help me for the evening ward round after supper.

Today at dinner she was saying that "she had come to give, but she has received much more than what she has actually given": this is a common experience for the volunteers, because the poor really give us a lot in their sufferings. 

Nevertheless I want to stress the fact that Margaret has come to Chaaria with an attitude of serving, and that is wonderful indeed.

Personally I will miss her very much: I have appreciated her job, her professionality, her skills; honesly I have also liked her simplicity of heart, and her humility.

I hope to have been able to show her my high esteem and my friendship.

"Safe journey to Poland, dear Margaret. Best wishes for your specialization as ENT surgeon.

I hope to meet you again in Chaaria when you are a specialist... or even before, if God wants.

Maybe, if it is in the plans of God, we will meet in Warsaw too.

Keep in touch, and thanks a lot from the bottom of my heart".

Bro Beppe