NRT in Astana and Kokshetau - 3 August 2008

When we left you last week, we had just finished the NRT in Kostanai. After our flight on Wednesday back to Astana, we went sight seeing.Here we are on the Government Mall. Dr. Dennis Hughes, Dr. George Bennett, Dr. Mark Underwood and Dr. Aliya. In front: Mira, Nancy Hughes, Marcia Bennett, Svetlana, Anne and Roy. Dr. Zirina is taking the picture.

On Thursday we started training at the Perinatal Hospital here in Astana. They had about 55 doctors, nurses and midwives attending. They only promised to have about 40 there so we were delighted at the attendance.

Dr. Mark Underwood demonstrating what to do when a baby is born and not breathing. Aizhan is our translator we hired here in Astana to help with the training. We enjoyed having her with us and she really enjoyed the experience.

Dr. Zirina from Almaty demonstrating the resuscitation of a baby to the doctors and nurses.

This is Mira and Dr. Dennis Hughes at the table helping the doctors and nurses practice the ventilating procedure in saving babies. (Actually Mira is fanning Dr. Hughes while she is translating.) It was so incredibly hot and humid and they had no air conditioning in the hospital!!The local doctors are listening intently to Dr. Bennett's instructions. They were extremely appreciative of the knowledge and skills they were gaining.

There were no officials and administrators at the training, but the doctors themselves were so grateful for the instruction they had received that they presented everyone with bouquets of flowers.

As grateful as they were for the knowledge they had received, the doctors and nurses were even more grateful for the training mannequins and delivery room equipment that they received from the Church.

Since their were no officials present at the closing ceremony, many of the doctors personally took the time to address the group and thank us. This is Dr. Galina, a doctor at the Tsleningrad Hospital here in Astana, who told the group that if she had had this knowledge 43 years ago, she would have been able to save more babies. Svetlana is translating for her.

After the training was over in Astana, we said goodbye to Dr. Mark Underwood and Dr. Dennis and Nancy Hughes, who would be flying back to the States the next morning. We then boarded a van to take us to Kokshetau for a one day training on Saturday. It was a four hour ride and we were able to relax and enjoy each others company. Dr. Zirina, Dr. Aliya, Mira, Anne and Dr. Bennett.

Bright and early on Saturday morning, we started the training. We were told we would have 30 participants and ended up with nearly 60!! Dr. Zirina knew one of the doctors there that had been trained in Almaty on the resuscitation procedure and she helped at one of the practice tables. (She is the lady in pink.)

This woman is the doctor in charge of all prenatal training in the Oblast (state). She had heard so much good about the training that she was there to make sure all of her doctors, nurses and midwives were present. She was presented with a picture from Dr. Bennett and was delighted to receive it!! Svetlana did the translating.This is one of the doctors receiving delivery room and training mannequins to take back to her hospital. They have to all promise that they will train everyone who works in the delivery room.Look at the expression of joy on this young doctor's face!! Besides the intubating mannequin, he got a large bag of ambu bags for the delivery room. He also got the biggest applause! Dr. Zirina and Roy are looking on. We had a wonderful day of training and found the people just as receptive and warm as in the other cities!!

After the training, we relaxed and went to eat at a restaurant where we met a young Canadian who was working for a company building grain bins in Kazakhstan. After visiting with him for an hour and telling him why we were there and what we were doing he exclaimed," I can't wait to email my wife and tell her that I met a bunch of Mormons in Kazakhstan!!" We all laughed!!

It was hard saying goodbye to our two Kazakh doctors, Zirina and Aliya. They are such wonderful young women who are dedicated to their profession of neonatalogy and make so very little. The average doctor here makes about $400 a month. We are amazed at how they even survive. We will miss them but we will never forget them.

On the Monday after the NRT, we met with Dr. Tamara, our local champion, and the Bennetts and Svetlana and have plans to submit to the Area Presidency to do at least two more years of NRT courses. We hope we are still here for the one next year. It has been a wonderful and spiritual experience. The Lord's tender mercies have really manifested themselves in many ways throughout this entire experience. Our testimonies have certainly grown and we are grateful for the Lord's direction in inspiring this wonderful program and to the wonderful members of the Church who contribute to the humanitarian funds.

Love,

Elder and Sister Welling