Our Remote Team Member
Did you know that you can serve on an African mission team without even leaving your home state? Well, you can!
A few years ago, we met Scott Putnam. Scott and his wife Natalie had felt called to adopt, and were in Ethiopia as part of that process. Scott's background is in IT. But not just any kind of IT. Specifically, health care IT. He is the CEO of Apex Technology Management - a company that among other things, does IT for rural hospitals in California. So, while he was here, he was praying for a way to use his skills to advance the Gospel in Ethiopia. And that's when we met.
At the time, the hospital had just gotten a broadband internet connection. We were looking to start building out a hospital network. Something that would allow us to use digital x-ray and CT, perhaps an electronic medical record, and use web-based resources like UpToDate at the bedside. Scott and Natalie came to Soddo, and we walked around the campus all week planning out the network. After he returned home, he arranged for donations of switches, servers, and software. All the stuff we needed to get started.
Most people would have stopped there. But Scott didn't.
See, the thing is, with all this stuff, our hospital has moved into the 21st century. But it takes someone to run it all and troubleshoot it from time to time. We have surgeons, doctors, lab techs, nurses, and all that. But one thing we don't have is a Systems Administrator. You know, the computer geek who fixes your computer or your network when it's not working right!
Well, we have that in Scott. Even though he lives in Redding, California, he has committed himself and his company to providing support to us. And I don't mean that he just tells us to reboot the server once and a while. No, this guy literally spends ten to twenty hours a week working on our network to keep it running smooth so we can take care of patients. He is as much a part of our team as any of the doctors here, and we so appreciate him. (Mind you, he does this on top of being a husband, father to six kids, CEO, and other volunteer work he's involved in!)
The paradigm of global missions is changing in this new, "flat" world. And Scott Putnam is the perfect example of that. A marketplace missionary to Ethiopia from his home in California. Using his unique skills to advance the kingdom of God and the Gospel in this corner of the world. We thank God for him.
Servers and Soddo
Take a look at these photos:
These are not things that you might be used to seeing in a mission hospital. But the reality is that all hospitals, even mission hospitals, are getting on the technology bandwagon. We have a CT scanner that improves our diagnostics - allowing us to make more accurate diagnoses and provide better care. We have a server room and a network that extends throughout the hospital campus. That allows us to access internet and current treatment recommendations. It gives us the ability to look at digital x-rays and CT images throughout the hospital. And one day, it will allow for an electronic medical record to keep track of our patients.
The mission hospital of the 21st century is not what you thought! We've got a lot of technology, and we've got to keep it all running. If you are a network administrator, computer programmer, IT specialist - or if you know any - come and help us out! We'd love to have you for a short term visit, or longer. Contact us if you're interested.
12 Things for Non-Doctors to do at SCH
Okay, so we're not gonna ask you to jackhammer (unless you really want to). But one question we do get a lot is: "I'm not a doctor. Could I still be of any use at the hospital?" So here are 12 things that you could do at the hospital if you are not, say, medically inclined...
1. Plumbers & electricians: We need all sorts of skilled labor done around the hospital. We have septic systems, generators, and a myriad of other equipment that need tending to.
2. Leadership development: Are you a manager or have experience coaching leaders? Come and help us train our senior staff at the hospital.
3. Teachers: You can teach English at our hospital language school. We also have about 15 missionary kids (MK's) here in addition to our residents' kids, and they would love a Vacation Bible School or some type of sports camp. That means you too, coaches.
4. Organizers: Are you organized? We have loads of equipment and materials that need to be inventoried/cataloged. Come and get your type-A personality fix here!
5. Office computer skills: Are you good with Excel? Want to host a workshop for our financial people? What about Word or other clerical software? We have a large administrative staff that you could train.
6. Any IT/Networking People out there? We recently began a network at the hospital, and are running a server and handful of workstations. What's next? Come help us figure it out, and figure out ways to run our network better.
7. Prayer partners. Would you want to pray with some of our patients? Maybe hold a child's hand before they go into surgery?
8. Babysitters: Our missionaries need a break every once and a while. Perhaps you could watch their kids, so they can go out for dinner.
9. Artists: Want to come and paint some cool murals on our hospital walls? Or how about do some art with the patients or the MK's? Give us your ideas, and let's do it.
10. Chefs/restauranteurs/amateur cooks: We cook everything here from scratch, so it's a lot of work! How about you come and help teach us and our staff how to prepare simple meals from scratch from our locally available ingredients? Or just cook for us, and give us a break with your delicious home-cooked meals!
11. Pastors/church leaders - Come and work with our chaplains and train/work alongside them!
12. Anything you want to do! - This place is ground-up work, and there are all kinds of tasks to do. How has God gifted you? Just ask us, and let's figure out a way to use those gifts here!
Where is Soddo Anyway?
We get asked this question a lot, so we thought we'd show you. Here is a map of Ethiopia:
As you can see, the capital city Addis Ababa is located smack in the middle of the country. If you visit Soddo, this is where you will fly into, usually from Europe, or maybe Washington, D.C. From the southwest edge of Addis, you head south on the Jimma Road, and right outside of Addis, turn left down the highway that takes you to Soddo. Here's the route:
From Addis, it's about a 330 km, or about 205 miles to Soddo. You pass through 2 major towns, Butajira at around 100km (you're about one-third of the way there) and Hosanna at around 200km (now you're on the home stretch). The journey takes about 5 hours. Often folks will stop for lunch or coffee - we recommend the Rediet Hotel in Butajira. Along the way, expect to see some beautiful rolling countryside, farmland, and Ethiopia chika bets, or mud houses.
The big towns, like Hosanna and Butajira, are full of retail stores, restaurants, and hotels. When in the towns you will see 3-wheeled motorized tuk-tuks that are referred to as a "Bajaj" after the Indian company that makes them. Here's a couple photos:
And, of course, expect to see plenty of donkeys, donkey-carts, and pedestrians occupying the road as you travel. In fact, many more people on the road in Ethiopia are on foot than in cars!
