Yes, there really is such a place! If you drive about 850 km north of Toronto, you'll find it. But you can't get there by road...you'll have to take either the water taxi, the helicopter, or the skidoo (depending on the season) to get across the water from Moosonee to Moose Factory, which is an island on James Bay. Apparently (according to Wikipedia) it was the first English-speaking settlement in Ontario, and the 2nd Hudson's Bay Trading post. At that time, trading posts were known as factories. So there you go!
I'm leaving for Moose Factory on Monday and will be spending 3 weeks up there as "the" surgeon at Weeneebayko General Hospital - the most remote hospital in all of Ontario. They need a surgeon up there who can do C-sections, because otherwise all their pregnant women need to go hang out in Timmins from 36 weeks onwards, in case they need an emergency C-section. That gets pretty expensive for the hospital and the government. Most general surgeons graduating these days don't get trained in C-sections, and so can't work up there, but thankfully I did have an opportunity to learn how to do them in preparation for Nepal. So God has been preparing the way. There is one surgeon who spends 7-8 months a year up there in 6-8 week stints, and then he looks for people to cover for him for a few weeks while he takes a break. So that's what I'm doing. The opportunity came to my attention about 6 months ago, and it's all come together. I'm looking forward to being away. Sounds like it will be a good balance between surgical experience and also getting a bit of a break. I've been doing so much running around the last while that a break is sounding really good! There's not too much running around that can be done on a little island that isn't accessible by road, and on which I'm on call for the hospital 24-7. I'll be back on October 24, and then will have 10 days before I'm off to Nepal. Moving right along...
I'm now fully moved out of my apartment, and have disposed of most of my earthly possessions, though I've still managed to pack several boxes which will be stored in my parents' basement while I'm overseas. I'm so thankful that that job is done. Moving from one home to another locally is one thing, but when you have to go through everything you own and decide whether you're going to get rid of it (and if so, how), store it, or take it with you, it's a bit of a daunting task! For all of you who helped in the process...packing, moving heavy furniture and boxes, driving, cleaning, encouraging, taking "stuff" off my hands, praying...thank you very much! I couldn't have done it without you.
