Yesterday we went out with Dr. Jan to the Lulwanda Children's Home to give the 90 kids that live there a physical. Amanda looked them over, including in their mouth (some of them have attrocious teeth) and asked about their general health while I weighed them and took their temperature. Sometimes it was quite difficult for Amanda to acsertain whether they were sick or not and for how long because you have to ask through an interpreter, and even then some of the kids just answered yes to everything. (pretty typical for kids) After we finished that we sent them over to Connie who took their height measurement (in cenitmeters of course) and then she sent them to wait for the doctor to see them. We had put up a screen around the area where the doctor was doing the physical, but the kids were still very curious, especially after one of the boys came out and told all the other boys what was happening back there. Then they all wanted to see. We had to keep chasing the kids outside, because we were basically in a big warehouse and the sound from one side carries and multiplies to the other making it very difficult for the doctor (or anyone else) to hear what the children were saying.
One striking thing to me is that a lot of the kids did not know how old they were when asked. Some were definitely 6 or 7 and would say they were 2 or 3 because their parent of grandparent had lied about their age to get them into the home. Some were certain they were 10, but were obiously 13 or 14. Generally no one knew their birthday, or they might know the day, but not the year. We guessed a lot of ages based on physical development.
The kids were a riot though. We had one little boy at the very end who apparently had not been at the home very long and was scared to death of the whole process. As soon as Amanda and I went outside with our cameras we were swormed with kids wanting their pictures taken. They especially like mine because they could see the picture instantly. They would all huddle around and push each other to get a better look, and then would just laugh and giggle about whoever was in the photo and the pose they had taken. One little boy thought he should be in every photo whether it was his face or and hand or finger, some part of him had to be in the photo. I finally had to tell him to stop and he did.
It was a long day. It took us almost 7 hours to see all 90 children, which broken down is about 4 1/2 minutes each. Not a long time to diagnose anything. One child had hepatitis and a couple had malaria, one had a big gash across his belly from playing football (soccer) and falling against the gaol post or something like that. But over all they were pretty healthy.
Times u so I gotta go.
Love to all.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Thoughts
There is so much to see here and take in. It's quite a bit different. We walk almost everywhere we go, which gives you a better sense of what really goes on in this town than driving everywhere does. I think because you have more time to take it in that way. The bota bota (bicycle) and piki piki (motorcycle) men try to get us to hire them to take us somewhere, but we are usually not going that far that we feel we need their services.
Tomorrow we are going to visit a village church and see how they do things. I am looking forward to that. Right now we are on our way to the hospice to work more on the filing system we are straightening out. We have completed 16 boxes and have about 20 to go. Hopefully we will finish before we leave.
We have decided the best day to go to Kigali is going to be the 6th. There is a coach service that takes 8 hrs to get there from Kampala, leaving at 9:30am. It is much cheaper than flying and easier to arrange. It also looks more reliable than a regular bus that, according to Amanda, have a tendency to break down on the way. We have to call them Monday since today is a holiday in Uganda and they will probably be closed.
This morning I saw an iridescent green bee! He was fascinating to watch. As Connie said to me, you really don't appreciate the variety of God's creation until you go somewhere else and see things you have never seen before. God's imagination truly is limitless. Wow!
There are so many things I could discuss and so little time to do so.
I hope everyone is well and enjoying the little things God has blessed them with.
Take time today to watch a butterfly flit about your yard, or a bird sing in the tree, or a goat trying to eat the chicken food locked up in the coop. (It's quite funny).
Love to all.
Tomorrow we are going to visit a village church and see how they do things. I am looking forward to that. Right now we are on our way to the hospice to work more on the filing system we are straightening out. We have completed 16 boxes and have about 20 to go. Hopefully we will finish before we leave.
We have decided the best day to go to Kigali is going to be the 6th. There is a coach service that takes 8 hrs to get there from Kampala, leaving at 9:30am. It is much cheaper than flying and easier to arrange. It also looks more reliable than a regular bus that, according to Amanda, have a tendency to break down on the way. We have to call them Monday since today is a holiday in Uganda and they will probably be closed.
This morning I saw an iridescent green bee! He was fascinating to watch. As Connie said to me, you really don't appreciate the variety of God's creation until you go somewhere else and see things you have never seen before. God's imagination truly is limitless. Wow!
There are so many things I could discuss and so little time to do so.
I hope everyone is well and enjoying the little things God has blessed them with.
Take time today to watch a butterfly flit about your yard, or a bird sing in the tree, or a goat trying to eat the chicken food locked up in the coop. (It's quite funny).
Love to all.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Soroti town
Life in Africa is a bit different than in the States. Yesterday we went with Simon and Dena to their town called Soroti where they are building a group of apartments to rent out and eventually one large apartment on top will be just for them. We walked down to the bus depot to wait for the 10am bus, but it did not pull in where it should have. The “pilot” chose to park on the other side of the buildings there. Simon saw it and went to investigate whether it was going our way or not. Turns out it was our bus and we had to hurry to catch it because he was ready to leave. Meanwhile Amanda decided to buy a snack (something like a tortilla only thicker and layered with oil) so Dena went back for her and they almost missed the bus. This particular driver was in a big hurry to get there and back. It takes an hour and a half by bus to get to Soroti and we made it in one hour!!!! Coming in to Soroti town we almost hit a bota bota man (that’s a bicycle taxi) who wanted to cross the street but couldn’t judge the buses speed very well so he started across and then stopped. The driver slammed on the brakes and those in the aisle of the bus went flying forward. Thankfully we missed him by about an inch.
Soroti is a nice town. It is smaller than Mbale and flatter. Being farther north, it is also drier and warmer, but still a nice little place. Simon showed us his house in progress and Amanda and I made fast friends with the kids living around there because we could show them the pictures we took of them with our digital cameras. We stayed in a guest house called “Spacenet.” I think they arrived at that name because it is spacious and has internet access. Many stores and inns have strange names around here. It’s fun to figure out why they named them what they did. Sometimes you can’t figure it out. Oh well.
Our return trip today was quite different. The driver (pilot) was not in any hurry to get out of town this time. We got to the bus depot around 10:15ish and the bus was supposed to leave about then, but it wasn’t full so we waited for 2 hours while the driver and callers gathered passengers on there way to Kumi or Mbale or somewhere in between. Once all the seats were full he still thought there should be more people on the bus so the aisled was filled with people as well. Then we pulled forward about one hundred feet and crammed in a few more. Still he wasn’t satisfied so we pulled forward another few feet and packed in 2 or 3 others. Needless to say it was very hot and smelly in there. Simon asked a few times before we left when we would be on our way and was always told “soon” or “we leave now” and still we sat. African time is a lot like Israeli time—very elastic. =0) After we had pulled out of the Kumi station (which is about half way to Mbale), a man in the very back called out that he was supposed to get off there. So word was passed up to the driver and he and his companion pushed through all the people to get out. Just when you think you are on your way – alas…not quite. Very amusing though.
The country side is very beautiful between Soroti and Mbale, but we were all very happy to get out at Mbale and make the trek home. I can’t imagine what the ride will be like if we take the bus to Kigali (Rwanda). Hopefully we will chose a bus that won’t break down along the way. We shall see as the time approaches. All things are in God’s hands, so I know he will work it out accordingly.
Tuesday, Dr Jan took us out to the clinic in the village she works in. That was nice, but I’ll be happy not to alphabetize another box of medical records if I don’t have to. Connie and I walked into the center of town to look around the market for masking tape, but most of the people did not know what we were talking about. They probably have never seen masking tape before. Some didn’t understand English so that made it challenging too.
Well, I only have 2 minutes left on this computer so I guess I will have to tell you more about that later.
Hope you are all well, and enjoying the winter weather. It’s beautiful here today, but it might rain a little. The clouds look ominous to me.
See you soon.
Soroti is a nice town. It is smaller than Mbale and flatter. Being farther north, it is also drier and warmer, but still a nice little place. Simon showed us his house in progress and Amanda and I made fast friends with the kids living around there because we could show them the pictures we took of them with our digital cameras. We stayed in a guest house called “Spacenet.” I think they arrived at that name because it is spacious and has internet access. Many stores and inns have strange names around here. It’s fun to figure out why they named them what they did. Sometimes you can’t figure it out. Oh well.
Our return trip today was quite different. The driver (pilot) was not in any hurry to get out of town this time. We got to the bus depot around 10:15ish and the bus was supposed to leave about then, but it wasn’t full so we waited for 2 hours while the driver and callers gathered passengers on there way to Kumi or Mbale or somewhere in between. Once all the seats were full he still thought there should be more people on the bus so the aisled was filled with people as well. Then we pulled forward about one hundred feet and crammed in a few more. Still he wasn’t satisfied so we pulled forward another few feet and packed in 2 or 3 others. Needless to say it was very hot and smelly in there. Simon asked a few times before we left when we would be on our way and was always told “soon” or “we leave now” and still we sat. African time is a lot like Israeli time—very elastic. =0) After we had pulled out of the Kumi station (which is about half way to Mbale), a man in the very back called out that he was supposed to get off there. So word was passed up to the driver and he and his companion pushed through all the people to get out. Just when you think you are on your way – alas…not quite. Very amusing though.
The country side is very beautiful between Soroti and Mbale, but we were all very happy to get out at Mbale and make the trek home. I can’t imagine what the ride will be like if we take the bus to Kigali (Rwanda). Hopefully we will chose a bus that won’t break down along the way. We shall see as the time approaches. All things are in God’s hands, so I know he will work it out accordingly.
Tuesday, Dr Jan took us out to the clinic in the village she works in. That was nice, but I’ll be happy not to alphabetize another box of medical records if I don’t have to. Connie and I walked into the center of town to look around the market for masking tape, but most of the people did not know what we were talking about. They probably have never seen masking tape before. Some didn’t understand English so that made it challenging too.
Well, I only have 2 minutes left on this computer so I guess I will have to tell you more about that later.
Hope you are all well, and enjoying the winter weather. It’s beautiful here today, but it might rain a little. The clouds look ominous to me.
See you soon.
Monday, January 21, 2008
Feasting
Last night Simon and Dena and their family blessed us with a feast of goat, chicken, sausage, potatoes, rice, and much more as a welcome to Uganda. It was also a thankyou for Connie for supporting their daughter Priscilla; helping her to go to a better school. Boy was it good!
Simon told us we would be eating at 8pm, and then came back about 7:30 and said it would be 8pm Ugandan time (which meant about 20 minutes later) because the rice wasn't quite done yet.
Things in Uganda move quite a bit slower than in the U.S. It is rather refreshing not to have to be on a strict time table. Although for some it can be frustrating. Dr. Jan (from England) some times gets a little annoyed with the pace of things, but I think she has learned to just go with the flow on most things.
Today we continued labeling and alphabetizing the medical records here. I think it is going to take us 2 weeks to finish all of them. We have completed 9 out of about 40 boxes so far. We have to wait for Murethi to get us some more boxes for the files and we have to work around the patients. The boxes are kept in the waiting area and there isn't much room for us to work if the hospice is full. We usually manage to find a place to work, whether on a bed, a table in the kitchen or outside somewhere.
Well, I need to see about tickets to Rwanda so i will sign off now.
Love to all.
Simon told us we would be eating at 8pm, and then came back about 7:30 and said it would be 8pm Ugandan time (which meant about 20 minutes later) because the rice wasn't quite done yet.
Things in Uganda move quite a bit slower than in the U.S. It is rather refreshing not to have to be on a strict time table. Although for some it can be frustrating. Dr. Jan (from England) some times gets a little annoyed with the pace of things, but I think she has learned to just go with the flow on most things.
Today we continued labeling and alphabetizing the medical records here. I think it is going to take us 2 weeks to finish all of them. We have completed 9 out of about 40 boxes so far. We have to wait for Murethi to get us some more boxes for the files and we have to work around the patients. The boxes are kept in the waiting area and there isn't much room for us to work if the hospice is full. We usually manage to find a place to work, whether on a bed, a table in the kitchen or outside somewhere.
Well, I need to see about tickets to Rwanda so i will sign off now.
Love to all.
Saturday, January 19, 2008
Mbale Town
Hi All,
It's another beautiful day in Mbaletown as the locals call it. Today, Connie, Amanda and I trekked down to the hospice to continue our alphabatizing of the patient books. Dr. Jan likes to have it done about every 6 months, and Amanda came up with the idea of putting labels in the upper right hand corner so the staff doesn't have to pull out a whole section to find one book. Hopefully that will reduce the amount of chaos.
Dr. Jan called us while we were there because the goat at home was having her baby, so if we wanted to come see we should leave now, but Amanda the task master made us finish the box we were working on before we could leave. It takes 30min. anyway to get home, so we probably would have missed it, but she is having twins and so far has not delivered the second one, so maybe we will get to see that one.
Simon decided today that the goat should be slaughtered and called Amanda out to take pictures of the event. After the blood had drained out he called for her again to take pictures of the skinning! I gave her my camera for that since she doesn't have a digital one. They looked like they were having a good time skinning it! =0) I didn't watch personally because then I probably won't be able to eat it tomorrow for dinner. They bought the goat in honor of Connie's coming (she sends support for his daughter to go to a better school). I'm sure it will be quite a feast tomorrow.
Wednesday we are going out to the village of Soroti to spend the night and meet the people that Simon and Jan work with. Sounds like an adventure. We have to take public transportation because both of Jan's vehicles are on the fritz.
Well, my time is about up so I will write more later when I can.
Love to all
Eryn
It's another beautiful day in Mbaletown as the locals call it. Today, Connie, Amanda and I trekked down to the hospice to continue our alphabatizing of the patient books. Dr. Jan likes to have it done about every 6 months, and Amanda came up with the idea of putting labels in the upper right hand corner so the staff doesn't have to pull out a whole section to find one book. Hopefully that will reduce the amount of chaos.
Dr. Jan called us while we were there because the goat at home was having her baby, so if we wanted to come see we should leave now, but Amanda the task master made us finish the box we were working on before we could leave. It takes 30min. anyway to get home, so we probably would have missed it, but she is having twins and so far has not delivered the second one, so maybe we will get to see that one.
Simon decided today that the goat should be slaughtered and called Amanda out to take pictures of the event. After the blood had drained out he called for her again to take pictures of the skinning! I gave her my camera for that since she doesn't have a digital one. They looked like they were having a good time skinning it! =0) I didn't watch personally because then I probably won't be able to eat it tomorrow for dinner. They bought the goat in honor of Connie's coming (she sends support for his daughter to go to a better school). I'm sure it will be quite a feast tomorrow.
Wednesday we are going out to the village of Soroti to spend the night and meet the people that Simon and Jan work with. Sounds like an adventure. We have to take public transportation because both of Jan's vehicles are on the fritz.
Well, my time is about up so I will write more later when I can.
Love to all
Eryn
Thursday, January 17, 2008
To Entebbe and beyond
Hello Everyone,
After a 16 hour plane ride with a 5 hour layover in London (beautiful airport it was) we made it to Entebbe. Then we had a 4 hour truck drive down to Mbale where we are staying for 4 weeks.
I got to ride in the back of the truck with Amanda and Simon and all our luggage and the medical supplies Dr. Jan (she's our host) picked up in Kampala. It was quite cozy. Plus we got rained on (in the dry season ind you) and we got to go through a portion of the rain forest that is being preserved here. We are on our way to the hospice right now. Since we are walking it will probably be another 20 minutes to get there.
My time is almost gone so I will sign off now.
Love you all,
Eryn
After a 16 hour plane ride with a 5 hour layover in London (beautiful airport it was) we made it to Entebbe. Then we had a 4 hour truck drive down to Mbale where we are staying for 4 weeks.
I got to ride in the back of the truck with Amanda and Simon and all our luggage and the medical supplies Dr. Jan (she's our host) picked up in Kampala. It was quite cozy. Plus we got rained on (in the dry season ind you) and we got to go through a portion of the rain forest that is being preserved here. We are on our way to the hospice right now. Since we are walking it will probably be another 20 minutes to get there.
My time is almost gone so I will sign off now.
Love you all,
Eryn
Friday, January 11, 2008
Blackbelt Test
Well, I paid my fee, wrote the paper and passed my blackbelt test today. Now I am officially a 1st degree blackbelt!!!! Yea!!! =0) That is one thing checked off the long list of things to do before we leave for Uganda. Tminus 3 days and counting. I am so excited. I can't wait until we fly out Monday night. I am looking forward to seeing London for a few hours along the way.
More later, but right now my pillow is calling me.
Ciao!
More later, but right now my pillow is calling me.
Ciao!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
