Jan 21, 2012
Spent night at Bomah hotel last pm in Kitgum. Met with Lucy. She has graduated from nursing school and is working in a hospital but her job ends at the end of January. Some way may try to see if we can get her to the farm to help Suzan in our new clinic. Otherwise she may have no job. Was good to see her, gave her seeds to plant a garden. Visited 2 orphanages. Prepared 1 garden and visited a school for the deaf blind and handicapped children. They were all on break except the ones who had no families so they stayed at the school. At one orphanage we gave more of Ozzys's clothing to the little boys. Even one of the girls got a pair of his shorts and put them on under her skirt. Got lots of pictures.
A little boy about 18mo old named “Robinson” , they got at the orphanage yesterday. His mother left him in Kampala, relatives sent him north because they didn't want him. His father was in Kitgum area and he didn't want him. When the orphanage got him he had welts on his back. The person they got him from had beaten him because he "pooped". Jessie and I held him the whole time we were there, wet nappies and all. He just clung to us. What a tear jerker, but he is in a safe place now and all the young girls that live at the orphanage will help take care of him. Such sad stories about the children. Not sure how these children survive such horrendous lives.
Heading to Kolongo now. Still have cell service for a bit. Will climb mountain tomorrow am. Tour hospital, then not sure of rest of tomorrow. Will start work at Wipolo village on monday. Will keep u posted as I can. Little Boscoe and Dennis headed back to farm today on bus. Jackson and Big Boscoe and Nadine will continue on with us. xxooxxoo hugs and kisses. Brenda
Note from Nadine:
We actually hired Lucy for the nurse job at NUCBACD. Her job at St. Joseph's was ending and the nurse job on the farm is not ready yet. She is struggling though as there was no housing available on site and she is walking very far each morning to get there. If anyone wishes to help support Lucy monthly, we are grateful!
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Northern Uganda Orphanages
Jan 20, 2012
Hi again! Well, The team went to the game park, yesterday am and I headed up to Kitgum to have meetings with the directors of Tender Trust(TT), Kitgum Infant Orphan Care Center (KIOCC), and Northern Uganda Community Based Action for Children with Disabilites (NUCBACD). Hope 2 One Life has supported their medical care with quarterly funding since we began our oganization in 2007. As some of you may recall, we were introduced to these via Far Reaching Ministies and our Calvary Chapel church team on a mission trip in 2006. This is when we met Nancy and Bosco for the first time. One of our team members was so touched by the infant orphanage and the experience she has funded this area each year. We are incredibly grateful! Thank you Cheryl! It has not been without challenges trying to get the optimal care for all 3 places, however, all are willing to keep at it! As you may recall, last year I went up to re-vamp the care and we hired a doctor from Kitgum to see the kids each saturday. This still did not prove entirely the solution. I decided it was important to sit and discuss further options and since our time would be short when the team arrived I would go up early while they are at the game park.
Once again, I was so behind schedule as needed to sort some finances with Richard, and of course buy the beautiful quilted totes, purses, clutches, paperbead bracelets, necklaces etc, from the ladies on the farm for market through Hope 2 One Life events and sales in the US! I was planning on taking the bus again with Jackson (remember last years episode? I do, and was not really looking forward to this as I had craft and medicine tubs to tote again as the team bus was out of room). As fate would have it, we waited for a long time into the afternoon and all the buses were full. So ended up hiring a car to drive to Kitgum which was way more expensive than I had wanted for sure, but it was reliable and did not break down! What an easy trip!
The next morning I met with Lois and Terence. They all met with Sr. Teddy previously, as well. It has been determined NUCBACD really needs an onsite nurse. The doctor would see the same children each week and there was noone qualified to be sure they took their medicines as prescribed. Many were being sent to his office. Terence has since come back to run KIOCC and his knowledge in the nutrition centers in Kalongo and Kitgum is very helpful to KIOCC and their well being. Lois, is a nurse as well, so she is able to keep tabs on TT if they have provision for medicines. The decision was to use the some of the quarterly funding to provide a full time nurse for NUCBACD and split the remaining money for medicines and/or doctor visits needed for all 3 orphanges. Terence will be the designated person to send me the receipts and reports via email which he has done so well in the past. So, the search is on for a nurse! And possibly more funding!
I also met with Terence and a family and made arrangements to see and continue with some kids in school. It was a productive day and although I walked a lot, I didn't travel the dusty hot road this time! Jackson, as always, is a huge help and he did most of the traveling and escorting anyone I needed to see.
The team arrived at the hotel all excited about their game park trip and couldn't wait to tell about the lions!! I was so happy they had a good time as I was worried they were tired and worn out from the 1 am late night, finishing up the work on the farm. Plus, Kam was sick the day before they left, however he did great in the park and is well!
Tommorrow, the orphanage visits! We will see infants and young children at KIOCC. There are also some families who have taken back some of the kids when they were old enough to eat food and survive, that still come to the center for support. They have some health needs. So we will see these kids, Brenda and I, with the help of the others. The guys will assess the solar power and some water tank needs as well. We have some garden drip kits and seeds to set up also. It is here, we will utilize the other Ready Relief kit of medicines and supplies from Heart to Heart International. (The first Ready Relief kit we used on the farm for the village clinic and left the remaining meds with them to use. Also, we were able to give Nurse Suzan the doctor bag consisting of the sthethoscope, blood pressure kit, otoscope and opthalmoscope and the digital thermometer! The village healthcare workers received stethoscopes.)
We will also visit Tender Trust and their kids! If the KIOCC kids don't have a family to go home when they get older, the kids often graduate to TT. Lois has many special needs and disabled kids as well. Then on to NUCBACD to the deaf blind and disabled school!
This is the first time a big team has come to visit Kitgum since our team in 2006. Mike and Jenny came in 2007 and 2008 and Brian in 2010 but not a whole big team!
Subsequently, this part of the involvement H2O is in doesn't get much attention. Progress! Hallelujah!
Nadine
Hi again! Well, The team went to the game park, yesterday am and I headed up to Kitgum to have meetings with the directors of Tender Trust(TT), Kitgum Infant Orphan Care Center (KIOCC), and Northern Uganda Community Based Action for Children with Disabilites (NUCBACD). Hope 2 One Life has supported their medical care with quarterly funding since we began our oganization in 2007. As some of you may recall, we were introduced to these via Far Reaching Ministies and our Calvary Chapel church team on a mission trip in 2006. This is when we met Nancy and Bosco for the first time. One of our team members was so touched by the infant orphanage and the experience she has funded this area each year. We are incredibly grateful! Thank you Cheryl! It has not been without challenges trying to get the optimal care for all 3 places, however, all are willing to keep at it! As you may recall, last year I went up to re-vamp the care and we hired a doctor from Kitgum to see the kids each saturday. This still did not prove entirely the solution. I decided it was important to sit and discuss further options and since our time would be short when the team arrived I would go up early while they are at the game park.
Once again, I was so behind schedule as needed to sort some finances with Richard, and of course buy the beautiful quilted totes, purses, clutches, paperbead bracelets, necklaces etc, from the ladies on the farm for market through Hope 2 One Life events and sales in the US! I was planning on taking the bus again with Jackson (remember last years episode? I do, and was not really looking forward to this as I had craft and medicine tubs to tote again as the team bus was out of room). As fate would have it, we waited for a long time into the afternoon and all the buses were full. So ended up hiring a car to drive to Kitgum which was way more expensive than I had wanted for sure, but it was reliable and did not break down! What an easy trip!
The next morning I met with Lois and Terence. They all met with Sr. Teddy previously, as well. It has been determined NUCBACD really needs an onsite nurse. The doctor would see the same children each week and there was noone qualified to be sure they took their medicines as prescribed. Many were being sent to his office. Terence has since come back to run KIOCC and his knowledge in the nutrition centers in Kalongo and Kitgum is very helpful to KIOCC and their well being. Lois, is a nurse as well, so she is able to keep tabs on TT if they have provision for medicines. The decision was to use the some of the quarterly funding to provide a full time nurse for NUCBACD and split the remaining money for medicines and/or doctor visits needed for all 3 orphanges. Terence will be the designated person to send me the receipts and reports via email which he has done so well in the past. So, the search is on for a nurse! And possibly more funding!
I also met with Terence and a family and made arrangements to see and continue with some kids in school. It was a productive day and although I walked a lot, I didn't travel the dusty hot road this time! Jackson, as always, is a huge help and he did most of the traveling and escorting anyone I needed to see.
The team arrived at the hotel all excited about their game park trip and couldn't wait to tell about the lions!! I was so happy they had a good time as I was worried they were tired and worn out from the 1 am late night, finishing up the work on the farm. Plus, Kam was sick the day before they left, however he did great in the park and is well!
Tommorrow, the orphanage visits! We will see infants and young children at KIOCC. There are also some families who have taken back some of the kids when they were old enough to eat food and survive, that still come to the center for support. They have some health needs. So we will see these kids, Brenda and I, with the help of the others. The guys will assess the solar power and some water tank needs as well. We have some garden drip kits and seeds to set up also. It is here, we will utilize the other Ready Relief kit of medicines and supplies from Heart to Heart International. (The first Ready Relief kit we used on the farm for the village clinic and left the remaining meds with them to use. Also, we were able to give Nurse Suzan the doctor bag consisting of the sthethoscope, blood pressure kit, otoscope and opthalmoscope and the digital thermometer! The village healthcare workers received stethoscopes.)
We will also visit Tender Trust and their kids! If the KIOCC kids don't have a family to go home when they get older, the kids often graduate to TT. Lois has many special needs and disabled kids as well. Then on to NUCBACD to the deaf blind and disabled school!
This is the first time a big team has come to visit Kitgum since our team in 2006. Mike and Jenny came in 2007 and 2008 and Brian in 2010 but not a whole big team!
Subsequently, this part of the involvement H2O is in doesn't get much attention. Progress! Hallelujah!
Nadine
Murchison Falls Game Park
Jan 20th
Game park yesterday. Spent the night at a lodge in the park. Tons of lizards, I swear the king of lizards was on the tin roof above my shower along with all his friends and cousins. Fastest shower in history. Crazy, it is the dry season so the lizards are out in full force. Got up early, ate a real breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit at 5:30am. They also had corn flakes. The 2 farm boys that we brought with us had no idea what they were or how to eat them. It was pretty funny. Dennis (one of the boys) asked Stu if he had any of the really good honey. He was eating the maple syrup. Things we take for granted.
Yesterday we went up the Nile (river) on a boat and saw tons of crockadiles, hippos, all kinds of birds, elephants, then at top got off and hiked up to Murchison falls. A really good work out. It was awesome -got some really good pictures. Today we took bus across the Nile on a ferry and toured other side of game park. Saw two lions. It’s not fine to go off road but Roger, our driver, just took off across the grass, shrubs, bumps and drove almost right up to them. They were stalking a little deer of some sort. Took pictures then had to hurry to get back on road. Now headed to Gulu, then another 2 hrs till Kitgum. Lucy, a nursing student that I met in Kolongo 2 yrs ago is now working in Kitgum. She is waiting for me to get there. Pretty exciting. 3 orphanages and 2 gardens to do tomorrow. Will probably stay in Kitgum 2 nights, then go to Kolongo. Didn't have cell service yest or earlier today may not have it for next 4 days so will email as I can. Great team everyone is compatible. So far terrific time. Hot dry and dusty. Never been so dirty, but we all look alike so it’s all good. Love and kisses to all xxooxxoo
Brenda
Game park yesterday. Spent the night at a lodge in the park. Tons of lizards, I swear the king of lizards was on the tin roof above my shower along with all his friends and cousins. Fastest shower in history. Crazy, it is the dry season so the lizards are out in full force. Got up early, ate a real breakfast of scrambled eggs and fresh fruit at 5:30am. They also had corn flakes. The 2 farm boys that we brought with us had no idea what they were or how to eat them. It was pretty funny. Dennis (one of the boys) asked Stu if he had any of the really good honey. He was eating the maple syrup. Things we take for granted.
Yesterday we went up the Nile (river) on a boat and saw tons of crockadiles, hippos, all kinds of birds, elephants, then at top got off and hiked up to Murchison falls. A really good work out. It was awesome -got some really good pictures. Today we took bus across the Nile on a ferry and toured other side of game park. Saw two lions. It’s not fine to go off road but Roger, our driver, just took off across the grass, shrubs, bumps and drove almost right up to them. They were stalking a little deer of some sort. Took pictures then had to hurry to get back on road. Now headed to Gulu, then another 2 hrs till Kitgum. Lucy, a nursing student that I met in Kolongo 2 yrs ago is now working in Kitgum. She is waiting for me to get there. Pretty exciting. 3 orphanages and 2 gardens to do tomorrow. Will probably stay in Kitgum 2 nights, then go to Kolongo. Didn't have cell service yest or earlier today may not have it for next 4 days so will email as I can. Great team everyone is compatible. So far terrific time. Hot dry and dusty. Never been so dirty, but we all look alike so it’s all good. Love and kisses to all xxooxxoo
Brenda
Brenda's Posts to her Family
Jan 18, 2012
Tested village healthcare workers today. They did very good. All passed. We had 2 men and 5 women Some were a bit slower than others, but by the time we kept repeating over and over again they got it. They did excellent on wound care. If you have a wound by dang it is going to be scrubbed CLEAN...and they can take a pulse and know if it’s too slow or too fast! They can take a temp and know if it’s high. They all know how to prepare a balanced meal "kinda". They do know how to make oral rehydration solution and when to give it. They learned how to build a latrine. Some of the other stuff a bit hard. They think all fevers or sniffles is malaria. Trying to tell them it’s just a cold…they don't quite get it. ...overall they learned a bunch in such a short time.
Clinic all afternoon. It went until 9pm and we had to turn away 15 or so people that came after dark. Suzan will see them tomorrow. Girl with appendicitis. Had to call boda boda t(motorcycle) to come get her and take her to the hospital in town. Had an ankle abscess that I opened. 1 kid with malaria. Tons of kids with worms….Big old fat rotund distended bellies.
Leave for Murchison falls at 6am, will tour game park, stay overnight there and then head to Kitgum the next day. HOT day here. High 90's with not a breeze. Still very dusty. Getting a bit sleepy. It is after 1am right now. We have to be up by 5 and load the bus. We have 12 tubs, 100 jerry cans , rice, flour, oil and 2 Ugandan boys that are going with us. Needless to say our bus will be loaded down.
Hugs and kisses to all xxooxxoo Brenda
Tested village healthcare workers today. They did very good. All passed. We had 2 men and 5 women Some were a bit slower than others, but by the time we kept repeating over and over again they got it. They did excellent on wound care. If you have a wound by dang it is going to be scrubbed CLEAN...and they can take a pulse and know if it’s too slow or too fast! They can take a temp and know if it’s high. They all know how to prepare a balanced meal "kinda". They do know how to make oral rehydration solution and when to give it. They learned how to build a latrine. Some of the other stuff a bit hard. They think all fevers or sniffles is malaria. Trying to tell them it’s just a cold…they don't quite get it. ...overall they learned a bunch in such a short time.
Clinic all afternoon. It went until 9pm and we had to turn away 15 or so people that came after dark. Suzan will see them tomorrow. Girl with appendicitis. Had to call boda boda t(motorcycle) to come get her and take her to the hospital in town. Had an ankle abscess that I opened. 1 kid with malaria. Tons of kids with worms….Big old fat rotund distended bellies.
Leave for Murchison falls at 6am, will tour game park, stay overnight there and then head to Kitgum the next day. HOT day here. High 90's with not a breeze. Still very dusty. Getting a bit sleepy. It is after 1am right now. We have to be up by 5 and load the bus. We have 12 tubs, 100 jerry cans , rice, flour, oil and 2 Ugandan boys that are going with us. Needless to say our bus will be loaded down.
Hugs and kisses to all xxooxxoo Brenda
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Village Clinic
Jan 18, 2012
The morning began with our usual morning walks and we hustled to get back to get ready for the village health workers testing!! They did oral testing with each of us, some through interpreters and some spoke english. Then, all posed for pictures with their certificates! We are proud of them, they learned a lot and we hope they will take this with them to help their fellow villagers in time of need. We equipped them with a backpack of supplies. The backpacks came from those discarded in the maternity ward of St. V's by patients who did not want them. About 15 village health workers have backpacks from St. V's from over the years!! Also, they were equipped with the stethoscopes donated by Welch allyn, through Heart to Heart International. It was a beautiful sight! They all had assignments to help with during village clinic also. Triage, vital signs, crowd control, wound dressings etc. The afternoon came real quick and people were lined up for clinic since morning! Brenda, Suzan and I saw patients. Melissa and Jessie and Sam did pharmacy, wound care and anything else needed. It was hectic for sure, but much cooler and easier to do in the new clinic! A lot of painstaking work also went into setting up the clinic, painting the inside and then scraping the paint off the new floor! Melissa and Jessie and Brenda you rock!
The guys were still working on the solar..needed more wire and also needed to hook up the tank float switch as it was overflowing and also the lightening rods for the roof. Many kids have died because lightening strikes the metal roof and then goes to the kids who are grounded with their bare feet!! We have a huge roof! Therefore wanted to be sure all was safe!
It was clear as dark came we were not finishing anytime soon, so on went the lights!! Yipee! We saw patients until 9pm! Brenda saw a severe leg/ankle abscess which we suspect had a foriegn body and suspected osteomyelitis. I also have pt in severe abdominal pain we suspected had appendicitis and sent to the hospital. Our clinic bed brought over on the container was used for the first time...and the wheelchair!!
We all broke for dinner at 9pm, then the guys went back to work until 1am!! We all packed and sorted and packed and sorted for the next leg of the trip!
Good thing the team was going to get a break by going to Murchison Falls game park and hiking the falls! I was heading off to Kitgum to meet with the directors of the 3 orphanages we fund for medical care. The team will meet me there in 2 days.
6 am came mightly early!!
Next stop..Kitgum and the Northern Uganda Orphanages!!
The morning began with our usual morning walks and we hustled to get back to get ready for the village health workers testing!! They did oral testing with each of us, some through interpreters and some spoke english. Then, all posed for pictures with their certificates! We are proud of them, they learned a lot and we hope they will take this with them to help their fellow villagers in time of need. We equipped them with a backpack of supplies. The backpacks came from those discarded in the maternity ward of St. V's by patients who did not want them. About 15 village health workers have backpacks from St. V's from over the years!! Also, they were equipped with the stethoscopes donated by Welch allyn, through Heart to Heart International. It was a beautiful sight! They all had assignments to help with during village clinic also. Triage, vital signs, crowd control, wound dressings etc. The afternoon came real quick and people were lined up for clinic since morning! Brenda, Suzan and I saw patients. Melissa and Jessie and Sam did pharmacy, wound care and anything else needed. It was hectic for sure, but much cooler and easier to do in the new clinic! A lot of painstaking work also went into setting up the clinic, painting the inside and then scraping the paint off the new floor! Melissa and Jessie and Brenda you rock!
The guys were still working on the solar..needed more wire and also needed to hook up the tank float switch as it was overflowing and also the lightening rods for the roof. Many kids have died because lightening strikes the metal roof and then goes to the kids who are grounded with their bare feet!! We have a huge roof! Therefore wanted to be sure all was safe!
It was clear as dark came we were not finishing anytime soon, so on went the lights!! Yipee! We saw patients until 9pm! Brenda saw a severe leg/ankle abscess which we suspect had a foriegn body and suspected osteomyelitis. I also have pt in severe abdominal pain we suspected had appendicitis and sent to the hospital. Our clinic bed brought over on the container was used for the first time...and the wheelchair!!
We all broke for dinner at 9pm, then the guys went back to work until 1am!! We all packed and sorted and packed and sorted for the next leg of the trip!
Good thing the team was going to get a break by going to Murchison Falls game park and hiking the falls! I was heading off to Kitgum to meet with the directors of the 3 orphanages we fund for medical care. The team will meet me there in 2 days.
6 am came mightly early!!
Next stop..Kitgum and the Northern Uganda Orphanages!!
Jubilee!!
Jan 17, 2012
Emmanuel Clinic Celebration:
Jubilee was the dream of Mama Brenda!! Little did she know how big this celebration would become! Originally, We thought it would celebrate the opening of the clinic, however, we learned there is politics and procedures to follow in Africa as well! Ha, should have known it wasn't going to be that easy! The clinic will need to be registered, inspected and staffed with qualified nursing, clinical officer (similar to midlevel provider) and eventually a doctor! We also need to add a lab, which we have planned for the next build out of the 4th end section of the building. So, Jubilee became the celebration of the building of the clinic in progress. Villagers from all around were invited, as well as the mayor and other political officials in the district. Two of the political guest of honors were women!!
Jubilee began with Brenda's idea of a health fair for the adults and games and hygiene/handwashing training for the children. There were 8 stations for the adults and they rotated through the various stations every 10 minutes and was indicated by a drum beat. This began the morning. There was about 10 people in each station to begin with and this grew as people straggled in after their morning chores and long walk to the farm. The stations were held in the shade or under a tree and were as follows:
Handwashing: Kam and Melissa (the hotel soaps and shampoos everyone saves was given out to each person who rotated in this station)
Bio-Sand water filters and clean water: Geoffrey Alara trained technician
Neck and Back stretches: Tyler
Dental Hygiene and toothbrushing: Sam (toothbrushes given out here)
Latrines and sanitation: Stu
Malaria and prevention: Alice, alumni trained village health worker
Diarrheal disease transmission and prevention with ORS: Jennifer and Christine, trained village health workers, alumni
Nutrition and Gardening: Nadine and Bosco (seeds donated by Vision Beyond Borders given here)
Children hygiene/handwashing and games/face painting: Brenda, Jessie and Maureen - new village health worker
It was great fun and we finished by 1:15 just in time for lunch! The whole village stayed for lunch. We soon realized after lunch there was a much bigger agenda than we realized. A formal written agenda was produced with an MC, PA system was plugged into the clinic solar power now up and running, sodas were distributed. Chairs were lined up in a semi circle and we all were sat in seats as other village officials and Richard's family were guided to their seats. Guest dancers and singers and drummers were invited from neighboring villages and from various tribes. They performed various tribal dances and it was amazing! Once introductions occured, the politicians were taken on a tour of the vocational school, Alice's garden with the bucket drip irrigation and Alice's household bio sand water filter, the deep water well, solar well and tank, larger garden irrigation, clinic etc. Following there were numerous speeches! Brenda and I even had to get up there! The team was introduced as well. The politicians expressed support of the clinic and said would help with staff etc, however later, Suzan thought this could be all talk...sound familiar? It was fun and dancing occurred until dark! Overall it was a very satisfying day!!
Now to get ready for testing of the village health workers tomorrow morning and then village clinic in the afternoon! Stay tuned!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
Sunrise Village Walks
Throughout the week on the farm, we got up early each am between 6 - 6:30 am and walked as the sun came up throughout the village areas. One day we went on the road to Katamarwa school (where the Love Covers and Love Packs blessed the nearly 1000 children and later the 1000 cups with bio sand water filters, learning with clean water and hygiene and sanitation outreach took place). The road is not well travelled at this hour, a few people out with their cows and goats. School is still out of session so there is few children around the school. We love these walks and it is a great way to start the day (unlike the lightening speed we start the day with in America!). The exercise and air felt good, even though it was going to be a hot and buggy day. One day, we went passed the school and walked through Katamarwa village. As we were walking back, a women called out to us in a very cheerful voice and beckoned us to come over and in. She was so friendly and animated so we all walked over and she introduced us into the church made of mud and sticks with a thatched roof. Pretty soon children started peering in. We all introduced ourselves and then she asked us to pray for them. Everyone looked at me, so we formed a circle holding hands and invited the many children in who also held hands with all of us in a large circle filling the space and I prayed for them all. It always touches my heart and God speaks to me mightily each time this happens. I still remember the first time the ladies on the farm sat me in the brick shell and dirt floor church on the farm and asked me to pray for them 5 years ago. This seems like a lifetime ago now as at that time they prayed for time pots to simply boil the muddy pond water in and blankets for their children who were sleeping the cold wet dirt floor as it rained and rained. 5 years later, the development and progress that has occurred is astonishing! Glory be to God! Hallelujah! This was also our first opportunity to invite everyone in the village to the "Jubilee" clinic celebration!! We knew this word of mouth will spread better than any internet or social network in this area!
Another morming also brought us through Rakayata village and many familiar sites. We take this opportunity to do some house visits also. This day we walked passed the village center and went to see John, a 17 year old boy living with hyrdrocephalus and basically floor ridden for years. We first met John in 2006 with the Calvary Chapel team and the village clinic. I have followed him since and even bought him a mattress and sheets to get him off the dirt floor. Also, when the container came over I brought him a hospital mattress with the thick vinyl protection. Far Reaching Ministries, Wes and Vicky have also helped this boy and paid for a shunt surgery in Mbale, a caregiver and a solar CD player. His mother also has another disabled child, a girl, Harriett. Keti tries hard and was told to through the kids away years ago, however she could not and did not. I know she has done the best she can do and rarely do I find any bad wounds or big sores on John when I visit, however, each time his mattress is gone!! We found him lying on the ground on a thin matt and dirty blanket, very cold, but with a huge huge smile! "Hello, How are you?", He says cheerfully! When asked what he needed or wanted, he said a "toy motor car". So we set about getting him his wish...a toy motor car with wheels! And now I am about the task of getting a 3rd mattress, this time a child mattress with a bed frame. It will be way too small for an adult to sleep on it and unfortunately too small for Harriet to sleep on it too (the other mattresses fit both kids and two big ones would not fit in the hut). Maybe, just maybe the adults will not take John's mattress now?! We had a stern talk when I brought back the hygiene supplies and scalp shampoo and clothes. I can only hope and pray they also give the boy the blanket we left at the farm when the bed is finished! This is Africa! Reminds me so much of how we used to find Rogers in Kayunga some years back! The needs are great for all! These kids are incredibly tough to survive against all odds! All are God's children...may he continue to protect them.
Nadine
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