Finally I was able to hold her in my arms. Our first encounter had been a few days earlier, upon our arrival at Good Shepard’s Fold orphanage on Monday, the 6th.
As we turned into the dirt road, it marked the final 2.5 miles of our long journey, literally half way across the world. From afar we could see the chapel at GSF, as pointed out by the Carolina, the oldest daughter of one of the missionary couples here. Most of were in a mini-bus and the others in a van. Seated at the back of the bus, my peripheral was limited to the right side. As we neared the church, I strained out to take pictures and noticed a few school kids on the side, then more as we approached. Soon the bus came to halt and noticed everyone inside the bus has moved forward to the front. I made my way up there and there was a bigger crowd of school kids, dancing and singing to welcome us. Wow – what a reception. Everyone was mesmerized, the women moved to tears. I then went to the back of the bus to pry out my luggage that held my camera with video capability. It was wedged pretty tightly and gave up. As I spun around towards the front of the bus, there was Mary, a most stunningly adorable baby in the arms of Carolina. I asked who this beautiful baby was and Carolina said she was Mary, the youngest in the orphanage.
On Friday we had dinner at the director’s house and Mary was brought over by one of the employees. She was being cared for separately from the other orphans. She is scheduled for adoption by a couple from Greensboro,NC in a few weeks. She is just a charming, beautiful baby – everyone’s just in love with her. As the days passed, we learned more about her story. She was brought to the orphan at two weeks old, underweight at around 4 pounds. We saw some pictures of her from then and she was so tiny; one picture was of her wearing the clothes from one of Carolina’s dolls. Her mother died not long after birth and refused to feed the baby, as it was suspected she had AIDS.
Mary (to be renamed Zuri) is now beautiful, healthy baby. I look at her with delight and sadness at the same time. The kids at the orphanage are fortunate to be there and Mary is even more fortunate as she will be adopted soon. In the mean while, there are the numerous other children from the villages that are less fortunate. It is sad to see these beautiful kids as they face a tougher life ahead. It makes the heart ache.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Clinic Day 5 - April 14
The day got to an ominous start. Amy, our pharmacist, was feeling ill and progressively got worse as the morning went on. She was moved from the guesthouse to the directors' house and was there all day. It sounded serious for a while and we were gravely concerned as she might have to be taken to the hospital. Finally it was diagnosed as dysentery and Amy was able to sit with us at dinner. Jennifer, my co-hort at the registration station also got ill - with the "turista" - and was not able work. She was also better at the end of the day. Down two people, we managed the visitors for the day. Thankfully it was not as busy as the first two days. and also that Roma, an American nurse who works in Jinja, was able dispense the medication.
I also did not feel well at the end of the day - the worst I've felt thus far. But my discomfort is nothing compared to the some of the vistors. Today the worst case was a 3-monnth old infant that had a bad case of pneumonia. There was a risk of the baby dying if not taken to the hospital soon. As in the previous days when we had clinic, the worst cases were taken to nearby hospital, about 10 minutes. It is operated by Slovakian docotrs. They have been a Godsend as several patients have been transported during our time here .The missionaries at GSF provide the transportation. Some other examples of the worst cases: infants with malaria, advanced staged cancer,an older with a badly swollen arm from sort of bite. Today there were several people taken to the hospital for syphillis testing, which is rampant here.
Yesterday another 3-month old with pneumonia aslo at a very high risk, accompanied by the mother. The father apparently is Muslim and the baby also had markings that might indicate some sort of witchcraft. The fear is father might beat up on thee mother for taking the baby to a Christian facility.
I also did not feel well at the end of the day - the worst I've felt thus far. But my discomfort is nothing compared to the some of the vistors. Today the worst case was a 3-monnth old infant that had a bad case of pneumonia. There was a risk of the baby dying if not taken to the hospital soon. As in the previous days when we had clinic, the worst cases were taken to nearby hospital, about 10 minutes. It is operated by Slovakian docotrs. They have been a Godsend as several patients have been transported during our time here .The missionaries at GSF provide the transportation. Some other examples of the worst cases: infants with malaria, advanced staged cancer,an older with a badly swollen arm from sort of bite. Today there were several people taken to the hospital for syphillis testing, which is rampant here.
Yesterday another 3-month old with pneumonia aslo at a very high risk, accompanied by the mother. The father apparently is Muslim and the baby also had markings that might indicate some sort of witchcraft. The fear is father might beat up on thee mother for taking the baby to a Christian facility.
Clinic Day 4 - April 13
Boy, it felt a like Monday, after two days off. It had rained hard early in the morning, pounding on the tin roof as I had not heard since a child in the Philippines. . It was cool and cloudy as the day began and stayed cloudy until about noon. About 150 were seen today. The rain was was welcomed here as it has been relatively dry but you cannot tell as the compound is go green. That kind of rain draws out the white ants and it becomes harvest time. These buggers flock to the light in great numbers and that’s the most common way to harvest them.
Monday, April 13, 2009
White Ants
On the first morning here at the orphanage, I was up before the sun. I stepped out to enjoy the gorgeous view from the guest house. I was chatting with guard that was posted to watch over us and the shed that housed the supplies we brought in. I aked him about this mound of dirt nearby and he said they were "white ants" - termites. Soon I spotted two or three in the air. The guard mentioned they were a delicacy and described the different ways they prepare them.
Earlier this evening as we walked by the buildings that housed the orphans, some of the house moms were outside cooking. We noticed these little brown things in one of the pots - they were the white ants. Joked about trying some but the house mom was serious. On our way back tonight from dinner at the director's home, a few of us stopped by to see the house mom who said she would save some for us. Lo and behold - she had a small bowl waiting for us.
In my first Bizarre Foods type of cuisine, the white ants were actually goood, I thought. Would be good with left over rice and fried eggs. A couple of others not too impressed but another person did like them also. My next native food try might be in a couple of days - these things they call Rollexes, suppose to be kind of like a breakfast burrrito.
Tune in.
Earlier this evening as we walked by the buildings that housed the orphans, some of the house moms were outside cooking. We noticed these little brown things in one of the pots - they were the white ants. Joked about trying some but the house mom was serious. On our way back tonight from dinner at the director's home, a few of us stopped by to see the house mom who said she would save some for us. Lo and behold - she had a small bowl waiting for us.
In my first Bizarre Foods type of cuisine, the white ants were actually goood, I thought. Would be good with left over rice and fried eggs. A couple of others not too impressed but another person did like them also. My next native food try might be in a couple of days - these things they call Rollexes, suppose to be kind of like a breakfast burrrito.
Tune in.
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Off Day
At last...a relatively fast connection...very slow connection at the guest house and hard to get find time.
After three days of holding clinics, we have today and tomorrow off and resume on Monday (thru Wed). We are currently in the biggest city near the orphanage, city named Jinja and at an internet cafe. The itinerary we had been given before the trip had as on option today to go to Bujugulu (sp?) Falls, which I looked forward to. Instead we visited three different hospitals along the way, including a children's hopsital. Hard to describe but "sobering" is what comes to mind. The contrast is just stunning. Our modern facilities and theirs are very much at different ends of the spectrum.
Bujugulu Falls can wait.
After three days of holding clinics, we have today and tomorrow off and resume on Monday (thru Wed). We are currently in the biggest city near the orphanage, city named Jinja and at an internet cafe. The itinerary we had been given before the trip had as on option today to go to Bujugulu (sp?) Falls, which I looked forward to. Instead we visited three different hospitals along the way, including a children's hopsital. Hard to describe but "sobering" is what comes to mind. The contrast is just stunning. Our modern facilities and theirs are very much at different ends of the spectrum.
Bujugulu Falls can wait.
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