Two little deaths and a little chance at life.

I have just gotten back from Lormoruchbea where it has been a tough couple of days. I had barely arrived and wasn't even fully out of the truck yet when the brought me the first little kid. A little more than a year old but not yet two, he was extremely lethargic, cold (hard to be when it is 95 degrees in the shade) and obviously extremely dehydrated.  I didn't have a translator with me but I think I understood he had been vomiting with diarrhea for a few days then it stopped. His breathing was really fast but then he would stop breathing. I tried repeatedly to get an IV line in but never managed. He died within an hour of my arrival. They all took it in stride with an attitude of "these things happen".  But it just make me so sad because the death of a child isn't something a mother should think is inevitable.   Unfortunately it got worse. The following day I woke to the sounds of yelling outside my house. They had brought me another little one from a village about 30 minutes walk from Lormoruchbae. This one maybe 7 months old. She was also dehydrated to the point of death. It was still two hours to sunrise and I don't drive in the dark when I'm in Karamoja so I prayed and waited with them. But it was too late again. They packed up the little body, the mother tied it on her back and they headed back home as the sun rose.

ORS packet

Over the course of the day the VHT and I went around and assessed other young ones in the village giving out packets of ORS to anyone who had a child under 5 years old with diarrhea. Which was all of them. I couldn't assess if they all actually did or if they quickly figured out they got something free if they said they did. I didn't fight with them. These packets are salt, sugar and potassium and I can get them for .25 so we gave them freely, talking about dehydration. We discussed with them about how bad their water is right now because they haven't had rain in so long so they really need to boil it first. Mothers nodded and said they understood. But I've taught this before. It all feels so hard.

Assessing kids for dehydration

The long, hot walk to get water

Has it seriously been two weeks since my last post? More?! Good grief. It seems like just wishing I was better at keeping you all updated is not enough.
Until I get my act together here are some pictures from last week.

Why do I even bother?!

I'm a bit fed up with it all today.

A few days back I got an urgent call from one of the families that I spend a lot of time with when I'm in Soroti. I stopped what I was doing and headed over to their house and it was explained to me that Joyce ( their 11 year old) was "very, very" sick. Thankfully it was not nearly as bad as they presented. Since that morning she had nausea and vomited several times. As she wasn't feverish nor did she have any other symptoms I just switched her from the porridge they were trying to give her to gator-aid and tried to teach a little about clear liquids, hydration, etc. I suggested they let her rest and encourage her to drink even if she keeps vomiting and I would come back and see how things were in a few hours. When I came back to check on her that evening she was playing with her little brother but said she was still nauseated. I gave pepto, confirmed that she drank all of the liquids I had given her and that she hadn't vomited again since I had been there and reassured them it was most likely a stomach virus. They asked for money for medicine. I ran through my whole spiel again. No fever. Just a virus. Needs fluids and time. Antibiotics would be useless for this and possibly make it worse. She was getting better and really didn't need anything. Thought they got it and headed home.
Several days later I got another call that the little brother had "collapsed" and was also now "very sick". I found a lethargic but fully conscious kid who was vomiting but had no fever and seemed to have exactly the same thing his sister had had a few days before. I explained why I wasn't overly concerned, gave them more gator-aid and prepared to leave. They stopped me and asked for money for treatment. I explained it, rather patiently actually, all over again. Stomach virus. No fever or other symptoms. Needs fluids and rest. No treatment necessary. They told me that actually with the other child they had taken her to a nearby drug shop and purchased some malaria treatment. I asked if they tested for malaria first (because it isn't malaria season and highly unlikely to be malaria). No, they had not tested first. They didn't have enough money. (This was said in an accusing tone. They had asked me for money and I hadn't given.) I asked how many doses she had gotten. Two. Out of the necessary six or eight for a full malaria treatment. But they assured me that she had only had "slight" malaria so they didn't have to purchase the whole course of treatment. She felt back to normal by the next day so the treatment must have worked and obviously the little brother also needs that so I should give them money.
Now, taking a step back. This family has gotten treatment from me MANY times. Several times, when I've tested and gotten a positive for malaria. So treated them.  They also have heard my tirade spiel many times about partial/ under treatment for malaria making it worse.  And how malaria never gets better in one day.  And about how bad it is to treat for malaria without a positive test. And about how malaria has fever, and body aches, and vomiting and headache all together, not usually just one of those symptoms and not just for a few hours.
So, why, after they called me and I came, do they just do what they want anyway?  I know they are ridiculously poor and don't have money to just throw way. And I think I have proven myself trustworthy in the past.
And possibly, if this was one family or an isolated incident I wouldn't even be writing about it. Yet, I have been teaching this same thing about malaria and treatment and the importance of a positive test and the actual symptoms for a while now. Why does NO ONE believe me?!

Low Maintance

I know I need a real post but I'm hot and tired and have been on this stupid computer practically all day so you get these pictures instead of a real post. This is my current favorite pet. His name is Low Maintance or Low for short though his name doesn't actually matter as it isn't like he comes when I call anyway. I've had him more than 6 months and I'm pretty sure my parents doubted I really had a tortoise because we didn't see him the entire time they were here. I don't feed him or water him or clean up after him and he seems pretty happy with our arrangement. 

Compared to my other pets which go out of their way to make my life more difficult. 

I put this picture Dad so you would believe we were in my yard instead of having just taken random pictures from the internet.

Celebrating the new year in Karamoja

I was up in Lormoruchbae to celebrate the new year and these pictures are not going to do the celebration justice. There was dancing and singing and dramas and more dancing. 

Starting the night there were two groups that had a dance contest. Both groups did seven songs then we all decided on the winner. This group of girls won.

 The young men were serious about putting on dramas.  I suspect there was very little rehearsal but there was lots of laughing and it seemed like if you spoke the language they were very entertaining.

Lots of dancing and singing by "audience" members between presentations. 

Some audience members, myself included, chose to just sit and watch. 

Another drama about an old man searching for his wife. (I think.) 

There were even some musical instruments. (PVC pipes and referee whistles)

Other reading

I liked this blog post and not just because I suspect the background picture is Uganda. It is stuff I regularly feel and struggle with. Please read:  God with us



I'm headed out for several nursing calls today. A bad burn (9% full thickness) on a 8 year old boy needs to be redressed, a 5 year old with a deep abscess, and a bunch of other odds and ends including a review of family planning for several ladies who asked me to explain it again.
May I be the hands of Christ today, filled with mercy and compassion. Lord, help me to honor you! 

What my "office" usually looks like at the end of a day like today. Could use an office assistant. Any takers?

Christmas Caroling

Here in Uganda we have to work a little a lot harder to make Christmas traditions that feel like the traditions we are familiar with, but that doesn't stop us from trying. This evening we did some caroling. Honestly it felt pretty strange. We picked four songs and taught them to our Ugandan friends, then wandered the neighborhood. We were all dusty and sweaty by the end. Especially the dads who were carrying their kids. Their shirts were soaked through with sweat. The locals had never seen anything like this. A (mostly white) group of people walking around singing songs they had never heard before. We got plenty of strange looks and a ton of open staring. We walked past and even sang in two different places where people spend most of their time drunk. There are an astounding number of children just left to their own devices who followed us the whole time because they have nothing else to do. I felt awkward and out of place. And hot and a bit annoyed.
But while standing in a grassy field, with chickens and goats and even a cow milling around, surrounded by dirty neighbor kids, and grass thatched houses I couldn't help but really think about the words we were singing...
Long lay the world in sin, and in its error, pining, longing for the return of its King.
The weary world, all around us...desperate for that thrill of hope.
His way is love, and he offers abundant peace. Something this neighborhood really wants.

This isn't just a silly Christmas tradition.  These words that we were singing are huge!

Fall on your knees! Hear the angels from two thousand years ago saying to you now: "I bring you good news of great joy!"  

Lord, even here, don't let me overlook the reasons that I can sing of your Joy to the World. Help us all fall on our knees and your power and glory evermore proclaim! 

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Soul felts its worth.
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born.
Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother.
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy, in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.  

Fun activites

I'm really ready to just curl up and hibernate for a bit. It has been a very busy month. I'm happy to be back in Soroti for a bit. The heat is a lot easier to handle down here. Besides there fun Christmas activities going on. I've made cookies at least four times with different friends. 

Ronnie and Silas

Angie, Eliana and Amara

And of course eaten pounds of cookies to make up for the calories I don't eat in Karamoja. I spent a fun afternoon making and tie-dying bags that I'm going to pack with goodies and give the the kids that spend time with me.

 In other news the church in Obulle that I love to worship in is finishing its building! They have been working on it for months years and soon will begin roofing. But that means the mug/grass thatched church  had to come down. For a few Sundays and Christmas day we will be worshiping in the shade of the trees in the yard.

Congregation on Sunday

You can see the new building going up behind the worshipers 

Great trip to Karamoja!

Karamoja is HOT and DUSTY right now.  But I had a great time up there last week. A teacher in Soroti came with me and I've blatantly stolen her pictures.
 We spent several days meeting with the health workers, launching a group of local birth attendants and just spending time with people. We braved the 110 degree days to hike out to Alakas to bring them several pounds of medications. We also gave out small Christmas packages containing rice, salt and sugar. People were very appreciative.


When I'm in Lormoruchbae I stay in another missionary's house but I think I'm about to start building my own! Rebecca helped me make the road to the new land that I've been invited to stay on. It is building season since the grass is like 6 foot high and the days are too hot and dry for gardening so I think next time I go up the ladies will help me start. This is an exciting step for me as part of the community.

This is the house I've been staying in as we drove through the village. 

Headed to Karamoja today. There has been a bit of instability. Please keep praying for peace in the region!!

Youth Spiritual Retreat

We've packed up the kids and sent them home. Overall, I think we had a very successful spiritual retreat. I'm exhausted but it was a fun week.

Skits 

Games

Initiatives

Girl's crafts

Boy's crafts

Youth Spiritual Retreat (part 2)

I also managed 130 physical exams and treatment in four days for these kids who get no medical care any other time of the year. I have no pictures of that chaos so you will just have to picture 50 kids who want malaria tests, 100 kids who want cough syrup, 40 kids who want ace wraps, 10 who need daily dressing changes and all of them trying to get them all from me at one time. On top of that all of the cooks in the kitchen saw me giving free medical care and started also demanding medicine.
* On a side note when you are picturing cooks in the kitchen is this what you are picturing?

 On one afternoon we took all of the secondary school boys to the sports field to play soccer.  I'm not sure if this would be acceptable in the states but this is what we did here:

 Sixty teenage boys piled into three vehicles for the 5km ride to the sports ground. Perfectly legal.

Retreat

The retreat for our students from Karamoja starts tomorrow. As I've been praying and preparing for their coming I've been overwhelmed by the thoughts that we are headed into a battle. Many of these kids have backgrounds of neglect and abuse. They come from a culture of alcoholism, hopelessness, deceit and dependency, of witch craft and demonic influence.
We have been working with lots of these kids for several years and many have accepted Christ. But some are Muslim, some Seventh Day Adventist, and all have lots of exposure to witch craft. Some don't have an example of Christians in their daily lives.  Some will tell us they are Christians just because they think that is what we want to hear. Yet they don't even really know what that means. Many worry about their future, where their next meal will come from. They feel trapped in their circumstances
I really want all of these kids to have a fun time while they are with us. To laugh, to have enough food, to not worry about anything for the whole retreat. To feel loved and know they are valued.
But more than all of that I want God's truth to set them free. They need to know His love and peace and joy for more than just their time with us. Will you pray that they will have a whole new perspective of their heavenly Father?  That they will trust and He will provide and shelter and protect?

People of Lormoruchbae

 Faces of a few of my friends in Lormoruchbae.

Mary Loque and her son Alpha and daughter Sunday. 

Lotuke Helen and her son Loburo

Angela and her brother 

December already?!

Oh, Monday..... I've got nothing.
So this is my cat doing what I'd like to be doing.

Oh wait! I do have something.

Happy (Belated) Thanksgiving!

My teammate Mandy took a picture of me with my finished bird for Thanksgiving dinner at their house. It was pretty tasty and actually turned out more tender than I though it would but I'm still not sure it was worth the hours of work.