Jo C.

To see these people; mothers, fathers, children, grandparents, orphans… it’s easy not to feel connect to people who live so far away, look so different, and have a different lifestyle and culture than our own but they aren’t that different.  Most of us believe in the same God.  Want our children to be educated and enjoy laughter and time with our families. We enjoy dancing and singing, sitting together.  Our babies laugh hardest at their mothers, our grandmothers provide soothing comfort to our children.  We want the same things, health, stability and a hopeful future. We are so similar even when we feel so different.

Once we set up all of the medicine and set out the clothes and mosquito nets we had a little down time.  The second doctor (the one who runs the local clinic) was late so the doctor appointments went slow at first. During this down time Joe and I sat with some of the women and children waiting.  Through our translator we spoke about their children.  They told us how badly they needed things for farming since they were only using their hands.

We looked around at the obvious ailments of the people.  There are no pictures of these that I know of.  Open, fly infested, infected sores just don’t inspire one to raise a camera.  There was a woman whose breasts were engorged to Pamela Anderson proportions, she had complications while breast-feeding and I can’t fathom the pain she felt.  Her child still had to nurse.  Francis said it is not so uncommon and was able to prescribe antibiotics.  I think she will need to travel to the clinic for further treatment if it doesn’t get better.
Some people looked weak, a large portion of those seen had malaria.  Thanks to you friends, we had the medicine there for them.  We had medicine for those suffering from bacteria from bad water, malaria, infections, open sores, baby’s coughs… most everything they had we were able to offer treatment.  Two people were referred for surgical follow-up.  There is a team of surgeons coming in August and they will be notified to come pick these people up for treatment.
Do you want to know the best part of it?  The treatment is not just a one day deal… we left with a plan to continue treatment but more on that later…

When Diana and Wes last came to Puda, they provided every family serving spoons and pots to cook with, water basins and jerry cans and other household goods.   We tagged along with Diana to check out how these things were holding up.
Due to overuse, the jerry cans and most basins had been destroyed, but the pots, plates, spoons… have held up! The sickles have been great tools for them as well! Especially after going into a few of the homes, I really don’t know how they are able to sleep 15+ people to a hut.

Here I thought our apartment was small, I think each hut holds about 1 Joe, jk.

Did you know the mosquito that causes malaria is out when the sun is down?  This is why the nets are so important.  Most families will be able to use one net until it gets holes then they will be able to save the other to replace it.

After walking around the camp Father Leons went to get lunch with half of the team.  I stayed with Sarah and the doctors to try to keep up with the prescriptions.  We had to move the medicine off the truck and got into a great rhythm, Sarah was the only reason we finished on time, just before the sun set.  Once the prescriptions were filled one of the 2 interpreters took them and explained them to the people.  It wasn’t until after lunch that Joe finally had strength again, poor guy was depleted of any nutrients the night before. (Thanks for being a trooper Joe!)

The Camp leader directed the net and clothing distribution. Diana and Father Leons led the net and water purification education sessions.

We all tried to squeeze in time with each other and discovered that Diana is a magnet for baby pee…