Friday, October 25, 2013

Saturday Morning in Amsterdam
We are heading home today.  It has been another great visit to Kawete, Uganda.  Because of our medical team, supporters at CCLS, Concordia Lutheran Church and Glendale Lutheran Church we were able to address the needs of over 300 people.  It was a wonderful gift to deliver and the people of Kawete graciously and thankfully received from us.  We also completed the opening of the Girls Dormitory with the girls moving in the day we left Kawete.  They were so excited.  It was a joy to see.  John finished installing fans to cool the classrooms and mirrors in the dormitory as well.  He also helped begin the wiring for electric light in the dormitory and medical clinic.  In four short years the community of Kawete has seen much growth and improvement in the lives of the school children due to their hard work and our committed effort to support them.  I feel tremendously blessed to have been part of the past four years and hope the relationship between our community in St. Louis and community of Kawete, Uganda continues to grow!
                                   Third Grade Student also known as student in P3 in Uganda
                                              Children gathered outside the medical clinic
                                                                       Strike a Pose!



Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Wednesday Morning
We had another great day yesterday.  After arriving we went quickly to work seeing the patients.  We saw 100 patients!  Our team worked together so well.  We saw all ages of patients from 3 weeks old to 78 years.  We treated for many different conditions-malaria, pneumonia, allergies, asthma, diarrhea, parasitic infections, skin fungal infections, eczema, sinus infections and ear infections.  Hopefully, the medical care we bring will relieve some suffering so the children and their families will be able to live fuller lives. Cathy Albers met some expectant mothers and was able to provide them with vitamins to improve their ability to have healthier babies, too!  For all the infants I was able to give a cap and some wash cloths to their mother.  The babies were so adorable with the little hat on as you can see in the pictures. 

John Basler did some construction work.  He installed a solar attic fan to help keep the air circulating in the classrooms so it feels cooler in the warm sunny days here near the equator.  He also repaired hinges on 2 classroom doors. The children were very interested in all he was doing and in all his power tools!

Dorothy and Rudy Schaser at the end of the day presented to this past year graduates a gift of a goat for their success and to help support their secondary (high school) education.  The children were so happy.  Their were ten children in all.

Today will be another bust day at the village.  Hopefully we can serve the people well.  They give us joy with their gaciousness, warm smiles, joyful laughter, and welcoming acceptance.  God truly walks with the people of Kawete.






Monday, October 21, 2013

Today was a great day.  We arrived in Kawete at around 11:30am and it was quiet compared to previous years.  Most of the students were in class.  We were greeted by some teachers and administrators and some young children.  We then proceeded to work.  We went to the clinic and prepared it for our patients in Kawete, Uganda.  We saw around 50 patients in 4 hours.  It was great to work as a team.  We had Dr. Treena Sturgeon, Cathy Albers OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner, Beth Basler Family Medicine Nurse Practitioner and myself all seeing children, teenagers and some adults.  I saw some toddlers and infants.  The children had allergies, sinus infections, parasites, diarrhea, anemia due to possible sickle cell, fungal infections of feet, scalp and skin.  We were busy.  I gave one infant with 3 weeks of fever and cough a shot of antibiotic for possible pneumonia.  I will see her again tomorrow.  She is only 6 months.  We also gave everyone a toothbrush and toothpaste as they came to the clinic.  We were supported by our accompanied nurses Vicky Cranskie from Rogers, Arkansas and Cathy Albers daughter, Jenny.  They were great help and enabled the flow of patients to be much smoother than in prior visits.  I actually felt like I was in my office in St. Louis except for the warm, humid air!  Tomorrow will be even better as we tend to the needs of these wonderful people!  God is surely walking amongst the people of Kawete, Uganda!
                                           Beth Basler helping one of the elders of Kawete
                                      We gave the infants a new hat to keep them warm at night!
            Nurse Jenny and Nurse Vicky keeping the pharmacy organized and working smoothly!
                                        Discussing treatment options for one of the children

                              Examining a boy with intermittent fever and leg pain with swelling. 
 
                              Treating fever in a 3 year old boy with possible Sickle Cell Anemia
                                             Showing pictures of my family to the children.
                                                 Group of 7th grade boys
                                                           One sister helping another
         The new water supply to place running water in Girls Dormitory and Medical Clinic
                                              Triple Bunk Beds with matresses for the girls
                                       Blessing and Grand Opening of the Girls Dormitory
                        Baptism  of an older child                                    Baptism of infants

Saturday, October 19, 2013

Sunday

We are all excited to visit Kawete today.  We will be going to church with a dedication service for the new girls dormitory and medical clinic.  Later we will set up the medical clinic and unload the medications for the visit.  Tomorrow we will begin seeing the children and their families for medical care.  It is so fun to be back here in Uganda again. 
Saturday

We are getting settled in our temporary home in Jinja.  I can see the Nile out my hotel window!  We went on a Riverboat Cruise this afternoon to the beginning of the Nile River.  We saw lots of colorful birds, an eagle, Montor Lizards, and Vervet monkeys!  It was awesome.  We are about to have dinner.  We are sitting outside, the stars are out and the group here is relaxed and excited to see the people of Kawete tomorrow. Everyone has welcomed us   I will post some pictures later!

Friday, October 18, 2013

We have arrived in Kampala, Uganda!  Weather is nice  Awoke this morning to learnn the Carddinals won!  More travel today. We will be in Jinja on the Nile!  This is my fourth visit!  I can't wait to see the children of Kawete!