On awakening after deep sleep after the long ride to Made Opei and looking in the mirror, I thought I was turning into the plastic man and melting in the heat. Really, the skin below my left eye was swollen and hanging down as if it was a piece of plastic. Not a pleasant sight to see when you first wake up.
Bitten by a small, strange, African bug!
After mass and a quick breakfast I made a hasty trip to the Health Clinic. Since I was the Visitor, I was taken immediately to the Head Nurse and treated on the spot. All the staff (not many!)Â were incredibly professional, knew exactly what the problem was, and the treatment began to work right away. They said the main thing is to keep the infection out of the eye itself. OK!? hope I can to that!
For 33 cents a 10 foot length of rubber, that was a strip cut from a truck tube, was purchased so my backpack could ride on my bike rack, rather than my back. I have ordered a larger “local” rack so when I leave and the bike stays here, it can be used for carrying heavy loads for someone yet to be determined.
My back pack nicely strapped on the back rack of the bike.
All dishes, cloths, floors, tables, etc. are washed by hand every day because of the dust inside and the animal feces outside. Here is Ellen doing one her daily chores: washing the dishes and putting them on the rack to dry.
Ellen, doing the dishes.
The rack is so high off the ground in order to keep the goats and chickens in the yard from getting at them. The goats are quite playful and one is always climbing on Fr.’s car and jumping up and down.
Below is a video of one of Onek Francis’ sons demonstrating how to wash a soccer jersey.
Every morning before the 7 am service, the head catechist, Tom, is in the church setting everything up for the day. In addition to teaching, praying with people, and the thirty other duties he has, this morning he also swept all the leaves and droppings from the mostly dirt yard.
Tom, the head catechist and sacristan, sweeping up the yard.
98% of the people live in huts and all keep the dirt yard around the huts very clean. This is primarily for sanitary reasons. By the end of the day, and in the morning, the yards are often littered with feces from animals and/or small children and it all must be swept up to prevent disease. It also keeps things looking nice.
The next two posts will focus on the St. Peter and Paul Health Clinic.
A young patient at the St. Peter and Paul Health Center
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