Jiggers!

We finally made it to the "real" Africa.  Kampala is a very busy city and you can find much of anything you would like.  We were very excited to go with Suzy and Godfrey and their humanitarian group to help a village they sponsor.  The village is outside of Jinja, a city about two hours out of Kampala.  Jinja is the city at the headwaters of the Nile.  We left on a Saturday and then stayed over the night because the Branch we are assigned to is only 1/2 hour away, heading back to Kampala.  There is a two bedroom senior missionary apartment that is currently vacant (hint, hint, they could use more senior couples here in Uganda).  Elder and Sister Story are the Perpetual Education Fund Missionaries and they live in our complex here in Kampala.  They use one of the bedrooms in Jinja every weekend and teach a PEF class every Saturday and Sunday night.  They then come home on Monday afternoon.  We spent an enjoyable night with them on Saturday.

When we arrived and turned off the main road to go where we would park, the children lined the road and ran along side the caravan or stood and waved to us as we drove by.  We felt like celebrities!  There were children everywhere and only a few adults.  It is amazing how you come to love a people the way we have the African people.  Their smiles brighten our day and they are truly some of the most beautiful people you will ever meet.

The women of our little group going to the village, (LtoR) Sister Chatfield, Ann K., Sarah E., Sarah B., Sister Hansen, Suzan Apondi (Director), Sister Squire, Sister Wallace...these women play a big role in our mission

A picture of Jackfruit, a staple in Uganda.  This tree was located where we were doing the procedure.

 The process is as follows: the kids have their feet washed in soap and water, then washed again in antiseptic soap.  They are then carried to the "CHAIR"  where the women examines their feet, trust me it is not a pretty sight. These kids feet are in poor shape... cuts, broken nails, and  callused like a sole of a shoe.  They always walk around barefoot because they can't afford shoes. The jiggers are parasites that enter the foot from the dirt and embeds itself.  It starts to itch and creates a puss filled infection.  The women cuts the top off the sore then with a pin, flips the jigger out from the wound like you were removing a splinter or sliver.  It pops out like a tiny white eyeball. Sometimes after cutting they can see the jigger and just pull it out.  When  all the jiggers are removed from the feet and hands, the child goes to another chair where Sister Hansen and Sister Squire, both nurses bathed the spots with hydrogen peroxide to help get any jigger eggs left, out and once the feet were dry, they were fitted with sandals. My job was to hand the child a sucker and a cookie and of course, to take pictures.

Here we witnessed another tender mercy. Usually when they do this in the village they have around 15 kids that need to have their feet treated.  Part of the process is they get a pair of sandals to wear so they are not walking on the dirt and that will help them not come in contact with the parasite to get infected again. They humanitarian group brought 23 pairs of sandals so they would have plenty of shoes. We ended up with 23 children of all ages and every child had a pair of sandals that fit. The Lord loves these beautiful African children. 

This little one is malnourished judging from her protruding stomach but most seemed to be healthy and strong.

Godfrey inspecting the children that were already lined up to receive care when we got there.

Love these kids!  Look in their eyes...

Everyone wanted to watch what was going on.  The village ladies would shoo them away but soon they would creep back up for a better view.

More cute kids

You would have to cut the nail to get to the jigger.  Some were under the nail so far you had to take the entire nail off to get them out.

Most were on the bottom of the foot or heal of the foot.

Never mess with a lady holding a scalpel.  Dang, where did that toe go...

The pre-wash to get ready to get in the Chair with the scalpel.

Notice the construction of the buildings.  Some were of mud bricks but others are made with mud mixed with cow manure.

Random picture of a chicken with chicks that will wander around until it is time for them to become dinner.

 

You see the young children who are in charge of their younger siblings.

Sister Wallace had the great idea to bring bubbles and fingernail polish which were both a hit with the kids.  You can see the number of doorways that were each individual houses.

Excuse me, could I get a little attitude with this picture!  Love it!

Sister Hansen and Sister Squire put the final hydrogen peroxide wash on the wounds and then fit them with their new shoes.

Again, just look at these faces and beautiful eyes.

Just sitting quietly while they cut away on her feet.

 

Tell me you don't smile when you see this face!

 

Time for a group photo with Elder Hansen and Myself

High-Fives and then we are out of here

Love you all!