Clinic 2: Over the Meadow & Through the Woods to Pajuhun We Go

An important message…I have been having technology challenges in posting and uploading to the blog.  There is no time to write during the day and the only Internet connection is in the canteen where we eat.  By the time dinner is over, there is only an hour before the canteen closes and many people are online at that time so nothing happens quickly.   Please be patient and keep reading even after we return home.  I hope you are interested and continue reading because the children and people of Sierra Leone need you.  I pray you will be moved to help.

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Today was a very special day and I cannot find the words or time to capture the true essence of it. I don’t want to ever forget this day—“the day that the Lord made.   I will rejoice and be glad…” I was there.

The morning started with Carol, Debi, and Ju leaving at 6:30 A.M to travel to Bo to pick up more needed medication.  Wow!! They ended up with a story to tell.  They made it to the pharmacy in Bo but the car they were traveling in broke down and they had to wait for another way to meet us. They did take advantage of the opportunity to visit a school and play with the children.  I am amazed at how easy it is to entertain the children and get a smile from them.  They enjoy the simplest games and are easily persuaded to join in. While a few of them are reluctant to interact with us initially, it doesn’t take long for them to warm up.  Of course, when you have Carol around, it’s hard NOT to have fun. She ran and jump roped with them and showed them their own reflections in the mirror.

Margaret & Laura

For Debbie, Tonya, and Laura, the day began by seeing a patient for follow up from the day before.  A grandmother walked several miles pushing her granddaughter’s (Margaret) wheelchair to come to our location to enable the team to administer treatment in privacy.  She was here at 7:30 A.M.  Margaret has spina bifida and suffers from a fistula.  She was so brave as the team worked to insert a catheter to help alleviate some of her problems.  Despite pain, she was quiet and remained very still.  Only one tear escaped and ran down her cheek.  I remember how sad my team members were 30 minutes later when they had to tell the grandmother (through a translator) that the procedure was unsuccessful.  However, they were able to make arrangements for her to be seen at one of the two fistula clinics in the country.  She will be able to get help. 

Next came breakfast and then Tonya led the devotion which centered around serving others. The scripture was in 2 Cor. 9.  After prayer, we loaded the buses with our supplies and began the bus ride from Njala to the place “where the road ended and the walk began. “ I planned on posting a video showing the entire path we took into the village but sometimes (or “often” may be more fitting) I am technology challenged and while I filmed the entire walk, I failed to switch my camera setting to video.  I was able to get a little video so you can at least get an idea. Perhaps, it was divine intervention--the entire "clip" would have been equal in length to a full- length film.

We had asked how far we would be walking and were told it was about 150 meters—not far at all.  What an adventure on a narrow footpath through woods (up and down), grasslands above my head, beside a bridge that is necessary during their rainy season, and through a small village with a few huts.  All our supplies—suitcases, boxes, and water were carried on the heads of the villagers (mostly by children) and by our Sierra Leone staff.  The journey turned out to be a little over two miles.

We arrived at the palm frond-covered dwelling that would be transformed into a clinic quickly.  Parents (mostly moms) with their babies and children were already there waiting patiently.  While we were setting up the clinic and pharmacy, we began to hear the voices of children singing.  A few minutes later, a procession of school children became visible.  They sang songs of welcome to us and also some Christian songs.  Their sweet little voices and smiling faces will remain with me for a long time.   Out team sang “Jesus Loves the Little Children” to them when they concluded.  While singing, I decided that I really wanted to look into each face before we opened the clinic.  Working in the pharmacy is busy and doesn’t lend much extra time.  I went down the line of children touching each one and looking into each face.  Then I was ready to begin knowing that what we were doing mattered.  After prayer asking for God to protect our team and use us to help and heal the children, the clinic opened.  

We began without Dr. Debi, Carol, and Ju since they were still trying to make it to us.  We were really thankful a couple of hours later when they arrived.  The school children remained near the pharmacy throughout the day and occasionally there was a moment when I could make silly sounds, faces, and gestures and they would imitate me every time.

We ended up seeing about 150 children and a few adults.  We had a little time after the clinic ended to gather all the children in a circle and do the “Hokey Pokey” with three team members.  Their teacher translated for us.  Pastor Francis also played a game with them and then we distributed toothbrushes and toothbrushes.  A presentation of soccer balls with pumps followed and then the day ended with the chief thanking us and presenting the team with gifts.  We were given with six pineapples which represent hospitality, a huge plastic bucket of rice symbolizing their desire to share what they can, several bunches of plantain—the food of children because we were helping their children, yams larger than I have ever seen, and a live rooster, the highest honor someone can give to another.  Once a year, they pick out the largest chicken they have and give it to honor someone else.   As I write this, tears rundown my face.  The villagers are poorer than anyone I have ever seen yet they generously gave to us.  Pastor Francis, serves Pujahun as well as eight other villages in the district.  He visits each village every fourth day.  He makes less in a month than a minimum wage employee in the U.S. would make in a day.  Having a chance to treat and help them pales in comparison to the generosity of these people.

Everything was gathered up on the heads of the villagers and our helpers and hand in hand with four children, it was time to close out our day.  After the 2+ mile walk back to the bus, we said our goodbyes and headed back to Njala.  After a shower, we went to dinner at 7:30 and then went back to restock for the next day’s clinics.  Tomorrow, we go to Gola, a village even poorer than Pujahun.  We also plan to visit an orphanage in Bo.