July 21st

We got back very late last night! So we are blogging at lunch today.Yesterday we went to Kampala to do physicals on the Dove Voice Band boys. We checked on the neighbor ladies baby before we left and then ate some breakfast in Kampala before going out to the boys. We tried to get a system going to make things happen faster! Jared took pulse and respirations, Joanne took blood pressure (see more about Joanne later), Linda took temperature, and I (Holly) wrote down all results. After we were finished the boys took turns seeing Dr. Klinger. The boys had a lot of the same complaints which was interesting to all of us. Many of them have been poisoned many times. Also, malaria and typhoid could play a role in this similarity. Dr. Klinger performed two minor surgeries!  

Per Byron's dictation:  Two of the boys had skin lesions that needed to be removed.  We set up on the front porch with the patient laying on a wooden bench.  We were outside for the best light and had to supplement with flashlights.  The procedures went well.  The boys were good patients...laying very still.  There were many fascinated spectators.  We will check with them in a week to take out their stitches and make sure they are doing well.

From Elton and Pat:  We met with our friend, Derrick Mombera, in Kampala and took a tour with him while the physicals were being performed.  He is a distributor of rice to the retail sector for Dominion Farms.  He introduced us to his business partner, showed us his warehouse, then took us to his home where we spent the afternoon visiting with him and his wife.  Derrick has started a distribution business for pharmaceuticals out of India and has all of the contacts for us to be able to get paperwork in order for the next medical trip to Uganda to be able to pass through Customs without fear of having our Meds taken.  This is a real answer to prayer.  He then brought us back to meet up with our Team and we were there for the surgeries.  Elton  had his portable shop light in his bag and was able to provide some much needed light.  Linda claimed to get queasy at the sight of blood, etc. so I jumped in to take pictures of the big event.  Digital cameras are amazing...you can point and shoot without even looking at the stomach turning medical stuff.  ;-)

It was close to midnight when we returned from Kampala so we got a little slower start this morning.  Warren was able to share with us his experience of hanging the new metal doors on Abdu's garage with the assistance of an African that couldn't speak English.  A water line was nicked in the process so Warren fixed it with what he had, like any good farmer would!  Then Patrick, the welder, and Dennis, the plumber, came and fixed it correctly.  Warren said that he has now been laughed at by two Africans.

We went to Masese this morning to look at a young man who had a problem with his leg and ended up treating some additional people.  We took bananas to pass out to the children.  It was WILD!

We are at the house for lunch now and are getting ready to go to Sera's Caring Place to give physicals to the boys.  Elton and Leon are shopping with Paul for food and gifts to take the prisoners.  Holly is planning to do some shopping this afternoon with some of the other young ladies who are here.

OH!  Also, at breakfast on the veranda at the Hotel where Klingers & Regiers are staying, we ran into 2 young ladies from Canada who are working with a village school.  They are trying to get medical treatment for one of the boys and showed Dr. Klinger the pictures.  He was able to give them advice on what to ask the potential surgeon to determine if they were qualified to perform the anticipated amputation. 

Time to go...driver is waiting.  More later!