Thursday at the Prison

The entire Team went to the primitive prison today named Nyunga.  While the Medical Team saw patients, the Electrical Team finished wiring the facility for electricity.  They have not had working electricity there since the 1980s.  A surgery was performed on a prisoner to remove a golf ball sized fatty tumor on his forehead.

The Guards reported that the evening after we visited with the band, the prisoners sang and danced into the night.  The Guards were very happy also.  When Warren and Elton were there yesterday, they provided an authentic African lunch of matokie, peanut paste, greens and noodles.  Warren has not acquired a taste for this but was an adventure eater for the day. 

Today we had Rolexes delivered (breakfast burrito type food).  Just as the surgery was about to begin, the Guards were bringing in pots of food.  They wanted us to eat and we had to delay our lunch until after the surgery.  When we entered the room they had set up for us, there was a feast displayed!  Today we were served meat and sodas in addition to the traditional food.  These are indications of a very big celebration...like Christmas!  We all ate a second lunch and it was very flavorful.  However, Warren still does not plan to add matoke to his menu at home.

The baby at the prison with the new blanket made by Erna and Viola

There is a baby in the prison with its mother.  This must be a very difficult place to grow up.  The conditions are extremely primitive and hard.  In addition to the conditions, he has no interaction with other children.  The mother is expected to carry water along with the baby. She doesn't get any special considerations because of him.  The Doctor treated the baby 2 days earlier and today we took him to the local clinic for a test for malaria.  It was quite a sight in the village...a van with a prisoner, guard and a Mzungu going to the clinic.  The good news is, the malaria test was negative.

Most of the complaints of the patients were hurting in hands (from hard labor digging in the fields with primitive tools), ulcers (indigestion), pipes (intestinal discomfort), headaches and fatigue (dehydration) and a lot of infectious diarrhea (likely bacterial). 

This prison is generally a forgotten place for a forgotten people.  Its a target rich environment to bring the gospel to.  Many of the people Paul and Pam minister to have come out of the prison.

Since the Hunters were gone to take Robyn to the airport, we went to eat at the Sunset Hotel.  We were seated on the lower veranda that overlooked the Nile River.  We had a gorgeous view of the sunset and wonderful food to end the day.