Our day started off with our daily morning conclave in the courtyard. Laura read another wonderful quote from Mother Theresa, and then we discussed what everyone would be doing today. Here is some of our group getting ready for our quick meeting.
We headed out at 9:30 am for a 45 minute drive to the Bethel Nagar Colony. The driving, again, was so fun. We are out in a rural area so the roads aren't very wide, so it was pretty exciting watching the oncoming traffic of buses, cars, pedestrians and the occasional cow. I loved smiling at people and looking at them in the eyes as we drove by their little villages. Matt took some great pictures through the window along the journey to the colony.
When we arrived at Bethel Nagar, we helped set up the tables, chairs, and medical supplies in their community pavilion. Each of us was given an assignment to do...bandage removal, feet washing, rubbing oil on feet and calves, eye drops, taking blood pressure, and glucose testing.
I was one of two people washing feet. I would fill up a bin with clean water and add some antiseptic solution to the water. The patient, after having any bandages removed, would put his feet in the water. After locating the ulcers, I would begin washing the feet using a small towelette. When I'd come to an ulcer I had to use a fresh towelette on it so I wouldn't spread any infection. Then after the patient would be done soaking his feet, I'd dry the foot off using a clean towelette, again, not using the same one on each ulcer. Then I would place a bootie over the cleaned foot, and he'd move over to the oiling station. The end of the line was where Matt and the head nurse were waiting to cut away the dead skin around the ulcers, apply ointment and place a clean bandage around the affected foot. I absolutely loved that Matt got the opportunity to use his doctor skills in India.
Picture-taking was limited because we were busy helping patients and also because it's a place to be extra sensitive. I passed my camera to a couple of people and they snapped some of these pics for us. I was able to take pictures of two of the people I washed. I asked for their permission first and they would give me the little side to side head bobble that means okay. They like to see their picture after its taken.
I only felt nervous at first because I wanted to do the washing correctly not because of the leprosy or of what kinds of sores I might see. After a few people, I felt comfortable and figured out what I was doing. But then it slowed down and no more people came in for treatment. I probably washed about six people's feet. So in all, there might have been only about 12 people treated today from that colony. It's such a meaningful service that Rising Star provides to them. They need the treatment to come to them and that is what Rising Star is doing.
After I was finished I went over by Matt to watch what he and the nurse were doing. It was the nurse's turn to do the cutting, and she began working on this lady's foot. One side effect of leprosy is that they begin to have nerve damage therefore they don't have great feeling in their extremities. This lady began feeling the pain of having dead skin cut away and she started turning away and wincing in pain. I gently caressed her shoulder to comfort her through the process. I felt so bad for her and wanted to cry right along with her. I told her that she is a very brave woman. I wish she could understand me, but hopefully through my touch, she knew what I was saying.
The lady in the picture with both me and Matt had a huge gaping ulcer covering most of the bottom of her foot. She asked the nurse to not cut today because it's so painful right now. It still hurt her badly when the nurse applied the ointment and packed it with gauze. Matt wrapped it up nicely for her.
After we loaded up the supplies in the van, we went outside and washed our hands using the spigot near where a bunch of people were sitting in the shade.
A woman sitting in a group motioned to me to come over and take their picture. So I went over there, but I knew if I took a picture it would turn out bad since they were sitting in the shade and I was standing in the sun. I had Matt come over, and he began a great photo shoot of these lovely ladies. I don't know if any of them have leprosy. They just might be family members. The lady who called me over must be the "ring leader" of the women. She's the one in purple. She was so funny trying to get her friends to move into the picture. Then she began introducing each friend with a hand gesture and what sounded like their names as Matt turned his camera towards each one. The ladies loved it. Look at these beautiful faces.
I'm so grateful for being able to have this experience and that Matt is here to share it with me.
Our day ended, once again, with the children at playtime in the late afternoon and then having prayer time with them in their hostels. So far, we have been in all four of the boys hostels so I guess tomorrow we will get to visit with the one of the girls' hostels. It will be interesting to see the difference.
I took my little journal out to playtime and had some of the kids write their names and what standard they are in. It will be a treasured keepsake... maybe even the silly picture that one little boy drew. I didn't know what he was drawing until he was finished. I won't describe it, but let's just say that potty humor is universal. My journal has been defaced.
We headed out at 9:30 am for a 45 minute drive to the Bethel Nagar Colony. The driving, again, was so fun. We are out in a rural area so the roads aren't very wide, so it was pretty exciting watching the oncoming traffic of buses, cars, pedestrians and the occasional cow. I loved smiling at people and looking at them in the eyes as we drove by their little villages. Matt took some great pictures through the window along the journey to the colony.
I was one of two people washing feet. I would fill up a bin with clean water and add some antiseptic solution to the water. The patient, after having any bandages removed, would put his feet in the water. After locating the ulcers, I would begin washing the feet using a small towelette. When I'd come to an ulcer I had to use a fresh towelette on it so I wouldn't spread any infection. Then after the patient would be done soaking his feet, I'd dry the foot off using a clean towelette, again, not using the same one on each ulcer. Then I would place a bootie over the cleaned foot, and he'd move over to the oiling station. The end of the line was where Matt and the head nurse were waiting to cut away the dead skin around the ulcers, apply ointment and place a clean bandage around the affected foot. I absolutely loved that Matt got the opportunity to use his doctor skills in India.
Picture-taking was limited because we were busy helping patients and also because it's a place to be extra sensitive. I passed my camera to a couple of people and they snapped some of these pics for us. I was able to take pictures of two of the people I washed. I asked for their permission first and they would give me the little side to side head bobble that means okay. They like to see their picture after its taken.
I only felt nervous at first because I wanted to do the washing correctly not because of the leprosy or of what kinds of sores I might see. After a few people, I felt comfortable and figured out what I was doing. But then it slowed down and no more people came in for treatment. I probably washed about six people's feet. So in all, there might have been only about 12 people treated today from that colony. It's such a meaningful service that Rising Star provides to them. They need the treatment to come to them and that is what Rising Star is doing.
After I was finished I went over by Matt to watch what he and the nurse were doing. It was the nurse's turn to do the cutting, and she began working on this lady's foot. One side effect of leprosy is that they begin to have nerve damage therefore they don't have great feeling in their extremities. This lady began feeling the pain of having dead skin cut away and she started turning away and wincing in pain. I gently caressed her shoulder to comfort her through the process. I felt so bad for her and wanted to cry right along with her. I told her that she is a very brave woman. I wish she could understand me, but hopefully through my touch, she knew what I was saying.
The lady in the picture with both me and Matt had a huge gaping ulcer covering most of the bottom of her foot. She asked the nurse to not cut today because it's so painful right now. It still hurt her badly when the nurse applied the ointment and packed it with gauze. Matt wrapped it up nicely for her.
After we loaded up the supplies in the van, we went outside and washed our hands using the spigot near where a bunch of people were sitting in the shade.
A woman sitting in a group motioned to me to come over and take their picture. So I went over there, but I knew if I took a picture it would turn out bad since they were sitting in the shade and I was standing in the sun. I had Matt come over, and he began a great photo shoot of these lovely ladies. I don't know if any of them have leprosy. They just might be family members. The lady who called me over must be the "ring leader" of the women. She's the one in purple. She was so funny trying to get her friends to move into the picture. Then she began introducing each friend with a hand gesture and what sounded like their names as Matt turned his camera towards each one. The ladies loved it. Look at these beautiful faces.
I'm so grateful for being able to have this experience and that Matt is here to share it with me.
Our day ended, once again, with the children at playtime in the late afternoon and then having prayer time with them in their hostels. So far, we have been in all four of the boys hostels so I guess tomorrow we will get to visit with the one of the girls' hostels. It will be interesting to see the difference.
I took my little journal out to playtime and had some of the kids write their names and what standard they are in. It will be a treasured keepsake... maybe even the silly picture that one little boy drew. I didn't know what he was drawing until he was finished. I won't describe it, but let's just say that potty humor is universal. My journal has been defaced.
Such beautiful people and interesting the children are the same everywhere. They just want attention and somebody to love them. I think here we get caught up in the competition of having kids do everything and being the best at everything and really what they need and want is us, more of us. It so breaks my heart that these children are basically on their own. But they keep smiling!
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