Another Full Day

The team split into smaller work groups as usual. We've been blessed with good weather – no rain and mostly cloud cover (the direct sun can be very hot!)

Once again I was on a home visit team; we dubbed it the "small women" morning. The woman we first visited is over 90 years old and blind. Dr. Rachel was able to help her with a couple of issues, but when the woman asked if there was some medicine she could have so she could see again, Rachel gently told her "no."

One of her sons lives with her and cares for her. He told us that their brick toilet building fell down so the curtained-off area is what they are using now. 

As we got ready to go, her son insisted on giving us gifts of sugar cane and papaya.

And of course we had to greet the goats. He has been able to earn some money by breeding and selling them.

Our second "small woman" was a bundle of energy. She's taken what she's learned through some Kizimani folks about how to make soap, bleach and fabric softener to make enough to sell and thereby support herself.

They always set out something for us guests to sit on; in the center are the products she sells.

On our way to the third visit...

Her name is Kanini.

 And she and Dr. Rachel made quite a pair!

Morning visits over, we head back to Mama's house for lunch.

Have I mentioned the avocados? Oh my! These are just a few from a tree at her house. We all LOVE them though not a majority of Kenyans are fond of them. The ladies making lunch for us know we'll go gaga over them.

Today they made guacamole!

After lunch I paid a visit to our three team members working on sewing projects at the community center built by Kizimani. We're always fascinated by the iron heated with coal. Ann says it works well though it cools off quickly.

Boniface, the gentleman on the right, is an excellent tailor and through Kizimani's help has been able to start a business sewing school uniforms. All schools require the students to wear uniforms so this is an excellent business to be in.

 Every year the sewing group finds beautiful fabrics to work with...

...to create items for sale such as these bags. All profits go directly back to this community.

Just outside the community center...

Our work group consisting of three guys are telling us tales of spending all day in hammocks sipping cool drinks, but they've been doing projects around the mortuary. Here's a bench they actually did work on – though their Kenyan counterparts were largely involved as well.

Of course the medical team works all day. I didn't get a final tally but while yesterday's total count was 130 patients, today's count of women alone was 167. It's an amazing feat of teamwork and expertise.

Here's the pharmacy - I'm in awe of our three pharmacists who work here in super low-light and crowded conditions.

 

This young man was not at all certain of Dr. Matt's intentions.

We had two dentists for these past two days and their sole task is pulling teeth. Though they only had five patients yesterday, they had over 20 today. One part of their system was to walk down the lines of patients and give the numbing injections one at a time so that by the time they got to the end of the line, the first patient in line would be ready for their tooth to be pulled. Wow. 

 Cute babies are always a hit!

We have two more days here before we head back to Nairobi and then Eldoret.