Here are some numbers from today:
117 = the number of HIV positive families (mothers, husbands, children) who received more food than they could carry today.
100 = the number of pounds of food that constitutes “more than they could carry”. Today was to be our last Kwejuna Project distribution, but it turned out that our supplies will allow one more monthly party. As usual Pamela had the logistics running smoothly, we welcomed Stephanie into the weighing role, Carole was able to find over a dozen of the 70 or so randomly selected mothers for our follow-up data, Scott was directing and Pat and I filled in here and there registering mothers, Luke joined the young men who help divide and carry the heavy sacks of food, in short a community effort.
5 = the number of children one of my inpatient mothers has produced in less than three years. This lady has two-year-old twins at home, and came heavily pregnant from the furthest corner of the district to visit a relative in Nyahuka a few days ago, when lo and behold she went into labor and delivered triplet girls. We are all having trouble keeping them straight in spite of color coded hats (which keep changing heads) so the Dad finally devised a system of strings tied around the wrists. All are between 1 and 2 kilograms (2 to 4 pounds).
9:30 = pm is the time Jonah arrived from Kampala tonight, and am is the time he plans to officially begin his new job as the in-charge medical officer of Nyahuka Health Center. Scott arranged for the hand-over with the District Health Office for tomorrow morning. Knowing how much passive-aggressive opposition has occurred we wonder what will happen. More on that tomorrow.
7 = the number of people on our team of 34 who are either losing too much weight (adults) or not gaining normally (children and pregnant woman). We had a “health day” on Saturday, a day-long open house of check-ups, blood pressures, immunization advice, prayer. Soberingly, a significant portion of our newest members are not exactly thriving here. We need prayer and calories. The issue is complex: partly a matter of adjusting to new foods and tastes and habits, partly the bulky nature of local foods (filling without being very nutritious), partly the reality that food planning and preparation consumes hours rather than minutes of the day’s schedule, partly the increased body demand accompanying frequent minor illnesses and moving everywhere on foot and bike. The American perspective would be: so this is a problem? But the reality is that we have to keep tabs on a person’s ability to survive here, and if we see kids dwindling we can’t ignore the problem. Life requires such effort here. Sigh.
2 = the number of team boys who turned 4 this week, celebrated by a joint birthday party complete with two cakes (a monkey and a tiger).
18 = the number of girls in the S4 class at Christ School beginning O-Level exams today, out of 43 in the class. Last year we had exactly two girls, both were in my cell group, and both were from outside of Bundibugyo. So 18 is a very encouraging trend. These exams involve about a dozen 3-hour (each) papers in eight or nine subjects spread out over almost a month. Which is to say, they are an intense experience, and all of a student’s future educational opportunities are determined by the scores. Pray.
14 = the number of kilograms Kabasunguzi Grace weighs, at age 11. That’s the average for a 3-year-old girl. She is gaunt, movement is painful, yet she cheerfully thanks me every day for coming to see her. I am praying for a miracle and doing my best to give her rational and adequate care.
That’s a numerical wrap-up of Monday, sparing you any real math from my teaching 5th grade at RMS of course.
JAM
Monday, October 16, 2006
Monday Numbers
Here are some numbers from today:
117 = the number of HIV positive families (mothers, husbands, children) who received more food than they could carry today.
100 = the number of pounds of food that constitutes “more than they could carry”. Today was to be our last Kwejuna Project distribution, but it turned out that our supplies will allow one more monthly party. As usual Pamela had the logistics running smoothly, we welcomed Stephanie into the weighing role, Carole was able to find over a dozen of the 70 or so randomly selected mothers for our follow-up data, Scott was directing and Pat and I filled in here and there registering mothers, Luke joined the young men who help divide and carry the heavy sacks of food, in short a community effort.
5 = the number of children one of my inpatient mothers has produced in less than three years. This lady has two-year-old twins at home, and came heavily pregnant from the furthest corner of the district to visit a relative in Nyahuka a few days ago, when lo and behold she went into labor and delivered triplet girls. We are all having trouble keeping them straight in spite of color coded hats (which keep changing heads) so the Dad finally devised a system of strings tied around the wrists. All are between 1 and 2 kilograms (2 to 4 pounds).
9:30 = pm is the time Jonah arrived from Kampala tonight, and am is the time he plans to officially begin his new job as the in-charge medical officer of Nyahuka Health Center. Scott arranged for the hand-over with the District Health Office for tomorrow morning. Knowing how much passive-aggressive opposition has occurred we wonder what will happen. More on that tomorrow.
7 = the number of people on our team of 34 who are either losing too much weight (adults) or not gaining normally (children and pregnant woman). We had a “health day” on Saturday, a day-long open house of check-ups, blood pressures, immunization advice, prayer. Soberingly, a significant portion of our newest members are not exactly thriving here. We need prayer and calories. The issue is complex: partly a matter of adjusting to new foods and tastes and habits, partly the bulky nature of local foods (filling without being very nutritious), partly the reality that food planning and preparation consumes hours rather than minutes of the day’s schedule, partly the increased body demand accompanying frequent minor illnesses and moving everywhere on foot and bike. The American perspective would be: so this is a problem? But the reality is that we have to keep tabs on a person’s ability to survive here, and if we see kids dwindling we can’t ignore the problem. Life requires such effort here. Sigh.
2 = the number of team boys who turned 4 this week, celebrated by a joint birthday party complete with two cakes (a monkey and a tiger).
18 = the number of girls in the S4 class at Christ School beginning O-Level exams today, out of 43 in the class. Last year we had exactly two girls, both were in my cell group, and both were from outside of Bundibugyo. So 18 is a very encouraging trend. These exams involve about a dozen 3-hour (each) papers in eight or nine subjects spread out over almost a month. Which is to say, they are an intense experience, and all of a student’s future educational opportunities are determined by the scores. Pray.
14 = the number of kilograms Kabasunguzi Grace weighs, at age 11. That’s the average for a 3-year-old girl. She is gaunt, movement is painful, yet she cheerfully thanks me every day for coming to see her. I am praying for a miracle and doing my best to give her rational and adequate care.
That’s a numerical wrap-up of Monday, sparing you any real math from my teaching 5th grade at RMS of course.
JAM
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
Dear team,
It is around 1:30 PM here and so I guess about 9:30 PM Bundi time. I have been praying that Jonah is already official there. Look forward to hearing good news tomorrow. I know this is a great opportunity for the advance of God's kingdom there so will continue to pray until I hear.
About that weight thing, how about pizza two nights a week! I might even call in an order myself! I know this is also serious so we will pray for it as well.
Lee
Post a Comment