This morning, I gave the children permission to start school late. Instead they spent an hour in the goat/sheep pen helping the "vet" give tick/deworming shots. Kalia and Joel caught the animals and helped hold them down and then spray painted an X on their sides (to show they had received the shot). It is tick and worm season and our herd has grown considerably in number with many babies born to them.
The "vet" had a rather unusual style in that he just ordered the kids to bring a random animal to him. Of course this causes mayhem in the pen and much bleating. A more efficient method would be to corral them and then take one out at a time. Well the children got their exercise anyways and the goats and sheep too:)
Our Gumuz dog, Kitcha died from tick fever but her sister, Cindy decided to be the replacement since its owner no longer wanted her. Cindy too needed deworming this week from the dreaded "mango fly". These flies lay eggs on bodies and even laundry. These eggs than hatch and turn into larvae. Kalia being the observant girl that she is, noticed the numerous bumps on Cindy's body and mentioned it to her compassionate father. Rolf spent 1/2 hour squeezing out large mango fly larvae.
Interestingly, I can stomach a lot of things including wounds and blood but the sight of the larvae was enough to turn my stomach. In fact, I could hardly fall asleep that night. It brought me back 7 years to when I squeezed a smaller version of the larvae out of Rolf and Joel's bodies in Sherkole. We learned our lesson: do not hang out laundry during rainy season. We hang our clothes in our screened in back porch and all is well. I have a nice sized box in my cupboard of albendazole for treating worms in humans as well. We have pinworms, hookworks, roundworms and tapeworms in Gesses. Hookworms are microscopic and prevented by wearing shoes. Gumuz children don't wear shoes and my children regularly forget to wear their shoes so we regularly give worm medication to our own kids as well. I have had atleast a dozen people in the last month come asking for worm medication (and that is for the type of worms that can be seen in the stool).
At the end of the day, the mother of the woman with the gangrene arm, came to our front door. She asked for more gentian violet (purple antiseptic liquid that we had give to them a few weeks ago) and described the deterioration of the arm and hand. I was surprised she was still alive and we continue to pray that she will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It will take a miracle.
The "vet" had a rather unusual style in that he just ordered the kids to bring a random animal to him. Of course this causes mayhem in the pen and much bleating. A more efficient method would be to corral them and then take one out at a time. Well the children got their exercise anyways and the goats and sheep too:)
Our Gumuz dog, Kitcha died from tick fever but her sister, Cindy decided to be the replacement since its owner no longer wanted her. Cindy too needed deworming this week from the dreaded "mango fly". These flies lay eggs on bodies and even laundry. These eggs than hatch and turn into larvae. Kalia being the observant girl that she is, noticed the numerous bumps on Cindy's body and mentioned it to her compassionate father. Rolf spent 1/2 hour squeezing out large mango fly larvae.
Interestingly, I can stomach a lot of things including wounds and blood but the sight of the larvae was enough to turn my stomach. In fact, I could hardly fall asleep that night. It brought me back 7 years to when I squeezed a smaller version of the larvae out of Rolf and Joel's bodies in Sherkole. We learned our lesson: do not hang out laundry during rainy season. We hang our clothes in our screened in back porch and all is well. I have a nice sized box in my cupboard of albendazole for treating worms in humans as well. We have pinworms, hookworks, roundworms and tapeworms in Gesses. Hookworms are microscopic and prevented by wearing shoes. Gumuz children don't wear shoes and my children regularly forget to wear their shoes so we regularly give worm medication to our own kids as well. I have had atleast a dozen people in the last month come asking for worm medication (and that is for the type of worms that can be seen in the stool).
At the end of the day, the mother of the woman with the gangrene arm, came to our front door. She asked for more gentian violet (purple antiseptic liquid that we had give to them a few weeks ago) and described the deterioration of the arm and hand. I was surprised she was still alive and we continue to pray that she will accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. It will take a miracle.
Hi Ang,
ReplyDeleteJust started reading your blog about a month ago. Phenomenal. Humbling. Thank you for sharing. I am currently reading "The Poisonwood Bible" and find the two stories almost indistinguishable from each other at times.
Blessings and prayers for you and yours!
Jennifer Loewen
(similarities in only some ways...definitely not all!!!!! In case you've read the book and are horified ;-)
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