Today is our last day in Mutomo. The group has divided up again. Most of us (Olivia, Elizabeth E., Elizabeth A., Jessie, Meghan, Mackenzie, Samantha, Amanda, Kathleen, and Joanne) are working at the hospital, helping the administrators file years' worth of records into accessible piles. During our breaks, the students and chaperones are visiting with the sick children in the ward or with kids who are visiting for their outpatient treatments. One child LOVES the matchbox car we gave him as he is completely confined to his bed.
Another group -- Jay, Ashley, and Rose -- are working around the hospital and the town to continue their work in resolving water issues. Eric and Philip have been meeting with Anita McTernan, one of the hospital administrators, to look at various needs around Mutomo Hospital. The plan for the remainder of the day is mass at 3, a BBQ dinner (we are SOOO excited about that), and sunset on the rocks (Joanne is praying that we don't see any snakes). We'll also finish packing in preparation for a 7 a.m. departure tomorrow.
Yesterday was another great day in Mutomo. Each group will write a bit about it.
Elizabeth England (who was with Ashley, Kathleen, Elizabeth Arnstein, and Jay Bruber):
Yesterday was an eventful and action-packed day; we started our work at 8:30 a.m., planning a lesson to teach students at Mutomo Primary School down the road. We arrived at the school at 11 a.m. and were welcomed by countless smiling faces and "How are you's?!" Rose, Kathleen, and I then proceeded to get "mobbed" by the adorable little children who were fascinated by our flashing cameras. After picture-taking and a tour of the school by Benjamin--the school's principal -- our group gathered in a room filled with the entire school population and introduced ourselves. We were awed by the children's welcoming and polite comments, their poise while listening to our introductions, and their energetic spirit when we asked them questions.
Next, Kathleen, Ashley, Ms. A and I went to teach our prepared lessons about America to a combined seventh- and eighth-grade class and later to the fifth and sixth grade levels. We started by asking the children what knowledge they had about our country, and both classes were so excited to tell us that our President's father was from Kenya. But they were more excited to learn and play "Simon Says" and dance to "Head, Shoulders, Knees, and Toes." Their laughter and joy filled both classes as we compared Kenyan food, animals, and climate to America's. We focused on finding the similarities between the two nations, and we received much feedback on questions we had about their culture and family. We ended both classes by watching the children draw pictures of their homes and families and gave them a pencil to use for school.
Later, some of our Vis students went to play volleyball in a nearby secondary school and got to enjoy playing a game of "football" with the students as well. We were instantly swarmed by students who wanted to touch our long hair and hear about our culture and school systems in the United States. After the sports games we continued talking to the other students, who were around our same age, and we were sad to leave the girls after such an amazing experience.
From Amanda Scheid (who was with Mackenzie and Eric Grutzner):
Mackenzie and I joined her father today in the dental clinic with Tara, the Swedish dentist who has been here about as long as we have. We got to assist in everything from tooth extractions to fillings. (Don't worry -- we wore gloves, a mask and a plastic shield to protect our faces.) We also got to see a woman who had a large and potentially life-threatening infection that originated in her mouth and made half of her face swell up. Unfortunately, we did not get to work on her because she was rushed to the hospital to get antibiotics for her infection. We truly hope she is okay, though, and we are praying for her quick recovery. We also got to hand out toothbrushes to the children who came in for checkups or extractions, and it was extremely rewarding to teach them how to brush their teeth. We learned so much from Dr. Tara and from Dr. Grutzner during our time in the dental clinic and had so much fun.
From Joanne:
Yesterday, Samantha and I spent the day in an Anti-Retro Viral Treatment (ART) clinic, which was housed in a small community outside of Mutomo. All were there (mostly women and children) because they are HIV positive. I worked with the nurse, James, taking blood pressures, weighing the women and children and taking temperatures. They come to this clinic every month or so to monitor whether they are taking their retro-viral drugs. Samantha worked with the pharmacist, counting out pills and handing out drugs. We saw so many women who had walked 10 or more km one way, with babies on their back, just to get the drugs.
What was most compelling is that we had the opportunity to talk to them through an interpreter. They had so many questions. The told us that they have no food or water, and one woman asked how we, in America, took our medicine because with these drugs, they need to take it with food and they have no food. What an "AHA" moment.
The landscape here is beautiful, and the people have been incredibly welcoming. There is so MUCH poverty. As hungry as we've all been, I will never again say, "I'm starving...when are we going to eat?" and will instead know that there is so much food on our table.
From Jessie Wyatt (who was with Meghan, Olivia, Philip, and Rose):
We were asked by the sisters to sort through and organize some of the old patient files between the years 2002-2007. It was extremely interesting sorting through the files and reading about some particular cases where the individual showed increasing signs of improvement or when the file was labled "escaped" (meaning they left without paying). Unfortunately, many of those who are treated at the hospital cannot afford the medication they are receiving, leaving them with what they feel like is their only option -- escaping from the hopital and in turn escaping from their bills.
Among the files were documents stating individuals' time of deaths and causes of death. We were saddened to read that many of the deaths were caused by AIDS. Though our work may not have been the most "exciting" work we have done in Mutomo, we appreciate the new information aquired about the population around Mutomo. We continue to be impressed by the amount of work the hospital does for the surrounding community and we hope to maintain a strong relationship with the Sisters of Mercy as we aspire to make a difference within the Mutomo community.
A Few Final Thoughts from Elizabeth A.:
One of the lasting impressions here is that we are surrounded by life and death. Yesterday, I saw a nurse carrying the wrapped-up corpse of a baby out of the hospital. Meghan saw a deceased child being carried to the morgue. Yet we have seen at least three births in our time here. It is a most difficult life that these children are born to, between the drought, poverty, disease, and many other issues. We are also struck by the number of elderly people who are caring for their grandchildren, because the children have been orphaned.
We ask you to pray for the people we are seeing -- and we continue to ask for your prayers for our safety and good health. We will never take either for granted again.
It is likely that we won't have access to the blog on safari. We will blog if we get the chance, or we will see you on July 1.
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