Street Children...
Staying in a hotel in downtown Lira has a few advantages, one of them is meeting other foreigners traveling through. We have had opportunity to meet three French Canadian film makers in their late 20's. They are here to film a docudrama about the children of northern Uganda, in the hopes of continuing to bring to light to their situation.
In their travels about town, Catherine, Melody, and Sebastian have run into many orphans living on the streets here in town. These children tend to hang out in their own age groups with the 7-9 year olds being the youngest. Catherine's heart has been deeply touched by these children that have been cast out or brought into town and abandoned. In our conversations this trio has discovered that we are here providing health care to the camps. So just a few days ago Catherine mentioned some of the physical complaints that one child is having to Sally, and Sally surmised that his belly is probably full of parasites.
This morning Catherine found us at breakfast and asked if we would look at one boy's foot as it looked terribly infected. Sally and I went to the front of the hotel, and off to one side on the steps Catherine had about nine children sitting on the steps feeding them sodas and biscuits, as they were hungry and that is what the closest store sells.
Sally began immediately handing out deworming medication to each child there and a crowd quickly formed around us. Everyone curious to see what we were doing. I was fearful that word would get out, and we would have a steady flow of traffic coming by seeking free medical attention, so Catherine attempted multiple times to disperse the crowd with some luck.
The boy with the injured foot was probably around nine or ten years old, and one of his toes had a cut on it which was infected. Sally washed his foot, which felt warm to the touch, and then applied antibiotic ointment and a dressing that we hope will stay on for a few days. I gave the boy my bottle of Bactrim (antibiotics) with instructions on how to take them, with the help of an interpreter.
This children have a usual place were they sleep on the sidewalk all in a row, side by side. There is a church that will feed them twice a day Monday through Friday, but the weekends are rough. I shared with Catherine two places that I knew where she could buy chapati and beans to go for a very good price, and told her I would be happy to pay for some meals for them while I am here. She has taken this on as her little project, so I doubt that she will ask me for any money. She has already invested in their lives and feels like she has made a difference in at least a few lives here. The needs in the camps are plenty, but then there are always more that need help and care.
My prayer is for more people that will feel compelled to get out of their comfort zones and help even a few. Blessings to the Catherine's of this world!
Staying in a hotel in downtown Lira has a few advantages, one of them is meeting other foreigners traveling through. We have had opportunity to meet three French Canadian film makers in their late 20's. They are here to film a docudrama about the children of northern Uganda, in the hopes of continuing to bring to light to their situation.
In their travels about town, Catherine, Melody, and Sebastian have run into many orphans living on the streets here in town. These children tend to hang out in their own age groups with the 7-9 year olds being the youngest. Catherine's heart has been deeply touched by these children that have been cast out or brought into town and abandoned. In our conversations this trio has discovered that we are here providing health care to the camps. So just a few days ago Catherine mentioned some of the physical complaints that one child is having to Sally, and Sally surmised that his belly is probably full of parasites.
This morning Catherine found us at breakfast and asked if we would look at one boy's foot as it looked terribly infected. Sally and I went to the front of the hotel, and off to one side on the steps Catherine had about nine children sitting on the steps feeding them sodas and biscuits, as they were hungry and that is what the closest store sells.
Sally began immediately handing out deworming medication to each child there and a crowd quickly formed around us. Everyone curious to see what we were doing. I was fearful that word would get out, and we would have a steady flow of traffic coming by seeking free medical attention, so Catherine attempted multiple times to disperse the crowd with some luck.
The boy with the injured foot was probably around nine or ten years old, and one of his toes had a cut on it which was infected. Sally washed his foot, which felt warm to the touch, and then applied antibiotic ointment and a dressing that we hope will stay on for a few days. I gave the boy my bottle of Bactrim (antibiotics) with instructions on how to take them, with the help of an interpreter.
This children have a usual place were they sleep on the sidewalk all in a row, side by side. There is a church that will feed them twice a day Monday through Friday, but the weekends are rough. I shared with Catherine two places that I knew where she could buy chapati and beans to go for a very good price, and told her I would be happy to pay for some meals for them while I am here. She has taken this on as her little project, so I doubt that she will ask me for any money. She has already invested in their lives and feels like she has made a difference in at least a few lives here. The needs in the camps are plenty, but then there are always more that need help and care.
My prayer is for more people that will feel compelled to get out of their comfort zones and help even a few. Blessings to the Catherine's of this world!
posted by BrendaTravels | 3:23 AM
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