The network is ridiculous. The Internet is connected for a minute then off for two minutes. Sometimes it's only on for seconds. The phone is even worse. We had no phone network for 3 days which was very liberating as it meant I didn't have to carry it around wherever I went. Messages get lost, calls never arrive. They say that they have been taken over by Africell and after the weekend it will be good. They've said that for the last 3 weekends!
The Internet bundle in the office is finished. It is not possible to get it renewed. Aha, we'll switch to MTN we thought...so did a lot of others...there are no MTN dongles to be bought in KIsoro!
Leonard and his men are preparing for the thatching of the shelter where the dome collapsed. He used to help a man construct these for herdsmen in the mountains when he was young and is clearly enjoying the chance to do it again.
We now have 3 wards of patients. That means there are a lot of attendants which means a lot of washing. We've provided more lines but despite our requests they prefer to use the fences and the ground. The rainy season is not as wet as usual and our tanks are frequently empty. I never thought I would see the day when I would be so grateful for a downpour.
Benson, the twin on the left, was discharged from Hospital today. He had an exploratory operation to see if he had testes in his groin. They only did one side because the Surgeon said that post-op infections from theatre were so common he could not risk Benson being rendered infertile. He will operate on the other side in three months. It is sad that two anaesthetics will be needed and regarded as less of a risk than the possibility of infection.
A visiting American Doctor was so taken with the table from our workshop that she bought it to take back to the USA. So far we have 8 colours of home made paint from local rocks. These are pounded and sieved through tights into Blueband margarine containers. Our thanks to those who have sent us old tights....they have many uses. Nicholas our young helper in the workshop was trying to explain tights to some Ugandans. He turned and asked me, 'is it the English men who wear them?' Oh dear!
Mike might be a Reverend but I've overtaken him now. Someone in town called me Reverend twice whilst talking to me. I said I was not a Reverend at which he said sorry...and proceeded to call me Bishop. I paused for a few seconds to savour the moment as well as to imagine the reaction of our local Ugandan Bishop Cranmer. Who would have thought I would ever attain such eminence!!
We have taken in 4 babies in the last three days.
Generous was first. She spent the night with us on Saturday as there was nowhere to put her in the rooms. She is one week old and very cute. Her mother died the day after delivering.
This morning Joshua arrived whose mother also died after a Caesarian. She was only 24 years old. Here is Joshua with his incredibly young looking father.
This afternoon twins arrived and we panicked a little. Where were we going to put them? It transpired their mother died two days ago of TB. The twins had not been given any immunisations and are now 3 1/2 months old. This one is Timothy. It was decided to keep them to one side of delta ward until they had taken enough treatment to be safe to put with our other children.
We really hope we won't be brought any more just yet!
Last time we put out a radio advert for Foster Parents, there was confusion and some people thought we were offering jobs at Potters. This time I got Winniefred to write the advert. We have had several families turn up with groups of children. Somehow they interpreted the advert as us offering to take in their children. You can imagine their disappointment at having to return home with them! One family had even dressed their girls in lovely matching bridesmaids dresses. I cannot understand how they interpreted the advert that way. Wishful thinking maybe?
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