Today was a day we'd all been looking forward to, with great anticipation - Sole Hope Jigger Removal Clinic! But first... some of us just HAD to get a boda boda (motorcycle taxi) experience! We had a little time in the morning, before we left for the clinic, so we walked a bit down the dusty red dirt road and sought out a couple of boda drivers that we hoped and prayed understood that this was our first (except for Christy) ride! "Please go sloww." Where did we go?? To the Source Cafe, for the best coffee ever, but of course! Our drivers were very kind (and slow, thankfully.)
"Click" for: Video of Boda Ride :)
Once we returned to the guest house, we prepared to travel to a school in rural Jinja, UG, to help with a Sole Hope jigger removal clinic. The clinics are done every Thursday. Staff and volunteers remove jiggers from the children's feet (and in severe cases, sometimes legs, hands, etc.)
Dru Collie, Sole Hope's Executive Director (and husband to Sole Hope's Founder, Asher),drove us from the Sole Hope Guest House to the Sole Hope Outreach Center. The Outreach Center is where children can receive extended care for their jiggers, and even other health conditions. They also receive education there, since some are missing days, even weeks of school while they receive treatment.
Current Outreach House guests' charts
Unfortunately, the sad fact is that jiggers still carry an immense social stigma in Uganda. About the time we visited, we learned that Sole Hope's rental agreement with the property of the Outreach Center was being terminated due to the owners learning that jiggers were being treated here. Plans for location of a new Outreach Center are in the works!
From the Outreach Center, we drove to the school. First, Dru debriefed us a little about what our role as volunteers would be:
Mommas on a Mission: Locked and Loaded!
When we arrived, we were warmly greeted by lots of excited kids:)
We quickly realized what an efficient, well-oiled machine Sole Hope is! Workers quickly set up for the clinic.
We got to hang out with the kids (infectious joy!), and learn about how we would help.
Christy, Nicole, Sonya, and I were foot washers.
Some elderly showed up at the clinic, as they had heard about it. Sole Hope removed the jiggers of over 150 people this day!
Nicole
Andrea was able to be a comforter for the kids, handing out "sweeties" (suckers) and offering hugs and support. This was soo stepping outside of her box, and she was really worried about how she'd deal with this experience. I think we were all like proud Moms, watching Andrea reflect her Savior's love that day! Oh how He blesses us, and those around us when we are obedient!
jigger removal by Sole Hope staff
Paul, removing jiggers
Christy, comforting this little guy while
he has his jiggers removed.
One of the Sole Hope nurses!
Kerry had the privilege of being a shoe-fitter for the kids once they were jigger-free! She found this rewarding, especially when a little girl would light up with glee, upon spotting a fun pair of shoes with a "girly" denim pattern. ;) It also brought sadness, when shoes ran out, and some newly-healthy feet were sent home, shoeless. :(
Sole Hope does return to the kids, another day, with shoes. But, your help IS desperately needed!
Sole Hope starts with willing hands to cut out the shoe patterns!
So easy to help, even for little hands!
Host your own sole hope shoe-cutting party!
Click HERE
After the patterns are cut and sent to Sole Hope, They are given to shoe makers, who earn a fair wage for their work.
Othello, head shoemaker! He explained that he sews 18-20 pairs of shoes in his 8 hour workday :)
Next, soles are made from recycled tires.
Jigger free! Headed home with instructions for family on how to keep feet healthy!
Tree-climbing, taken to a whole other level...! :)
This was a beyond humbling experience for me. As a nurse, I think I was able to look past the painful removal process effects (for the most part; of course my mama heartstrings were pulled to see the kids suffer unecessarily!)... but so often seeing people in pain truly is something that we become accustomed to dealing with, in order to help others.
It was incredible to connect with the kids and to just BE THERE. Their initial apprehension as they took a seat next to a washing bucket dwindled as they trusted. Smiles break down WALLS, y'all.
A smile says, "I don't judge you."
A smile says, "I care."
A smile says, "I'm no better or different than you.
I'm simply here."
A smile looks past all color, age, culture, and circumstances.
A smile says LOVE.
A video of our jigger clinic removal experience:
