A few firsts

As I write this, it is 5:30am in Uganda on Thursday am.  That would make it 8:30pm Wednesday in Oklahoma.  The last couple of days have seen some firsts for our family.

1.) Jake and Jared got their first hair cuts in Uganda.  We have no broom, so clean up was going to be an issue.  We did not want to sit outside, because of the mosquitoes.  I had already purchased the clippers on our last trip to the department store.  We placed a chair in a shower.  This would barely fit with no room on any side.  I squeezed them in the shower and had to do one side of their head at a time so that I could reach it.  The clippers are "Sunbeam" brand, which is one that we recognized.  They seem like they need more RPMs.  Our haircuts took at least twice as long as usual as the clipper seemed to chew their hair rather than clip it.  I cut it short and the boys will be wearing hats the next few days.

2.) Gregston boys were caught washing dishes!  That is right.  Without any bribing or coercion, they were washing dishes after our dinner with the Gash family on our Wednesday evening.  I think this could be an early sign of tropical disease!

3.) Our kids got to gain experience in the medical lab at Wentz Medical Center in Gaba.  Science class on the job.  Looking through microscope and learning to do tests for malaria, HIV etc.  Please see Jake's future post on this event for him.  They will be able to use this training as we do some of the same tests in our mobile medical clinic.

4.) I got to see what was likely the first non-pulmonary TB patient of my career.  Not that I recognized it, but Dr Andrew, here in Uganda, feels pretty confident that this is the case.  In Oklahoma, we don't see much TB, and when we do, it is usually a lung related case.  A 11 year old boy with recent weight loss and stomach swelling (ascites).  No pulmonary (lung) complaints or cough.  He also had an unusual rash on his lower legs.  This boy weights between 60-70 lbs at 11 years old.  He had a hernia surgery yesterday and it turns out that he did not have a hernia, but a fluid filled sack that likely showed evidence of TB.  Specimens will be sent for pathology.  Please keep him in your prayers as he is a sick little guy.

5.) Today will be the first Bota Bota ride for most of us.  These are the motorcycle taxis.  We are crossing a potion of Lake Victoria to go to Eagle's Nest Ministries to see if there is a way that our mobile medical clinic can help them in the future.  We won't be able to take our van there (when we eventually purchase one), but we brought 3 large back packs so that we can bring medical supplies with us when we go.  After we cross the lake on a small boat (water taxi), we get to ride these motorcycles another mile or so to our destination.  We will try to get pictures or video to show you.  Report/war stories later.