Sunday Dec 7th

Last Thursday, Dr. Bob and I held our clinic at the central Prison of Goma. This "famility" was built to house 150 men and now approximately 700 people are living there. The youngest prisoner is 10 years old! We have not met him yet. Our first obstacel, (after hours of Congolese red tape) was persuading the "nurse" of the prison that we were prescribing medicines to the prisoners, rather than leaving our entire duffel bag of drugs with him. This whole discussion was taking place in front of our first patient. He quietly and patiently waited, holding a small jar with a lid. It looked like a jar that face cream had once came i. He carried this with him everywhere, to spit the blood in that he continually produced when he coughed. (TB) And the argument went on. As I sat there, I could not help but think what an example this ws of the injustice in the world. A person with power only thinking of the advantage he could have (with our drugs to sell) while completely ifnoring the human suffering right before him. We won the "fight" but the real battle continues.

Throughout the day, we treated men with gunshot wounds, burns, pneumonia, and a variety of other illnesses. We met another child soldier. he was abducted at the age of 14 and is now 18 years old, the age of my son, Ross. What a different life they lead. "There but by the grace of God goes I"

We treated several women prisoners and their babies as well. To keep the women from the men, they are in tiny quarters, about the size of a "living room" in the U.S. Fifteen women and their babies share this space. There are no meals served by prison. Several are provided by charities, and the rest are left up to family. Most prisoners are not fortunate enough to have the means or support of family.

The news that Dr. Bob and I were working at the prison traveled to the United Nations "people" quickly. A reporter for the UN radio came to do an interview during the middle of an exam. A representative from the UN came to "thank" us, we think. We are still wondering the real reason for all the hoopla.

Friday and Saturday were clinic days. We have been seeing more displaced people from fleeing the war in the north. There are so many women and children. Ltos of really sick babies, pneumonia is quite common. I had a 3 year old boy brought to see me by his 9 years old sister. He was very geverish and lethargic, he could hardly hold his little head up. Upon consulting Dr. Albert, he informed the brave big sister that we must admit her baby brother for IV therapy. She began to cry, and so did I. While most 9 year old girls I know are making Christmas lists, this precious girl was trying her best to care for this sick boy. Her mother was too sick herself to come with them. The girl stayed with her brother for the next 2 nights, we have no idea if their mother knew where they were. The little boy is getting better!

While Dr. Bob and I worked in Goma, Kris and Dr. Steve spent time conducting a needs assessment north of Goma, near Kanyabayanga. They visited several "clinics". All have been previously looted by soldiers so they have no supplies. The staff have not been paid for months, but they stay, hoping it will get better. Along the road, Steve & Kris had to pay "taxes" to get past the checkpoints. A loaf of bread, a box of juice, a dollar, and a can of sardines, do you think our IRS would be satisfied come April 15th?

Seriously, boys wielding guns stopped the HEAL Africa car at checkpoints, and thanfully with a small tax gift and prayer, let them pass. Needless to say we were happy to see them return!

Today's sermon topic was "unity". Dr. Jo translated the Swahili for me. The message to the Congolese people was they are one country, one people, one language, with one God. All created in His image. Tomorrow I believe there are to be peace talks for Congo in Nairobi, Kenya. Please pray for the unity and peace the people so desperately need. We are truly one world, one people, created in the image of our God.

Mungu adubariki!!

Lisa