Today is the day that we get our hands dirty. I thought before I hit you tonight with my thoughts from the jigger removal outreach today, I should answer the most common question I have gotten prior to this trip:
Well, I thought this little graphic could help you out:
Jiggers are not the same as chiggers and we don't have them in the States at all.
Yesterday we went to the Outreach House where children and adults are staying as they get healthy. Their jiggers were removed last Thursday and now they wait to heal. Eventually after one week, or two, or three, they are all taken back to their villages and resettled there. While they are staying at the Outreach House they are not only given medical treatment, but also education. Education on how to remove these on their own when they just have one, and not hundreds. Education on how to keep them out of your house. Education is key.
Photo Credit: Gary S Chapman
These are their feet after they have been removed. Today I will see the feet of children and adults prior to removal. We will sit at their feet, wash their feet, smile at them, and then remove the jiggers that are causing them so much pain. I'm not quite sure I'm emotionally ready for what will come today.
My prayer today is for the people here to know how much SOLE HOPE cares for them and wants to help them. Most Ugandan's have never heard of a solution for jiggers, and most people here don't even acknowledge the problem.
So, I must share what God pointed out to me the other day as I was thinking of Sole Hope and this upcoming storytellers trip…
I am reading through the Book of Joshua, and within the first four chapters the word “sole” is used at least three times. It was a word I don’t think I would have normally paid attention to but here were you all heading out to one of my favorite ministries and all of a sudden I saw them in BOLD! The first instance had to do with God telling Joshua that every place his sole treads is his, given by God and the other two were speaking of the priests carrying the Ark in the midst of the Jordan…when the soles of their feet shall rest in those waters, the people would cross on dry ground!
I guess what came to mind was the emphasis God placed on the soles of their feet. These soles that would walk into their blessing. These soles that would make a way for them to walk into their blessings.
I pray for every sole you come in contact with…may they walk into their blessing and then make a way for the blessings of their people.
so I sit here sssssooooooo angry at my 14yr old trying to think do ANYTHING to not blow up at my kid for the 900th time(it feels like) & I notice I’ve seen UR post in awhile…so I click on & with tears from angry now flow compassion for YOU & where you are…how you are helping… It helped put things into perspective PLUS reminded me there are others who have it WAY worse than myself in a power struggle with my teen.