FIRST DAY AT KIDANE MIHRET

Today I took the taxis on my own!!! The first one was fine, the second one I walked a block to far and needed to ask directions and the third one I got off a stop to far so have to walk back up. All in all I did alright considering there are no street signs here. I am not a landmark driver so I am learning to use landmarks, it will be my survival here.

The care home was a bit of a shock today. There are two teams of worker who each work 24 hour shifts and this group is the one that is hard to work with. It is so hard for me because I see so much potential. The babies are on their backs 24 hours a day unless someone decides to hold them, which is only the volunteers. They are in cribs with bottles propped up for them and any time they cry they are given another bottle. I was concerned there would be a lack of formula, and they put sugar in the formula!!!! The diapers are a piece of clothe and they they are wrapped in plastic, the kind our garbage bags are made of. They are changed about four times a day so image the diaper rash, some of them are bleeding. For afternoon nap, this group of workers does not close the diapers but leaves them open to air. They do not use baby wipes just put more diaper cream on top of the skin covered in urine. The babies all have colds according to the nun but the coughs are not sick coughs but rather from eating laying down and aspirating all of the liquid. They are not bathed (one of the volunteers who leaves this weekend after three months said they have been bathed twice since she has been here!!!!) They are NEVER allowed outside because it will make them sick nor can we open the windows for the same reason.

Today I was questioning why I am here and am praying for guidance and direction. I could just hold babies as everyone else and accept that it is to hard to change things but that is not my nature. Please pray for me in this area.