Monday, March 26, 2007

More Pics

Well, I noticed some of the pictures didn't upload. I'm trying to get them. I've tried 3 times now. If this time doesn't work I'll try later.

Russell's & Cody's trip to Jinataga, Nicaragua

















These are just miscellaneous pictures from the guys' mission trip to Nicaragua. The bus was the usual mode of transportation and Russell said that really, the only thing that needed to work on it was the horn!
There is a view outside their room. They stayed in a woman's private home, but she rents out her rooms as a hotel. They would get on the bus each morning and travel to some little town to work.
Russell wound up being the optician. He said he learned in 15 minutes what it took Mike 4 years to learn. He said he was going to talk to Mike about going into practice with him! ha The picture of the little boy is one that really touched Russell's heart. He was blind and had been from birth. Cody said it was probably congenital cataracts. It's a condition easily fixed by surgery, but the boy's family couldn't afford the surgery. Russell made arrangements for him to be taken to Managua to the hospital there for the surgery. We are supposed to hear from the local preacher when that's been done.
Other views are of the town of Jinotaga. As you can see, it's mostly dirt streets. Russell said the whole country of Nicaragua was really filthy. Cody said they all have parasites. Each patient he would see he would ask if they wanted medicine for their parasites. The interpreter would talk to them and then each one would shake his head "No!". Cody's interpreter finally told him that what he was actually asking them was "Would you like some parasites?" I guess they thought he was crazy!! ha
I included some pictures of Cody working. One was a lady with a large cyst on her back. No doctor would remove it because she couldn't pay for the surgery. Cody removed it and you can tell by looking at her how much better off she is now. Also, there are some pictures of Cody removing a head parasite from a boy. He said the worm was quite a bit bigger than he had expected! I could have included some pictures of a horrible open ulcerated wound on a woman's foot, but I can hardly stand to look at that myself!
Well, I've tried 3 times to post this. This is going to be my last try. Hopefully it will work!