These past few days have been so incredibly busy for me! I finally started health teaching in the primary school of Mt. Friendship. I am trying to finish up hand washing while starting a new topic about personal hygiene. So far, the kids are responding well to my teaching and so are their teachers. Along with this, I have still been spending time in the basic school. From my time there, I have realized one of my biggest frustrations here in Jamaica. I have great concern for the number of children that go on throughout the school system not knowing how to read or write. Because there is no ancillary help for the teachers, it is very easy for students to fall behind, and virtually stay left behind. Another frustrating factor plays along with this; the number of children who miss school because their parents cannot send them with lunch or snack foods. So needless to say, I am trying my hardest to work with those students who are struggling and not getting the extra help they need to learn to read and write. I think eventually all the volunteers that come to Jamaica have this same frustration in the schools and do the same thing of working with those struggling students. I am determined to teach the basic school kids that will move on to first grade next year, their alphabet and numbers. This sounds much easier than it actually is however.
I am settling in to a routine quite nicely here and I can honestly say that I have reached an all time high of happiness here in Jamaica! Some great things have happened to me here.
On Tuesdays, I have been walking Ms. Doris’ granddaughter, Kima-lee home from school (she’s 5). We stop at a certain spot along the way each time to read a story and it has now become our secret storytelling spot. Every now and then another student joins us and I have them sit on my backpack as I read to them. It has become a simple joy for me in Mt. Friendship.
This week, Kima-lee, who is extremely adventurous, stubborn, and intelligent, wanted to know if I was going to stop at some of the houses along the way back to her house and if she could go with me. So we socialized with a few people including Ms. Merkel who is a sweet old lady who passed out in church on me a few weeks ago, Miss Jean who usually sits out on her veranda in the afternoon, Jorgianna and Reshema (two adorable basic school girls who are 3 years old) and their moms who work very hard at home for their families, Mr. Williams who was sitting underneath a palm tree in his yard waiting for his wife to come home, and she introduced me to a new home I have yet to encounter. Kima-lee knocked on the door and introduced me to Miss Enid. I sat, and talked to her for a long time as Kima-lee squirmed all over the place and I soon found out that she is a very nice lady with many health problems. It turns out that she is a diabetic and has high blood pressure problems, as do many elderly people in Jamaica. Being the nurse that I am, I investigated a little to see if she was controlling these health problems. Her son, who lives in the States, sent her an automatic blood pressure cuff for her, but her husband and herself had no idea how to work it. She has insulin for her diabetes, but her husband and herself had no idea how to give an insulin injection. So I showed them how to work the blood pressure cuff, how to record it daily and realize the normal readings from the abnormal. I showed her husband how to read the insulin label, use the syringe, draw it up, and inject it into the skin (he practiced on a banana while I gave the actual injection to his wife). However, they did know how to use the glucometer and realize when her blood sugar is high. We also went over all her medications, what they were for, and when to take them.
I am so happy that Kima-lee took me to meet this couple! They were so thankful for the help and I can’t help but feel like I really made a difference in their life. Miss Enid explained to me early in the conversation that since the onset of their health problems, they have not been able to work like they used to and don’t always have the money to go to the doctor. I also, can’t help but think that God lead me to their house (with Kym’s help of course!). God works in wondrous ways.
This weekend, we plan to take some of the kids from the missions to a big show at the national arena! Should be fun and exciting for them! I can’t wait!
I am settling in to a routine quite nicely here and I can honestly say that I have reached an all time high of happiness here in Jamaica! Some great things have happened to me here.
On Tuesdays, I have been walking Ms. Doris’ granddaughter, Kima-lee home from school (she’s 5). We stop at a certain spot along the way each time to read a story and it has now become our secret storytelling spot. Every now and then another student joins us and I have them sit on my backpack as I read to them. It has become a simple joy for me in Mt. Friendship.
This week, Kima-lee, who is extremely adventurous, stubborn, and intelligent, wanted to know if I was going to stop at some of the houses along the way back to her house and if she could go with me. So we socialized with a few people including Ms. Merkel who is a sweet old lady who passed out in church on me a few weeks ago, Miss Jean who usually sits out on her veranda in the afternoon, Jorgianna and Reshema (two adorable basic school girls who are 3 years old) and their moms who work very hard at home for their families, Mr. Williams who was sitting underneath a palm tree in his yard waiting for his wife to come home, and she introduced me to a new home I have yet to encounter. Kima-lee knocked on the door and introduced me to Miss Enid. I sat, and talked to her for a long time as Kima-lee squirmed all over the place and I soon found out that she is a very nice lady with many health problems. It turns out that she is a diabetic and has high blood pressure problems, as do many elderly people in Jamaica. Being the nurse that I am, I investigated a little to see if she was controlling these health problems. Her son, who lives in the States, sent her an automatic blood pressure cuff for her, but her husband and herself had no idea how to work it. She has insulin for her diabetes, but her husband and herself had no idea how to give an insulin injection. So I showed them how to work the blood pressure cuff, how to record it daily and realize the normal readings from the abnormal. I showed her husband how to read the insulin label, use the syringe, draw it up, and inject it into the skin (he practiced on a banana while I gave the actual injection to his wife). However, they did know how to use the glucometer and realize when her blood sugar is high. We also went over all her medications, what they were for, and when to take them.
I am so happy that Kima-lee took me to meet this couple! They were so thankful for the help and I can’t help but feel like I really made a difference in their life. Miss Enid explained to me early in the conversation that since the onset of their health problems, they have not been able to work like they used to and don’t always have the money to go to the doctor. I also, can’t help but think that God lead me to their house (with Kym’s help of course!). God works in wondrous ways.
This weekend, we plan to take some of the kids from the missions to a big show at the national arena! Should be fun and exciting for them! I can’t wait!
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