Saturday, April 28- Sunday, April 29: Luyando comes for follow-up and a walk to the river

Saturday was filled with more fabrication with laminations, more sewing which was almost finished, Carolin was working on a unique AFO (ankle-foot orthosis) fabrication for Harrington (more about his story in my earlier post), Amanda was working on straps and buckles for the sails and John started processing all of the eyes he finished painting on Friday.

Carolin smoothing a plaster model.

John reading over his sermon for Sunday. Every trip to New Day, John is asked to preach one of the Sundays we are there. I always love hearing his sermons!

Amanda's patient from Friday with hip and back pain came back on Saturday for another P.T. session. We also added a 1/2" heel lift in her left shoe to level her hips due a leg length discrepancy.

The lady was pleased with the relief she felt after working with Amanda. Her plan was to come back the later in the week to work with Amanda again.

Models waiting for lamination.

  

John working in his room. He had one of the eyes break during processing, so he had to start the process of re-making that one.

The first lamination for Harrington's AFO.

Amanda burning holes in the straps of the sails. The straps are secured with buckles like a belt. Burning holes in the thick material is one of the most tedious processes....can't thank Amanda enough for working for multiple days on getting the sails ready.

We had a hole starting in the concrete on the porch, and I caught John filling our miniature pothole with material that he uses for fabrication.

On Sunday before church, Luyando and her mother arrived for follow up on her prosthesis. We have been seeing Luyando since 2014 for a prosthesis after her leg was amputated due to a snake bite. Since we were about to go to church, she and her mother went with us and then had lunch with us at the guesthouse. We then went up to the clinic, with Blu to translate for us, to assess her prosthesis. I repaired a few things including replacing the knee with a new knee, gave her new supplies and a new pair of shoes. It was so good to see both Luyando and her mom. They have moved since we saw her last time, so they're now close to the capital city, Lusaka, which is close to 200 miles. We gave her mom money for transport and food on the way back home. 

We decided to take Sunday afternoon to rest and refresh for the week ahead, which was much needed. Chris took a nap and John, Carolin, Amanda and I went with Lance for a walk to the river. 

There were people washing laundry upstream a little ways.

Carolin was showing the kids pictures on her camera.

Lance and John

Still wish I could learn how to balance stuff on my head like that.

John and Amanda ahead on the path.

I love the rich colors of nature...the red dirt, greens and yellows of vegetation and the big, bright blue sky.

We passed some villages on our walk.

  

A maize field we passed.

After dinner Sunday evening, Chris and I got a real treat when Carolin and Amanda got out a guitar kept at the guesthouse and sang worship songs.

Sunday was filled with joy from hearing John's sermon to seeing Luyando and her mother again to a peaceful walk to the river and to wrap it up with beautiful songs of praise to our Creator. 💗

Next post: Monday, April 30- Tuesday, May 1: Eye fittings begin and more new patients