Elephantiasis is distributed every year and people take up to 4 tablets, depending on their age. My friend told me that everyone from 2 years and up should take it, but there were still quite a few people that don’t. In a nearby VDC (Village District Committee) 13% of people are infected with this disease. There were quite a few people there when we arrived, one little girl who was crying.
One of the tablets was what I would consider a horse pill. I am surprised at how many of the kids were able to swallow it! Apparently that one was ok to crush and tasted a little like a sweet, but the rest of the pills must have had a bitter taste considering all the faces that were made as they were taken! Nepalis waterfall drinks so they only had two water containers between the 150 people that came to take the meds. I’ve always found water-falling amusing here because people will still touch the mouth of the jug with their hands as they drink or pass it onto someone else. Hands can be just as filthy as mouths!
I began zoning out a little when there were many Nepalis talking all at once. My attention was brought back when I heard my friend telling people that I was a Christian. I agreed, but the lady my friend was telling that to told me of another lady who said that Christian beliefs stated not to take medicine. Thus, this lady refused to take the meds or promote it. I told her that the Bible did not say not to take meds so it was not a Christian belief, but others did think that.
After that conversation, an ox ran up to our area so my friend and I ran quickly behind a house. I was not fully convinced we were in a place that the ox wouldn’t come after us as the road was still big enough for him, but luckily he didn’t follow! We did the same thing a little later when a couple of goats ran too. About 4+ish hours later, we ran out of meds. We had called earlier for more, but they still hadn’t come.
We began walking back, taking a different and more difficult path to go down. I’m sorry, but a broken section of roadside does NOT mean that it’s a road to go down! Especially when there are no steps or really anything to make it not a steep drop off to the next level! I survived, despite the leaves and corn husks on some of the roads that made it slippery.
My friend, a female community health volunteer, and I finally came near houses. One of them called for us to come to their house. I realized that the house was one of the school teachers at my dai’s school! They got out chairs where I really wanted to sit next to my friend on a bench, but I knew culture dictated that I sit by myself so I did. When they came to collect my dishes, I told them (most disliking that I had to) I would need to wash them myself.
I wouldn’t have said anything, but since one of the ladies there works at my dai’s school - I knew it would probably come up the next day when they were at work. Luckily, the lady school teacher informed me she was on it too so I did not feel as awkward as I could have surrounded by mostly males. She asked me what I thought about it… I told her I didn’t like it, but I wanted to respect them so I went with Nepali life.
That is something I have been juggling in my mind. You want to respect people and their culture, but where is the line between doing that and not agreeing with something? Is doing something out of respect that you don’t agree with communicating that you agree with it? Is not participating in something not showing respect? Usually I avoid it by taking trips and just saying that I had it while I was away, but my last trip was not long enough.
I also am thinking about what the Bible says about medicine. The Scripture that comes to mind is “By His wounds, we are healed.” That does not say anything about not taking medicine, going to the doctor, prevention, and etc. Just reading only that can be insinuated that nothing else heals. I think that is where a lot of people get concepts that may not be completely biblically accurate. Context is so important as well as icegesis and exegesis .
I was fairly confident in what I stated to the lady about Christian beliefs and taking medicine, which is why I stated what I did. I still want a little more backing to my argument for the next time, though! This week will be spent on reading what Scripture says, listening to what God is communicating about the verses on healing, going to the capital for supplies and an organization visit, and visiting the mothers of the daughters who have disabilities.
The same friend that I went with for med distribution offered to collect all the information of how to receive disability support from the government and go with me to communicate it to the mothers. When she told me that, I started crying a little I was so happy! The mother and I understand each other fairly well, but the intricacies of the details I was not sure how it would all go down. I’m so glad my friend is going to help me help these mothers!
This next week, I will find out if I am going to be a Resource Volunteer for the new group arriving. I hopefully will also find out if my Moringa grant proposal is approved for funds! After I visit the district capital, I will know if the Deafblind Project can help the little girl or not. If not, I am hoping the organization can tell me of any others than can help me!
P.S. “K”Z IS BACK!!!!!
P.P.S. Apparently, cooking gas is back to the same prices as it was prior to the unofficial blockade. Availability is the question as some tanks are only half filled, but it will keep getting better as time passes!