Yesterday was National Youth Day…festivities and marching…all children off school.  Today, Tues, we photographed the pharmacy area…they manufacture some of their own drugs here with a small operation.  HIV drugs are controlled by the govt. and are scarce unless brought with visiting docs.  Painkillers like Morphine are very hard to get and people with severe pain are given Ibuprophen.  But they are able to make some intravenous drips right here as well as lotions, eye drops and compounds that do not require expensive ingredients.  They make their own labels and scotch tape them on…yes. This lab supplies 6 hospitals in Cameroon that are run by the Sisters of St Francis.

Sunday was a very busy day. We started at 6am with a traditional African Catholic Mass, complete with chickens at offertory, followed by hospital rounds at 9am with Dr. Jim.  Then we went to a weekly market where Project Hope has a shed set up to engage people about HIV/Aids prevention.  We returned early afternoon and at 3pm were granted some time with the very busy Matron of the Hospital/compound, Sr Xaveria.  What an incredible woman.  She moves mountains.  Then dinner at 7 at the convent, a special invitation where the nuns sang songs of gratitude for 6 visitor (doctor, nurse, dentist and his wife and Carol and I). 

i can only post onepic per post.  here is a child from the orphanage.

The women here work so hard.  They do all the heavy lifting.  This woman was heading home with firewood around 6pm…most probably after a long day working.  Bless them.