Streets are lined with ditches containing raw sewage and trash. No wonder there's so much disease there! When I had to cross it, I my heart would stop every time because I was so scared I would trip and fall in or something!!!

This is Steph and I examining two of the Manna kids.

A vendor at the market selling spices and rice, etc.

The main reason I had such a difficult time with the food in Nigeria.

This is another picture of the man I bought the pot from. This one is better because it shows his great smile a little more.

This is a picture of one of the "alleys" in the market.

This is a picture of us on the last night wearing our Nigerian outfits. For some reason, we just don't look as good as real Nigerians! I think it might have something to do with the pale white skin... (-:

This kid was so cute. He hung around me all day one day and kept asking me for a bicycle. I wished so much that I had one for him! He was so funny.

These are some of the elderly people in the village waiting to be seen and examined by us at the school. I loved them! They are also the ones that nearly rioted when we didn't give them medication that one day.

I thought these two were so sweet. They were very happy and smily people, but would get very serious when they were posing for a picture. I had to take this one when they weren't expecting it.

This little girl's heart was beating super fast because she was scared of me!

This little guy screamed the entire time I was examing him. Once I stopped touching him, however, he was just fine.

This is Mike and Queen examing several family members - two kids and their mom.

This is a little girl at one of the clinics we held in Onitsha. She was all dressed up for church.

I bought this pot from this man at the market. He is the one that actually made the pot. It can actually be played as a musical instrument and in the picture the man is demonstrating how it is done. He's singing a song as well. He was SO cute and smiled the entire time we were there. I bought it to give to my parents. I carried it in my backpack all the way from Nigeria so that it wouldn't break. Somehow, my backpack unzipped while I was walking to my gate in the Minneapolis airport and the pot fell out, breaking into a million pieces. I was very sad!

I think this is my favorite picture. It's a little girl carrying her younger sibling on her back. We were so impressed by how the kids in Nigeria take care of their younger siblings. They were always holding their hands, carrying them, and just watching out for them. We saw both of these kids in our "clinic" in Atta. They live in the village but don't attend the Manna School. It seemed like we kept on seeing them around the village.

Onitsha was covered with trash. We found this sign amusing, since it is among a giant pile of garbage/refuse!

Shanties along the road in Onitsha.

Kids at the Manna School in Atta.

The team I traveled with - Queen (nurse), me, Kathy (nurse), Steph (nurse), Robert (non-medical), Mike (in the back)

Home At Last

Hi... from Des Moines!

I wanted to let you all know that I am home safely. It was about 40 hours of exhausting travel, and I arrived at the Des Moines airport at around 4:30 yesterday afternoon. I have showered (twice), eaten a fantastic meal at Centro, slept, and am feeling well again. My bed has never felt so good. Also, it's never felt so good to be able to cover up with blankets or to rinse my toothbrush with tapwater instead of having to use warm bottled water or to eat dinner without wondering just what I'm putting into my mouth or where it came from. It's the little things. (-: Laundry and unpacking is well under way also. I've been able to be with both Kevin and Porterhouse since coming home, and that has been the best thing of all. It's SO good to be home.

I feel like our time in Nigeria was productive and very worthwhile. I always wish we could have done more and helped more people, but at the same time I'm happy with what we DID accomplish. We treated a lot of malaria, abdominal parasites, various infections, vitamin deficiency, and more. I am hopeful that we have made a difference, although small.

I appreciate the wonderful support and encouragement I've had from all of you and I will be forever grateful. I am the luckiest. Thank you.

I am FINALLY able to post some of my favorite photos... sorry I couldn't get them on there while I was gone. I hope you enjoy them!!!

Love,

Erin

Last Night in Nigeria

Well, it's our last night in Nigeria. I am definitely sad, but also VERY anxious to be home. I have never been so ready to return as I am this time. I'm not sure why, but I think it's a variety of reasons. I am hoping so much that I can sleep tonight so that the marathon travel is not quite so miserable. It's just so hot that it's been hard to get much sleep at all since being here.

We had a going-away party at Queen's tonight. She invited some of her family and close friends over for dinner. We had quite a variety of Nigerian cuisine. It's always interesting. I have done more obligatory eating on this trip... I can't wait to eat without anyone watching how much and what I put on my plate!!!

The party was fun. We Americans wore our Nigerian outfits that Queen's friend made for us. They are awesome. Hot, but awesome. I don't know how these people wear all of this on a regular basis!

We went to another market today, as well as the pharmacy for medications for the people we saw in Onitsha. It's amazing how much medication we are able to buy with such little funds!

The market we went to today was another great experience. We got some more great things to bring home.

Thanks for checking in and please check back in a few days to see pictures. I promise to post them soon after I get home. I can't wait to share them!!! And thank you for all of your support and contributions to this effort. I hope you know that it has gone to a worthwhile cause.

Love,

Erin