hygiene

Hygiene just seems impossible in a place like this, but we made an attempt that seemed to be embraced. 

When we got to the slums the moms set up a station to begin washing hair and removing lice with some fabulous lice combs. At first the dads and kids were passing out toothbrushes and crocs/flip flops, but the shoe line turned into the hair line.  There was no need for a translator for this process. They saw us with the lice combs - and they saw those little critters coming out of a friend's head - and we were in business. 

I wish I had a picture of the teenage boys tyring to comb lice out of girls' hip-length hair, while the young girls like Taylor and Claire were begging anyone to give them a lice comb. 

Yet, this broke my heart to watch children and adults so eager for us to help. We knew the lice would return soon, but we also knew we could provide a few itch-free days.  We left the lice combs behind, knowing this method is much better than depending on shampoo that could not be kept in supply. 

I think we could have spent the entire week on this project alone.

Claire's tired and dirty feet at the end of a very long day.