Home Again

Whew!! What a ride. I am at my dining room table this AM, looking at the Blue Ridge Mountains, instead of the Himalayas. International travel is a marvelous thing. After being awake for 33 continuous hours (it didn't seem that long!) and flying for 19 1/2 of those, 5 movies, BBC News, and countless cat naps (hard to sleep with babies crying and you are stuffed in like sardines -- all my flights were PACKED!), I got to Fishersville last evening around 11:00PM. I have felt your prayers for safety, and I owe you. I slept 6 hours, and am so amped up that I can't sleep more. Now to go shave this beard ... ... a good cup of coffee, the morning paper, a HOT shower!! It doesn't get much better than this. I will recap everything within the next couple of days, and start working on a presentation for the many groups and all of you who have supported me. Bear with me while I wrap up. Oh yeah, the milk wagon just arrived ...... (:

Faces

Final post, prior to travel. Thanks for going along for the ride. Even at home, time zips past so quickly. We hardly get started with something before the time is up, and we have to move on. We start our families, and then the kids move out. Puppies and kittens end up in the family pet cemetary along with the hampsters.

I think it is the faces that mean the most to me. Your face, the face of strangers, the faces of my church family. I see Him in each one of these photos. The smile of the old woman, the coy glance of the young girl, the old man with the coke bottle glasses. Then, there is this aging, fat, white guy. Where did those bags come from under the eyes? What is he looking at -- is it the future? Why so much gray in the beard?

In the mountains, the Gujjar say that a person's life story is written in their face. I hope my face tells a story that is pleasing to God, and that will lift up others. The team tells me that I have the gift of teaching and encouragement; I will embrace that thought.

As I look at these Gujjar people, and said good-bye to the men this morning (they have all left for their villages and family), I am hoping that they remember my face. I trust that I have given them all something to keep. I am hoping that it is the power of knowledge, the wisdom of compassion, and the understanding that we all serve the same God. I am aware that is a very large request for a short-term trip like this, but my prayer is that I will remain faithful with what God has given me.








These people don't need us. They have been doing fine for many generations. What they need is to empower themselves with knowledge that enables them to provide for themselves. I can say that I have been to the mountain top, and seen over the other side (literally)!! I can't, and won't say this is the last mountain that I will climb. There is much more work to do, and I will embrace that when it comes. Maybe another CVM trip, another day, another place, another time. My old high-school Timex, my favorite hunting watch, has given it up on this trip, so I truely don't know what time it is. I do know that it is time to pack.







We talk about life-changing experiences. This has been a huge chapter in my life, along with many others. The team here has challenged me to be more spiritual, to be more focused on what God desires for me to do, and I have challenged them to listen to Him as they proceed on their journey. We have all gained from the experience.

The next time I post, I hope to be at my dining room table. It will take me a total of 17 1/2 hours flight time to get home. Who knows how long that will be in airports!! I would ask for your prayers for safe travel, and I hope to greet you in your homes soon, 'Inshallah' (God willing). You have all blessed Nan & I by your support. I hope my mom & dad are proud of me. .. .. .. .. ..
BLN

Relationships

Friday morning, 9:00AM. Michael and I went for a 'Shekallah' (boat) ride last evening on Dal Lake, which is a large body of water impounded near the office village. This ride -- according to Michael -- is 2nd only to the gondola rides in Venice, Italy. It was quite pleasant, and we were under complete paddle power, and went past floating water lillies, Lotus flowers, diving ducks, and floating vegetable gardens. It was peaceful and cost us 400 Rupies for 2 hours, or $4.00 each!

As I drifted along, my thoughts turned to the relationships that have been built these past weeks. Relationships with the men have been wonderful. We had a good wrap-up with them yesterday, and they asked many probing and insightful questions. Titus was not with us, and it seemed that they were more free to ask delicate questions about animal reproduction that they might not have otherwise asked. I sense a trust and mutual respect that is very healthy. I have had my opportunity to share with how God has worked in my life to bring me to this point in my life. I have given them the cards that demonstrated who was supporting me at home, and those who had supported me financially to be able to come. I feel certain that

they are aware that my being here was a team effort and as a result of prayer, and not because I just wanted to come and see. All the photos are very self-explanatory. The old man with our team member is an extended family member who was in the mountain and we had just enjoyed Chi in his home. We were telling him how proud we were of his cousin, and how he would be able to serve the Gujjar people as a result of his willingness to learn and this new training. Then there was the old man who seems to be scowling, but I am sure he is smiling on the inside. This is the same old man who was praying out loud when I was cutting a drainage hole in his prized billy goat. When we went back for a recheck, he was sooo pleased and readily consented to be photographed with Dr. Bruce Sahib. Unfortunately I lost the next photo into cyberspace, but it was of me and a young Gujjar man who was thanking me for caring for his animals. This would then allow him to continue this way of life, while making a better living for his family.



Finally, there is the photo of the biggest smile that I have ever seen when I gave away a ball cap. Simple gestures, random acts of kindness, a smile, a touch -- they all make a difference. I am also thinking about how God wants me to use this experience in my own life, as I improve my relationship with Him.

This is to be a packing day. There is a general strike, so most shops and other bazaar/village activity is closed down. Frankly, I am looking forward to clearing my living space and getting back to Virginia. I have had the right amount of time here, but my work is done. I will post again this evening. I fly tomorrow and the next day. More later..... BLN

Sorry, but these are the photos that didn't get put up with the most recent post. The router is making funny sounds ........ .... More tomorrow.

The culture, and having fun

Wednesday evening, 7:00PM. I had class with the boys this morning from 9:00AM, until 11:30AM. We studied the FAMACHA system, which is the new rave in the US as a means of determining when to deworm a sheep and goat. The theory is that there are many sheep who are parasite resistant, and don't need deworming as often as others. Over-deworming leads to the parasites developing a resistence or a tolerance to the dewormers that we use, and we don't want to raise generations of super-smart worms. We had been doing the eye exams in the mountains, but I had not had a chance to show them the cards that I had brought along to help them to visually verify what we had seen in the field. Thanks, Holly. We then spent the balance of the morning talking about Economics of Business, and how this can apply to any business. You know, the cost of your goods, cost of holding inventory, taxes, interest, profit, etc. there was more to this, but you get the picture. Titus then took Michael and I down-town for some souvineer shooping. We had to stop off at another staff members house for me to start another IV on Ute, who was very brave. The only butterfly cath that I could fine was a 19ga (Yes, 19 ga.) and it was HUGE!! I did manage to start the drip, which was Lactated Ringers and she had stopped vomiting later this evening. Health care is essentially a joke here, especially if they have more confidence in a vet starting IV fluids!

The first photo is a recheck of my very first fistulous withers/saddle sore. You will notice, if you blow it up, that they branded/burned/pin-fired the wound because they didn't trust our medicine to work. (This is the same village where we went back to see the poisoned calf who was up and they came out in force to praise us!!) Same place, same time, different family. As I said, generations of tradition and belief won't go away overnight. I can imagine that was a little bit painful for the horse, since it is equivalent to hot branding. I will say, however, that the wound looked MUCH better. Was that our intervention, or theirs?? The next photo is a horse who was kicked in the shoulder last year and it still limps. The owner was upset that he was unable to work the horse during this season, and he lost money. He KNEW that a shot of Penicillen would cure it. Problem is, there was massive scar tissue around the shoulder joint and range of motion has been severely restricted. I tried to explain that the shoulder was likely not so painful anymore, but is now mechanically mal-functioning, but I don't think they believed me, especially since I would not yield and give the injection. I know that I would have given the PPG, and they would have declared my medicine a failure. Well, guess what, their medicine failed too!!

In the midst of this sort of everyday fact, I will always remember the animals. Dr Phil Sponenberg, my favorite vet teacher, mentor, and leader of the vet campus Christian Veterinary Fellowship, is a world renowned expert on breeds and colors or animals. I had promised him that I would take scads of photos of the animals that I encountered and I sure have. I know we are there to provide direct services, but who can resist the opportunity to grab up a cuddly little lamb?? I have seen the Gujjar women tenderly carry these creatures wrapped in their outer garments during a pouring rain, or bring them into their tents when they needed special care. I make no apologies for it. Even after 22 years of practice, I still get a giggle out of the animals that I am privileged to treat. None of us will ever get it 100% correct all the time, but none of us at CVC will lack for trying. That is what I am most proud of with the doctors and staff back home. They give 100%, and I never doubt their committment. Don't forget that they are picking up ALL my work time and emergency time while I have been gone. I have never been away from the clinic or my wife for more than 2 1/2 weeks!! 3 weeks is a first for both, and I thank God that they have enabled me to do this work. (Maybe a month next year? - not from you Nan, but from the clinic! (: :)!.





I also haven't forgotten to have fun.! I don't remember what was said in the last photo, in fact, I think they were making fun of me for something that I said. No matter, the Gujjar will laugh along, even if they don't know the joke. I have been strikingly surprised that I could get NO children to sing for a video, Lee Lee. If there is music, it is some quiet humming, but I have not seen a single musical instrument on the mountain, or in the homes. The gentleman in green is Gulzar, the Gujjar man who hears and speaks the best English. He can read Urdu, but he cannot write!! He is very bright, and a tremendous asset to his village. As a boy, he came to these mountains with his family's livestock, and through a twist of fate, met Titus and began teaching him the language, then on to full-time employment. The possibilities for this effort is endless. CVM is already planning to send another team this fall to help out, and I am communicating with the leadership on how to prepare them. Hopefully, they will bring another blessing to this part of the world. What was especially uplifting to me, was to hear these Muslim men pray to God for Ute, for her healing and well being. So, here we are, 2 men praying in English, 4 men praying in Urdu, all praying to the same God. It really isn't rocket science here folks. HE listens if our prayers are genuine, and my prayer is for this group to see the Truth! More tomorrow. BLN

Class Day #2, Cont.

Tuesday evening, 9:00ishPM. I fixed supper for me and the other volunteer on site -- Michael from Finland who had the Delhi Belly yesterday and has just regained his appetite. We had Top Ramen Noodles (for you Sam!), but whatever was in the seasoning packet had some kick to it! The drinking water is filtered, but I am still using the drops in what I drink (thanks Carlene) to be sure. We cook to boiling with the filtered water and all seems fine. I am constantly reminded that we are in a strongly Muslim part of India, as you can see with the first picture. A good Muslim prays 5 times per day, while facing Mecca. No matter where they are, they are obligated to perform this ritual, even if no one can hear the calls from the mosque. As I have noted before, there are 4 mosques within hearing distance of the office grounds, and the call has just finished. Sometimes, I hear the 4:00AM call, but most often I am able to sleep through it. I want to learn more about the Muslim faith, but like some church people who put on a good Sunday morning face, there are plenty Muslims who pray at the mosque on Friday afternoon only, just so all can see how good they are, and then they follow the world for the rest of the week.

The office is inside a walled compound, which is very common around most homes, or cluster of homes in this village. The wall is to keep the bad guys out. Titus has a dog that he lets loose at dark, and he does a great deal of night-time barking, often right in front of my open window. This gives me a bit of security, but also disturbs one's sleep. I will look forward to a hot shower, a cup of coffee in the AM, and a full night's rest.

Ladies, you will notice the JenAire stove/oven combo in the next photo. This is the mud cook stove that I mentioned before. Once cured, it is so sturdy that you can stand on it! It gets warm and heats the tent, as well as providing a 2 burner stove. This woman was very demure when I asked who had built it, (indicating that she had) and she agreed to allow a photo to be taken, but at the last second, she diverted her eyes as they often do. I did not want to dishonor her and ask for a 2nd photo. Notice the spruce boughs on the floor which keep things dry and adds a bit of air freshner to the scene (you will recall the odor is a mix of wet chickens, Maggie's ballet shoes, and spoiled milk!) You ALWAYS take off your shoes when entering a home here, including when you enter someone's camp/tent. The kitchens and the living spaces are also very tidy with things put carefully into place and a carpet spread out for all to sit on. Washing the dishes is usually with just water, but I did see that even the Gujjar had bar soap that they washed EVERYTHING with, especially their hands.
I must tell you about the dogs. (Note the custom made dog house). This dog was a bad one. They let him off leash during the night after everyone goes into their house/tent. He is to keep away the bears, and to keep the sheep/goats from straying. A dog that damages the livestock, or a dog who runs from predators somehow disappears (you get the picture). They are just not useful in this culture, and I did not see children playing with any dog other than a few puppies. We dewormed this one after I demonstrated the 'hold by the chain, lift the front legs off the ground, two hands behind the ears and hang on' (take 'em to the ground if you must -- and I did!) technique that Jenny C. is so good at!(EVERYONE was scared of him!) I knew I was going to get bit, but he attacked the deworming gun instead. He had more Albendazole ON him than IN him, but I am sure he got enough! Pretty exciting.... After the first one, the men then wanted to try my restraint technique on some pretty calm ones, which worked out quite well.

This last photo is of permanent summer houses that this same family has been visiting for generations. Notice the beautiful evergreen trees to the side. We are at over 7,000', and the air is crisp and the scenery magnificent. There is running water from snow melt nearby. This was by far my most favorite and the most beautiful campsite that I had seen. The sides of these houses are built of logs and mud, the roof is logs with sod put on top. As with the house in the foreground, when the roof collapses, they will recycle the materials and build another hut. I remind you that this area gets 8-10' of snow per winter, so the load is pretty intense. This is also the village where one old grandfather who was feeling his age and suspected that this would be his last summer on the mountain -- told Titus -- "See what God has provided for me? All the king's in their palaces, and all the wealthy of the world do not have such a fine home as this". This is truely a magnificent attitude. More of us should be content with what we have, instead of wanting more and more. The world needs more givers and less takers. These people could have another way of life, but they choose not to. This is the mission of Titus's work here -- to empower the young people to find contentment and a way that they will be able to continue to follow in their ancestor's footsteps, while not denying that they can better themselves by bettering their livestock. Titus and I have also talked about ways to deliver education to the children while living in the mountains for these 2 1/2 - 3 months since they have so much down time. Many, many possibilities. Losing this way of life for these people is much like more and more of our US farmers finding something else to do. Who will feed us? It is really tough to cook and eat computers!! Don't get me started....

The dog is already barking in the compound (LTS --she likes me, and the videos have been WELL received by Titus and the kids). I had the coolest thing happen this evening. Michael and I went for a walk toward the forest behind the village, and just at dusk, 3 jackals came sprinting out of the forest into the open and came up close! I tried a photo, and I am not sure yet if I captured an image or not. They seemed reddish, like a red fox, about the height of a coyote, but like most things in these parts, they were VERY thin, and VERY fast. I guess they didn't like my non-cologne, because as soon as they saw us, they were jetting on back into the forest.
We had a good 4 hour training session this afternoon with the men, and we will schedule another 4 hours in the morning. I had asked for time to go shopping before my stay here is over, and that is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon. I am not yet sure about Thursday's schedule, but I will be spending most of Friday packing and preparing to leave early Saturday morning. Has it been nearly 2 1/2 weeks already? I am certainly glad to have come for 3 weeks, because 2 weeks would not have been enough time. More tomorrow. BLN

Class day #2

Tuesday evening, 7:00PM. 4 hour class today with the men plus 2 others who are interested in animal husbandry, going over the various medicines again, how we used them and why. A review is also in order. These fellas would never make it using my vet truck.. I set up the box time and again in a fairly neat and orderly way (ya think?) and they go crashing through everything, throwing it back in any way they can, sort of like a recently graduated veterinarian!! Sooo, what I thought I would do, is require that I fill the box, then they would do a complete inventory of all meds and supplies, then re-inventory it after we had made a hiking trip. That way, they would know how much or what they had used, and we can keep track of what to re-order, etc. They thought that was a really good idea, after trying for 1/2 hour to understand why that was necessary. The goal here is for the Gujjar men (at least some of them) to become businessmen, and after describing to them that they could work and earn nothing, or worse, end up owing someone money after all their hard work, they started to understand a bit about capitalism and making a living.
Sometimes, though, you just have to take a break where you can. This old guy was probably going on 65 years of age, but he walked up that hill without even breaking a sweat, leading the horses while we rode. Enlarge the photo and check out his beard. It is common for the older men with the longer beards to dye with Henna, which is the red color. These folks squat on their haunches all the time, and rarely sit. If they do sit, they are cross-legged. Well, my knees won't allow me to do much of either, so I look pretty awkward in their lodgings when I visit.
The children have been a highlight. No matter where we go, whether it is in the valley, or high in the mountains, there is always a smile. The adults don't usually smile until you greet them with 'Salaam a likum', which means 'Hello, my friend'. Then, they will smile and greet you. The family bond is amazing, in the mountain or in the villages. It is common for extended families to share campsites as I have previously noted, but it is also common for families to share houses in the village. One family might have it's own room for sleeping, but share a common cooking area. When I asked how many people were in this one village, I was told approx 100 hearths, which means that number should be multiplied by 4-6 because a hearth is just a cooking area.
Finally, you will notice the fine ceramic tile in the bathroom in my suite. The 'loo' is a very simple structure. Guys, you face one way for a certain function, then face the other way for another. Ladies, it is pretty simple for you to figure out which way you face. The good news is that you never have to worry if the lid is up or down!! I will be getting supper, then coming back for another, later post. The internet and the modem is acting up, so I will post this now, and hope to post again in several hours. 'Tika' for reading. BLN

Afterthoughts/photos

Monday night, and I am just checking your replys. I couldn't help but send some more photos. #1 is mainstreet Sonamag, with the restaurant, beside the general store, beside the open air butcher shop, with garbage collection going on as we watch. In this part of the world, someone likely does own the cow and it is not someone's reincarnated grandmother. The Muslim own and use them, and since pasture is so cheap, & garbage is free -- well, go figure!
Is that alot of volts?? It is common for folks to get electrocuted while trying to tap into open lines and steal electricity!

Skeet, this photo is for you. The chicken is a very important product in this part of the world and so is eggs. We often have hard boiled eggs for breakfast. One morning I had an omelet, which was a deep fried cracked, fresh egg, fried in butter. Yummy!










The only 'water' buffalo that I have seen. There were 3 of them at this camp, at 6,200'. They tend to look for the wet places to lay -- this also happens to be where the women wash clothes and dishes! All rightly, then ..... More tomorrow. BLN

Monday evening, 7:00PM. It is probably early AM for you. The first photo is the 'office' in Brane-Nishat where I have a room in a side building that was formerly the 1st wife's quarters. It is common for Muslem men to illegally take a 2nd wife, then have her somewhere nearby. The man and his 2nd wife left for holiday and the 1st wife took over the property and now the pai group rents it. The grounds are well kept by a groundskeeper who gets paid US $2.00/day. He tends the plants and reseeds the flowers which are beautiful! There are many new birds here. The Myna is common, the English Sparrow must be all over the world, there are Kites which are a type of hawk, and vultures that are pretty awesome looking. It is said that if you start a fire anywhere, they will come circling. It is Hindi custom to cremate their dead and the vultures like to be near the funeral pyre (sp?) for clean-up. I am told that you can find body parts laying in your yard at any time! Titus Gall is my host. He is Danish and speaks many languages. The Gujjar language is Urdu, but there are many languages here in Northern India, depending on your tribe. All of the locals, even the indigent, speak at least 3 languages -- and I struggle with English!! Titus has been in country for 15 years, owns an engineering firm that develops earthquake resistant shelters, and feels strongly about God's calling to work with these people. He is driven to seek God's will in his life, and he walks the walk. Europeans and English are automatically given a measure of respect here, and since he is 6'8" tall, he stands out! His wife Kathy is one of the few women who drives a vehicle here, and she generates lots of stares. There is a significant support staff for his work. There is a contact in New Delhi, and an a nurse/book keeper at the office. I am writing from the office when I blog in. We tried to set up the computer so that I could send remote from my room, but there were too many technicalities and firewalls in my laptop, and I wasn't about to disturb any of that (you are welcome Rachael). My international Verizon cell phone has been junk, so the Skype has finally worked well. (thanks Matt) There are volunteers here often, some that come to stay for an extended stay. Titus has been not so subtle in his efforts to recruit me to stay or come back for a MUCH longer stay. I will leave that kind of decision up to God, and currently I haven't received that calling. I do however, feel like my skills have been used effectively, and that the balance of this week will be given over to working with the men, teaching and mentoring. Lee Lee, they have all been to some sort of primary school, several to secondary school, and all can understand English and speak the language, although some of them still struggle. No matter, we can communicate quite well. They are quick to pitch in, and since they are paid, I have no problems with allowing them to carry the gear! The little girl in the next photo was herding the goats. You will notice a patch on her forehead to ward off evil spirits. Well LBS, that is where my foot bandage went! This is a very superstitious group, and in spite of how well you think you are making headway, generations of family teaching don't leave overnight. The background is this; I had treated one of those goats for footrot the previous week (foot rot is an infection between the claws). I had placed a wad of cotton soaked in bleach between the claws and fashioned a bandage out of duct tape that I had brought along. None of the men had ever seen such a thing! I also gave Sulfa drugs orally (thanks for the applicators, Dr. Dan), trimmed to hoof, and left medicine for follow-up treatment. when I came back a week later, the goat was fine, the bandage had disappeared, but my guess is that the rest of that tape is somewhere in camp!! I just HAD to have this photo. Strong JuJu, that duct tape!! Having said that life is tough and superstition is rampant, the men still seem to want to trust. They shake hands with a firm grip and they won't shake with someone they don't trust. I have seen them walk up to someone as if they were going to shake, then drop their hand and spit at their neighbor's feet as an insult. The ultimate insult is to pick a booger and literally flick it at your neighbor, then turn your back on him and walk away. I also noticed the women shaking hands, and male family members often hug. I have seen father's and mother's both hug their children, but I have seen very little affection between men and women.
I was bold enough to ask one of the boy's this question -- since there are often 2-3 generations in camp, often in the same tent, how do young couples find quiet/personal time. At first I didn't think he was going to ask me, and even through his dark skin I could seen him blushing. He simply said "They often take a walk to look at the stars!" The weather has been nice today, and I am over my case of the 'Delhi Belly' -- vomiting & diarrhea from 2 days ago. I must have eaten something rotton, and besides, Titus noted that visitors didn't get the full experience without at least one attack of the 'loose motion'. Well, trust me, I have now had the full experience and I would have been better off throwing the Lomotil over my shoulder during that 24 hr seige.

There will be a class tomorrow for the boys, so I need to spend time on my lesson plan. The nurse/book keeper now has a virus and I visited her today to give advise. They didn't tell me that I would be doing MD work too, Mixon. More tomorrow. BLN

Down Time

Monday, 9:30 AM. I got to sleep until I woke up, which is like a vacation day for me. I prepared fried potatoes/onions and scrambled some eggs. NO red pepper or chilli pepper!! This is an off day to catch up. I will be planning some lessons for the men who return to work tomorrow. Did someone say that the children are the same, no matter where they go?? They wear plastic shoes, no socks and can walk these steep hills like billie goats. English slip and slide and they giggle when they see this fat guy. Other than the rich Hindu's, I am the biggest thing in town(weight wise!). The bread that the little one on the right is eating is typical for tea when we are being invited into their home. Only after the guests are given Chi and fed do they take the left overs! This is a typical photo of a couple in the mountain families. The gentleman went with us the day we tried to go onto the 2nd highest highway in this part of the country. (We were trying to connect with part of his extended family.) The road was built by the army for strategic purposes (read about the Kargil war in 2002-2003), and passes across the mountain to a village where some of his cousins spend the summer. We didn't make it past 15,500' because of snow banks and avalanche. But we did see some of his people along the road, and dewormed a number of goats along the way. At one point during the day, when it was raining, he wanted to borrow my 'cap'. He immediately put it on backwards like any other redneck and took off over the hill. At the end of the day, I gave it to him, after much protesting that he should not take such a fine gift!

I am constantly struck by the smells. It is a privilege to be invited into the homes, but it is a very striking odor -- sort of a combination of a wet burlap sack, a burned out building, and rancid butter. The people seem to be clean, and their tents and mud homes are swept clean, with the most clever mud cooking stoves I have ever seen. The women are in charge of this, and they can make a new one (they know which clays to use) in 4 hours, when the kitchen is in service. They only eat meat for weddings and other really special occasions. I was asking about some of the animals and their breedings and their milking. One of the men gave me a curt answer that that was something for the women to discuss, and that was that. CVM needs to send a woman to these parts to talk about such things! Lee Lee????




Did I mention that I was collecting souvineers.?? Those wicked horse shoes were left on this dead mule. This is the only dead horse I have seen. I see bones, and have seen one dead cow/calf (bear kill), and one dead dog and one dead sheep in the road. The Muslims would NEVER go near this corpse, even to collect these valuable shoes. This one only had on 3 shoes, and both of Titus's boys wanted one, so I scored on only one. Everyone wanted me to tell them why this animal died. Holly, want to post this one?? (:

The final photo is especially for Dr Dan Woodworth. (Would someone make sure he sees this??). Dr. Dan has been going to Central America for years to make sure the prople there have clean water (sounds familiar!). He has a true missionary spirit and has been a close friend and advisor since I first came to Waynesboro, some 22 years ago. He is a mentor in the truest sense, and challenged me to do, teach, observe. He calls this the 'Budda' stance, when the teacher no longer needs to be involved, demonstrating that you have taught the locals the skills needed to carry on after you leave. This is a very powerful feeling. It is no different than teaching a farmer, a new intern, or brand spanking new veterinarian. When they finally 'get it', it's pretty sweet. Yes, much will be left undone, and there is already plans for the next CVM individual or team who arrives. Many thanks to all who have posted comments on this site. I am specifically encouraged to see them. The power just went off (again), but we have battery back up for the computers, but I don't want to chance it. More later today. Make mine a double, Mixon! BLN

5 days in the thin air

Sunday evening, 8:00PM. It appears that I can only send 4 photos per blog, so I will have more photos tomorrow when I am resting. The mountain scenery is magnificant. those are glaciers that you see in the first photo, and new snow noted on the second. As we hike up these areas, it is incredible how many animals and how over-grazed the area is. Generations have been coming to these pastures, and what Titus and his team are noticing is that fewer and fewer of these people are coming as the children and young men look for better ways -- something other than the 'old' ways. We have discussed making this a business for the men, and next week we will be schooling them on Economics 101 concerning actual costs of meds, transportation, etc. It is easy to 'give' English medicine (their term) away, but this makes the Gujjar look for handouts, instead of expecting to pay. There is no liscense needed in this part of the world, just the ability to generate confidence in your ability. Since there is such a tight family connection, this could lead to something good for the four men we are currently working with. Although none of these four are Christian, they know that I am, and

have not yet reported anyone to the authorities. Currently, in Kashmir, we would be asked to leave if the thought was that we were there to evangelize. I did meet several men on the mountain who are believers, and I will post their photos in subsequent entries. Brian, Cindy & Grace -- the children seem to have lots to play with. They are often dirty, but smiling and not terribly shy. They play with sticks, and old bottles, and I have seen wire fashioned into a steering wheel, attached to a longer shaft like the steering column, with a can at the bottom for them to push along -- very inventive. I am also happy to report that my 1st patient that was put on IV fluids has recovered and is nearly ready for resuming his work activities.!! I would be in jail in the US for the services that I proveded!!

I have done far more horse work than I had imagined. A common complaint is that the horse is 'weak', when actually he is malnourished and heavily parasitized. Saddle sores are the next most common complaint. Paige, I know it is sad, but they don't think they are doing something wrong -- instead they believe it is the animals fault that his back is sore! I have heard time and again that this happens every year! I have seen some of the


saddle blankets that have an area cut out over the point of the withers, where even with heavy riders and heavy loads, there is no friction. Titus and I have discussed having some of the men's wives build these during the winter to sell during the tourist season as another source of family income. Many of the horses also have a sharp spine, as a result of breeding. Add this to no body fat and the situation is ripe for bruising. There is lots of infection surrounding these sore areas and some of these horses are little buggers. I helped the boys build the first rope twitch that they have ever seen, and I couldn't get Ajas to lay his down. I think he was taking it to bed with him at night!! The next most common problem is front leg injuries where these wicked little shoes/nails strike the front legs on the inside and gash them open. The Gujjar all want a 'shot' of Penicillin (they pronounce it Peni-cil-ean) of Terramycin ointment (pronounced Terra-my-seen). Weak horses are often given only Calcium under the skin? (I have never given Calcium to a horse.) These just need forage and a good dewormer!

The food has been pretty spicey, and no matter where you go, you are invited in for 'Chi' and often flour bread, called 'chopate' (I think that is how it is spelled). It has been raining in the valleys -- stop and go showers with the temperature plunging each time it rains. I have always slept warm, but sometimes it is really cold when I get up at night to go admire the stars (for that night-time pressure relief, Brummy). It was cold when we got back to the office last evening, but it is going to warm up again this week. I will go on to bed now, and post again tomorrow. I spoke to Nancy Lee on Skype this evening, and I hope that Hammy is feeling better. Rice and beans for supper this PM. Everything has red chili in it and is spicey -- I am ready for some beef! More tomorrow.

5 day camping trip

Sunday, July 5th; Sorry to miss the annual Bowman 4th picnic, Sis, but I was having a completely different experience. I am exhausted, but exhilerated. This is great work, and the 4 men are learning many new skills. As you can see, there is more than one way to make a vet call. We drove as far as we could and made an additional 2,500' trek up the hill to a village that needed our service. These horses are quite sturdy, although quite small. I had been prepped to see lots of goats and sheep with foot problems, but the horses have been a significant part of our work. The Gujjar use these animals to transport pilgrims and tourists from place to place, which increases their income significantly. Some of the men will live in camps near the areas of concentration of work, which are quite an experience.
No matter where we go, we gather a crowd. This goat was in the high country, you can see the tent and the glacier in the background. All these kids and women come close, but when you take a picture, the young women tend to try to hide their faces. The devout Muslim believe that a camera steals their soul. However, many giggle and want a 'photo' (a copy) when you show them on the camera. The children have no such problem with photos and stand shyly as you click away. We have had rain showers nearly every day, which signals the start of the monsoon season. The northern area does not get torrential rains, but thunder in the Himalayas is powerful!. When we went back to the mountain, we returned to several of our former patients. The calf that had eaten the poison grass (Rhodendron) was up and eating!! The people all came out to thank Dr Bruce Sahib! This was a wonderful experience, but as we say at CVC, only God heals animals, we just try to be His instrument, and especially try not to hinder healing!
We are encountering groups of goats like this for deworming -- liquid Albendazole is the most economical and available in the country. With this group, they were herded to a wide spot along side the river. The goats wouldn't dare jump in the river, so they stand quitely by while the children and young girls shepherd them. When we are deworming, the men come to help, but most often, the children are the ones doing the field work. Most of the goats have shaggy hair, with all kinds of horn conformations and color patterns. In this male dominated society, NOTHING is ever castrated. If selective breeding takes place, it is very quietly done. According to the Muslim faith, this is for God to decide. A devout Muslim prays to thank God for not making him a woman, a Jew, and a pig, in that order.
We are also seeing lots of sheep. There is very little variety in the sheep breeds. There is some variety in color. ALL of the pasture that I have visited, no matter what elevation, is badly overgrazed. This photo is of a 'Choppar', who is a hired shepherd. These sheep can travel several miles a day to graze, but then return to the camp at night for safety. I have yet to see any predators of any kind. I have seen marmots (they call them moles) lizards, and lots of birds. There are some mountain flowers that are quite delicate and beautiful. Somehow, I have lost some of my photos, so I will sign off now, and get some more rest. I am exhausted, but exhillerated! I am definitely feeling the effects of the altitude. I keep a low grade headache, and constantly drink fluids to ward off dehydration. Like any good livestock veterinarian, I have been stomped on, kicked, and smashed a bit. (Future photos will show a scab on my forehead, on the bridge of my nose, and you can't see my upper lip!) Some of these horses are pretty wicked, and they strike with purpose! More on that later. Thank you for your prayers, I feel perfectly safe. I will post again this evening. BLN