Here is a video slideshow of the highlights of Bonnie and my trip to Uganda. We have about 1000 photos so it was hard to choose which would make the cut on this video. Stay tuned for a photo gallery. In the meantime, turn up your volume and enjoy...and consider sponsoring a child.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Assimilating Back into American Culture
The past week has been more difficult than I expected it to be. Both Bonnie and I have seemed to struggle with resuming life as usual. We're not sure life will ever be the same after what we've seen.
We notice how much we (us Americans) are distracted by "things" and not focused on people or our relationships with them. We seem to be in such a hurry. Perhaps that is what makes life go by so fast.
We seem to have our priorities out of balance. What are we choosing to spend our money on? Is it more important than using that money to educate a child and give them a chance at life?
Bonnie and I miss the lingering handshake that is customary in Uganda. We miss the way Ugandans speak without contractions. It's not "You're welcome", it's "You are welcome" - and it is charming and endearing.
We miss our team, all very diverse people, personalities, backgrounds, economic statuses and ages. But all people who easily got along with everyone out of love and compassion for humanity.
While we don't know if we will every return to Uganda, one thing is for sure. Uganda will forever remain in us. I pray that we will never resume to life as usual, at least not mentally or spiritually. For we can't effect change in our communities if we don't have another perspective to consider.
If you have ever had the inkling to travel abroad or participate in some kind of humanitarian effort, I strongly encourage you to do it. With all that has gone on in Haiti and Chile, the opportunities are not scarce. It is worth every vaccine, all the paperwork and travel arrangements. It is worth making arrangements for your children and household. It is worth the mental calesthenics of packing creatively.
What makes it worth it? The smile of relief and appreciation on the face of the person whose needs you have met. And that, is priceless.
We notice how much we (us Americans) are distracted by "things" and not focused on people or our relationships with them. We seem to be in such a hurry. Perhaps that is what makes life go by so fast.
We seem to have our priorities out of balance. What are we choosing to spend our money on? Is it more important than using that money to educate a child and give them a chance at life?
Bonnie and I miss the lingering handshake that is customary in Uganda. We miss the way Ugandans speak without contractions. It's not "You're welcome", it's "You are welcome" - and it is charming and endearing.
We miss our team, all very diverse people, personalities, backgrounds, economic statuses and ages. But all people who easily got along with everyone out of love and compassion for humanity.
While we don't know if we will every return to Uganda, one thing is for sure. Uganda will forever remain in us. I pray that we will never resume to life as usual, at least not mentally or spiritually. For we can't effect change in our communities if we don't have another perspective to consider.
If you have ever had the inkling to travel abroad or participate in some kind of humanitarian effort, I strongly encourage you to do it. With all that has gone on in Haiti and Chile, the opportunities are not scarce. It is worth every vaccine, all the paperwork and travel arrangements. It is worth making arrangements for your children and household. It is worth the mental calesthenics of packing creatively.
What makes it worth it? The smile of relief and appreciation on the face of the person whose needs you have met. And that, is priceless.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Out of Africa
Out of Africa
March 7th still…. (with the time change, etc)
When we flew out of intense humidity and heat in Africa, we were looking forward to the rumoured snow and cool weather of London.
After an uneventful and quick 8 hour flight (thanks to the makers of Benadryl), we landed in London and were met by a shocking cold. We marveled at how different weather can be from locale to locale. All of us Americans were looking forward to a Starbucks at the international terminal so we were disappointed to see that it was closed for remodeling or repairs. We went to Pret’s instead and had coffee and chocolate crossaints. They were AWESOME!
We all visted in the terminal waiting for our connecting flights. Some were L.A. bound, some Oregon and Colorado. Time seemed to fly by and next thing you know, it was time to board our respective flights. We made a huge circle holding hands and prayed and thanked God for the people he brought together and the incredible experiences He allowed us to share. A lot of hugs, a few tears and exchanges of emails later, we boarded our flights.
I spent the better part of the 10 hour flight back with the head of the inconsiderate man sitting in front of me on my lap. Once, he forcefully pushed his back seat back even further, so I said to him, “Sir, you are too far back, please!” He said something about me bumping into him every 5 minutes. I told him it was impossible because I’ve had to lay sideways in order to have room for my legs (which are not very long!).
The longer I sat there, the more ways of telling him off I came up with in my head. So I decided, it would probably be better for me to move to another seat. Luckily it wasn’t a full flight.
People, my appeal to you is – if you go on a flight, whether it is long or short, remember there is a person behind you with limited space. Don’t make it worse by forcing your seat to recline horizontally. If you want to lay flat, spend the money and fly first class. And if the person behind you bumps into you a few times, it’s because there is limited space to move around in. They are not intentionally trying to make you insane. Thank you!
Once we landed at LAX, the 4 of us (Bonnie, Me, Eric and Tim) were thrilled to be home. We all found our bags and also saw Sharon Osbourne at our baggage claim. Appearantly, she was on our flight from London. Customs was a breeze although the line was long.
Then we made our way up the ramp and were met by our families, smiles, welcome home signs, hugs and kisses. The boys both looked bigger but Joey has noticeably changed a lot in the last 2 weeks. I couldn’t stop hugging and kissing them. It was good to be home.
Once we reached our house, I walked in to more welcome home signs and tulips (my favorite) and hyacinths (I also love those). Then I knelt down and kissed my kitchen floor. Thank you God for giving us this amazing place to live in!
I took a much needed and anticipated shower and then we went out with the Jones’ family for a quick bite to eat. Although, I ended up not eating too much. I looked at my hubby and boys…and was full.
My cup runeth over!
March 7th still…. (with the time change, etc)
When we flew out of intense humidity and heat in Africa, we were looking forward to the rumoured snow and cool weather of London.
After an uneventful and quick 8 hour flight (thanks to the makers of Benadryl), we landed in London and were met by a shocking cold. We marveled at how different weather can be from locale to locale. All of us Americans were looking forward to a Starbucks at the international terminal so we were disappointed to see that it was closed for remodeling or repairs. We went to Pret’s instead and had coffee and chocolate crossaints. They were AWESOME!
We all visted in the terminal waiting for our connecting flights. Some were L.A. bound, some Oregon and Colorado. Time seemed to fly by and next thing you know, it was time to board our respective flights. We made a huge circle holding hands and prayed and thanked God for the people he brought together and the incredible experiences He allowed us to share. A lot of hugs, a few tears and exchanges of emails later, we boarded our flights.
I spent the better part of the 10 hour flight back with the head of the inconsiderate man sitting in front of me on my lap. Once, he forcefully pushed his back seat back even further, so I said to him, “Sir, you are too far back, please!” He said something about me bumping into him every 5 minutes. I told him it was impossible because I’ve had to lay sideways in order to have room for my legs (which are not very long!).
The longer I sat there, the more ways of telling him off I came up with in my head. So I decided, it would probably be better for me to move to another seat. Luckily it wasn’t a full flight.
People, my appeal to you is – if you go on a flight, whether it is long or short, remember there is a person behind you with limited space. Don’t make it worse by forcing your seat to recline horizontally. If you want to lay flat, spend the money and fly first class. And if the person behind you bumps into you a few times, it’s because there is limited space to move around in. They are not intentionally trying to make you insane. Thank you!
Once we landed at LAX, the 4 of us (Bonnie, Me, Eric and Tim) were thrilled to be home. We all found our bags and also saw Sharon Osbourne at our baggage claim. Appearantly, she was on our flight from London. Customs was a breeze although the line was long.
Then we made our way up the ramp and were met by our families, smiles, welcome home signs, hugs and kisses. The boys both looked bigger but Joey has noticeably changed a lot in the last 2 weeks. I couldn’t stop hugging and kissing them. It was good to be home.
Once we reached our house, I walked in to more welcome home signs and tulips (my favorite) and hyacinths (I also love those). Then I knelt down and kissed my kitchen floor. Thank you God for giving us this amazing place to live in!
I took a much needed and anticipated shower and then we went out with the Jones’ family for a quick bite to eat. Although, I ended up not eating too much. I looked at my hubby and boys…and was full.
My cup runeth over!
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
On the Road Again...
Sunday March 7th
At 6:30 am this morning, we headed back to Kampala. This is a 5 hour drive. Oy! The hotel packed us boxed breakfast which included a hardboiled egg, a slice of watermelon, a juice box, a dry doughnut and small sandwich with a “mystery” spread inside, an orange, a banana, and a slice of cake (similar to a pound cake). We munched along the way, but there was a lot of untouched food.
About 2 ½ hours into our drive, one of our 2 busses got a flat tire. Actually, due to the conditions of the road in Uganda, I was surprised this was our first one. Both busses pulled over and Bonnie and Kent decided to collect all the untouched food and put it in a bag. Across from us were 2 small modest buildings with teenage boys walking around. Bonnie and Kent walked up to one of the buildings where a mother came out and greeted them with these words: “How did you know where to stop?”
Not really understanding the meaning of her question, they said, “We have a flat tire and we have some food to share because we are not going to eat it and we don’t want it to go to waste.”
The mother replied, “No, how did you know where to stop? I’ve been praying all morning for someone to stop and pray with me because I’m very sick. God cause you to have a flat tire right here so you would pray with me.”
Wow…they were blown away. She invited them into her home which is the size of my master bathroom in Moorpark. The home was filled with teenage boys. While she accepted the food offering, that was secondary to her. She wanted people to pray with her. So they did. She was so thankful, she started worshipping God.
As Bonnie and Kent headed back to the bus, you could see the woman on her knees in her doorway praising and worshipping. For all of us, it was a very profound experience.
We resumed our journey back to Kampala and once in town, we saw a witch doctor and his followers walking the streets, chanting and waving tree branches and torches that seemed to be smoking. Oddly, the witchdoctors face was painted a chalky white. It was quite a site to see, but it didn’t freak me out. I know he has no power over me.
After lunch, we headed souvenir shopping. We stopped in “Africa Village” which is like a small outdoor collection of souvenir vendors. We tried bartering, but most of us felt awkward so we didn’t try very hard. But they will discount an item for you if you ask. I loaded up in one store, spending about $44 American dollars. The store owner, with a big smile, said “Thank you so much, you’ve made my whole day!” Wow.
After that stop, we stopped at the Kampala mall which is similar to our malls – a collection of shops and food court. They also had a market in there so I bought some coffee and a spice mix that I’ve been enjoying while eating in Uganda.
Once we got home, we had to creatively pack our luggage, shower and then we headed off to the airport at 8 pm.
The send off was bittersweet. Many hugs and tears laced with promises to keep in touch.
I managed to get eaten alive by mosquitoes the last day, so I was itching like crazy and looking forward to a Benadryl induced coma for the flight home.
London….here we come!
At 6:30 am this morning, we headed back to Kampala. This is a 5 hour drive. Oy! The hotel packed us boxed breakfast which included a hardboiled egg, a slice of watermelon, a juice box, a dry doughnut and small sandwich with a “mystery” spread inside, an orange, a banana, and a slice of cake (similar to a pound cake). We munched along the way, but there was a lot of untouched food.
About 2 ½ hours into our drive, one of our 2 busses got a flat tire. Actually, due to the conditions of the road in Uganda, I was surprised this was our first one. Both busses pulled over and Bonnie and Kent decided to collect all the untouched food and put it in a bag. Across from us were 2 small modest buildings with teenage boys walking around. Bonnie and Kent walked up to one of the buildings where a mother came out and greeted them with these words: “How did you know where to stop?”
Not really understanding the meaning of her question, they said, “We have a flat tire and we have some food to share because we are not going to eat it and we don’t want it to go to waste.”
The mother replied, “No, how did you know where to stop? I’ve been praying all morning for someone to stop and pray with me because I’m very sick. God cause you to have a flat tire right here so you would pray with me.”
Wow…they were blown away. She invited them into her home which is the size of my master bathroom in Moorpark. The home was filled with teenage boys. While she accepted the food offering, that was secondary to her. She wanted people to pray with her. So they did. She was so thankful, she started worshipping God.
As Bonnie and Kent headed back to the bus, you could see the woman on her knees in her doorway praising and worshipping. For all of us, it was a very profound experience.
We resumed our journey back to Kampala and once in town, we saw a witch doctor and his followers walking the streets, chanting and waving tree branches and torches that seemed to be smoking. Oddly, the witchdoctors face was painted a chalky white. It was quite a site to see, but it didn’t freak me out. I know he has no power over me.
After lunch, we headed souvenir shopping. We stopped in “Africa Village” which is like a small outdoor collection of souvenir vendors. We tried bartering, but most of us felt awkward so we didn’t try very hard. But they will discount an item for you if you ask. I loaded up in one store, spending about $44 American dollars. The store owner, with a big smile, said “Thank you so much, you’ve made my whole day!” Wow.
After that stop, we stopped at the Kampala mall which is similar to our malls – a collection of shops and food court. They also had a market in there so I bought some coffee and a spice mix that I’ve been enjoying while eating in Uganda.
Once we got home, we had to creatively pack our luggage, shower and then we headed off to the airport at 8 pm.
The send off was bittersweet. Many hugs and tears laced with promises to keep in touch.
I managed to get eaten alive by mosquitoes the last day, so I was itching like crazy and looking forward to a Benadryl induced coma for the flight home.
London….here we come!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Safari Day 2
March 5th
Safari and Saying Goodbye
Today we headed out to safari before dawn. Our goal was to find lions eating their breakfast. We drove about an hour into the game park and saw amazing animals again! We drove right up to giraffes and hippos. We didn’t see any elephants today in the game park but did find 2 lionesses walking the plains. They were not even fazed by us being so close to them. We got within 10 yards of them but not any closer as they could’ve jumped in our bus and had us for breakfast. They were beautiful!
The surrounding water bucks (similar to our deer) were very still and hyper-aware of every move the lionesses made. If they got too close (about 50 yards away) they would take off running away from them. It was fascinating.
We did the land safari in the morning and then after lunch and our last team devotional meeting, we waited until it was time for our water safari.
While we were waiting, noticed a family of elephants right next to the grounds of our hotel. They are incredible creatures and we enjoyed watching them roam around us.
When it was time for the water safari, we loaded on the sunscreen (man it was hot today!) and got on a boat and headed south on the Nile River. On our 4 hours boat ride, was saw about 100 hippos, a bald eagle, 10 crocodiles (one of which was 18 feet long), all different kinds of vibrant and colorful birds, the land animals that came to drink from the Nile (i.e. Wort hogs, bucks, etc) and monkeys.
We headed to the base of Murchison Falls and got off the boat to take pics on rocks a few yards away from the falls.
The nature channel can’t even accurately depict what we saw live today. It was epic!
Tomorrow we head back to Kampala to pack and then head to the airport. Our team has been talking about how much we are going to miss each other and we’ve been making plans to stay in touch. Although we are all from different states, backgrounds and personality types, we’ve all gotten along so well and have had a wonderful time getting to know each other the past 2 weeks. They’ve been like family to us. So we are all getting a little sad to go home, but excited to be home at the same time.
It has been an amazing trip.
If I don’t get to post tomorrow, hang on. I will post once I return home from our 18 hour flight.
Thanks for following along!
Safari and Saying Goodbye
Today we headed out to safari before dawn. Our goal was to find lions eating their breakfast. We drove about an hour into the game park and saw amazing animals again! We drove right up to giraffes and hippos. We didn’t see any elephants today in the game park but did find 2 lionesses walking the plains. They were not even fazed by us being so close to them. We got within 10 yards of them but not any closer as they could’ve jumped in our bus and had us for breakfast. They were beautiful!
The surrounding water bucks (similar to our deer) were very still and hyper-aware of every move the lionesses made. If they got too close (about 50 yards away) they would take off running away from them. It was fascinating.We did the land safari in the morning and then after lunch and our last team devotional meeting, we waited until it was time for our water safari.
While we were waiting, noticed a family of elephants right next to the grounds of our hotel. They are incredible creatures and we enjoyed watching them roam around us.
We headed to the base of Murchison Falls and got off the boat to take pics on rocks a few yards away from the falls.
The nature channel can’t even accurately depict what we saw live today. It was epic!
Tomorrow we head back to Kampala to pack and then head to the airport. Our team has been talking about how much we are going to miss each other and we’ve been making plans to stay in touch. Although we are all from different states, backgrounds and personality types, we’ve all gotten along so well and have had a wonderful time getting to know each other the past 2 weeks. They’ve been like family to us. So we are all getting a little sad to go home, but excited to be home at the same time.
It has been an amazing trip.
If I don’t get to post tomorrow, hang on. I will post once I return home from our 18 hour flight.
Thanks for following along!
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Nile...It Ain't Just a River in Egypt
I’d like to start off by thanking all of you who have commented on my blogs. I appreciate the compliments about my writing, however, I have noticed many typos and grammatical errors. I typed most of them late at night, so my editing skills weren’t very sharp. Thanks for liking the posts anyway!
March 4, 2010 (new photos just added....click on them to enlarge)
1. The Nile River originates at Lake Victoria in Uganda
3. The Nile River is HUGE, like the Mississippi
4. The Nile River has a waterfall
Once we crossed over, we checked into our hotel and ate lunch. I ordered Nile River Perch with saffron sauce. It was DELICIOUS!!!! Then we got ready for our evening safari.
Our bus for the safari had a canopied roof so you could stand up in the bus and look at the animals while being protected from the sun…and potentially the animals. Our guide showed up with a shot gun, just in case the animals (or one of us) got out of hand.
• water buffalo
• water bucks (similar to our deer / rams)
• Jackson Heart Beasts (if an antelope and a horse had a baby…it would look like a Jackson Heart Beast – a horse faced animal)
• Warthogs
• a herd of giraffes
• hippos
• amazing yellow birds
• amazing bright cobalt blue birds
And, oh yeah… as we were driving along, an elephant strolled by and crossed the road right in front of us. It was SOOOOO UNBELIEVABLY COOL!!!!!
Even the reptiles here are cool! We came across and orange and blue lizard that was beautiful! And I hate lizards.
I can’t wait to see what our safari holds for tomorrow!!!
March 4, 2010 (new photos just added....click on them to enlarge)
We left our accommodations at 5 am to head for the game parks which are about 5 hours away. Waking up at 4 am was brutal. Luckily, our teammates woke us up as neither Bonnie nor I brought a watch or cell phone with us. We have been relying on them the whole trip.
As we got close to our destination, we stopped where the Nile River has a waterfall. So, the Nile River… I’ve always associated it with Egypt and Moses. Otherwise, I didn’t know these other facts. For example,
1. The Nile River originates at Lake Victoria in Uganda
2. The Nile River flows from south to north, which is not the normal flow of rivers
3. The Nile River is HUGE, like the Mississippi
4. The Nile River has a waterfall
The Nile River’s waterfall is called Murchison Falls and it is amazing! The wide Nile narrows and falls down this rocky channel. The rocks are huge and the water fall is powerful and loud. We sat there and watched it for a while. The rainbows formed from the falls are vibrant and spectacular. The water spray from the falls was a welcomed relief because it was “Africa hot” today!
Again, I wish so much I could post the pics but you’ll have to wait until I get back into the States. Between me and my teammates we probably have about 3,000 photos! We are trying to figure out the best way to share them with each other and post some on the internet. So stay tuned. Some of the shots are phenomenal.
After the falls, we made our way to the game park. We needed to cross the Nile River with a ferry, so as we were waiting for it, I went and touched the Nile River with my hands and feet. It was awesome!
Once we crossed over, we checked into our hotel and ate lunch. I ordered Nile River Perch with saffron sauce. It was DELICIOUS!!!! Then we got ready for our evening safari.
Our bus for the safari had a canopied roof so you could stand up in the bus and look at the animals while being protected from the sun…and potentially the animals. Our guide showed up with a shot gun, just in case the animals (or one of us) got out of hand. As we were leaving the hotel grounds, we saw many baboons. They were so cool! In the game park, which is thousands of acres of protected land along the Nile River, we saw:
• water buffalo
• Jackson Heart Beasts (if an antelope and a horse had a baby…it would look like a Jackson Heart Beast – a horse faced animal)
• Warthogs
• Monkeys
• a herd of giraffes
• hippos
• amazing yellow birds
And, oh yeah… as we were driving along, an elephant strolled by and crossed the road right in front of us. It was SOOOOO UNBELIEVABLY COOL!!!!!
Even the reptiles here are cool! We came across and orange and blue lizard that was beautiful! And I hate lizards.
I can’t wait to see what our safari holds for tomorrow!!!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Officially the Last Day in the Bush
March 3, 2010
Today, the ladies of the group (including myself) left at 7:30 am for Bethany Village where we were scheduled to do dental work on the orphans. We took the 30 minute boat ride across Lake Victoria and we were concerned that it would rain on us. This time, the boat didn’t have a tarp covering us and the clouds were dark!
The men attended the graduation ceremony for ARM sponsored students. These kids graduated from high school and “university” (our equivalent of college). The students considered it an honor to have “Muzungus” at their ceremony.
Our boat ride to Bethany was so peaceful. The water was very calm and the lake was smattered with fisherman looking for Tilapia.
Once we got to Bethany, we walked to their clinic lugging my 2 suitcases full of dental equipment. Once we got there, we set up a makeshift dental clinic on the patio of the medical clinic. It was amazing to do dentistry outside, especially when it started raining! Luckily we were kept dry by the roof. But, it is cool to say that I did dentistry outside, in the rain, in Africa!
I saw 3 patients at a time. Bonnie, Mary and Janice were very helpful in keeping the “clinic” running smoothly. Bailey kept the kids busy playing games and passing out stickers. I extracted 30 teeth here as well. With the exception of a couple of kids, they were very stoic and hardly showed any emotion during the procedures.
Due to time constraints, we had to turn kids away. This, of course, was heart breaking considering how much they needed our services.
We did get rained on during our boat ride back to Ggaba and the waves got a little choppy. Bonnie struggled a little with motion sickness but did manage to keep her lunch!
Upon our return, I was introduced to 2 of the 3 kids I sponsor through the program. I was thrilled to meet them and gave them the gifts I brought for them. The gifts consisted of a back pack, soccer ball, pump, flip flops, oral health supplies, fruit and vegetable seeds, a bible, pencils, pencil sharpener and eraser. They were delighted to receive them
I enjoyed talking with them. John, now 19 years old, reminded me that I have been sponsoring him since he was 11. He expressed his sincere gratitude for my sponsorship and I was touched. He is a very bright and good looking young man who liked to laugh at my jokes. When I asked him about school, he said he’s planning on going on to university. When I asked what he would like to do with his studies, he replied that he’d like to become president of Uganda one day!
And you know what, I think he can do it! Just think - $35 a month of an investment in this child has allowed him to dream big and have a chance at accomplishing his goal. I told him that I looked forward to coming to his graduation and he smiled a HUGE smile.
I also told him that I would be delighted to host the future president of Uganda at my home in California. He laughed and said that he was on his way to “being somebody important” and he would definitely come visit me.
My other sponsored child, Jemima, is 11 years old. She was shyer, as is common in this culture. We got to know each other a little bit and I was touched that she kept saying, with all sincerity, how happy she was that she had this opportunity to meet me. For these children, meeting their sponsors in person is like meeting a super star. They consider it an honor and a privilege to meet the person who is giving them the opportunity to receive an education. Jemima came with her sister and her father. He was so thrilled to meet me too! He just kept thanking me for sponsoring his daughter. The sincerity of their gratitude really touched me in a way that I can’t even put into words.
We visited for about an hour and then our team went onto our next destination, another slum known for its darkness and association with witchcraft and Satan worship.
We drove about 45 minutes away from Ggaba into that slum area. ARM has a church and school right smack in the middle of this area. The teacher, Rebecca, who gave us a tour, told us about one of their 16 year old students, Michael, who was kidnapped 3 weeks ago in an attempted human sacrifice. The Satan worshippers were looking for a virgin to sacrifice. By the grace of God, they let him go because they noticed a scratch on his leg. The in order to be a proper sacrifice, the victim cannot have shed any blood. How they would know that, I don’t know. I spent most of my childhood with scabby knees. Luckily, the noticed the scab on his leg and let him go.
Rebecca called him out of class so we could meet him. What a sweet boy. We prayed for him and thanked God for sparing his life. He was appreciative. The school moved him out of the area where he was living and put him closer to the school.
In the US, we teach our children “stranger danger” techniques (what to do if a stranger tries to take you). In this area of Uganda, they have to teach the same things. It just makes me sick thinking about it.
That night, our team had a debriefing and we visited with Pastor Peter who prayed for us and with a Texan, Helen, who just arrived here and bought a condo to live in. She is in here 60’s and felt that God was calling her to come here to teach the kids. So, she sold everything she had in Texas and now lives in Uganda and will be teaching at one of the schools! Wow, that’s a leap of faith.
Today was our last official day of ministering to the people of Uganda. Tomorrow, we will head off to safari to have a little fun as a team. I can’t wait!
Today, the ladies of the group (including myself) left at 7:30 am for Bethany Village where we were scheduled to do dental work on the orphans. We took the 30 minute boat ride across Lake Victoria and we were concerned that it would rain on us. This time, the boat didn’t have a tarp covering us and the clouds were dark!
The men attended the graduation ceremony for ARM sponsored students. These kids graduated from high school and “university” (our equivalent of college). The students considered it an honor to have “Muzungus” at their ceremony.
Our boat ride to Bethany was so peaceful. The water was very calm and the lake was smattered with fisherman looking for Tilapia.
Once we got to Bethany, we walked to their clinic lugging my 2 suitcases full of dental equipment. Once we got there, we set up a makeshift dental clinic on the patio of the medical clinic. It was amazing to do dentistry outside, especially when it started raining! Luckily we were kept dry by the roof. But, it is cool to say that I did dentistry outside, in the rain, in Africa!
I saw 3 patients at a time. Bonnie, Mary and Janice were very helpful in keeping the “clinic” running smoothly. Bailey kept the kids busy playing games and passing out stickers. I extracted 30 teeth here as well. With the exception of a couple of kids, they were very stoic and hardly showed any emotion during the procedures.
Due to time constraints, we had to turn kids away. This, of course, was heart breaking considering how much they needed our services.
We did get rained on during our boat ride back to Ggaba and the waves got a little choppy. Bonnie struggled a little with motion sickness but did manage to keep her lunch!
Upon our return, I was introduced to 2 of the 3 kids I sponsor through the program. I was thrilled to meet them and gave them the gifts I brought for them. The gifts consisted of a back pack, soccer ball, pump, flip flops, oral health supplies, fruit and vegetable seeds, a bible, pencils, pencil sharpener and eraser. They were delighted to receive them
I enjoyed talking with them. John, now 19 years old, reminded me that I have been sponsoring him since he was 11. He expressed his sincere gratitude for my sponsorship and I was touched. He is a very bright and good looking young man who liked to laugh at my jokes. When I asked him about school, he said he’s planning on going on to university. When I asked what he would like to do with his studies, he replied that he’d like to become president of Uganda one day!
And you know what, I think he can do it! Just think - $35 a month of an investment in this child has allowed him to dream big and have a chance at accomplishing his goal. I told him that I looked forward to coming to his graduation and he smiled a HUGE smile.
I also told him that I would be delighted to host the future president of Uganda at my home in California. He laughed and said that he was on his way to “being somebody important” and he would definitely come visit me.
My other sponsored child, Jemima, is 11 years old. She was shyer, as is common in this culture. We got to know each other a little bit and I was touched that she kept saying, with all sincerity, how happy she was that she had this opportunity to meet me. For these children, meeting their sponsors in person is like meeting a super star. They consider it an honor and a privilege to meet the person who is giving them the opportunity to receive an education. Jemima came with her sister and her father. He was so thrilled to meet me too! He just kept thanking me for sponsoring his daughter. The sincerity of their gratitude really touched me in a way that I can’t even put into words.
We visited for about an hour and then our team went onto our next destination, another slum known for its darkness and association with witchcraft and Satan worship.
We drove about 45 minutes away from Ggaba into that slum area. ARM has a church and school right smack in the middle of this area. The teacher, Rebecca, who gave us a tour, told us about one of their 16 year old students, Michael, who was kidnapped 3 weeks ago in an attempted human sacrifice. The Satan worshippers were looking for a virgin to sacrifice. By the grace of God, they let him go because they noticed a scratch on his leg. The in order to be a proper sacrifice, the victim cannot have shed any blood. How they would know that, I don’t know. I spent most of my childhood with scabby knees. Luckily, the noticed the scab on his leg and let him go.
Rebecca called him out of class so we could meet him. What a sweet boy. We prayed for him and thanked God for sparing his life. He was appreciative. The school moved him out of the area where he was living and put him closer to the school.
In the US, we teach our children “stranger danger” techniques (what to do if a stranger tries to take you). In this area of Uganda, they have to teach the same things. It just makes me sick thinking about it.
That night, our team had a debriefing and we visited with Pastor Peter who prayed for us and with a Texan, Helen, who just arrived here and bought a condo to live in. She is in here 60’s and felt that God was calling her to come here to teach the kids. So, she sold everything she had in Texas and now lives in Uganda and will be teaching at one of the schools! Wow, that’s a leap of faith.
Today was our last official day of ministering to the people of Uganda. Tomorrow, we will head off to safari to have a little fun as a team. I can’t wait!
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Idi Amin's indirect influence as a torturous dictator
Monday March 1, 2010 and Tuesday March 2, 2010
Today we took a 4 hour drive northwest to Mmubende to visit more villages. Bonnie arranged to stay back and go back to the baby house and then spent the night with Christine Atherstone, a missionary we know who lives here.
The ride to Rakai was scary at times due to the constant rainfall and muddy conditions. There is a reason Ugandans pray before departing on a road trip! But Moses, our driver, would put stunt car drivers to shame.
At the first village, Muleete, we met Pastor Wilson who has planted over 72 churches and schools to date. He has an incredible life story. Back in the times of Idi Amin’s torturous rule ('70's), he persecuted preachers of the gospel. Amin’s soldiers would scout local villages to look for pastors or believers and put guns to their head and tell them to stop or die instantly. Those who refused were either shot right there in front of everyone or imprisoned.
Pastor Wilson was imprisoned in a tunnel that had no windows and a solid gate on either side of the tunnel. There were hundreds of men in there. They were held captive for a total of 96 days with no food or water. He won’t speak of the atrocities that occurred in that tunnel in order to survive.
About 5 days into their capture, the gate was opened and a soldier announced “Tomorrow, 70 of you will be executed” and then closed the gate. The prisoners, knowing it was their last day started worshipping God and continued to sing and worship all night. The next morning, the gate next to Pastor Wilson was being jiggled open but the soldiers were not able to open the gate. It was jammed. So they heard the soldiers walk to the other side of the tunnel and open the other gate. Can you imagine the horror of the prisoners hearing their approach?
The soldiers pulled 70 men out of the tunnel, executed them and then stuffed them back into the tunnel and locked the gate. So now, for the remaining 91 days, the prisoners were locked in the tunnel with rotting corpses.
Take a break right now and process that. This is persecution for your beliefs.
On the 96th day, when they were released, Pastor Wilson thanked God for sparing his life and devoted himself to preaching the gospel and taking in the orphans of Uganda. He personally currently cares for 27 orphans in his home. The churches he plants are responsible for caring for thousands of orphans.
He is an amazing live testimony of dedication to the Lord and His work here on earth.
At the Kachungwa project, the men of our mission group assemble 2 HUGE water tanks to capture the rainfall and supply the school and orphanages with much needed clean water.
Pastor Wilson told us that in this area, 1500 kids die EACH year due to Malaria and other diseases that come from the unclean water. These 2 water tanks will likely save many lives.
While they did that, we spoke with the ladies. They clapped in excitement when I was introduced as a dentist from America who came to see them. It is very odd and humbling all at the same time. I taught the ladies about the importance of keeping their mouths clean because it is the gateway to the rest of the body. They were very receptive to the information and were so excited when I passed out toothbrushes, toothpaste and flossers. One lady even jumped around in her seat, laughing and clapping.
Two other ladies in our group spoke as well about business and then we prayed for them. Because they were so thankful for the information, they broke out in spontaneous worship songs and just blessed us with 20 minutes of singing and dancing. A drummer heard them and came in to add percussion with his African drum. It was amazing!
That night, we spent the night in a “hotel” which was really a “no-tell motel”. It was really quite disgusting but we survived it and went back to Kachungwa the next day.
The following day, while the men finished the water tank project, Janice, Mary and I set up a dental clinic in the church. Yesterday, prior to leaving, I screened 400 orphans and students. Today, the surrounding villagers heard I was at the church and showed up because they wanted to be seen as well. It is very awkward to have people bowing before you in appreciation for looking after them. They are so grateful and bowing is a sign of respect.
I ended up removing 30 teeth either due to infection, gross decay or fracture. We had to turn a lot of people away due to time. But we passed out a lot of pencils and toothbrushes and toothpaste.
As we were packing up, I was called over to look at a little girl who is very sick. She was sleeping in the church because she and her mom were kicked out of their village because they didn’t want to catch whatever the little girl had (which is unknown because she can’t afford to the doctor and there isn’t a doctor for miles).
The little girl was sleeping and the mom and sister were wiping her with cool rags. She has a high fever and an extended belly much like the malnourished children here do. However, family members say that they do feed her and she does eat well, so they don’t know what is wrong with her. Of course, I wasn’t much help but they wanted any doctor to look at her. The best I could do was pray for her and they were eager for it. Their faith is all they have.
Many of the people in the church surrounded her as I laid hands on her and we all prayed. It was heartbreaking to know you can’t do anything for her and she will likely die in the next few days.
As we headed back to our bus, we could barely board it as the kids had surrounded it and were singing praise songs thanking God for bringing the Muzugnus (white people) from America to care for them.
The pastor thanked us for leaving our families and risking our lives to help the people of Uganda. He got choked up and I did too. They really appreciate our efforts there and were so grateful.
How grateful are you today? Do you know someone you can help without expecting anything in return. Try it. It’s an amazing feeling!
Today we took a 4 hour drive northwest to Mmubende to visit more villages. Bonnie arranged to stay back and go back to the baby house and then spent the night with Christine Atherstone, a missionary we know who lives here.
The ride to Rakai was scary at times due to the constant rainfall and muddy conditions. There is a reason Ugandans pray before departing on a road trip! But Moses, our driver, would put stunt car drivers to shame.
At the first village, Muleete, we met Pastor Wilson who has planted over 72 churches and schools to date. He has an incredible life story. Back in the times of Idi Amin’s torturous rule ('70's), he persecuted preachers of the gospel. Amin’s soldiers would scout local villages to look for pastors or believers and put guns to their head and tell them to stop or die instantly. Those who refused were either shot right there in front of everyone or imprisoned.
Pastor Wilson was imprisoned in a tunnel that had no windows and a solid gate on either side of the tunnel. There were hundreds of men in there. They were held captive for a total of 96 days with no food or water. He won’t speak of the atrocities that occurred in that tunnel in order to survive.
About 5 days into their capture, the gate was opened and a soldier announced “Tomorrow, 70 of you will be executed” and then closed the gate. The prisoners, knowing it was their last day started worshipping God and continued to sing and worship all night. The next morning, the gate next to Pastor Wilson was being jiggled open but the soldiers were not able to open the gate. It was jammed. So they heard the soldiers walk to the other side of the tunnel and open the other gate. Can you imagine the horror of the prisoners hearing their approach?
The soldiers pulled 70 men out of the tunnel, executed them and then stuffed them back into the tunnel and locked the gate. So now, for the remaining 91 days, the prisoners were locked in the tunnel with rotting corpses.
Take a break right now and process that. This is persecution for your beliefs.
On the 96th day, when they were released, Pastor Wilson thanked God for sparing his life and devoted himself to preaching the gospel and taking in the orphans of Uganda. He personally currently cares for 27 orphans in his home. The churches he plants are responsible for caring for thousands of orphans.
He is an amazing live testimony of dedication to the Lord and His work here on earth.
At the Kachungwa project, the men of our mission group assemble 2 HUGE water tanks to capture the rainfall and supply the school and orphanages with much needed clean water.
Pastor Wilson told us that in this area, 1500 kids die EACH year due to Malaria and other diseases that come from the unclean water. These 2 water tanks will likely save many lives.
While they did that, we spoke with the ladies. They clapped in excitement when I was introduced as a dentist from America who came to see them. It is very odd and humbling all at the same time. I taught the ladies about the importance of keeping their mouths clean because it is the gateway to the rest of the body. They were very receptive to the information and were so excited when I passed out toothbrushes, toothpaste and flossers. One lady even jumped around in her seat, laughing and clapping.
Two other ladies in our group spoke as well about business and then we prayed for them. Because they were so thankful for the information, they broke out in spontaneous worship songs and just blessed us with 20 minutes of singing and dancing. A drummer heard them and came in to add percussion with his African drum. It was amazing!
That night, we spent the night in a “hotel” which was really a “no-tell motel”. It was really quite disgusting but we survived it and went back to Kachungwa the next day.
The following day, while the men finished the water tank project, Janice, Mary and I set up a dental clinic in the church. Yesterday, prior to leaving, I screened 400 orphans and students. Today, the surrounding villagers heard I was at the church and showed up because they wanted to be seen as well. It is very awkward to have people bowing before you in appreciation for looking after them. They are so grateful and bowing is a sign of respect.
I ended up removing 30 teeth either due to infection, gross decay or fracture. We had to turn a lot of people away due to time. But we passed out a lot of pencils and toothbrushes and toothpaste.
As we were packing up, I was called over to look at a little girl who is very sick. She was sleeping in the church because she and her mom were kicked out of their village because they didn’t want to catch whatever the little girl had (which is unknown because she can’t afford to the doctor and there isn’t a doctor for miles).
The little girl was sleeping and the mom and sister were wiping her with cool rags. She has a high fever and an extended belly much like the malnourished children here do. However, family members say that they do feed her and she does eat well, so they don’t know what is wrong with her. Of course, I wasn’t much help but they wanted any doctor to look at her. The best I could do was pray for her and they were eager for it. Their faith is all they have.
Many of the people in the church surrounded her as I laid hands on her and we all prayed. It was heartbreaking to know you can’t do anything for her and she will likely die in the next few days.
As we headed back to our bus, we could barely board it as the kids had surrounded it and were singing praise songs thanking God for bringing the Muzugnus (white people) from America to care for them.
The pastor thanked us for leaving our families and risking our lives to help the people of Uganda. He got choked up and I did too. They really appreciate our efforts there and were so grateful.
How grateful are you today? Do you know someone you can help without expecting anything in return. Try it. It’s an amazing feeling!
Friday, March 5, 2010
Bethany Village
Sunday 2/28/10
Today we went to Gaba Community Church for services. It was just as you would imagine an African church service to be - a long joyful worship celebration. We look like total stiffs compared to them. It was really fun to watch and to let loose and participate.
Pastor Peter spoke about God’s sovereignty and it was really powerful. The church actively participates in the sermon by shouting “Amen” and “Praise the Lord” whenever the desire strikes them. It was a lot of fun.
After lunch, we took a 30 minute boat ride across Lake Victoria to Bethany Village, the prettiest of ARM’s projects. We pulled up to a scenic dock and were met by palm trees. After a short walk, we came upon the different homes where the orphans live. Each home has about 15 children living in it and a house mother to care for them. The houses are well kept and the children well behaved.
What is missing in these homes in a father figure. There are so few men compared to women here mostly due to the AIDs epidemic. They are in need of married missionaries to become house parents in these homes to model married life to the kids. So if you feel a calling to do that, contact ARM.
Bethany has a medical clinic that is only really stocked to treat certain things for the orphans. It’s better than nothing but it is not a fully functional clinic. They also have a church and school onsite. The area seems well maintained, they even sweep the dirt roads!
We learned more about their child development program which develops the orphans spiritually, physically, emotionally and behaviorally. They are intentional in the school and it’s very nice to see my sponsorship dollars at work.
To learn more about these villages, visit the ARM website.
Today we went to Gaba Community Church for services. It was just as you would imagine an African church service to be - a long joyful worship celebration. We look like total stiffs compared to them. It was really fun to watch and to let loose and participate.
Pastor Peter spoke about God’s sovereignty and it was really powerful. The church actively participates in the sermon by shouting “Amen” and “Praise the Lord” whenever the desire strikes them. It was a lot of fun.
After lunch, we took a 30 minute boat ride across Lake Victoria to Bethany Village, the prettiest of ARM’s projects. We pulled up to a scenic dock and were met by palm trees. After a short walk, we came upon the different homes where the orphans live. Each home has about 15 children living in it and a house mother to care for them. The houses are well kept and the children well behaved.
What is missing in these homes in a father figure. There are so few men compared to women here mostly due to the AIDs epidemic. They are in need of married missionaries to become house parents in these homes to model married life to the kids. So if you feel a calling to do that, contact ARM.
Bethany has a medical clinic that is only really stocked to treat certain things for the orphans. It’s better than nothing but it is not a fully functional clinic. They also have a church and school onsite. The area seems well maintained, they even sweep the dirt roads!
We learned more about their child development program which develops the orphans spiritually, physically, emotionally and behaviorally. They are intentional in the school and it’s very nice to see my sponsorship dollars at work.
To learn more about these villages, visit the ARM website.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Straddling the Equator
Saturday 2/27/10
This morning we took a 2 ½ hour drive to Rakai which is southwest of Kampala along Lake Victoria.
Lake Victoria is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world. The first being Lake Superior. Lake Victoria is beautiful but the waters are murky. But that doesn’t stop fisherman from catching Tilapia out of it. Lake Victoria is also where the Nile River originates. We will get to see that later on in the trip.
On our drive southwest, we stopped at the equator and took pictures. Bonnie and I have a picture of us straddling the equator, one foot on the North Hemisphere and one foot on the South Hemisphere. It was very cool.
We also saw a demonstration of the magnetic pull at the equator. There were 3 makeshift sinks – one north of the equator, one on the equator and one south of the equator. When you poor water into the sink north of the equator, water will go down the drain clockwise. When you are south of the equator, water will go down the drain counter-clockwise. When you are on the equator, the water drains straight down – no swirling!!! It is awesome to see it in action. What is amazing is that these portable sinks are only a few feet apart so it’s wild to see the difference!
We encountered some rain along the way but nothing major today. We are here during their rainy season so it rains some each day. There has been some nights of heavy rains but during the day it’s not too bad. The biggest problem related to the rain is the mud. There are no paved roads here so it’s very muddy when it rains.
The first school we visited in Rakai is in the middle of nowhere. There is literally an open field and a concrete building with no doors or windows covering the openings. Most buildings like these have tin roofs. One of the classes takes place outside so there are tables and desks outside and then an outhouse.
Speaking of outhouses, I’m sure many are you are dying to know if we’ve used the poncho. Luckily we haven’t had to yet. But the bathrooms here leave much to be desired. They are stalls with a hole in the ground the size of a baseball up to the size of a softball. There are no flushers, no lights and no running water…so forget the toilet paper. Luckily we were given toilet paper and wipes by some of you, so thanks! They came in handy!!!! If you’re wondering, yes…you squat over the hole and hope for good aim. Our quads have gotten a good work out.
So, back to the school - the children are lovely. One little girl ran up to me and clung to me the whole time I was there. The school feeds them a mid-morning breakfast of a slice of bread, an egg and hot milk. After they ate, their choir performed for us. Their voices were incredible and their joy in performing for us precious.
We passed out the pencils that were donated by the girl scouts and the kids loved them. On our way out of the school, they walked us to their wire gates and waved us off. Outside the gates were 2 boys who are not sponsored through ARM and they just stood there the whole time we were there and watched the school kids. They were dirty and unkempt. We noticed a stark difference between sponsored children and non sponsored children in terms of cleanliness and even just the hope versus despair on their faces.
I wish so much that I could upload the pictures. When I get back, I’ll put together a slide show of all these things.
We visited 2 other schools and then stopped at Trudy’s village where Trudy’s mom and other family members prepared a feast for us. They made way too much food. The feast that was prepared for us was what they would make for a wedding celebration. It was yummy. The pineapple here is sooo sweet!
Speaking of food, there is no lack of food here. There is lack of money to buy the food due to poverty but there is no lack of food. In fact, the portions they eat and serve us would be enough to serve me and my 2 sons! The servings are about twice the size you would get at Cheesecake Factory. The diet is very starchy and a little protein, which is more expensive.
Trudy’s family was very gracious and hospitable. Their property was smattered with banana trees, pigs, coffee trees, jack fruit trees and their family cemetery.
Tomorrow we will go to Gaba Community Church which is pastored by Peter Kasirivu, the founder of Africa Renewal Ministries.
This morning we took a 2 ½ hour drive to Rakai which is southwest of Kampala along Lake Victoria.
Lake Victoria is the 2nd largest freshwater lake in the world. The first being Lake Superior. Lake Victoria is beautiful but the waters are murky. But that doesn’t stop fisherman from catching Tilapia out of it. Lake Victoria is also where the Nile River originates. We will get to see that later on in the trip.
On our drive southwest, we stopped at the equator and took pictures. Bonnie and I have a picture of us straddling the equator, one foot on the North Hemisphere and one foot on the South Hemisphere. It was very cool.
We also saw a demonstration of the magnetic pull at the equator. There were 3 makeshift sinks – one north of the equator, one on the equator and one south of the equator. When you poor water into the sink north of the equator, water will go down the drain clockwise. When you are south of the equator, water will go down the drain counter-clockwise. When you are on the equator, the water drains straight down – no swirling!!! It is awesome to see it in action. What is amazing is that these portable sinks are only a few feet apart so it’s wild to see the difference!
We encountered some rain along the way but nothing major today. We are here during their rainy season so it rains some each day. There has been some nights of heavy rains but during the day it’s not too bad. The biggest problem related to the rain is the mud. There are no paved roads here so it’s very muddy when it rains.
The first school we visited in Rakai is in the middle of nowhere. There is literally an open field and a concrete building with no doors or windows covering the openings. Most buildings like these have tin roofs. One of the classes takes place outside so there are tables and desks outside and then an outhouse.
Speaking of outhouses, I’m sure many are you are dying to know if we’ve used the poncho. Luckily we haven’t had to yet. But the bathrooms here leave much to be desired. They are stalls with a hole in the ground the size of a baseball up to the size of a softball. There are no flushers, no lights and no running water…so forget the toilet paper. Luckily we were given toilet paper and wipes by some of you, so thanks! They came in handy!!!! If you’re wondering, yes…you squat over the hole and hope for good aim. Our quads have gotten a good work out.
So, back to the school - the children are lovely. One little girl ran up to me and clung to me the whole time I was there. The school feeds them a mid-morning breakfast of a slice of bread, an egg and hot milk. After they ate, their choir performed for us. Their voices were incredible and their joy in performing for us precious.
We passed out the pencils that were donated by the girl scouts and the kids loved them. On our way out of the school, they walked us to their wire gates and waved us off. Outside the gates were 2 boys who are not sponsored through ARM and they just stood there the whole time we were there and watched the school kids. They were dirty and unkempt. We noticed a stark difference between sponsored children and non sponsored children in terms of cleanliness and even just the hope versus despair on their faces.
I wish so much that I could upload the pictures. When I get back, I’ll put together a slide show of all these things.
We visited 2 other schools and then stopped at Trudy’s village where Trudy’s mom and other family members prepared a feast for us. They made way too much food. The feast that was prepared for us was what they would make for a wedding celebration. It was yummy. The pineapple here is sooo sweet!
Speaking of food, there is no lack of food here. There is lack of money to buy the food due to poverty but there is no lack of food. In fact, the portions they eat and serve us would be enough to serve me and my 2 sons! The servings are about twice the size you would get at Cheesecake Factory. The diet is very starchy and a little protein, which is more expensive.
Trudy’s family was very gracious and hospitable. Their property was smattered with banana trees, pigs, coffee trees, jack fruit trees and their family cemetery.
Tomorrow we will go to Gaba Community Church which is pastored by Peter Kasirivu, the founder of Africa Renewal Ministries.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
AIDS vs. Malaria
Hey guys, we just returned from back to back "out of town" trips. Here is the post from Friday 2/26/10.
AIDS vs Malaria
At breakfast, Johnny, the Executive Director of ARM, told us about a man he met who lived in the epicenter of HIV/AIDS. Growing up as a boy in Uganda, he remembers his village and a neighboring village having animosity toward each other. Back then, and still today, the villages of Uganda were steeped in witchcraft and promiscuity.
One day, the neighboring villagers came over and put a curse on the village. The following week, three people on his street died. The villagers believed it was because of the curse so the leaders of the boy’s village went over and put a curse back on them. The next week, several people in that village died.
In Ugandan custom, when there is a death in the community, someone from your family must attend the funeral to pay respect to the dead. He remembers for a period of time, his family was going to funerals nightly!
As it turns out, these people weren’t cursed, they were dying of AIDS. It was spreading rampantly due to promiscuity.
Unfortunately, this problem remains today. One of our leaders, Trudy, is a native Ugandan who now lives in Minnesota. She has lost 6 siblings to AIDS and currently has another sister afflicted. Most of the children under the care of ARM have lost their mothers and fathers to AIDS. If these orphans were not taken in and cared for under ARM sponsorship, they would be “street kids” left to wander the streets, susceptible to child sacrifice as recommended by witchdoctors, who believe that sacrificing children will bring prosperity and heal illnesses.
Can you imagine if you and your spouse died today, how would your young child survive? I know you are finding this hard to believe but trust me. I am seeing these conditions with my own eyes.
Today we drove to Masaka, about a 2 hour drive, to a hospital known for treating pediatric AIDS. Prior to our visit, we met with the Chief of Staff and his nurses and other hospital facilitators. He mentioned that in addition to the AIDS clinic, he wanted to bring awareness to the rest of the hospital. While focusing on the AIDS crisis is worthy, he feels that the “glamour” of AIDS (helped by people like Bono, etc) overshadows the bigger crisis in the area, Malaria.
As it turns out, more kids die each year of Malaria than of AIDS. Malaria is a preventable and curable disease. Parents just don’t recognize the symptoms or can’t afford the treatment which consists of a pill regimen.
So, we decided to see a few wards of the hospital.
We started in the AIDS clinic, where the waiting room is outdoors with just a small roof to cover the seats. It was full and most patients there, young children, have walked to the clinic by themselves due to not having caretakers (likely, parents died of AIDS or Malaria). I saw a 7 year old girl holding hands with her 4 year old sister and she is clearly mothering her as she wipes the dust off her dress. The sadness in their eyes is heartbreaking. It’s as if they are just going through life’s motions. There is no joy or spark in their eyes.
There are also grandparents who have brought the children they care for due to the death of their parents.
The hospital staff encouraged us to pray and encourage their patients, so Johnny, our fearless leader, started talking to the 150 people in the waiting room. This hospital currently treats 10,000 AIDS patients. There are no beds for this ward. Patients just show up for their medicine and wait their turn in this waiting area.
As he started talking, through an interpreter, you can tell he was empowered by a higher source and started preaching the gospel message of Jesus’s love for us. Everyone clapped and shouted “Amen”, throughout his message. The faith of these sick and dying people is amazing. Even a Muslim grandfather stood up and thanked us for encouraging the people of the community.
Our team passed out quilts made by a church group in Minnesota. This brought so much joy to the patients. And they thanked us profusely and bowed on one knee as we gave them their blankets. One mother was so excited to receive a blanket for her daughter that she jumped up and down and laughed with pure joy!
After that we headed to the maternity ward which consists of about 20 beds in one room. You give birth there in front of everyone. There are no private rooms, no monitors, no ice chips and no cribs. Just you, your family and everyone else giving birth that day. After you have your baby, you bundle it up and it stays on your bed with you.
We passed out blankets there, too. They were overjoyed. One lady sat up to give one of us a hug and we noticed that she had 2 blankets but only one baby on her bed. As we went to get the extra blanket, someone else told us that she was having twins and was currently laboring to get the other one out!!!! Hello?! She was so thrilled to see us that she wanted to sit up and hug us during her pushing!!!
At the other end of the room, I noticed that a few ladies hadn’t received a blanket. So I walked over to give them one. One lady, covered only from the waist down by a sheet, thanked me for the blanket profusely. She had no baby on her bed. It died during childbirth. So here she is now, in the same room as mothers with 20 new born babies, just having lost her child. It’s unimaginable to us in the States.
Then, we headed to the children’s ward. Before entering, we were warned that this was going to be a difficult thing to see. The stench as we walked into the ward was stifling. Parents littered the hallway holding their sick and crying children. This is also one big room with 2 dividers. There are 52 beds but 87 patients admitted, so mothers hold their sick children in the hallway.
The listlessness and lethargy of the sick children is heartbreaking. If a child had any energy, they cried tears of pain. Most of our team was brought to tears. Medications (read “shots”) are given in the hallway in front of everyone else.
We prayed for the children in the bed area and passed out beanie babies that were donated to me for the trip. The mothers were thrilled to receive the gift, the children too sick to care.
As we were leaving the ward, we were stopped by the parents in the hallway who told us we couldn’t leave yet because we hadn’t prayed for their children yet. These people were desperately coveting our prayers. So, of course, we prayed.
Needless to say, the bus ride home was very quiet as we mentally processed what we just saw. There is no way to prepare for that experience. There is also no way to accurately describe it. I hope this gives you a glimpse.
Today, hug your child. Praise them and be grateful for their health. No matter what you are going through today, these people are experiencing worse…everyday.
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