I know I already posted today, but I have a big prayer request- this may be a little disturbing but this girl really needs prayer.
There is a P6 student at AAH who is an albino. Albinism isn't any more common here than it is in the US, but quite a bit more obvious here. We saw her at the 4th of July program, she had an amazing voice, and she is a great student. However, albinism is greatly misunderstood here. It is believed to have something to do with witchcraft.
Today, Emily (who works at AAH) came down and said she was having convulsions and really just freaking out at school. The teachers, though, were convinced that it was the work of spirits and that she needed no medical help. After much debate and talking, they were able to bring her down to the clinic. Dr. Abeso from Mbale was here and was able to give her a shot to calm her and then evaluate her.
As all of this was happening, Emily gave me a background story on this girl that left me speechless. Because of the stigmas about albinism in this society, someone has put a price on her head. They are willing to pay 20 million shillings for her neighbor to behead her. That's the equivalent of 10 million dollars. So far there have been 2 attempts. Dr. Abeso thinks that she has a convulsion disorder that is brought on because of the emotional, physical, psychological fear and stress in her life at this moment.
But the teachers, Ugandan community, and even her family believe that this person who is trying to kill her has sent the evil spirits into her to drive her mad so that she will run away and then they can capture her. As unbelievable as that sounds to me, they strongly believe this. Some of the teachers came down to the clinic to try to explain this to the doctor. One of her brothers came down to tell us when this started happening and family history. She has one normal brother and one albino brother who is also having these convulsions. I asked Emily if they had a spiritual cure for her, since they believe this is work of spirits. She said they can only pray for her.
She rested here this afternoon, I was able to check on her often and give her a granola bar and water when she was hungry. She was precious. Right before closing time, she started screaming and yelling again. It was heartbreaking. I don't know how to describe it other than she was freaking out. She was convulsing, lost control of her bladder, and was just sobbing and sobbing. All I wanted to do was hold her hand. They are moving her into the headmaster of the school's house where she is with people who know her and where she feels she is safe.
All I know to do is pray for this girl. Please pray for her physical safety and for her family. Pray for all the teachers and doctors involved that they will work together and figure out what is best for this girl. Pray that she has less attacks, that she begins to feel safe, and for her emotional/psychological state. Pray that she has peace and no fear.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Sunday- July 19
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
The newest volunteers are in Jinja this weekend, so it’s just Bryant, Amy, Vicki, Meaghan, and I this weekend. I wish Molly had gotten to stay for the rest of this weekend when it was just us. We got up early as usual, I took a bucket bath (hadn’t had one in a couple days haha) then got to have a quiet time.
I am so thankful for the friendships I have made here and these great people I have gotten to know. There is mutual respect between all the volunteers here and for all the work that everyone is doing. During the first couple weeks, though I was struggling to find my place here, it was so easy for me to see God’s provision in every moment of every day and to find my strength solely in Him. Now that I feel more comfortable here, I find myself having confidence in myself and my abilities. I know that God’s presence in my day to day here, his plans, and his daily provisions have not changed at all and that He is still working here with a purpose. My prayer is that I will see His hand in every moment as I did in those first couple weeks. Please be praying that in my last week here, God will use my comfort and my relationships here to aid in making a difference, while seeing that everything I do is for His glory and not mine.
Meaghan, Bryant, and Amy made breakfast- chapatti light, scrambled eggs with green peppers, and fruit. Our plan was to go to church with Jenipher this morning. As we were walking up the hill, Jenipher was coming down, so we went ahead without her. 5 Mzungus walking into an all black church. Of course everyone turned to stare. But the kids’ faces lit up though! There was ton of singing and dancing, it was one of the best experiences. These people were so full of joy. They were worshipping in a mud church with a tin roof full of holes, but they had joy. They sang one song in English for us, it was simple but truth. “There is happy today in the House of the Lord, there is happy today in the House of the Lord, there is Happy today in the House of the Lord, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. There is clapping today in the House of the Lord…There is jumping today in the House of the Lord….There is waving today in the House of the Lord…There is happy today in the House of the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen.” All the kids were running and jumping up the aisles. There was the cutest old woman across the aisle from us just singing and dancing with her hands raised. Again I was so overwhelmed, these people have nothing but they still worship with all they are. They welcomed us and provided translators for us during the sermon. It was on Mark 9: 14-32. Though I didn’t catch all of it, what I did hear seemed to be a great sermon. It wasn’t as long as we expected. We sang/clapped some more then it was time for the offering. We each gave a few hundred shillings (less than a quarter) but they were appreciative. Other people began bringing up bags of beans, passion fruits, and avocados. As they were praying over the offering, I was marveling at how they gave all they had but also wondering what they did with these food offerings. When the prayer was over, a man began holding up each item, speaking really fast, and then saying “I’m selling, I’m selling.” It was a church auction. Each of the offerings was sold (at a higher price than in the market) and the money used for the offering. It was so neat, people who grew beans and brought them as their offering were able to buy avocados or fruits and vice versa. But all the money was used as an offering. Then they said the announcements and church was dismissed. We shook hands with every person at the church afterwards.
We walked down to the clinic to use the internet and change clothes before we went on a hike. While I was waiting, a little boy came by the clinic with his mom, a CHE. Dr. Lisa had seen him yesterday and he needed his wound redressed. This little boy was three years old and he had cut his pointer finger with a machete. Dr. Lisa and Mike were on their way to the Kenyan border to renew Mike’s visa… so Bryant and I got to dress it. In the one day since it had last been dressed, the dressings had gotten filthy. We tried to ask the mother what happened but she didn’t tell us. I carefully unwrapped his hand and was shocked at how bad of a cut it was. Dr. Lisa had told me it was deep, but the mother didn’t bring him in as soon as it happened so it couldn’t be sutured at this point. It was just sad/ frustrating that it could have so easily been fixed if they had just come to the clinic. So now we were just treating what we could. We cleaned it well with soap and water and redressed it. He was really tough, no crying. We let him pick out a color of gauze, he chose green, and then I gave him some candies I had in my backpack for being so brave.
After that excitement, we changed and set out on our hike. Vicki is the super athletic outdoorsy one so she led the way. She had explored the area before and we went down toward the river that runs through the hills and the village. We decided to hike up the river, on the rocks, up the little waterfalls and stuff. The water was cold but it felt good after walking for a while. I love this group, I love learning from them all the time. Today Amy was talking about how pets in the United States have more rights than people in third world countries. It is illegal to deprive your pet of shelter, food, and water. The UN, however, has not declared water a human right. In their constitution, if they declare something a human right, they are obligated to help provide funding for it. They have named shelter and food human rights, and they provide a certain amount of funding for these needs, but not water. If water were declared a human right, they would be obligated to see that every person had access to an adequate amount of clean water. A huge undertaking. But that our pets have more rights, hard to swallow.
After hiking, Amy, Vicki, and I went back down to the village. We had been invited to dinner again at another AAH cook’s house but we also hadn’t eaten all afternoon. Amy and I got corn and Vicki got chapatti on our way down to the Guest House. Turns out Jenipher had made lunch also. We eat really well around here, anyone worried about us losing weight or starving- doesn’t happen.
We are, rested, I watched more episodes of 24, and then we changed back into our church clothes and headed up towards the school. The cook lived just up, straight up, the hill from the school. We got there right on time, according to Africa time. They welcomed us, prayed over us, and sang welcome songs to us. They passed around their photo albums for all of us to look at. The cook and his wife had gotten married in October of 2007. It’s a huge deal if people around here actually get married. Many times they have many children and many “wives” but are never actually married. This happens because bride prices are so high and husbands can’t afford to pay them. The family was so proud of these photos and this event in their life. It was precious.
Then they served the food. As with all meals that the villagers have made us, it was amazing. Full of flavor, just enough spices, and some awesome chapatti.
We walked back to the Guest House in the dark, because we hadn’t thought to bring flashlights and the power in the village is out again. But we made it. It was an overall great day. Only 4 more left…
This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it.
The newest volunteers are in Jinja this weekend, so it’s just Bryant, Amy, Vicki, Meaghan, and I this weekend. I wish Molly had gotten to stay for the rest of this weekend when it was just us. We got up early as usual, I took a bucket bath (hadn’t had one in a couple days haha) then got to have a quiet time.
I am so thankful for the friendships I have made here and these great people I have gotten to know. There is mutual respect between all the volunteers here and for all the work that everyone is doing. During the first couple weeks, though I was struggling to find my place here, it was so easy for me to see God’s provision in every moment of every day and to find my strength solely in Him. Now that I feel more comfortable here, I find myself having confidence in myself and my abilities. I know that God’s presence in my day to day here, his plans, and his daily provisions have not changed at all and that He is still working here with a purpose. My prayer is that I will see His hand in every moment as I did in those first couple weeks. Please be praying that in my last week here, God will use my comfort and my relationships here to aid in making a difference, while seeing that everything I do is for His glory and not mine.
Meaghan, Bryant, and Amy made breakfast- chapatti light, scrambled eggs with green peppers, and fruit. Our plan was to go to church with Jenipher this morning. As we were walking up the hill, Jenipher was coming down, so we went ahead without her. 5 Mzungus walking into an all black church. Of course everyone turned to stare. But the kids’ faces lit up though! There was ton of singing and dancing, it was one of the best experiences. These people were so full of joy. They were worshipping in a mud church with a tin roof full of holes, but they had joy. They sang one song in English for us, it was simple but truth. “There is happy today in the House of the Lord, there is happy today in the House of the Lord, there is Happy today in the House of the Lord, Hallelujah, Hallelujah. There is clapping today in the House of the Lord…There is jumping today in the House of the Lord….There is waving today in the House of the Lord…There is happy today in the House of the Lord, Hallelujah, Amen.” All the kids were running and jumping up the aisles. There was the cutest old woman across the aisle from us just singing and dancing with her hands raised. Again I was so overwhelmed, these people have nothing but they still worship with all they are. They welcomed us and provided translators for us during the sermon. It was on Mark 9: 14-32. Though I didn’t catch all of it, what I did hear seemed to be a great sermon. It wasn’t as long as we expected. We sang/clapped some more then it was time for the offering. We each gave a few hundred shillings (less than a quarter) but they were appreciative. Other people began bringing up bags of beans, passion fruits, and avocados. As they were praying over the offering, I was marveling at how they gave all they had but also wondering what they did with these food offerings. When the prayer was over, a man began holding up each item, speaking really fast, and then saying “I’m selling, I’m selling.” It was a church auction. Each of the offerings was sold (at a higher price than in the market) and the money used for the offering. It was so neat, people who grew beans and brought them as their offering were able to buy avocados or fruits and vice versa. But all the money was used as an offering. Then they said the announcements and church was dismissed. We shook hands with every person at the church afterwards.
We walked down to the clinic to use the internet and change clothes before we went on a hike. While I was waiting, a little boy came by the clinic with his mom, a CHE. Dr. Lisa had seen him yesterday and he needed his wound redressed. This little boy was three years old and he had cut his pointer finger with a machete. Dr. Lisa and Mike were on their way to the Kenyan border to renew Mike’s visa… so Bryant and I got to dress it. In the one day since it had last been dressed, the dressings had gotten filthy. We tried to ask the mother what happened but she didn’t tell us. I carefully unwrapped his hand and was shocked at how bad of a cut it was. Dr. Lisa had told me it was deep, but the mother didn’t bring him in as soon as it happened so it couldn’t be sutured at this point. It was just sad/ frustrating that it could have so easily been fixed if they had just come to the clinic. So now we were just treating what we could. We cleaned it well with soap and water and redressed it. He was really tough, no crying. We let him pick out a color of gauze, he chose green, and then I gave him some candies I had in my backpack for being so brave.
After that excitement, we changed and set out on our hike. Vicki is the super athletic outdoorsy one so she led the way. She had explored the area before and we went down toward the river that runs through the hills and the village. We decided to hike up the river, on the rocks, up the little waterfalls and stuff. The water was cold but it felt good after walking for a while. I love this group, I love learning from them all the time. Today Amy was talking about how pets in the United States have more rights than people in third world countries. It is illegal to deprive your pet of shelter, food, and water. The UN, however, has not declared water a human right. In their constitution, if they declare something a human right, they are obligated to help provide funding for it. They have named shelter and food human rights, and they provide a certain amount of funding for these needs, but not water. If water were declared a human right, they would be obligated to see that every person had access to an adequate amount of clean water. A huge undertaking. But that our pets have more rights, hard to swallow.
After hiking, Amy, Vicki, and I went back down to the village. We had been invited to dinner again at another AAH cook’s house but we also hadn’t eaten all afternoon. Amy and I got corn and Vicki got chapatti on our way down to the Guest House. Turns out Jenipher had made lunch also. We eat really well around here, anyone worried about us losing weight or starving- doesn’t happen.
We are, rested, I watched more episodes of 24, and then we changed back into our church clothes and headed up towards the school. The cook lived just up, straight up, the hill from the school. We got there right on time, according to Africa time. They welcomed us, prayed over us, and sang welcome songs to us. They passed around their photo albums for all of us to look at. The cook and his wife had gotten married in October of 2007. It’s a huge deal if people around here actually get married. Many times they have many children and many “wives” but are never actually married. This happens because bride prices are so high and husbands can’t afford to pay them. The family was so proud of these photos and this event in their life. It was precious.
Then they served the food. As with all meals that the villagers have made us, it was amazing. Full of flavor, just enough spices, and some awesome chapatti.
We walked back to the Guest House in the dark, because we hadn’t thought to bring flashlights and the power in the village is out again. But we made it. It was an overall great day. Only 4 more left…
Thursday, July 16, 2009
July 11- July 15
I have a quiet moment here, kind of. It’s been really hard these past couple days to really sit down and write anything more than just ‘this is what I did today.’ I feel like I have written so much, yet there is so much more going on here that I haven't written down. I’m realizing how little time I actually have left here and I want to spend time with the other volunteers here. But so much is going on to reflect on! Today on the way up to the clinic Molly and I got to talk about what we are learning here. Both of us really feel that this has been an incredibly humbling experience. I have been learning how incredibly faithful God is in every situation, even when I can’t see His entire purpose or plan.
Quick recap of the past couple days and some highlights.
We spent the night in Mbale Friday night after at bar-b-q at Dr. Rafi's and then headed to Orphan Camp back in the village. Orphan Camp is run by a Canadian named Barbara. She runs a vocational school during the week for kids and adults who aren’t in school and teaches them things like sewing, brick making, and computer work. On Saturdays her orphans, called the Children of Peace, come and have classes. Not all of them are truly orphans; some just have really bad home lives and don’t go to school. For $100 a year, sponsored by people in Canada and the States, they come and learn on Saturdays, get a meal, and feel a part of something.
First thing when we got there, we see a child with a huge infected abscess on the back of his ankle/calf. Apparently it was from a piece of glass which got infected and wasn’t properly cared for so it grew and got very infected. George, the little boy, was so tough as they were cleaning it and dressing it again.
Next we went and learned how they made paper beads. It was so cool. They cut up magazine-type paper into small strips and then rolled it into beads. They add a drop of glue then let them dry. The other half of the group was stringing beads onto fishing line. After they do that, they dip the string into a gloss of some sort. They sell these beads at the market to raise money for the orphans. We all have bought some, because they sell them for $3 here, but $15 at small craft stores in the states. I tried my hand at making them, they laughed at the first couple we tried to make, but then we got better and ours look just like theirs.
There is a Canadian family volunteering there for the past couple weeks. The parents said they had always wanted to take their kids to a third world country to have that experience and show them how blessed they are. Their son is a senior in high school, and they have two daughters, 15 and 13. They were such a sweet family. They had also brought lots of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and raised lots of money to buy all the kids soap and Vaseline. So we got to help them pass them out. I have never seen kids so happy. To each get their own toothbrush, their own toothpaste, their own bar of soap (which is like four of ours), and their own jar of Vaseline. You would have thought it was Christmas. Amazing moment of the day.
Sunday consisted of a hike to one of the local cooks house for lunch. He used to be a caterer in Nairobi, so the food was awesome.
Monday started with hiking Mt. Nusu. We set off around 8am. They told us it would probably take 5 hours total, in there. Let me try to describe this mountain to you. First of all, the locals call it a hill. Let me assure you, it is no hill. It looks just like Grinch mountain. It has a pointy peak and it is very steep. It’s not an easy hike, it’s sort of the marathon accomplishment that volunteers aim for while they are here. You’ll have to see pictures because I don’t think words can accurately describe this mountain. Words can’t accurately describe a lot of things here. But we made it and it was completely worth it.
We met Richard, Tina, and Marion up at the clinic and set out to do family planning home visits. When I envisioned my work in Africa, I definitely pictured working in the clinic, taking vitals, clinical stuff every day. Recently, though, Molly and I have really figured out that we can make the most impact through education. We have been working on a health prevention lesson plan, teaching people how to prevent getting sick, prevent spreading illness, and when symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor.
For family planning home visits we go into the community and visit people at their homes and give our family planning presentation. People love to invite us into their homes and listen to what we have to say. They always have great questions for us too. Part of the education is dispelling myths that they have heard about different methods of family planning. All family planning is available for free at our clinic and local hospitals, but they haven’t had the education on proper use. Richard is so good at answering their questions and taking what we say and making it applicable to them. He has actually become quite the comedian/storyteller when doing presentations. He always acts out being a really old pregnant woman when talking about the importance of family planning. For family planning methods that can be stopped when you decide you want to have more children, he always tells a story of the miracle plane that drops money from the sky into your field so you can afford more children. He always makes them laugh because sometimes they feel a little awkward talking about it. When we got to our last house of the day, Richard did the normal introductions and asked if we could do our family planning presentation. This couple asked us to come back another day, though. When he saw how confused we looked, Richard explained that they had lots of neighbors who also needed to hear, but they were working that day. So we scheduled to come back Thursday morning. It was great to see how they wanted to learn, but that they also wanted their neighbors to learn as well.
I didn’t play soccer tonight, I played with some kids and we took pictures. It was hilarious. The first couple times they are confused at what this thing flashing at them is, but then when you show them the pictures they go nuts. They have never seen themselves or a camera before and they love it. By the end they were making funny faces and showing off for the camera. Its those moments and those pictures that remind me why I’m here.
I don't think this post adequately describes everything that has been going on here, but I'll be home in a little over a week and can't wait to share more stories with you! Thank you for the continued prayers and support!
I have a quiet moment here, kind of. It’s been really hard these past couple days to really sit down and write anything more than just ‘this is what I did today.’ I feel like I have written so much, yet there is so much more going on here that I haven't written down. I’m realizing how little time I actually have left here and I want to spend time with the other volunteers here. But so much is going on to reflect on! Today on the way up to the clinic Molly and I got to talk about what we are learning here. Both of us really feel that this has been an incredibly humbling experience. I have been learning how incredibly faithful God is in every situation, even when I can’t see His entire purpose or plan.
Quick recap of the past couple days and some highlights.
We spent the night in Mbale Friday night after at bar-b-q at Dr. Rafi's and then headed to Orphan Camp back in the village. Orphan Camp is run by a Canadian named Barbara. She runs a vocational school during the week for kids and adults who aren’t in school and teaches them things like sewing, brick making, and computer work. On Saturdays her orphans, called the Children of Peace, come and have classes. Not all of them are truly orphans; some just have really bad home lives and don’t go to school. For $100 a year, sponsored by people in Canada and the States, they come and learn on Saturdays, get a meal, and feel a part of something.
First thing when we got there, we see a child with a huge infected abscess on the back of his ankle/calf. Apparently it was from a piece of glass which got infected and wasn’t properly cared for so it grew and got very infected. George, the little boy, was so tough as they were cleaning it and dressing it again.
Next we went and learned how they made paper beads. It was so cool. They cut up magazine-type paper into small strips and then rolled it into beads. They add a drop of glue then let them dry. The other half of the group was stringing beads onto fishing line. After they do that, they dip the string into a gloss of some sort. They sell these beads at the market to raise money for the orphans. We all have bought some, because they sell them for $3 here, but $15 at small craft stores in the states. I tried my hand at making them, they laughed at the first couple we tried to make, but then we got better and ours look just like theirs.
There is a Canadian family volunteering there for the past couple weeks. The parents said they had always wanted to take their kids to a third world country to have that experience and show them how blessed they are. Their son is a senior in high school, and they have two daughters, 15 and 13. They were such a sweet family. They had also brought lots of toothbrushes, toothpastes, and raised lots of money to buy all the kids soap and Vaseline. So we got to help them pass them out. I have never seen kids so happy. To each get their own toothbrush, their own toothpaste, their own bar of soap (which is like four of ours), and their own jar of Vaseline. You would have thought it was Christmas. Amazing moment of the day.
Sunday consisted of a hike to one of the local cooks house for lunch. He used to be a caterer in Nairobi, so the food was awesome.
Monday started with hiking Mt. Nusu. We set off around 8am. They told us it would probably take 5 hours total, in there. Let me try to describe this mountain to you. First of all, the locals call it a hill. Let me assure you, it is no hill. It looks just like Grinch mountain. It has a pointy peak and it is very steep. It’s not an easy hike, it’s sort of the marathon accomplishment that volunteers aim for while they are here. You’ll have to see pictures because I don’t think words can accurately describe this mountain. Words can’t accurately describe a lot of things here. But we made it and it was completely worth it.
We met Richard, Tina, and Marion up at the clinic and set out to do family planning home visits. When I envisioned my work in Africa, I definitely pictured working in the clinic, taking vitals, clinical stuff every day. Recently, though, Molly and I have really figured out that we can make the most impact through education. We have been working on a health prevention lesson plan, teaching people how to prevent getting sick, prevent spreading illness, and when symptoms are serious enough to see a doctor.
For family planning home visits we go into the community and visit people at their homes and give our family planning presentation. People love to invite us into their homes and listen to what we have to say. They always have great questions for us too. Part of the education is dispelling myths that they have heard about different methods of family planning. All family planning is available for free at our clinic and local hospitals, but they haven’t had the education on proper use. Richard is so good at answering their questions and taking what we say and making it applicable to them. He has actually become quite the comedian/storyteller when doing presentations. He always acts out being a really old pregnant woman when talking about the importance of family planning. For family planning methods that can be stopped when you decide you want to have more children, he always tells a story of the miracle plane that drops money from the sky into your field so you can afford more children. He always makes them laugh because sometimes they feel a little awkward talking about it. When we got to our last house of the day, Richard did the normal introductions and asked if we could do our family planning presentation. This couple asked us to come back another day, though. When he saw how confused we looked, Richard explained that they had lots of neighbors who also needed to hear, but they were working that day. So we scheduled to come back Thursday morning. It was great to see how they wanted to learn, but that they also wanted their neighbors to learn as well.
I didn’t play soccer tonight, I played with some kids and we took pictures. It was hilarious. The first couple times they are confused at what this thing flashing at them is, but then when you show them the pictures they go nuts. They have never seen themselves or a camera before and they love it. By the end they were making funny faces and showing off for the camera. Its those moments and those pictures that remind me why I’m here.
I don't think this post adequately describes everything that has been going on here, but I'll be home in a little over a week and can't wait to share more stories with you! Thank you for the continued prayers and support!
Monday, July 13, 2009
Friday, July 10- Faces
I woke up this morning to the sound of an African rain storm. I love listening to the rain at home, but I have never heard it rain so hard. It was amazing to just lie there, listen, and think about where I am and what I am witnessing and learning every day.
I saw patients again with Marion and Mike, another one of the Community Health Educators. The days here can get a little repetitive seeing so many patients. I don’t know how many we see each day, but you remember the faces. The morning started off with an adorable baby, he was so happy and smiley, he was not fearing us at all. He had the most beautiful, big eyes you have ever seen. Every day I think I have seen the cutest kid ever, but then another one comes in. And to make it even better, this was a perfectly healthy baby.
Another was a 3-year-old little boy, who was very shy, but not scared. Of course, he was cute too. Its kids like him who get me. They have big bellies poking out, but it is because they are malnourished, not full. His hair was patchy, his skin scaly and dry. He had mild bronchitis so we were going to give him a breathing treatment. Basically, a mask on his face and we squeeze an inhaler into it so he breathes the medicine. That did scare him and he cried, but that was good because he was taking deeper breaths and getting the medicine in. When we were done, I just sat on the table beside him and held his hand until the tears stopped running down his face.
Later a 10-year-old boy came in with his grandmother. He was skin and bones. With these kids, it’s hard to diagnose them with something specific because most of their problems stem from their malnourishment. As Marion was talking to his grandmother about his problems, she said “He needs to eat more food.” The grandmother looked away and replied “I have no food to give him.” We were both speechless for a minute as Mike explained to us how hard it is for some to find food. My heart went out to them both. It’s so easy for us if we come across that in the states, we can direct them to a food pantry or shelter or church to get help. But here, there is no one to help. Food is scarce for most everyone. I am humbled here on a daily basis.
One last face for the day, not sad, he just brought a smile to my face. This was the cutest little old man ever. He said he was 70, but he looked a lot older. He had a wrinkled, weathered face, and a gentle smile. He walked in with his cane, wide-brimmed hat, suit jacket, and pants rolled up like he was going to the beach. He was so cute, so appreciative for everything we were doing for him.
Please continue to pray for these patients we see, that they will see beyond just the medicine and treatment we are giving them. Pray that we will truly be able to make a difference in the lives of these people
I woke up this morning to the sound of an African rain storm. I love listening to the rain at home, but I have never heard it rain so hard. It was amazing to just lie there, listen, and think about where I am and what I am witnessing and learning every day.
I saw patients again with Marion and Mike, another one of the Community Health Educators. The days here can get a little repetitive seeing so many patients. I don’t know how many we see each day, but you remember the faces. The morning started off with an adorable baby, he was so happy and smiley, he was not fearing us at all. He had the most beautiful, big eyes you have ever seen. Every day I think I have seen the cutest kid ever, but then another one comes in. And to make it even better, this was a perfectly healthy baby.
Another was a 3-year-old little boy, who was very shy, but not scared. Of course, he was cute too. Its kids like him who get me. They have big bellies poking out, but it is because they are malnourished, not full. His hair was patchy, his skin scaly and dry. He had mild bronchitis so we were going to give him a breathing treatment. Basically, a mask on his face and we squeeze an inhaler into it so he breathes the medicine. That did scare him and he cried, but that was good because he was taking deeper breaths and getting the medicine in. When we were done, I just sat on the table beside him and held his hand until the tears stopped running down his face.
Later a 10-year-old boy came in with his grandmother. He was skin and bones. With these kids, it’s hard to diagnose them with something specific because most of their problems stem from their malnourishment. As Marion was talking to his grandmother about his problems, she said “He needs to eat more food.” The grandmother looked away and replied “I have no food to give him.” We were both speechless for a minute as Mike explained to us how hard it is for some to find food. My heart went out to them both. It’s so easy for us if we come across that in the states, we can direct them to a food pantry or shelter or church to get help. But here, there is no one to help. Food is scarce for most everyone. I am humbled here on a daily basis.
One last face for the day, not sad, he just brought a smile to my face. This was the cutest little old man ever. He said he was 70, but he looked a lot older. He had a wrinkled, weathered face, and a gentle smile. He walked in with his cane, wide-brimmed hat, suit jacket, and pants rolled up like he was going to the beach. He was so cute, so appreciative for everything we were doing for him.
Please continue to pray for these patients we see, that they will see beyond just the medicine and treatment we are giving them. Pray that we will truly be able to make a difference in the lives of these people
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Weekend Two- 4th/ Jinga- July 4-7
This is the short version because the weekend stretched from Saturday to Tuesday and lots of things happened. But it still might be kind of long haha.
AAH was throwing a 4th of July/ 5th anniversary of the school celebration for us on the 4th. The celebration was supposed to start at 10:00 but this is Africa time, so 12:30 was when it started. Lunch was supposed to be at 2 but that didn’t happen. Parts of the celebration were great. The kids had some great songs and dances. And they did a skit, which was hilarious even though we had no idea what they were saying. But then the speeches started. They talked for so long and we didn’t really know what they were saying. Finally, the Mzungus were given an escape plan and taken to eat our special lunch. Rice and beans, of course.
During lunch we all reminisced on our favorite 4th of July traditions. Most of the conversation revolved around food, fireworks, and family. We all agreed that today has made us the most homesick so far. Not even really homesick, we would just really like to be in America for today. Its such a patriotic holiday, full of tradition and celebration, and its hard not to think about what everyone in America is doing today. But this is an experience I will never forget. How selfish is it of me to be thinking of all that I am missing out on when these people are trying to make this day special for us? Humbled again in Africa.
That night the school teachers threw a party for all the AAH and FIMRC staff and volunteers. It actually turned out to be pretty fun. The food actually was quite a feast. Tons of rice, beans, chipati (fried dough = amazing), pork, beef, and chicken. After going to the market and seeing how meat is cut and sold, I’m a vegetarian for this trip. And tons of beer. Our newest volunteer here is Tommy, a British med student, which made the 4th very entertaining.
Sunday
Two of the volunteers, Karli and Brea, were leaving this week, so we were going to their favorite place, Jinja, for the weekend. Jinja is a pretty big tourist city, because it is where the source of the Nile River is. We were staying at Bukigali camp site, again cheap dorm style rooms, but amazing views. The porch overlooks the Nile and some of the rapids. We arrived after a wild matatu ride, Molly and I decided to go bungee jumping, while the rest of the group went on a sunset gin and tonic kayak cruise. Yes that’s right, we went bungee jumping. Over the source of the Nile. It was amazing. 44 meters up, they sat us in a chair, tied our feet up (very securely, no worries), then made us hop over toward the edge. They told us not to look down and tiptoe over to the edge. That was the only scary part, inching toward the edge and trusting they would tell when to stop. Then it was “look toward that field, jump as far out as possible and do a swan dive. 3, 2, 1.” The first drop was shocking, I couldn’t even scream. I got to the bottom and then was yanked back up on the other side. Then down and up again. I never actually touched the water. When you stopped, you hung there, upside down for a minute, until the people in the raft hold out an oar to you and pull you into the boat. It lasted all of one minute, but so fun.
Monday
Monday was a day that I really wanted my thoughts to automatically just be written down because there was so much to take in. We got up and caught the rafting truck to the Nile River Explorers’ office where we checked in, semi-signed a waiver, then to eat breakfast. Perry- it was a continental breakfast Africa-style: toast, boiled eggs, chapatti, mango, pineapple, baby bananas, coffee, tea, jam. We met the rafting guide in charge of our trip and he told us how the day was going to work, what to take, what to leave, etc. It was a very organized operation, apparently during the summer they take a group out every day. Our group had 30 people and on weekends it’s usually 2 or 3 times that many. We got fitted for life jackets and helmets, then loaded onto the rafting truck for the trip to the put-in point. Once there, we were divided into groups and put with a guide.
The 5 of us (me, Molly, Amy, Vicky, Tommy) had a guide named Charles aka Prince Charles of the Nile. He was a local Ugandan who had been guiding rafting trips for 13 years, so he knew the river very well. He had actually worked for the competing rafting company, then didn’t agree with some of their policies so he came to Nile River Explorers. Very cool guy. We got in and went over all the safety issues; what to do if we flipped, what to do if you fell out, then he made us practice falling out. Along with the six rafts that went, there were two safety rafts (big rafts with safety people in case there was an emergency, we never needed them), and 10 or so safety kayakers that would come get you if you fell out and drifted too far from your boat. Quote from the guide “They are the crazy ones in the lunchboxes that look like Jesus when they come get you.” And away we went. There were a total of 12 rapids- 8 before lunch, 4 after, 4 class V rapids. It was so much fun. At several points during the day we were just paddling on flat water. It was amazing to look around at the scenery, at this huge river and just think about how big it actually is. It begins at Lake Victoria and flows north to Egypt. It’s the only river in the world which flows north. And this river has been here for thousands of years, nestled between the mountains of Uganda, flowing easily in some places and raging rapids in others. We saw tons of birds alongside the river- King Fisher, storks, little white birds which are called ‘Mzungu birds.’ Our guide also liked to tell us stories while we were just paddling along. The favorite was of the Nile Perch. Apparently these fish are bigger than people, and they eat people. When you go over waterfalls, which we did, they sit at the bottom with their mouths open to catch Mzungus who fall out. We ate lunch on the river, the safety rafts were converted into makeshift tables where they prepared the food. Really it was a packet of glucose biscuits- a staple around here, a mix between a cookie and cracker- and the greatest pineapple in the world. They cut the pineapple into fourths, ran a knife through it to cut pieces, and then handed you half a pineapple. So good. After lunch we had the final four rapids, one that was an actual waterfall, one which we did with our eyes closed, and one that we did with all the girls in the back and Tommy in the front, therefore vertical. An amazing day.
We rode back to the campsite for another free meal, which was awesome. Real food. No rice or beans. Pasta, salad, chapatti, green beans, steak tips, rolls. Then another hot shower and hanging out with the rest of the group. We were exhausted from a full day of rafting so we went back to the room to read. But then we ended up just talking. After the long weekend, my trip is at the halfway point and Molly has only a week and a half left. The weekend was the perfect relaxation/rejuvenation/get pumped about what we are doing for the rest of our time here. We are at a point where we know what is going here and what we want to accomplish in our time we have left. Sometimes it’s hard to see how I are making a difference and what exactly I am accomplishing, but with a list of specific goals we are excited for the next 2 weeks. It’s weird because I am pumped for the next 2 weeks and what we are going to accomplish, but I also can’t wait to get home and share with you more what God is doing over here.
Thank you so much for your prayers for the weekend. It was fun, safe, and some people used good judgement….but overall it was awesome. Prayer requests for the week: safe travel for those coming and going; relationships among the volunteers; continued enthusiasm and ambition for my remaining time here!
This is the short version because the weekend stretched from Saturday to Tuesday and lots of things happened. But it still might be kind of long haha.
AAH was throwing a 4th of July/ 5th anniversary of the school celebration for us on the 4th. The celebration was supposed to start at 10:00 but this is Africa time, so 12:30 was when it started. Lunch was supposed to be at 2 but that didn’t happen. Parts of the celebration were great. The kids had some great songs and dances. And they did a skit, which was hilarious even though we had no idea what they were saying. But then the speeches started. They talked for so long and we didn’t really know what they were saying. Finally, the Mzungus were given an escape plan and taken to eat our special lunch. Rice and beans, of course.
During lunch we all reminisced on our favorite 4th of July traditions. Most of the conversation revolved around food, fireworks, and family. We all agreed that today has made us the most homesick so far. Not even really homesick, we would just really like to be in America for today. Its such a patriotic holiday, full of tradition and celebration, and its hard not to think about what everyone in America is doing today. But this is an experience I will never forget. How selfish is it of me to be thinking of all that I am missing out on when these people are trying to make this day special for us? Humbled again in Africa.
That night the school teachers threw a party for all the AAH and FIMRC staff and volunteers. It actually turned out to be pretty fun. The food actually was quite a feast. Tons of rice, beans, chipati (fried dough = amazing), pork, beef, and chicken. After going to the market and seeing how meat is cut and sold, I’m a vegetarian for this trip. And tons of beer. Our newest volunteer here is Tommy, a British med student, which made the 4th very entertaining.
Sunday
Two of the volunteers, Karli and Brea, were leaving this week, so we were going to their favorite place, Jinja, for the weekend. Jinja is a pretty big tourist city, because it is where the source of the Nile River is. We were staying at Bukigali camp site, again cheap dorm style rooms, but amazing views. The porch overlooks the Nile and some of the rapids. We arrived after a wild matatu ride, Molly and I decided to go bungee jumping, while the rest of the group went on a sunset gin and tonic kayak cruise. Yes that’s right, we went bungee jumping. Over the source of the Nile. It was amazing. 44 meters up, they sat us in a chair, tied our feet up (very securely, no worries), then made us hop over toward the edge. They told us not to look down and tiptoe over to the edge. That was the only scary part, inching toward the edge and trusting they would tell when to stop. Then it was “look toward that field, jump as far out as possible and do a swan dive. 3, 2, 1.” The first drop was shocking, I couldn’t even scream. I got to the bottom and then was yanked back up on the other side. Then down and up again. I never actually touched the water. When you stopped, you hung there, upside down for a minute, until the people in the raft hold out an oar to you and pull you into the boat. It lasted all of one minute, but so fun.
Monday
Monday was a day that I really wanted my thoughts to automatically just be written down because there was so much to take in. We got up and caught the rafting truck to the Nile River Explorers’ office where we checked in, semi-signed a waiver, then to eat breakfast. Perry- it was a continental breakfast Africa-style: toast, boiled eggs, chapatti, mango, pineapple, baby bananas, coffee, tea, jam. We met the rafting guide in charge of our trip and he told us how the day was going to work, what to take, what to leave, etc. It was a very organized operation, apparently during the summer they take a group out every day. Our group had 30 people and on weekends it’s usually 2 or 3 times that many. We got fitted for life jackets and helmets, then loaded onto the rafting truck for the trip to the put-in point. Once there, we were divided into groups and put with a guide.
The 5 of us (me, Molly, Amy, Vicky, Tommy) had a guide named Charles aka Prince Charles of the Nile. He was a local Ugandan who had been guiding rafting trips for 13 years, so he knew the river very well. He had actually worked for the competing rafting company, then didn’t agree with some of their policies so he came to Nile River Explorers. Very cool guy. We got in and went over all the safety issues; what to do if we flipped, what to do if you fell out, then he made us practice falling out. Along with the six rafts that went, there were two safety rafts (big rafts with safety people in case there was an emergency, we never needed them), and 10 or so safety kayakers that would come get you if you fell out and drifted too far from your boat. Quote from the guide “They are the crazy ones in the lunchboxes that look like Jesus when they come get you.” And away we went. There were a total of 12 rapids- 8 before lunch, 4 after, 4 class V rapids. It was so much fun. At several points during the day we were just paddling on flat water. It was amazing to look around at the scenery, at this huge river and just think about how big it actually is. It begins at Lake Victoria and flows north to Egypt. It’s the only river in the world which flows north. And this river has been here for thousands of years, nestled between the mountains of Uganda, flowing easily in some places and raging rapids in others. We saw tons of birds alongside the river- King Fisher, storks, little white birds which are called ‘Mzungu birds.’ Our guide also liked to tell us stories while we were just paddling along. The favorite was of the Nile Perch. Apparently these fish are bigger than people, and they eat people. When you go over waterfalls, which we did, they sit at the bottom with their mouths open to catch Mzungus who fall out. We ate lunch on the river, the safety rafts were converted into makeshift tables where they prepared the food. Really it was a packet of glucose biscuits- a staple around here, a mix between a cookie and cracker- and the greatest pineapple in the world. They cut the pineapple into fourths, ran a knife through it to cut pieces, and then handed you half a pineapple. So good. After lunch we had the final four rapids, one that was an actual waterfall, one which we did with our eyes closed, and one that we did with all the girls in the back and Tommy in the front, therefore vertical. An amazing day.
We rode back to the campsite for another free meal, which was awesome. Real food. No rice or beans. Pasta, salad, chapatti, green beans, steak tips, rolls. Then another hot shower and hanging out with the rest of the group. We were exhausted from a full day of rafting so we went back to the room to read. But then we ended up just talking. After the long weekend, my trip is at the halfway point and Molly has only a week and a half left. The weekend was the perfect relaxation/rejuvenation/get pumped about what we are doing for the rest of our time here. We are at a point where we know what is going here and what we want to accomplish in our time we have left. Sometimes it’s hard to see how I are making a difference and what exactly I am accomplishing, but with a list of specific goals we are excited for the next 2 weeks. It’s weird because I am pumped for the next 2 weeks and what we are going to accomplish, but I also can’t wait to get home and share with you more what God is doing over here.
Thank you so much for your prayers for the weekend. It was fun, safe, and some people used good judgement….but overall it was awesome. Prayer requests for the week: safe travel for those coming and going; relationships among the volunteers; continued enthusiasm and ambition for my remaining time here!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Wednesday
Last week, when we went on our boda tour of the city, we visited Bududa Hospital. It was built by the Japanese government, which surprised me some, but I’m finding more and more that other countries come into Uganda and build hospitals, roads, etc. and then leave. They don’t send supplies or workers, just the building. So Molly and I were really impressed by this hospital and what they were doing, and they practically begged us to come back and volunteer because they were so short-staffed. We planned to go back to Bududa Hospital on Wednesday and back to Bukigai Health Center this Friday. Now, you can’t just walk in and volunteer, which was what we thought the process was. We had to send an official letter, in letter format with a FIMRC stamp and everything. We asked Rashid and Mike who to address the letter to (In-charge, Bududa Hospital) and then delivered them with Rashid. That was Friday. On Tuesday, we get our letter back from Bududa Hospital, and it needs to be re-written. Why? Instead of the in-charge (who had given us the tour and the invitation to come back) we needed to write it to the Medical Superintendent and send it back that day. But they also said that Wednesday would be a great day to come because many ‘activities’ were going on. TIA.
When we got there, it took us 30 minutes or so to find someone who knew where this nurse we were following was. We found her and she took us to the Pediatric Ward, just a pediatric clinic, where we shadowed two medical students. They were very nice, Peter and Moses, and very knowledgeable. I took lots of notes on what they were diagnosing, the process which brought them to a diagnosis, and many of the similarities and differences between Bududa and FIMRC. They spend more time talking to each patient, and they included us in every step, asking what we thought and why the prescribed certain medicines, etc. They do not, however, take any vitals, except weight when they are prescribing medicine. They don’t have a thermometer so if a parent says their child has a fever, they do. They listen to heart sounds, check their eyes (something FIMRC does not do, and either prescribe them medicine, send them to the lab for tests, or admit them to the Ward for meds and observation. It was a very enlightening morning.
They then had to go scrub in on a C-section and we tagged along. When we got there, apparently they didn’t have permission from high enough authority for us to watch, and they had already started. So we sat in a room, for an hour, ate some crackers, and read/ played Sudoku- we’re always prepared. Finally, we said 5 more minutes and we’re going back to the ward to watch more. We waited, and then Peter came and told us to go change into scrubs, we were going to watch a surgery. The scrubs there were like 20 times to big, no joke, and we have pictures. And you have to wear rain boots, or gum boots as they call them, into the OR. It was a really interesting surgery, a molar pregnancy, but the details are not G-rated, so ask me sometime if you really want to know. There are only two operation rooms in the operation theatre complex, but they were a fairly good size. They had some really nice equipment, overhead lights, anesthesia machines, heart rate monitors. Did they use it? No. One of the medical students held a flashlight for the doctor; an old oxygen tank was used for the anesthesia. It was so weird to have all the equipment but not be able to use it. And on everything there was a sticker that had a Japanese flag and “donated by the people of Japan” written on it. The surgeon seemed to be very capable, she had done the c-section before and then right into this surgery. They do ok with what they have. We didn’t actually volunteer as much as we would have liked but we got to see some really cool stuff and we are going back one day next week, no letter needed.
After work we went and picked up some skirts we had made out of some fabric we bought. Then it was back to the Guest House. Nights at home are fun; we have family dinner, lots of laughter, and usually a game of Cranium or something. Everyone has fun together.
This is probably the last post I will have till the middle of next week, because we don’t have internet on the weekends, and Sun/Mon/Tues we are going to Jinja to go white water rafting on the Nile. Please pray for safety, good decisions for everyone in our group, and for fun. Thanks for your love and prayers!
Last week, when we went on our boda tour of the city, we visited Bududa Hospital. It was built by the Japanese government, which surprised me some, but I’m finding more and more that other countries come into Uganda and build hospitals, roads, etc. and then leave. They don’t send supplies or workers, just the building. So Molly and I were really impressed by this hospital and what they were doing, and they practically begged us to come back and volunteer because they were so short-staffed. We planned to go back to Bududa Hospital on Wednesday and back to Bukigai Health Center this Friday. Now, you can’t just walk in and volunteer, which was what we thought the process was. We had to send an official letter, in letter format with a FIMRC stamp and everything. We asked Rashid and Mike who to address the letter to (In-charge, Bududa Hospital) and then delivered them with Rashid. That was Friday. On Tuesday, we get our letter back from Bududa Hospital, and it needs to be re-written. Why? Instead of the in-charge (who had given us the tour and the invitation to come back) we needed to write it to the Medical Superintendent and send it back that day. But they also said that Wednesday would be a great day to come because many ‘activities’ were going on. TIA.
When we got there, it took us 30 minutes or so to find someone who knew where this nurse we were following was. We found her and she took us to the Pediatric Ward, just a pediatric clinic, where we shadowed two medical students. They were very nice, Peter and Moses, and very knowledgeable. I took lots of notes on what they were diagnosing, the process which brought them to a diagnosis, and many of the similarities and differences between Bududa and FIMRC. They spend more time talking to each patient, and they included us in every step, asking what we thought and why the prescribed certain medicines, etc. They do not, however, take any vitals, except weight when they are prescribing medicine. They don’t have a thermometer so if a parent says their child has a fever, they do. They listen to heart sounds, check their eyes (something FIMRC does not do, and either prescribe them medicine, send them to the lab for tests, or admit them to the Ward for meds and observation. It was a very enlightening morning.
They then had to go scrub in on a C-section and we tagged along. When we got there, apparently they didn’t have permission from high enough authority for us to watch, and they had already started. So we sat in a room, for an hour, ate some crackers, and read/ played Sudoku- we’re always prepared. Finally, we said 5 more minutes and we’re going back to the ward to watch more. We waited, and then Peter came and told us to go change into scrubs, we were going to watch a surgery. The scrubs there were like 20 times to big, no joke, and we have pictures. And you have to wear rain boots, or gum boots as they call them, into the OR. It was a really interesting surgery, a molar pregnancy, but the details are not G-rated, so ask me sometime if you really want to know. There are only two operation rooms in the operation theatre complex, but they were a fairly good size. They had some really nice equipment, overhead lights, anesthesia machines, heart rate monitors. Did they use it? No. One of the medical students held a flashlight for the doctor; an old oxygen tank was used for the anesthesia. It was so weird to have all the equipment but not be able to use it. And on everything there was a sticker that had a Japanese flag and “donated by the people of Japan” written on it. The surgeon seemed to be very capable, she had done the c-section before and then right into this surgery. They do ok with what they have. We didn’t actually volunteer as much as we would have liked but we got to see some really cool stuff and we are going back one day next week, no letter needed.
After work we went and picked up some skirts we had made out of some fabric we bought. Then it was back to the Guest House. Nights at home are fun; we have family dinner, lots of laughter, and usually a game of Cranium or something. Everyone has fun together.
This is probably the last post I will have till the middle of next week, because we don’t have internet on the weekends, and Sun/Mon/Tues we are going to Jinja to go white water rafting on the Nile. Please pray for safety, good decisions for everyone in our group, and for fun. Thanks for your love and prayers!
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Tuesday
Today got off to a slow start. Last night was kind of a wild night at the Guest House. Our house manager and project manager are in the city for a couple days, so getting to bed was not a priority last night. Molly and I did make it up to the clinic only 30 minutes after it opened, but we shouldn’t have worried. As expected, it was a slow day. Taking temps and heart rates and entering them in to the computer was the main task for the morning. We got to a girl who was only 3 months old, but she was skin and bones. I’ve never seen a baby this tiny. Her cry didn’t even sound like a cry really. We noticed that her chest sounded really congested when we were listening to her heart. Luckily, on Tuesdays, Dr. Abeso, who works in the hospital in Mbale, comes to see patients so she was able to take over. This baby girl was severely dehydrated. She tried for almost an hour to find a vein where she could get fluids into her, but they were so small. Dr. Abeso then gave the father some money to take the child quickly to the hospital, where they would have the necessary equipment to nourish her. She told us at lunch, however, that often the parents will go home first and to the hospital later, when it is too late. Sometimes we do what we can, but even then it is not enough.
Yesterday, my devotion book began a section on the life of Daniel. Daniel was born into nobility, but his land was invaded by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar. He was taken from his home and offered luxuries to persuade him to give up his commitment to God. The first day was titled “Far From Home,” apropos I think, and talks about how everything changed for Daniel, but God’s presence sustained him. That is exactly what I am experiencing right now. Everyday, whether it is something big or small, I am constantly reminded that God is right beside me and he will be with me always, wherever I am (Isaiah 41:10). I am praying that you at home are experiencing His nearness as I am here. He has gone before us and prepared a way until the very end of our days. Nothing we are going through or experiencing surprises Him, He has purposed everything in our lives. Ultimately, God honored Daniel’s commitment and granted him unusual wisdom and a long, productive, and honorable life. Wow. That my faith would be as steadfast as Daniel’s and that I would learn and grow in God’s wisdom and grace- that is my prayer. And that I may never go back to a place where I am not actively seeking God’s will for my every day and seeing His touch in every part of my life.
Today got off to a slow start. Last night was kind of a wild night at the Guest House. Our house manager and project manager are in the city for a couple days, so getting to bed was not a priority last night. Molly and I did make it up to the clinic only 30 minutes after it opened, but we shouldn’t have worried. As expected, it was a slow day. Taking temps and heart rates and entering them in to the computer was the main task for the morning. We got to a girl who was only 3 months old, but she was skin and bones. I’ve never seen a baby this tiny. Her cry didn’t even sound like a cry really. We noticed that her chest sounded really congested when we were listening to her heart. Luckily, on Tuesdays, Dr. Abeso, who works in the hospital in Mbale, comes to see patients so she was able to take over. This baby girl was severely dehydrated. She tried for almost an hour to find a vein where she could get fluids into her, but they were so small. Dr. Abeso then gave the father some money to take the child quickly to the hospital, where they would have the necessary equipment to nourish her. She told us at lunch, however, that often the parents will go home first and to the hospital later, when it is too late. Sometimes we do what we can, but even then it is not enough.
Yesterday, my devotion book began a section on the life of Daniel. Daniel was born into nobility, but his land was invaded by Babylon and King Nebuchadnezzar. He was taken from his home and offered luxuries to persuade him to give up his commitment to God. The first day was titled “Far From Home,” apropos I think, and talks about how everything changed for Daniel, but God’s presence sustained him. That is exactly what I am experiencing right now. Everyday, whether it is something big or small, I am constantly reminded that God is right beside me and he will be with me always, wherever I am (Isaiah 41:10). I am praying that you at home are experiencing His nearness as I am here. He has gone before us and prepared a way until the very end of our days. Nothing we are going through or experiencing surprises Him, He has purposed everything in our lives. Ultimately, God honored Daniel’s commitment and granted him unusual wisdom and a long, productive, and honorable life. Wow. That my faith would be as steadfast as Daniel’s and that I would learn and grow in God’s wisdom and grace- that is my prayer. And that I may never go back to a place where I am not actively seeking God’s will for my every day and seeing His touch in every part of my life.
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