We have spent the last days here in Mukono. We spent it at the school and orphanage with the children. It was very fun to see the kids, and very hard to leave. Our kids are amazing at showing Gods love. They have open arms and great hearts. We were blown away by their attitudes. Our kids have a great ability to step up to the plate when they are needed.
We spent this morning visiting the Nile River. We took a boat out to the place where Lake Victoria meets The River Nile. This is where the Nile starts. The beginning of a very long and amazing River. It was absolutely gorgeous. We were able to have lunch on the banks of the Nile. A great morning. The afternoon was spent back at the school.
We have had an AMAZING TRIP. So hard to express in words on a computer. We start our trip home tomorrow. Eager to get home but so sad to leave. So sad to leave this place that has stolen a place in our hearts. Thank you for following along. We will be home soon.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Friday, June 25, 2010
Psalms 37
Yesterday was a rough day. We traveled from Gulu down to Makono. It was a long 5 hour bus ride. On the way down, we stopped at an IDP camp. At this camp, the pastor of the local church met with us and brought to us some people that have radically been affected by the war. Personally, having talked with George and Stephen, I assumed it would be more of the same. And we were very wrong. George and Stephen were definitely affected by the war, but have had the opportunity to turn things around, and have hope again. They are doing things. We met with about 10 people in the IDP camp that were BRUTALLY affected by the LRA. Woman who have children due to being rapped by the Commanders, boys who were forced to kill their own siblings, boys who were forced to watch their mothers die. And after being abducted, forced to walk for 5 straight days with 100 pounds on their backs until they reached SUDAN. They trained in Sudan for years to come back to for the War. Beaten, abused, tortured, mutilated. It was gut wrenching to listen to. Several of us broke down and started crying listening to them.
What made their stories even harder to hear, was that now that the war is over, these people have nothing. They were forced out of school, so they have no education. They have no money or anyway to make money to pay to get back in to school. They literally have nothing. Hopeless. You could see it in their eyes. It was very difficult. The war has stolen their future.
We then made the rest of the journey down to Makono. It is a beautiful drive. The country is spectacular. Just gorgeous. On the road, we stopped to see some Baboons that were sitting on the side of the road. We feed them some food and they came right up to our bus. It was very cool. We crossed the Nile again and awed at its beauty. It is amazing to view Gods creation.
This weekend back in Kampala and Makono, we are hanging out at the church and doing a little sight seeing. We head to the airport on Monday to return home. Pray for continued protection. We have been blessed.
What made their stories even harder to hear, was that now that the war is over, these people have nothing. They were forced out of school, so they have no education. They have no money or anyway to make money to pay to get back in to school. They literally have nothing. Hopeless. You could see it in their eyes. It was very difficult. The war has stolen their future.
We then made the rest of the journey down to Makono. It is a beautiful drive. The country is spectacular. Just gorgeous. On the road, we stopped to see some Baboons that were sitting on the side of the road. We feed them some food and they came right up to our bus. It was very cool. We crossed the Nile again and awed at its beauty. It is amazing to view Gods creation.
This weekend back in Kampala and Makono, we are hanging out at the church and doing a little sight seeing. We head to the airport on Monday to return home. Pray for continued protection. We have been blessed.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Last Night
Last night was a cool night. Stephen was abducted by the LRA and spent 8 months being forced to work for the rebels forces. He was given a gun and trained how to use it. Usually that means he would have to practice by killing his friends. Somehow Stephen was never forced to kill anyone. He met with Joseph Kony twice while in the LRA. After 8 months, during a battle that he was fighting, he saw an opportunity to escape. He began to run and run and run. He made it away safely.
Stephen shared his life story. All the things he saw and did. It was very crazy to hear. We heard George's side of the story and then the other side of the story with Stephen. It was amazing to hear. Like I said, I can't even think about how to write it out.
Stephen shared his life story. All the things he saw and did. It was very crazy to hear. We heard George's side of the story and then the other side of the story with Stephen. It was amazing to hear. Like I said, I can't even think about how to write it out.
"I Have Typhoid"
Today we spent the day in the city of Gulu. The other 3 days have been out in the bush in small villages. So being in the city was a very different experience. We were inside a building for the first time which was a great addition. We were very organized and structured which was also very beneficial. Large groups came in swarms to our clinic as the word got out. I don't have a number on how many people we saw, but it had to be very close to what we have done the last two days.
Highlight of the day. Whole schools brought there students to our clinic during lunch to be seen by the doctors. So picture this in your mind. A line of kids that are being asked if they are sick or not. If they are sick, they get to see the doctor. If they are not, they are given some vitamins and sent back to school. We walk down the line and asked them what is wrong with them. The students start out with some very basic symptoms. Sore throat, stomach ache, head ache, back pain, etc... We send none of them to the doctors. As we move down the line, students ailments get a little more serious. They begin to tell us that they have the flu, ringworm, whopping cough, etc...All the kids are trying to convince us to let them see the doctor. Up to this point, we have sent none. They all seem very healthy. We are half way down the line and get to a boy that had to be about 9 or 10 years old. He looked like any 9 or 10 year old in the US would look like. He looked and acted very healthy. We ask him what is wrong with him. Fighting back a grin, he says to us "I have typhoid." Really now, typhoid. You walked in here on your own power, played around with your friends in the front of the clinic, fought for a seat, and our now telling us that you have typhoid. I guess that some things are universal. Needless to say we gave him a high five for trying and sent him on his way.
Today was a very successful day. Today was our last clinic in Gulu. Tomorrow we are heading back down to Makono. We are making a stop at an IDP camp to speak with some people about their experience. Should be very moving.
Internet down in Makono is hit and miss. I will do my best to update, but not sure how often or how much. I promise I will do my best. And if I don't update, we are still all okay. Just no Internet.
Until next time. GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
Highlight of the day. Whole schools brought there students to our clinic during lunch to be seen by the doctors. So picture this in your mind. A line of kids that are being asked if they are sick or not. If they are sick, they get to see the doctor. If they are not, they are given some vitamins and sent back to school. We walk down the line and asked them what is wrong with them. The students start out with some very basic symptoms. Sore throat, stomach ache, head ache, back pain, etc... We send none of them to the doctors. As we move down the line, students ailments get a little more serious. They begin to tell us that they have the flu, ringworm, whopping cough, etc...All the kids are trying to convince us to let them see the doctor. Up to this point, we have sent none. They all seem very healthy. We are half way down the line and get to a boy that had to be about 9 or 10 years old. He looked like any 9 or 10 year old in the US would look like. He looked and acted very healthy. We ask him what is wrong with him. Fighting back a grin, he says to us "I have typhoid." Really now, typhoid. You walked in here on your own power, played around with your friends in the front of the clinic, fought for a seat, and our now telling us that you have typhoid. I guess that some things are universal. Needless to say we gave him a high five for trying and sent him on his way.
Today was a very successful day. Today was our last clinic in Gulu. Tomorrow we are heading back down to Makono. We are making a stop at an IDP camp to speak with some people about their experience. Should be very moving.
Internet down in Makono is hit and miss. I will do my best to update, but not sure how often or how much. I promise I will do my best. And if I don't update, we are still all okay. Just no Internet.
Until next time. GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Good Day
We had a good day today. We worked very hard. We went to a United Nations camp today. Our clinic set up was a little difficult to work with because we had many small building, not one big one. But we made some adjustments and had a great clinic. We saw upwards of 500 people today which is incredible. It was very hot today. Some of us got sun burned. But is was a good day. All our students worked VERY HARD today.
Our group had some more real experiences today. We saw some patients with some crazy things. More harsh realities. It was a simple day. Drive to our clinic, work very hard, and drive home. Dinner and bed. Now that doesn't mean today was an easy day. Far from it. Just more of the madness from the last two days. But a very good day of work.
Tomorrow is our last day for Clinics in Gulu. A long day. On Friday we head back down to Mukono and do a clinic for the Children's Heritage school. Continue to pray for us. We are beginning to get tired. Which is normal. But continue to pray. God is doing good things. He is being glorified.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!
Our group had some more real experiences today. We saw some patients with some crazy things. More harsh realities. It was a simple day. Drive to our clinic, work very hard, and drive home. Dinner and bed. Now that doesn't mean today was an easy day. Far from it. Just more of the madness from the last two days. But a very good day of work.
Tomorrow is our last day for Clinics in Gulu. A long day. On Friday we head back down to Mukono and do a clinic for the Children's Heritage school. Continue to pray for us. We are beginning to get tired. Which is normal. But continue to pray. God is doing good things. He is being glorified.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
We can't even Imagine
Today was an amazing day. Lets start with the medical side. Today was a much better day from the clinic side. We were much more organized and had a great flow. Patients checked in, saw a doctor, got treated, and received prescriptions in a very timely manner. SOOOOO much better than yesterday. Our clinic was open for 1 hour less than yesterday but we were able to see about 500 people. That is 200 more than yesterday. Praise the LORD. We again saw some very crazy and heart breaking situations and conditions. Every once in while you get a glimpse of the pain and struggle that these people go through. A small glimpse. A very small glimpse. It is very sad from time to time. But it is changed to joy when we see the good that can be done through the love of Christ. People are being helped. Which is amazing.
From a medical standpoint, a major problem are cuts and soars. These people walk through the bush all the time. And often they get cut. Not a major deal. But as they continue to walk through the bush, and water, and swamps, these cuts get infected. This infection is what gets them sick and causes many problems. So one of our big jobs besides medication, is simply cleaning wounds. Some of them are very bad. So cleaning these wounds is very important and helpful. Most of our students have been a part of this process. Which is very cool to see. (They are all being careful, clean, and sanitary.)
So that is the medical side. Lets talk about the people side. We have been working with a team of Uganda volunteers. Janelle and I spent our entire 2 and a half hour bus ride talking to one of them named George. George has an amazing story. So much so that we invited him to dinner with us, and then he spoke to our whole group for over an hour. I don't have the space to share his whole story. There is too much to tell. The short of the story is that he had to quit school for 3 years to hide in the bush. He, and his friends, spent 2 years walking, crawling, swimming, and running from the LRA. (See invisiblechildren.com if you don't know the history of Northern Uganda). His brothers where taken and killed by the Rebels in the LRA. George has too many stories to try and tell. Can't type them. But they are incredible stories. To hear the horrible things that were done to these people is gut wrenching.
But the best part of the story is to hear George talk about how he came to know Christ. There is no reason that George should be alive. Spending 2 years in swamps, he should have caught malaria. The Rebels should have taken him when they took his brothers. But God has a plan for his life. The smile the comes to his face when he talks about his salvation story is incredible. The joy that just oozes out of George when he speaks of how much he loves Christ, and what God is doing in his life in unfathomable. In a person that has every right to hate the world, hate the situation he is currently in. Hate the hand that he is dealt, all he wants to talk about is the love, Grace, mercy, and forgiveness that Christ has shown him. And all he wants to do is pass the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone he talks to. Doesn't matter who it is. At all. Rebel, Government, Friend, or stranger, he speaks of this love. It is unbelievable, unfathomable. It goes against any rational thought. But he, and a lot of others, do it anyway. By the grace of God.
Another day tomorrow. Hopefully God continues to build on our success today so that he can be glorified. God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!
From a medical standpoint, a major problem are cuts and soars. These people walk through the bush all the time. And often they get cut. Not a major deal. But as they continue to walk through the bush, and water, and swamps, these cuts get infected. This infection is what gets them sick and causes many problems. So one of our big jobs besides medication, is simply cleaning wounds. Some of them are very bad. So cleaning these wounds is very important and helpful. Most of our students have been a part of this process. Which is very cool to see. (They are all being careful, clean, and sanitary.)
So that is the medical side. Lets talk about the people side. We have been working with a team of Uganda volunteers. Janelle and I spent our entire 2 and a half hour bus ride talking to one of them named George. George has an amazing story. So much so that we invited him to dinner with us, and then he spoke to our whole group for over an hour. I don't have the space to share his whole story. There is too much to tell. The short of the story is that he had to quit school for 3 years to hide in the bush. He, and his friends, spent 2 years walking, crawling, swimming, and running from the LRA. (See invisiblechildren.com if you don't know the history of Northern Uganda). His brothers where taken and killed by the Rebels in the LRA. George has too many stories to try and tell. Can't type them. But they are incredible stories. To hear the horrible things that were done to these people is gut wrenching.
But the best part of the story is to hear George talk about how he came to know Christ. There is no reason that George should be alive. Spending 2 years in swamps, he should have caught malaria. The Rebels should have taken him when they took his brothers. But God has a plan for his life. The smile the comes to his face when he talks about his salvation story is incredible. The joy that just oozes out of George when he speaks of how much he loves Christ, and what God is doing in his life in unfathomable. In a person that has every right to hate the world, hate the situation he is currently in. Hate the hand that he is dealt, all he wants to talk about is the love, Grace, mercy, and forgiveness that Christ has shown him. And all he wants to do is pass the love, grace, mercy, and forgiveness to everyone he talks to. Doesn't matter who it is. At all. Rebel, Government, Friend, or stranger, he speaks of this love. It is unbelievable, unfathomable. It goes against any rational thought. But he, and a lot of others, do it anyway. By the grace of God.
Another day tomorrow. Hopefully God continues to build on our success today so that he can be glorified. God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!
Monday, June 21, 2010
What A Day
Today was our first day of work. Was kind of crazy. Lots of people that needed help. And with it being our first day working, we were not as organized and efficient as we would have liked. Live and learn. We will do better tomorrow. But we were able to see and treat around 300 people today. Praise the Lord. We worked in a very remote village today. Took about 2 hours to drive there on a very rough road out in the bush. This is probably one of the only times that some of these people will be seen by a physician. Hopefully that is not the case, but a possible reality.
Lots of children. Both to be seen and just to play with. Your students did an awesome job playing with the children. They all worked very well together and did an awesome job picking up the slack from each other when someone needed a break.
We say some very real realities about our world today. Some very serious situations and circumstances that these people face everyday. It is very hard to comprehend that these people walk as far as they walk, live the way that they live, and do without the things that we consider basic rights. Our kids were able to help the doctors and nurses with medical which was very cool to see. You have some awesome kids. Janelle and I are blown away by there willingness and eagerness to just be used in whatever capacity.
God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. We are ready to work tomorrow. We hope that we can create a better process to be most effective and helpful to these people. Please continue to pray for our safety. Pray for the people that we see and interact with. Pray we are witnesses to Christs love.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
Lots of children. Both to be seen and just to play with. Your students did an awesome job playing with the children. They all worked very well together and did an awesome job picking up the slack from each other when someone needed a break.
We say some very real realities about our world today. Some very serious situations and circumstances that these people face everyday. It is very hard to comprehend that these people walk as far as they walk, live the way that they live, and do without the things that we consider basic rights. Our kids were able to help the doctors and nurses with medical which was very cool to see. You have some awesome kids. Janelle and I are blown away by there willingness and eagerness to just be used in whatever capacity.
God is good, all the time. And all the time, God is good. We are ready to work tomorrow. We hope that we can create a better process to be most effective and helpful to these people. Please continue to pray for our safety. Pray for the people that we see and interact with. Pray we are witnesses to Christs love.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Hello GULU
Today was a good day. We started the day out by going to church and the school in Kampala. Church was a great experience. Amazing to see a group of people have no reservations about prasing their father. Nothing is off limits, and no one is self conscious. What a testment to their faith and love for their creator.
After church we were able to spend a small amount of time with the children in the school. They are very cute and very friendly. It was hard to leave. We wont be able to see them again until after we get back from Gulu. So it was hard to leave. They are very loving and love our attention. All of us found a friend or two in the short time we were there.
After spending time with the kids, we started the stretch up to Norhtern Uganda on our way to Gulu. The drive was spectacular. After we made it out of the city, we made it into the jungle (kind of). Still a paved road, but jugles on each side up us. Moved our way down the road, moving from small town to small town. The forrest is beautiful here. Words can't describe.
And then we reached the Nile. What a spectacular body of water. I am running out of adjectives to describe things. Just beautiful. Rapids and power just flowing. The Nile river is a very important land mark to the country of Uganda. It marks the seperation between the North and the South. It was the dividing line of the civil war that the country went through. So very historical for the countries history. And what a sight to see. It is hard to describe.
We witnessed and amazing sunset on our drive, and made it into Gulu. We had a late dinner and a great time together. We are just getting to be and getting ready for a big week. Our clinic works begins tomorrow. Please pray for us as we start our main work here in Uganda. This will be a lot of hard work for all of us. We are ready though. Eager to begin the work we came to do. Thank you for your prayers.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
After church we were able to spend a small amount of time with the children in the school. They are very cute and very friendly. It was hard to leave. We wont be able to see them again until after we get back from Gulu. So it was hard to leave. They are very loving and love our attention. All of us found a friend or two in the short time we were there.
After spending time with the kids, we started the stretch up to Norhtern Uganda on our way to Gulu. The drive was spectacular. After we made it out of the city, we made it into the jungle (kind of). Still a paved road, but jugles on each side up us. Moved our way down the road, moving from small town to small town. The forrest is beautiful here. Words can't describe.
And then we reached the Nile. What a spectacular body of water. I am running out of adjectives to describe things. Just beautiful. Rapids and power just flowing. The Nile river is a very important land mark to the country of Uganda. It marks the seperation between the North and the South. It was the dividing line of the civil war that the country went through. So very historical for the countries history. And what a sight to see. It is hard to describe.
We witnessed and amazing sunset on our drive, and made it into Gulu. We had a late dinner and a great time together. We are just getting to be and getting ready for a big week. Our clinic works begins tomorrow. Please pray for us as we start our main work here in Uganda. This will be a lot of hard work for all of us. We are ready though. Eager to begin the work we came to do. Thank you for your prayers.
GOODNIGHT!!!!!!
Saturday, June 19, 2010
HELLO!!!!
We are in Uganda. We have been safe and healthy. The hotel that we are currently at has very poor Internet service. I have tried multiple times to get on to update you guys, but haven't been able. So I have tried, but have been unsuccessful.
Got into Uganda yesterday. Waited around the airport for a little while until the other SFC team flew in so that there was only one trip from the airport to the hotel. So all 40 of us drove in multiple vans to the hotel through Various cities in Uganda. We regularly heard kids in the street yell, "LOOK WHITE PEOPLE" as we drove by. Made it to the hotel last night and just relaxed. We went to bed early after the long travels.
Today was a wedding. Cami Miller has been sponsoring a student, Maggi, as she has been going through college. Maggi planned her wedding around when Cami would be in Uganda so that Cami could be present. And Magi invited all of us to the wedding as well. Was a GREAT experience. We loved seeing the customs of the people here. The wedding was longer, but very fun and cool. We spent some time at the reception which was going to be very long. We could not stay for the whole reception. It was going to go way into the night. We returned to the hotel for dinner and a group debriefing. Our group is really coming together. We are excited to get to Gulu to start our medical work.
We are attending church in the morning and then driving up to Gulu. We will get to our hotel tomorrow in Gulu and just hang out there. Medical work starts on Monday.
Hopefully Gulu will provide better Internet options. I try multiple times a day to update. We are all safe and healthy. No one has been sick or anything. We pray that luck continues. Thanks for checking in with us. I will update again as soon as I can.
Goodnight.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Made it to DC
We have all made it to Washington D.C. We are hanging out in the airport and waiting to get on our next flight. ALL of us are checked in on the flight and heading to Ethiopia. Everything worked out and we are good to go.
Our next flight is the long one. 14 hours on the plane. We fly from DC to Rome, fill the plane up with gas, and then from Rome to Ethiopia. Will be on the plane for awhile. Will update from Ethiopia if there is internet in the airport. But there might be internet there. We will see.
Talk to you soon.
Our next flight is the long one. 14 hours on the plane. We fly from DC to Rome, fill the plane up with gas, and then from Rome to Ethiopia. Will be on the plane for awhile. Will update from Ethiopia if there is internet in the airport. But there might be internet there. We will see.
Talk to you soon.
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
We ALL made it through security
All of us travels are checked in and through security. ALL of us. Every trip has its stories, and we have ours. But we are all good. We are getting ready to get on the plane that will take us to Washington D.C. We are all very excited and ready to get going.It will be a long day or two of traveling, but half the fun is getting there. We will update you when we get to to D.C. GOOD NIGHT!!!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Off We Go
I hope you are ready, because we are leaving soon. Like very soon. Couple of Reminders:
- Make sure you have all your medications. Pack them in your carry on.
- Don't forget your passport and immunization card
- Bring your notarized form if you haven't turned it in yet
- BRING YOU!!!! You need to be at the airport at 7:00 on Wednesday.
Check back often for updates. We will try and update this blog at least once a day. Sometimes more. Pictures when possible (but not promised).
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