Victor's Posts

hello mzungus.

yesterday was the longest day yet.  as americans remembered the anniversary of 9/11, the 10 of us embarked upon a bumpy trip to the district of kamuli to visit child-headed households and widows and orphans.  it was the first time the team was able to experience the real uganda together.  in contrast to the lushness of the c0untryside, the ripening bananas and jackfruit, and the glorious hues of the sunrise and sunset, we saw a country devastated by poverty and disease.  it is absolutely sobering to stand in the presence of a 15-year-old boy sifting beans on the ground and realizing he is running the family and all his siblings depend on him.  on top of that, he carries the burden of rummaging for school fees.  no 15-year-old should ever have to endure the hardships he endures each day, but that is the reality for him and many, many others. 

the home visits were facilitated by a jovial and compassionate man named Robert, who heads the organization The Aids Generation (TAG)–an organization that oversees foster kids and widows groups.  a friend of Pastor Nelson and David, Robert introduced us to 18 families headed either by children or widows.  we brought along bags of sugar, soap, notebooks and pencils.  however not enough, they were accepted with much appreciation and thanks.  it continues to baffle us just how friendly and welcoming the people of uganda are.  there is no sense of inconvenience or obligated hospitality.  they truly enjoy others’ presence and make it known through the smiles on their faces and the light in their eyes.  an elderly lady even sang a song when we were leaving, translating something to the sort of…”i feel like a drunkard just given a bar.”  how does that not put a smile on your face?

today, thursday and friday will be spent at STAO playing with the kids, getting testimonies, and hopefully furnishing the new building with sewing machines.  shawna and i remarked yesterday on how different our attitudes toward STAO has become since the first day.  drained, weary and completely sapped of energy after our first day at STAO has become excitement, joy and happiness in knowing we will spend time with the kids. 

after a long and tiring day, it’s good to know someone loves you and cares about your well-being.  i only hope and pray the children, orphans and widows of uganda feel that overwhelming sense of love.

 see you all soon.  continue to pray for health and safety.

God bless.  webaleh Yesu.

–victor

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whoo hoo!  my first post!  i expect profound and witty comments.

…what a draining yet inspiring 2nd week it has been in uganda.  praise God.  physically, we are all doing well, with the exception of a few minor aches and wounds but continue to pray for physical health and safety please.

i am biased to write about what the healthcare team has been up to, so i shall.  a typical day is nonexistent at stao.  the 5 of us-jessica, shawna, danielle, dale and i-have been working on a participatory assessment to identify the medical conditions and needs of 6 neighboring villages around stao in preparation for a future clinic based at the orphanage and a traveling clinic to meet the needs of the even more destitute.  it has been trying for us because our western mindset is so wrapped around results and to-the-point answers and the first day of home visit surveys left us frustrated and rather demoralized.  however, with pastor nelson’s approval we have begun to revise the survey in hopes of clarifying obscure topics.  it is humbling to realize that pastor nelson and stao KNOW what is needed and that we are not here to force feed our opinions or administer our own tactics; therefore, the blessings of pastor nelson is appreciated for it allows us to find a happy medium culturally, for the ultimate purpose is the same:  to serve stao in the best possible way while showing God’s love for the children of stao and the people of mafubira.

however, african time often leaves tasks unaccomplished…which is another difficult but sobering reality to wrestle with…for the 5 of us are unexpectedly asked to take sick orphans to the medical clinic for treatment, drugs, blood tests, etc.  as was the case yesterday.  we are beginning to understand some aspects of the healthcare system here in uganda, and the more we see, the more we are infuriated.  much corruption exists and treatment often goes to the highest bidder, so for a bunch of orphans to enter a private clinic…you can almost visualize the distain they receive.  heartbreaking yet completely real.  yesterday, we took two young boys to a private clinic.  these two brothers were from child-headed households and started living at stao after we arrived so they are amongst the poorest of the poor in mafubira.  stao’s headmaster realized they had many chiggers burrowing under their hands and feet (tiny parasitic worms) which caused immense pain and swelling.  the doctor decided he would test them for HIV and syphillis and prescribed ointment for what he stubbornly deemed ATHLETE’S FOOT.  given the situation, we were all very frustrated and wanted so desperately for the doctor to understand that they were indeed parasites, not fungus.  however, he would not believe, so the headmaster grabbed a safety pin from out of his pocket, popped open one of the blisters and pulled the worm out.  sorry for the details, but indeed that was the only way for the doctor to believe us.

but God is God who seeks justice and loves the poor.  as helpless and small as we felt yesterday, i was uplifted and reminded that He was there and i was so proud of my teammates for showing such love and compassion.  now, we are little more prepared to deal with the healthcare situation here in uganda.  we must not use our western standards for comparison for that will only frustrate us more, but we must understand that what happened yesterday is a reality for millions of ugandans and if conditions are to ever improve, it must rise from within.  our job, right now, is to love the kids and be with them in times of physical pain and discomfort.

sorry this is dragging on, but there is so much to be said.  of course i cannot give every last detail but i will briefly comment on the team as a whole.  morning devotions are a blessing to us all as we continue on with Luke (who was a physician) and nightly de-briefs are a way of sharing thoughts, feelings and suggestions.  the SIG group has completed the piggery so hopefully after church tomorrow we can go visit the newest members of stao.  the education team is essentially holding summer school for the stao kids, and they absolutely love it.

the healthcare team’s goal for the following week is to finish revising the survey, get more responses (300 is the goal) from the 6 villages, and begin HIV/AIDS testing for 150-200 kids along with HIV/AIDS prevention and care education.

the time is passing by so quickly and so much needs to be done.  but i am always reminded that time is for God to use.

continue to keep us in your prayers as we miss you all, but as for today’s rest day, we are going to kick back with some mashed potatoes and fried rice and maybe crowd around dale’s laptop to watch ocean’s 12 together.  or maybe a chick flick.  who knows.

God bless,

victor

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