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

Victor

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