First Medical Clinic

 

June 30, 2017

Today was a great day.... but crazy and unpredictable and a full on trusting in God day... but a great day.

Doctor's Office

 After breakfast and team devotions (Greg Gibson is an amazing spiritual leader. I am blessed to have his wisdom, humor, and care leading with me) we loaded up the bus to go to the village of

Devotions before leaving for clinic.

Gonycugu.  Gonycugu is approximately and hour and a half southwest of Gulu town by bus (I think!). This village is being resettled and the Methodist Conference is planting a church there. This area was basically abandoned during the war when the people were moved to displacement camps. With the war over people are moving back to start life again. It is an honor to support the church's mission to establish a community here. 

Back to the drive... We kept driving and driving and driving… Deep

Measuring water level.

into the bush we went. The landscape is beautiful but rough in this rural area.

Rosa (the bus) was loaded down at the hotel with our team, pastors, doctors and nurses to assist us. A bus in Uganda can seat much more than the recommended seating.  We pushed maximum capacity when we stopped in town to pick up some members. Then stopped in Koch Goma to pick up a few more. Standing room only. Almost 31 people on the bus plus 9 bags! That is how it's done in Uganda. Waste nothing.

 

This clinic was unlike any we have every done causing us to step out of our comfort zone even more. Usually we have buildings or some kind

Waiting Room

of separate mud structures to hold the different parts of our clinic allowing a flow between doctors, dentists, pharmacy, and prayer room. This village had one lone thatch building. That’s where the doctors set-up.  We added a tent so people could wait in some shade.  The Pharmacy went behind the doctors under a tarp to shield the sun. (Did I mention the sun was out today?) The team stayed flexible and got to work.

Angela working on scripts.

This team is amazing! Everyone simply asks “What can I do?” And they go do it with passion and love. Multiple things, if asked and never a negative response; always a “yes” and then jump into it with all they have. Keep up the prayers. They are super charging the team!

Mike ran triage; he was amazing as always. I love getting to serve with him again. Mike and I have served seven times in Uganda including this trip. Each time we encourage one another, laugh, and discuss plans for the future. Mike is truly the face of the clinic as the people all fall in love with him.

Katie, Leigh, Sarah, Angela, Kariel, and Greg rocked the pharmacy! Always the bottle neck in a clinic, it truly takes a team to keep things

Pharmacy

moving. Each person worked out a system with the local nurses to fill scripts from start till finish. I love seeing their creativity and teamwork. The body of Christ in action! Angela is a machine that gets a task and heads off at full speed. Katie is everywhere doing everything all at once while rocking it. Sarah and Leigh are our tag team super duo who want to do all they can to love people. Always asking how to improve and make things better to keep us moving so we can help as many people as possible. Kariel is fun to watch. Ready to do whatever is needed; she doesn't wait too long before she plugs in to serve. Today I saw her fill scripts like a champ, then join Katie and Carly to clean and dress wounds. Amazing! (I think she earned a few hours of residency as a wound care physician today!) Carly is a trip! She never meets a stranger.

Carly in Prayer Room

She has a bucket list for Uganda that she is going to accomplish while here. The list includes learning the language (that will be fun since there are different languages in the different places we go!) Carly helped everywhere, pharmacy, wound care, prayer room and dancing. The team and Uganda have all fallen in love with her spirit.

Final count today for people treated at the clinic was 367.   Probably 2.5 times that in prescription filling due to people being treated for multiple things. It was a full day done in six hours once we started.

I was nervous about the set-up. I always worry about clinics and everything going well. We can never see everyone. Some are always disappointed.  People wait for hours to see a doctor.  We try to work as quickly and efficiently as possible to see as many as we can. Today was really hot, too. Lots of sun; not much shade or wind. There were untreatable sicknesses. Clinic days are both emotionally and physically draining. Then add in a new set-up…well, I was even more nervous. We don't do clinics to solve all problems. We do them because there is a need. If we can provide a small bit of relief, as well as, pray, encourage, and tell them we are there because God loves them - then we are doing our small part in God's greater plan.

 

A couple of side stories....

Mike shared with me a story of a 2 year old little girl with a tumor in her eye who came to the doctor. We could only refer her to the hospital for treatment. The doctor said if she did not get treatment she would not live past a few weeks. If all goes well with surgery at best she will lose her eye. Breaks my heart. We were able to get her, with the doctor’s help, into the hospital. I don't know if we will hear an update on her ever, but things are in motion. Please, pray for her.

Many on the team shared about a little girl who was blind. Her name was Angel. I unfortunately did not get to see her, but oh I wish I had. They all shared that she had the sweetest spirit. She loved the music and would dance and dance! She reached out to touch people as they spoke to her. All team members said she lived up to her name. Sweet little Angle dancing for the Lord!

Finally, a Carly story... (there may be a few of these this trip.) It seems that on the drive out to the clinic Carly was waving at people from the bus and saying, “Koch Ber” all the way down the red dirt road. Katie asked her what she was saying and Carley said, “Hello.” Dr. Mark who was sitting next to her laughed and said she was telling everyone, “I’m Fine”. So for a good hour, whether they were curious or not, Carley made sure everyone knew she was doing just fine. Have to say when we all heard the story, laughter made its way across the team - Carly included!

Well I am off to bed. Tomorrow we go to Iriaga, UMC in Gulu town to work on the Methodist conference center. Seems construction work and loving on people are on tomorrow’s agenda.

Thank you for your prayers!

Till tomorrow

Chris

Planes, Busses and a Boda Boda

 

 

 

 

 

 

June 29, 2017

 

Well, as you know we made it safely out of the U.S. to Amsterdam, Rwanda, and finally to Entebbe, Uganda. Two full days of travel can leave you tired and sore, but the team bonded well encouraging each other to power through. Both bed and shower in the Entebbe hotel felt great.

 

All to get up Thursday morning and begin the road trip north to Gulu. Usually this trip takes around 8 to 10 hours.  The road has improved

since we last drove on it two years ago. We made it in just over six hours. Not bad! I’d still venture to say the team is not ready to travel long distances for a few days! Grace, our driver of Rosa the bus was fantastic once again and took great care of us!

 

Now to catch you up on yesterday's adventures....

 

When we were clearing customs they held one medical bag. Apparently, there is a new law in the country (unknown to us or our hosts... it is that new) that prohibits anyone from bringing medicines into the country without written approval from the Drug Authority. When he pulled my team bag to inspect it I began to pray. We had eight total team bags; all filled with medicine. Every trip we have carried medicine to help in the medical clinics. When they pulled my bag, my fear was that they would hold all medical bags. But God was with us. The guard was so focused on the one bag the other seven went through with no issues! Miracle!

 

Dr. Moses and I stayed with customs to figure out what the process would entail before heading to the hotel last night. This morning Dr. Moses went back to the Drug Authority to explain our situation and retrieve the last bag. The team had been praying for God to watch over us and let His will be done.  We knew if they had taken all the bags we would not be able to hold the three medical clinics as planned.  We were grateful for the bags that made it through.

  

While Dr. Moses went to the Drug Authority, the team had breakfast and a devotional.  We wanted to center ourselves and focus making sure we were ready to serve. We also exchanged  American money for Ugandan currency and had the opportunity to meet the assistant to the Kyabazinga of Busoga.

 

Edward and I have been trying to meet with the Kyabazinga to invite him to the school in Mayuge. The Kyabazinga is the cultural leader of Busoga which includes the tribes of Jinja, Mayuge, Iganga, and others. Back before the British colonized Uganda the country was ruled by tribal kingdoms. When the British came in they did away with the tribal system stripping all executive power from the kings. They did leave the kings in place, though to lead their kingdoms from a cultural stance. The king has to come from one family within the tribe; they promote the area they oversee and work to help with development. It is very similar to the Queen of England - no powers but the face, if you will, of the tribe. I have always wanted to meet the Kyabazinga and get him to the school. Today, sadly, we did not meet the King. His assistant was basically vetting us to make sure we were legit. Hopefully, we will get a chance to visit him next week at his palace in Jinja town. I personally am stoked! More updates as it happens.

 

Meanwhile.... back at Drug Authority… Dr. Moses called to ask for Greg or me to come to the Drug Authority to try and help get the bag

released. The Drug Authority wanted to meet with the leaders of the team. So Greg and Alex, an elder in Pastor Edwards church who is traveling with us to Gulu, hopped a boda boda (Ugandan motorcycle) and drove through Kampala. Greg said it was one of the craziest adventures he has been on. Weaving in and out of traffic at breaking speeds... riding 3 men to one motorcycle! (Wish I had a picture!)

 

The team stopped and prayed again for God's will to be done and ask for the bag to be released. Sadly, the Drug Authority refused to release the bag.  However, the non-medical items were released.  Alas, Flat John Wesley is safe with the team. In a week, after they review and provide formal approval, our hope is the bag to be released to Dr. Moses who will use the medicines to treat others. We can still hold the clinics with the seven bags and have already begun to purchase the additional supplies needed. God works in mysterious ways.

 

As our team discussed, we really feel God was at work hardening the hearts of the Drug Authority. Last night at the airport, they were so focused on the one bag they forgot (or neglected) the other seven. One bag delayed in its use to be a blessing to the people to save the other seven to be used immediately. The other bag hopefully, will be still used to bless after we are gone. That is a God thing. Dr. Moses believes the disaster was avoided by the distraction of the one bag. How awesome is our God!

 

Tomorrow we head out to a new village we have never been to called Gonycugu. The Methodist church is planting a new church in this village. The medical clinic is being set up to support and draw people into their ministry. There are no buildings, so we will be holding the clinic in tents. Never done that before! (Prayer coverage, please.) God has a plan; it may be different than the last but still an incredible opportunity to serve.

 

The team has eaten dinner and are getting ready for bed. Tomorrow we meet for breakfast at 7:45 a.m. and head out at 9 a.m. for the first day of ministry.

 

I cannot wait to see my brothers and sisters again. We are partnered with some amazing people who love God and their people. I am honored to know them, serve with them, and call them family.

 

So far Greg and I have not lost anyone!  Looks like our leadership is starting on a strong foot. We have an amazing team. I have loved getting to know Carly, the great story teller. Angela, the quiet and always “cold!” (That will change tomorrow.)  I’m going to enjoy serving with her in warm Uganda. Leigh, Sara, and Katie are themselves as usual -encouraging and eager to get to work. Mike, our diplomat and ambassador, is ready with an abundance of information. Kariel, the youngest at sixteen, fits right into the adults. She is always ready for whatever comes our way. I can't wait to see everyone in action tomorrow loving on people!

 

 

 

 

Thank you for your prayers as we traveled and through customs with the bag ordeal. We, as a team, do not see the bag being a negative. We see it as God going before us. He is with us. He will not leave us nor forsake us. So we will not fear or get discouraged. (Deuteronomy 31:8- thank you to my wife’s Bible study group for this verse yesterday).

 

Good night. On to rest and refresh and then to serve.

 

Chris

(Future Diplomatic Liaison of Busoga to the U.S. - hopefully in a week!)

Sent from my iPad

 

 

 

Save John Wesley

“It is the Lord who goes before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.  Do not fear or be dismayed.” Deuteronomy 31:8

Before leaving for Uganda, our children’s Sunday school program at Central UMC, Fayetteville gave my daughter a cartoon version of John Wesley on cardstock to take a picture with while she is there. Kind of a take on the Flat Stanley project many elementary schools follow.  So we packed John Wesley into Chris’ medical bag along with medical supplies.

The trip began at XNA (Northwest Arkansas Airport) Tuesday at 6:45 a.m.  All the bags made it through luggage weight, plus, we had just the bags required for each traveler.  Nice.  In the past, God provided us help in the airlines to get extra luggage through; this time He made sure all our medicines fit into eight medical bags.  Impressive.

After weighing all the luggage and checking in, we circled and prayed.  Then loved ones watched as the as the team ascended up the escalator to go through security.   The flying commenced.  XNA to Atlanta.  Atlanta to Amsterdam. (In Amsterdam the team picked up their final teammate)  Amsterdam to Rwanda.  Rwanda to Kampala.  They arrived at 2:15 p.m. on Wednesday our time (10:15 Kampala time).

Then customs.

We are thankful all the travel went smoothly, every one made it safely and all personal bags made it through customs, plus, seven of the medical bags.  My husband’s medical bag with John Wesley on board however, has been confiscated. 

We are asking you to pray to save that medical bag and John Wesley.

Tomorrow looks like this:

7:30 Team meeting
8:00 Dr. Moses (the doctor we are working with from Uganda) will go present the teams case before the Drug Board and find out as to whether the team can use the supplies from that bag in Medical clinics.  Please pray for honest officials as Dr. Moses goes to try to save the bag.  Also that time will not be wasted on this quest.

After a couple of other formalities, the team will depart for Gulu by bus.  Grace, the bus driver has been the driver for nine of the ten years our Central team has gone to Uganda.  He is driving Rosa (the bus) once again!

All the crew is currently in the hotel resting.  Tomorrow is another travel day.

To God be all glory,

Kysia

 

Bags Packed. Uganda Bound!

Yesterday our team met to pack the medical supplies and pray.  It is hard to believe it has been two years since our last visit.  We are both excited and anxious to return to the beautiful country of Uganda.  We will once again be reunited with the Methodist Church in Uganda, as well as with our brother in Christ, Edward from His Mercy School.  

Several people have asked how to pray for us.  We typed up a list to help.  To be honest though, we just ask for prayer even if it isn't the things below.  We trust the Holy Spirit to guide your hearts.  

We leave out early June 27th.  We welcome you to join us on this journey by following us through this blog.  We plan to have daily postings when possible to tell about each day's events.  On this trip we will be doing some construction and some medical clinics.

Thanks for your prayers!

Uganda Mission Team

Prayer List

2017

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith.” Hebrews 12:1-2

1.     Pray for our teammates:  Mike, Carly, Sarah, Greg, Angela, Katie, Leigh, Kariel, & Chris.

2.     Pray for distractions to be removed and the team to be prepared to serve both physically, emotionally and spiritually.

3.     God to go before us mapping out the way.  That our plans would be His plans.

4.     For Customs and Money exchange to go smoothly.

5.     For supplies and medicines to be provided and to have enough for all the clinics.

6.     For wisdom among the team in handling cultural differences and safety.

7.     For our hosts to be encouraged in their ministry.

8.     For the people the team encounters to be receptive to the word of God.

9.     For our team to be bold in sharing God and His word.

10. For Chris and Greg to hear God’s leadership and follow His will as they lead the team.

11.  For the team to be F.A.T (Flexible, Adaptable, Teachable)