June
30, 2017
Today
was a great day.... but crazy and unpredictable and a full on trusting in God
day... but a great day.
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| Doctor's Office |
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| Devotions before leaving for clinic. |
Back to the drive... We kept driving and driving and driving… Deep
into the
bush we went. The landscape is beautiful but rough in this rural area.
 |
| Measuring water level. |
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
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.
 |
| Waiting Room |
 |
| 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
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.
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.
 |
| Pharmacy |
 |
| Carly in Prayer Room |
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
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