Second Clinic Day at Opit

Today was another fantastic day. Everything just ran smooth. We have been amazed at the great ministry the team has been able to offer through all parts of the clinic process.

We knew today was going to be busier than yesterday so we spent some time this morning praying we would be flexible. As great as things went yesterday we knew there is an enemy who wants to distract the work of the Lord. We felt prepared for whatever the clinic would bring.

Today we saw over 500 patients and had over 300 people come to faith. This puts us at 1,092 patients seen in two days and over 540 people putting their faith in Jesus. Also 3,000 prescriptions filled and 190 eye glasses distributed.  We do not come to flash up numbers and qualify our ministry as big time because we helped a large number of people. Our time in Uganda is to support our hosts in their ministry and love the people right where they are. It is an honor for us to be here.

Everyone on the team was placed in the same positions in the clinic. Again, every part was a blessing!

I saw some heart breaking things today. A young boy named Cosmos who had a deformity in his head and hands; he was beautiful, smiling and playing. The doctors did not have what would be needed for him so he was prayed over, given a beanie baby and basically loved on.

There was a young girl that had fallen near a fire and was badly burned all over her back. Dr. Moses, a doctor who has worked with us many times in Uganda, did his best to clean her wounds and provide some relief. She was such a beautiful girl.

I try to speak to people in what little I know of the local language. It brings smiles to their faces and they help me say it right!

Be very proud of your family and friends. They are pouring themselves into people- being the hands and feet of Christ. It is wonderful to see it happening all over the clinic.

Dr. Moses did triage on about 150 kids.  He de-wormed some, got dental help for some, and treated others for various ailments.

It has been a powerful day. A good day.

Tomorrow we go to church in the morning. I love African church. Lots of singing, plenty of dancing, and fiery preaching. It is a joy to worship with our friends.

Tomorrow night we will have a large feast with our hosts to share and sing and lift them up. We have been connected to some wonderful men and women of faith.

Good night. God bless you and see you tomorrow for another update.

Peace
Chris

First day of Clinics at Opit

What a great day! The team was excited and anxious to get to Opit and begin interacting with people. Both first timers and veterans were ready to jump right in.

The day started off different which has become a norm when in Africa.

Mike, Sarah, Cindy, and I were to meet with four local politicians to thank them for allowing us to hold the clinics and just visit. We were ready to go; Then after waiting until around 9am, it was canceled.  We headed to the village. This is Africa. It was a little distracting to have been delayed, but we are F.A.T. (Flexible Adaptable Teachable).

We arrived at the village around 10:30 and began to setup. Having been at this school last year we had a flow established. This year we brought 300 pairs of reading glasses with us, as this was something we had seen in the past that troubled many of the people. Today the team was dispursed as follows:  

Cheryl, Cindy, Jim, and Les worked in the pharmacy.

Sue prayed in the prayer room.

Mike was crowd control.

Jonathan and Kara worked with children's ministry.

Jody and I were ushers, floaters and door blockers.

Susan was in the medical clinic.

Katherine was in the dental clinic.

Sarah handled wound care.

The team was amazing. Everyone stepped into their role and things ran smooth.  It was incredible to have things go so smoothly after a frustrating start. Everyone worked their part. The church being what is should be... the hands and feet of Christ.

Jonathan and Kara were incredible. They were not sure what to expect or do to entertain approx. 200 kids, but they were so awesome. I saw kids running, playing and laughing. Soccer balls flying and bubbles blowing. These two were rock stars! They barley took a break all day and were running out in the sun. The kids loved them!  Kara even got a marriage proposal from someone!

Katherine went from observing in the dental clinic to giving shots and pulling teeth! She has had nothing but a smile on her face since we arrived. She wanted to be in the dental room as this is the field she wants to study in college. Talk about work experience!  Katherine has been a delight to us all!

Sarah was calm, cool, and caring in wound care. She took care of everyone she saw and treated them with nothing but love and grace.

Cheryl, Jim, Les, and Cindy had the pharmacy running like clockwork. Pharmacy is always busy all day long, but we finished filling all scripts in time to leave at 5pm. Incredible job!!

Les also ran the vision clinic if someone needed reading glasses to see. He does such a great job interacting with everyone and making them feel loved and respected. He told us a story tonight of an elderly woman who came in with a bowed head and stated she just could not see well.  Les got her fixed up with a pair of glasses and when she looked at the chart she yelled "I can see! I can see!”  How awesome is that!

Sue is our prayer warrior. She prays each member up before clinic, during clinic, and at all points in between. She,  Pauline and Pastor Gabriel (local pastors) prayed with 247 people to either begin a relationship with Christ or recommit. The gospel of Christ is our real medicine!

Mike is always a crowd favorite. To see him interact with the crowds waiting to see the doctors is inspiring. Mike treats everyone with dignity and love. He always makes them laugh!

Susan has a heart of compassion. She is always looking for ways to help ladies and their babies. Susan doesn’t believe in can't. She tries to find a way to bless them! She also had an elderly man of 88 asked for her digits so he could call her. That's right. 88 years and asked for her digits! His name is Abraham and we have seen him before. Amazing man with a sharp wit.

Our hosts have been amazing again. They eagerly assist at the side of the team member that they are working with and are always upbeat with sharing their faith.  God has truly blessed us with wonderful brothers and sisters!

Tomorrow we go back to the same village and see as many people as we can. We have let them know we are coming and even handed out tickets for the first people to see the doctor.

Tonight at a team meeting everyone shared their first impressions. It was fun to hear how team members were touched by people they met and worked with; also to hear how their expectations of the trip were either met or not. They all love being here to share their faith, provide some physical healing, and simply love people. The team was full of smiles and tears of joy.  

We saw 302 people in the clinic today. We also witnessed some heart breaking stories. Some made me cry. But to be able to offer a hug, a hand shake, share a laugh or dance is part of being the hands and feet of Christ. What a blessing today was!!

Keep praying for us. All has gone well and smooth.  We, as a team, just want to be what God has called us to be in this place and time.

Off to bed am I. We miss you all dearly.

Talk to you tomorrow.
Ephesians 2:10

Chris

A few photos from the first day of clinics.

The crowd as we arrived.

People waiting to see doctors.

Sarah working at wound care.

The team is safe in Gulu and glad to be getting some rest.  The seven hour bus ride was tiring. They also worked sorting and preparing bags for clinics.  Tomorrow they will board the bus for the Village of Opit for the first day of clinics.  Village Opit is off the main road, down some red dirt roads and then some more red dirt roads that cut through corn fields.  It is in the boonies.  Hundreds of people will show up with every kind of hurt and pain.  There will be a couple of rooms for the Ugandan doctors to set-up, a prayer room and a pharmacy.  It will be a busy, busy day filled with many surprises and lots of love. We are experiencing some technical difficulties.  This is posted by Kysia after a phone call from Chris.

The team has arrived in Uganda and is resting in their hotel.  Travel went smoothly.  We are blessed.  Thanks for the prayers.  Please, keep them coming.  From the airplanes of today onto a bus tomorrow for a days ride into Gulu.  Good night and Blessings!

And so it begins...

The team has checked in at the airport and cleared security. We will be posting a team pic soon.

Hebrews 12:1 (thank you to my wife Kysia for a great verse to start us off) was a verse we read to center ourselves and throw off any distractions that might hold us back from the next two weeks. Our desire is to go and be the hands and feet of Christ and serve with our hosts in Uganda to share the love of Jesus.

Thank you all for your prayers and support. Talk to you soon.
Peace
Chris

Next trip begins June 4, 2013

Our next trip begins June 4, 2013 when a team of 13 depart Northwest Arkansas to serve in Gulu and Jinja Uganda for 12 days. We will be holding 4 medical clinics, a discipleship training day, and a day of various minstry at a school and prison. We will be showing the Jesus film at least twice and basically spending time with our brothers and sister in Christ to share the love of Jesus. Our church has been funding the construction of a school in the village of Kikubo in the Mayuge district of Jinja and we will be commissioning the new teacher housing unit and a new kitchen. We will also be visiting sponsored children and their families. I will be posting daily updates at the end of the each day and invite you to follow and pray for our team. This year's team is made up of the following:

Mike Adelman
Jody Farrell
Chris Thornton
Les and Sue Havens
Jonathan and Kara Storey
Cindy Alphin
Sarah Suel
Cheryl Tyson
Jim Westphal
Susan Flournoy
Katherine Quinn

I look forward to sharing what the Lord is doing through this team and through our hosts and brothers and sister in Uganda. This is the 7th trip our church has sent to Uganda and God has worked miracles each year.

Look forward to serving and sharing.
Chris Thornton