All In His Hands

Wow, this is blog post #8 of our trip to Uganda and visiting Chayah and you must be getting weary of reading every last detail of our days. Each night as I prop my eyelids open and will my body to stay focused for just one more hour, I wonder if there is really anything interesting to report.

It would be so much more exciting I guess to be able to say that people are coming to faith in droves or even handfuls because of our ministry here, that lives are being changed and we are seeing miracles at every corner. It wouldn't be real and it would surely swell the idea we have of our tiny selves.

Reality looks more like hopping on the back of a motorcycle, paying 40 cents for the ride and traveling about 6 blocks as the boda boda driver requests us to pray for him. Hopping off at the children's hospital we do just that... lay a hand on the driver and pray for his business to increase. Walking 50 yards past 50 people, each carrying a bundle wrapped in a blanket to see a doctor or get HIV medication and then slipping a banana and a piece of bread with jam to Trina's mom, we pray for her again today. This day, a 6 year old mister from our team pleads for her life. Having done the most we can, we head again to the house where our thriving bunch are already hours into their day.

Today like several others, we shuttled several to the clinic for ongoing treatment of malaria, skin rashes, and ear infections. Bible study followed and today's baking agenda was cornbread. I kind of think we ARE going to get 14 skirts done by Sunday as we pressed hard today to get fabric portions figured out, cut according to each child's measurements. Wouldn't you know that of the several "easy" patterns I chose to bring with me, the one showing a skirt requires too much fabric to make multiples, so we are wingin' it, just going with a guess on dimensions. Don't be impressed... except with the way Janet has caught on to operating the sewing machine! She's loving it.

The 1 and 1/2 men of our team worked with the rest of the boys to finish the chicken coop... I believe the new residents will be flying South about Friday to check into their 4 star accommodations. Janet is giving them a month to month arrangement and their eviction will coincide exactly with a Sunday dinner. 'nough said.

The whole group minus sleeping Doreen walked to the Nile in their "swimming costumes" for some wading and splashing. Micah organized another game of Red Rover, some routing wrestling matches and a few rounds of musical chairs filled the afternoon hours. A pipe burst in the boy's bathroom sending Janet to town to find the plumber and we headed back to the clinic with those that are being seen twice a day. Tiny Regina's ear infection has been fierce and yesterday the doctor said she is in danger of loosing her hearing in her right ear. This evening, it seems to be better. Time will tell how bad the scar tissue might be on her ear drum.

I did finally get a few minutes alone with Olivia...as she laid on her bed face down, forehead on her arms, I listened to her tearfully express her gratitude over every single detail of how her life has changed in the last 3 years. The running and playing, wrestling, sickness, meals, and chores all make things look so normal, like they've been a family since forever. I believe they will each know and come to really understand what it means to be given a chance, new hope, a new future. Some will be able to tenderly express it in words that I heard today, others won't. Regardless, this one expression speaks to each of you for helping in a hundred different ways. You matter, your sacrifice means something huge and speaks volumes to each of them of their worth.

Stay tuned for tomorrow. We've got something big planned. I can't promise to be in any condition to get a blog written, but we'll see. Until then... thanks for sticking with us on this trip!