Foreign Domestic

Back to the village

Our 3rd day in Uganda started with a bang... and then a flash of lightning and about an hour where the heavens were alive with crashing and flashing and we were awake enjoying it, some more than others.  Coming from So Cal I would say we are lacking in the dramatic weather department, but social media's report of brush fires and Santa Ana winds would be some real competition about now. 

Though our night was short, everyone was up for another day at the home.  We arrived to a very quiet empty house because today was report card day and all of the children had to report to school to receive their marks and paperwork from their teachers.  There was quite a mix of facial expressions and some tell-tale body language as each child arrived home.  Some began apologizing while others were more than proud and excited to show Mommy Janet their marks.  We were surprised by the child who was ranked the highest of all of Chayah's kids.  Rashid is known for his antics, stubbornness, dimples and now his school achievement.   The youngest seemed to do very well, most are in the average range and a couple are very low performing.  Our two high schoolers have done well except that both really struggle with Math...and one wants to be an accountant, the other a doctor, so they're going to have to get some extra lessons.  Success or failure in school... we pray they realize it only effects some of their choices in the future.  They are loved the same by sponsors and Jesus, no matter their marks.

During the long quiet morning, Janet was able to get a private sewing lesson and by the end of the afternoon, had 1/2 a dress completed.

She loves learning every new thing, so when the older girls got home and it was time for baking pineapple upside down cake... she took a break to see how that was done.  

Cakes in the oven and the oldest girls came back to the sewing machines for sewing 201... making little pockets.  One of the older boys snuck in there right with them, fascinated by the power machine.  

We were asked to build a chicken pen, so Evan went to the lumber and nail markets for some supplies for that project.  We ended the day at Chayah and headed back to the hotel.  I went with Janet and Olivia to visit little Elijah.  He's doing better but the sickle cell ward was full of children; so was the malnourished ward, the emergency room, HIV ward and Malaria area.  Parents sleeping under beds on concrete, laying all along the hallway resting while their listless child shares a bed with another too weak to even complain.    I wanted to see more, find out the best way to do something so I wandered taking it all in and looking for the right person to direct me.

Please understand there are no privacy policies, infectious disease precautions or off limits areas and I am just going to completely take advantage of that freedom by visiting every unattended child I can find and even some with parents that looked welcoming.  Government hospitals in a poor country look  exactly like everything you've ever heard or seen.  Hopeless parents watching their children deteriorate right before their eyes with no possible way to get the medication they have just been prescribed.  No way to have a necessary surgery...just sitting and waiting to see if they will be taking their child home again.  

It looks like Monday will be our day to be part of the hospital process/ministry.  We know who we need to meet with and we'll let The Lord lead from there.   You could surely pray for discernment as we seek to help in the most generous way, both spiritually and physically.

Tomorrow we head back to Kakira with a van overflowing with children.  It is a day for them to visit the places they came from.  Some mothers say they don't want them to come, others have said maybe for 30 minutes and then take them back.  This is the part of Uganda we just do not understand.   We'll wrap up our Saturday with a swim party.   We're anticipating some Chayah sized fun.  There are 3 adults that are able to swim and we are already anxious about keeping count of everybody.  

As day 3 comes to a close and we rest up for a day and a van packed to the brim tomorrow, we want to say again, thank you to God for your prayers, your support and your encouragement.  Its what keeps us going...well that and 19 smiling faces!