Goodbyes, farewells and rainy afternoons

October 29, 2009

This morning, despite a headache that had been lingering for some three days, I decided to get up and do some errands. Cafe Larem sounded like a great choice for breakfast, so I hopped a boda and made my way there. The cool wind against my skin helped the headache calm down a little, though I still found myself craving some cool water to swim in. Though the sun is beautiful, and the idea of basically living in a tropical paradise is nice, it does seem to get a bit old, especially when I think of the cool, crisp fall mornings in Oregon. Those ones that beg for the donning of a thick winter coat and scarf. I suppose I am not completely sad about leaving this place. Though I know that I will miss it horribly. I think, however, it is the arriving that I am more excited about, rather than the leaving. I have began to realize that if each day is seen as one more step towards finally arriving to real life, than I may never be bored again.

Iced coffee and a yogurt parfait were the prefect duo this morning. Then, couple good food with a good conversation and I felt completely full. I was able to chat with a good friend from home online and it was such an encouragement. I have never known how much of an effect ‘words from home’ have until now, but I pray I keep that close in my memory when my loved ones are away, for whatever reason. 

After leaving Larem I made my way up to the hospital. I headed to the department and was greeted very enthusiastically by Atim. She lifted her hands as she waved and said “yes, Sister! You are welcome!” We greeted and I asked her how things were. She was good, but the films were still not in the department, meaning that the department was not open to receive patients. We went inside and I greeted little Angel once more as I gave Atim the things I had brought for her: a travel coffee mug for her morning porridge, filled with sweets, and a card containing pictures of her and her daughter. She let me hold Angel and we talked a little before I said my goodbye and went to visit Morris.

I proceeded up to the maternity ward where the ultrasound scanner is, so I could say my farewells. I knocked on the door, as he was in an exam, and when he answered he warmly greeted me. After waiting for him to finish the exam, he invited me into the exam room. I told him I was leaving soon and he thanked me for coming. I told him the next time I come I want to see him fully enjoying retirement and he agreed.

We left from the maternity to go see the M.S. so that I could say goodbye and thank you. W were able to walk through a newly renovated part of the hospital, which will be the new medical ward and it was beautiful! It has been funded by the Italian gov’t cooperative that has done a lot of work for Gulu Regional, and it will be such a blessing to this community. When we reached the M.S.’s office we spoke for a while about the film situation. It sounded like they will purchase some films from private suppliers in this emergency time, until the normal shipment can come. It was interesting for me to be in that sort of meeting, as I am really an outsider, being let in. A lot of this experience has been that. Me seeing what this is like, seeing what works and what doesn’t, and learning form it. It has been such a learning experience. As I told Morris, I feel like I’ve worked at both extremes (brand new, fully digital and most basic, hand dipping) and so now I feel mostly equipped to work anywhere. What a cool thing to say?!

After paying my respect to the M.S. I parted ways with Morris to go down tot he surgery ward and deliver a couple of pictures. When Charles had taken me around to the different wards I had taken a few pictures and a couple of patients I had told I’d bring pictures. So I made my way into the room they had been in, but couldn’t see them there. I went to the next room, but knew the first was the correct one. I went back in, and stepped in further, but both of the beds were empty. The one bed, closest to the window, had been where an old Mose I had radiographed was recovering from his broken hip. He had been hit by a boda and was in traction when I had taken his picture. The other bed had a man who had broken his leg in a boda accident two and half months prior. The Mose had come in during my second or third week at the hospital and as Charles later informed me, he has since passed away. Not a month after his accident, he passed. And I remember asking him how he was recovering and he told me that now he was having trouble in his stomach, but I suppose I didn’t expect it to be such a fatal thing. But I also don’t know. here, an infected toe can mean loss of the entire foot, so... I can’t imagine what a broken femur on a 70 something year old mean.s Probably not a good prognosis. I hope the same fate did not happen to the other man. He seemed much younger, but being in the hospital for two and half months probably took its toll on him. 

After not finding the two patients, I headed back towards the department, as I had spoke with Charles and he was coming. I found him as he was coming in the gate and we chatted for a while. I gave him the card with pictures of his family inside and asked him to please still be at GRRH, so if I am able to return I will find him here. He said that he’d still be here in one or two years. I told him that if God allows, I’ll return in that time. And I really pray that happens. We said goodbye once more and I walked out those steel gates one more time. What an incredible blessing it has been to be at that hospital. To witness the resiliency of humanity, the compassion of strangers, the beauty of family and the pain of poverty on a people. I am forever indebted to those colleagues who patiently explained the way of life and work in Gulu to me, welcomed me in, and reminded me of what it is to really serve. I came here for five weeks and volunteered. They are serve this community every day of the work year. I came for a part of my life, this is life for them. They are they heroes, I simply was blessed to interact and somehow attempt to serve alongside them. I pray God showers down blessings on them.

As I left the hospital I got a hold of my friend Jeremy, and we decided to meet at Cafe Larem to chat for a bit. He was in the market and we convened for a conversation over a couple of Stoney’s. I love walking with him, as his experience has been so rich here and he has so much to share. We go back and forth like a couple of old friends, rabbit trailing all over the place as our conversation darts around like the bats that so often fill the evening sky in Gulu. He shared more of what his research has found, as well as some tidbits of British history. I hope to one day maybe visit him in Oxford, and learn even more form him. What an incredible life he’d lead, and he is continuing to lead. We even spoke about my unsettled spirit, and my desire to go, see and do, right now. He is a great encouragement to me, as he is over 60 years old and still going places like Gulu. We parted ways and I made my way home for a pancake lunch prepared by Alli and Jessie.

On my way I was joined by many children on their lunch breaks from school, and had fun joking with them an taking pictures that made them laugh. To hear young children laugh. There is not much more that is needed to bring joy to my heart. Regardless of nationality or race, I love it. These are beautiful and precious ones. I will miss them dearly.

After lunch the rain began again. Apparently rainy season is NOT over in Uganda. It just makes me laugh because it will be completely calm and then, almost in an instant, the rain begins and pours down. And its like you can feel it coming. You can feel it coming in, and then it pours out and everyone tries to find cover under some sort of shelter. In town, many people can be seen under gas station awnings, storefront outcroppings, and anything else that will keep the rain from hitting their heads. Luckily we only had to grab our clothes from the clothesline quickly and then we were able to be inside, and just be amazed by it all. Like many things here. I just stand amazed...

Village Tour with Charles

October 16, 2009

On this day at GRRH I finally felt like I am settled into working here. I am sad to realize that it has finally happened, now that I will be leaving next week, but nonetheless, it does feel like home. I have relationships with my colleagues now, and that does more to help me feel like I belong than anything else. 

There were not many patients today so by four o'clock, Charles and I locked up the unit and headed towards town. We took bodas to the Mola Clinic in town, in order to greet Morris and make sure there were no patients that Charles needed to attend to. We made small talk in the office for a few minutes and then began walking toward a village southwest of the town center. On Kampala road, which coincidentally heads to Kampala, we headed south and Charles said we would go to see the market on that side of town. Libidi (I think that is how you spell it) is this part of town, and we were going to visit the smaller market to see if they had simsim. My coworkers had been jeering me tirelessly because I did not know what the small seed looked like, nor had I ever tasted it. They could not believe that I’d never seen it. Charles and I looked for it at the market, but were unable to find it. What we did find, though, were veggies, fruit and a long table of fresh fish being cut. It was not the most appetizing looking fish, but there were people waiting in line to purchase it. After passing through the market, we continued on to the village. We weaved in and out of the traditional round huts that are so prevalent in this part of Uganda, until we finally came to a small courtyard. Uhuru and I had been chatting the whole time that we walked along, and he was walking briskly. Then I noticed him slowing down and when I had finished what I had been talking about, he introduced me to his home. I was so surprised as he hadn’t said that we would be visiting his home today. And as we looked around, there were some women sitting in the courtyard. I had a sneaky suspicion he knew them, and within a minute or so he introduced them as his wife and daughters. I was so honored to meet them! We spoke a little about their home and family and pretty soon I was able to meet Patience, also. She is Charles youngest child, and is 5 years old. She was so precious, and beautiful. I asked Charles how many children he has and I think he said seven. However, his sister is no longer around, so he pays the school fees for about 16 kids, four of which are in secondary school. All of this he does on a small income. It was very eye opening for me, that my colleague lives in the situation that he does. Ruined me a little bit more, as well.

We continued on through the village and I was also introduced to Charles son, Stuart, who is 17 years and in Senior 3. He looked ‘smart’ (good) in his collared shirt and bright smile. We exchanged pleasantries before Chalres and I continued on. I was able to tour the whole village that my coworker lives in and even meet the ‘president’ of the village. He was an older gentleman who was very pleasant to speak with. I don’t quite know what is culturally acceptable here, so I just tried my best to be respectful. He thanked me for coming and helping his people. I told him I was honored to be here. I don’t have words for how honored I do feel to be here, serving these people. Though what I do may only touch a small portion of this population, and sometimes that can feel like a failure, I hope that it somehow helps. If all that comes is that I made friendships with my coworkers, I will be satisfied in that. 

And it grew...

"Enlarge the place of your tent, stretch your tent curtains wide, do not hold back; lengthen your cords, strengthen your stakes." -- Isaiah 54:2

I leave in a mere 2 1/2 weeks to begin this adventure in East Africa. (I'm a little excited, in case you were wondering!) I fly out on August 25th and will be arriving in Kigali, Rwanda on the evening of the 27th.

Up until about a week and a half ago I was simply traveling to Rwanda in response to a longing on my heart and to see what could come of it. I didn't have an agenda but had an airline ticket and reasoned that the rest would fall into place as it was supposed to, probably after I arrived in Rwanda. I have never wanted this to just be a vacation or 'just a trip.' I have felt from the very beginning that if it turned out to be that, I would be sorely dissapointed. I have been praying that plans would come together and that opportunites would arise for me to not only build on relationships I have already established in East Africa, but also invest in the people there in a big way. Well part of it fell into place sooner than I had expected. Through an amazing series of events that I can only call a miracle, I met the director of an organization called Aid Africa, which works within the city of Gulu, Uganda, providing assistance to the people who live there. Most have been displaced from their homes in one way or another, and are refugees. Through various projects the organization has impacted the area, and after looking at the website (aidafrica.net) and seeing the opportunity to help, I've decided to pursue volunteering with them. This may come as an interesting turn to some of you, but I have prayed about it and feel like this is where I am supposed to invest, at least for this time. 

So the change of plans are that I will be in Rwanda for about three weeks in order to visit friends there and build on the relationships I previously made. (Also, seek out if there are opportunities for me to work there). Then, somewhere around the 20th of September I will travel to Northern Uganda, and will be there for a month, after which I will most likely return to Rwanda. In that time I hope to not only assist with the projects that Aid Africa has going, but also volunteer in the charity hospital (Lacor) that they regularly transport ill babies to. (If any of you are familiar with Aprovecho stoves, Aid Africa's director orginally traveled to Uganda on one of the stove projects). I have a desire to help hurting people and though it may be overwhelming at first, am very excited to volunteer in the hospital or in a local clinic. I am not certain whether or not I will be doing x-rays, as Lacor's x-ray machine has cobwebs all over it, but I am hopeful that my training will be of some value there. 

Though this has stretched my heart and mind quite a bit, I am excited for all the opportunities that will come out of this, and the opportunity to be immersed in another culture. Some of you have asked if you could help (financially) while I am in Rwanda. Up until now I felt as though it would be irresponsible to ask for that assistance due to the lack of clear vision. Now, though, with this more specific 'mission', I would invite you to invest. If it has been pressed upon your heart and you would like to, please do. The expansion of the plans has not only brought more excitement, but also extra expenses (such as lodging, food, inner-country travel, etc) and I would also love to bless the community there, as opportunities arise. If donating to this cause is something you would like to do, please contact me and we can decide what the best way for you to do that will be. 

Thank you, once again, for taking the time to read this. I am so thankful for your prayers and look forward to sharing the stories, pictures and memories of this with you.