An Unexpected Day of Rest

I woke up this morning to a chorus of happy birthday… and an envelope of birthday cards that my daughter had collected from friends and family before I left.  Then I opened Gmail and there were happy birthday wishes. I am so blessed for all of you. You made the day very special and I thank you for that!

We were supposed to go back to Top Hills School today and finish up with the sponsorship pictures and the clinic. But, two of our team members, Les and Stacia, spent the evening with severe stomach issues and thus we decided it best NOT to spend an hour on a bus with our final destination nowhere near a bathroom!  At first we were going to try to leave after lunch but as it turned out we opted to just spend the day at the hotel and get everyone well. Those that needed to rest did so, and the rest of us did what was needed to get caught up. Though I am terribly sorry I will not get the opportunity to say goodbye to Rashidah I did take advantage of the time and go through all the pictures putting names to faces. Fortunately Judy worked with me and together we were able to whip out the list, but even together it took us about 7 hours. The great news is that I don’t have to do it after a long days work.. And I am so thankful for that! We have managed to take pictures of all the students who were here, leaving a minimum amount for Team III to do.  We took pictures of every child standing up so they can see from year to year how much they have grown, pictures up close and personal, and then pictures really up close and personal!!!  It was a hard task but someone had to do it!! You know how much I hate taking pictures!!! Every time there was break in the numbers that was because Rashidah had walked by and I felt compelled to take a quick candid!! Needless to say, there are quite a few of those!

God works in amazing ways. Had we not been here today Vicki and Vickie would not have had the chance to meet Connie from the Ministry of Health. Vicki was getting off the bus from loading medical supplies when she noticed her walking out and a car in the lot with something about malaria written on the side. She walked up and started talking and pretty soon they were in a conversation about the medical situation in Uganda. Connie had some great ideas about tracking malaria and clean water. The ministry of Health’s goal is to pass out 19 million mosquito nets. Vicki commented that Tree of Life passes out roughly 700. Connie commented that though this number was small there are probably other organizations like this and together they make a difference. They actually go house to house by district and hand out nets (one net per every 2 people in a family). At the end of the conversation she told them she was a believer and they all prayed together. The meeting was very valuable as it has been decided that Tree of Life will re-evaluate how they distribute the nets they disburse. They will try in the future to target a specific village and track who they give them to.

At one point as I walked outside in the courtyard there was our team (the healthy members) all sitting quietly around a table reading their Nooks and Kindles. It was a little surreal. Lunch today consisted of all the snack foods we had brought from the states and it was nice to have a few minutes of relaxed conversation.

Later in the afternoon five of us women went into town to do a little shopping. Patrick, one of our Pastors, is also a very fine tailor. Several of our team have had him make them dresses. So while in town, I bought some really pretty fabric and am going to have him make a shirt for me. I’ve been looking at shirts for three years but have never seen one in a color I liked. This way I can have the shirt in a pattern I have chosen. I am so excited. The roadways in Uganda are an adventure in, and of, itself. First off the traffic goes in the opposite direction. So no matter how many times I look before I cross the street, it never fails that I’ve looked in the wrong direction. I step off the curb and practically lose my life every time.  At one point we had to cross a ditch and in usual style I managed to jump across with no problem. Then walking down the street I slipped on a pebble and landed right on my backside… oops!  It was not graceful. Fortunately, nothing was hurt but my pride; and I’m not supposed to have any of that anyway! But I love wandering through the market and seeing the various shops and all the people.

So the highlights of the day:

Les:  He was one of the sick today so he enjoyed the nap he took this afternoon. He feels rested. When asked what he enjoyed the most he said, “ I will pass, literally”.

Vicki & Vickie:  Meeting with Connie from the Ministry of Health and hearing all that she had to say.  They loved learning more about health care in Uganda and finding out better ways to help the people.

Hajji: We got talking about flies and mosquito nets. He said that one day when he becomes president he is going to raise bats all over Uganda so they will eat the flies so malaria will no longer be an issue. The highlight of his day was that he was off duty. (Actually when he took us ladies into town to shop he was very concerned that we all stay together as a group. I think he grew a few gray hairs letting us go unsupervised! I felt like I had acquired a new father!)

Judy: She went through all the lists of all the kids who received gifts at Top Hills and there are very few left for Team III to handle. It was a wrap up day. She also went through the Ambassador program and evaluated who should be sponsored based on grades. She feels very good about how she is leaving things for the next team.

Lynda:  She spent the day sending out some emails and working on spreadsheets. She feels she could have done more but she opted to relax. She feels better about the load of work she has before her.

Russell: For him it was both a physical and emotional recharge.

Sylvia: (who is now Sugah) – For her the day was one of rest. On our trip into town she was a little nervous. She commented that she has read too many mystery novels and kept waiting to be abducted as we walked down all the alleys. There were too many people for her comfort level.

Adam:  He found the day to be quietly productive. For the last week we have been trying to accomplish a lot of things in a small amount of space. Today he was able to accomplish things in a quiet way, which is his way. He also enjoyed chilling with his dad.

Stacia:  She found it fun to see God work in such amazing ways. That God always has a plan. That had we not been here for those who were sick Vicki and Vickie would never have met Connie from the Ministry of Health, we wouldn’t have gotten caught up with the sponsored children and there wouldn’t have been any physical or emotional rest.

As for me, I am sad that I don’t get to say goodbye to Rashidah. She has a place in my heart and her smile absolutely would melt yours. We made some promises to kids yesterday that we never thought we wouldn’t be able to fulfill and for that I feel badly.  Our hearts were in the right place, but as we all know, our actions are, in the end, what matter. I know that God has a purpose for everything and I certainly am appreciative of all we accomplished today and will be especially thankful for getting to bed early.  Tomorrow we have breakfast at 7 and will be on the road at 8 for a three-hour drive to Kumuli.  The roads are supposed to be very difficult to travel and so I am prepared to be driving slow and thus able to capture much of the countryside through my lens.

Thank you all for your prayers today. I love each and every one of you.