Cool kids!

On a lighter note, here's a sweet story. This family from Denver has been living and working with CLD in Uganda since September. They are gearing up to head back to the US next month and warping things up here. Their kids got rid of a bunch of stuff and had a big yard sale before leaving Denver with the idea that money could be used for a project of their own in Uganda. They decided to let the kids at the school decide what to do with the money. The student council kids met and chose to buy drums so they can have dance parties and have a playground.... Other options on the list included buying an airplane, but the garage sale budget couldn't quite support that. They did buy some really sweet stuff and our kids now will have an amazing playground when they return to school tomorrow. I can't wait to see their faces!

I'll be at the school helping with health checks and vision screening for all the kids as they return for a new term. The CMC Steamboat anthropology class I have been hanging out with (they are amazing, loving them!) just went to the rural village of Kaliro for a few days and then rafting the Nile. I will meet up with them Thursday to travel to western Uganda and Rwanda for a week.

2 weeks in

I'm two weeks into my time in Uganda. It feels like it has been so much longer. There is some kind of weird time warp going on where the pace seems slower than I am used to, but at the same time so much is happening. I find myself talking slower and simpler so my words will be understood. I've been with CLD since Sunday and have been hanging with a bunch of CMC students from Steamboat. They are a blast and we have been working hard cleaning up the school classrooms and grounds to be ready for students returning Monday, doing some yard work and an after school program at 'thread of life', working on the farm and much more. We slept outside at the farm last night and I did not sleep well, partly because I was worried about the wild things and partly because I was uncomfortable on a thin foam pad on concrete and partly because I'm pretty sure there were fleas crawling all over me.

I find myself longing for my comfortable life in America. Life is hard here and chaos is everywhere. Just getting around is difficult. Getting in bed is difficult as tucking in the mosquito net all the way around is a step to not be neglected. The other day as I was taking a shower, there was a moment when the cold water took my breath away for a few seconds before I got used to it, and I thought 'this is horrible'. Then I remembered that I am one of the lucky ones because I have a shower. Most here shower with a bucket and a cloth and most are facing much tougher problems related to their poverty.

Ben, our Ugandan friend and the leader of CLD Uganda spoke the other day about helping and how handouts do more harm than good. When we who have so much come and see so many needs, our knee jerk reaction is to give and fix it with our money. But giving money to someone begging only reinforces that they are a begger and that is all they will ever be. It reinforces the cycle of poverty and dependence. He talked about the bigger problem and how everyone wants to look out the window and blame others but we need to look in the mirror. Real change involves relationship and investing ourselves, our time and our hearts into people to show them that they are valuable. Ben gave the analogy of giving a man a fish or teaching him to fish... Or giving someone a meal vs. giving them the recipe so that they can continue to make that meal and maybe even make it better. Education is key. In the end it's not our money that changes things, it is the investment of our time and our lives that does. It's cool to see this concept play out in the projects here.

I've heard a few peoples stories that would break anyone's heart and they put my light and momentary troubles into perspective. I realize that there are bigger problems here than I have the ability to fix. I also know that though I am uncomfortable I am right where I am supposed to be. I'm confident that God will use my sacrifice to bring some peace to the chaos. Still I'm counting the days till my family comes and till I'm in Steamboat again. 4 weeks for my family and 5 wks, 3 days till Steamboat... Taking one day at a time, it's not quite as overwhelming.

Safari!!!- (this was a week ago, just sending it now)

We made it though a crazy week. The week started with seeing diseases I had never seen before and ended with seeing animals I had never seen before. This place feel like the Pridelands in the Lion King after Simba returns home and it was restored to its original glory. Thousands of animals call this national park home and it is incredible to see them living in the freedom they were designed for.

The male lion in the photo is missing a leg. Apparently poachers set a trap for him that damaged his leg to the point where it needed to be amputated by a vet.

With what I have experienced this week, I can't help but think this is a picture of the greater story we are living in. Glimpses of paradise coupled with the reality of a broken world.

Clinic day 4

Hundreds of people have been lining up for our medical clinics. We have been seeing roughly 250 a day and unfortunately have had to turn hundreds away. The patients receive vitamins and deworming medicines, have vitals taken, see a medical provider and get much needed medicines from our top notch traveling pharmacy. Those who need it get to see a family planning nurse or get reading glasses or sunglasses. Reading glasses are like a miracle for a 60 yr old who hasn't been able to read for decades. We have an enthusiastic team of PT's and OT's who are doing incredible things with much creativity using what we have to help disabled people. I have been blown away with their creativity in making braces, wheel chairs, walkers and special shoes. Today one of them even made a spacer for a little girl I saw who needed an inhaler. Another one made a pessary. They fit leg braces on a little girl and her mom was able to watch her walk for the first time.

In the provider world we have been seeing things I had only read about in text books. Leprosy, schistosomiasis. elephantiasis, malaria, typhoid... The list goes on. It's kind of fun to be around medical people who geek out about this stuff. It makes me feel like I'm not a weirdo.

We moved around to different towns the first two days. Its funny how we have seen different things in the different regions. In the middle of the sugar cane fields tons of kids had huge cavities, their teeth looked like hollowed out eggshells. And by the lake, lots of schistosomiasis. Today I felt 3 of the biggest spleens, I have ever felt. (I know, geeking out)

The last two days were spent in this beautiful village near the game park. We fed monkeys bananas from the vans on the way. This country is beautiful and I am falling more in love with it. The people are incredible! So happy to see us. They are welcoming and loving and sassy.

Yes, mom, that is a guard with an AK-47. Don't worry we have 6 of them and they are keeping us very safe.

Ready or not...

I just started reading this great book by a girl who moved to Uganda right after high school. Her account reminds me of my own love story with this country and its people, that I had forgot while living my comfortable American life.

As I took my hot shower in my comfortable hotel this morning and used a hair dryer for the last time in 2 months I realized I am laying some sacrifices on the altar... Comfort/ convenience/ luxury/ control... But I am trading them in for something better that I just have yet to experience. But I can't get there unless I loosen my grip and let go of the familiar. Fixing my eyes not on what I see... But on what is yet unseen.

I may not have Internet access for the next week or two, but you can follow my team on the PMI blog, it should be updated daily.

http://www.palmettomedical.org/blog/

@ DIA

Heading out...

2 mo in Uganda... What was I thinking?

Feeling super anxious, but getting on my way. Guess it's not supposed to be easy or comfortable...

Preparing to leave Steamboat

Happy May Day! This is what I woke up to before going to work my last day in Steamboat. I've been kinda stressed, but this is enough to make me want to leave. Only 3 days of travel and I will be in Uganda...