Uganda Final Day

Yesterday our team had a great day full of exploring and fun. We started the day by going to Sipi falls. It is a beautiful and lush area. Sipi, which means “many”, is named after the many waterfalls that are located here. We hiked up the steep and muddy mountain, accompanied by several locals who made sure we wouldn’t get lost! We couldn’t believe the beauty of all that was around us, but we surely marveled at it.

After our hike we drove into town for lunch at a local Indian and African restaurant. A large group consisting of our team, along with all those who have helped us so much this week gathered together for a very delicious meal! After lunch we drove about 2 hours to arrive at a road where wild baboons roam the streets. We were only 15 minutes away from Kenya! On these streets the baboons are everywhere and are accustomed to interacting with humans. There are several natives who live in this area and they often times bring out their food and feed the animals. We brought bananas in order that we too might get to feed them. One could hold a banana out of the window, and the baboons would use their hands to grab it, peel it and eat it. We laughed at how normal the interaction seemed to be. They were so used to being fed by people, that even though we were there, it seemed like the most usual thing in the world! Some were even brave enough to step out of the car and walk alongside the baboons themselves.

Today we continued with home visitations and construction work. During home visitations we met several families in need. We met one woman who has been living at home with a large hole in her roof. She has not had money to fix it. Another woman, with a prolapsed uterus walks around in pain and in great need for a hysterectomy. She doesn’t have the money for the operation either. But a young boy by the name of Stephen really broke our hearts. We brought out the supplies that we’ve been taking to all our families and handed them to his mother. She pleaded with us to please come inside and pray for her son, who has been very sick. Priscilla, a nurse on our team, and Micheal, a local Physician’s Assistant, went inside to see the boy and see what was wrong. It was discovered that the boy had been bitten by a spider in October. The bite caused him to be in a great deal of pain, and it later became infected. The family then proceeded to take the boy to a witch doctor, due to not having enough money for a hospital. The witch doctor performed several incisions in the boy’s leg, with the belief that this might make it better. However, this only worsened his condition as the infection became more severe. The family finally proceeded to take their son to the hospital, to see what might be done. The infection had spread through into his bone, and into his blood, causing septicemia, a very dangerous and potentially deadly condition. Once Stephen was in the hospital, they could only afford simple antibiotics, and when those didn’t work, he was sent home with no improvement because the family had run out of money. We entered into his room and found him completely motionless on the mat. He moaned in agony as Micheal completed a simple assessment. We knew immediately that if the boy did not get to a hospital right away, death was imminent. The antibiotics that would be used to treat septicemia in the United States are entirely unavailable in Uganda and impossible to attain. However, stronger antibiotics than the ones Stephen had already received were available. These antibiotics might give him a chance to survive. But the family simply did not have the funds. We gathered around and prayed for him.

After our visitations we all met together and discussed all the things we had seen today. Our hearts were moved and broken. So much pain due to a lack of resources! We decided unanimously that we wanted to help these three families. We were able to gather all the money that was necessary! The woman with the broken roof will have it fixed. The woman in need of a hysterectomy will have her surgery! And we ourselves drove Stephen to hospital. He is currently being treated at the hospital with stronger IV antibiotics. However, due to the seriousness of his condition, we ask that you continue to pray for him. How awesome if this family could see their son get better and know that the credit is all God’s! No witch doctor could heal him. But God would bring a group from Florida, His people, to their home, from such a far away place, in order that Stephen might live. We are so glad to see that these families received such great hope today. What an amazing week this has been!

It is hard to believe that tomorrow night we will be boarding our plane back to the States. We’ve been so many months anticipating this trip, and tomorrow we leave. The time here has flown by, but the work and blessings that have been given and received are great. The night finished as we ate dinner with our host families. We sang and worshiped together. It was one of the most beautiful of all the nights we had spent together; however plenty of tears were flowing as we all said goodbye. We all exchanged gifts of gratitude. Several members of the team received authentic African outfits!

The people that we have been so blessed to meet this week have impacted our lives tremendously. They are always smiling, always encouraging, always hard working, always hopeful, and always exemplary. There’s something about meeting other Christians around the world that just simply doesn’t compare to anything else. It has been a total of about 8 days that we’ve spent here in the village, but the connection and love that we feel towards each other is proof that we are of the same family. In 8 days a strong bond has been formed; a bond that will endure throughout eternity. Words cannot express our joy and our gratitude. Our God is good.