Saturday, August 29, 2009
Construction Stills
It's been about a month since the group has returned from Agule and we're slowly piecing things together to update our content and materials. Check out this short video clip of the roofing stage of construction (photos courtesy of Sean Kerr, music by Will Phillips).
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Thanks For The Memories
Just thought we'd share everyone's thoughts on the experience, in their own words...
Family and Friends,
I want to thank you for all your support and prayers in the past month that I have been in Pallisa, Uganda with the group Akia-Ashianut (Medicine Blessing in Ateso). I had the amazing privilege of working along side of eleven other great people, that I now call family, at the Agule Community Health Center. Without your prayers, encouragement, moral and financial support, none of this would have been possible.
I find it hard to put this experience into words, because trying to explain this place doesn’t do it any justice. In the last week we were there, Anneka, one of the trip leaders, told us “Don’t try to tell the story of this place, for it already has a voice. Tell your story in this place and their story will shine through.” Our team had the awesome opportunity of watching God move through this place and privilege to be part of that movement.
One of our biggest goals was to see the completion of the second ward for the clinic (the maternity ward) which was just a shell of a building for the past two years due to a lack of major funds. We are glad and awestruck to see this building come to life in the short time we were there. It was amazing to watch how these men constructed something solid and permanent for the community using no machinery and only their ingenuity, strength and determination.
We were able to help twist metal into beams that gave support to the concrete over the windows and doors and watched as the clay bricks were laid up higher and higher, lifting the walls and gables to roofing levels. We helped lift the wooden trusses up to the roof with our hands and wooden beams as lifts and levers. We shoveled and moved in at least two tons of dirt and sand (grout) into the ward to help level the floor as the workers lifted up thin iron sheets and nailed them to the wooden beams, creating a roof over our heads. We watched as the concrete was poured over the floor, bringing the building one more step closer to a functional ward.
It was breathtaking to watch as this building came to life. While we were not able to see it completed in our time there, it should be up and functional in the next couple of months. Akia-Ashianut is still in the process of raising funds to allow for the walls to be cemented and plastered, windows and doors put in, and beds to be placed in the clinic, as well as gaining enough prayers to begin filling the place with joy.
We also had the opportunities to work alongside the amazing nurses and doctors of the Agule Community Health Center, assisting them where we could and learning through hands on experience and through interactions with patients. As a medical missions trip, our primary focus was helping the medical staff of the clinic with our individual talents and skills, from helping diagnose patients to putting in IV’s, talking and learning Ateso in the hopes of comforting patients to riding in the ambulance along side them, working in the lab to helping deliver babies, and organizing supplies and paperwork to, in my case, staying out of the way.
Those who were comfortable with helping in a medical setting took the opportunity to help out with medical work. Others of us sat back and observed from a distance. We saw many people and many different infections and diseases, but about ninety percent of the cases that came in were Malaria. Each diagnoses meant that another person had to be hooked up to an IV line for Quinine treatment, unless it was caught early enough (within a couple days of infection) and then a treatment of oral pills would do the work.
While most of the cases that we saw were manageable for the clinic, there were some days when the patient would be beyond the care that the clinic could provide and we would have to rush them to the government run hospital in Pallisa Town, a 25 minute dash across dirt roads in the back of an ambulance, or a bota-bota (motorbike) when the keys cant be found at four o’clock in the morning. On average, we would have to make this journey once a week, except for the last couple of days when we had to use the ambulance four times, twice in a single day.
While I would like to say that everything worked out medically while we were there, it wasn’t the case. In the first week, a tiny child was brought in (only 6 months old) with a severe case of Malaria. Unfortunately there was nothing we could do, even though we tried. The parents had gone to a witch doctor who told them to feed the child some herbs and to pray, by the time that they rushed her to the clinic, she had no pulse and didn’t bleed when her finger was pricked. There are very few words that can begin to describe the feelings I felt as I watched a life fade before my very eyes.
In our sorrow and through death, God showed us the opportunities of life. Days later, the team had the strength and wisdom to save an older gentleman from the brink of death. The next week, some of the members of the team also helped birth a beautiful and healthy baby boy into this world. We got the opportunity to experience something that few people ever dream of experiencing, the beauty of life and death.
We also got to experience the Ugandan community each day, as we lived on the grounds of the clinic and were surrounded by the beauty of life around us. Each morning we were woken by a lovely chorus of cows and roosters, as well as the little children who lived behind the compound in which we were staying. It was a blessing that many of us often overlooked.
Each afternoon, children flocked to the clinic to see and play with the Mzungus (white people). We were constantly surrounded by kids who didn’t want to do anything else than get your attention (or a picture). We played soccer, listened to traditional music, climbed trees, and danced in the rain. The kids and the adults enjoyed having us around, and we loved being there amongst them, experiencing life in Uganda.
There is a saying that “Home is where the Heart is.” If that is true, then each and every one of us will tell you that our homes will forever be the Agule Community Health Center. Something about that place stole a piece of each and every one of our hearts.
I want to thank you for all your support and prayers in the past month that I have been in Pallisa, Uganda with the group Akia-Ashianut (Medicine Blessing in Ateso). I had the amazing privilege of working along side of eleven other great people, that I now call family, at the Agule Community Health Center. Without your prayers, encouragement, moral and financial support, none of this would have been possible.
I find it hard to put this experience into words, because trying to explain this place doesn’t do it any justice. In the last week we were there, Anneka, one of the trip leaders, told us “Don’t try to tell the story of this place, for it already has a voice. Tell your story in this place and their story will shine through.” Our team had the awesome opportunity of watching God move through this place and privilege to be part of that movement.
One of our biggest goals was to see the completion of the second ward for the clinic (the maternity ward) which was just a shell of a building for the past two years due to a lack of major funds. We are glad and awestruck to see this building come to life in the short time we were there. It was amazing to watch how these men constructed something solid and permanent for the community using no machinery and only their ingenuity, strength and determination. We were able to help twist metal into beams that gave support to the concrete over the windows and doors and watched as the clay bricks were laid up higher and higher, lifting the walls and gables to roofing levels. We helped lift the wooden trusses up to the roof with our hands and wooden beams as lifts and levers. We shoveled and moved in at least two tons of dirt and sand (grout) into the ward to help level the floor as the workers lifted up thin iron sheets and nailed them to the wooden beams, creating a roof over our heads. We watched as the concrete was poured over the floor, bringing the building one more step closer to a functional ward.
It was breathtaking to watch as this building came to life. While we were not able to see it completed in our time there, it should be up and functional in the next couple of months. Akia-Ashianut is still in the process of raising funds to allow for the walls to be cemented and plastered, windows and doors put in, and beds to be placed in the clinic, as well as gaining enough prayers to begin filling the place with joy.
We also had the opportunities to work alongside the amazing nurses and doctors of the Agule Community Health Center, assisting them where we could and learning through hands on experience and through interactions with patients. As a medical missions trip, our primary focus was helping the medical staff of the clinic with our individual talents and skills, from helping diagnose patients to putting in IV’s, talking and learning Ateso in the hopes of comforting patients to riding in the ambulance along side them, working in the lab to helping deliver babies, and organizing supplies and paperwork to, in my case, staying out of the way.
Those who were comfortable with helping in a medical setting took the opportunity to help out with medical work. Others of us sat back and observed from a distance. We saw many people and many different infections and diseases, but about ninety percent of the cases that came in were Malaria. Each diagnoses meant that another person had to be hooked up to an IV line for Quinine treatment, unless it was caught early enough (within a couple days of infection) and then a treatment of oral pills would do the work.
While most of the cases that we saw were manageable for the clinic, there were some days when the patient would be beyond the care that the clinic could provide and we would have to rush them to the government run hospital in Pallisa Town, a 25 minute dash across dirt roads in the back of an ambulance, or a bota-bota (motorbike) when the keys cant be found at four o’clock in the morning. On average, we would have to make this journey once a week, except for the last couple of days when we had to use the ambulance four times, twice in a single day.
While I would like to say that everything worked out medically while we were there, it wasn’t the case. In the first week, a tiny child was brought in (only 6 months old) with a severe case of Malaria. Unfortunately there was nothing we could do, even though we tried. The parents had gone to a witch doctor who told them to feed the child some herbs and to pray, by the time that they rushed her to the clinic, she had no pulse and didn’t bleed when her finger was pricked. There are very few words that can begin to describe the feelings I felt as I watched a life fade before my very eyes.
In our sorrow and through death, God showed us the opportunities of life. Days later, the team had the strength and wisdom to save an older gentleman from the brink of death. The next week, some of the members of the team also helped birth a beautiful and healthy baby boy into this world. We got the opportunity to experience something that few people ever dream of experiencing, the beauty of life and death.
We also got to experience the Ugandan community each day, as we lived on the grounds of the clinic and were surrounded by the beauty of life around us. Each morning we were woken by a lovely chorus of cows and roosters, as well as the little children who lived behind the compound in which we were staying. It was a blessing that many of us often overlooked.
Each afternoon, children flocked to the clinic to see and play with the Mzungus (white people). We were constantly surrounded by kids who didn’t want to do anything else than get your attention (or a picture). We played soccer, listened to traditional music, climbed trees, and danced in the rain. The kids and the adults enjoyed having us around, and we loved being there amongst them, experiencing life in Uganda.
There is a saying that “Home is where the Heart is.” If that is true, then each and every one of us will tell you that our homes will forever be the Agule Community Health Center. Something about that place stole a piece of each and every one of our hearts.
Without your amazing prayers, encouragement, financial and moral support throughout the trip, none of this would have been possible. Again, I want to thank each and every one of you for helping make this dream become a reality for the people of Agule.
God Bless and PEACE
Sean Kerr
God Bless and PEACE
Sean Kerr
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Home Is Where the Heart Is
Dear All,
To give you a brief update, the beds will be placed in once construction is complete. For those of you that supported the thirtyfivethirty bed program thank you so much!
After saying goodbye to Scott at the airport in Entebbe (he is in Kenya for the next week and a half and then Addis Ababa, Ethiopia until December - please keep him in your prayers as he continues his amazing journey!) and many many hours cramped on a plane, the group arrived safely at the Dulles airport. While we are all physically back in Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, Colorado and Massachusetts I truly believe that a giant-sized piece of each of our hearts remains in Agule. We cannot begin to thank you enough for the many ways you have supported us - thank you for bringing Agule into our lives. We have tried to bring Agule to you as well, and will continue to tell our stories of our time there as we begin to process all that we have witnessed, felt, heard, accomplished and loved.
To give you a brief update, the beds will be placed in once construction is complete. For those of you that supported the thirtyfivethirty bed program thank you so much!
We may not physically be in Agule anymore, but our trip is far from over as the next few days, weeks and months will reveal to us even more about our time in this beautiful community - and, while we accomplished amazing things during our stay there, we still have a lot of exciting work ahead of us!
Please stay tuned for continued updates on how we are all doing and what our next steps for this project will be...
Grace and Love,
Anneka
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
sunny days, chasing the clouds away
we had a slow day in the clinic and decided to give to a semi-Cribs style introduction to the clinic and a few of its people. at times it can be tough so laughter and maturity always go hand and hand, all of it done with encouragement and enthusiasm of the patients and medical staff. we hope you enjoy!
on a more serious note, please pray for the health of our team. as we are finishing the closing chapters of our journey it is vital to our team that we be in good order physically and spiritually. thank you for your faith behind us.
much love,
scott
Tuesday July 21st 2009 7:30pm.
on a more serious note, please pray for the health of our team. as we are finishing the closing chapters of our journey it is vital to our team that we be in good order physically and spiritually. thank you for your faith behind us.
much love,
scott
Tuesday July 21st 2009 7:30pm.
mzungu, you be my wife
The amazing thing about being in a place that is ravished my so much disease and heartache is that it allows miracles to abound. Yesterday, God was smiling on us as Anneka, Matt, and Bethany were able to assist in delivering a beautiful, healthy baby boy. After a long, hot week of construction, this was a welcome encouragement.
I wish you could all see the way the maternity ward is progressing – it’s not something you can really put into words. If you blink at the wrong time, you’ll open your eyes to find a roof that wasn’t there before or another grassy and root-laden hill turned into the base for a floor. I have been an eyewitness to all of this, but I’m honestly not sure how it has all happened. Like I said before, miracles are abounding.
When we first got here, I think we were all a bit overwhelmed by what we could do, on an individual basis, to bring something meaningful to this place that is so profoundly affecting us all. Now, with less than a week remaining in this beautiful country, the time-crunch is motivating some really nifty innovations. There is now a mural in the hallway where patients line up on a daily basis to receive treatment and hope, and screens (i.e., spliced mosquito nets) have been pasted over the vents in an attempt to curb the success of the malaria-ridden mosquitoes. Additionally, contracting skills are being summoned in order to craft soccer goals for the children.
At this point, we’re all coping with having to leave in different ways. However, one thing is certain – the plane ride back will leave a Pallisa-sized hole in all of our hearts. We have learned that no matter how many ways we dream up to serve these people, we will never be able to match the blessings we have received. I just pray that the red Ugandan clay and all of the memories that it holds will be coursing through our veins as long as the 12 of us will live.
-Kelcie
Tuesday July 20th 2009 8:47pm
I wish you could all see the way the maternity ward is progressing – it’s not something you can really put into words. If you blink at the wrong time, you’ll open your eyes to find a roof that wasn’t there before or another grassy and root-laden hill turned into the base for a floor. I have been an eyewitness to all of this, but I’m honestly not sure how it has all happened. Like I said before, miracles are abounding.
When we first got here, I think we were all a bit overwhelmed by what we could do, on an individual basis, to bring something meaningful to this place that is so profoundly affecting us all. Now, with less than a week remaining in this beautiful country, the time-crunch is motivating some really nifty innovations. There is now a mural in the hallway where patients line up on a daily basis to receive treatment and hope, and screens (i.e., spliced mosquito nets) have been pasted over the vents in an attempt to curb the success of the malaria-ridden mosquitoes. Additionally, contracting skills are being summoned in order to craft soccer goals for the children.
At this point, we’re all coping with having to leave in different ways. However, one thing is certain – the plane ride back will leave a Pallisa-sized hole in all of our hearts. We have learned that no matter how many ways we dream up to serve these people, we will never be able to match the blessings we have received. I just pray that the red Ugandan clay and all of the memories that it holds will be coursing through our veins as long as the 12 of us will live.
-Kelcie
Tuesday July 20th 2009 8:47pm
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Red Roof Inn
You know, those hotels that look like cabins on the side of highways with the giant red roofs…Red Roof Inn! Thats the one! I’ve never actually stayed at one but the maternity ward we have been building slightly resembles one, minus the cabin look… This past week we all got quite skilled with shovels, hoes, and wheel barrels. Moving over 400 barrels of dirt to level the floor of the clinic, with another 200ish to go we are hoping to cement the floor early next week. Yesterday contractors came and put up the Legos of the big red roof…Considering a week ago we weren’t even sure we would be able to pay for it, it feels like quite a feat.
This is 72 hours in 10 seconds…
much love
scott
Sunday July 19th 2009 3:03pm
Friday, July 17, 2009
Out of Stock (sort of)
friends,
“If the world was how it should be, then maybe I could get some sleep.”
So the past few days have been quite spectacular. In less than 48 hours, we sold out of spots for beds and couldn’t be more excited about it. This is good news. If you are still interested giving please know there is still plenty of room for your support to be used. We are doing our best to process things as they happen in the states and connect them to the project here before we leave. This weekend we will be roofing and cementing the floor. Please pray construction delays are minimal. Also, Bethany and Kelcie have been making screens for the vents on the clinic to prevent mosquitoes from coming in at night. David Geigerman is working hard on building some soccer goals as well!
Yesterday we mediated on Proverbs 4:16. It talks about how wicked men can not sleep until they do evil; they will be robbed of slumber until they make someone fall. What if the whole world didn’t sleep until we did good. If righteous men made it their mission. My urge is that we will not sleep until we do good. A posture to forsake own vital needs until we have made a difference, until we do good. Tonight we can sleep well knowing many of you have done and helped us do good works. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.
scott
P.S. we see the same children everyday, and they are quite fun. Sometimes is hard to talk, but if you’ve ever wondered how to communicate with someone who speaks a different language than you, this might help… :)
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Buy a Bed...35 beds, $30 each
If you drive (or more realistically bike) down the dirt roads of Uganda, your heart will be pulled between the resilient beauty of the land and the despair that is constantly being combated by unwavering hope. Every few hundred yards, the unfinished foundation of a building stands as a testament to the line where a dream for a better future meets the reality of a gross lack of resources.
The land surrounding the Agule Community Health Center has, until recently, been a very real example of this disparity. The Clinic itself, which miraculously functions on next to nothing, is surrounded by the foundations for a maternity and pediatric ward which, because of the lack of resources, has been left untouched for several years. However, with the financial and prayerful support of many forward-thinking people, combined with an awesome display of raw manpower and ingenuity, construction is moving along at a speed that has surpassed all expectations. The roof is near completion, with a cement floor soon to follow.
Unfortunately, the building itself is only the first step, albeit a large one. The Clinic is already lacking in the amount of beds it is able to provide for its patients, so an entirely new building leaves much to be desired. The solution to this problem lies in sponsorship. Each bed (and we would realistically need about 35 beds) will cost $30 each. If we could be blessed with donors to provide the maternity ward with this necessity, we would be able to engrave the beds with the name of the donor – thereby bridging the gap between the patient and the provider.
This project is about so much more than simply expanding the Agule Community Health Center. It’s about sending a message of hope to the entire district and providing tangible proof that progress is possible. It is also a beautiful illustration of what can be accomplished with prayer and people working together across nations.
We urge you to consider partnering with these people and would love to connect with you! You can donate with the link to the right or email akiaashianut@gmail.com. Thank you for your time.
-Kelcie
The land surrounding the Agule Community Health Center has, until recently, been a very real example of this disparity. The Clinic itself, which miraculously functions on next to nothing, is surrounded by the foundations for a maternity and pediatric ward which, because of the lack of resources, has been left untouched for several years. However, with the financial and prayerful support of many forward-thinking people, combined with an awesome display of raw manpower and ingenuity, construction is moving along at a speed that has surpassed all expectations. The roof is near completion, with a cement floor soon to follow.
Unfortunately, the building itself is only the first step, albeit a large one. The Clinic is already lacking in the amount of beds it is able to provide for its patients, so an entirely new building leaves much to be desired. The solution to this problem lies in sponsorship. Each bed (and we would realistically need about 35 beds) will cost $30 each. If we could be blessed with donors to provide the maternity ward with this necessity, we would be able to engrave the beds with the name of the donor – thereby bridging the gap between the patient and the provider.
This project is about so much more than simply expanding the Agule Community Health Center. It’s about sending a message of hope to the entire district and providing tangible proof that progress is possible. It is also a beautiful illustration of what can be accomplished with prayer and people working together across nations.
We urge you to consider partnering with these people and would love to connect with you! You can donate with the link to the right or email akiaashianut@gmail.com. Thank you for your time.
-Kelcie
falls, beds and birthdays
We took a litle visit this weekend to Sipi Falls which is just a few hours away. It was good for us to get away for the weekend to refocus for the next 2 weeks coming up. We have many things we wish to accomplish, hopefully we can fit it all in!
I had a snazzy Youtube video finished and ready to post on this blog, showing off all the construction on the ward we have done. I was quite excited about it. Unfortunately, sometimes technology doesn't always agree with our plans. The maternity ward is looking good and is nearing completion. We are really pushing to finish it! As we are moving forward the next step in the project is obvisouly filling the ward with the necessities that it takes to provide care...As of now we will have a building but won't be able to put anything in it. So, long story short we came up with 'Buy a Bed.' 35 beds at $30 each. We will write your name on the bed and send you a photo of it so that you can know exactly what your money is going to. Send us email letting me know that you gave (donate link on the left) and we will make it as easy as possible. akiaashianut@gmail.com We will also cover any credit card or transaction fees(if you give $30, all of it should go where you want it to). Thank you for your support!
Scott
- This is a fantastic article about an organization I admire very much. They will do more for world water issues than you could imagine. If you do not give to us, give to them...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/12/opinion/12kristof.html
-It's also my brithday yay!!
Tuesday July 14th 2009 3:59pm
Sunday, July 12, 2009
how to save a life
Earlier this week we traveled just a few short miles to a nearby lake and met some fisherman. I’ve seen the Deadliest Catch on the Discovery channel a few times so I just assumed all fisherman were like those guys. They rode on a big boat with big rubber boots, burley beards, and British accents. The fishermen we met were different. They didn’t have beards or even boats. They had handmade canoes with paddles. Authentic paddles, like the ones you see in museums. They travel through about 15 miles of marsh just to get to the lake hoping to get a good catch of fish. We were able to wander through the marshes and found some kids who gave us coconuts. Greeting us with open arms, I was surprised at their generosity towards such a foreign and mysterious white boy from North Carolina…
The clinic is always filled with unexpected adventures and amazing things. All night and this morning it rained angry on the tin roof, so we didn’t expect a huge turn out at the clinic. Many patients can travel far distances and usually by foot, so rain just tends to slow things. I spent most of the early morning thinking about home which lead to a discussion about how Chick-Fil-A gets their peach milkshakes to taste so peachy. After that concluded all of a sudden a man suffering from severe Malaria rushed in. His family immediately found him a bed and got our attention. The clinic doctor, John along with Matt, gathered quickly, tending to his needs and after I pricked his finger and 90% plasma came out, both determined he needed to get to the hospital ASAP. Looking back I am glad we spent the past few days outfitting the ambulance and increasing its functionality because this validated our sometimes frustrating efforts and would prove to be very useful. After about a 25 minute excursion Matt and I, with David and Laura arrived at the hospital and immediately his demeanor improved. After losing the girl a few days ago, we were all extremely excited to win one. Today, we saved a life.
I’ve never constructed a building before, but when I was a kid I loved Legos. I realized today that it’s not all that different (but less colorful). Some Legos are big and some are small. Today we played with the big Legos, and as you can see we hoisted them on the roof of the maternity ward. Biceps and headbands out in full effect. We still need to buy iron sheets to cover the roof and likely won’t have all of the finances to do so however we are moving forward and stepping out in faith, believing for God to provide. Please help us purchase more Legos. If you have any interest in giving, please email me at scottseibold@gmail.com.
David and I are also working on some photo projects with some of the children. Still in development on it but great things are coming.
Scott
Thursday July 9, 2009 3:34pm
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
doing our best
On Sunday we visited some rocks several miles from the clinic. The rocks stand out dramatically from the flat land and short trees. We got to the rocks by driving on roads scarcely 2 feet wide, made of dirt, and lined with bushes. The rocks and caves were used by locals to hide from the rebels during the Ugandan civil war. Many of the locals had never seen white people before. As you can imagine they were quite surprised and enjoyed following us where ever we went. The views were unique, stunning, and we laughed to see monkeys clamoring among us.
At the clinic, we’ve been keeping pretty busy. We started construction over the weekend and are gearing up for the roof. We are hoping to have enough finances to finish the maternity ward before we leave. Donations welcome. If finished, David the clinic director is going to send an invitation to Ugandan President Museveni for the opening ceremony. The entire community is extremely excited about finishing the building that has been uncompleted for 3 years. Imagine the possibilities.
Malaria is eating this community away. Today we tested 5 patients before noon, and yesterday, all experienced a first when a baby girl was suffering from Malaria was brought in sadly, to late. Her parents could not afford to bring her into the clinic earlier, and were not aware of the severity of her situation. When she arrived at the clinic we rushed to do what we could but were left with few options. In this case, education could have truly saved a life.
more soon,
scott (with additions by melody)
Tuesday July 7th 2009 12:07pm Pallisa, Uganda
Saturday, July 4, 2009
soccer, family, and good stuff
There is something magical and mysterious about the country of Uganda. There is a peace about this place that words can never begin to explain, but you feel in your heart as you wander through the wards of the clinic, or through the crowds of children, or through the dark of night that shines with stars and the milky way.
Today we started construction on the Maternity Ward, a separate building which will be a area for expecting mothers and a quiet place for deliveries. We started to construct beams of iron and metal, twisting metal around iron bars and squares of metal wires. If this were the States, we would have skipped this step for machine constructed contraptions and industrially produced results (which probably would have been better than what we did) but at a loss of community and strength of will, not to mention the reliance on one another and on God to supply for our every need.
These beams were then lifted up onto the shell of the building which already stands on the grounds, after which the men used wood to create a support for the concrete which was poured in later in the afternoon.
While it was some hard work, we enjoyed being outside working, hanging out with the little kids and laughing as Scott broke out his iPod and speakers and put on Michael Jackson (along with some other fan favorites). Meanwhile all the Ugandans were probably looking at us saying to themselves “Crazy Mzgunus” (aka: Crazy White People).
As for the goings on in the clinic, Matt and the presiding local Dr. Jon Wekenne have kept busy seeing and treating over 200 people in the first week alone; however, this expected to taper off in the coming days. The entire group has seemed to pitch in at every conceivable position the small health center has had a need for. Many of them who have rarely seen the inside of a hospital are now placing IV lines and caring for several ill patients.
We have also gotten to experience the great adventure of playing futbol with some of the Ugandans today. We get there and there are literally hundreds, if not a thousand, people waiting to watch us play, or better yet, attempt to play. While it was a bit intimidating, it was rather fun to run around, sweat, and get muddy while playing against some amazing players. We had the Mzgunus and a couple of Ugandans against one of the local teams in the area.
While we didn’t win (final score 3-3), we put up a valiant effort. I got to play right midfield (after about 7-8 years of not playing), as Anneka kept up the assault, shooting at lest a hundred shots (exaggeration) and scoring two (with a little help from the goalie). Both Scott and Pfieffer played some amazing soccer, along with Bethany, Kelcie and Geigerman.
Its has just been an amazing experience here in Uganda, experiencing God in these people and in this community. While there have been some struggles, God has provided us with the strength to keep going and the patience to trust in Him. It has been a journey for all of us, both physically and spiritually, and the road keeps on going ahead.
Please continue praying for each and every one of us on this trip. Pray for strength and courage to continue to stay in the fold of God’s Wings. Pray that God changes our hearts to serve and follow him wherever he calls us to serve. Please pray for the people and patients of the Agule Community Health Center, along with the doctors and staff that we have grown to love in this short time we’ve been here, that through love and compassion, healing will take place, physically, mentally and spiritually. Pray for the hundreds of people that have supported each and every one of us in this journey, because without your support, both spiritually and financially, we would not be the people we are, serving this community.
Again we thank you all for everything you have done and still do. We miss you all back home and are looking forwards to sharing this experience with you now and upon our return.
God Bless and PEACE
STKerr (Sean)
Thursday, July 2, 2009
getting settled...
friends,
there is much to be excited about. we have been awakened to much already and are learning every new day requires new faith. monday, our first day at the clinic was quite an experience...we began work with a growing and eager mob of patients that had heard of our arrival. we passed out numbers to create ordered chaos and opened up a second examination room. after capping the patient line at a hundred (the average clinic in the states sees 15-20) we saw nearly everything…malaria, HIV, a severe staff infections, urinary tract infections, diabetics, …some pretty serious stuff…the group is getting along well and we celebrated Matt’s birthday today. i smuggled in some fun fetti mix, then we threw some nutella on top and called it a party.
yesterday a few of us went to mbala to get some supplies and repair some lab equipment. Tom is pretty excited about the microscopes and centrifuge that were donated (thank you university of Tennessee). we also got to meet a local futbol team and will be preparing for a match against them later in the month. mzungus vs africans. im laughing already…
david has been killing it taking some sweet photos for us and everyone is making great use of their time. today we are in town purchasing some construction equipment to advance the maternity ward. if we can get started soon enough perhaps we can finish before we leave, and mothers will no longer give birth on the floor. progress is a process we passionately pursue…
-scott
we miss you all back home, and thank you for joining this wonderful story
Tuesday, June 30, 2009
The journey was long. We left David’s home in DC at 6am ET Friday morning and arrived in Pallisa, Uganda at 6:00pm ET time on Saturday. The trip consisted of a flight from DC to Rome, Rome to Ethiopia, Ethiopia to Kampala, Uganda, and a 5 hour van ride to Pallisa. Exhausted would have been an understatement.
Despite the exhaustion it was exhilarating to walk into the Ugandan sun with every bag accounted for and be welcomed by dark smiling faces and light filled eyes. Kampala smelled of people, faint burning, and trees. A fine red dust lightly covers everything and the red roads contrast beautifully with brilliant blue skies and green lands. We pass 3 grown men riding the same small motorcycle, women selling fruits under shady stands, and cows tied in the front of many yards. Pallisa town seemed empty until bright headlights showed faces gathered on dark porches with only a small flame to light their words.
We were welcomed at the clinic in the dark by tea, new friends, and saw our new home. Rough bricks make a shelter that is covered with a tin roof and divided into 4 rooms with a bare bulb in each and floors of concrete. The bathroom is a dusty trek to another brick building which consists of two bathroom each with 2 toilets, 2 showers, and a sink. Breezy curtains cover the stalls and a single faucet pours only cold water onto dusty heads. We sleep under mosquito nets and brush our teeth in the open air.
Despite the somewhat primitive nature of this dwelling the hospitality and generosity of the people living in this community far out weighs any material inconveniences. Meals are sometimes served under a tree and foods fresher than any US organic market can produce are served with smiles. Pineapple, rice, beans, passion fruit juice, chicken, and avocados are among the delicious foods given to us.
Sunday we spent the day taking tours of the building and resting from the long trip. The kids were shy at first, but once given a welcoming hand they swarm the “mazungus” (white people) and clamor to touch our skin. Surrounded by a dozen dark heads they seem indistinguishable until frequency of contact allows recognition of the unique characteristics found in each smile, each laugh, each touch of the hand. Sometimes a brave hand will reach out to pinch the fair colored skin to test it for its reality. The murmur of children’s laughter is constant and fills the land with life.
Sunday was also spent organizing medicine and Monday introduced us to the clinic. It was chaotic, overwhelming, and fulfilling. The color of our skin causes the Ugandans to believe that we all carry the knowledge of medical healing, and that makes it difficult to disappoint. Some on the team do have true medical knowledge which is a blessing and tremendous help and others give what they can with various talents. However, it does seem that those deep wrinkles and worried eyes quickly give way to a brilliant smile and energetic wave when we say hello, shake hands, and give smiles.
The electricity has ended for the night so this must end soon. Please pray that we each find our way to share love with all of these people. Each of you through the support that you gave each member of this team is the reason why we can bring laughter, smiles, and medicine to these people. Without you this mission would have been impossible and when you see the healing and smiles you allow us to give to Uganda you will know the sacrifice was worth it. Thank you and please continue to pray for our safety and effectiveness here in Pallisa.
Until electricity is found again…
-melody
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Hello Friends,
Months of planning are showing their value today as our journey to Uganda is at last beginning.
This morning friends met in Chapel Hill to load pounds of medical supplies, and we barely fit ourselves and the supplies into a long white van. With a prayer and a few laughs we began the drive to Washington, D.C. to the home of our friend, David. Favor is obviously upon us already by the unlikely discovery of a Chick-Fil-A for which many had been wanting.
An energetic assembly line piled all the bags and medical supplies into a home generously provided by David's family. Thanks to the dedicated organizational skills of Jessica and grace from above we managed to fit ample medical supplies into limited space. The guys took turns standing on the scale to determine the weight of our bags and Jessica devised a system to match people to bags in order that everything that was so graciously provided reaches Uganda.
People have been taking turns making runs to the airport to pick up the trickling arrival of new team members. Even now we are awaiting the return of 2 members and our friends who went to pick them up.
We've made promises to remind each other to take malaria pills and are trusting that the large horse looking pills will help with preventing malaria. We compare passport photos and visas, previous out-of-country travels, and a generous delicious meal provided by David's mom.
In the morning we intend on arriving at the airport no longer than 7:15 in order that we make it in time for our 10am flight. This journey will last over 24 hours, and entails a flight from DC to Ethiopia to Uganda and a bus to our final destination.
Please pray that all bags and medical supplies (and people!)are easily accepted by customs and safely arrive in Uganda.
Thanks for your support! We look forward to writing again to tell of our Ugandan adventures.
Months of planning are showing their value today as our journey to Uganda is at last beginning.
This morning friends met in Chapel Hill to load pounds of medical supplies, and we barely fit ourselves and the supplies into a long white van. With a prayer and a few laughs we began the drive to Washington, D.C. to the home of our friend, David. Favor is obviously upon us already by the unlikely discovery of a Chick-Fil-A for which many had been wanting.
An energetic assembly line piled all the bags and medical supplies into a home generously provided by David's family. Thanks to the dedicated organizational skills of Jessica and grace from above we managed to fit ample medical supplies into limited space. The guys took turns standing on the scale to determine the weight of our bags and Jessica devised a system to match people to bags in order that everything that was so graciously provided reaches Uganda.
People have been taking turns making runs to the airport to pick up the trickling arrival of new team members. Even now we are awaiting the return of 2 members and our friends who went to pick them up.
We've made promises to remind each other to take malaria pills and are trusting that the large horse looking pills will help with preventing malaria. We compare passport photos and visas, previous out-of-country travels, and a generous delicious meal provided by David's mom.
In the morning we intend on arriving at the airport no longer than 7:15 in order that we make it in time for our 10am flight. This journey will last over 24 hours, and entails a flight from DC to Ethiopia to Uganda and a bus to our final destination.
Please pray that all bags and medical supplies (and people!)are easily accepted by customs and safely arrive in Uganda.
Thanks for your support! We look forward to writing again to tell of our Ugandan adventures.
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Supply List!
Below is a list of the supplies which we are hoping to acquire before we leave! Can you help?
General Needs
Oxygen cylinder and masks
Latex free gloves
Antibacterial hand sanitizer
IV sets (bags and tubing)
IV poles
PIVs with ports
Needles including butterfly needles
Masks/ face shields (including Tb masks)
Alcohol swabs/wipes
Gauze pads and medical bandages (of varying sizes)
Premeditated gauze and bandages
Bandaids
Syringes (5ml, 10ml, 50ml, etc.)
Convertible otoscope/opthalmoscope (battery powered)
Cotton balls
Prefilled Normal Saline syringes (10ml) for flushing
Medical tape and bandage scissors
Manual BP cuff (adult and child size)
Mini first aid kits
Stethoscopes
Thermometers
Betadine solution
Tegaderm dressing
Sharps containers
Glucometer and test strips
Tracheostomy supplies and suction kit
Emergency airway kit
Pharmacy
Anti-hypertensives
Anti-diabetics
Anti-malarials
Anti-fungals
Analgesics
Anti-peptic ulcer disease drugs
Antibiotics
Medical creams
Ear and eye drops
Anti-helminthics
Topical (EMLA cream) and injectable anesthetics
Pill scorer and counter
Sterile water for mixing
Maternity Department
For Dilation and Curettage:
Vaginal speculums and other accessories
Manual vacuum aspiration equipment
Canulas; all sizes
Vacuum syringes
Delivery Set:
Episiotomy scissor
Cord scissor
Bowels and gallipots
Kidney dishes
Markintosh covers
Needle holders
Cut guards
Fetalscope
Neonates weighing scale
Bulb syringes
Resuscitation pumps
Delivery bed
Models for family planning counseling (i.e. plastic models of male and female reproductive organs, etc.)
Laboratory Department
Binocular microscope
Colorimeter/photometer
Simple electric centrifuge
Papunicolious (
Chemistry analyzer (for LFTs and RFTs)
Haematology analyzer (for full haemogram)
E.S.R. stands and tubes with fillers/filants
Automatic pipettes
5 μL
10 μL
30 μL
200 μL
1 mL
Safety cabinet
Incubator
Urine collection cups
Urine dipsticks
Lancets for finger pricking
Blood draw sets (w/ vacuum tubes)
Biopsy needles
Dental Department
Dental Set:
Forceps
Dental probe
Dental mirror
Radiology Department
Ultra-sound scanning machine (British Scanner C-MC System)
X-ray machine
Linens
Pillows
Mattresses
Clean sheets & blankets
Towels & washcloths
Hospital gowns
Friday, June 5, 2009
T-Shirts!!
Just got a box full of shirts in today!! thanks to sean, alex, and chris for their awesome help!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Entrepreneur & Social Entrepreneur Meetup #29
friends,
we are speaking tomorrow at the social entrepreneurship meeting in Chapel Hill. We hope you can make it!! here is the info... Entrepreneur Meetup
scott
we are speaking tomorrow at the social entrepreneurship meeting in Chapel Hill. We hope you can make it!! here is the info... Entrepreneur Meetup
scott
Sunday, May 17, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
ALL you can eat pasta/lasagna/spaghetti with some sweet live music and entertainment!
$5 in advance, $7 at the door (ALL the money goes to the trip and clinic)
6:00pm Friday, April 17th
1216 Roosevelt Drive (across from sunrise biscuit kitch)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
June 26th-July 27th we will be traveling to Pallisa, Uganda to help support the Agule Community Health Centre. As a team of 15, we are raising support for the clinic and the nearly 40,000 people that it provides care to. Some of our trip goals include medical relief work, construction on the maternity ward and several community projects! Thanks for your support!
Hope to see you there!
$5 in advance, $7 at the door (ALL the money goes to the trip and clinic)
6:00pm Friday, April 17th
1216 Roosevelt Drive (across from sunrise biscuit kitch)
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
June 26th-July 27th we will be traveling to Pallisa, Uganda to help support the Agule Community Health Centre. As a team of 15, we are raising support for the clinic and the nearly 40,000 people that it provides care to. Some of our trip goals include medical relief work, construction on the maternity ward and several community projects! Thanks for your support!
Hope to see you there!
Friday, March 13, 2009
we got tickets!!
dear friends,
i hope you are doing amazing! spring is upon us!!! isn't this weather soo sweet??! if you graphed the weather in pie chart form, sunshine would easily be the largest slice in my pie! yeeees! sooo i just wanted to let all of you wonderful people in blog world know that last week we reserved 15 seats on Ethiopia Airlines! get excited!! below is an official iterniary of dates!
go get em tiger,
scott
anneka
i hope you are doing amazing! spring is upon us!!! isn't this weather soo sweet??! if you graphed the weather in pie chart form, sunshine would easily be the largest slice in my pie! yeeees! sooo i just wanted to let all of you wonderful people in blog world know that last week we reserved 15 seats on Ethiopia Airlines! get excited!! below is an official iterniary of dates!
go get em tiger,
scott
anneka
6/26 ET 503 Dulles to Addis 10:05am to 8:20am
6/27 ET 811 Addis to Entebbe 11:30am to 1:30pm
7/27 ET 810 Entebbe to Addis 5:15pm to 7:15pm
7/27 ET 500 Addis to Dulles 10:15pm to 7:55am(7/28)
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Why volunteer?
I was recently asked by a very good friend, “why do we volunteer?”; I have asked myself this same question about 100 different ways at more than 100 different times. Most of the time, it is difficult for me to come up with what I think is an adequate response. Then, as I sat, once again, ruminating on this question of ‘why’ I came to the following conclusion:
First, because I think language is powerful, I want to scrap the word ‘volunteer’. When I read the word ‘volunteer’ I get a sense of obligation, duty – and I don’t do what I do out of a sense of duty. I’m also a little uncomfortable using the word ‘service’. Again, in my mind, this connotes a sense of duty; it strips the experience of the personal – which is the heart of the ‘why’.
Humans are relational beings; whether we recognize it or not, our existence is in absolute dependence on our relationship to our surroundings, whatever they may be (animate or inanimate). Life consists of enacting these various relationships – it’s not always fair or healthy, it can be violent and ugly, but it can also be astonishingly beautiful. I want to live my life striving to enact what is beautiful – and that is why I do what I do.
I grew up as an American Christian, and so the words I am most comfortable using for describing my spirituality and my faith are ‘Christian’ words – I am saying this because the language I use has great meaning for me, but I want to respect and acknowledge that other people might find the same meaning in different words.
Jesus lived his life building a community that was radically different from the status quo of the world into which he was born. In my mind it is quite fitting that he was a carpenter – his medium was not wood, but the intangible. He began building a community based on relationships of faith, trust, respect and, most importantly, love; and I believe there are billions of people on this earth continuing to construct the same community.
Jesus lay the ‘foundation’, if you will, and, as the arms, legs, fingers, toes, eyes, ears, etc. of the body of the church we need each other, we complete each other. Ironically, we all spend our lives in flux between building up and tearing down this unified body that God, in his infinite being, created. But, as Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 12:25-26, we are all arranged to work together and to “have the same care for one another,” for “if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”
In a world where there is so much destruction, where we build walls that separate instead of walls that shelter and include, where we increasingly try to sever what connects us to each other and to our surroundings for a sense of false individualism and independence, I strive for the opposite – as do many of my sisters and brothers all over the world.
If we are all created in God’s image, if God lives within all of us, if God’s hand created everything, then rejecting anyone or any part of God’s creation is to separate ourselves from God. For me, this separation is painful; I want to be connected – I want to live out the role I was designed for, not from a sense of duty but because it is who I am and I can’t fathom denying that.
Pallisa is part of me now. It is a place where the love the world so desperately needs has an opportunity to flourish because it is reinforced by relationships based on mutual need, compassion and respect. This project offers a chance to continue building, and the love that can be found there is a love over which the whole world can rejoice.
First, because I think language is powerful, I want to scrap the word ‘volunteer’. When I read the word ‘volunteer’ I get a sense of obligation, duty – and I don’t do what I do out of a sense of duty. I’m also a little uncomfortable using the word ‘service’. Again, in my mind, this connotes a sense of duty; it strips the experience of the personal – which is the heart of the ‘why’.
Humans are relational beings; whether we recognize it or not, our existence is in absolute dependence on our relationship to our surroundings, whatever they may be (animate or inanimate). Life consists of enacting these various relationships – it’s not always fair or healthy, it can be violent and ugly, but it can also be astonishingly beautiful. I want to live my life striving to enact what is beautiful – and that is why I do what I do.
I grew up as an American Christian, and so the words I am most comfortable using for describing my spirituality and my faith are ‘Christian’ words – I am saying this because the language I use has great meaning for me, but I want to respect and acknowledge that other people might find the same meaning in different words.
Jesus lived his life building a community that was radically different from the status quo of the world into which he was born. In my mind it is quite fitting that he was a carpenter – his medium was not wood, but the intangible. He began building a community based on relationships of faith, trust, respect and, most importantly, love; and I believe there are billions of people on this earth continuing to construct the same community.
Jesus lay the ‘foundation’, if you will, and, as the arms, legs, fingers, toes, eyes, ears, etc. of the body of the church we need each other, we complete each other. Ironically, we all spend our lives in flux between building up and tearing down this unified body that God, in his infinite being, created. But, as Paul reminds us in 1 Cor 12:25-26, we are all arranged to work together and to “have the same care for one another,” for “if one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”
In a world where there is so much destruction, where we build walls that separate instead of walls that shelter and include, where we increasingly try to sever what connects us to each other and to our surroundings for a sense of false individualism and independence, I strive for the opposite – as do many of my sisters and brothers all over the world.
If we are all created in God’s image, if God lives within all of us, if God’s hand created everything, then rejecting anyone or any part of God’s creation is to separate ourselves from God. For me, this separation is painful; I want to be connected – I want to live out the role I was designed for, not from a sense of duty but because it is who I am and I can’t fathom denying that.
Pallisa is part of me now. It is a place where the love the world so desperately needs has an opportunity to flourish because it is reinforced by relationships based on mutual need, compassion and respect. This project offers a chance to continue building, and the love that can be found there is a love over which the whole world can rejoice.
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